The teenage girl walked into the empty park she had been in days before to practice. She saw an ash-haired boy wearing a heavy coat with a tired look in his eyes ahead of her. It was Edwin he had agreed to meet her after class. They couldn't talk in the school courtyard, as female and male students couldn't interact. Even when the school day was over, she reasoned, someone could still see. Nobody knew yet that they had been chosen to work together. They would jump to conclusions and ruin both of their reputations.
Anna knew that as his Koinonos, her job was to protect the teen and to make sure he completed his training successfully. While she wasn't ready to enter combat the teenager knew she had to accept her position. As a highly regarded student, there was always the chance she would become a Koinonos. She had just stupidly believed deep down that it would never happen. Anna had been a mess since being told by Head Priestess Adsila that there was no way to challenge the decision.
Edwin had the same struggle in the way he approached her. The teenager rushed over and was flushed in the face as he talked. “Anna,” He stopped and bowed in a show of respect which she appreciated. “I'm so happy you wanted to meet and talk.”
“Head Priestess Adsila was clear that we are going to work together till graduation. Since that's the case, I wanted to speak to you without any interference.” Anna said, offering Edwin a smile. She felt bad seeing her new partner so nervous.
In a show of sympathy, she grabbed his coat sleeve and spoke more softly. “You don't have to bow your head and look at the ground when we talk. We are going to be equals in the field and at school so I'd appreciate it if you treated me like any other classmate. I'd like it if we could just throw away the formalities and be friends.”
Edwin looked at her with disbelief. “Are you serious?” The blonde shook off her hold suddenly and crossed his arms over his chest. “I remember you reported a classmate of yours for sneaking out and got her scholarship revoked.” He sounded disgusted.
“I heard that you did that to multiple people. How do I know you won't rat me out if I accidentally break a rule or two?” Edwin continued to push at the teenager.
Anna cursed herself in her head. She had honestly forgotten she had done such a thing. It was true that she had thrown other girls under the bus a few times. But she had to keep up the appearance of a model student to everyone. Which meant that she had to act like an ultra-devout bitch often. But she was being genuine with the boy, she didn't want to be enemies. She wanted the two of them to have a good relationship. If they walked on eggshells they'd never trust each other.
Without trust, they would risk their lives in the field. In combat, Anna would have his life and reputation in her hands. It was better for them to like each other when the time came. She didn't think she could protect him well if that wasn't the case. Thinking about all her options left Anna with only one choice. She pulled back from Edwin and let out a loud exhale as her body became much tenser. Her eyes watered as she pushed herself to start the waterworks and to sell her words.
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“I did throw her under the bus and I'm sorry about that. I felt like it wasn't fair she got away with breaking the rules while I couldn't. But I genuinely want to be friends with you, Edwin. I have no intentions of using you. I take the Goddess's teachings very seriously and I will work my ass off as your Koinonos.” The girl tearfully pleaded with the blonde who looked at her with disdain.
Edwin interrupted her with a scoff and shook his head. “I'm not sure if I can believe you. Even if you did it because you felt it wasn't fair they got away with breaking the rules, you did it multiple times. I asked people about you and they said that you're known for reporting to the teachers out of competitiveness.”
Anna took a step back and shook her head and mouth agape. Edwin contained despite her jaw dropping at his words. “They talked about how your rank rose and you got more attention despite not having that great of an academic record. With you admitting that you reported those girls out of jealousy, I believe the rumors.”
This made her gawk at him. Sure, she was a top student grade wise but if she were to be honest she wasn't even ranked in the top five. “That's not true at all. I do get good grades and I got those grades fair and square. I didn't sabotage others to pass my classes or to get my scholarship.” She was insulted to hear that people thought so poorly of her. Anna had studied day and night to keep her image intact for years.
He rolled his eyes which made her growl and spit out the following. "What? Do you seriously believe me that just reporting some students somehow made me rank high? That all the staff are in on it?"
“Isn't it a little suspicious that you, a scholarship student, became Koinonos instead of say a rank one student?” Hearing these words made the dark-haired teenager want to leave and never speak to the blonde again. He was looking at her like some charity case the teachers pitied and made a Koinonos for pity points. It made her sick to the bottom of her stomach and she struggled not to scream at him.
In an act of pure shock, she blurted out. “If you think I was using bribery as some sort of teacher's pet to get ahead, then check my grades.” She got out her phone and scrolled through her recent exam scores. She shoved it in his face which made him look at her like she was a lunatic. “We take the same written exams bi-weekly and in person. No notes are allowed with each student's questions randomized. If I was such a slacker like you described, check my scores. Then you can talk to me.”
With that practically she threw the phone at him and walked off. Anna had never felt so insulted in her life. To claim that she had been given special attention and privileges made her want to throw up. It all made sense now. Edwin must have heard rumors about her before and talked to his friends about them. They all saw her as some scholarship pet that the teachers doted upon. Anna hadn't thought this could happen but now she saw it and felt so stupid.
She had been working so hard to be seen as capable in this life. To be seen as someone hardworking and incredibly intelligent. When in reality the cards were always going to be stacked against her. Getting into the academy through a scholarship would always be a double-edged sword. She would have people questioning her place as a student in multiple ways. If she faked her test answers, if she used connections to take someone's place, and worse if she was just being admitted to meet quota.
With her hands balled into fists she gritted her teeth and flung herself around. Edwin was looking at her phone with a guilty expression but she didn't care. All she cared about was proving this asshole wrong. “What? Do you feel bad for calling me a charity case to my face now? Do you feel guilty for judging me based on lies?”
He moved his gaze away from her phone and held it out to her. “I was wrong about you having good grades. You get better scores than most of my class,” She snatched her phone back while he tried to defend himself. “But you can't be surprised that someone is finally stating the obvious. You look like a suck-up to everyone else and it's clear you're doing it to make up for your background.”
She glared. “First off, my family isn't dirt poor and even if they were I wouldn't be ashamed. And second off, I'm working my ass off to get in our teachers' good graces because they have been in control of my life for FOUR years.” Anna growled and held her head in her hands. How was this guy such a goddamn blockhead?
Eventually, she just threw her hands up and sighed. “You know what? I don't care if you think I don't deserve to be your Koinonos for some bullshit reason. I don't care. I will be working with you and I will be doing a damn good job. Deal with it.”