ã€ŠThe Genius Manipulatorã€‹


 Chapter 1 â€“ A Normal Day

    It is normal to have a dream. One¡¯s hardship in life is for the pursuit of that dream. Whether it be riches, fame, or power. In some form or another, whether for ¡°good¡± or ¡°bad¡±, it influences the holder. You could even say that a person¡¯s never-ending occupancy in life is to dream.

    I¡¯m pretty content with my life so far. Why is that? Well¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you heard me. There¡¯s no mistake about this.¡±

    ¡°But- how did you¡­ there¡¯s no way you could have!¡±

    The boy in front of me is the son of a businessman. The father owns a few stores from a massive company. With a firm grip on the local market, it has become difficult for your neighborhood-owned mom-and-pop stores that used to be here.

    Not that I care.

    ¡°I wonder how a father would feel if he knew the allowance he gave his son was spent on¡­¡±

    I swiped through the pictures I have on my phone. A picture I stopped on depicted him entering a discernible building adorned with neon lights in the shape of women. With him, was a few of his buddies and some rough-looking men.

    I could see the boy sweat.

    ¡°Ah! Not only that! I almost forgot your activitesin the alleys!¡±

    I swiped to a picture of him trading some cash with a sizable bag of obviously unknown contents.

    The boy was about to say something, but I interrupted him.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry! I won¡¯t tell anyone. Umm. Carlos? Kaine?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Co-¡±

    ¡°However¡­! I can be forgetful at times. I wonder if there is something that keeps making me forget to send these to a father or a news organization. Hmm¡­¡±

    ¡°Please, I¡¯ll do anything! My dad will lose his job for sure! If those get sent out, then I¡­ we¡­.¡±

    He gulped.

    ¡°Do you want money? I¡¯ll pay you!¡±

    Oh, yes. This is what I wanted to hear. I can¡¯t help but smile.

    ¡°I wonder how much is enough for me to forget about these pictures?¡±

    ¡°How much?¡±

    I thought very hard. Of course, I am only acting. This is the part where I can feel the excitement.

    It is imperative to let the party with the most to lose to provide the basis for negotiations. In this situation, if the boy had said a specific number, then that number would give me the clue of how much he is willing to give up. If I keep silent, he¡¯ll continue to increase his offer. If this boy is as simple as I think he is, then this should be easy.

    I kept on the act of being deep in thought.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you $600!¡±

    I kept on my silence.

    ¡°$800?¡±

    Silence.

    ¡°A thousand?¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Tranquility.

    ¡°Please, I-I can¡¯t go more than $2,000¡±

    A very tempting offer. A lump sum of two grand does seem attractive. However, I¡¯m going for something more long term.

    ¡°Say, I was wondering. You¡¯ve been going to these places and buying some questionable goods. Where do you get this money?¡±

    He frowns and replies, ¡°My dad gives me an allowance of $1,000 every month.¡±

    His eyes went wide after realizing his mistake. I can¡¯t help but smile at the boy¡¯s utter foolishness.

    ¡°My, your father is really generous! He¡¯s so charitable to his son. I wonder if the son is as charitable as well.¡±

    ¡°What? I can¡¯t give you my entire allowance! Please, there has to be another way!¡±

    I sighed, ¡°Very well. I am a kind man so I will spare you.¡±

    He smiled gleefully.

    ¡°$900 per month should be charitable enough, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    He frowned sorrowfully.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m starting to think one thousand is a nice number.¡±

    ¡°No! $900 is good! I¡¯ll pay you $900 at the start of each month. I''ll make sure to bring this month''s tomorrow!¡±

    "How generous of you! I highly appreciate your charity! Now, I don¡¯t even remember the reason we met for in the first place!¡±

    I grabbed his hand and gave him a firm handshake. With my best smile, of course.

    ¡°Wait, what about the pictures? Are you going to delete them?¡±

    ¡°Hmm? What pictures?¡±

    I start walking away.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to delete them, right?¡±

    ¡°I wonder.¡±

    I continued walking and left him in the shadow of the school building.

    ---

    It¡¯s been almost a year since I have started high school. In that time, I have taken control over most of the school¡¯s biggest players. The little business boy was but one of my little side tasks.

    Theseminor tasks are for normal, everyday necessities. An allowance for me, since my parents cannot. A few favors owed to me here and there. Collate information. Persuade the unwilling. The usual.

    Those little tasks would then help me build up to my main task.

    To live without worry. An easy and relaxed life. When I have the whole entire school ¨C nay, just the students of the same year as I is enough¨C I could have them under my control. In a group of hundreds, the probability of many becoming more useful to me in the future is something worth investing in. Of course, I only target those that are of a stronger standing than others. I have no need to depend on the weak. However, I do meet some promising people who are weak on their own. For those kinds of people, I help them in any way I can and get them strong.

    That way, they¡¯ll owe me a favor they will be hard-pressed to deliver.

    There are not that many promising weaklings, however. Before, back in middle school, I have found them in quite the abundance. Now, in my first year of high school, things are different. Perhaps I¡¯ve become picky?

    I opened a door and entered a classroom occupied by three other students.

    ¡°Dale. As expected, I can always find you in the photography room.¡± I said as I closed the door behind me.

    ¡°Mind if I have a little chat with you? It¡¯ll just be for a moment.¡± I smile.

    ¡°Oh! Kastille. Sure. Hey, want to check out some of the developing photos?¡±

    ¡°That sounds great. Let¡¯s see them!¡±

    We both head into the darkroom after Dale notified his friends of his imminent return.

    Dale is one of those weaker ones that I¡¯ve nurtured to become the president of the photography club in the school. I¡¯ve known him since the last year of middle school.

    For two years, I have lent my aid to him. I have helped him with his self-confidence, having him become proud of his photography skills, having him acquire his first girlfriend, helping him get elected as the photography club president, helping him with his familial issues.

    To my surprise, he persevered. At times, I even thought to give up on him. His smile is now full of warmth and his heart with compassion.

    How utterly pitiful.

    Or rather, I should say the human being in general is pitiful. To require the assistance of someone other than yourself. To be at the position to not be able to help yourself. To require outside assistance to save oneself from their own faults.

    The human being is weak.

    I give him a smile as he closed the darkroom door behind us.

    ¡°I have to thank you again for getting those photographs. You really helped save that boy.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. I would love to help people stay away from those sinful acts in any way I can.¡±

    He gave me a smile and continued, ¡°You¡¯re a really nice guy, you know? A bit weird for going as far as having me take pictures, but I know you mean good by it.¡±

    I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, ¡°I¡¯m just doing what I feel is right. Ah! Speaking of¡­¡±

    I took out my wallet and took out some cash.

    ¡°Here, I just want you to have it. For helping me out.¡±

    A job well done should be rewarded, after all.

    ¡°Eh? Nah, it¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t need it.¡±

    ¡°Ah, come on. Just take it. I¡¯m feeling charitable today. Plus, I don¡¯t like owing favors.¡±

    ¡°Ha-ha, alright, I gotcha. Thanks.¡±

    ¡°I might need to ask for your help again, Dale.¡±

    ¡°If you need anything at all, I¡¯m here to help.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be counting on it. Goodbye!¡±

    ¡°See ya!¡±

    I leave the darkroom and as soon as I close the door behind me, I could almost hear Dale say, ¡°I forgot to show him the pictures I developed¡­¡±

 Chapter 2 - Nuisance

    I can¡¯t remember the last time I¡¯ve lost. I¡¯ve only won time and time again. It has almost made life too easy and boring. I do remember when I started on my little conquest, though.

    It was some time in elementary school. My parents were going through a difficult time. I don¡¯t quite remember what it was that drove them finally apart, and I had always kept to myself. I do know some bits and pieces.

    I did not have many toys or anything to play with. The only thing that could keep me occupied was my father¡¯s library. A great number of books, but not to the point of turning it into a luxurious library. On the contrary, it was only enough books to fill about two bookshelves.

    Most of the books were haphazardly placed into the bookshelves, with zero regard to order. Thus, I would simply pick a book at random and read. Nobodyreally minded me. Mostly because my parentsweren''t there most of the time. From my memories, he was a business man. A failure of a business man. So, my mother had to work more in order to help with money.

    Mother would always complain (with just cause) about the financial situation and my father¡¯s lack of ability. Even though my father had acquired the many books to become a successful business man, he somehow couldn¡¯t put it into practice. I, however, am glad to have been able to read those books.

    Not only was there information on business management and investing, there were also topics on human psychology, reading body language, the art of war, and many more books on human behavior.

    My parents divorced when I was in middle school. My mother won custody and, much to my dismay, I was separated from my books. Thankfully, mother would drive me to the library often. Unthankfully, I would have to babysit my little sister. At first, she was easy to handle. She¡¯s become more and more troublesome recently. No matter, I¡¯ll handle it.

    The bell rang.

    ¡°Alright, make sure the project is finished by Wednesday. The earlier you start, the better. Have a good weekend, everybody!¡±

    With that, the teacher left.

    With that, the room¡¯s volume increased.

    ¡°Ugh, that was soooo boring!¡±

    ¡°I know, right!? How can someone talk that long about something that happened, like, a million years in the past?¡±

    I¡¯d have to agree, it was very boring. I¡¯ve already finished reading the entirety of the textbook at the beginning of the year and finished all that I can from the syllabus. I end up dozing off and thinking of something else.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Hey, you wanna skip practice today? I got some girls that wanna meet up! It¡¯ll be party!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s totally do it! Let¡¯s hit up some chicks!¡±

    ¡°But guys, the match is next month. Shouldn¡¯t we put as much practice in as we can?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re always ruining the fun. Are you a pussy? Wait. Are you still a virgin? Hahaha!¡±

    Sigh. Why did you join soccer in the first place? If you are so undriven, then find a different sport or join a different club! What¡¯s the point in investing your time and effort into something you¡¯d give up without a second thought.

    I grab my things and follow the flow of the crowd out the door. Unfortunately, something was obstructing the traffic.

    ¡°Is Kastille in this room? Where is he? I¡¯d like to talk to him.¡±

    A girl¡¯s voice. It¡¯s loud enough to hear, but restrained enough to sound stately. The voice of someone who could calm a cacophony.

    And she¡¯s blocking the exit.

    ¡°Huh? Who are you?¡±

    ¡°Get out of the way, I want to go home!¡±

    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t she that¡­¡±

    ¡°Did she say Kastille?¡±

    ¡°Yo, somebody¡¯s calling for Kastille. Where¡¯s he at?¡±

    ¡°Found him! He¡¯s over here!¡±

    ¡°Get him up here so he can get the girl out of the way! I want to go home!¡±

    I sigh and push my way through the crowd. Not long after, the crowd parted itself for me and revealed the offending obstacle.

    There were three people blocking the way to freedom. At the center is a girl with a long, black hair. She tied some part of her hair into a plain-looking ribbon to the back, a pin to hold her bangs, and let the rest flow freely. The way she presents herself is something you could admire. She kept her back straight, puffing out her modest chest. She kept her feet pointing outwards, sending an open invitation. Her hands are on her hips and she holds a stern face with piercing grey-green eyes, but emitted an aura of benevolence.

    To her right is another girl. She has her blonde hair braided that is made to rest over her right shoulder. Her posture is like the first girl¡¯s. Straight, but not stiff, accentuating her more adult figure. She holds a tablet in her left hand and to the side, close to her chest, but not using it as a barrier for her front. Keeping her chin up, her blue eyes scan the crowd in front of her through glasses with serenity. Her footing seems practiced yet subconscious. It seems she knows some martial arts. She gives an aura of authority and loyalty, yet her face is warm and loving.

    The final one, a boy to the left from the girl at the center, has a colorful set of hair. He seems to have dyed it with purple or blue, which seems to have somewhat faded and revealed some of the darker black of his original hair. Even though his hair¡¯s wavelength is loose, his hair is well-kept. The same could be said for his clothes; not a wrinkle nor a stain in sight. His ambition for being clean and neat is praiseworthy. As with the other two, he keeps his back straight, with his hands behind his back as if he is a soldier awaiting his orders. Unlike the other two, he is keeping his head on a swivel, looking behind them and their surroundings. He gives an aura of faithfulness and obedience, but keeps true to his own self.

    Such a bother.

    I work out a smile, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Kastille. Is there something you need form me?¡±

    The girl at the center spoke first, ¡°I¡¯m the Student Council President, Stella Uhana. This is my Vice President, Liliana Forschmann.¡±

    The blonde girl smiled, ¡°Pleased to meet you.¡±

    ¡°And this is my Secretary, Rhys Miller.¡±

    The fancy boy gave a slight nod.

    She gave a small pause. I took it as my turn to speak.

