Gifted Academy: The Perfect Student

The night before, memories of the karaoke session with Fujiharu, Kimura, and Kinoshita flooded my mind as I slowly stirred from my slumber. However, I couldn't shake the feeling of detachment, as if I were an observer instead of an active participant in the event. As I got out of bed and went through my morning routine, thoughts of the previous night lingered in the back of my mind, but I pushed them aside and focused on the tasks at hand.

I made my breakfast, ate it in silence, and left the dormitory for school. The empty halls and classrooms were a familiar sight as I made my way to class, the only sound being the echo of my own footsteps.

I took my seat, feeling a sense of calm wash over me as I sat in the quiet classroom. I knew that soon, the room would be filled with chatter and energy, but for now, it was just me, alone with my thoughts.

**

As the minutes ticked by, the room gradually began to fill with students, each one taking their seat and settling in for the day's lesson.

"Hey, how was your weekend?"

"It was alright. I went to the arcade alone. How about you?"

"Nah, I spent the whole weekend studying. I heard the exams are coming up soon."

"Yeah, I know. I should probably start studying too."

Some students chatted with their friends as they walked in, while others made their way to their seats in silence. Some students placed their bags on the floor, while others hung them on the back of their chairs. Some students took out their notebooks and pens, while others sat with their hands folded in their laps.

The teacher entered the room, carrying a stack of papers and a cup of coffee.

"Good morning, class," he said, setting the papers down on his desk. "I hope you're all ready for another day of learning."

He then began to set up the classroom, putting up the day's lesson on the board and distributing the handouts. The students watched him quietly, still making small talk among themselves.

As the final stragglers filtered in, a synchronized beep echoed throughout the room as every student's phone received the same notification.

Without hesitation, all eyes turned to their screens, myself included, as we read the message that had just been delivered.

-

Midterm Exams

Welcome, all students to your first midterm exams at National High School. Our school seeks to embrace students who excel in all aspects of schooling. However, they must first prove themselves in our specially-designed examination.

The exam will consist of seven parts.

Mathematics (100 marks)

English (100 marks)

Biology (90 marks)

Chemistry (85 marks)

Physics (80 marks)

Geography (60 marks)

History (60 marks)

These exams will run over three days in total. At the end, your score will be calculated by total points + any external considerations.

A failing grade is any student who:

~

Scores less than 20% on any one exam.

Or

Scores less than 150 in total.

Or

Has been caught cheating.

~

A student who meets any of these conditions will be immediately expelled unless the necessary amount of points has been given:

1 extra mark = 10,000 points

***

Exceptional Students

There will be great rewards given to the highest-scoring students in each year level.

Highest Scorers:

100,000 points + an immunity

80,000 points + an immunity

50,000 points

Any student who scores above 200: +10,000 points

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask your teacher.

-

As they read the notification, a sense of dread and unease washed over the room. Whispers and murmurs began to fill the air as they processed the gravity of the situation.

Some of them paled at the thought of possibly being expelled if they failed the exam, while others looked determined to do whatever it took to pass. A few of them exchanged worried glances with their friends, while others frantically began to text and call their friends to discuss the news.

One student, a timid-looking girl in the back of the room, could be heard muttering to herself, "I can't fail. I can't be expelled. I have to pass this exam."

Others were more pragmatic, exchanging tips and tricks on how to accrue points and buy their way to safety.

"I have some points saved up, but it might not be enough to keep me in the school."

"Maybe I should start selling some of my stuff to earn extra points."

"This is it. I'm gonna fail."

"This is insane."

"I can't believe they would do this to us. It's like they're setting us up for failure."

"Alright, everyone settle down," the teacher called out, her voice cutting through the chatter. "We have a lot to cover today, so let's get started."

As the teacher began their lesson, the students couldn't focus. Their minds were preoccupied with the upcoming exam. They couldn't shake off the feeling of impending doom that hung over them like a dark cloud. The knowledge that one misstep could lead to their expulsion weighed heavily on their minds, making it impossible for them to think about anything else.

The teacher's words fell on deaf ears as the students sat there, lost in their own thoughts. Still thinking about the notification and the punishments.

**

The rest of the classes for the day went by without incident, but the atmosphere in the room was tense as students could sense the weight of the midterm exams. Many of them were visibly focused on studying harder than they usually did. Students could be seen with their heads buried in textbooks, scribbling notes feverishly or muttering formulae under their breath.

I retired to my dormitory as per my usual routine and settled into sleep. In the middle of the night, I awoke briefly and caught sight of Kimura, fully engrossed in his studies, illuminating the room with the glow of his tablet. It appears that he is taking the upcoming exam seriously. I simply observed this before returning to the solace of sleep.