After school in the library there are currently six people sitting around a table. Eizan is sitting at the end of the table across from Ome. Mio is sitting next to Eizan, directly across from her is Ren. Sitting next to ren is Hattori and across from her is Koga. After everyone but Eizan got their study materials out Hattori finally spoke. “Alright does anyone have any subject that they need help with?”

Ome spoke next “I could use some help in math. My grade last time was terrible.”

Koga spoke next “I’m not doing well in science.”

Mio replied almost the same as Sano “Math is my weakest subject.”

Ren sighed “I’m having trouble in science as well.”

Everyone was looking at Eizan. “What?”

Hattori questioned “What subject are you having problems with?”

He laughed “Um, I don’t think any of you can help me with it.”

Hattori gave him a weird look. Mio interrupted “Don’t even ask. He’s way ahead in every subject.”

Hattori looked at him and asked “How far ahead?”

Mio shook her head. “Don’t ask, it will make you lose motivation.”

Hattori clapped her hands together. “Alright then if any of us have something maybe mister smarty pants over there can help us.”

Eizan laughed “I haven’t been called a smarty pants since grade school. But sure, I’ll help you guys with anything you want.”

Koga stood up. “There’s no way he’s as smart as you say. He never pays attention in class.” Eizan didn’t know this but Jiro was an incredibly studious person. He worked hard to be in the top 10 in the school. He was incredibly serious and the thought of the class slacker being ahead of him was infuriating. He worked hard in everything. He was the class rep and on the student council.

Mio sighed. “Fine answer their question from earlier.”

Eizan tilted his head “Which one?”

She put her head down and grumbled “Just answer both of them.”

“Um, I’ll answer but you all have to promise not to treat me any different.” Everyone but Koga nodded. “Um, I guess the subject I struggle in the most is calculous. I don’t really know how to calculate how far ahead I am of you guys though.”

Sano gave him a strange look. “What do you mean by that.”

Eizan sighed “If I think about it logically, I could probably graduate 4 college level courses easily without even cracking a book.”

Hattori looked at him strangely “Why are you still in school then?”

“I don’t want to grow up in a weird way.”

Mio raised her head and looked at them all. “This is why I told you not to ask.”

Koga stood up again “That’s bullshit I don’t believe you.”

Mio shook her head. “I’ve pretty much already confirmed it.”

Koga angrily replied “But all you do is sleep in class.”

Mio looked at Koga. “That’s because he’s bored. He hasn’t learned anything new all year in class.”

Eizan nodded “Actually, I haven’t learned anything new in school for years. Probably sometime around the age of ten.”

Koga looked at him angrily “But you’re never at the top of the class during assessment tests.”

“I intentionally miss questions.”

Koga was fuming. “Why would you do that?”

“You might not know this. But intelligence can be a curse sometimes. It’s not always the best to be first. Especially if people see you sleeping in class and you look like you’re not trying. I don’t know how many times I have been accused of cheating by other students. Well, actually I do remember. But that’s not the point.”

They all had weird looks on their faces. “And your reactions are exactly why I don’t like to advertise how intelligent I am.”

Koga was still angry. “I still don’t get it. You describe it like it’s a horrible thing but I see nothing but you being blessed.

Eizan sighed and looked at Mio. “I was going to tell you this later but right now seems like the best time.”

Mio stared at him she could tell the expression on his face wasn’t good. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“No, it’s fine. I was going to tell you eventually.” He paused and looked around the room. “You describe it like it’s a blessing and it might be if handled properly. Almost everyone on my mother’s side of the family is highly intelligent. Scary intelligent is a better way to put it. Some of them use it wisely. Some of them use it for good and others for evil. Some of them go crazy. Some become obsessed. The lucky ones find friends and family. The others wither away in obscurity focused on some pet project, never knowing friendship or love. My mother’s uncle being the most recent tragedy. He became so obsessed and lonely he committed suicide at the age of thirty. My great grandfather did the same, at the age of seventy, after my great grandmother divorced him for focusing too much on his research. To you it’s a blessing, to my family it’s a curse. My grandfather is a good example of using his intelligence for good and evil. On one hand he’s a family man who will do anything to help his family succeed. On the other hand, he’s a ruthless businessman who will do anything to succeed. Even if it means destroying someone’s family or livelihood. I nicknamed him the fox demon years ago. Even some of my family uses it as his nickname now.”

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He looked at Mio again. “You remember the conversation between my uncle and I?” She nodded her head. “That’s why he looked so sad. He hoped his daughters would be normal. It’s the wish of everyone in my family. Sadly, the gene seems to be dominant and very few children are born without it. My sister is thought of as the lucky one. So far, she has not shown any signs of it. She seems to be normal and it makes everyone in my family happy, except maybe my grandfather. He sees it as a gift from God.” He smiled at Mio. “That is why I chose to live like a normal person. That way I could have a hope of finding friends and maybe even love.” She blushed.

