Winter Break: A Ruse to Partake

Scribble-Scribble

The classroom was a hive of activity, filled with the rhythmic sounds of multiple scribblings on sheets of paper. Midterms had reached their crescendo, and today marked the final paper before the much-anticipated winter vacation.

As the students sat at their desks, the air was charged with a palpable sense of tension and determination. The soft, muted light from the overhead bulbs cast a warm glow on the sea of heads bent over their papers, creating an almost ethereal ambience.

Each student was in their own world, grappling with the complex Calculus questions that lay before them. Furrowed brows and bitten lips were commonplace, as quizzical expressions played across the faces of the test-takers.

Some tapped their pens rhythmically on the desk, others chewed on eraser ends, and a few glanced nervously at the clock, counting down the precious minutes left.

The rustling of pages, the occasional sigh of frustration, and the whisper of whispered calculations filled the room. It was a scene of intense focus, as the students collectively wrestled with the mathematical conundrums that would ultimately determine their midterm fate.

The students diligently worked their way through the complexities of differential equations, integrals, and the theorems related to them.

In the midst of this sea of focused scholars, Shroud occupied a desk with Su a few seats behind him. Kevin had been assigned to a different classroom, so he wasn't present alongside the two friends in this particular exam.

*Tap-Tap-Tap*

Su's eyes bore a contemplative look as his right hand expertly navigated the task of writing out solutions to the problems presented on the question paper.

Meanwhile, his left hand moved with the precision of a seasoned pianist as it continuously pressed the buttons on a non-programmable calculator, performing calculations with exacting accuracy.

On his desk, an extra sheet of blank paper lay beside his answer sheet, serving as a canvas for rough estimations and intricate calculations. Whenever he encountered a particularly challenging problem, Su's methodical approach came into play.

He would first perform rough calculations on the spare sheet of paper, fine-tuning the solution, before transcribing the final answer onto his answer sheet with methodical precision. The process was a dance of intellect and precision, as Su navigated the mathematical labyrinth before him.

The exam period in Senba Academy typically spanned a week, featuring a rotation of subjects, including English, Maths, Chemistry, Social Studies, and the option to choose between Computer Science or Biology.

Each day, a different subject's examination was held, with a maximum time duration of three hours per day.

*Ding-Dong-Ding*

The first-hour bell resonated through the room, indicating that there were just two hours remaining before the examination would conclude.

For a brief moment, the constant scribbling of pens slowed down as every person in the room waited, perhaps for something unexpected to occur.

"I am done."

There it was. Someone had completed their paper early, just as it happened on occasion. Su couldn't help but offer a helpless smile as he looked ahead to see Shroud getting up from his seat and handing in his completed paper.

It was a sight that was both characteristic and surprising, a testament to Shroud's fast calligraphic and problem-solving capabilities.

With a sigh, the exam supervisor instructed, "Alright, you can leave it at the desk and be on your merry way." The tone of her voice carried a hint of defeat, suggesting that this wasn't the first time she'd encountered 'this' student finishing their exam early.

As Shroud calmly walked towards the classroom exit, he made brief eye contact with Su, mouthing the words, "Same place." Su understood the message – they would meet up after he and Kevin had completed their papers, just as they usually did. 

Su responded with a thumbs-up before returning his full focus to the paper in front of him, determined to complete the remainder of the exam successfully.

****

"I am beaten," Kevin groaned, his voice heavy with exhaustion, as he slumped down onto the table. It was evident that the examination had taken its toll on him.

Su, ever the optimist, attempted to console Kevin, saying, "Cheer up, Kevin. At least it's over now." He wanted to remind Kevin that the exams were finally done, and the holiday break would commence the next day.

Kevin, although appreciative of Su's words, couldn't help but express his frustration. "Hah, I know, Su, I'm just exhausted. Is Teacher Yamato exacting revenge on us for being less enthusiastic in his class or what?" Kevin questioned, addressing no one in particular.

"Why were the questions so much more challenging than the previous exams?" Kevin lamented the sudden increase in difficulty, clearly feeling the pressure of the challenging questions.

"Haha, that does sound like a possibility," Su replied, considering the idea that Teacher Yamato might have sought to challenge them due to their lack of enthusiasm in his class.

