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"Melanie, I didn't see you yesterday in French. Were you sick?"

It was Ben, the seniors' president. He suddenly appeared in front of her, with a worried look.

"At this rate the whole school will ask me if I was sick" Melanie sighed. She didn't expect so many people to worry about her, even if it was just politeness.

"Well, you rarely miss class. I remember in freshman, you came with a neck brace and a leg in a cast. If that didn't stop so maybe this time it was something worst. But I'm glad it's not"

"Thank you. Do you have something to tell me?"

Ben flinched slightly. She said it as if it was obvious that he only approached her for this purpose. She wasn't accusing him but now that he thought about it, it was the case. Actually he never liked how some people get close to her only for their interest and never talk to her after. He started feeling guilty because he realized he was somehow doing the same since he would only talk to her because of his position as the seniors' president.

—Dotti, did Mister President stop functioning?—

—Seems like. Restart him—

"So?" Melanie asked again.

"... Yes, it's about a new science contest" Ben said after collecting himself. "You can devise anything you want or recreate an existing project. It's thoughtfully explained here"

He handed her a bunch of paper. He didn't ask her if she even agreed to do it because Melanie never said no to a contest.

—Dotti, I think this is the contest. Look 100,000 for the 1st, 50,000 for the 2nd and 25,000 for the 3rd—

—Yeah it's. You need to absolutely win the first place to cover the debt your mother will take—

—That's much?! Was she crazy?! What if I actually just stop her from betting too much money or whatever ?—

—Well initially Melanie participated in the contest not for her mother but for her so still won't fill the Destinymeter—

—So I can still do it right? It will help Melanie in the end—

—... Don't harm her or it's a fail. I warn you—

—OK, OK—

"Will Gayle participate too?" She asked after seeing that it was not school-based so several candidates could be from the same school.

"No, he said he's not free during the summer. The contest is right at the end so the participants will probably work during the summer to finish their project. Then I'll let you eat. See you"

Ben waved at her to which she responded with a few nods. She didn't even take two steps that another person came to her.

"Can I eat with you?" It was Gayle. He had a little awkward smile on his face while waiting for her to answer. However, he saw her frown and immediately said.

"Or you prefer to eat alone? It's okay though"

"No, it's fine I can eat with you. Like you said, I'm alone anyway. But what about your friends?"

"I already told them that I won't eat with them today" Gayle answered happily. For a moment he thought that she would have said no. He glanced at the paper in her hands and recognized the contest rules Ben gave him before.

"Ah Ben told you about the upcoming contest ?" He asked while they were sitting at an empty table. If she wanted to do it, he would ask for them to team up. And as he knew Melanie, she would participate.

"Well I just received the papers, I need to read them but I think I'll do it anyway. He told me that you won't do it, saying you're busy"

Gayle internally cursed at Ben for speaking more than necessary. He didn't know if he could retract now since he didn't know how much Ben blabbered. He had said that he planned a trip with his friends and he couldn't miss it since it was their last summer before they'll go to different universities.

If he wanted to join now after hearing that Melanie would do it, it would look suspicious since he clearly said that he didn't want. He didn't want to make obvious that he was trying to get close to Melanie since he didn't know how she would react. He could say that he was one of the closest person to Melanie in the school since they participated in a lot of contests together. However, it still didn't make them friends because Melanie liked to be alone and he didn't want to bother her.

But yesterday when he saw her smile towards him when he waited for her even though she asked him before to leave her, something lightened inside him. She didn't seem bothered at all. That night, he couldn't sleep while feeling abnormally warm inside and smiling like an idiot. He came today with the resolution to get close to her no matter what, but now that he was in front of her, he felt intimidated and doubtful. What if it was just him who was all over a simple smile ?

"Hum yeah kinda"

—Crap. I thought I could use that to get closer with him but now that he confirmed it himself... —

—... Run little Gayle, you'll be free after the contest—

—What do you mean?—

—Ah true, I didn't tell you what happens after you complete the world—

—You were prompt to tell that I can't do this and that but not the important—

—Anyway, the moment the Destinymeter is filled, you'll go to the next world—

—Immediately?!—