Fionna dropped them at the school gate. The grounds were eerily quiet, not a single student in sight. After a brief glance back, she left without a word.
Alexander and Haru walked together toward their respective classes. Alexander let out a sigh. "It's been a while since I came to school," he murmured.
His destination was Class 11‑A. He pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The room fell silent. Dozens of eyes turned toward him, scanning the unfamiliar figure. Whispers broke out almost immediately. "Who is this boy?" "Wow, he looks muscular." "Is he a transfer student?"
Alexander's brow furrowed. Did they not recognize me? He said nothing, simply walked to his seat.
His desk mate was Sofia. She had sat beside him since the beginning of the year. Sofia was the class topper, famous across the school not only for her grades but also for her achievements in sports and cultural events. A top 0.1% student. Yet despite her brilliance, she had few friends. Excellence often came with isolation.
Alexander had been placed beside her because of his poor performance. The teacher had hoped Sofia could help him. At first, her efforts were wasted—Alexander failed repeatedly, no matter how much she tried. Eventually, she gave up. But after meeting the white‑hooded boy, Alexander had asked her again for help. From then on, his progress was startling. He rose from the bottom to the top seven in class. Still, the gap between him and Sofia remained wide—ten to seventeen percent in every test.
Alexander gestured toward her desk. "Can you move your bag?"
Sofia hesitated, then frowned. "This seat is already reserved for someone. You can sit elsewhere."
The class gasped. A newcomer asking the top girl to move her bag? Unthinkable.
Alexander smiled faintly. "I think you recognize me. I'm Alexander. I've been absent for a week, had some things to take care of."
Sofia's eyes widened. "You're… Alexander? No way. I didn't recognize you. How did you change so much in just a week?"
The class erupted, circling around him, questions flying. Alexander ignored them. "I'll explain later. Class is about to start."
Sofia stared at him, unsettled, but said nothing.
The teacher entered, scanning the room. His eyes landed on Alexander. "Who are you? A transfer student?"
Alexander stood. "No sir. I'm Alexander."
The teacher's eyes widened. How did this idiot change so much? He had always seen Alexander as a burden, someone who needed constant supervision—even during lunch breaks.
"Why were you absent for a week?" he asked.
Alexander thought to himself, They're all shocked now. What will they say after three more months? He answered politely. "I was sick, sir. That's why I couldn't come."
The teacher studied him suspiciously, then sighed. "Take care of yourself. Today is a maths test, thirty marks. You were absent, so you don't know the syllabus—it's from last week. Still, give the test."
Alexander nodded.
Sofia leaned closer, whispering. "You can copy from my sheet."
Alexander smiled. "Thanks."
The papers were distributed. Silence fell as everyone bent over their desks. Alexander glanced at the questions, then smiled. Without hesitation, he began writing. His pen moved quickly, confidently.
Sofia noticed. Her lips curved slightly. "Looks like he knows some answers," she whispered, before turning to her own paper.
Five minutes passed. Alexander raised his hand. "Sir."
The teacher frowned. He must be asking for help. I'll explain one question to him. "Yes, Alexander. Which question should I explain?"
Alexander's face was innocent, but his words were bold. "Sir, I've completed the test. Should I hand in my sheet?"
The teacher chuckled. "This test is hard. At least try to solve something."
Sofia whispered urgently. "Can't you wait for me to finish, then copy?"
Alexander shook his head. "No sir, I really finished the test."
The teacher's voice rose, sharp. "Only five minutes have passed! How can you solve ten questions worth three marks each?"
Alexander stood, bold and unwavering. "See for yourself." He handed over his sheet.
The teacher adjusted his glasses, scanning the answers. His hands trembled. "No way…"
He retreated to his chair, checking each solution carefully.
Sofia stared at Alexander, stunned. "You solved these in five minutes? These are level‑three questions. Each one takes a page of calculations."
Alexander thought to himself, Eight hours of study every day wasn't simple. It felt like three days compressed into one. No distractions, no breaks.
He smiled. "I practiced level‑three questions yesterday. These are the exact same ones."
Sofia nodded slowly. "That explains it. You really have great luck. Let's see how many you got right."
Moments later, the teacher returned, face pale with shock. "Kid… you got them all correct. Where did you learn this method? Even the textbooks don't show this approach. You turned giant problems into simple steps."
Alexander thought back. Fionna gave me recorded lectures at triple speed. It was brutal to keep up, but their methods were sharp, elegant.
He answered calmly. "My friend visited with his uncle. His uncle is a professor. To kill time, he taught us."
The teacher frowned. "Do you even have friends?"
Alexander shrugged. "I met him last week. Coincidentally."
The teacher handed back his sheet. "You've finished early. Rest your head or sleep for the next hour and a half."
The class buzzed with whispers. "Alexander really changed." "He even surpassed Sofia."
The teacher snapped. "Silence! Focus on your exam."
He turned away.
Alexander ignored the gossip. He picked up his pencil and began writing something quietly on his sheet. Sofia, meanwhile, blocked out the noise and focused on solving her own questions.
the test get over
Teacher collecting the sheet.
Alexander tore those paper then submit his sheet.
Sofia - "These questions are really tough"
She hesitates the ask - "Could you tell me how you solved these"
Alexander - put the paper and on desk and stared explaining questions to Sofia.
Sofia with a stunned eyes- "OMG! it's so easy now, can you tell which friend uncle teach you- did he give tuitions"
Alexander - "Sorry , they don't really teach to school students"
Sofia notice those paper and ask "what do you write in them and why you tore those pages"
Alexander hide these paper and say - "Nothing , just try to solve with regular methods"
Sofia notice strange, but did not say.
Next teacher come, and so on.
Lunch break occur and Alexander ask Sofia for eat together.
Sofia - "You really changed just what had happens to you, you never ask for lunch together"
Alexander with a smile- "i want to ask before also but, not asked thinking i will just bother you"
Sofia with a smile back - "Idiot"
Both laughed and goes to cafeteria.