Staring intensely at the answer sheet on my table. It's undeniable that I don't really understand History lessons, so that makes me doubt the answers I wrote with my mechanical pencil. It's not that hard, really. With mee managed to fill all the essay questions with a percentage of 60% correct answers, maybe. What I'm concerned with are the multiple-choice parts. There is one question that I think both answers are correct. This is troublesome.

My fingers unconsciously tapped on the table, because the quiet class atmosphere made my tapping sound loud, thank goodness no one was bothered by that. Can't choose anything between the answers, well, better to fill in than an empty sheet. So I should have picked whichever I thought is the best choice.

While pointing the tip of my mechanical pencil toward the answer represented by the letter 'B', intending to round off my answer.

"Alright, exam time is over. Submit your answer papers and you can go home" A lone voice in the quiet classroom by the supervising teacher in front of the class.

To be honest, that surprised me a bit and somehow made me round off the other answer. I hope this sudden change is the best answer…

“Done…” Said one of my seat neighbors.

Yes, it's finally done.

After collecting the answer papers on the teacher's desk, returned to my seat and got ready to go home. Putting my mechanical pencil and correcting tape in the pencil case and keeping it in my blue satchel bag. For some reason, I feel like I'm being stared at by someone else. I instinctively look ahead and sure enough, Chika is waving her hand at me, signaling me to come to her.

Because a friend called, I have to come. At least, that's my principle, or is it just an excuse because I just want to kill some time before going home?

Whatever the reason, I slowly closed the distance between the two of us and say, "What's up? Chika?". I asked while standing beside Chika who is sitting at her desk. Even though we're allowed to go home, she hasn't tidied up the stationary on her desk. It seems the others too, haven't.

"How was the test?" Chika asked briefly.

Hmmm. In the context of today's exam maybe it wasn't that hard, no, in fact, I don't even think the whole week of the previous exam was that hard. I'm so confused about what to answer without sounding too arrogant.

I answered rather carelessly, “There are easy ones, and there are difficult ones. But I should be safe”.

Hearing my answer, Chika smiles a little and says, "Is that so?". She continue, "Then, how about we have a little contest?" She said with excitement.

"Contest?".

"Contest?".

"Woah?!" I exclaimed in shock. Suddenly, Rifa is beside me. My sudden question accompanied by someone else's voice asking the exact thing surprised me. They could sneak into other people's territory unnoticed, can't they?

"You startled me... my heart might be on the loose, you know?" I said to Rifa while reclaiming my calmness.

“Hahaha, sorry-sorry~. What were you two even talking about?" Rifa asked both of us.

"I don't know, ask Chika. Where's Saena?" I asked, alternating between questions.

After hearing my question, Rifa bends her arms behind her body. While turning her body to reveal someone in the back, Rifa's thumb pointed to Saena who is walking towards us while waving her hand from the front of the class.

“Ohh, nice timing. How about we all have a contest? Me, Hana, Rifa, Saena, and- oh yeah, where's Farya?” Chika said. Sure enough, the most energized among us have yet to appear at this sudden gathering.

"Ahhh, Farya..." Rifa said while directing her gaze to the corner front side of the class where Farya's seat is. “She's already turned to dust after suffering from the mental pressure from the exams” She continued.

Woah… it's a bit exaggerated when Rifa said 'She's turned to dust', but she has a point. I see her sitting while lying half his body on the table. From her gaze towards the outside window, she gradually revealed the look on her face after turning her head towards us. She completely has lost faith in reality. Maybe her mortal body didn't turn to dust, but the mental inside is already finely crushed. I feel that if it is blown by the slightest wind, it will fly with it.

A bit worried I came to her table to encourage one lost soul a little. And the more I come closer, the more lethargic Farya looks. She is completely helpless after being hit by a midterms storm. It feels like all the pieces of her soul are being sucked out of its vessel.

“Fa-Farya… It's okay, really. We will still be friends even if your grades are bad. Not all of them are worth far above you, really. Maybe” I said, vaguely.

“Oi, don't hesitate at the end” Rifa said from afar.

"Besides, why didn't you study? It's your own fault, you know” Chika said putting salt on the wound.

"I don't want to hear that from a traitor" Farya said wearily.

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"Hah? Don't exaggerate. It was purely your own fault” Chika fought back.

"The problem is that you didn't study in the semester midterms and instead asked me out to play around! This time too, so automatically I guess you're not studying!” Farya exclaimed.

They're like little kids who throw their own mistakes at each other, to be honest, it's funny to watch.

Seeing them keep fighting, I better stop it, right? “Y-Yes, Farya, how about we enter the contest that Chika said? I don't know what to do, anyway." I said in a slightly stiff tone. Not very convincing, to be honest.

“You better not enter the contest, Hana. At least not if you're not a kid who believes your grades will be high” Farya warned me. She sounded like she had felt it before.

"Wait, why?" I asked.

"The contest involves what ranks we achieved on the semester grade report cards, though they posted it on the announcement board at every class. Last time, I just went along because I thought Chika would have the same fate as me. How wrong I was” Farya explained in a tone like she remembered something dark.

“Eh?”.

She continues to explain, “Among the four of us, Chika achieve the lowest in the rankings. As a result, she won. Not a contest without a prize for the winner right? But the prize is..." After pausing for a moment, Farya continues, "You have to follow what the victor says".

"Hah?".