    ¡°I¡¯m delighted to make your acquaintance.¡±

    ¡°I am here to challenge you to a duel!¡±

    Stella and I spokeat the same time.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Did she say duel?¡±

    ¡°But, with Kastille? He¡¯s, like, you know¡­¡±

    ¡°Can you guys at least move out of the way so I can go home!¡±

 Chapter 3 - Duel

    Rhys came back from the vending machine to where we were sitting at the commons. He handed an orange juice to Stella and a sweet tea to Liliana. Rhys has gotten himself some strawberry milk.

    I wasn¡¯t offered a drink.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s this about?¡±, I asked the trio while they prepared their drinks for consumption.

    Rhys spoke first this time, ¡°We know what you¡¯re up to.¡±

    ¡°Shh, Rhys!¡± Liliana cut him.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure he knows what we¡¯re up to¡±, he rebutted.

    ¡°Oh, I have a few ideas.¡± I muttered.

    Stella sipped from her drink before speaking,

    ¡°I¡¯m just here to challenge you, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all? What do you mean? I really hope this isn¡¯t going to be a waste of time.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t.¡±

    She took another sip. A long one¡­

    ¡°Mmm, I think they changed the amount of sugar they put in it¡­ Ah, see? They added more! There¡¯s even less oranges in it!¡±

    What is she doing? If she¡¯s planning on making me angry, she¡¯s sure doing it right.

    ¡°Alright, come on. I¡¯m leaving if all you¡¯re going to do is waste my time.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you pick? Since I challenged you, I think it¡¯s right to have you pick how our battle will be decided.¡± Stella spoke while still investigating the orange juice bottle.

    What¡¯s with that high-and-mighty attitude?

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re letting me pick the terms? Are you sure you¡¯ll win? Do you know who I am?¡±

    She yawns. I could feel my eye twitch just a little.

    ¡°What¡¯s with that high-and-mighty attitude, Kastille?¡±

    This little¡­

    I¡¯ll show her. People know me because of what I can do. I¡¯ve always won. No matter what it is. It can be games or even sports. If I research and memorize all the strategies and techniques of anything. I¡¯ll win.

    Of course, I¡¯ve only won against peers around my age. I¡¯m not so full of myself as to say I can win against a true expert or prodigy. But, I¡¯ve never tried. In fact, now that I think about it, I probably can win against experts and prodigies.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Who is this Stella girl anyway? I¡¯ve only heard about her from others. And Student Council President? What year is she in? I neglected my information gathering too much. Am I deficient? Have I gotten weak?

    No.

    This girl, who has given me such internal discord.

    It is unacceptable.

    I smile. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve smiled like this. A different kind of smile. You could say it is a lustful smile.

    ¡°Hahaha! Very well! You¡¯ll regret ever meeting me, Stella. As you have allowed me to choose, how about chess? We¡¯ll do fast chess. So, let¡¯s do a 3 plus 2. Best of three wins. What are we going to bet?¡±

    ¡°Everything.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°What!?¡± ¡°Eh!? Stella!?¡±

    Looks like Rhys and Liliana are as surprised as I am.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll be more precise. What I mean by everything is that, well, anything goes. The winner can order the loser to do whatever they want.¡±

    ¡°Stella, you can¡¯t!¡± Liliana shot me a disapproving look.

    Oi. What¡¯s with that look?

    I can¡¯t help contain my excitement. I couldn¡¯t help but laugh again.

    ¡°Haaa¡­ You have truly surprised me, Stella. I hope you know what you¡¯ve gotten yourself into. I¡¯ve won first place in the national chess tournament. You are a fool for letting me choose.¡±

    I¡¯ll make sure I¡¯ll embarrass you in front of the entire school and then I¡¯ll have you surrender everything that is you to me.

    ---

    There was a surprising amount of people watching the duel. Apparently, several students heard the challenge to a duel from the front of the classroom and have been following Stella¡¯s group. The word then spread naturally.

    Of course, they were interested. I am known among the student body to be an unfathomable genius. I excel at my studies and succeed at any endeavor I have pursued. In the shadows, I have control over a dozen different social group leaders and have acquainted myself with nearly all the different club presidents with half of them already under my beck and call. I get paid from other students just by existing and I am the distress over many people¡¯s unpaid favors to me.

    Nobody could approach me. Unlike them, I used my strength and skills to build my current standing. These average rabbles do nothing but waste away their time. It seems as if they are vegetables incapable of growing without a farmer to tend to their every need.

    I am on a whole different level compared to them.

    I will surpass the weakness that is known as the human being. An animal that simply reacts to whatever stimuli is given to them. Whatever chemicals their cells produce. Surely, we can release ourselves from these archaic restraints to act on instinct. Whether it be hunger, security, camaraderie, or sex, instincts are what hold us back.

    I am going to surpass these instincts. I will act purely on my own logical reasoning. Against these other people, who only act whatever, whenever, and however they please¡­

    Surely, I will surpass them. Surely, I am the superior one. Surely¡­

    ¡°No way¡­ Kastille lost¡­¡±

    ¡°Did Stella just win two-to-one?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s crazy!¡±

    I look, dumbfounded, at my checkmated king. I won in the first match, but Stella won twice after that.

    Stella sighed heavily. I¡¯m sure I heard Rhys and Liliana let out a sigh of relief as well, but I did not pay attention to them.

    There must have been a mistake. When was it? 6 moves ago? 7? No, that isn''t it.

    This is impossible. I should have won.

    Yet... I...

    I bit my lip.

    ¡°I¡­ I los-¡°

    ¡°Ahhh! That was harder than I expected. You really are a tough opponent, Kastille, I¡¯ll give you that.¡±

    She stretched her back, arms, and fingers. After she finished her little routine, she continued,

    ¡°As per the prior agreement, the winner of the duel may order the loser to do whatever they want.¡±

    The crowd silenced themselves and awaited the conclusion.

    I can see my knuckles turning white from how tight of a fist I have been making.

    ¡°You are mine, Kastille. Everything that is you is now mine. You will surrender yourself to me.¡±

 Chapter 3.5 - After the Duel

    In the Student Council room, Stella is sitting at her desk. Rhys and Liliana sat on the couches facing across each other with a coffee table in between them. Their faces showed how exhausted they are.

    ¡°Rhys. Liliana. Why do you guys look tired even though I was the one doing all the work?¡±

    They giggled a bit and that helped lighten the mood.

    ¡°Stella, I didn¡¯t know you were so good at chess!¡± exclaimed Liliana.

    ¡°Yeah. You never told us anything. You really surprised us.¡± said Rhys.

    ¡°I¡¯m not good at chess.¡±

    "Eh?¡± Liliana and Rhys shouted at the same time.

    ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s not true. Kastille really is the champion from the national chess tournament.¡±

    Stella leaned back on her chair.

    "I was second in that tournament. He utterly defeated me.¡±

    ¡°Whaaat?¡± Liliana and Rhys shouted at the same time again.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know that¡­¡±

    ¡°Kastille never realized?¡±

    ¡°I suppose I''m not noteworthy enough for him. It¡¯s a good thing, though.If he had chosen something other than chess, I don¡¯t know if I could have won.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Stella propped her legs on top of the desk in front of her.

    ¡°Honestly, I would have lost if he was just a bit more serious. He¡¯s beyond a tough opponent. It would have been impossible. I got lucky. His own arrogance proved to be his downfall.¡±

    Liliana interjected, ¡°Wait. You weren¡¯t sure if you were going to win? It was all just a gamble?¡±

    ¡°Yup. Chess was the best chance I had at stopping him. It was a pretty high probability that Kastille would pick chess over anything else. The data I have of him showed that was the only thing he really got a first place trophy kind of thing. Good thing his ego is just as I expected.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of his ego,¡± Rhys interposed, ¡°how do you know he¡¯ll keep his side of the bet? Honestly speaking, I think you went too far. Taking everything from him and all. What¡¯s to stop him from running away?¡±

    Stella removed her feet from the desk and replaced it with her elbows. Leaning on the desk, she now gave her comrades a serious expression.

    ¡°His pride and ego won¡¯t let him back down from an already established agreement. In addition, that crowd will further enforce the agreement. If he decides to cancel the agreement, it will tarnish his name and ruin everything he¡¯s worked for.¡±

    Rhys then continued his thought, ¡°And why would you want someone with such a sour personality like him?¡±

    ¡°We need him. He¡¯s someone very skilled and talented at what he does. I¡¯d go as far to say he¡¯s a genius at what he does. For all this time that I¡¯ve known him, I¡¯ve seen him bring people up from such a low standing and turning them into leaders. I¡¯ve seen him bring the strong who prey on the weak a taste of their own medicine. I¡¯ve seen him turn the dejected into the joyful. I¡¯ve been watching him all this time.¡±

    Rhys interrupted her, ¡°But he only does those things only for his own selfish reasons. Just a few days ago, he blackmailed someone into giving him money!¡±

    Stella raised her hand to stop Rhys.

    ¡°And that is why I had to get him. While he does all these things to help himself, I have another plan for his skills.¡±

    She leaned back on her chair.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to have him join the student council. Of course, we¡¯ll stop any of the extortion and operations he¡¯s been doing. It is my duty as the elected student council president to help the students in need. He must use that talent of his not for himself, but for those who need help. A philanthropist who uses their talent for good. I think Kastille is the perfect man for that job.¡±

 Extra 1/Extra 2

    Extra 1 ¨C Kastille¡¯s Smile

    Girl A: ¡°Hey, have you ever noticed how Kastille smiles?¡±

    Girl B: ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s kind of scary. The way his eyes feel like they¡¯re looking right into my soul!¡±

    Girl C: ¡°Exactly! I love it!¡±

    Girl A and B: ¡°Eh?¡±

    Girl B: ¡°I dunno. I feel like I¡¯d run away if he approached me. Probably move to a different town.¡±

    Girl A: ¡°It freaks me out, too. Like, it¡¯s really scary whenever he does that!¡±

    Girl C: ¡°Really? I think it makes him look so cool and serious! Like the kind of face you¡¯d make when you¡¯re ready to protect the princess.¡±Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Girl A: ¡°What? That¡¯s kind of weird.¡±

    Girl B: ¡°You¡¯ve got some funny ideas sometimes.¡±

    Girl C: ¡°I guess you guys just can¡¯t understand a true knight in shining armor even if you see one.¡±

    Girl A and B made a mental note in their mind that their friend has¡­ peculiar tastes.

    Extra 2 ¨C Kastille¡¯s Name

    Stella: ¡°Lili! Quick! Say ¡®cast steel¡¯!¡±

    Liliana: ¡°Cast steel? Ah! Cast steel!¡±

    Stella: ¡°Right? I wonder if that¡¯s what Kastille¡¯s parents thought of when they named him.¡±

    Liliana: ¡°The spelling for his name is like the Spanish word for ¡®castle¡¯, castillo.¡±

    Stella: ¡°I think ¡®cast steel¡¯ is pretty fitting. Cold and hard yet strong and dependable.¡±

    Liliana: ¡°Stella. Are you¡­?¡±

    Stella: ¡°But the ¡®cast¡¯ part makes it sound like he¡¯s a copy! Just a bland copy out of millions of other copies. Hehe.¡±

    Liliana: ¡°Wow, that was pretty deep. Oh, what about my name?¡±

    Stella: ¡°Uh, let¡¯s see¡­.¡±

    Liliana: ¡°¡­¡±

    Stella: ¡°¡­¡±

    Liliana: ¡°¡­¡±

    Stella: ¡°I dunno! I¡¯ll think about it some other time.¡±

    Liliana: ¡°Aw, no way!¡±

 Chapter 4 - The Plan

    ¡°Well, I guess there¡¯s not much else we can do on that end.¡±

    Stella brought her hands to her face and massaged her forehead.

    It¡¯s not like I can suddenly repay everyone that have¡­ voluntarily given me their money.

    ¡°You¡¯ll just have to slowly repay back what you¡¯ve taken from others.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else?¡±

    I lay back on the chair I am sitting on. Right across from Stella, with her desk the only thing separating us. Her desk has a computer and several tablets laid about. There is a small stack of papers to the side of her computer. It¡¯s rare to see paper nowadays. I don''t see the reason why we need paper if we do everything on our tablets and computers. Well the school is well-off so they can probably afford spending on this kind of unnecesary luxuries.

    Stella looks out the window to her right.

    ¡°Honestly. I should just report you to the police and be done with it.¡±

    She wouldn¡¯t.

    ¡°But that¡¯s not going to help anyone. It¡¯d be such a waste¡­¡±

    A waste? Am I some tool to be used?

    She sighs and looks back at me.

    ¡°Oh yeah. Where do you get all of your information on all the students?¡±

    I raise an eyebrow.

    ¡°You want to know?¡±

    Looks like she¡¯s curious after all.

