Episode 91

As Sonia opened the dormitory door to let in some fresh air, I was busy changing into warmer clothes. A brisk, cold wind rushed in, causing me to shiver uncontrollably.

“Brr, it’s freezing,” I muttered, rubbing my arms for warmth.

“Why don’t you put on a scarf?” Sonia suggested.

“That sounds like a great idea.”

She nodded and handed me a black scarf. “Did I have something like this in my closet?”

“I knitted it myself.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just surprising. I’ve never received a gift like this from my family. What luck to have a friend who would give me such a thoughtful gift!”

“Then why don’t you marry me?”

“And who would give birth to the child?”

“Since I can’t, you should be the one.”

“That’s quite an unconventional strategy you’re proposing.”

Sonia draped her arm around my neck to adjust the scarf. Our faces were just inches apart, and the area near my neck began to warm with a rustling sound.

“The weather is clear today.”

“All is well.”

In the novel ‘Surviving Outer God,’ meteorological disasters like storms often preceded major events. Given the clear skies today, it seemed we were safe from any imminent danger.

“Soon, we’ll be leaving this planet, right?”

“Nothing’s set in stone yet. But since we’re not sure how long we’ll stay, we might as well soak up everything we can.”

Life in prison had ingrained a habit of waking up at six every morning. I left the dorm early, relishing the thought of a quiet morning in the deserted classroom. That peace, however, was short-lived.

“Are you Aidel von Reinhardt?”

“We’re from Southern Public Broadcasting. Sorry to bother you, but we’re hoping to discuss your recent paper!”

“Could you briefly explain your paper’s findings from your time at the Academia?”

“What exactly is your connection to Professor Feynman?”

No sooner had I stepped outside than a swarm of reporters, previously as inconspicuous as mice, descended upon me. Their zeal for an interview overwhelmed my desire for privacy. I attempted to shut the door, but a reporter wedged his hand against it, his eyes burning with enthusiasm and a hint of desperation. They hadn’t even bothered to send an email first. How appalling.

“Young master, you’ve really made a splash.”

“If this is what success looks like, I’d rather live as a hermit.”

I quickly surveyed the crowd—about fifty reporters. Answering their questions would surely make me late. Since they showed no signs of leaving without their story, I had to make a quick decision.

With a sigh, I pulled out my calipers.

I hastened my pace, pulling the scarf Sonia had given me over my nose and mouth and shielding my eyes with the paper from my pocket. It was a makeshift disguise but effective.

As I neared the classroom, a firm hand clasped my shoulder. Too assertive for Rustila, too heavy for Ceti. No, it couldn’t be.

“Professor, how are you?”

I spun around. “Welton…?”

“Who did you think it was?”

“A journalist.”

Welton Yusford, my classmate known for his perpetual sporty sunglasses, chuckled and handed me his pair. “What on earth happened during the vacation? Reporters are swarming for your story.”

“Oh, that…”

“Save it, no need for details. Who among us can truly comprehend the whims of an Outer God?”

His tone was light, teasing, as if nudging me about a notorious escapade to Alcatraz.

“Just so you know, I came out with a clean bill of health.”

“A student at the Academy who hides behind his thesis and chuckles, ‘Hehe, my disguise is perfect,’ is considered normal? Even a genius wouldn’t pull off such bizarre stunts, mister. And by the way, if you’re normal, then everyone else here is a complete oddball.”

Welton chuckled as he released my shoulder. I slipped on the sunglasses he handed me.

“Take a look around with those on.”

The courtyard was bustling with quite a few unfamiliar faces.

“That person over there is a journalist from outside, and that kid is from the academy’s own newspaper. And that one is…”

“A professor.”

“A professor? Why is a professor mingling here at the academy?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

It wasn’t just the entrance that felt precarious. The courtyard itself was a minefield. If caught, things could get tricky fast. After Welton mentioned he was off to grab some breakfast, we parted ways, and I made my way to the classroom.

“Excuse me, are you Student Aidel…?”

Suddenly, I was caught in an ambush.

“Cough, cough.”

It was the first day of the second semester, and Zelnya had arrived in the classroom earlier than anyone else. Confident in her punctuality, she was determined to be at the top of her class this semester. Just as she settled in, the door swung open.

“Excuse me, is Student Aidel here?”

“Who?”

“Ah, there’s someone here. Hello! I’m Sophia, a reporter from the Interstellar Daily.”

Zelnya furrowed her brow. It was unusual for an outside reporter to enter a classroom so casually.

“What do you need?”

“I’m here to interview a student named Aidel von Reinhardt. Does he attend this school?”

“Aidel, that guy?”

“Oh, are you perhaps a classmate?”

“Yes. Well…” Zelnya replied curtly, realizing she might have revealed too much.

“That’s wonderful! I was hoping I had the right place. Now, I can finally conduct my interview! Huhuhuhu!”

And with that, Sophia launched into an enthusiastic monologue about Aidel.

“Everyone knows about Aidel’s remarkable achievements. He’s the founder of the theory that indirectly repaired the Southern Ether Belt!”

“…”

“And because of him, interest in the physics course at college has skyrocketed this year! It’s a challenging path, one typically reserved for geniuses… But doesn’t that make it all the more enticing? Right?!”

Aidel, Aidel, Aidel. For Zelnya, it was torture hearing his name repeatedly.

Until the end of the first semester, she had been nearly on par with Aidel. They were close enough that she felt she could catch up. But then Aidel had to go and publish a groundbreaking paper—while in prison, no less—shifting the balance dramatically in his favor.

