25DISCLAIMER: I don't own Steven Universe nor SuperNoobs.
Steven Universe awoke from the sound of his alarm clock. After slowly rubbing the sleep from his eyes, the first thing he noticed was that he isn't in his room! "Where am I?" Steven panicked before recalling the events in the previous story. "Oh right I'm in Cornbury." He came to this town here due to some medical condition he didn't really understand, which is fine since he doesn't really understand lots of stuff, and the best way to get some help was to come here. Looking at the date on the calendar Steven also remembered that today is a very important day for him. Jumping out of bed, Steven rushed to the showers. After a quick scrub down, Steven got dressed and headed downstairs.
"Good morning Steven," Mem greeted cooking a gourmet omelet.
"Good morning, boy that sure smells good." Steven complimented.
"You're just in time. Breakfast is ready." Mem said sliding the omelet onto a plate with toast and a side of hash browns. Steven just stood there staring at the food with uncertainty. Since Gems don't need to eat, Steven usually found himself alone in his room in mornings, unless there's a mission he needs to get ready for, where he has to make his own breakfast, usually just cold cereal or eggo waffles. So finding not only someone else awake but having them cook breakfast is a new experience for him. "Is there something wrong?" Mem asked seeing that Steven hasn't moved an inch. "Is it coriander? You're allergic aren't you? Aw man I should have asked." Mem wept. He's really sensitive about his cooking.
"No no it's fine," Steven said taking his seat.
"Well then you better eat up. You have a big day today." Mem said. Steven had to admit that this is the best tasting omelet he's ever had. Of course he usually only eats the frozen microwave omelets so he didn't have much to compare it to. As Steven ate, they heard a knocking on the door. "Who could that be?" Mem wondered.
"Whoever it is I wish they'd keep it down," Zen yawned coming into the kitchen still in his pajamas. Mem opened the door to find Greg.
"Good morning uh fellows," Greg greeted nervously, still unsure about this situation. While Mem and Zen offered Greg room inside their house, Greg graciously declined saying he didn't want to intrude. So he's still living inside his van parked in their drive way.
"Morning dad," Steven greeted.
"Morning bucko," Greg smiled.
"Wants some breakfast? These eggs are delicious." Steven complimented.
"Oh stop," Mem blushed.
"Maybe later. Not until I get my cup of Joe first." Greg said.
"We don't really have coffee," Mem informed him.
"Yeah we couldn't get that darn coffee maker to work so we mainly drink tea." Zen explained. Due to their oversize alien fingers it really hard for them to operate earth devices with small buttons. In his frustration Zen ended up smashing the coffee maker.
"That's okay, I have some instant coffee in my van," Greg showing the small packet of coffee.
"Instant coffee?"
"Yeah you just mix the powder in hot water like so," Greg pouring the contents of the packet in a mug of hot water. "Stir and voila," showing them the completed drink.
"That does smell good," Mem observed.
"Here why don't you try some," Greg offered the remaining instant packets to his alien hosts. Which Mem and Zen graciously accepted and used to make their own drink.
The two aliens took a little whiff before taking a sip. Needless to say they were overjoyed by the new flavor. "Why didn't the Noobs tell us about this?" Zen complained. He really hates it when the Noobs don't tell him about the cool stuff on Earth.
"Maybe because kids don't drink coffee," Greg speculated.
"Hmm okay that's actually a good excuse," Zen had to admit.
Speaking of the Noobs, Tyler, Shope, Kevin, and the Roach showed up at the front door. "Hey Steven are you ready?" Tyler called out to their new friend.
"You don't want to be late on your first day!" Shope yelled.
"What are you talking about? Of course he wants to be late!" Kevin ranted.
"Come on Steven we can go together!" the Roach invited.
"Oh is it time already?" Steven choked cramming the remainder of his food in his mouth. Steven quickly brushed his teeth and hurried to meet his friends. "Okay I'm ready for my first day of school!" Steven sang.
"Wait where's your backpack with school supplies?" Shope asked.