“AND BECAUSE I LOSE, SHE ASKED ME TO BUY HER ICE CREAMS FOR A WHOLE WEEK. MY POCKET MONEY IS REALLY OUT OF IT!” Farya shouted the hell out of me, that was surprising.

I direct my gaze to Chika who also turned out to be looking at me.

"Ehe" She poses pretentious cute.

No, no, no. Why are you even acting cute? what kind of friend even are you? No need to be cute!

"Because of that, there is one added regulation. You can't make it difficult for your friend" Saena interrupted.

Oh, I see. Chika... what kind of evil game is that. She really took her chance to win against Farya. Well, even though it's also Farya's own fault for being careless. Alright, how about this...

"Okay, I'm coming" I said.

“Hoo. Seriously? I'm not looking down on you, but I'm not sure you can beat me” Chika said in a teasing tone.

“Han? Seriously?” Farya confirmed my will. Reaching my left hand to Farya's hand objectively to calm her down.

"Yes. But with one condition, we will play as a team” I said.

"Hm?"

“Eh?”.

I continue, “We will play as a team. We are free to choose members but a maximum of three members. Farya and I will be a team”.

I end up saying whatever is on my mind. But no matter how you look at it, I...

"Interesting. But, are you sure? I can invite Rifa and Saena, but what about you? Who's the other one?" Chika asked as if confirming my determination.

"I don't care which team I'm in, it's fun at both" said Saena.

“Well, I want to win to avenge my loss for the last time. So, sorry, Hana” Rifa said while apologizing.

"It's okay," I said.

Right. After looking through, no matter how many times, I'm after all lacking one person. But, who can I invite? Rifa and Saena are already on Chika's team. How should I do this, I don't have anyone I can invite to join Chika's childish games.

While thinking, I look around and almost all the students had already left, leaving only us and…

Ah, that is true, I can ask him. Stepping my foot toward the only boy left in this class. My first friend in this school. He's reading a book while wearing earphones plugged in both ears. One wonders if he's listening to music right now. I hope I'm not in any way disturbing his time.

After getting closer, as if feeling someone approaching him. The boy avert his eyes and gives me a confused look. That's right, I'm not a class treasurer who chases students who skip paying or a teacher who wants to ask for help to carry their things. I'm just his friend.

Seeing him remove the earphones from his ears, I assumed he was ready to hear my babble. I then said, "Arkan, can I invite you to take part in a contest?" I asked briefly.

With a confused face, Arkan replied, “Huh? What contes-".

Without listening to his answer, I pulled Arkan's hand and forcing him to walk beside me to our strange sudden meeting.

“Wai- why?” He asked which I ignore.

I keep pulling him, but he didn't really fight back. Thankfully, the earphone cable he was using connected to the cell phone in his pocket, so it didn't fall. A feeling of guilty, if something is broken because of me, would really suck.

Like showing my soulmate in front of my family, I don't know if the analogy is connected or not. However, I display Arkan by our side, facing Chika's team members. With this, my team is complete.

"He, Reza Arkan, will enter as the third member of my team" I said loudly.

"Hah?!" Arkan responded in a high tone.

"Hah?" Chika replied confused.

“Wait- Huh?!” Arkan was confused while removing my grip from both of his shoulders.

“As you can see, I will make you a member of my team” I explained forcefully.

Hearing my insistent and irrational request, Arkan goes to his seat with quick steps. He didn't even look back. Looks like I went too far this time, huh?

Arkan stops in the middle of the road and says, “Sorry, Hana. I don't have time for little games like this. I want to go home soon" Arkan explained while facing away from me. His face looked a little regretful. But, somehow, I feel like something else is bothering him…

"Oh, I see-".

"He's a coward, Hana" Chika suddenly gives insulted Arkan, which surprised me with her statement. Arkan, who have just continued walking, also stopped, provoked by Chika's insult.

“Eh?” I asked.

Chika continues, “He's a coward who doesn't have the slightest guts. He's just a loser who can't eve-“.

“Shut up…” Arkan said in a very low and… deep tone. Even though he turned away from me, I could still slightly feel the coldness of the words he said.

"But, ain't that the truth, right?" Chika kept pressing him. She continues, “Ah, this 'game' isn't a waste of time, really. We will only contest by relying on the ranking order that we will achieve with the report card later. Yep, just a normal waiting game. You were sitting there the whole time we were talking, why didn't you listen?" Chika explained while asking at the end.

Arkan turns her body around, someone is provoked by what Chika said. Though his face looks better now, it didn't feel like anything is up. But, well, what do I know?

“Also, contests but without the prizes for the victor aren't fun, are they? So, we make the winner the 'King'. The king can make anyone wish to the other losing contestants. Condition, not to complicate each other. We're friends, right?" Chika once again explained. And what is this 'King'? She didn't mention it earlier.

After hearing Chika's statement, especially the last one, Arkan's expression became a little smiley. But, this feels like before. There is something wrong with that smile. Then, Arkan who is looking at me, sighed. I feel he was just like, 'Well, it can't be helped'. It sounded like I forced him to do it. Well, I did, but still.

“…Hufft, alright. I'm in. Hana's team, right?” With a sigh, Arkan agreed. Even his voice sounds heavy. I'll have to apologize later.

But, yeah. A Dark Horse has emerged to turn the tables on this contest. I don't know what will happen, but so be it. Win or not, I don't care. Because now, even with a little pressure, I'm having fun.