“So, about that paper…!”

Crunch.

Zelnya gritted her teeth and abruptly stood up.

“Ah, where are you going?”

“Just to the bathroom for a moment.”

Bang!

Zelnya slammed the door behind her as she left. Just outside, she nearly bumped into a boy.

“…Huh?”

The word escaped her lips before she could stop it. Despite a slight crack from a cold, her voice retained its melodic quality. Zelnya quickly took in his appearance.

Eyes, piercing. Hair, impeccably styled. Attire, a stark black scarf. Her eyes narrowed.

“Zelnya, you’re here early.”

“Move.”

“You could at least say hello.”

“Why would I greet someone like you?”

“Not happy to see me?”

Deep down, she felt a pang of happiness, which only fueled her irritation with herself. Aidel simply shrugged and continued into the classroom, unaware of the misfortune that awaited him.

“Hello!”

“Oh.”

Caught off guard by a reporter lying in ambush, Aidel found himself thrust into an imprompted interview right in the middle of the classroom. Zelnya paused at the doorway, peering inside with curiosity.

“Just answer a few questions, and then we’ll leave quickly. First…!”

The scene piqued Zelnya’s interest. What on earth had Aidel done during the vacation to cause such a stir? It seemed impossible, yet here it was happening. If she could decipher his strategy and adopt it for herself, she might surpass him. Then, the endless scoldings from her family for consistently coming in second would transform into accolades. She envisioned such a future with a smile.

“A-Achoo.”

Despite the medicine, a fog of dizziness lingered.

“…Then the third question. What are your future academic plans? For instance, when and to which school’s department will you apply?”

“Well, nothing’s decided yet, so I don’t really know.”

Aidel scratched his chin awkwardly as he spoke.

“Any thoughts on early graduation?”

“I’m considering it.”

At those words, Zelnya felt a twinge of concern.

“I heard that early graduation from Stellarium Academia is extremely challenging. Are you confident about it?”

“I’m planning to give it a try.”

Just a try. Aidel’s words lacked certainty, but his past semester results spoke volumes. If he set his mind to it, early graduation was within his reach.

No, she couldn’t let that happen. If Aidel graduated early, they would diverge in their academic paths, choosing different majors in college. Zelnya’s aim was pre-med. If Aidel continued on this trajectory—

“Of course, your future aspiration is in that field, right?”

“Yes. I’m going to study physics.”

He was choosing pure science, a field not known for its lucrative prospects. But Zelnya knew that academic success wasn’t just about producing a great thesis; high exam scores could overshadow any research achievements.

• Be the top student in the second semester.
• Zelnya, the world only recognizes the first place.

These were the words from her parents, both a warning and a challenge. She had dwelled on this advice repeatedly during the vacation and had come to terms with her previous semester’s defeat. For her family’s honor and her own pride, she was determined to triumph this time.

“Aidel, I baked cookies. In the western regions, they give white cookies to people when they’re released.”

“Thanks, Rustila.”

“You, idiot brother. Didn’t I tell you not to leave me behind the day before?”

“Oh, I forgot.”

“Going to Alcatraz just to write a thesis? You didn’t bribe the professor, did you?”

“Looks like you’re feeling better, Christine.”

“Is this Aidel’s doing?”

“No, kid.”

Aidel was the center of attention, surrounded by classmates both curious and skeptical about his thesis. Meanwhile, Zelnya enjoyed the solitude; no one approached her, allowing her to focus on her studies.

“It’s good to see everyone. Glad you’re all still here.”

“How’s your arm, teacher?”

“I managed to reattach it miraculously. I was nearly a cyborg.”

During homeroom, while teacher Kendra and the students chatted, Zelnya scribbled away.

“Cough, cough.”

She coughed, but it was manageable. She had taken her medicine and could hold out until she got home.

“Aidel, you’ve achieved a lot. In my ten years of teaching, I’ve never seen a student quite like you.”

“It wasn’t just me. The professor was a huge help.”

“Always so modest, aren’t you?”

Kendra approached with a wide smile.

“And yet, here you are, reading a paper during assembly?”

“Pardon?”

“Let me see that.”

“Oh, no. It’s actually a game I was playing.”

“Since when did you become such a skilled liar?”

The room erupted in laughter, but Zelnya remained stoic, her expression unchanging.

“Let’s see. The title is… ‘On the Detection Method of Gravitons Using Supersymmetric Pair Distribution Analysis’? That title alone is daunting. Do you understand any of this?”

“To be honest, I don’t really know what it’s saying.”

“Still, it’s impressive. But you shouldn’t be reading this secretly during homeroom or class. You need to pay attention to the lessons. No matter how talented you are, it’s crucial to build a solid foundation.”

Aidel nodded in agreement, yet Zelnya found herself puzzled. With the capability to author a paper in a reputable journal, why did Aidel simply acquiesce to a teacher’s advice?

“And Ceti… are you trading stocks?”

“No?”

“You can’t hide it from me. How is this a reasonable profit rate? Hold on. Share that stock tip with me, too!”

Zelnya, gripping her pen tightly, groaned. She felt overwhelmingly dizzy. Perhaps it was a cold, or maybe it was the result of dedicating the past two months to relentless study and swordsmanship training without adequate rest. She knew she needed a break…

But she couldn’t afford to take one. She was determined to surpass Aidel this semester, no matter what. Her eyes began to droop, but she fought the exhaustion, propping her forehead with her hand to maintain focus.

“Alright, everyone. Please listen up, I have an announcement to make.”

Kendra, having returned to the podium, addressed the class with a commanding presence.