"Oh it's in my dad's van. I accidentally left it there when we went school supply shopping. Good news is that it's already packed." Steven said opening the van's door and getting his backpack.
"A cheeseburger backpack," Kevin facepalmed himself. "Are you trying to get beat up on your first day?"
"Is something wrong?" Steven wondered. During their shopping Greg kept insisting on getting Steven a new backpack, but Steven kept insisting that he wanted to keep his reliable cheeseburger.
"We can tell you many things wrong with it but you'd probably won't believe us until you to find out for yourself." Tyler said ominously.
"Goodbye dad, Mem, Zen." Steven saying farewells before he and the Noobs hurried to school.
Greg watched this touching scene from the doorway of the house with his coffee in hand. Seeing his son going off with friends to school with really hit a cord in his heart. It made Greg start to question his decision to have the Gems raise Steven. Sure he can justify it all he wants, saying that Steven needs to learn about his powers and all that, but part of him will always regret denying Steven a normal childhood. So he's really grateful for this chance for Steven to experience school life. Wishing that Steven can have just one normal day.
Sadly reality hit as a Virus meteor pod that slipped passed the XR4Ti's detection crashed somewhere in the distance. Followed by the appearance of what looks like several monster pigeons. Greg gulped nervously as he watched the Noobs transform into their Battle Suits and leaping onto action, with Steven running behind them. "Just another normal day," Greg said sadly taking a sip of his coffee to calm his nerves before joining the two aliens at the breakfast table.
"Whoa, this is amazing!" Steven marveled at what he was seeing. The place he's only heard about in myth and rumor, mainly from his friend Connie, but never thought he'd actually see it in person let alone be here! The legendary place of higher education called middle school.
"So what do you think?" Tyler asked his friend.
"Is everything I imagined and more," Steven said with awe. "I've never seen so many kids in one place! Well except maybe on the beach during tourist season."
"You know you can still turn back while you can," Kevin advised. If he can save one kid from the horrors of school then he can die knowing that he did good. At least in his own mind.
"Oh don't listen to him," Shope pushing Kevin away. "You're going to love it."
The first thing they had to do was to get Steven's classroom schedule from the admin office. That's where Steven met with Principal Warmerammer. Naturally she greeted Steven like she does with all new students with a peppy positive attitude; encouraging him to learn and have fun but at the same time warning him not to break any of the rules. It was both informative and frightening at the same time.
Due to Mem and Zen's hacking, all of Steven's classes were with at least one of the Noobs. That way he won't be alone for too long. Thanks to the pretend classes that Pearl and the Gems sometimes gives, Steven has a basic understanding of classroom etiquette, such as raising your hand to speak. However he was completely unprepared for the general attitude teachers have towards the students. Back in the pretend classes, Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst would often praise him on everything he did. So even if he got the answer wrong they still congratulated him on his effort. So that's how he thought all teacher are.
Here however, the teachers seemed generally annoyed whenever he or any of the students would ask them any questions or get the answers wrong or just talk in general. It's really disheartening for him, but Shope assures him that this is normal and that he'll get used to it. He just has to pay attention to what the teacher is saying. Even though she seemed more preoccupied with doing her own self studies rather than listening to the teacher.
Things were even stranger in shop class. The teacher there showed no interests in the students what so ever. Basically sleeping at his desk and leaving the students to their own devices. Kevin justifies it by saying that it allows for creative freedom. Something that Steven questions since all Kevin is doing is smashing things with a hammer.
Art class felt especially weird since all he and Roach did was run around outside chasing butterflies. When Steven asks, "Is this really art class?" Roach responds, "We have art class?" From inside the school, the Art Teacher was yelling at them ordering them to get back inside.
The most disappointing class has to be music class. Since Steven often plays music with his father, Steven figured that this should be a breeze. Unfortunately where Greg taught Steven just to play from the heart (make whatever noise that sounds good) the teachers insisted that he and the other students follow the music sheets. Meaning that he had to keep playing the same three notes over and over again for the past hour . Tyler says that it's part of the learning process. Which doesn't really surprise Steven since Tyler is such a stifler for following rules.
