Gifted Academy: The Perfect Student



***

-

Dear all students,

Today, we're introducing a new app to your mobile devices. It is an app that allows your to easily create a written contract with another student. More specifically, it's a system that allows for direct duels between students.

In short, for a fee of 5,000 points, you may challenge another student to a game of your choice. There are several preset games on the app which you can always select. Otherwise, you may approach and arbitrator, either a teacher or the student council, and propose your own game.

If you pick a preset game, or if your custom game is approved, your opponent must either accept the game or pay a 10,000 point annulement fee. The stakes of the game are decided by you, and the outcomes are automatically enforced by the school.

More conditions can be found in the app.

-

***

It looks like the school's decided to add another feature. This was definitely going to get in my way. It was basically a guaranteed way for someone to force your hand—I either had to show myself and try for a win, or sacrifice my points.

Although, this would inevitably draw out whoever was out there as well.

"Mizuhara-kun, we need to help Kaoru-san organise something. We need to let her do something that will help her regain her confidence."

I looked over at Hamasaki-san.

"That's a good idea."

"Do you remember the party that Furukawa-kun ran at the beginning of our time here?"

"Yeah."

"Let's do that. If we can get Kaoru-san to set that up, we can back her up and everyone else will inevitably come along."

I leaned back on the couch. The karaoke room was dark, especially with the television idly stuck on the home screen.

"I'm happy to do that."

"Alright, I'll talk to her now and try to convince her."

As Hamasaki-san went on her phone, I went on mine.

The new app on our phones was simply called Challenger. The user interface was incredibly minimalistic, with a plain white background and only text where it was necessary. It looked like something that should've still been in the development phase.

"Mizuhara-kun, Kaoru-san wants to meet up with me alone. Are you fine with that?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, I'll go book another room."

"There's no need. I'll go."

"Are you sure?"

It wouldn't make sense for me to just sit in this room alone anyways. Besides, someone was following me while I was walking toward the karaoke. This was a good time for me to go and see who that person was.

I said goodbye and made my way outside.

...

The bright sun was quite noticeable after leaving the karaoke centre. Instead of heading toward my dormitory, I decided to make a right turn and make my way toward the back of the school. It was a pretty desolate area that was one of the only places where the yard wasn't kept cleanly.

"So you did you know I was here."

He must have waited here for almost thirty minutes since I noticed him when I was entering the karaoke centre.

"What are you doing here, Kimura-kun."

"Ah, I just wanted to ask you a question."

I looked at his hand.

"You were the one that planted the camera?"

He laughed a little.

"Well, I didn't exactly plant it. I let someone else do it."

I looked down at him.

Dropping the camera onto the ground, he stood on it with his foot. There was a sharp crunch. The little recording device cracked into several pieces, smearing into the pavement.

"You're pretty observant. Even I wouldn't be able to notice something like this in our room."

"I don't know what you're getting at."

"I'm sure you do, Mizuhara-kun. Or so I'd say, but I don't even know who you are anymore."

"What's with that."

He walked closer to me.

"There's no point lying to me, Mizuhara-kun. I know what happened during the last special exam. I'm not that ignorant."

"I just got lucky, that's all."

He sighed.

Suddenly, he took out his phone.

After a few moments, my phone vibrated.

---

You have been challenged to a custom game of: Two Truths, One Lie

The stakes are: the winner has to reveal their Overall Intelligence attribute to the other person. This will be automated by the system. Kimura Haruto has received prior confirmation for this stake.

---

"It's convenient, Mizuhara-kun, that the school introduced this today."

"Why do you want to challenge me."

"I just want to see what you're really like. But more so, I want you to see what I'm really like. We're both liars, you know?"

We're both liars?

The phone screen quickly transitioned.

I was given a choice, either I could be the guesser or the one who came up with the questions. There were several other stipulations that were written underneath the buttons, but I had already made my decision. I'd let Kimura-kun show me what he wanted to show me. It was clear that he wanted me to be the guesser anyways.

"I'm glad you understand me~"

He clearly noticed my choice.

Kimura-kun smiled a little. He raised one finger.

"I am acquainted with the principal of this school."

He then put up two fingers.

"I came to this school to find someone I met a long time ago."

Finally, he put up three fingers.

"I'm actively speaking with someone related to the Ideal Human Project, apart from you."

I was initially planning on observing his body language to try to deduce the lie, but after hearing the three options, it was clear which one was the lie. It was awkward, learning about his secrets in such a way, but he wasn't a person to express his feelings openly.

I looked down at my phone.

"There's nothing one there. Choose one, Mizuhara-kun."

"Won't you give me some thinking time?"

"You don't look like you need anything thinking time."

I sighed.

Kimura-kun, you're the first person who I've struggled to see whether you're intentions against me or positive toward me. It's a great thing.

...

"The first one is the lie."

He laughed.

"Ah, it's just too easy for you, isn't it?"

"Your emotions gave it away."

That wasn't true. He was hiding his intentions very well on his face.

***

"Well, I'll show you my Overall Intelligence then, since that was the deal~."