As I looked around and observed them, I couldn''t help but notice the inherent ws in their nature. It''s almost as if they were programmed to make mistakes and to take the easy way out.


    I saw them constantly sumbing to their ownziness andck of discipline, failing to reach their full potential and settling for mediocrity. It was a sad state of affairs, really. And yet, they seemed content with it.


    They had the capacity for greatness, for innovation, for creativity, and yet they squander it all away. They had the ability to strive for excellence and they chose to rest on theirurels.


    I suppose it''s their nature to take the path of least resistance. It''s easier to becent, to not push oneself to the limit. And yet, it''s that verycency that holds them back, that limits their growth and their sess.


    It''s a vicious cycle, really. They befortable with their shorings and so they continue to perpetuate them. It''s a shame, really. With just a bit more effort, with just a bit more discipline, they could achieve so much more.


    But then again, perhaps that''s what sets me apart from them. I am not content with mediocrity. I push myself to be better, to do better, to strive for excellence in all things. And that, perhaps, is what makes me so different from them.


    ***


    "Hmm?"


    I murmured as my phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out, ncing at the screen.


    *


    Another exam... It''s just another routine to ovee, like always.


    I regarded the phone with a hint of a smile, marvelling at the simplicity of it all. Exams came and went, and yet I remained unchanging, and will be never.


    With a shrug, I put my phone away and returned to think about ''him''. The exam was just a minor hurdle, after all, and I had always excelled at oveing obstacles.


    The clock ticked and I knew it was time for ss. I left the room, and headed for the ssroom. I could hear the whispers around me, students talking about the uing exam. They sounded scared, almost as if they were fearing expulsion.


    Is it really that bad?


    I sauntered into the ssroom, taking my usual seat as the lesson began. The only noticeable difference today was the hushed chatter among my ssmates. The murmurs of students'' worries, the undercurrent of their dread, are palpable. A storm of anxiety and the fear of failure, of being expelled, hangs in the air.


    I sit in silence, watching it all unfold, and the question lingers in my mind. Is it worse than death?


    Despite that, most of them didn''t even hear or take a note in ss. Sometimes, I wonder if they are really afraid of being… expelled. I see some people in this school taking their studies seriously, but that doesn''t really set them apart from the rest.


    School life used to be exciting, but now it feels nd and monotonous. Each day is filled with lessons, and the asional exam and the weekends are spent on useless activities.


    It''s not much different from the project, just another routine to pass, like always.


    The presence of Mizuhara Ayato, perhaps more urately referred to as Subject One, sets him apart from the rest. He''s been living a pretty low-key life…<novelnext></novelnext>


    *


    I couldn''t help but ponder the thought of studying for the following day. Simply to confirm I attain the highest score possible.


    But well, does it really matter?


    After ss, I headed to the library. I could have just studied in my room, but where''s the fun in that? That''s when I spotted Hanae Kanako walking in front of me, heading to the library too.


    I casually followed her, trying not to make too much noise. But she waspletely unaware of me, even though I wasn''t exactly trying to be stealthy. My footsteps were loud, and I was pretty sure my breathing and presence gave me away.


    What struck me as odd was that I remembered Hanae Kanako wasn''t exactly the studying type. So why was she at the library? The most obvious reason was that she was there to study for the midterms, of course.


    As we reached the library, I finally approached her from behind.


    "Kanako," I called out, tapping her shoulder with a gloved hand. "What brings you to the library?"


    She flinched, her eyes widening with surprise. She seemed to be taken aback by my sudden greeting. It was amusing to see her flustered, but not as funny as it could have been with him.


    "N-Nothing much, just realized that midterms are fast approaching and I need to study." she stammered.


    I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head. "Hey Kanako, I thought you weren''t a fan of studying?"


    She turned to face me. "I''ve got to pass this midterm, even if it''s not my favourite thing to do," she said, before turning on her heels and entering the library.


    But just as she was about to step further inside, I stopped her in her tracks.


    "I see," I called out. "Would you mind if I join you?"


    She quickly nodded, with a soft hum of approval.


    And with that, we stepped into the library. It was surprisingly quiet for a ce where you''d expect lots of students to be buried in their books, studying for the uing midterms.


    As we strolled down the shelves, Hanae Kanako suddenly came to a halt and picked out a few books. I figured I might as well grab a few too, so I followed suit, stopping every now and then to choose my own stack of books.


    Kanako had quite the pile of books, which seemed a bit excessive. I wondered if she really needed all those books just for studying.


    So we finally took a seat in the library and I got to work. I didn''t really have to study math since I had already memorized all the forms, but I figured I might as well try to answer a few questions just to be sure…