Their Meeting
With a campus in the distance, a young boy walked away from it when the sun was still shining brightly on the city. His school uniform was reduced to a plain light-blue long-sleeved t-shirt and jet-black pants and a silver colored sling backpack. He had a thick dark-platinum jacket on top of it as it swayed at the every step his right leg made.
Mourning school has ended, and the young boy exited the school's precinct as soon as it was allowed 'technically' for students to leave, not taking a single glance to his sides even if there was to be an accident. Which has occurred a few times already. Over the pass of time, a few years had gone by since the young boy started attending this elementary, advanced and even expert grade of academy, all in one.
Elementary was teaching not only the most basis of knowledge and education of all kinds but it even includes themes that an adult would previously learn slowly and at their own time, making every new generation more and more if not prepared, then less ignorant of the gears that move society.
Advanced was more for those who wanted to study one or more particular subjects to a deeper level and have a little of recognition on the lower levels of the highest of society.
Expert grade academies were open to anyone, anyone that could pass their physical and intelligence test. It wasn't a simple matter of scoring 100 and be done with it. The intelligence for an example, was only taken after a brief yet intense interview where 'masters' would take the child or adult's personality, standpoints and potential into consideration before deciding what kind of test to let the individual showcase their talent. Whether it had contents that only those who have had studied math like crazy would be able to answer at least one question from it; be it an emotional quality focused test or even a rational type of questions that'd make the said individual confuse... It could bring about any kind of test for anyone, and each of them needed to simply answer all of the questions to pass the test, yet the success rate was so low. As for the physical tests, these were one of the greatest and mysterious ones. Crestfallen Industry's associated academies were the first to ever implement such a kind of 'test'. The most brain melting factor of this 'test', was that though it did took in the health and care of the individual's body, it was also the most ignored one by anyone as only the most ill would get to an awful physical health given how much food has been reinvented thanks to Crestfallen Clan's share of expertise as well as the entire animal kingdom and flora of New Earth were simply nothing like before the era of Crestfallen began. The most incredulous and eye-opening of the physical test, was the fact that it could measure many things that shouldn't just be possible in any way; like for an example, they make the tested individuals run a lot before lifting heavy weight and some other stuff that would put into test their own dexterity. Afterwards, they would take blood samples from them which will then be combined by a liquid that only Crestfallen Industry can produce, in spite of the countless tries of stealing the formula or mimicking it. That was thanks to the Crestfallen Industry putting a ban into those who wanted so much to also have a share of such liquid for their own gains, even when it was completely free, for the trial and error of this would put the 15 billions of lives of the people in danger should they try to play god.
In any case, that blood sample alone could determine one's potential in different aspects. Body tempering, photographic memory, talent -understanding and comprehension-, natural genius and the most magical of them all that could guarantee a person to become a Specialist, mental activity!
It was the fabled dreams of many neuroscientists becoming dead real, and not just in a form of measuring it, but even giving it a grade and accurate potential!
Its uses, however, were unknown to everyone except the higher-ups of the Crestfallen Industry and Crestfallen Clan.
One could already understand how impossibly difficult it'd be to get into an Expert graded academy then; most opted for an Elementary grade one to become educated properly before starting their lives in New Earth, but most of them would stop at there.
Some tried and failed while some others tried and succeeded at entering into an Advanced grade academy, bringing joy to their entire family even if it was a high-class one. Hell, not even the thirteen Founding Clans could ever hope to get through the system to get their children into one. Not only because of the warnings from Crestfallen Industry, but also because they would put their own people at the mercy of others, not everyone was that bright after all.
Only those certain individuals could enter an Expert grade academy. Like the young boy who was quickly yet casually walking away from the one and only academy in the world that is not only an Elementary and Advanced one, but also an incredibly Expert grade at that! If that wasn't enough, then the fact that it was public was enough to get anyone to open their eyes at the incredulity of the matter. Yet, the young boy treated it with scorn, annoyance and even boredom.
For the Elementary academies, they were as big enough to maintain -dormitories included- 40,000-65,000 students, that big. There were many buildings that didn't go beyond 20 meters tall, with most of them being connected to one another. The exact number of these Elementary academies were that of 15,207,402.
Advanced academies are much, much larger. Able to hold in 100,000 student at the very least even though there are many less of them compared to the Elementary grade ones. These have buildings that can go all the way up to 35 meters tall and for a minimum of 22 meters tall; there was an untold rule that Elementary -only- academies were to hint that the advanced ones were supposed to be their next step, and this little detail wasn't the only one in which they tried to slowly brainwash them. There were exactly 2,130,414 of these on New Earth.