    Well, nothing that can be helped. The masterpiece of my information network is something that anyone would admire. I¡¯ll tease her just a little bit of the extent of my power.

    ¡°I¡¯ve build this network over the last four years. I have 4 students working full time on information gathering with 40 others to assist with the grunt work. If there¡¯s anything I want to know, I¡¯ll know it.¡±

    ¡°So, where do you keep all that data?¡±

    ¡°Hmph. On this.¡±

    I pull out a flash drive.

    ¡°Photographs. Screenshots. Links. Report cards. Friends, family, acquaintances, pets, and strangers they were in contact with. Video and audio files. Home addresses and the locations they frequent. Their online history and social media accounts. Their IP and MAC addresses. 400 Gigabytes of data, all at my - ah! Hey!¡±

    She grabbed the flash drive from me.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Yup! Confiscated!¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t exactly against any rules, is it? It¡¯s just collating a profile on individuals. Nothing illegal about it at all! Besides, most of the information were already provided from what they publicize and post on their social media accounts.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. But I¡¯m going to have to check this in case there is something that you shouldn¡¯t have.¡±

    She opens a drawer in her desk and places the flash drive inside.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to get expelled or worse, then you¡¯re going to have to do what I say.¡±

    It¡¯ll be a waste of my time to argue against that. I¡¯ll keep quiet about the main databank I have stored in the cloud. I¡¯d have to buy another flash drive for my back-ups, however¡­

    Stella continues talking,

    ¡°You still have to dissolve these shadow networks you have. Like we already talked about, all favors and debts owed to you are nullified. From now on, you cannot accept money or favors from other students. No matter what the case is. Even if it is out of true goodwill, you must decline. Everything that you have been doing is going to stop.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t really have anything else for you right now. I¡¯ll have some work for you later, however. Prepare to get worked to the bone, Kastille.¡±

    ---

    I open the door of the student council room and enter the hallway. Rhys, who had been guarding the door for the entire time I was in the room conversing with Stella, gave me a look. After that, he went into the room that I had just opened and closed the door in front of me.

    ¡°Humph.¡±

    I start walking.

    She thinks I¡¯m just going to roll over and do everything she commands? Like some domesticated animal?

    Laughable.

    For now, I¡¯ll feign loyalty. I¡¯ll have to rebuild and repair what I can. Once my control over the school has returned, I¡¯ll throw that stupid girl out.

    Perhaps she might even have some use I could take advantage of. But, not before I have her grovel before me.

    I¡¯ll keep up this little farce. It might take me some time, but I¡¯ll be able to take her down. If it took me four years to have gotten this much control over the students, then it should be faster the second time around since I had established myself already. However, I must be careful to not be noticeable this time around. First step is for me to recover as many people working under me as possible without raising suspicion. I¡¯ll have to act as if they¡¯re truly friends of mine.

    The number of useful people I have would then determine the time it would take me to re-establish myself with the student body.

    It could take about 2 years. It¡¯s too early to tell now.

    Damn that girl! Having me sneak around like a rat. I must endure it for now.

    ¡°Kastille?¡±

    I snap out of my deep thinking.

    ¡°Dale? What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? You were standing in front of the photography room for a while now. Did you need something?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I seem to have thoughtlessly brought myself here. Forgive me, there¡¯s no meaning to it. I was lost in thought.¡±

    I turn away.

    ¡°Wait. Kastille.¡±

    Ugh. Don¡¯t bother me.

    ¡°Yes, what is it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t really know what to say, but I¡¯ll just say it anyway. I¡¯ve been hearing some rumors going around. Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t believe a single word they¡¯re saying!¡±

    What is this idiot talking about? He should mind his own business.

    ¡°You¡¯ve helped me through a lot, so I¡¯d like to help you, too. We¡¯re friends, right? If there¡¯s anything you need, don¡¯t be afraid to ask! If you need someone to talk to, I¡¯ll be here for you.¡±

    Huh? I almost couldn¡¯t stop myself from opening my mouth agape.

    This boy thinks he can help me? I don¡¯t need the help from some weakling. I was the one who nurtured him in the first place. Unlike him, I¡¯m perfectly capable.

    The audacity... I manage to force a smile.

    ¡°Thanks, Dale. But, I¡¯m alright. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? I really don¡¯t mind. Anything at all?¡±

    Dale has been doing a decent job getting data for me. Rebuilding the information network isn¡¯t my top priority, but I¡¯ll have to get to it later down the road. He will prove useful.

    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be counting on you then. I have some things to get done, so I¡¯ll see you around.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Later, Kastille.¡±

 Chapter 5 - First Task

    ¡°Any questions?¡±

    Stella said as she looks from the tablet she is holding.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go to the victim, Michael, to ask some questions and figure out where the backpack is. Am I correct?¡±

    Affirming the task given to me will help to make sure I have it correctly and to communicate that I have understood it.

    ¡°Simple enough, right? We do have some teachers working on this alongside us, but it¡¯s not like we can search every nook and cranny of the school. The GPS didn¡¯t work, so they handed this problem to us.¡±

    She sighs.

    That¡¯s true. Our school has four stories, and enough rooms to accommodate 2,000 students. Searching through the entire school would require a significant amount of people.

    ¡°I sent a message telling him to meet you at the room where it happened, but looks like he never even left.¡±

    So, after he found out his backpack is not in the room, he sent the help request to the student forum and waited for other people to find it for him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get to it then.¡±

    I get up to leave.

    ¡°Have fun.¡±, she says as she looks back to her tablet.

    ---

    I enter the classroom where the victim was waiting.

    The victim is a boy, with styled hair and stylish clothes. I only say stylish because he seems to be following the recent trends shown in fashion magazines. He seems to be chatting with two girls while leaning on a desk.

    The two girls were also sporting stylish clothes and you can tell they spent too much time in front of the mirror this morning.

    I approach them with a smile on my face, ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Kastille. I was sent from the student council regarding the missing backpack. Is Michael here?¡±

    The three stopped their little conversation and turned to face me.

    For some reason, the boy¡¯s face pisses me off. He opens his mouth,

    ¡°No way. The Kastille!?You¡¯re gonna look for my bag too?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I will. I¡¯d like to ask a few questions also.¡±

    Such as ¡®why were you here talking with girls and not looking for your missing backpack?¡¯.

    ¡°Oh. Sure, man. Shoot.¡±

    He crosses his arms in front of chest. A gesture meant to exert dominance and to act as a barrier. Of course, it could also be a defensive gesture that shows the insecurity and uneasiness of the person.

    ¡°Where and when did you last see the backpack?¡±

    ¡°It was right here under my desk. I went to the bathroom after the bell rang. When I came back, it was gone.¡±

    He didn¡¯t take it with him, so it wouldn¡¯t mean he misplaced it. It¡¯s highly probably that it was stolen. Why is it his backpack specifically that was stolen, though? Why weren¡¯t the girls¡¯ backpacks stolen?Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Were you carrying any valuables in it?¡±

    ¡°No. The only things I put in it is the tablet and flash drive.¡±

    So, he only brings the school-issued supplies. Well, most people only bring those and their phone to school. Nothing out of the ordinary.

    ¡°How about your phone?¡±

    ¡°I got it here with me. Who puts their phone in their bags anyway?¡±

    Most, if not all, people do have their phones in their pockets. The phones are used for everything you need. It is used for purchasing and identification purposes. It is an indispensable tool.

    School-issued tablets and flash-drives aren¡¯t worth a lot of money. They also don¡¯t allow you to put your digital wallet on it for security purposes. You can only use them for school-related work and as an ID.

    ¡°Man, I thought those things have a GPS tracking thing on them. I tried looking for it in my phone, but it didn¡¯t pop up anywhere.¡±

    ¡°The teachers have already tried using the GPS locator. The tablet has either run out of battery or somebody purposefully turned it off.¡±

    ¡°I thought you can¡¯t turn that off?¡±

    The school locks the GPS locator to the ¡®on¡¯ position. They say it¡¯s to preventit from being lost or stolen. But, most people know it¡¯s so that the school can track our location. Good thing the government set laws against the use of the cameras and microphones.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. That means someone has to bypass the security software on the tablet.¡±

    Someone with considerable skills with a computer. A person like that would be very useful to me.

    ¡°Can you think of any reason why someone would want to take your backpack specifically?¡±

    ¡°Uhhh. No, not really. I¡¯m a popular guy. I can¡¯t even believe someone would do something to me.¡±

    One of the girls chimes in, ¡°Yeah! Everybody likes Michael. Why would anyone do something so horrible to him!¡±

    The other girl agrees vigorously.

    ¡°Aw, you girls are just the sweetest! How about we go to a caf¨¦ after this is all over?¡±

    ¡°Really? You¡¯re the best, Michael!¡±

    Looks like there¡¯s not much else I can get from him¡­

    ---

    I asked the two girls some questions. Looks like they went to the bathroom at the same time as Michael did. Like sheep following the shepherd. I didn¡¯t get any new information from them other than some tips on how to do my hair.

    Since it¡¯s the last class of the day, there¡¯d be a lot of people moving around the school after the bell rings. There were also a few students that stayed in the classroom either to chat or tofinish up some classwork. They said they were chatting with two other friends for a few minutes. The trio then went to the bathroom after their two friends had left to go home.

    There are no backpacks in the room now other than the girls¡¯ and there are no other reports of missing backpacks. Michael only went to the bathroom for a few seconds. To check on his hair and clothes, I suppose.

    The bathroom is right across from the classroom, too. The culprit would have had very little time to take the backpack.

    Thus, it islikely that the culprit is a student from the same class as Michael. After Michael left, the culprit possibly saw their moment and took the backpack.

    I look outside the classroom and out in the hallway. The class is in the corner of the hallway. It is the farthest room from the main hallway that would lead to the main entrances of the school. The foot traffic in this area would mostly be limited to the students that are leaving or entering thisclassroom.

    Hmm? Is that the janitor in the hallway?

    I approach the janitor.

    ¡°Excuse me, sir. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?¡±

    ¡°Oh? Sure, I don¡¯ mind. Whaddaya need, young man?¡±

    ¡°Did you see anyone that could be running or rushing?¡±

    ¡°Huhu. At the end o¡¯ the day, everybody¡¯s rushin¡¯ to get home.¡±

    ¡°Even after the usual bulk of the students? When the hallways are mostly empty now?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, young man. But, if I did see someone runnin¡¯, I¡¯d yell at ¡®em to not run in the halls!.¡±

    There must be something else that would make the culprit appear out of the ordinary. If the culprit is a student from the same classroom, then¡­

    ¡°How about someone carrying two backpacks on them?¡±

    If there are no other backpacks in the room and the culprit is a student from the same class, then he¡¯d have to have taken his backpack with him as well.

    ¡°Oh! There was someone like that! A young man with two backpacks.¡±

    ¡°Which direction did he go?¡±

    ¡°Towards the main entrance. But, that was almost an hour ago.¡±

    Well, there¡¯s no helping that. Quite some time has already passed since Michael posted the help request. Half an hour had already passed when the teachers gave up and decided to dump this problem on the student council.

    ¡°Could you tell me what he looks like?¡±

    ¡°Mmm... If I ¡®member right, he has a brownish hair. Sorta long. Covering over his eyes, they were. He also wore glasses.Mmm... Sorry, s¡¯all I can do, young man.¡±

    I thank the janitor.

    This is good. I know whatthe culprit looks like now. The janitor has helped me immensely.

    The culprit went towards the front entrance. So, the front entrance I go.

 Chapter 6 - Victim

    The culprit is not at the front entrance, of course. It¡¯s already been more than an hour since the backpack was taken. If the culprit has already left the building, there¡¯s not much I can do.

    An option I have after this would be to go to the data I have saved on the cloud, and look through all the profiles that match the description. I could cut about half of the student population if everybody¡¯s assumption that the culprit is male is correct. The problem is that I can¡¯t do a search for physical features if the data doesn¡¯t have it written down. Most profiles I have only use their public ID picture. If I wanted to do a text search that describes an image, I¡¯d have to use a service from a company that has that kind of smart-search technology. After that are several more steps before I can finally do the search.

    This has become so bothersome. It¡¯d be great if the culprit would just appear right in front of me right about now¡­

    No, nothing as clich¨¦ as that would ever happen in real life. I¡¯ll just have to do what I can here. Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anyone else I can talk to here. How about the front desk?

    There¡¯s an old woman, who looks like she should really decide on retiring sooner rather than later, sitting at the front desk reading a book. An obscure title from an obscure author.

    That¡¯s interesting. I guess she¡¯s one of those ¡®old-school¡¯ readers like my dad. Printed books aren¡¯t as rare as printing paper, but they¡¯re not exactly cheap either.

    ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am. May I ask you a few questions?¡±

    ¡°Oya? Do you need something from me?¡±

    ¡°Sorry to interrupt your reading. I was wondering if you had seen someone coming by here.¡±

    I give her the description of the culprit that the janitor had provided and the issue with the two backpacks.

    ¡°Sorry, sonny. I didn¡¯t see anyone like that coming through here.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you weren¡¯t distracted by the book?¡±

    She gives me a smile and slowly shook her head.

    ¡°Even though I¡¯m reading a book, I always keep an eye out for who comes in through those doors. I¡¯m as good as those cameras when it comes to these things. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll just let anyone leave or enter. What if someone suspicious comes in through those doors?¡±

    ¡°Forgive me for my misapprehension, ma¡¯am.¡±

    She laughs lightly.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. You¡¯re quite the polite one, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am.¡±

    I only need to do whatever it is the situation requires. It¡¯s not like I need to be openly hostile to every single entity I encounter. I¡¯ll be nice and polite when I need to. To be aggressive or passive when it is to my advantage. I¡¯ll work with the front desk lady¡¯s report for now.

    Besides, people become more open to you if you¡¯re being nice and polite. People usually return the same attitude that you show them.

    I thank the lady and apologized once more before heading back to the area where the main hallway meets with the side hallway that Michael¡¯s classroom is in.

    He¡¯s probably still in there, waiting for someone to deliver his backpack to him. It¡¯s vexing to know that I might be the delivery boy.

    What to do about this current situation?

    The culprit went this way, but he never went through the front entrance.

    It wouldn¡¯t make sense to the other way to the back entrance, which leads to the sport fields and such. If the culprit is someone who took the tablet and is planning on doing something with it, he might need another computer to do more to the tablet other than just turning off the GPS function. There¡¯s really no reason to go into the sport fields. Therefore¡­

    Next to me is the stairway that leads upstairs. It¡¯s likely that the culprit went towards the front entrance because that is also the direction the closest stairs are. The stairs leading up would of course lead to more classrooms.

    But more importantly, it¡¯s the shortest path to get to the computers of the school library.

    ---

    While the library does contain books, it could be said that more than half of the floor space is occupied by computers. Several organizations scanned and digitized over 400 million books long before I was born. Several hundred thousand more each year are being indexed into that list.

    I believe some of the reasons why the school still hold these books are due to tradition and psychological attachment.

    But, I¡¯m not here to look for a book. I¡¯m looking for a person.

    Since the final exams are approaching, the library is becoming a second home to some students here. Most would reserve the study rooms in the library for their study groups. Since those are in high demand, the school would only allow groups of more than two people to place a reservation.

    So, unless the culprit has two accomplices, he should not be in a study room. While that does help decrease the area that I would have to search, that means I¡¯d still have to look among the other computers scattered around the library.

    One other thing I could use to further decrease my search area¡­

    Well, that would be the purpose of the culprit¡¯s visit here. He¡¯s doing something that¡¯s not quite following the rules here.

    If he must use one of the computers in the library, then it¡¯d have to be in an area where nobody can see what he¡¯s doing on it.

    I know the perfect spot.

    In one corner of the library, there is a camera. There are computers laid along the wall which the camera can see. However, if you go to the end opposite of the camera, there is a support beam just wide enough to hide your body. If one approaches the computer from that direction, the camera won¡¯t be able to see them.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    In addition, few students would go to these computers because, in the afternoon, the sun shines straight through the windows from the front. So, if anybody uses these computers after school during the spring and summer seasons, the sunlight would end up blinding them. I always bring something with me to cover up a portion of the window.

    Thus, the criteria for having no witnesses is fulfilled. I use this spot often when I need to use the computer.

    I turn the corner and face the spot in question.

    Two backpacks are placed on the floor, next to the seat in which a boy with long, red-brown hair is sitting on. He has a tablet plugged into the computer in front of him and it looks like he¡¯s completely focused on the screen.

    I sigh. This was all a bit too easily within my predictions. I pull out the seat next to him and place myself on it.

    He jumps a bit from his seat and looks my way. I can see the worried look on his face. I stare back at him.

    After some time passed, he finally decides to open his mouth.

    ¡°Uh, do you need something from me?¡±

    I cross my arms and lean back on the chair.

    ¡°So, what are you up to with that tablet?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Eh? Uh. I¡­ am transferring some files.¡±

    I look at his screen. Well, he isn¡¯t lying about that ¡®transferring files¡¯ part. Oh. He alt-tabbed.

    I point to the ground beneath him.

    ¡°You carry two backpacks with you often?¡±

    ¡°Ah? Uh¡­ I¡¯m ¡­ holding on to it. For someone.¡±

    I raise an eyebrow. ¡®Someone¡¯? Not ¡®a friend¡¯?

    ¡°Look, I¡¯m trying to do some work here. Can you leave me alone? Please?¡±

    He¡¯s starting to sweat.

    ¡°Sure. Just one more question. Are you a year one student from class A of the Technology track?¡±

    ¡°Umm. Yeah. So?¡±

    Well, with a 99.999% certainty, this is the person that I¡¯ve been looking for.

    ¡°Mm-hmm. Ok. So, I know what you¡¯re doing. I¡¯m going to have to ask you to stop.¡±

    ¡°What? I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. That tablet you got plugged in and one of those backpacks belongs to a student from your class. You took it for some reason. Why don¡¯t you tell me why you took it?¡±

    He stands up in a panic. His eyes dart from the tablet, to the computer, and then to me.

    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t bother running away either. Or trying to get rid of me. How about we introduce each other? My name is Kastille. I¡¯m from the student council.¡±

    ¡°Huh!? Student council? Wait. Kastille!?¡±

    It¡¯s satisfying whenever I see that I can affect people just from the sound of my name. I smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s complicated. Why don¡¯t you sit down? We can talk this out. I¡¯ll decide what to do with you depending on what you say. So, I introduced myself. Your turn.¡±

    He looks around the library. Sorry, you won¡¯t find anybody to help you here. Just you and me. Of course, being alone like this can help him feel more safe and more open to a¡­ discussion.

    ¡°Cain Fioro¡­ look, you don¡¯t understand. That guy, Michael, he¡¯s an asshole!¡±

    ¡°Oh? How so?¡±

    He suddenly took on a discomforted posture; keeping his knees together and placing his balled-up hand on them.

    ¡°Cain. I only want to help. Student council, remember? Don¡¯t be afraid to tell me anything.¡±

    Oh? He looks angry now.

    ¡°That Michael¡­ He¡¯s always doing whatever he wants!¡±

    ---

    Cain told me as much as he is willing. They went to the same middle school together. Apparently, Michael was quite the prolific bully. Cain wasn¡¯t the only victim to Michael¡¯s actions.

    The stories Cain told me would even make me furious. Too bad I don¡¯t really care what happens to Cain and these other victims.

    The strong will always rule over the weak. Cain and Michael were simply following the rules of nature.

    Unfortunately for Cain, Michael had picked the same specialization track as him. While their track is the same, their specialization is different.

    In the current education system, once a student enters high school, they can choose a track. Some examples include the usual STEM tracks and miscellaneous social studies. In those tracks, students can further choose a specialization. For example, in the STEM track, a student can choose to specialize in civil engineering or accountancy & finance.

    Even though students would pick different specializations, they¡¯d often find each other in the same classes because of their track. Usually, after the first 2 years, these shared classes become fewer and the students would be in more specific classes pertaining to their specialization.

    Looks like Cain didn¡¯t feel like waiting 2 years. Neither did Michael, since he seems to have carried his middle school career into high school.

    The final straw for Cain happened earlier today when Michael, whether on purpose or not, tripped Cain after making an offhand comment on him.

    Michael was talking to his usual group during the break and, even though the comment was not directly to Cain, made an unsavory remark on Cain¡¯s demeanor and awkward behavior. (However, it sounds more like it was a general comment on people similar to Cain. Cain seems to have taken it personally.)

    Cain, feeling attacked, got up to leave the room. That was when he tripped.

    Michael¡¯s (and friends) reaction to the fall was a short laugh and then back to talking to his friends. As if the event had no real impact to him.

    I wonder why Michael never mentioned any of this. Well, I don¡¯t blame him for thinking so lowly of Cain. As if dismissing the existence of an insect.

    Except this insect bit Michael in the back.

    This was a good lesson for me. I need to stay vigilant so that a similar event doesn¡¯t happen to me either.

    Looks like Cain has finished talking.

    ¡°What do you plan on doing now?¡± I ask him.

    He looks at the computer screen, ¡°I was planning on installing some spyware. A key-logger, too. But this is my first time using those programs, so I¡¯ve been reading up on it and testing them out.¡±

    ¡°Hoo. That¡¯s some dangerous stuff you¡¯re using. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s quite within the acceptable use policy of school resources.¡±

    ¡°I know¡­¡±

    Looks like it¡¯s now the time to strike.

    ¡°I still need you to stop messing with the tablet.¡±

    Stella would end me if I let Cain¡¯s plan continue.

    ¡°What should I do then? Just lie down and take it all? I¡¯m not going to suffer this any longer!¡±

    ¡°Now, now. There are other ways of dealing with Michael. Right now, your plan would only risk yourself if you are found out. There¡¯s also no guarantee you¡¯ll get anything useful from Michael¡¯s use of the tablet. It¡¯s a high-risk situation with an unknown return.¡±

    I lean forward to put some pressure on him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll figure out a way to deal with Michael. I have my own ways of doing things. Believe me, I¡¯ll do it with the lowest risk to us and with a higher reward.¡±

    ¡°Us?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ll help you deal with Michael.¡±

    ¡°Really? But¡­ what do you want from me?¡±

    I can¡¯t accept anything now that Stella is keeping a close eye on me. I better play it as safe as possible and for the long-term goal.

    I smile.

    ¡°We¡¯re comrades now. Let¡¯s be friends!¡±

    ---

    I finish my report to Stella.

    ¡°Wow! You really got it. How did Michael forget where it was?¡±

    I shrug, ¡°Don¡¯t ask me. I only retrieved it, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Of course, I did not tell anybody about Cain.

    I told Michael and Stella that I decided to check the lost and found since an hour had passed since the teachers looked in there. Another student could have dropped it off since it was last checked, after all.

    Liliana is glaring at me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t ask for a reward or anything. I promise.¡±

    I raise my arms to gesticulate that I have nothing to hide.

    She harrumphs.

    Stella raises her hand and made a ¡®calm-down¡¯ motion to Liliana, ¡°I¡¯ll believe you, Kastille. I¡¯m glad you were able to finish this task without a hitch.¡±

    ¡°It was no problem.¡±

    Stella leans back on her chair and stretches loudly.

    ¡°Ahh. Well, you can go now, Kastille. There¡¯s nothing much to do for today. I have something else for you to do tomorrow. Get plenty of rest and be prepared!¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh.¡±

    I leave the room and close the door behind me. I start walking towards the front entrance.

    I got Cain to sit tight for now, but I¡¯ll have to figure out a way for him to get his revenge on Michael.

    Even though I have no binding obligation to help Cain, it¡¯s still useful to get him on my side.

    On the other side of the coin, I have no obligation to help Michael. Nor do I have any obligation to not help Michael.

    From what I read from the profiles I have on them; Michael¡¯s specialization ison the media side of technology. Cain¡¯s specialization is on computer technology. It¡¯s obvious who would be more useful to me.

    I¡¯ll have to look more into the profiles I have on them and any other affiliated parties.

    This will be my first step to rebuilding what Stella has demolished.

 Chapter 7 - Second Task

    ¡°A transfer student this late into the year?¡±

    I lean back on the chair in front of Stella.

    This time, she¡¯s not behind her desk. We¡¯re sitting on separate sofas, with the coffee table separating us. She brewed herself some tea. I was offered one this time, but I declined. Something about having Stella serving me tea doesn¡¯t sit well with me.

    She takes a sip from her tea and then replies,

    ¡°Yeah. Weird, huh? I¡¯m surprised the school even accepted her.¡±

    ¡°Well, they do usually accept anyone with a rich background. Like you, for example. The daughter of our state governor is, unsurprisingly, the student council president of our school.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m trying to hide it.¡±

    She stares at me. As soon as I was about to say something, she continues speaking.

    ¡°I know my family¡¯s influence has helped me get a first-class ticket to this school. You, on the other hand, were accepted purely on your academic accomplishments. You should be proud of yourself, Kastille, coming from a family with no noteworthy background.¡±

    This school is in the top ten in the entire nation (usually switching places between 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup>). What sets this school apart from the other top high schools in the nation are the families that support it.

    The school resides in the largest city in the nation. The GDP in this city alone can rival many foreign countries. People with power and money in this city hold a great amount of influence. Those people would then want their children to attend the best school in the city.

    A perfect hunting ground for me.

    I simply nod in agreement.

