"And did you see the way Davee looked? Keeled out on the floor, eyes rollin' into his head," said Inuwa with a humorous glint in his eyes.
"I was at your house, of course I did. It is curious how one could suffer such embarrassment and still have the gall to face their friends afterwards," Edgar sighed, with a slight shrugging of his shoulders. It seemed like he was yet to understand the depth of sheer ignorance and hardy willpower that was Davee.
"Haa... and here I thought you two couldn't agree on anything."
A high-pitched voice chimed, a flock of rose gold clouded Inuwa's vision. It was Clarissa. His friend.
"Be silent. We do not need your input," said Edgar.
"He's right, I'd like to maintain this atmosphere," agreed Inuwa.
"It's quite cordial after all," replied Edgar, nodding.
Clarissa's brain had short-circuited. The black-and brown-haired boys were finally agreeing, and they were in sync. What could've occurred to bring about this loathsome situation?
"Are you two getting married?" She said, out of the loop. The poor girl.
"I'd rather not."
"That is out of the question. In fact, something remarkable happened in the brief few minutes it took you to catch up to us." Edgar interjected.
"And what would that be?" Clarissa huffed.
"You see, as we engaged in a brawl, neither side budged an inch. A battle of the finest," Edgar looked prepared to go into lengthy detail about their nothing-burger fight. Clarissa didn't think she lacked the dignity to withstand such a spiel for any amount of time, as such she decided to end things rather quickly.
"I see, I see, what a fine battle indeed! Didn't you do something else?" Inquired a smug Clarissa.
"Ah yes, we encountered a lavender-haired boy, about 65 inches tall. With a disgusting manner," shuddered Edgar, after all, having grown up in a dignified upper-class family, he was taught rigorously about how to conduct himself, regardless of innate nature. Therefore, those with crass tones tended to disgust the boy, such as Inuwa.
"Yeah, he was quite fixated on me actually. He kept repeating offish statements that sounded like they were straight out of a manga!" said Inuwa, "Something, something like: 'the time is not yet right!' or 'You aren't supposed to be here!'."
"What a weirdo…" Clarissa sighed.
"All it took was a little glare, and he froze up. Maybe he's a younger year? Yet he was quite big. Why would he be afraid of me?" Inuwa continued.
"Considering he's 3 inches larger than you, I was wondering the same thing," Edgar said something that sounded audacious with little understanding. In the vicinity, one head turned. This was enough for Inuwa to signal for them to hush.
"Don't phrase it like that! Also, be quieter!"
"You do not tell me to silence myself-" retorted Edgar; however, it was too late, as Inuwa had already pressed his finger to his lips, disabling the projection of his voice.
"How dare you do something so…" Edgar looked desperate for words to convey his shame; however, the boy's weakness lay in his understanding of language and knowledge of words.
"You don't want to use the word 'outlandish', so you should use audacious," Inuwa replied manner-of-factly. To Edgar, this intensified his shame. The only way to reprimand this would be through the art of battle.
"Fine if this is what you want, then so be it."
"Inuwa? Edgar? Why are you squaring up on each other like that? What happened to that purple boy? Finish the story!" Clarissa begged, tearing up a little. If she couldn't get her conclusion, then she'd punish them for it.
Nearing the boys, dead-set on their strife, she unzipped the back pocket of Inuwa's schoolbag, discreetly revealing a single black pen. That was Inuwa's only pen, so it'd make for a decent punishment thanks to the boy's disorganisation.
Taking a moment to admire the scenery of the area, the group slowed their pace. They could see emerald leaves and saturated trees. Shrubbery and life all around as well as well-maintained, freshly tarred roads.
The path to school was always enjoyable for her. Illuminated by birds, squirrels and bugs. Even though, it would be their last year in middle school and their last year on this path.
"Clarissa, when you're done ogling the scenery, can you help unzip the back pocket?" asked Inuwa. "It's almost time for class. I think we should hurry," he added with a little more emphasis on the word: 'we'.
Edgar, who was staring intently at Inuwa, his eyes longing for vengeance, huffed.
"It is quite funny how everyone looks down on you."
