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The moon hung high in the sky, casting silver light over the quiet city. Well, it's almost quiet. On top of a rooftop, three masked teens stood overlooking the streets below.
Connor—now 16, taller, and still just as energetic—adjusted his blue hoodie, which he wore open over a fitted suit-like version of his usual PJ Masks gear. His brown hair had grown out just slightly, and his confident smirk remained ever-present. Beside him, Amaya, having grown into a sharp-eyed, quick-witted leader in her own right, tied back her longer red hair and rested her hands on her hips, her sleek, redesigned Owlette suit fluttering slightly in the wind. Greg, broader and stronger than before but just as laid-back, stretched his arms behind his head, the green scales of his upgraded Gekko suit catching the moonlight.
“So,” Gekko started casually, “are we ready to patrol or what?”
“Definitely,” Owlette agreed, scanning the streets. “No signs of trouble yet.”
“Maybe we’ll get an easy night for once,” Catboy said, stretching—
And that’s when Owlette snapped her fingers. “Oh! That reminds me—did you guys finish the algebra assignment for tomorrow?”
Catboy froze mid-stretch, eyes widening. “…What assignment?”
Gekko winced. “The one that’s due in, like, six hours.”
Catboy’s face went pale. “Six hours?!” He grabbed his head. “No, no, no, I totally forgot! I was gonna do it earlier, but then I—Miss Millers gonna have my head for it!” He groaned. “Okay. Okay, maybe I can finish it really fast when I get home—”
Then, the distant sound of mischievous laughter filled the air.
“Oh, come on,” Catboy groaned as they turned toward the noise.
Down in the streets, a group of darkly-clad figures skittered over rooftops. Leading them was none other than Night Ninja, now taller, his shozoku armour refined and sleeker, yet his smirk was just as cocky as ever his usual smugness had only intensified with age. His Ninjalinos—also slightly taller, some even hitting growth spurts—moved with practised ease.
“Well, well,” Night Ninja called out, arms crossed, “if it isn’t my practised group of goody-goods. You’re looking tense, Catboy.” His smirk deepened. “What, forget to study?”
Catboy twitched. “That’s not—”
Owlette raised an eyebrow. “How’d you even guess that?”
“Because he’s making that face,” Night Ninja said, tilting his head. “The one where he looks like he just realized he left the stove on.”
Gekko grinned. “Wow, you really do know him.”
Catboy groaned. “We are not doing this right now.”
“Yes, we are,” Night Ninja shot back. “Because I’m here to steal something very, very important.”
Owlette folded her arms. “What, another random scroll?”
“Nope.” Night Ninja grinned, holding up a thick textbook. “Knowledge.”
Catboy’s eyes bugged out. “That’s my math book!”
“Ding ding ding,” Night Ninja said, spinning it in his hands. “Found it just lying around near that café you guys were at earlier. And when I saw you freak out just now, I thought—‘Hey, I bet Catboy really needs this.’” His smirk grew downright evil. “So I’m keeping it.”
Catboy's eye twitched. “You—”
“Unless you wanna fight me for it?” Night Ninja teased, tossing the book up and catching it lazily. “Come on, Kitty. You love getting all jumpy and mad. Give me your best shot.”
Catboy clenched his fists—then hesitated. His eyes flickered to the book, then to Night Ninja, then back.
“…I’ll fight you and do my homework.”
Night Ninja blinked. “What.”
Before Night Ninja could react, Catboy sprinted forward, yanked the textbook from his hands, flipped it open, and dropped to the ground.
Night Ninja stared in confusion as Catboy—without missed a beat—tore out a sheet of paper and scribbled down a math equation with frantic energy.
“…What are you doing?” Night Ninja asked, dumbfounded.
“Trying,” Catboy muttered, “to solve for X before you make me lose my mind.”
Night Ninja snorted. “Oh, that’s gonna happen anyway.”
At that moment, the Ninjalinos suddenly rushed forward. Owlette and Gekko immediately sprang into action, blocking their attacks.
“Seriously? We’re fighting over a textbook?” Gekko asked as he dodged a spinning kick from a Ninjalino.
Owlette flipped over two Ninjalinos and smirked. “Hey, at least we’re getting a real school experience. This is basically a pop quiz.”
Gekko grinned. “Yeah? Well, I didn’t study.”