    ¡°What¡¯s the task this time, then? I hope it¡¯s not another lost backpack.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Well¡­ on top of transferring this late into the year, it looks like she also wants to start a club.¡±

    ¡°Does this person have no sense of time at all? The exams are in two weeks!¡±

    I sigh in exasperation. This is stupid. This transfer student is stupid. This transfer student¡¯s parents are stupid for raising someone like that.

    ¡°I know, I know. But, there¡¯s nothing against the school rules about when you can or cannot start a club. Just go see what she needs help with. If it¡¯s not possible that the club can be started with the minimum five members, then just let her down softly. Help her in any way you can. The best-case scenario would be for the club to get established. Try to get a happy ending without hurting anyone¡¯s feelings, okay?¡±

    ---

    Most students now are busy preparing for the final exams. Most students are also already in a club or two. Who would want to join a club started by some unknown transfer student weeks before the exams?

    How did this transfer student even get a sponsor?

    Worse yet, the kind of club that she¡¯s trying to start¡­

    This whole situation is such an enigma, it¡¯s making my head hurt thinking about it.

    I approach the student commons. Stella said our little client is waiting here by the grand wall of trophies, which are displayed like an art gallery in a museum. The number of trophies, awards, achievements, and other accolades are so immense, they had to install more displays all around the walls of the commons and yet it wasn¡¯t enough. More displays spilled into the branching hallways.

    Going by what kind of club the transfer student is trying to start, I know exactly which section of the wall of displays to go to.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Standing near the corner where a hallway splits from the commons stands a girl.

    She has her hair tied into two parts to the back sides of her head. They¡¯re neatly layered and held together by two matching red ribbons. The ends of the layers were left to flow freely, giving the impression that they could be ponytails. In fact, it could be said that the way she has her hair set up is like a blend between a bun and a ponytail. She has dyed her hair pink.

    ¡°Excuse me, are you the client who requested help from the student council?¡± I ask.

    She turns around. This time, I can see her front.

    There is a red- and yellow-threaded bracelet with a silver bead on her left wrist.

    She has her hair parted, revealing a portion of her forehead. She has large eyes with a dark bluecolor that compliment her beaming smile. She gave off an aura of someone who has too much energy.

    What was quite more noticeable than anything else, however, was her considerable chest size. Even Liliana would feel ashamed.

    ¡°Hi! You¡¯re from the student council?¡±

    She offers her hand. I shake it.

    ¡°My name is Kastille. You must be ¨C ¡°

    ¡°Mia Schroeder!¡±

    She cut me off.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Kastille!¡±

    She looks me over, top to bottom.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ You¡¯re shorter than I thought.¡±

    Looks like Mia and I have around the same height.

    In comparison, Stella is probably a little more than a head shorter than me. Liliana is a few inches taller than I am. Rhys is a couple inches taller than me, but we¡¯re both shorter than Liliana.

    ¡°Huh? Did Stella say something about me?¡±

    ¡°No, not really. Just your name and what you look like.¡±

    Stella better not have said anything weird about me.

    I try to change the subject.

    ¡°I see you¡¯re looking at the school¡¯s trophies.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Although, this section looks smaller than some of the others¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, the club that you¡¯re trying to establish wasn¡¯t the most popular.¡±

    I look at the nameplate that tells what track or department these accolades belong to.

    ¡°Entertainment, Gaming Club.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t people want to have fun? The sports and STEM displays take up half of the entire wall space in the commons! But, we get this tiny spot that¡¯s less than a meter long!¡±

    ¡°I think you joined the wrong school, Mia. Besides, the gaming club was abolished when the seniors graduated two years ago. The underclassmen at the time were hard-pressed to not continue running the club and instead focus on other, more productive interests.¡±

    ¡°No, this is the right school. Look at some of the competitions they won!¡±

    She starts pointing to specific trophies.

    ¡°First person shooters! MOBAs! RTS! Poker! Fighting games! Billiards! Even game shows! They were a powerhouse. That¡¯s why I came here. I want to bring it back.¡±

    What a foolish dream.

    Sure, the students usually excel in any endeavor they try. Playing games, however, are not exactly what the school wants to teach.

    Politicians. CEOs. Top-tier athletes. Doctors. Engineers.

    The school is only interested in nurturing high-performing elites of the modern world.

    While there is some money and game to be gained from playing these games (competitions, streaming, and otherwise), they lack the kind of influence that other elites possess.

    I share a similar goal with the school. Nurture the students into elites, and then reap the benefits from the alumni.

    I sigh.

    ¡°You really want to bring this club back from the dead?¡±

    She nods vigorously.

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    Looks like this isn¡¯t going to be easy.

    I scratch the back of my head.

    ¡°You do understand the situation the school is in, right? Exams are coming up. Additionally, students are already members of some club or another at this point. What do you plan on doing?¡±

    ¡°Talk! I¡¯m going to talk and see if I can convince people to join.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not going to work. It¡¯s not exactly the most convenient, either. We can¡¯t just approach every student we come across.¡±

    Unfortunately, talking to other students is the best action we can take right now. If we post something online, it will most likely be ignored. In that case, if our best chance is to talk to students, then the best students to talk to first would be¡­

    ¡°We could talk to the former members of the club. They¡¯ll likely be the most willing to reestablish the gaming club.¡±

    Mia suddenly makes a pouting face. Did I say something wrong?

    ¡°I was supposed to say that!¡±

    I shrug, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know we were reading from a script.¡±

    She giggles and her pout turns into a smile.

    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m just joking. We were both thinking the same thing, though!¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh. Should we get started then?¡±

    Mia makes a puzzled look.

    ¡°Eh? You know where the former members are?¡±

    ¡°Some of them should still be with their clubs preparing for the performance-based part of the exams.¡±

    The final exams aren¡¯t just a bunch of questions and answers. They also include performance-based scenarios that will test a student¡¯s ability in a simulated environment.

    Most students join a club appropriate to their specialization to gain experience and pertinent skills. Students could also join a second club if their schedule permits. That second club is usually some hobby of the student¡¯s, but it could also be a supplement to their specialization.

    ¡°Wow. You really did your work. I¡¯m glad I have someone so dependable!¡±

    ¡°Save the compliments for later. We haven¡¯t even started yet.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right! Okay. I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s goooo!¡±

    She runs ahead but stops shortly after. She turns back to me.

    ¡°Ehehee... Sorry, how about you lead? I don¡¯t know where everything is.¡±

    ¡°Right. Follow me, then.¡±

    I hope this ends quickly...

 Chapter 8 - Members Wanted

    Mia and I approach a noisy room. We heard the bangs and whirrs long before arriving at the door.

    On top of the door, a handcrafted sign made from wood displayed the text, ¡°Carpentry Club¡±.

    Mia knocks on the door. No response. Well, that¡¯s a given. The knocking would only sound like someone trying to talk in crowd during a concert. Nobody would be able to hear that.

    I lean in front of her and open the door. It has gotten louder now.

    Revealed inside the room is a group of students working on¡­ something. What the hell is that?

    A student that was facing the door noticed us. He said something to his peer next to him and then came to us.

    ¡°Hey. Sorry. Are we being too loud? I already told the other clubs. There¡¯s nothing we can do. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re the ones who decided to install the equipment in this room. We¡¯re also not responsible for assigning your club rooms. If you have a complaint, go talk to the administrators or something.¡±

    Sounds like he has had visitors before.

    Mia is the first to speak up.

    ¡°Ah? No. I mean, it is loud. But that¡¯s not what we¡¯re here for. We¡¯re looking for someone.¡±

    She turns to look at me.

    ¡°Is Todd Yu here today?¡±, I ask.

    ¡°Todd? Yeah. I¡¯ll get him. But, don¡¯t take him for too long.¡±

    He heads back into the room and talks to one of the students working on the unidentifiable object. The student set his gloves aside and then approached us.

    ¡°You need something from me?¡±

    ¡°Hi! I¡¯m Mia. Nice to meet you, Todd!¡±

    She extends her hand out and Todd shakes it.

    ¡°Hey, I know you¡¯re working on that¡­ what is that, by the way?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that?¡±, Todd points behind him.

    ¡°We¡¯re working on making sculptures. People are saying the specialization exam for carpentry has something like this in it. I think it¡¯s all just a rumor, but practice is still practice.¡±

    Mia stares at the sculpture and tilts her head in different angles, trying to make sense of it. I don¡¯t blame her.

    ¡°Uh¡­ what¡¯s it supposed to be?¡±, she asks.

    ¡°A squid fighting with a whale.¡±

    ¡°Oh! I see it now! Right! Right! Of course! Why didn¡¯t I see that?¡±, Mia nods vigorously.

    You do?

    ¡°That¡¯s not what we¡¯re here for.¡±, I interrupted.

    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡±, Mia said while making a serious face.

    ¡°Todd, you were a member of the gaming club, yeah?¡±

    ¡°I was. It dissolved a fewyears ago."

    ¡°Mhmm. Well, I¡¯m starting it up again. Do you want to help me bring back the glory days of the old gaming club?¡±, Mia says with a triumphant smile on her face.

    At first, Todd was surprised at this sudden request. His face then turns into a puzzled look.

    ¡°You¡¯re reestablishing the gaming club now? Sorry, but I don¡¯t really have the time right now. I¡¯m happy to hear that you¡¯re doing this, though. If you had only tried to start it earlier in the year, I might have joined. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    He truly does look apologetic. Mia raises her hands to stop him from apologizing further.

    ¡°Ah! It¡¯s ok, no need to be sorry. You¡¯re probably stressed out from all this work and all the studying, right? I get it, you¡¯re busy.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I do feel a bit exhausted. Idon¡¯t think I can joinanother club right now.¡± he replies.

    ¡°If you¡¯re feeling so stressed, why not have a break? Get your mind off things occasionally. I usuallyrelax after doing something tiring.¡±, I interject.

    Mia picks up on my hint.

    ¡°We¡¯re having a meeting tomorrow. So, if you ever want to take a quick break from your hard work, then you can just come on down to our club room.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Might not be a bad idea. Well, I¡¯ll think about it. But no promises!¡±, Todd said after thinking for a bit.

    We finished up the conversation after that and said our farewells.

    After walking a bit down the hallway, Mia gives me two thumbs up.

    ¡°Nice job, Kastille! What you said there was perfect. At this rate, we¡¯re bound to find someone willing to join!¡±

    ¡°If only it were that simple.¡±

    ---

    In the end, we could not find anybody willing to join the club. The other students we visited played a similar scenario to Todd¡¯s. The previous members of the gaming club that we visited were happy about the club returning, but they had more pressing matters to attend to.

    After returning to the commons, Mia and I sit down at a table near where we originally met.

    It really is just not a good time to start a new club.

    Mia is the first to speak after we sat down.

    ¡°Augh! Why does no one wants to join? I was sure one of the old club members would.¡±

    She lays her head down and stretches her arms across the table.

    Why is she asking why?

    ¡°Do you really not know why?¡±

    She sighs and lifts her head from the table.

    ¡°Well, I know¡­ It¡¯s because the final exams are coming up.¡±

    ¡°So, you understand.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­¡±, she frowns.

    She turns towards the wall of trophies, resting her head on her left arm. Breaking off eye contact and occupying herself with something else. Gazing away from a person you¡¯re talking to is an easy and obvious signal.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be worried about that?¡±

    ¡°The exams? Ehh¡­ not really.¡±

    ¡°Not really? What do you mean?¡±

    Mia glares at me from the corner of her eye.

    ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t really picked a track. So, all I have right now are the general studies and prereqs.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d still need to prepare. Unless... Mia, how did you transfer to this school, anyway?¡±

    ¡°I got here by a recommendation.¡±

    ¡°And what about your scores?¡±

    She quickly looks away.

    ¡°Mia. Do you know what school you enrolled in?¡±

    The skin on her face adopts a shade of red.

    ¡°Okay! Okay! I know! I only went here because I didn¡¯t want to turn down the recommendation, but I suck at studying so I¡¯m probably gonna fail. I was barely even there at my last school. So, what? I gave up. What about you, huh? Shouldn¡¯t you be worrying about yourself instead of me?¡±

    That was loud enough to get some attention from the nearbystudents in the commons. Good thing it wasn¡¯t quite at the level of yelling.

    Better calm her down.

    ¡°Well, I can afford to worry about you. I haven¡¯t picked a track either, so I¡¯m also doing the general studies and prerequisites. My grades aren¡¯t that bad.¡±

    ¡°Wait, really? You haven¡¯t picked a track? I thought you would have picked something like business management or something.¡±

    I¡¯m glad I can use her own curiosity against her. The conversation seems to have calmed down now. She¡¯s looking my way now, too.

    ¡°I have a plan for myself. I don¡¯t really need to pick a track.¡±

    Considering my current circumstances, I might need to think about it more seriously¡­

    I hope not. That would be such a bother.