"What was that?!" yelled an indignant Inuwa. A vein visibly popped on his forehead,
"I'm still young. I'm still growing! Don't you dare think fate's beaten me yet!" He shouted.
"I would not be so certain. Fate has eviscerated many. Maybe you are next," Edgar shrugged, standing at 162 centimetres, he was certain that he'd have much more room to grow than the runt. However, seeing how much he tried to combat this plight through exercise, eating and prayer. He had a smidgen amount of respect for him.
"I agree with Edgar, I'm taller than you, seeing you look up at me makes me feel like a mother," Clarissa snickered, for she was standing at 160 centimetres. Inuwa, in that metric, was completely overshadowed– even by the rest of the growing class.
The group's gentle increase in pace had long since become a dash towards the gate. Being late wasn't punishable, but as a group of some of the smartest students in the school, it would certainly decrease others' opinion of them. It also didn't help that they were arriving late together, which was certainly suspect; they'd probably owe a detention or two if they arrived late.
"Inuwa… hah… Edgar… hah… can't you two slow down?!" huffed an exasperated Clarissa. It wasn't fair how both of them were so agile, with Inuwa's sports talent and Edgar's martial arts talent; they were both incredibly formidable.
"We can't be late! By the way, why are you so slow?" said Inuwa, clearly smirking.
"I'm not interested in sports!" she shouted.
That wasn't entirely the case; she, in fact, loved some sports. Such as hockey, however, she couldn't afford to invest in them. To maintain her life in the school, she had to continuously study; after all, she was not an outlandish talent.
Dashing past the lavender bushes and thistles, the trio made way towards the great dark gate. They finally reached it. They were at the school. Gasping for air. Finally, a voice boomed towards them.
"Inuwa! Why are you late?" the figure revealed itself, colossal in height and mass, with bulging muscles and a shiny bald head. The man was a monster. The Coach.
"I'm sorry!" He hurriedly squeaked. He was never good at interacting with men.
"You missed morning track practice. 4 Laps around the field before registration, and I want them done with no cutting corners this time! Or I'll have you do 4 more!" he menacingly bellowed.
Inuwa scowled a little.
"Yes, sir!"
Finally, he shifted his head towards the creeping Edgar and exasperated Clarissa.
"Haa… haa... We got away!" She was practically slumping. Anyone who could see her state would feel nothing short of pity, the smartest in the school, the Jewel of Maverick High– now reduced to a stumbling, bumbling mess crawling to safety. The lack of pride and tact is evident. In the state she was now in, how could the Coach dare say anything to her?
"Do not be so gung-ho about this, he could be reading a command for us, too," reasoned Edgar.
"As if…. surely, he'd…. see me…. and have second…. thoughts. He wouldn't… want me… to die!!" she huffed.
Aren't you a little too tired from just a one-hundred-meter sprint? Edgar thought incredulously.
"You are probably wondering why I'm so tired. To be honest… I have no clue!" Uttering a coherent sentence squandered much of her stamina, resulting in her falling to the ground, bottom up. Like a flailed fish.
"Miss Rose, Cross. For poor conduct, I'll assign you to do 4 laps, Miss Rose will do 3 laps because of her current condition," He looked proud, likely thinking that he had done Clarissa a favour.
Not at all. In fact, by ascertaining her running speed, it was likely he had just resigned her to a fate of being spectated by the school while completing her laps, as she'd take far too long.
"Not fair… hah… I wish I could at least run with Nivanah or Mina…" She sighed, trying to get back on her knees.
"Let us just get to running, Clarissa." Edgar huffed, already preparing himself for a run. Interestingly, Edgar had finally taken off his rather oversized leather jacket and rolled up his trousers. It was clear he had no intention of holding back. Instead, he was likely attempting to compete with Inuwa. The brown-haired boy had donned a shadowed expression. Immediately darting off to compete with Inuwa.
The field was an emerald ocean, grass beaming with life indicated by its almost banana-like colouring. Whenever the Coach asks students to run, they usually have to run in a circle following the outside track lines, increasing the distance to run. It didn't help that the field was extravagant, its total length around 800 metres; in this sense, it was certain death Clarissa was marching towards.
"You bastard why are you trying to usurp me?!" yelled Inuwa in the distance.