Later at lunch time Steven was waiting in line to buy one of the infamous school lunches that he's always heard about. While Steven has had his share of bad food at times, mainly from Amethyst digging through her stash and when Peridot decided to experiment with cooking, he just can't believe that any human would purposefully serve bad food to anyone, especially to kids. Ah the innocents of youth.
Fortunately for Steven it's Pizza Monday, so he lucked out of having to get a stomach pump. Unfortunately he so busy looking for a seat in the cafeteria that he accidentally bumped into another student causing the other boy to drop his tray. "Hey watch where you're going!" this big kid in a football uniform yelled. "You made The Jock drop The Jock's lunch!"
"Sorry let me help you with that," Steven said politely as he picked up the food on the floor.
"The Jock don't want that trash!" Jock yelled. "The Jock will just take your lunch," Jock laughed grabbing Steven's tray.
"Sounds fair," Steven agreed letting go of the tray. Which threw Jock off a bit. Usually when he does stuff like this to the kids they'd whine and complain, but Steven willingly gave him his food without any objection.
"You're new here aren't you," Jock speculated.
"Yup, today is my first day of school, ever. The name's Steven, Steven Universe." Steven introduced himself. Hoping that they can put this whole messy lunch business behind them and become friends.
"Universe?" Jock and his friends laughed. "Is that even a real name?"
"Actually my real name is DeMayo. My dad changed it to Universe when he started his music career." Steven explained. As much as he loves his father and his birth name, he still thinks DeMayo is a better name than Universe.
Jock then turned to his friends in the back, all wearing football uniforms, and all were snickering thinking the same thing. Jock then turned back to Steven. "Well new kid, it seems that The Jock needs to throw you a welcoming party. Meet The Jock at the football field after school. Don't be late." Jock threatened as he walked off taking a big bite out of Steven's pizza.
"See you then," Steven waved with naive optimism.
"What are you going?" Tyler whispered grabbing Steven's shoulder. The Noobs have a tendency to arrive at the cafeteria late as to avoid confrontations with bullies like this. So the arrived just in time to see the end of it. "Do you have any idea who that was?"
"I think he said his name is The Jock!" Steven imitating Jock's mannerisms when saying his name.
"That was Jock Jockerson, captain of every sport and living proof that humans evolved from apes. Although his gene-pool was late to the bus." Shope snickered. She loves ridiculing people's evolutionary status.
"Oh he seems nice. He kind of reminds me of my good friend Lars." Steven began reminiscing of all the times that Lars would insult and ridicule him. "Good times," Steven sighed longingly.
"Yeah I don't think so," Kevin disagreed thinking of all the cruel things that Jock did to him and his friends. "If you know what's good for you, you'd avoid him at all costs." Kevin advised.
"But I already promised I'd meet up with him after school." Steven argued. From his perspective not showing up now would be rude.
"Believe us, it's better for your well being that you don't go." Shope insisted.
"Besides you need to get back to Mem and Zen so that they can start experimenting on you." Roach added.
"Experiment?" Steven gulped.
"No not experiment, do medical examinations." Tyler corrected. "Right Roach."
"I like pie," Roach said randomly.
"I like pie too," Steven agreed. The two round boys hurried to buy extra desserts since Steven lost his lunch.
The rest of the school day progressed normally and Steven is finally getting the hang of school life. Such as not asking too many random question, only the questions that pertain to the subject being taught; and as far as human history is concern, the Gem War never happened. Soon the final bell rung and the students all stampeded out of the building. All except for Steven. He was still conflicted on whether or not to go to meet with Jock.
"Hey there ready to go home and play some video games?" Kevin appearing out of nowhere startling Steven.
"Oh uh not just yet," Steven hesitated to say.
"What's wrong?" Tyler asked. "You're not thinking of actually meeting with Jock?" Even without his Battle Ball Tyler is usually good at reading people.
"Well maybe," Steven confessed. The others just scowled at him. "I mean I already said I'd be there. I would be rude of me not to show up." Steven reasoned.