    ¡°Must be nice to have a plan for your own future. What are your grades, by the way?¡±, she asks.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been top scorer in all the courses I¡¯ve taken and in the general studies track.¡±

    ¡°Top!? Like, number one?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Perfect scores on the last exams.¡±

    Her jaw drops.

    ¡°Seriously? Ah, well, I guess that¡¯s not that surprising. It¡¯s still surprising that you don¡¯t have a track picked out, though. Aren¡¯t you going to follow your mom¡¯s or your dad¡¯s tracks?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Eh? Uh. Are you going to tell me why?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±

    ¡°Now I really want to know. Please?¡±

    Uh-oh. The ¡®curiosity switch¡¯ has activated. It¡¯d be really tiring if I continue to say no, because these kinds of people would continue asking. I¡¯d rather not deal with such an annoyance.

    I sigh before speaking, ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re so incessant¡­ I can¡¯t follow my parents because they¡¯re both failures. My dad is a sad excuse of an entrepreneur, losing at every turn. My mother has a useless degree and now works at two separate part time jobs. There is nothing for me to follow.¡±

    She raises her eyebrows.

    ¡°Failures, huh?¡±

    Suddenly, her face calms down and she gives me a gentle smile. Her eyes tell me something different, though.

    ¡°That¡¯s a funny word to use. But, now that you¡¯ve said that, I¡¯m beginning to think that word fits with my parents as well. I guess we¡¯re more alike than I thought.¡±

    It grows quiet. While she stares silently down at the table in front of us, I observe her. I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this melancholic.

    I clear my throat.

    ¡°The students that we visited today. None of them flat out said ¡®no¡¯, right? Most of the responses we got were ¡®maybes¡¯ and ¡®I¡¯ll think about it¡¯. We still have tomorrow¡¯s meeting.¡±

    Mia perks up, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right! This isn¡¯t over yet.¡±

    Unfortunately, this isn¡¯t over yet.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ve done what we can for today. You¡¯ve got that temporary club room, so let¡¯s meet up there for tomorrow.¡±, I said before she gets too hyped up.

    Whether Mia¡¯s club gets members tomorrow or not, it will be the end of this job. I can¡¯t wait.

 Chapter 9 - Gratitude

    Today will be the day that decides the fate of Mia¡¯s gaming club.

    There¡¯s still about an hour left before I should meet her at the temporary club room. It¡¯s a good that I can get that hour as it fits into my current plan.

    Cain has been waiting for a few days now to deal with Michael. I think I¡¯ve finally found my chance.

    Michael¡¯s usual group have become a little bit distant. Apparently, he had a fight with one of the boys in his group. A lot of gossip have been going around on why that fight happened.

    As I¡¯m sitting inside one of the toilet stalls, luck has brought two of Michaels¡¯ affiliates to this restroom. I quietly listen in on their conversation.

    ¡°Hey, Marco. Are you really doing it?¡±, one of the boys says.

    ¡°Hell yeah I am. I¡¯m not waiting any longer and I don¡¯t want to have any regrets. I¡¯m just going to do it.¡±, Marco, I assume, replies.

    ¡°I, one-hundred percent, am with you, man. Michael is such a douchebag. I¡¯ve started to really hate him. It¡¯s like he thinks he¡¯s at the center of everything!¡±, the first boy exclaims.

    After mutually agreeing in their dislike for Michael, the first boy asks Marco,

    ¡°So, how are you gonna do it? I hope you¡¯re not doing it through a text message.¡±

    ¡°Haha, no. That¡¯d be so lame. I¡¯m not telling you, though.¡±

    ¡°What? Why?¡±

    ¡°¡¯Cus. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    I hear the rustle of clothes and backpacks.

    ¡°You¡¯re embarrassed? Ha, that¡¯s hilarious! C¡¯mere, tell me.¡±

    ¡°Haha, cut that out. I¡¯m not telling!¡±

    ¡°Come on man, I¡¯ve known you since elementary school!¡±

    The rustling stops and I hear a sigh.

    ¡°Alright, alright. If you really don¡¯t want to tell me, that¡¯s fine. Whatever the case may be, just let me know if you need any help!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Jay. I mean it. Augh, now I feel like showing you!¡±

    ¡°Woah, show me? You mean it¡¯s ready to go right now?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, kinda. Here.¡±

    I hear a backpack opening and something with a peculiar sound came out.

    ¡°Oh, shit! That¡¯s so old school! You seriously going to use a written love letter?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve known her for as long as I have. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll like this.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. I guess doing something this classic would be popular with the chicks. Not bad, Marco.¡±

    ¡°I guess.¡±

    The peculiar sound, which has now been identified as the sound of paper, returns followed by the zipper of the backpack.

    ¡°When are you giving it to her?¡±

    ¡°I was going to do it today¡­ but¡­¡±

    ¡°Stop right there, Marco! What you¡¯re doing right now is thinking about it. You just said so yourself, right? You weren¡¯t going to wait any longer. Thinking about it is just gonna make you scared and stuff. So, stop thinking and just do it!¡±

    ¡°But, I¡­¡±

    ¡°No! The time is right now!¡±

    Rustling and stomping echoes inside the restroom.

    ¡°Okay! I get it! I can walk by myself, no need to push me.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna get you laid tonight, bro!¡±

    The voices and footsteps left the restroom and fade into the hallway. This is the perfect chance to get information on how to deal with Michael. I discretely follow them.

    ---

    After carefully planting the love letter in one of the backpacks in their classroom, the two boys quickly left before Michael or the two girls returned from their scheduled restroom break. Do they always go check the mirror after class?

    Marco¡¯s friend gave him a ¡®good luck and tell me after¡¯ and separated from him. Right now, I¡¯m hiding behind a bush in the school courtyard. We didn¡¯t stray too far from the main entrance but we¡¯re well away from prying eyes.

    Marco is several feet in front of me, waiting anxiously in the shadow of the school¡¯s building. It¡¯s been about five minutes, but it probably feels like forever for this boy.

    I spot a female student approaching before Marco. She¡¯s one of the girls that was with Michael when I was looking for the backpack. I can¡¯t be bothered to remember her name.

    ¡°Hi, Marco. I, uh, got your letter¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, Lynn! I¡¯m glad to see you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±

    They both visibly blushed. The silence between them grew a little too long. The girl speaks to break the silence,

    ¡°So, what did-¡±

    ¡°Please, go out with me!¡±, Marco suddenly exclaims.

    ¡°Woah, he actually did it!¡±, I heard a soft voice to my right.

    ¡°WH-¡°, I shout.

    I clasped my hands over my mouth and look over to Marco and Lynn. Marco is now talking about being childhood friends or something. Looks like I was able to suppress my surprise. I hide back into the cover of the bush and look at my unexpected companion.

    ¡°Mia!? What are you doing here?¡±, I whisper.

    ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯ve been following you all this time.¡±, she whispers in return.

    ¡°Since when?¡±

    ¡°Well, I called out your name in the hallway but you didn¡¯t hear me. It looked like you were following that guy, so then I decided to come with you.¡±

    I can¡¯t believe I hadn¡¯t noticed her. I¡¯ve truly gotten weak. No, it¡¯s not that. I¡¯m not weak. It¡¯s just that this girl is an anomaly. Is she hiding some secret ability? Her thought patterns and her actions are both unpredictable.

    ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of, uh, something. Could you go wait in your club room or something?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t leave now! Things are getting steamy!¡±, she says as she pops her head out from the bushes.

    I look out from the bushes as well.

    ¡°Hey, Kastille. Why are you hiding? Is it because that guy is your rival? I didn¡¯t expect to come across a love triangle!¡±, she whispers as we keep our eyes on the event in front of us.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡±

    ¡°Wait. Is it the guy then!? I didn¡¯t know you are gay!¡±, she gasps.

    ¡°What? No! I don¡¯t- argh¡­ Listen: I¡¯m not involved in some stupid love triangle and I¡¯m not homosexual. I¡¯m just here to¡­ help a friend. Yeah, that guy there? He¡¯s Marco. I¡¯m just here in case he needs help.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Oh, I see.¡±

    Does she really? I turn to look at her to see any facial clues, but she seems to be focused at the lovey-dovey duo. And she¡¯s close. Too close. We¡¯ve been trying to look through the same vantage point in the bushes so we ended up pressing into each other. I move away, but now it¡¯s difficult to see without risking my position.

    Oh? There¡¯s a spot under the bush.

    I push my head flat on the grass and look through a small clearing at the bottom of the bush.

    ¡°Marco¡­ I¡¯m really happy. But¡­ could you give me some time to think about it?¡±, Lynn says as she looks down with a red face.

    ¡°Please, take all the time you need! Whenever you feel ready, Lynn.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Marco. I¡¯ll tell you tomorrow. Promise!¡±

    They said their goodbyes and Lynn left. Marco stayed behind for a minute to calm his nerves and then left.

    I sit back from the bush. I sincerely hope all this trouble was worth the information I got. I¡¯ll have to think of a way to use this to my advantage.

    ¡°Hey, Kastille?¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±, I turn my head to reply.

    Mia put her hand on my head and retracted it soon after.

    ¡°There was a leaf in your hair.¡±, she says as she threw the leaf away.

    ¡°Thanks. By the way, did you need something from me when you called out to me?¡±

    ¡°Oh, right! I saw you and I thought I could ask if you wanted to walk with me to the club room before it starts. Ah!¡±

    She took on a face of shock and quickly took out her phone to look at it.

    ¡°Oh, my gosh! We gotta run!¡±

    ---

    I didn¡¯t want to run. ¡®We have enough time to get there. No need to get impatient.¡¯ I would say. Mia kept rushing me, though.

    Even though we arrived at the club room with plenty of time to spare, there was nobody to be seen.

    Mia and I are now sitting inside the classroom. She¡¯s sitting in the middle front of the rows of desks. I sit in the corner desk closest to the door.

    Six minutes had already passed since the time to start the club. Still nobody to be seen.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone¡¯s coming, Mia.¡±, I pipe up to break the silence.

    ¡°It¡¯s only been a few minutes! Please, let¡¯s wait a little bit longer.¡±, she says unwaveringly.

    ¡°How long are you going to wait?¡±

    ¡°As long as I need to! Wait, are you not waiting with me?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be waiting here for nobody to show up. In fact, I think I¡¯ll leave right now¡­¡±

    ¡°No, wait!¡±, she exclaims, ¡°can you wait just a few more minutes? Half an hour and I promise I¡¯ll let you go then.¡±

    ¡°Argh, alright.¡±, I say dejectedly.

    Stella would give me an earful if I just abandon her right now anyway.

    Mia gets up from her desk and runs over to the one next to mine. She pulls the chair from there to the side of my desk and takes a seat.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk to pass the time!¡±

    ¡°So be it, then. What do you want to talk about?¡±, I sigh.

    ¡°What kind of games do you like to play?¡±

    ¡°Nothing other than chess, really.¡±

    ¡°No video games?¡±

    ¡°I have a game on my phone. I play it sometimes.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t count as a video game! Seriously though, nothing?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t play video games.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Never really needed to. I read most of the time.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What do you read?¡±

    ¡°All sorts of subjects. What about you?¡±

    ¡°Eheheh¡­ I don¡¯t really read that much¡­¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡±

    Mia leans forward with her elbows on the desk and supports her head with her hands.

    I lean further back into my chair.

    ¡°Why do you like reading?¡±, she asks.

    ¡°Why? Well, it¡¯s not that I like reading. I don¡¯t really have any like or dislike about it. It¡¯s just something I¡¯ve always done.¡±

    ¡°Since you were a kid?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Though, the only books I could really read were my father¡¯s at that time.¡±

    ¡°Your ¡®failure¡¯ of a dad.¡±

    ¡°I suppose he didn¡¯t fail that much.¡±

    Without my father and his books, would I be where I am today? Would I be the same person as I am now?

    ¡°What about your parents? You used the same word for them, too.¡±, I ask in return.

    ¡°Ah¡­ well. I¡¯ll only tell you if you tell me something else about you.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not interested!?¡±, she cries.

    ¡°No. Should I be?¡±

    ¡°Kastille! Oh, fine!¡±, she puffs out her cheeks in frustration.

    ¡°I''ll start, then... My dad is¡­ was a popular vocalist for a band. His band got one hit song but got into some rough days. He couldn¡¯t really get another good song out and his band broke up. My mom was one of the groupies that followed my dad¡¯s band around before that happened. You can probably guess how I was born. They never really married, though. My mom is working as a computer technician and she¡¯s taking college classes to get a better paying role. So, she¡¯s not home most of the time. My dad¡­ I don¡¯t know what he is doing, but my mom said he¡¯s still paying for the child support.¡±, she says after calming her face down to normal.