"Just wait, fool. Soon you shall be passed completely." Edgar stated calmly.
"Ya think?! I've been a fast runner all my life! Get ready!" Inuwa was prepared to accelerate, no matter if it drained his stamina; he had a lot of it anyway.
"Well, have you ever outrun the treadmill, or jumped a metre fifty? I will defeat you!" bellowed Edgar.
Edgar had begun narrowly outpacing Inuwa, and he was able to accelerate faster than Inuwa. The moment Edgar reached his top speed; there would be almost no hope in winning; his max of 20 mph was insane to Inuwa. It was the second lap now, indicated by the fact that Clarissa had run around 1/2 of the field.
"Shit! I've got nothing, I'm too short, and he's too fast. Soon I'll be lapped," huffed an exasperated Inuwa. To his chagrin, the distance between the two had only grown. This was not due to a lack of stamina, but due to his lower max speed. What is he doing that's increasing his running speed? Maybe he shou-
His thought process was cut off by the cocky grin equipped by Edgar. His arm twisted towards him, revealing the grand gesture of a flipped bird. A vein popped. At that moment, Inuwa desired nothing more than to kill Edgar.
"You'll pay!"
"....!" A distant shout could be heard by Inuwa, but he was too far now.
"Haa... ha… haaa, not fair! Not fair!" echoed Clarissa.
What could Edgar be doing that makes him so much faster? I know it's not just a difference in max speeds. Is there a technique for running? Wait, he's taller, I'm shorter. It would be naturally unfair; I've got shorter legs and a smaller physique. However, I've kept up with him so far through muscularity. Maybe the clue is in themuscles. Inuwa thought.
Admiring his muscles, he took note of the bulge of his thighs and calves. They were his weapons. Looking over to Edgar, he took a longing gaze at his legs.
He rolled up his trousers? He's really taking this seriously. But then again, he didn't take off his bangles or his necklace.
Wow, his calves are quite developed, they're quite lean as well. I guess it makes sense, given his wealth and ability to spend on martial arts and all.
What does he practice again? Taekwondo? Karate? Wait! Wait! Way off topic, his calves. His calves …wait his strides! They're long! With his muscularity, he could maximise his stride length to get the greatest boost possible. That means…
Increasing the length of his strides, he began incorporating this technique. He knew it wouldn't be easy, or so he thought. Immediately, to his surprise, he was much faster. He could now see Edgar's back, even if it was the size of a potato from his point of view.
"Hey! Moneybags! I'm coming back and faster than a flash!" he yelled.
The last thing Edgar saw before Inuwa became level with him in the fourth lap was the disgusting smirk of the annoying, spiky, hairball as he flipped the signature bird. They were tied now.
"Urk...!"
"Not so confident now, are ya?"
"I just did not anticipate that the barbarian would grow a brain!"
"Hey now, didn't I beat you in that English exam?"
"English is inconsequential anyways!" Edgar replied.
"Is not. Maybe you're just too stupid to see the gift of language."
"Language is a gift given to 98% of people, are you really saying that I? The guy who won the IER Kangaroo course is illiterate?!"
"Exactly! Couldn't word it better. Truly, you are specialised!" Inuwa laughed.
"Ack! That's it! You'd better be prepared; I will surpass my own limitations!"
"Straight out of a manga…" Inuwa teased.
"What was that?!"
"E...t….m….d…s" Inuwa muttered.
"What?!" He bellowed, fuming and outraged.
"Eat my dust, stinky! You stink of ammonia! You early-earth memento!"
The sound of a vein popping alerted Inuwa to the incoming danger. Edgar's brown bangs were practically floating off his forehead due to the pure anger emanating off of him.
They were coming to a bend now, Clarissa was there, having finally finished her second lap.
"Yo, Clarissa, I'm dumping off Mr Memento, have fun!"
"Mr Memento? That's new, wonder what inspired it." Clarissa somehow coherently wondered aloud. Was she jogging?
The Coach would never know.
"YOU ARE DEAD!"
"Ah… I see," Clarissa began accelerating, trying to keep up with Edgar. When she met with Edgar, she carefully patted his back, saying, "There, there, moneybags. Just relax and remember this is a punishment, not a race."
