"Just be careful, okay?" Leonardo asks for the hundredth time.
"Dad..." Dean groans.
"Uncle Leo..." all the other kids follow suit.
Destiny laughs. "Just be yourselves."
"Being ourselves would require us not to wear patches," Asher points out.
Copeland elbows him in the chest. "You get what she meant."
"We will!" Dakota chirps.
Taylor smiles and ruffles Copeland's hair, making her teen daughter take a step away and smooth it down.
"Copey, you know what to do if you get in trouble?" Raphael asks.
"Flip them off and walk away," she reiterates.
"But..." Taylor cuts in. "If that doesn't work, kick their asses into next week."
Copeland laughs. "Okay mom."
"Be smart, but not too smart," Sarina says. "Kids your age aren't used to actual intelligence."
"Burn," Asher whispers to his sister.
"Point is, it's awesome that you two are smart, but you need to dumb it down a bit to warm up to your classmates," Donatello explains. "But don't let that stop you from being you."
"Got it, dad!" Dakota smirks.
"Make lots of friends!" Michelangelo and Annalise tell Mitch.
"Consider it done!" Mitch salutes.
They do a three way fist bump, and they all wave before heading into the school. Venus waves back from her spot in between her mom and dad. Leo and Destiny look down at their daughter, noticing that she looks saddened.
"Don't worry, Vennie. You're gonna be a hop, skip, and a jump away from them. You could find them during your recess time," Destiny assures her.
"Really?" Venus asks.
"Really," Leo answers.
"Yo! Guys!"
The large group turns to see April and Casey walking towards them. Their son, Blake, holds April's hand, his incredibly dark blue eyes wide and scared looking. He looks the most like Casey, save for the missing teeth. Instantly, Venus perks up and flashes a bright grin.
"Blake! Hi!" she squeals, racing towards her friend.
"Venus!" Blake immediately looks less nervous. "I almost didn't recognize you and stuff!"
She throws her arms around him in a tight hug, his slightly taller build making her head rest comfortably under his chin.
"You aren't scared, are you?" she asks softly.
He shakes his head, making his messy black hair fly around his face a little. "I was, but now we can do this together!"
She nods and smiles. "Best friends forever, right?"
"Right!"
The other adults greet the Jones family, each face pleasant.
"How have you been?" Donnie asks.
"Busy, that's for sure," April answers. "Did you all just drop the kids off?"
"Yup." Sarina jerks her thumb towards the building.
"How's your girl, Raph?" Casey asks.
"Fiery as ever," the turtle in disguise chuckles. "Just like her mom."
Taylor elbows him, smirking.
"Mom! Dad! We've got to go!" Venus hollers.
"Don't want to be late!" Blake adds.
Leo, Destiny, April, and Casey all laugh, saying goodbye to the others before heading off with their youngest kids.
Annalise lets out a long sigh and looks to her remaining five companions. Mikey wraps an arm around her shoulders comfortingly. She forces a smile.
"They'll be fine...right?" she asks.
"They're our kids," Mikey says. "They're gonna do just fine."
🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕
"Um...we're supposed to get our schedules in the office," Dean says as they enter the already bustling hallways.
"How do you know?" Copeland asks.
"We were last minute applicants. Everyone else got their stuff in the mail," he replies smugly.
"Save the arguing for later," Dakota snaps. "I want to get my locker! Come on!"
They all head towards the office, a few students looking their way as they head down the hallway. They reach the office, and the secretary looks up at them over her horn-rimmed glasses.
"Yes?" she asks.
"We're the Hamatos," Dean says assertively. "We need our schedules and locker assignments-" He glances to her name tag. "-Mrs Jewels," he adds.
Her eyes widen. "All of you are Hamatos?"
"Yup! We're late entries." Mitch smiles.
She looks to her computer, clicking a bit before making a small "o" shape with her mouth.
"So...Dean, Copeland, Asher, Dakota, and Mitch?" She does one more click. "And I believe there is a Venus Hamato in grade one?"
"She's over at the other building," Copeland says. "And, one thing, our last name is said first because we're Japanese."
The secretary nods and smiles apologetically. "Sorry...Hamato Venus then." She clicks a few times with her computer mouse before bobbing her head again. "Well, you're all good in the system. I'll get your equipment."
She stands up and leaves the desk while the kids wait. Soon, Mitch starts clicking one of the pens on the counter repeatedly until Copeland smacks him.
"Oww..." he groans.
"Here you are!" Mrs Jewels says as she heads back into the room. "If you need help, there are plenty of teachers around helping the other students."
"Thank you," Dakota thanks her politely before they leave.
"What number are you guys?" Dean asks. "I'm...318."
"319," Copeland mumbles.
"312," Mitch reports.
"Hey, Dakota and I are 314 and 315! We're all near each other!" Asher observes happily.
"Whoop dee doo," Copeland grumbles.
"Aww come on, Co! We aren't that bad!" Mitch says, throwing an arm over her shoulders. "Where's the love? Oh yeah, right here between my arms."
He hugs her, and she punches him in the gut before walking on ahead. The blond groans and holds his stomach, and Dean pats his shoulder.
"What's your first class?" he asks, trying to distract the young boy.
"Um..." Mitch grimaces. "Math."
"Same here! We've got this."
"We've got science," Dakota says proudly, nudging her brother. "But...that's one of the only ones we have together."
"Don't feel bad, Kota. We've got lunch and spare too," Asher reminds her.
They keep chatting as they head down the hall to their locker area.