Usually, the Honor’s Division was of the most interest to college scouts who came to watch the academic decathlon.
Afterall, they were usually comprised of high school senior year students whom could very well go toe to toe with most of their year one students at their respective colleges if given the avenue.
The other divisions were naturally sidelined as a result of this, and several of these scouts usually never paid much attention till the Honor teams took the stage.
However, as Aiden stepped down the stage alongside his teammates and other teams, applauds filling every corner of the auditorium at his dominating performance, several of these scouts had their eyes locked onto him like hawks.
Though they couldn’t dictate which college he should join, they could at least try to lay down several reasons as to why their college would be a good fit for him.
In any case, they soon reeled themselves in and reassumed their professionalism as they awaited the Honor’s team to take the stage.
Upon arriving at his seat though, Damian grinned and said to the sleep-deprived youth;
"There he is. There’s our secret weapon."
"Don’t objectify me." Aiden managed to let out a dry joke despite himself, all of Silverlake High’s team chuckling nonetheless.
Then he gestured with a pointed finger to Theo, Damian and Megan, a tired but assured smile touching his lips;
"Homerun, guys. Make it happen."
"We will." Theo replied in kind this time, the student council secretary and president equally nodding their heads in assurance.
No sooner had they had that exchange, they were called up to take the stage alongside the other teams.
As Flash and Henry sat amidst their own teams a couple minutes later, all traces of relaxation had been wiped clean off their faces, their focus immediately snapping into place.
They didn’t even bother to look over at Silverlake High’s team... though it was more fitting to say that they couldn’t afford to.
Not when their respective schools were behind by 8 and 11 points.
The audience too was palpably excited at the turn of events, most of them curious to see if Silverlake High’s Honor’s team would keep the lead Aiden had afforded them or fall behind the other two schools.
Roughly a minute after, the host walked onto the stage, the man promptly kicking off the round.
Yet, as if Aiden hadn’t managed to terrorize the opposition already...
...Theo proceeded to continue that trend.
"Which artist’s work is most closely associated with the technique known as pointillism--" the host hadn’t even finished asking before his hand hit the buzzer.
BZZZT!
"Silverlake...?" the host gestured, clearly finding it staggering that yet another youth from the same school was so confident, he didn’t even need to hear the rest of the question.
"Georges Seurat." Theo answered, his hyper-focus on full-display.
His expression was in such stark contrast to Aiden, yet he was no different in his approach.
Naturally, the opposing teams found themselves terrified by it as he continued much the same for the next three questions.
Theo had been the one student that they’d been initially wary of.
However, Aiden’s performance seemed to have drawn all their attention, they had temporarily forgotten the sort of energy rolling off of him earlier in the day.
Now, the reality of things had jammed right into them and a cold sweat had literally broken over all of their foreheads, Flash’s included.
As for the audience, their amazement knew no bounds.
This was literally a repeat of the thrashing Aiden North had given the opposition in his division.
But perhaps what had them most stunned, was that it happened to be students whom were from the same school.
At some point, eyes shifted, away from the stage, and to their instructors whom were seated somewhere in the middle of the auditorium, their gazes seemingly asking;
What the hell are you feeding them?!
Opting to remain professional, Mr. Lazlow merely smiled, while Mrs. Delacroix excitedly tapped her fingers on the arm rest.
Yet, the hints of pride on their features were unmistakable.
In any case, Midtown High and Westchester Prep did their very best to close the gap, Flash and Henry especially picking up speed as the round continued.
Unfortunately for them, they couldn’t quite close the initial gap Theo had created, especially after Damian and Megan had equally ramped up their speed as well.
Which was why, when the final buzzer rang...
-
Silverlake High – 12 points. Midtown High – 8 points. Westchester Prep – 8 points.
-
... they found themselves fighting for second and third place.
But even as they were applauded off the stage, they wanted to cling onto the hope that they might turn things around with the written exams...
...only for them to notice a sleep-deprived Aiden clapping alongside everyone.
Suddenly, they were reminded of his actions in the exhibit hall, the gears in their mind spinning as they reassessed their thoughts.
Within seconds, they’d come to a single conclusion.
They hadn’t just lost.
They had been thoroughly walloped.
...
...
...
The award ceremony rolled around three hours later, after all the college and varsity academic decathlons had rounded up.
This time, everyone was moved to yet another auditorium, this one far grander than the one they’d previously being at as the atmosphere buzzed with excitement.
