Wake-up.
Verina opens and closes her eyes:
"…What happened?…How long until today's meeting?"
She looks at the clock hanging on the wall and sees that three hours remain until the meeting.
Verina: I woke up early… There's still plenty of time left before the meeting…
Verina: Anyway… it seems I pushed myself too hard during training, to the point I fainted… Good thing that's all it was and nothing worse.
Verina: But… what should I do with all this time? I don't feel like sleeping.
She sits on her bed, breathing and relaxing in the morning atmosphere.
Verina: I wonder if Razin has managed to complete the first stage?
She glances to the side.
Verina: Razin thinks too much about comparing himself to me… about who will accomplish things faster… As long as his mind isn't clear and his focus isn't entirely on his body, he won't be able to activate his core. If he can't overcome this on his own… I should try to help him. But how do I convince him that the speed of core activation isn't that important? So he doesn't treat it like a competition?... I don't know.
Verina: Anyway… I hope he's completed the first step.
While sitting on her bed, she recalls:
Verina: Right… Today we'll make Link confess… I won't forgive him for ruining my reputation. He must confess in front of everyone… or he'll be punished.
---
Tark: I didn't succeed today in the next step… but that's okay… I still have plenty of time. I'm optimistic.
Tark: Father… Mother… trust me… I'll be the one to fix our crisis.
---
Verina is sitting on her chair, looking at herself in the mirror.
Verina: It's been six days since the techniques lecture… Based on my progress, I think I'll be able to activate my core within two days if all goes well. Not many steps remain…
Verina: My next training will be on the core artery… and once I master handling that artery, I'll be ready to gather all the details and activate my core in a single session.
Verina: But… there's hesitation inside me… Will activating my core affect Razin?… and if it does, will it be positive or negative?
Verina: Razin worries me… He cares too much about comparing… I'm afraid he'll get discouraged if I activate my core before he does… But I'm already at the final step… and he's still at the beginning…
Verina: I don't think Razin is weak… Even now, he hasn't fallen behind the teacher's expectations. The teacher said the first step usually takes about a week and a half on average… so Razin is still in the safe zone.
— Razin sleeping. No smile on his face.
Verina: In reality… I don't think Razin lacks anything at all. He could've achieved what I did at the same time—or even faster… He's smart and talented… The only thing holding him back is his mental distraction and letting thoughts of comparison invade his training… That's what's delaying him.
She throws herself back on her bed.
Verina: I'm tired… even though I just woke up.
…
Verina: I've always thought… we—the kids in this school—are completely different from regular kids… It's like we're not the same age… We don't think about playing or having fun… and we don't cry over silly things… At least, that's our normal state.
…
Verina: I think… being told you might die here the moment you enter this school forces everyone to mature faster… I don't think there's any other six-year-old in the world reading about human arteries.
Verina: But… why does this happen? You have to push your limits and change your mindset at six years old… or you won't survive this school.
Verina: Are we really special kids?… Or are we just kids who had their childhoods stolen?... Maybe… it's both. (smiles)
---
Two hours later
Razin wakes up… but no smile appears on his face.
He follows his usual morning routine.
He looks at his palm.
Razin: Will I really succeed… in activating my core?
Razin: So far… we haven't even reached the second week of school… So I'm still within the safe window… But… aren't I supposed to be special? I've been treated as special since birth because of my initial precision… Even at school… everyone is amazed by it… So?… Why can't I benefit from that? Why haven't I succeeded in even the first step?
Razin: This is… starting to really annoy me.
Razin: I've studied enough… it can't be due to lack of knowledge… and I have the highest precision in the school… So it's not a talent issue… Then what? Why am I not succeeding?… I don't think I have a problem!
Razin: I'm sure Verina has progressed again… She'll be the first to activate her core… far ahead of everyone else… I think she'll activate it before most of the students even complete the first step.
Razin: She's really that amazing… I wish I were like her.
He sighs.
Razin: Enough depression now… I need to separate what's happening in my training… from my daily life. I have to smile… and be kind to everyone… just like my father taught me.
