"...For decades, Marivik Academy has been a pinnacle of Noda Kingdom's educational system. Those who are accepted are some of the best, and only those who are accepted can even be considered for a ministerial position at His Majesty's side. I am happy to announce...,"

The nasally voice droned on and on and on and on, my blurring eyes barely focusing on Freyda's moving, wrinkled mouth.

Another deep exhale escaped me. This would be a good time for the main character effect.

"Now then," Freyda clapped again, "I'm sure you all know about the Marivik Competition." 

If the hall was quiet before, it was absolutely silent now. The sighs and yawns and low mutters disappeared, replaced by straight shoulders and an electric attentiveness. 

Freyda seemed pleased, the edges of her lips forming a knowing, pruny smirk before she spoke again. 

"For those of you who are not aware, I will explain. The Marivik Competition is an event that begins, for elected students, in their first year, and spans across their entire attendance of the Academy. It revolves around a topic chosen by the administration and His Majesty himself, aiming to cultivate some aspect of the incoming class's ability and/or character." She paused, ruffling through the stack of papers on her podium. "As you may know, placing first in this competition introduces victors to even greater prospects, including but not limited to the possibility of becoming a ministerial head."

The hall seemed to wake, excited murmurs filling up the expansive space. 

"Attention!" 

Freyda sternly interrupted the rising buzz - and just like that, the noise ceased. Even I felt like I was hanging onto her every word, puzzlingly leaning forward just a tad. 

"To even be eligible, one must join a team under a team leader. The team leaders will decide whether you can join their team, and if you are not chosen, this class will be replaced by one of your chosen major and you will be receiving the educational experience that the majority of our students have."

...Hm? 

Before today I had already more or less already deduced how ambitious I was, and while I had known about most of what was just announced, I wasn't aware of all the little details. Some things had to be reconsidered - things like how little I wanted to go through an extra class.

Things like my chosen major.

I winced at the unconscious thought, quickly pushing it away and focusing back onto Freyda's inescapable voice. 

"The team leaders will be decided by me after a presentation with an assigned partner."

Presentation? What presentation? A presentation in front of a class? In front of this class? 

"The prompt is simple: focus on a moment or event in history and demonstrate the development of one of its critical..."

I blinked as the sentence only continued to lengthen. 

Right, simple. As simple as studying the molecular intricacies of a rock: doable, but ridiculous.

"...and describe it in exactly 10 minutes. You'll be timed. It will be due in exactly one week. Now then, please listen for your name and your partner's name and-...and please begin looking for them after I am finished. Thank you. The first pair: Matias Lokey and Lee Shin...!" 

Volume levels were kept to an unyielding mumble as everyone waited patiently for their names to be called or for principal Freyda to leave. As a matter of fact, everyone was so preoccupied with their own issues that when Augustus's partner was called, the mumbling only increased for about seven seconds - much shorter than usual. 

"Augustus Ervinhart and Elinka Cote!" 

So that's the route she chose. 

"Yohan Irwan and Milana Kinlissan!" 

Tough luck for the villainess - she's with the eccentric instead of her love interest.

"Bai Yul Tadal and Shian Maliki!"

The name didn't ring a bell, thankfully. They were probably another extra like me, and as long as they weren't a main character I was fine with anyone.

"You know anyone named Shian?" 

My head involuntarily whipped to my right as I gave a wide-eyed look at the bespectacled guy who just spoke. 

Oh. Oh no. Oh no!

He moved back to the center of his seat after his buddy shrugged. I barely managed to reach a shaking hand to softly tap his shoulder. 

"Yes?" 

He gave me a polite gaze, his eyes widening as it joined his small smile.

"...I am Shion Maliki. Are you Bai Yul?" 

"Really?" His glance swept over me, pausing briefly on the ring on my pinky before rising back to meet my stare. "Shion Maliki?"

"Oh, yes. Principle Freyda must have misread my name." 

Bai Yul didn't say anything for a minute too long, his grin twisting an inch to the right and morphing into something that almost resembled a grimace. I blinked, and the look was gone. He shifted, his torso turning towards me as he held out his right hand. 

"Well, that makes sense then. I was wondering why I didn't recognize the name. I'm Bai Yul, as you said - your partner for this presentation. Nice to meet you." 

I nodded, hoping that my countenance didn't betray any misgivings as I shook his outstretched hand.

Bai Yul gave me a wide smile, his teeth showing, his brows rising, and his eyes narrowing into half-moons. 

It was a common, friendly expression, and its amicability was only enhanced by his parted hairstyle. Why, then, did I feel like I had just given my social security number to a conman at my door?

Bai Yul tilted his head, clasping his hands as his smile persisted.

"Shion - can I call you Shion?" His question was answered with another short nod, "Well, Shion, your luck is good." His hands smoothly gestured as they accompanied his words. "Do you know my favorite saying? Do you? 'Life is full of helplessness.' Some may think it's depressing, but it's really quite apt. Life is all about dealing with the situations you can't control, and sometimes you're just helpless against them. But!" He shot out both index fingers, pointing outward. "But, it's fine to be helpless if your luck is good. Everything will go well for you even if you're helpless. And your luck-," his index fingers pointed towards me now, "-is great! Why is it great? Because you've been paired up with me, of course!" 

"...Oh, thank you...I think." 

Bai Yul closed his hands into fists, clearing his throat. Then, the machine gun went off again, his monologue joining in with the mumbling around us.

"I've won many contests, my exam scores were in the 88th percentile, my essays were said to be immensely insightful, and I received a letter regarding my writing from the Crown Prince himself. What does all of this indicate? It indicates that I'm exactly the kind of worker the Palace is looking for. And what does that mean? It means I'm basically almost hired. So, Shion Maliki, your lucky that I'm your partner. I'm really a very capable person, so for this presentation, don't you worry about a thing."

"Right...wait," I blinked a couple of times to regain my focus. "Actually, I was hoping that I could just create the slides and you could be the one to present." 

One of his brows rose as he gave me another once-over. His head swayed a couple of times and then he lowered his brows, pouting out his lips. 

"Well, if that's what you really want!" It didn't take long for Bai Yul to whip out his bright smile again, startling me as he speedily placed his phone into my hands. "Let's exchange numbers, just so we can be up to date on each other's work, then." 

"Sure." 

I unlocked my own phone and passed it to him before adding my number to his contacts. Principal Freyda's callouts droned on in the back of my mind for only a beat more, the woman finally finishing the list and promptly leaving the hall. 

The moment she stepped out, the room burst into chaos, students talking and walking and shouting out the names of their assigned partners. Bai Yul's friend wasn't unique; he gave Bai Yul's shoulder a pat in farewell before jogging off. 

"Anyways," Bai Yul returned my phone and stood up, straightening the cuffs of his white dress shirt, "I have to get going. I'll see you tomorrow if I'm not too busy!" 

I stuttered out the beginning of my sentence, flustered. "Y-You're leaving now? This assignment's due in a week."

"I know, I know, but I have a job interview right now." He winced emphatically and gave a forlorn gesture, although pride was still dripping off of him. His motion sleekly transitioned as he lifted his cellphone, shaking it lightly. "Feel free to text me your topic proposals! I'll see you tomorrow as the newest reporter for the Marivik Press - if I'm not too busy, obviously." 

He flashed me two thumbs-up and a beaming wink, and just like that he slipped away. I watched him easily weave through the row, making his way past the crowd and out the double doors. 

"This class is meant for us to work on the presentation, though...it lasts three whole hours," my dismayed muttering escaped me.

Life really was full of helplessness.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please comment as you go, would love to hear your thoughts! I read your comments, promise!