"Look Steven we're saying this as your friends, it's best that you just avoid Jock for the rest of your life. It might ruin your social life but it will help with your overall health in the long run." Shope counseled.
"Okay, but I think I should at least tell Jock that I can't make it." Steven pouted. Feeling guilty about having to ditch Jock without any real reason. The Noobs were all shaking their heads as if that is a bad idea.
"Great now come on and let's get going before something happens," Roach advised. At that moment, Tyler's watch started beeping.
"You just had to jinx it," Kevin scolded.
"Sorry my bad," Roach apologized.
"We have an incoming virus pod. SuperNoobs it's time to go BATTLE BALL!" Tyler called. The Noobs all implanted their Balls into their chest, activating their armor, and striking a pose. A sequence that Steven still finds cool.
"Can I come too?" Steven asked.
"Sorry Steven, not on your first day. Maybe next time." Tyler apologized.
"Yeah you just march home and think about what you've done!" Kevin scolded. With that Tyler teleported the Noobs away.
"Think about what I've done?" Steven sulked. "How can I do that when I don't even know what I did wrong in the first place!" As Steven grumbled along he wandered right past the detention room. Even though he's never been to school before, he has heard from Connie about detention. How it is where troubled students would have to stay after school as punishment for breaking the rules. When Steven asked 'why do they do that?' Connie simply said, 'it is to learn why what they did is wrong'. It didn't really make much sense at the time but then he remembered when watching those old Lonely Blade movies, the masters sometimes preaches that they only way for students to learn is to make mistakes. Which seems to fit in this circumstance.
"Well I can't learn anything if I don't know what is wrong in the first place," Steven said to himself. Even though he knows he'll get into trouble, his curiosity won out and he just had to see why meeting with Jock is so bad. Bracing himself he ran straight to the football field where Jock and the entire football team was waiting for him.
Back at Mem and Zen's house. Greg was starting to worry as the minute hand on the clock moved another notch. "Oh where can he be?" Greg pacing up and down.
"Relax Greg, have some coffee." Mem offered. Greg thanked the alien as he accepted the cup.
"Why are you so worried? he's only a half hour late." Zen scoffed. "He's probably just hanging out with the Noobs."
"That's right, sometimes they come in three hours late." Mem trying to assure him.
"I know, and I know that Steven goes on dangerous missions with the Gems all the time, but he's never been to school before! Is he making friends? Is he being bullied? Is he hurt and stuck in the nurse's office? Did the teachers giving him too much homework? This is really stressing me out!" Greg ranted.
"Just watching you is stressing me out," Zen retorted. At that moment they heard the doorbell ring.
"Steven!" Greg cried opening the door. Only to be horrified at seeing the Noobs in their Battle suits all battered and beaten.
"Oh my what happened to you?" Mem gasped bring in the Noobs before any neighbor sees.
"Virus, earthworms, underground battle." Tyler coughed.
"They were a lot tougher then they looked," Kevin added. Mainly to protect his male ego.
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but where's Steven?" Greg asked. Fearing that Steven was out fighting with the Noobs and is injured as well.
"He's not back yet?" Tyler puzzled. "But we told him to go straight home after school."
"Oh no we've got to find him," Greg said.
"To the Rob and Bob mobile!" Zen and Mem said transforming into their human forms. Since the kids were still injured from their fight, they were told to wait in the house just in case Steven shows up while the adults drive around looking for him; but before they even opened the doors to their cars. They heard Steven's voice behind him.
"Hi guys I'm home," Steven greeted.
"STEVEN! Where were you?" Greg cried. Running up to his son.
"And what are you wearing?' Kevin asked about Steven's new jacket.
"Oh this," Steven showing off his new Letterman Jacket. Actually it looked kind of old and worn out. "Jock gave this to me. He says it's his first on and wanted me to have it, but the coach says that he's going to order mine very own soon." Everyone's jaws dropped in confusion. "So anyway the reason I'm late is because, I kind of joined the football team." Steven finally told them.
"YOU DID WHA...!?"