(Oraphin is sleeping at home…)
Razin: The important thing now… We'll catch Link today… I need to leave early as we agreed.
---
Tark: Okay… Time to go.
Twenty minutes later
Razin walks toward the main building.
Verina (calling): Razin! Wait!
He stops walking and waits for her.
Verina: Hello! Are you ready?
Razin (smiling, looking at her): Yes… totally ready.
Verina (thinking): He's smiling… Should I ask if he made progress?… No… a smile doesn't mean anything. He's always like this. Maybe he's just hiding what's inside… But over time, I'll know from his actions how things went.
Razin: Verina… follow me. I'll take us to the perfect spot for our plan. No need to wait for Link.
He grabs her hand and runs toward a specific room in the main building.
— Room 3-B
Verina: But why? What did you do?
Razin: I asked Tark to bring him here!… So no one will suspect us… and Link won't suspect anything.
Verina: That's amazing! Excellent idea.
Verina (thinking): When did he do that?! When did he even think of it?
She recalls—
Tark (smiling): I'd like to help… If you need anything, just tell me.
Verina (thinking): Hmm… Maybe Razin thought of it at that moment?
Razin: Thank you… It's not a big deal… really nothing.
Verina: Anyway… Razin is smiling, yes… but there's a clear difference in his behavior. He's definitely hiding something… It's easy to notice… I can't keep avoiding it… I have to help him solve his problem instead of running away from it.
Verina: Razin… you're not okay, right?
Razin: Hmm… why do you think that?
Verina: You still haven't progressed in your training, right?… Don't hide it from me… I can tell from how you're acting.
Razin (upset): Yeah… but… you've progressed too and don't want to tell me either, right?
Verina: … I'll discuss that with you later… And don't worry about your problem… I promise I'll help you fix it… So relax… Now it looks like Tark is here with Link.
Razin (smiling): Yeah… thank you.
---
Meanwhile
Tark: Alright… here I'll wait for Link to arrive.
A few minutes pass… Link arrives at the hall.
Tark: Hey Link… wait a second. I want to talk to you.
Link: ?… What?
Tark: Just want a quick chat… Let's walk. Don't worry, we won't be late for the meeting.
Link (curious): …Alright then.
Tark (thinking): Okay… all I need to do now is get him to room 3-B.
---
Yesterday—
Razin: Okay, see you… I'm heading out.
Verina (not looking at him): Razin… don't waste your thoughts on things that won't help you.
As Razin walks toward the dorm building, he sees Tark and approaches him.
Razin: Hey Tark.
Tark: Hello… need something?
Razin: Actually… yes. I want your help.
Tark: Is it about the rumor?
Razin: Yeah… We found the one who did it… it's Link.
Tark (slightly surprised): Really?… I barely even notice him. So I'm not that surprised.
Razin: Yeah… so… I want you to bring him into our trap.
Tark: ?…
Razin: I haven't told Verina yet… but I'll take her to room 3-B tomorrow before the meeting. At that time… I want you to stand outside the hall… and when you see Link, bring him with you to room 3-B. I don't think he'll suspect you… that's why I chose you.
Razin: What do you think? Will you help me?
Tark: Sure… no problem. I'll do it.
Razin: Great… thanks.
Razin continues on his way.
---
Present
After a bit of walking… Tark and Link arrive at the room.
Link: So? What do you want?
Suddenly… Tark pushes Link into the room and shuts the door.
Now in the room: Razin, Verina, Link… and lots of empty chairs.
Link panics when he sees Razin and Verina.
Link (screaming): Tark?! What are you doing?! Let me out!
Razin steps toward the fallen Link.
Standing over him, he says:
Razin: Hello.
Link (terrified): What's happening here? What do you want from me?
Verina: Calm down, please… We just want to ask you a few questions.
Link: What could the lovebirds possibly want from me?
His words provoke Verina a little… but she controls herself.
She walks closer.
Verina: Do you know… who wrote this paper?
She raises the rumor paper.
Link (nervous): N-no?… Why would I know?… Of course I don't!
Verina (sitting beside him): Relax… Why are you so scared?