Expert academies in turn, were of a maximum of 333 meters tall, for as absurd as it sounded and a minimum of 70 meters tall. Their student capacity wasn't that amazing, going to that of only 3,000 to 9,000 students at most. Most of them weren't even half of that 3,000 occupied by actual students though, but there was this 'catch' about it. The buildings were so absurdly tall for nothing, there were an incredible set amount of different 'instruments', so specific and unique that the need for such tools to be always at the ready and prepared for their god-like genius students were the main reason of why there were so many buildings, and so big. The entire size of an Expert grade academy was at least 3-5 times bigger than an Advanced, that was enough for even an idiotic person to understand its importance in the world. Being there only 130 of them set on New Earth, how crazy was that?
The words; ignorance, arrogance, conceitedness, debauchery and limitation did not exist inside these precincts. They couldn't even if they wanted to.
Yet, this young boy and many other thousands of young and aged people were attending this unique, one-in-the-world, all three grades of an academy, yet he was running away from it as if it was a bother that he could no longer endure.
This unique academy of 'his' was one that allowed from 15,000 to 33,000 students to reside in, had all three grades in one and had even higher requirements for entering even though it was public and even though its requirements were much higher than any other Expert academy. Yet, it is the most populated one, full of students every generation. There were some few extra people who deserved to be in and couldn't officially do so, the higher-ups of this academy allowed them to live under the same roof than some of their friends or acquaintances that did managed to be selected first, but with strict supervision that allowed no deranged opportunities to arise in within their precincts.
Who were these higher-ups? Crestfallen Industry, Clan? Founding Clans? Nope, it was a pair of married couple; a husband and wife who were trying to create a perfect growing up for their already planned child. As if a perfect, beautiful story out of a heartwarming and family movie and all the like.
As for the young boy who was walking towards who knows where, he was being calmly watched by a little group of young, tender and cute girls, around his age. Whether or not he knew of it, didn't matter to him, his face as expressionless and lifeless as ever as he just kept on walking with the same face.
The boy was walking through a sidewalk that could be denominated as in the left, while the girls were on the right, in front of an ice-cream and cold, fresh drinks shop under a parasol that was deeply connected to the ground. Not that it mattered with how horrendously hot it was outside.
As they were calmly enjoying the shade, waiting for their 'mature' milkshakes to be sent their way, they watched the oh-so popular yet unpopular kid walk under the sun as if it didn't exist, as if he couldn't even notice the slightest of discomfort from the light attacking his own very eyes.
On the girls' side, there was not only a parasol but also a big enough round table for about 7 or 8 people as well as many chairs leaning over the wall for anyone's taking. They had a small mechanism that would activate once certain conditions were met, alarming security and anyone around of the happening thief so nobody really cared about it.
"Ah~, look at the handsome boy again! How... tasteless, hehehe."
"Wah, look, his face. So deadpan. Is he dying? Hahaha."
"Uh, dunno, why don't you try lighting him up even more? Maybe he will then be alive? Haha."
"Haha~."
"Hehehe~."
"Hahahahaha!!"
Three of them were talking ostentatiously yet quietly at the same time, putting out the harsh and unjustified grievances that the heat from today was ruining their day from, towards the young boy in the distance who as usual, made his way under the scorching sun.
The remaining one that was now silent was the first one to notice him, she didn't said nothing at first as she focused her body on taking in the shade so as to not allow the heat all around her to make some sweat appear. All while giving the young boy in the distance who was approaching at a steady pace a few glimpses every now and then. She had a creamy and rosy soft skin, short wavy chestnut hair and clear brown eyes that seemed almost bright, blinding golden. She had a small mouth yet plump lips in a whitey pale-red color that were obviously touched by thirstiness.
"Oi, gurls~, don't keep talking so vulgarly. Is not nice, didn't I say?" Her voice was a little crispy yet also profound for her age and gender, it was soothing at the very least.
Waking up from their ranting full of nonsense, the other three began 'apologizing' to her instead of the boy or whatever.
"Mmm, sorry~ Miriam."
"Mn, mn. My bad, our bad, let's just wait for our drinks, okay~?"
"You are right! Sorry~~."
Afterwards, silence regained its dominion over the silent, people-less streets as the young boy finally went past them.
"Oh, they're done! Let's go take them!" At the same moment, inside the shop, a waitress indicated the girls that their milkshakes were ready and that they should come in to take them as well as stay inside were fresh air was abundant.
The three girls left in succession while Miriam herself stayed outside, not noticing the other girls going inside at all.
Thud.
Her entire arms resting on the round table under the parasol as the chair she was sitting on soundlessly moved back, half her bum up in the air with the other half supporting the stability of her body so that she wouldn't fall over. With her chin rested upon her arms, her gaze moved ever so naturally towards the boy's direction. At the same moment, the boy inclined his head to the left, his chin pointing on top of his right shoulder.
Their gazes locked, they both looked at each other directly for a while. The boy rose his eyebrows by instinct while also making an ever so slight pout, while Miriam had her cute eyes wide opened at the cold, indifferent and unworldly eyes, taking in all of his being deep inside within herself, her lips were naturally relaxed which gave the boy a full view of her face in a charming way that not even she realized.