He ducked as a Ninjalino lunged at him, then grabbed the tiny ninja and spun him around before tossing him toward another group. Owlette, meanwhile, used her sharp reflexes to trip two more Ninjalinos mid-air.
“Bet you they’re trying to keep us distracted,” Amaya said.
“Yeah, but that means—”
They both turned toward Catboy—
“Are you seriously doing math right now?” Night Ninja asked, looking personally offended. He started to tap his foot impatiently, and he looked at his wrist as if he was checking the time
“Yes,” Catboy grumbled. He tapped his pencil on the paper. “If two trains leave the station at different speeds, when do they—ugh! I don’t know!”
Night Ninja crossed his arms as he looked over Catboys shoulder. “That makes two of us.”
Catboy glared. “You don’t even go to school.”
“Exactly. And look how well I turned out.”
Catboy let out a long, deep sigh before scribbling more numbers.
Night Ninja smirked. “C’mon, kitty, you’re no fun. Just throw a punch already.”
“No,” Catboy grumbled. “I have homework.”
Night Ninja raised an eyebrow. “Then let me help.”
He suddenly swiped the textbook back.
Catboy shot up. “Dude—!”
Night Ninja squinted at the page. “Alright, what’s the problem?”
Catboy yanked the book from his hands and scowled. “You don’t even know how to read half of this.”
“Yeah, but I know how to be annoying.” Night Ninja lunged forward.
Catboy dodged by flipping over him—then immediately turned the page and scribbled down another equation.
Night Ninja groaned as he just lay there on his back for a second. “Oh, come on!”
Night Ninja groaned as Catboy ignored him and scribbled down another answer, dodging his attacks without even looking up. “You seriously have to be messing with me.”
“Nope,” he said, flipping the page. “I’m just that good.”
Night Ninja growled and lunged again, this time aiming to swipe the whole textbook. But Catboy —still hyper-focused—sidestepped, tripped Night Ninja with a casual sweep of his leg, and slammed him down onto the rooftop. Before Night Ninja could react, Catboy plopped his textbook onto Night Ninja’s back, using him as a desk.
“Perfect,” Catboy muttered, adjusting the book’s angle. “Nice and sturdy.”
Night Ninja froze. Then, in pure disbelief, he spat out, “Are you—are you using me as a table?!”
Catboy, casually solving another equation, hummed. “Yep.”
Night Ninja let out the most offended noise in existence. “GET OFF ME!”
He tried to push up, but Catboy easily shifted his weight, pressing Night Ninja back down. “Nope. Almost done.”
Owlette and Gekko, mid-battle with the Ninjalinos, both turned at the sound of Night Ninja’s struggling. The sight of Catboy literally doing math on top of their enemy was so unexpected that Gekko nearly burst out laughing.
“Dude,” Gekko called, blocking a Ninjalino’s punch. “That’s cold.”
“Hey, if it works, it works,” Owlette said, clearly impressed.
Night Ninja flailed under Catboy. “You infuriating little—”
“Shh,” Catboy shushed him, flipping his pencil. “I’m carrying the one.”
Night Ninja groaned, fully giving up. “You suck... I hate you”
A few more scribbles. One last problem. And finally—Catboy threw his pencil up in victory. “Done!”
In the same breath, he hopped off Night Ninja, rolled up his paper, and tucked it safely in his belt.
Night Ninja immediately shot up, seething. “You humiliated me.”
Catboy smirked. “Yeah, but I'm also gonna pass algebra, so.”
Night Ninja twitched. “You’re so lucky I don’t care about school, or else I’d—”
“Oh yeah?” Catboy grinned. “What, you gonna fight me again? Right now? C’mon, you must love getting all jumpy and mad.”
Night Ninja stared at him—then groaned and turned away. “dont use my words ageist me!- I hate you”
Catboy chuckled. “You said that already.”
“AND I MEANT IT.”
As Night Ninja stomped off with his Ninjalinos who were kinda giggling at Night ninja, Catboy stretched, feeling accomplished. “Man, I should do homework like this more often.”
Greg gave him a thumbs-up. “That was the most chaotic way to pass math ever, but respect.”
Owlette smirked. “Next time, maybe just do it before patrol?”
Catboy chuckled sheepishly. “Yeah… probably a good idea.”
As the trio made their way home, Catboy let out a content sigh. Homework? Done. City? Safe. Night Ninja? Beyond mad.
It's not a bad night...Not a bad night at all...