Judging by all the sashes and banners put around the hall though, it was clear it had been prepped ahead for the ceremony.
Right now, the host was about to announce the high school that would take home the cup, the massive auditorium gearing to cheer for the winners.
Naturally,
"And the winner of the 27th Javits Academic Decathlon in the High School bracket is..." the award presenter tried to add a bit of flair as he slowly opened the envelope.
"Don’t chicken out now, Flash. On my mark, I wanna hear those chants, loud and clear from you and your team." Damian leaned over to the youth and ragebaited him with his own words, his grin widening by the second.
Right now, he looked less like the President of a Student Council and more like an annoying younger brother next to the frame of the taller youth on stage, his icy-blue irises glinting with mischief.
In response, Flash’s jaw tightened, the rest of Midtown High’s team members glaring at the black-haired youth who simply gloated in response, a reaction that earned a chuckle from Silverlake High’s team.
As for Henry and Evelyn, alongside the other representatives of Westchester Prep, they simply looked on in acceptance on as the presenter retrieved the paper from within the envelope and declared;
"Silverlake High!"
Immediately, the auditorium erupted as all core team members walked forwards to receive their medals.
A moment after, they had gathered around the cup which was placed on a pedestal at the center of the stage.
Before long, Aiden and Theo found themselves at the forefront, their peers gesturing to them to raise the trophy.
Giving in without fanfare, the youths proceeded to do just that.
As they were about to, Damian gestured with three raised fingers to Flash, Henry and their respective teams without turning back, each one counting down by the minute.
Gritting his teeth, his expression twisting in humiliated annoyance, Flash and his team honored the bet, even despite them having to grumble it out;
"We got spirit, yes we do..."
Alongside Henry and Westchester Prep reps who found it more amusing than humiliating, they equally joined in--save for Evelyn whom had never been to any of Silverlake High’s games--their voices animated;
"We got spirit, so should you!"
Considering Aiden and Theo hadn’t been aware of the bet, they were completely caught off-guard by their school’s signature chant from the rival schools.
Which was why, as the cameras flashed, their own peers chanting in sync with their mirth on full-display, their own features remained clearly stunned;
"Go...! Silvercats!"
At the same time...
-
[Quest Completed!]
⸢Exclusive Quests
› Well, well, well...
└ Aid the academic decathlon team in securing victory – [2 LP Awarded!]
-
...
...
...
Aiden was seated in the minibus, a familiar sketchbook in his hands as he neatly sketched out the eye-catching architecture of the Javits Convention building.
A few minutes later, he added a trophy in the corner, and a medal in another corner.
Then he wrote;
27th Javits Convention. Funny how I slept though most of it though.
Lining it with a neat, cursive stroke, he then flipped the book shut and placed into his bag, his attention returning to the excited chatter in the bus.
"So, when do you guys think you’ll get the scholarship e-mail?" Gabriella asked of Megan who simply replied with a little shrug;
"Probably in a week’s time. Who knows?"
"You know, I’m a bit annoyed you ended up having to code it all by yourself." Theo whom was seated next to him said as he looked over and elbowed him slightly.
"Necessary evil. Now I can rest easy knowing you’re home free with that scholarship." he gently nudged his buddy with an elbow jab of his own.
Before the curly-haired youth could reply...
"So, I was thinking... Aiden could help us design their loser’s trophy." Damian audibly declared, his grin widening as he turned over to stare at the youth from one of the chairs upfront.
In response, the rest of the students in the bus agreed, their heads bobbing in sync as Mr. Lazlow and Mrs. Delacroix subsequently said;
"Good pick."
"I’m sure he’ll do a fantastic job."
To that, Aiden amusedly rolled his tired eyes and leaned his head onto the window as he dryly remarked;
"Keep abusing me like a workhorse. See where that gets you."
In response, a wave of chuckles rippled through the vehicle, the journey back to their high school as victors smooth.
When they did finally arrive, complete with everyone in school welcoming them with jubilatory cheers once they saw the trophy, Aiden on the other hand, having informed everyone in the bus ahead of their arrival, quietly dipped.
Before long, he was at home, and was currently chucking his clothes into the washer-dryer.
Promptly, he slipped into the shower, then stepped out after a couple minutes, drying his hair and changing into casual, comfortable clothes.
Climbing into his bed to get weeks’ worth of some proper shut-eye, Aiden decided to pull up his system panel first.
Finally, he had deemed it the right time to take his Mind attribute to the next level.
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