But...

[There was…]

Scribble... Scribble...

"I'm done!"

"I'm done."

"So fast..."

"Do you think they will share some of the answers?"

"Hope so! I think I will fail!"

"Silence! Continue with your test. You two, stand outside."

[There was someone…]

"Ahh! They are so fast!"

"Who do you think will win this time?"

"It's hard to tell..."

"But the two are so cool!"

"It's a tie!"

[There was someone who I have…]

"Hey, this time who will get the first place?"

"The two always score full points..."

"This is what it means to be a genius, huh?"

"And our class got two them."

"But, isn't Mariam more approachable?"

"Totally! Yuri is really too cold. He's always alone, too..."

"Hey! The results are out! Both got first place again!"

"As expected."

[There was someone who I have detested so much for so many years. ]

"That Alonso girl again?"

"Cannot even beat her for one point? What's wrong with you, Yuri?"

"Tests are made so teachers see the correct answer, not the whole process to reach that answer."

"That's true. Either way, you are not above her."

"Don't disappoint us next time."

[For so many years. Always competing against me. Always making others compare us. Always been tied together. Sports. Studies. Competitions. Exams. Always. Always tied to that name.]

"The winners for the science fair are: Mariam Alonso and Yuri Yajima!"

"The winners for 100 meters race are: Mariam Alonso and Yuri Yajima!"

"The winners for the math competition are: Mariam Alonso and Yuri Yajima!"

"The top scorers for the university admission are: Mariam Alonso and Yuri Yajima!"

[So why…]

"Wait! Wait!"

"Yes?"

"You… why did you choose a career to become a P.E teacher?"

"Why, you ask?"

"Haven't you always..."

"Well, I thought it was time to choose for myself. Actually, any career would have been fine but yours."

"Huh? You… But, you..."

"I noticed. You didn't like it; being compared. You hated it. That's why I promised myself that high school would be the last time we would compete."

"Why did you…?"

"Ah… well… It's a bit embarrassing to say it but, since we are now considered adults, I think we should be more sincere. You were lonely, weren't you?"

"Eh?"

"Actually, I hated it, too. People always expecting you to be good at sports, at math, at science… Just because you are labeled a 'genius'. We are human, too. Fragile. We can break. That's why I thought I could share the burden with you. Though, you didn't seem to like it. That's why, sorry for being selfish for so many years. This time, you don't have to worry about it anymore."

[At that time I couldn't say it.]

[Thank you.]

[I had always wanted to tell her that I am grateful for sharing the limelight of being a genius. The pressure, the expectations, the solicitous smiles from teachers, the envious gazes from our classmates. I couldn't thank her because even when I had detested her competing with me and me not ever winning against her. It was fun.]

[I had fun.]

[But...]

.

.

.

At a high end laboratory.

"A conference?" A middle-aged man with thin, brown hair, a fair complexion from being shut in in the laboratory at all times, and the necessary attire to be doing chemical experiments, asked, flummoxed.

His assistant, a petite woman with cute features, wearing a pretty dress and flats—because she had been scolded for wearing high heels—fidgeted for a moment. "Yeah… The director directly approved it, so..."

"So I've been saddled to give a conference to students about 'Leading Chemical Technology'." He finished for her. He sighed.

Yuri was now 38-years-old, and he had not changed one bit. He always preferred to be alone. His job assured him of that. The director was happy with just getting results and have his face plastered on magazines and the newspaper, talking about chemical breakthroughs his workers had made. His boss was a flashy and dimwit man, yet Yuri couldn't understand his decision.

There were better options than him, to be honest. More sociable, charismatic and approachable co-workers. There were even those who were good with younger people as they had families.

He accepted he had nothing of that. Not that he needed it to make experiments. The ph level of a substance won't care if he was charismatic or not.

"So, why me?" He asked, still confused.

"Um, because of the location." The assistant replied.

Superior High School for the Gifted.

As the name suggests, only gifted youths attended this type of school. Those who have a talent for any subject, be it math, science, music, etc. Of course, those who worked hard and could keep up were also received in this school.

Although a small school, most, if not all of the students who study in this place, become the future leaders of society in their respective branches.

This type of place is… "Depressing." The man commented as he drove through the gates.

It was early in the morning, and he had to report to the vice-principal to present himself and be acclimated to the building. After all, it was a three-day conference. He had trouble finding lodging as the school was actually in the middle of nowhere.

Apparently the building used to belong to some rich person who appreciated those with talent, so they donated it to make the school.

"Welcome to our school, Doctor Yajima." The vice-principal, a stern lady with very striking and appropriate clothes for the 18th century, greeted him.

"Ah… It's a pleasure to be here..." The lady's mouth twitched at his lackluster reply, but she let it slide. He came from a very famous laboratory that boasted of having the best researchers of the world.

She didn't want to offend such a high-end character despite his lacking manners.

"Follow me." She succinctly ordered. "The Superior High School for the Gifted is an institution with almost 200 gifted students. We have 50 years of history, and we have accomplished..."

So boring.

He completely tuned out whatever she had the necessity to brag in front of him. He was really hating being there. The atmosphere, the building with their shiny candelabra, the carpeted hallways, the most-likely pretentious teachers he was about to meet, the stuck-up students who think so highly of themselves…

"This is Doctor Yuri Yajima. He is going to give the conference to our students." The lady presented him before the staff of teachers who primly greeted him, but otherwise showed no interest in him. Their egos very high in the clouds. "I will take you to the auditorium." So, he was back to walking down the oppressing hallways.

The auditorium was an annex building that could only be accessed from outside. The two had to exit the main building go around it through the corridors and then enter through the double door.

Just as the lady was jingling her keys to open the lock, the excited chatter of the students approached.

"That woman… Again, doing unnecessary things." The lady mumbled with narrowed eyes.

Yuri looked on with bored eyes at the group of students wearing comfortable clothes for running being led by a middle-aged woman with the same comfortable clothing.

Yuri was transported to the day he was eighteen, and was graduating. The day he lost his rival. Despite sporting some expression lines and having gained weight, he could easily recognize that lost rival.

Mariam Alonso.

"Good morning, vice-principal." She had lost the liveliness of youth, and instead had gained a softness and steadiness of maturity in her voice. "Oh… you… Long time no see, Yajima." She still had that habit of calling people by their surnames, never by their names, though.

"Yeah… it's been a while..." He couldn't pull off an amiable smile like her. It had never been his style.

"I am going to get ready, vice-principal. Excuse me." She politely nodded to the lady. "Let's talk later." She waved at him.

He was… happy.