    ¡°Your turn.¡±,she gestures.

    Well, it¡¯s only fair to pay what is owed.

    I tell her about how my father became a small-time entrepreneur, investing his hard-earned money on start-ups. My family could live comfortably then. My mother didn¡¯t have to work, and my sister and I didn¡¯t have to worry about our daily needs. We were not incredibly rich by any means, but we didn¡¯t have to worry about money.

    That is, until my father tried to go big. He became too ambitious. He flew too close to the sun and fell into debt. Missing the right targets and hitting the bad ones. After declaring bankruptcy, followed by the divorce, he left somewhere. The last I heard was that he got a job at one of the companies he helped start up.

    My mother was a pharmacist, but her degree quickly became obsolete as automation for that field were better and cheaper than a human could ever be. By the time my father became bankrupt, no pharmacies needed pharmacists anymore. Now she¡¯s working as a front desk clerk by day and a waitress by night.

    ¡°Wow, we¡¯re really not that different¡­¡±, Mia said.

    ¡°Maybe.¡±, I reply.

    Before she could get anything else to say, there was a knock on the door.

    ¡°Hey, sorry I¡¯m late. Is the club still happening here?¡±

    Mia stands up forcefully from her chair, knocking it over.

    ¡°Todd! Oh my gosh, you came!¡±, she exclaims as she runs over to him.

    ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°We couldn¡¯t. We got tired so we decided to take a break. Then, the president remembered about the gaming club yesterday and now we¡¯re here.¡±, he shrugs.

    ¡°We?¡±, Mia says as she looks behind him.

    Sure enough, the carpentry club is following right behind Todd.

    Mia is now positively beaming.

    ¡°Please, come in! I put all the games in categories at the back. There¡¯s board games, card games, and other stuff! I wasn¡¯t able to get video games in here since it¡¯s a temporary club room, but I promise we¡¯ll get them!¡±, she gleefully told the group.

    They sit themselves down in various arrangements and started doing their own thing.

    Several minutes later, more groups came down into the room. It¡¯s getting packed in here¡­

    Many of these groups seem to be from the people who we talked with yesterday. It looks like they all had the same idea and decided to take a break from their work here.

    Well, they all had the same idea since I gave it to them. A very available excuse to take a break is right here in the same building. Heck, even the passing students became interested in the increasing crowd and joined in as well.

    Looks like my job here is finished. I left the room as another group was entering.

    ---

    I¡¯m glad that¡¯s over with. Now, I must go to Stella and tell her it¡¯s finished.

    However, before I could open the door to the student council room, someone called out my name.

    ¡°Kastille!¡±, Mia shouted from down the hallway.

    I stand where I am for a few seconds until Mia arrives.

    ¡°Hah¡­. ah¡­. phew¡­. Kastille! Why did you leave without saying anything?¡±, she pants.

    ¡°Looked like everything was doing fine. The club is getting members. What else is there to do?¡±, I answer.

    ¡°You could stay. Why not join the club, too?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll be busy with my student council duties. I wouldn¡¯t have the time.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what they all said?¡±, she remarks.

    ¡°Very true¡­¡±, I agree.

    ¡°Arghh¡­ alright, it¡¯s ok! Exams are coming up and you¡¯ll be busy with the student council. I understand.¡±, she says with resolve.

    Then, she smiles. This isn¡¯t like the previous smiles she has shown. I can tell it¡¯s genuinely from the bottom of her heart. A very warm and calming smile filled with gratitude.

    ¡°Thank you so much, Kastille. I couldn¡¯t have done this without you. Really. I don¡¯t think any of this would happen if it weren¡¯t for you. Having someone come along for the ride is really more fun than going at it yourself!¡±

    ¡°I could say the same thing to you¡­¡±

    None of this would have had to happen if it weren¡¯t for you.

    ¡°Aw, thanks.¡±, she giggles.

    Hmm? She¡¯s gone quiet suddenly.

    Kastille¡­¡±, she begins, ¡°I¡­¡±

    She averts her attention to the floor underneath her.

    ¡°What is it?¡±, I ask.

    ¡°Ahh! Nevermind! It¡¯s nothing! I, uh, gotta go back to the room! You know, to do club stuff. Okay. Bye!¡±, she burst.

    She turns around and starts running. After a few steps, she stops and turns back to me.

    ¡°Come visit the club if you ever do find the time.¡±, she shouts.

    I wave back at her and watch her disappear into a corner of the hallway.

    Is it safe now?

    I¡¯ve had many smiles of gratitude shown to me. Many students who I have helped in middle school has shown me smiles like that, thanking me. Dale is but one of those students.

    Her smile is oddly different than the rest, however. While I can see the same gratitude, there was something else empowering it.

    She grew silent near the end of our conversation, too.

    Oh, well. I hereby declare Mia Schroeder as a Class 1 Anomaly.

    I turn the handle of the student council room and push to open it.

    Something is stopping it. The door gave out a loud thunk, followed by three variations of ¡®ouch!¡¯ and running when I tried to open it.

    I slowly push the door open and it now seems to be functioning properly.

    The inside of the student council room is different, though.

    As I enter, I see Lilianna pouring out a tea kettle at the counter. There¡¯s nothing coming out of the tea kettle, however. She noticed this revelation and set the kettle down. Now she¡¯s¡­ just staring at it? Maybe she really likes tea kettles.

    I look to my left where Rhys is standing, facing one of the large windows looking out into the sport fields. The issue is that the shades are closed, obstructing the view to the outside world. Is he just admiring the window shades? They do look very modern¡­

    Finally, I look straight ahead of me. Stella is sitting in her presidential chair. Normally, she¡¯d be doing something on her desk. This time, she¡¯s spinning. The chair is not even aligned with the desk properly. It¡¯s as if she ran to it and sat herself down forcefully enough to move the chair and got it spinning.

    I approach Stella¡¯s desk and sit myself down in front of her. At the same time, her spinning chair slowed down to a stop. The back of her chair is facing me, however, covering Stella¡¯s small stature.

    ¡°Uh¡­ Well, the issue with the club has been resolved.¡±, I report.

    ¡°Good!¡±, she proceeds.

    She fixes the angle of her chair so that she could face me.

    ¡°Did something happen?¡±, I question the room.

    ¡°Nope! Nothing. Well? Are you going to tell me your report?¡±, Stella demands.

    ---

    I reported how the issue with the club is resolved. The gaming club shouldn¡¯t have any problems with membership now.

    That means I don¡¯t have to deal with that Class 1 Anomaly anymore! Hurray!

    Unfortunately, I was premature with my celebrations...

 Chapter 10 - No Regrets

    This is bad. Very bad.

    What should I do?

    I thought I could take some time to relax over the weekend, but a problem ruined my plans. That is, I¡¯m running out of money.

    It didn¡¯t take long for my expenditures to dwindle away. What¡¯s worse is that there¡¯s no income. I had gotten my allowance from means that no longer exist now. I¡¯ll have to think of a way to get funds.

    If I think about what my resume would be¡­ no, it¡¯s no good. I¡¯ll only be able to get low-paying, back-breaking and exhausting jobs with what I could put down. I¡¯ve never had to work before. I don¡¯t want to have to start now. Or ever.

    Ah, I¡¯ll have to think about this later. My target has arrived.

    ¡°Hey, Michael. Long time no see.¡±

    ¡°Kastille? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen you in this restroom before,¡± Michael greets me.

    I start to wash my hands as he enters the restroom.

    He approaches the mirror on the wall and does his routine: checking his hair, washing his face, checking his hair again and then checking his clothes. While he is doing his own thing, I dry my hands.

    ¡°I don¡¯t usually need to.¡± I reply to his analysis.

    Michael replies with a simple ¡®Hm¡¯.

    ¡°The exams are next week, huh?¡±, I inquire.

    ¡°Yeah. It is. I wish it isn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°The year went by so fast. Soon, we¡¯ll be sophomores,¡± I point out.

    ¡°You¡¯re right! Didn¡¯t think about that. Sophomore, hmm¡­¡±

    Michael turns to face me.

    ¡°I wonder if, when we¡¯re in our death beds, it¡¯ll feel like this,¡± he wonders, ¡°my great-grandpa did say something about that.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s healthy to analyze ourselves and make the best of what we can with the time that we have. I want to be able to look back with no regrets,¡± I declare.

    ¡°Speaking of which, do you have any regrets?¡± I ask him.

    ¡°Me? Hmm, not really. You?¡±

    ¡°Meeting a particular girl,¡± I shrug.

    Well, two. Let¡¯s hope that number doesn¡¯t increase.

    ¡°Wait, there is one now that I think about it. The year is nearly over and I don¡¯t have a girlfriend yet!¡± he adds.

    ¡°Ah! And the exams are coming up so nobody is going to want to. Damn it, I¡¯ve already regretted something,¡± Michael cries.

    ¡°Is it too late, though?¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± he asks.

    I put my weight on the sink and relax my posture.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want any regrets, right? Shouldn¡¯t we want to make our lives more exciting?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a point there,¡± Michael agrees.

    ¡°You said you wanted a girlfriend, right? I¡¯ve got good news for you, Michael.¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    He perks up.

    ¡°You know that girl you hang out with? Uh, Lane?¡±

    ¡°Lynn?¡±

    ¡°Yes, her. I heard her say something about not having a boyfriend yet. Then, when she was asked who she was interested in, guess who she said?¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°You, of course.¡±

    From what I have observed, what I said might be true. Of course, I have no concrete proof for her affection towards Michael. Marco¡¯s name did surface in the conversation that I¡­ overheard a few days before the confession. I did ask Cain for some information since he is the same classroom, but he¡¯s rather worthless in that department.

    Data collection is such a bothersome business. I hope I don¡¯t have to do this often.

    ¡°A-ha, I knew she had a thing for me.¡±

    Nice ego there.

    ¡°She said she¡¯ll give up once exam week starts, though,¡± I lie.

    ¡°What? Really?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. So, what are you planning on doing?¡±

    ¡°Ahh, should I wait?¡±

    ¡°What about having no regrets?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t want to have any regrets! But¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on, Michael. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re scared?¡± I goad.

    ¡°Heh, I¡¯m no pussy. Alright, then. Watch this.¡±

    I sneer. This boy is stupidly easy.

    Michael heads for the exit and exclaims, ¡°No regrets!¡±

    I follow behind him.

    He enters the classroom, but I stay hidden outside.

    Pretty much everybody in the class, including Cain, Marco, and Lynn, are still inside because it¡¯s self-study time. We¡¯re given thirty minutes after the first half of our day¡¯s classes.

    This time, I¡¯m just going to silently listen without exposing myself. I don¡¯t need to see if I can hear.

    Michael, being himself, loudly asks Lynn on a date.

    Lynn is left stupefied by the sudden confession.

    Marco, meanwhile, is furious. Understandable, since he¡¯s still waiting on her answer after school today.

    I hear chairs and desks moving, yelling, and scuffling. Sounds like my work here is done.

    I can only imagine Cain¡¯s face as he¡¯s witnessing this.

    ---

    I¡¯m a bit curious as to what happened next. It¡¯s after school now, about the time Lynn has her answer for Marco. Oh well, if Cain is happy with the result, then it doesn¡¯t matter.

    I open the door to the student council room.

    ¡°Oh, hey. There he is,¡± Stella announces.

    ¡°Yes, here I am,¡± I reply.

    Oh God.

    ¡°Why is Mia here?¡± I ask.

    Stella is sitting on the sofa opposite of the one Mia is sitting on. Liliana is at the counter, pouring out tea (with actual tea, this time) into five cups. Rhys is at the desk, typing something into the computer.

    ¡°Bad news, Kastille,¡± Mia pouts, ¡°there¡¯s not going to be any gaming club!¡±

    Ugh¡­

    Stella motions for me to sit in the same sofa as Mia. I comply and sit down at the far end away from Mia.

    ¡°What happened?¡± I ask.

    Mia looks toward Stella, gesturing her to tell me.

    ¡°Well,¡± Stella begins, ¡°even though there were many people attending the meeting, no one actually signed up.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! They all said they came there for just a quick break. I¡¯m glad they all feel better now, but I really needed members!¡± Mia sniffles.

    ¡°Ah, I was worried about that,¡± I commented, ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°We were talking about that.¡± Stella reports.

    Mia nods, ¡°I¡¯m not really sure what do now. I really wanted to start the gaming club again, but that¡¯s not going to happen now.¡±

    ¡°A few of them did express their interest in joining in the next school year,¡± Stella said, ¡°so while it might not be today, the club should have no trouble starting after summer.¡±

    At this point, Liliana arrives at the coffee table in front of us and begins to set down the tea cups.

    ¡°But, that¡¯s so far away!¡± Mia exclaims, but she seems to have accepted this fact already.