He looked over at Koga. “So, you see Koga. It might seem like a blessing but actually it’s a curse.”

Koga was looking at him lost in thought. “I see. I might have misjudged you.”

“It’s alright. From your perspective I’m the loser delinquent who sleeps in class. I can see how this might be annoying for someone who has been working hard at school. That’s why I have never stopped broadening my knowledge. I may not do it at school. But I assure you I study regularly. Just not in the same way you do. But don’t think I don’t struggle with certain things. It may not seem like it but I struggle with social interactions. I have to work hard just to seem normal. I’ve had to struggle my whole life not to seem like a weirdo.”

The mood in the room was gloomy. Finally, Ren chimed in. “Let’s forget about all of his weird family drama for now. We came here to study and now we have a great resource. If any of us can’t figure something out, we’ll just ask the Einstein over there to help us.”

Eizan smiled “I’m fine with that. Just ask away.”

Mio was still looking down at the book in front of her. She stood up and looked down at him. “Come with me for a minute.”

Eizan nodded and followed her out into the hall. The other four looked at each other strangely and shrugged. Once in the hallway Mio kept walking until she was near the end of the hall. She turned and looked at him. “Why didn’t you tell me all of this earlier?”

Eizan froze. She stared at him awaiting a response. “I never knew how to bring it up.”

She stood there silently for a few seconds. “That’s a load of crap and you know it.”

Eizan sighed and looked out the window at the end of the hall. “You’re right I’m sorry. I should have told you.” He turned and looked at her again. “I mean how could I tell the girl who I might end up marrying, that our kids could turn out to be monsters.”

She walked up to him and put a hand on his chest. She looked up at him. “You’re not a monster.”

Eizan smiled “I wish that were true.”

She frowned “It is true.”

Eizan smiled softly “The truth is I’m just like that old demon. That’s why he wants me to be his successor.”

“From what I’ve seen your nothing like him.”

“No, I’m exactly like him. I could easily see why he has done certain things. I could even imagine myself doing them. It frankly makes me a little sick to my stomach.”

“She shook her head, that’s why you’re different. You have a conscience.” She hugged him.

He hugged her back and thought to himself “Do I though. I’m not so sure.” He felt her squeeze him tighter. “If it was for her, I could see myself doing whatever it takes to make her happy.”

In the library Hattori and Ren were chatting. “Are you sure those two aren’t dating?”

Ren sighed and shook her head “Their relationship is way too complicated. It gives me a headache.” Ome nodded. Ren looked at Ome and smiled. “I don’t want a relationship as complicated as theirs. Something simple and romantic is more my style.”

Ome nodded “Yeah, I totally agree. They are making everything way too difficult. It’s obvious they have feelings for each other.”

Hattori and Koga were looking at each other. “Yeah, it’s sure is obvious.” Hattori thought “It sure is obvious you two have feelings for each other.”

Eventually Mio and Eizan came back into the room. They were blushing, they had hugged to long and things got awkward. After the awkwardness subsided the six of them got down to studying. Eizan was helping Mio pretty much exclusively but every once in a while, someone would ask him a question and he would answer them. Mio and Eizan were sitting closer than before. They had positioned her book in between them and were both shoulder to shoulder looking down at it. The study group went on like this for two hours.

The study group ended with everyone going their separate ways. Eizan and Mio were walking home when she suddenly had a question. “Was it really ok for you to tell everyone your family circumstances like that?”

Eizan laughed “Probably not. Especially with Hattori there.”

Mio frowned “She promised to keep it a secret.”

“It’s alright. It just felt like, the right time to tell everyone. Especially with the way Koga was reacting. He seems like a good guy.”

Mio started laughing “What’s more surprising is that Koga and Hattori are dating.”

Eizan was surprised “They’re dating. That’s surprising. They seem like polar opposites. He’s so strict and put together and she’s…”

“Not.”

“Yeah, that’s one way to put it.” Eizan could only think of Hattori as an annoying busy body. When helping her with her studying, he realized how far behind she was. She was on the verge of getting red marks. Koga on the other hand was near the top of the class from what Eizan could tell.

“They are childhood friends so I guess it’s to be expected.”

“Childhood friends huh…” Eizan seemed lost in thought.

She was staring at him with a suspicious look on her face. “Do you have a childhood friend that I should be worried about?” Eizan froze. “Eizan, do you have a childhood friend I should be worried about?” Her glare intensified.

“Um… n-not one you s-should be worried about. In the sense you’re suggesting, I think.”

Her eyes widened “You do have a childhood friend who’s a girl, don’t you?”

“Um… yeah, I do.”

“Who is she and why have you never talked about her?”

“That’s…”

“Eizan speak.”

“I’m not a dog.” He sighed “It’s complicated. I haven’t spoken to her in over a year.”

“Did you get into a fight?”

“Yeah, I did and it was because of her. How about we talk about this after dinner?”

“Fine. But you’re not getting out of this one.”