Razin: So… you're saying you don't know who wrote this paper?
Link: Wh-why would I know?… It's just a paper proving you two are disgusting.
Verina is angry… but holds herself back.
She breathes in and out.
Verina: So… do you know who wrote this paper?
She raises the handwriting paper from the contest—Link's name is on it.
Link freezes in terror when he sees it… He realizes they know he's the one who spread the rumor.
Link (terrified): That's the paper I wrote during the contest… Why do you have it?
Verina: That's not your concern… Now tell me… Why does your handwriting match the handwriting on the rumor paper?
Link: I d-don't—
Razin grabs Link by the collar.
Razin: If you don't confess… we'll go to the teacher with undeniable proof.
Verina (thinking): This isn't the Razin I know… Is he really that crushed inside?… I was right… I don't like seeing Razin like this… I've never seen him act this aggressively… I need to help him… help him let go of this pain and return to who he was. I can't accept seeing him like this…
Razin: You have two options… Confess to us now, and at the start of the meeting in a bit, admit in front of everyone that you did it and that everything you said about us was a lie… Or don't confess, and we'll report you… You'll be punished… Either way, the truth will come out. Choose wisely.
Verina (thinking): But also… maybe it's not just about his sadness and internal pressure from training… Maybe he's just angry at what Link did. I can't blame him… I'm even angrier. Link destroyed my reputation… Honestly, I don't know how I'm still holding myself back from hitting him.
Verina: Razin… stop. Calm down a little.
Razin: But… aren't you angry, Verina?… It upset you even more than me when it happened… How are you so calm now?
She recalls—
Razin: I'm sorry… but I won't forgive them for upsetting you… and that makes me angry…
---
Verina (shocked, thinking): Is this the reason he's so angry? Because it upset me too… and hurt me?
Verina (smiling): Thank you, Razin… You said exactly what was in my heart. What matters now is we're reclaiming our right… so I'm happy, don't worry.
Razin: …Okay… if you're happy now… then it's fine. (smiles)
Link: …Alright… I'll confess my mistake in front of everyone… Please forgive me…
Verina: I'm afraid I won't forgive you… but I'll accept it since you'll apologize. But I don't understand… Why did you spread the rumor in the first place? We never did anything to you.
Link: I just… felt jealous… The teacher and all the students kept looking at you like you were special… The teacher treated you differently after the meetings and spoke with you… and everyone looked at you in awe… So I got jealous… and I tried to ruin it… and I think I succeeded… Sorry…
Razin (angry): You did all this because of jealousy?! You did something huge… Verina is from House Alethiar… Do you know what it means to tarnish the reputation of someone from that family?! Are you stupid?! You need to convince everyone you lied… That what you said about her wasn't true… or I'll never forgive you.
Verina puts her hand on Razin's shoulder.
Verina: Calm down, please… Thank you… The important thing is we achieved our goal… My reputation will recover gradually, don't worry… Ease your mind… Don't overthink it. (smiles)
Verina (thinking): Razin is broken inside because of a competition he created in his own mind between me and him… But at the same time, he never hated me… He never blamed me… He blames himself… even though this competition is imaginary… and meaningless… and only exists in his head… I don't know how to feel about that… but I'm happy Razin still cares about me… and tries to restore my reputation… Even at his best, Razin never spoke this way…
Link: I'm sorry… I'll confess now…
Verina: Yes… The meeting's about to start… Let's go.
As they walk toward the hall—
Verina stops Razin briefly.
Verina: Razin… Thank you, really… I'm glad you care about me. (smiles)
Razin tries to smile and act normal.
Verina: …Don't force yourself to do something you don't want to… Don't fake it… You don't have to smile if you can't.
That sentence hits Razin deeply…
Razin: Y-yeah…
Verina: …I know exactly what's going through your mind… and I promise… it won't last long… I'll help you overcome it.
Razin (tearfully): R-really?… Is that possible?
Verina: Of course… it's very possible… But first, I want you to do two important things.
Razin: ?… What are they?
Verina: Trust yourself… and trust me.
---
Link: Teacher… I'd like to speak to the students about something important… May I?