Edgar glared at Clarissa. He was contemplating whether to tackle her, strangle her or kill Inuwa. The latter seemed most enjoyable.
"INUWAAAAAAA!" Edgar yelled with incomprehensible rage. He was about to make a break for it, but–
–Suddenly, a foreign presence had entered the fray.
Completely zipping past Edgar, leaving him bewildered. Being surpassed like this, Edgar's innate fire had burnt out, his alacrity killed.
"Hahahahahaha… Hahahahahaha!" Inuwa disjointedly laughed, seeing Edgar's face cheapened the punishment immensely. Maybe there wasn't anything to regret about coming late. He could see the finish line now; success was imminent. He excitedly giggled to himself. Edgar would never forget this.
Well, at least for a little while.
At the final few strides, however, something unexpected occurred. Inuwa was passed. Quietly, subtly, invisibly. The intricate rustling of the winds was proof enough that something had occurred. Immediately, Inuwa shifted the alignment of his eyes from the finishing line to the foot resting upon it, where his foot should've been. In that split second, his eyes traced the back of a boy, scanning for something his brain could recognise. Like a topping to a cake, a tuft of Lavender sat above the boy's scalp.
That boy! The lavender-haired boy. His clean and orderly hair was indistinguishable, broad shoulders and a curved back that highlighted his great speed and muscularity.
In a few more seconds, Inuwa had passed to the finish line, now darting his head upwards, he absorbed the presence fully. A clean pale face, there were no blemishes or moles on his face. His irises a disgusting, blood red. He bore a sickening smile, curved up to an extreme length, and his eyes emulated a controlled craze. He was wildly tame. The bizarre colour of his hair, but controlled style of it is further proof.
Immediately, Inuwa was intrigued by the boy. However, the second he decided to approach the foreign figure.
"Greetings. Inuwa," he said, with a plastic smile.
It was like he sensed him. However, deep down, Inuwa felt nothing but unease. How did he run so fast? Did he just start from somewhere else- no, that wasn't possible.
He had to have run the full length, didn't he? Inuwa knew instinctively that it was the case.
For some reason, Inuwa's gut churned and stirred– as if raising alarm bells for an incredible evil. But one should never trust their gut fully. In a context of the logical owl vs the instinctual snake, there would be a great merit to mull things over first before making guesses.
"H-hi there."
"Nice run."
"You too," He smiled.
"Inuwa! haa… You bastard!" yelled Edgar. He had dropped down to his knees, drained of will.
"Haaa… haaa… haaa... I'll be back…!" said Clarissa, who was gearing up to run her last lap.
"Ah. You must be the famous Edgar. I remember your performance in the International Engineering reality TV show; you were quite professional, doing those things with no guidance! Immaculate! So, defining!" He hooted.
"Huh? What are you talking about? It was the Kangar–" He was about to state, but Inuwa cut him off.
"–Anyhow, I think we should book it to class, Edgar!" Inuwa said.
Dashing off to class, Inuwa and Edgar, trailed by a walking Clarissa, waved the eccentric boy goodbye.
Meanwhile, from a distance, two large figures were discussing something of importance.
"That boy Inuwa is a lot more talented than I thought. I'm going to sign him up for the U16 sprinting tourney."
"But it's today!?" Exclaimed a voice, "Are you insane? He's only 14! As if he could compete without training against the top of the top talents, who also have an age gap over him!"
"What about Edgar? he displayed a similar level of ability?"
"There's a problem with him; once he experiences a setback, he seems to lack the motivation to bounce back. It's quite the weakness."
"Yeah, he was faster than Black-hair even when Black-hair was at his fastest; he was only a little slower to just about equal to that boy initially."
The other figure deliberated upon that for a bit.
"Shouldn't we still give him and that Lavender a position if we're giving Inuwa one?"
"That sounds reasonable, but how are we going to sell this to the manager?!" Exclaimed the shorter one.
"Oh, right…" Replied the Tall one, "Well, I've got to go tell Gomez and Larkins that they've lost their positions, so," he said, twiddling his thumbs.
"You're joking," the small one deadpanned.
"Heh-heh…"