Now making his way out of the school, Alex was wearing a bold smile, ON THE OUTSIDE.

‘What did I just do!!?’

The spark inside Alex was gone, and his senses were coming back to him, just to leave him again because of the tension he was feeling.

’Why did I just agree to such a ridiculous thing, would it have killed me to just say sorry.’

Alex was cursing his own ego and pride.

He thought about having a good cry behind a tree or a bush where he couldn’t be seen but no such luck.

--Wait a minute! Earlier this morning, my name was on the top of the board. I came first?

Alex was trying desperately to think of something good that could lift his mode, and the thought came up. I came First. How did that happen? Alex was puzzled.

Indeed, it is not every day you come on top without any preparation.

A moment of truth here, never believe someone who gets good marks when he says, “What’s the point of studying? You will get whatever is written in your fate or destiny”.

The bastard is studying his ass off every night, cramming, drinking brain booster, taking quizzes, and who knows what else.

--I didn’t even read the textbooks properly. I only skimmed through them.

Alex was thinking deeply about how he came first. It’s true that he only skimmed the textbooks, and he just went with hunches in the exams.

‘What did I actually did in the exam?’

Alex tried to remember what he had learned, and that’s where the spark had been ignited again, and this time it wasn’t about to go out.

Alex could remember the entire syllabus, word to word, for the mid-term exam.

Not just the textbooks but everything the teacher said, infliction to infliction when he was in class even though he was not paying much attention. He could recall it all.

’How did this happen? Never mind, it probably had something to do with the treatment, BUT….’

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A grin appeared on Alex’s face.

‘It isn’t going to change the situation I’m in, but it will help a lot.’

Now from a very hopeless and grim situation, Alex was only in a grim situation. He had acquired hope.

With that, the preparation for the exam began.

The week flew by, and the day of the exam came.

If Alex manages to get 90%, he will be promoted to the next class. If not, he is expelled.

The news of Alex taking the exam had spread throughout the entire school. Alex walked with a clam expression into the school.

Making his way in the hallways. He could sense students looking at him, more than usual, but that was to be expected.

Inside, Alex was feeling a little nervous, not because of the exam but because everyone was glaring at him like he forgot to wear his pants and was not wearing any underwear.

He was going to the principal’s office, on his way, he met Asuna. She was looking flustered.

‘Alex…. I’m sorry you’re in this situation, I’ve…should have done something.’

‘It’s alright, besides there wasn’t much that could have been done.’

‘Even then I-’

Alex put his hand on her shoulder.

‘Asuna didn’t I just told you, it’s going to be alright.’

Alex looked straight into her eyes, affirming her that it will be alright, and that was enough to make her calm.

But as a side effect, having Alex looking straight into her eyes made her flustered even more, and her face grew red.

‘Um…Good luck then.’

Asuna ran off to somewhere, leaving Alex wondering why.

--Did I do something?

Alex made his way to the principal’s office and knocked. Getting permission to enter, he opened the door, he saw him walking impatiently in his office.

‘I have been waiting for you, Alex’

‘I am here for my exam.’

Alex saw the Principal opening his desk and taking out some papers. Sitting down on his chair, he signaled Alex to do the same.

‘Listen, Alex, I know it is my fault for putting you in this situation. It is ridiculous to give a student a week to prepare for an exam whose syllabus he hasn’t been even taught.’

The principal slid the papers towards Alex.

‘This is the least I can do. These are the questions that will appear on the exam with their correct answers written. Please memorize them as quickly as you can.’

Alex glanced at the papers, and they’re really were questions with there answers on them. He gathered the documents and returned them.

‘I don’t need these papers. I will be fine without them, besides I will not cheat.’

The principal was stunned.

--Never have I seen such an honest boy. No, he is a man, no he is a man even among men. Truly an example of how a human being should be.

Tears formed in his eyes.

‘I should get going now, don’t want to be late for the exam.’

Alex stood up and was about to leave.

‘One more thing, Alex. Prof. Hibiki will be the one monitoring you to make sure you don’t cheat.’

‘I see, thank you for informing me.’

As soon as Alex left, the principal took out his phone and dialed a number.

‘You were proved wrong. You could even see the footage of my office if you want proof. I told you Alex is not a cheater, he didn’t read the papers’

‘That just means he doesn’t need them.’

‘Because he studied.’

‘Because he is an expert cheater who doesn’t need anybody’s help because he came prepared with his cheating material.’

‘You will lose.’

‘We shall see about that.’