    ¡°Oh, one thing I almost forgot,¡± Stella informs, ¡°you can¡¯t start a club if your grades are bad.¡±

    A look of horror washes over Mia¡¯s face.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re going to have to pass the exams if you don¡¯t want an academic probation,¡± Stella continues.

    ¡°This school is pretty strict with academics. You¡¯ll lose privileges, you know?¡± Liliana comments.

    Liliana then leaves the table and proceeds towards Rhys to give him his tea.

    ¡°Err¡­ My grades are pretty bad¡­ Aren¡¯t the exams next week?¡± Mia asks.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I answer.

    ¡°It is,¡± Stella answers.

    Mia hides her face with her hands, then leans forward to rest both on her knees.

    ¡°I¡¯m so screwed¡­¡± she moans.

    ¡°Kastille,¡± Stella turns towards me, ¡°are you doing general studies?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like where this is going,¡± I sigh.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we all have a group study? I think it¡¯ll be fun,¡± Stella suggests.

    ¡°How about it?¡± she asks the room.

    ¡°That sounds like fun!¡± Liliana answers.

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that. We could share study material,¡± Rhys says.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really¡­¡± I begin.

    ¡°Aw, thanks you guys! You¡¯re the best student council ever! Alright, since everybody wants to help, then I¡¯ll do my best!¡± Mia exclaims.

    She¡¯s certainly quick to pick herself up.

    ¡°I pass. I don¡¯t really need to have a group study. I¡¯ll just go home now.¡± I said as I get up from the sofa.

    ¡°Ehhhh? Didn¡¯t you have the top score in the midterm exams?¡± Mia grumbles.

    ¡°Stella is enough. Her score is two points below mine,¡± I reply.

    ¡°Actually, Kastille. This is your next task,¡± Stella smiles.

    ¡°We¡¯re the student council. If someone needs help, we¡¯ll be there!¡± she proclaims.

    I sigh¡­

 Chapter 11

    If I want to get rid of this situation I¡¯m in, then I¡¯ll have to decide on the method.

    One method would be to gather useful people to me. Slow enough that Stella wouldn¡¯t notice. I already haveplanned out some potential targets that could bring more power to me. Once I have the appropriate assets, she would be powerless against me.

    The problem is that this method would take time. One of the major assets I need for this method will only be available two years from now. Other than time, my estimate for the success isn¡¯t as high as I¡¯d like it to be. There are too many variables that I¡¯m not too keen on putting my confidence in.

    But, it would be worth it. I would love to see her face once she realizes that she can do absolutely nothing to me.

    A second method, however, is even better. Not only could I do it by the end of the next year, but it will utterly humiliate her. It¡¯s simple, really.

    I¡¯ll be the student council president.

    The daughter of the state governor losing her position to me would show the school who is superior. I do have to commend Stella for being the student council president as a freshman. Though, I¡¯m sure the reason she could get the position in the first place is due to her father¡¯s influence. Students saw her name on the ballot and picked it because the name is familiar.

    All the other candidates simply had lower profiles than her.

    Even though I am fairly known in the school, it¡¯s mostly limited to the first and second year students. But, getting my name out there shouldn¡¯t be hard. Why?

    Because Stella has already given me the perfect platform to get support from the students.

    ¡°Arrived at destination,¡± an engineered voice alerts me.

    The door to my right slides open and I leave the car. The artificial voice thanked me for using its company¡¯s services before it closes the door. Then, it slowly drives itself away.

    One of the many benefits for attending this school is that most public services become free of charge or significantly discounted. Transportation, medical benefits, food subsidies, and other miscellaneous things are covered by the school thanks to its generous affiliates.

    In front of my view is a high fence of ornate metal bars. It stretched considerably far before changing into a different property.

    Beyond the fence is a garden that followed the length of the fence.

    Hmm¡­ I see Acer saccharum and an assortment of Paeonia suffruticosa and Iris sibirica. Damn it, I didn¡¯t learn biology just to name plants!

    A driveway runs through the garden, looping around a small fountain. A part of the driveway branches off to the right, stopping at a garage with enough doors to fit at least four cars. Two cars are parked outside of the garage. From what I can see, they are manufactured from a luxury brand. I wonder if any of these cars require someone to manually drive it?

    I approach the intercom that is embedded into one of the pillars to the side of the gate and press the only button on it.

    After waiting a while, I hear a familiar girl¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve made it! Come in.¡±

    As soon as the voice disappears, the gate started to roll open.

    I start walking, following the edge of the driveway. It took quite a while - 43 seconds actually ¨C before I finally arrive at the door.

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of having such a big garden?¡± I ask myself.

    Though, I already knew the answer: to show off.

    I wait a few more seconds before I hear the door opening. What is revealed in front of me is Liliana Forschmann.

    ¡°Hey, Kastille. Come on in,¡± she welcomes me.

    I enter the extravagant foyer of her home. Well, I suppose it¡¯s extravagant for me and normal for Liliana. It¡¯s what you can expect when both of your parents work as chief legal officers for a multi-national corporation.

    Liliana leads me to where the rest of the group are at.

    I obliged to come to this group study session not for studying, but with the intent of gathering information. Since my information gathering network is nonfunctioning now, I must do it myself. Entering someone else¡¯s home and being able to observe them and their environment will give me a good amount of data. I just hope that data will prove to be useful.

    Liliana and I enter one of the rooms connected to the foyer. Inside it is what looks like a lounge, with multiple chairs and tables positioned in various orientations. Of course, the room is populated with Stella, Rhys, and Mia.

    ¡°Glad to have you here, Kastille,¡± Stella greets me.

    Rhys gives me a nod.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Kastille! Look at this place! It¡¯s crazy.¡± Mia shouts.

    ¡°Oh, stop it, Mia!¡± Liliana pleads.

    ¡°It really is. Not even my place is this crazy big,¡± Stella agrees with Mia.

    ¡°Does it really matter? Their money, their decision,¡± I argue.

    ¡°Do you guys want to go somewhere else, then?¡± Liliana hisses.

    ¡°No. We¡¯re already here. Can we get started?¡± Rhys answers.

    Liliana and I sit down where the others were at. At the table in front of us lay some laptops and tablets. A different table to the side has drinks and snacks.

    I take out the tablet and laptop from my backpack and lay them on the table in front of me. Everyone has the tablet and laptop combination in front of them now except Mia, who only has a tablet.

    And with that, we begin.

    ---

    One of the easiest ways to collect information is through conversation and observation. Thankfully, study groups are known to be plentiful with conversation.

    Rhys and Liliana are both sophomores, one year older than the rest of us in the room.

    Like her parents, Liliana is following the Legal Studies core track with a specialization in Law. Last year, she scored third place in that core track exam. Likewise, Stella is also in the Legal Studies core track, pursuing a specialization in Law and Government. Both had quite a bit to chat about.

    Apparently, Liliana was running for student council president at the same time as Stella. After Stella won the candidacy, she offered Liliana the vice president role.

    I asked her how she felt about losing, but she said she was glad Stella became the student council president instead of her.

    What came to my surprise is that Rhys is functioning as both the secretary and the treasurer for the student council. He does look busy all the time. The person who was supposed to be the secretary in the first place had to suddenly leave the school due to a medical issue. Rhys volunteered to do both jobs because ¡°I wanted to help as much as I can.¡±

    Rhys¡¯s core track is in Mathematics with a specialization in Data Science.

    When Mia asked Rhys why he picked that specialization, he told us that his mother suggested it. Oh, and because his mother is a hedge fund manager. A very successful one. His family is one of the major sponsors for the school.

    Mia did ask me about my position in the student council is. I was about to tell her that I wasn¡¯t really in the student council, but Stella stepped in before I could.

    Apparently, I¡¯m the public relations officer. Interesting.

    It¡¯d be great if I could somehow bring Liliana and Rhys to my side. I¡¯ll have to add this data to their profiles once I get home.

    As for Mia¡­

    She told the others only about her mother¡¯s role as an computer technician and her father¡¯s musical past. She didn¡¯t tell them about her father¡¯s current condition.

    Like me, she¡¯s in her General Education core track. The other girls asked her if she is planning on picking a core track, Mia replied with a negative. She said she¡¯s still unsure of what to pick.

    ¡°But,¡± she later added, ¡°I love to play games!¡±

    Rhys gave her suggestions on taking on one of the game development-related tracks, but she decided to think about it in more detail later.

    Even though we planned this study session as a group study, it mostly ended up as a ¡°tutor Mia¡± session.

    The good thing about picking a specialization is that a student won¡¯t have to take classes that doesn¡¯t relate to that field. For example, an art student would not have to take a class in calculus or statistics. However, trigonometry and algebra is still a required minimum regardless of the core track.

    But since Mia and I are in the General Education core track, that means we must take courses from other core tracks and then some. That includes learning mathematics, science, and language arts beyond the usual minimum curricula requirements for the other core tracks.

    For me, I had nothing to really learn from these people in regards to my studies. I finished reading The Brothers Karamazov, though. That¡¯s one less on my backlog.

    Mia, however, had abandoned her studies long before she arrived at our school.

    Stella and Liliana helped her with language arts, Rhys helped her (and Liliana) with mathematics, and I helped her (and the others) with science.

    We were all doubtful of how much Mia can improve in one week. No, it¡¯d be impossible for her.

    But, the student council were determined to help her.

    I look out the windows and found the sky to be taking an orange and yellow color.

    It¡¯s that time already?

    ¡°Um, it¡¯s getting late,¡± I point out.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s already 7 o¡¯clock!¡± Liliana reports.

    Stella stretches obnoxiously.

    ¡°Yeah. I guess it¡¯s time to head home guys,¡± she yawns.

    Mia stands up from her seat.

    ¡°Thank you so much, everybody,¡± she sniffs, ¡°I really appreciate all of this!¡±

    Stella stands up next to Mia and places her hand on Mia¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°We were all able to learn today. I think it¡¯s important to always support one another. Good work, everybody,¡± Stella proclaims.

    All of us start packing up our things. I requested a ride on my phone from the same service I had used before.

    ¡°Ready, Mia?¡± Stella asks.

    ¡°Yeah, just a moment,¡± Mia replies before stuffing a chocolate pastry into her mouth and muffling an ¡®ok¡¯.

    ¡°Bye, guys! See you tomorrow!¡± Stella waves.

    Mia, who is still chewing, waves goodbye and follows Stella out of the room.

    Looks like they¡¯re riding together.

    I put on my backpack and start walking towards the door.

    ---

    While I was typing on my laptop, entering in the new data I collected earlier today, a notification appeared on my screen.

    It¡¯s a message from Cain.

    TheCanCan: hey kastille is this you? I got this email a few min ago

    TheCanCan: it doesn¡¯t have your email address so I checked it and it looks like the address is spoofed

    He attached an image. It looks like a screen capture of the email he¡¯s talking about.

    ---

    Salutations student!

    You have been hand-picked to participate in our growing community of knowledge! We have at our disposal data and resources from the thousands of students and other goings-on here at Goldenhill Central School. Want to know what your crush likes or dislikes? We¡¯ve got it! Worried about that next test? We¡¯ve got exactly what you need. Need someone to do some business for you? We know the right people.

    Whether you need information or people, The Codical Company is here to serve!

    Before you access our database and services, you must first add a profile of yourself and someone else and fill out all the requested information listed on the form.

    CLICK HERE to start!

    Regards,

    Codical Robin

    Please Note: Sending or forwarding this message to another person without permission is a violation to our terms of service.

    ---

    ...

    What the hell?

    An open-source information network? While I did think of doing that, the risks and shortcomings for such a thing out-weight the potential benefit. I only trust a handful of chosen students for information gathering. This ¡®Codical Company¡¯ is just gathering data in bulk. What if the data people add were illegitimate? While there are some methods to mitigate that, it¡¯s still not as reliable as I¡¯d want.

    Not to mention someone else out there is trying to start their own information network like I did.

    I knew the power vacuum I left would bring some trouble sooner or later, but this is foolish.

    I can deal with this to my advantage.

 Announcement

    You guys probably all know what''s going to happen after reading the title. I''m putting this story into an indefinite hiatus. I started with an idea in my head, but I was neither prepared nor skilled enough to succesfully materialize that idea. I''m an amateur, no doubt about it.

    I have other ideas floating around in my head that I''d like to try. Coming up with ideas is a lot easier thanworking on it, however. Thankfully, I''ve gotten a lot of experience from this! But, I still have a lot to learn.If I do come back to work on The Genius Manipulator, I''m probably going to have to tear it all down andstart over.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    I really appreciate everyone who has read my story and to everyone who has given me their feedback and critiques. Without you guys, I''d never be able to improve and see my mistakes.

    Until next time,

    -ert