They then parted gazes as their hearts turned back to the sensation of the heat surrounding them, bringing them back to reality.
'Did he see me? Although from that far away, I don't think so...'
'Hm.' She couldn't hear it, but a snort came out from his nostrils inadvertently as a grin formed at the left side of his face which gave an observer the feeling that his entire face was dead except for this exact moment where he changed for no apparent reason. It was both cold-mechanical and charmingly devilish.
. . .
On another day, it was 5 in the morning when the same young boy could be seen calmly walking towards the Apple Face Academy, the one and only three grades in one academy in the entire world.
He had the same silver sling backpack but this time, he had his jacket on as he walked and walked until he entered the campus of the colossal Apple Face academy.
Taking classes, listening to so many lectures and skipping or avoiding some classes that required any kind physical involvement, from self-defense to martial arts to any other form of hand-to-hand combat, training in all aspects of one's body like dexterity, reflexes, reaction speed, nimbleness etc.
Many kids his age, 8 years old or so, would remain at the Elementary section of the academy with only a handful being able to follow his steps. Follow his steps, because while the young boy would be attending all classes, the rest of the kids would take only 3 or 4 at the very most. Well, everyone except for this girl, this girl who has been recently become acknowledged as an existent being by him alone. At normal lectures, he couldn't help but glance at her every now and then with his head tilting on her direction, or in any direction so as to turn his gaze towards her.
She would always realize he was watching him; sometimes she reacted by acting a little dumb with her eyes wide opened while looking at her surroundings, some other times she would cut the act midway before staring directly at him as smiles formed within her eyes. Which prompted the young boy to be mesmerized by this peculiar feeling, becoming interested on this other being he just acknowledged.
The young boy saw her every interaction whenever she was at sight, from spending time with her girly friends to helping them out every now and then; she would act somewhat shy in the face of handsome, taller than usual boys whenever they got close to each other to strike a conversation, which made the young boy's eyes narrow slightly, unbeknownst to himself.
Also to his none the wiser self, the girl would always realize of his hot gaze on the boys she spoke with, she coped with it until the conversation stopped before flurrying away somewhat slowly as an uncontrollable grin surfaced on her little mouth, not knowing that the sight of her back made the young boy become helpless.
One day, as they were finished having a class and everyone hurried away to get to the cafeteria for children where the fresh air was their panacea of their every day, the young boy and the girl remained in the class room. Whether it was to keep on writing notes or merely have a moment of silence, they both remained alone in it as the silence slowly forced them to look at each other.
The girl had her eyes go sideways towards him first, and upon noticing his almost direct, cold gaze engulfing her, she yelped with a little 'Ah!' out of surprise. Before she could be exposed, she lowered her rapidly blushing face as she made her way to the door when she was suddenly stopped by an equally crispy and profound voice behind her, yet somewhat charming.
"Excuse me?"
Blinking twice at the strangeness of the boy's quick speed at catching up with her since she was way closer to the door than him, she merely took a few breaths to respond to him: "Mn? Wa-what is it?"
The boy looked at the ground for a little, his eyes wondering left and right as he then closed his eyes slowly and tenderly, something he avoid to do at all times when he can be seen: "Mm, nothing."
He then left those words as he left the classroom himself, his backpack and jacket were already on his hands without her noticing.
Finding the strength of the universe pull her string towards him, she yelled out somewhat softly: "Miriam!"
Stopping in his tracks, the boy half-turned his head to see her with the corner of his eyes. She was obviously uncomfortable, or nervous, so he decided to be polite and courteous.
"Yun, Beishang." He then left. The girl herself was speechless at this scene, it was so weird and untold of, as her spine trembled in goosebumps she then moved forwards as she also exited the classroom.
. . .
Days passed, months went by; a year has easily gone off but their glares and stares were no longer there.
Whenever she played with her friends or whenever a boy talked to her, he was no longer there, a strange unwelcome sensation went through her heart, throat, chest and jaw everytime he didn't see his indifferent, calm eyes narrow at the sight of another boy talking with her.
'Today, it happened again, he's nowhere to be seen... Mm...'
Eyebrows loose and a long face forming once again, she lowered her head a bit too much with a couple of notebooks in her arms, her chin taking refuge on the cover of them.
She walked and walked, lost and distraught as a few ostentatious pouts formed at her lips every now and then as if to comfort her gloomy feelings and state.
As she went around a corner, she suddenly saw a lazily and vulgarly sitting boy on the ground with his dark-platinum thick jacket to the side, where his right hand was placed at as if he wouldn't allow even the air to take it away from himself.
Courage, braveness, balls, the power of love, fate and coincidence; for whatever the reason it was that did she finally saw him again after such a long and arduous time, without him and alone. Heh, it is and sounds ridiculous, but for such an also beyond god-like genius to think as good as an adult was nothing to be amazed too much at. The girl then rushed at the young boy sitting on the ground.
...
