In this world, there exist people known as "Geniuses."
A cute, orange-haired girl strained on her tiptoes to write the answer on the blackboard. The math teacher next to her watched, dumbfounded.
"Done, Teacher."
The girl turned back, her small face completely expressionless.
"All... all correct," the female teacher stared at her in disbelief, then asked, "But what about the process? Is there no solution process?"
"There's no such thing," the girl tilted her head in confusion. "The answer appears in my mind the moment I see the numbers."
"Gak!"
The teacher instantly felt dizzy, as if the decades of teaching knowledge she had accumulated were under an unprecedented assault.
Unrivaled in mathematics and physics, possessing an incredible sensitivity to numbers, and a superhuman talent for knowing the result the moment she sees the problem! Her height is a regrettable 143 centimeters...
She is known as the Thumbelina of Mechanical Engineering—Ogata Rizu.
"Furuhashi-kun!!"
A middle-aged teacher, around forty, clutched a piece of paper and wept profusely, looking as if he might faint on the spot. "This is a truly soul-stirring essay, a sheer work of literary art! To have a student like you is truly... truly..."
With that, his sobs became even more overwhelming.
"Ah... well, I just wrote it casually..." the girl named Furuhashi Fumino mumbled weakly, her voice fading away.
Let me repeat: in this world, people known as Geniuses exist.
Possessing overwhelming ability in modern literature, classical literature, and literary Chinese, a language talent that even teachers find daunting. She is known as the Sleeping Beauty of the Literary Forest—Furuhashi Fumino.
Undoubtedly perfect beings in their respective fields. Just a brief encounter is enough to sense their extraordinary nature and feel genuine admiration for their talent. It is through the achievements of such geniuses that humanity has progressed to the modern age.
For two such people to be attending the same school, named Ichinose High School, is truly... a form of misfortune.
"It's a misfortune for me."
Hayakawa Haku rested one hand on his chin, holding a can of coffee in the other, his face devoid of expression.
It's a completely normal mindset, right? After all, going to school with geniuses means no matter how hard you try, you can never even hope to catch up. So, it's normal to have a little negative emotion bubbling up inside. Most people would feel this way—it's normal because most people are ordinary individuals without talent. Especially since classmates frequently discuss these two, with people constantly talking about them; it's hard not to think about it.
"Kyaa! Ogata-kun is just too cute! That small, delicate stature, and the calm way she writes problems on the board—doesn't it look so cool?! The contrast is just amazing!"
"..."
Hayakawa silently listened to the fervent discussion beside him. The coffee can in his hand let out a tiny "clink." They all go to the same school, yet they treat her like a celebrity. Shameful.
"Furuhashi-kun is wonderful too—the Sleeping Beauty of the Literary Forest," a girl covered her face, blushing with a lovesick expression. "Doesn't that cool, reserved, and quiet feeling make her seem like a princess?"
A princess? With that pure, prima donna attitude of hers? How laughable.
"Damn it!"
Hayakawa Haku savagely smashed the empty coffee can against the rooftop wall, his face overflowing with anger. After self-pitying for a while, he threw himself onto a chair on the roof.
Hayakawa Haku, a person destined for greatness, who would become someone historically famous like Napoleon, or perhaps a tyrannical ruler like Nero—a celebrity who would be looked up to by millions.
And yet... he was the perennial second place at Ichinose Academy. Second in the science track. Second in the arts track.
He has excellent grades, is skilled at sports, is good-looking, socially perfect, beloved by everyone at school, never lacking in confessions or love letters, and his personality is quite gentle, too~
Yet, he is the perennial second place.
"Aahhhhhhh!!"
Hayakawa viciously stomped on the coffee can. The poor metal container let out a miserable screech and was flattened.
Alright, the gentle personality is a lie.
In reality, his desire to win is incredibly strong, to an incomprehensible degree. Simply put, he is arrogant, proud, stubborn, and a sore loser. Whether it was rock-paper-scissors with the teacher in kindergarten, Street Fighter matches with classmates in the arcade in primary school, or racing and swimming in middle school—he always had to compete with others, and no matter the means, he had to win. He is a guy who would feel his whole body itch, as if covered in ants, if he lost even once. If you lost to him, that was normal, and nothing happened. But if you were unfortunate enough to win, you were in for a world of pain, because he would keep competing until he beat you.
What is this? This is Invincibility.
The path of the Great Hayakawa Emperor must be undefeated for his entire life; that is the glorious golden path. The Great Hayakawa Emperor is second to no one; that's how he's walked with his head held high his entire life.
However, in high school, the age for academic competition, the destined-to-be-great Hayakawa's dōshin (heart/spirit) was shattered.
He has never won once, completely crushed by the two geniuses in their respective fields... No matter how hard he tries, he's always second.
"Goo-gah-gah-gah-gah~"
Hayakawa Haku let out a dark, twisted, maniacal laugh. Despite being under the bright sun, he managed to create the atmosphere of a supernatural scene. The malice radiating from him grew deeper, almost as if ghosts were about to float out.
"Those two, how dare they so effortlessly step on me time and time again?! I absolutely won't forgive them," Hayakawa straightened up, his body trembling slightly. His eyes were dark and shone with a strange light. His handsome face twisted into a demonic expression, and he let out a monster-like roar. "I'll just expose my true nature and brutally take revenge on them! If they get seriously ill or something, they wouldn't be able to take the exams, right? Goo-gah-gah-gah-gah!"
Sure enough, his true personality couldn't be farther from gentle, and he would stop at nothing to win.
"Ding-dong~"
Just as Hayakawa was about to put his wicked "Geniuses' Downfall Plan" into action, the rooftop speaker blared across the entire campus.
"Hayakawa Haku from Class 1-B, please report to the Principal's Office immediately."
"I repeat, Hayakawa Haku from Class 1-B, please report to the Principal's Office immediately."
"Huh?"
Hayakawa Haku looked up, stood up with a confused expression. "Looking for me?"
He didn't think he had done anything significant enough for the principal to summon him. After all, he was always so yasashii (kind), so good-natured, so benevolent. Those two are so arrogant, and he's only just now deciding to get revenge—his personality is practically angelic, wouldn't you say? Mhmhmh~
Although he couldn't figure out the reason, since the principal was looking for him, he had better go check it out.
So, Hayakawa Haku headed to the Principal's Office.