Su then turned to Shroud, who had remained mostly silent. "Speaking of which, you haven't talked since we arrived here, Shroud. Anything you wish to add?" Su inquired.

Hearing Su's question, Shroud opened his eyes and responded, "Nothing, just contemplating how I should spend my upcoming holidays."

Kevin, feeling more talkative now that the exams were behind them, chimed in, "Now that you've brought up the subject of how to spend the upcoming holidays," Kevin began.

"I think I might go back to Germany since it's been almost a year and a half since I last visited my parents." He revealed his plans for the holiday break, a chance to reunite with his family after a considerable absence.

"Same here, I will also be returning to Singapore to visit my family," Su also expressed his thoughts of returning to his homeplace for the winter vacation.

Kevin and Su then looked at Shroud expecting to hear his plans for the winter vacation, yet to Kevin and Su's astonishment Shroud replied by saying, "I will just stay here."

"Wait, are you serious?" Kevin asked, raising a brow. He suggested that Shroud should visit his family during the holidays, but then he recalled that Shroud was an orphan, and his voice trailed off towards the end of his sentence.

'Kevin, you idiot,' Su thought in a panic, sharing a nervous glance with Kevin. They had unintentionally touched on a sensitive subject. 

Shroud remained calm and composed, and after a brief pause, he responded, "Hmm, I am an orphan." It was only after Shroud said this that both Kevin and Su's inner turmoil began to subside. 

They had indeed forgotten that it was Director Ryuzaki who had informed them about Shroud's orphan status. Shroud had never discussed his family with Kevin or Su, and now the conversation felt a bit awkward as they realized their unintentional insensitivity.

"I-I see, I am sorry for asking," Kevin said with a hint of regret in his voice. He lowered his gaze for a moment, the soft echo of his apology reverberating through the room.

Shroud's response was equally measured, a gracious nod that conveyed his understanding of Kevin's well-intentioned yet unintentional misstep.

"It's alright, Kevin," Shroud said, offering his forgiveness. But even as the moment passed, Kevin couldn't entirely shake the sense of guilt that lingered in his expression.

Searching for a way to make amends, Kevin decided to offer a suggestion. "If you wish, you can tag along with me," he proposed his words carrying a tone of sincerity and kindness.

However, Shroud politely declined the offer, though his eyes sparkled with a hint of humour. "Thank you, Kevin, but I am tired of day-to-day life, and I want to rest for the whole winter vacation, maybe even go hibernate in the snowy mountains like bears," he quipped.

Kevin understood the light-hearted nature of Shroud's response and chose to respect Shroud's wishes. Meanwhile, Su, who had been observing the exchange, subtly tapped his foot against Kevin's, conveying the unspoken message, "Don't push it."

The tension lifted, and the room gradually returned to its previous state, the three friends resuming their casual conversation, the momentary awkwardness fading into the background.

****

The next day...

The morning sunlight spilt through the airport windows, casting a warm and golden glow across the terminal. Travelers bustled about, each with their own destination and purpose.

Among the crowd, Shroud stood out, his casual attire contrasting with the sea of passengers dressed for their journeys. Kevin and Su approached him, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity.

They exchanged brief words. When Shroud expressed his desire to bid them farewell, they appreciated Shroud's gesture. However, time was not on their side, and they couldn't afford to linger. With hurried farewells, they left Shroud standing alone in the terminal.

As the distance between them grew, Shroud's solitary figure began to take shape. He stood near the large glass windows, and his gaze followed Kevin and Su as they made their way to the security checkpoint. Shroud watched them until they disappeared from his view, and then he turned, his expression shifting.

*Clack-Clack*

The sound of footsteps resonated through the terminal, and Shroud turned to find a man dressed in formal attire, carrying a suitcase. The atmosphere in the terminal suddenly became charged with tension. Shroud's eerie grin illuminated his face as he regarded the man.

"I must say I missed this face of yours, Autumn," Shroud declared with a hint of foreboding, the interaction unfolding like a scene from a suspenseful thriller.

That's right, the Shroud who had spoken with Kevin and Su was not a genuine person; it was The Whisper, a master of disguise, deception, and craftiness.

He had seamlessly materialized into Shroud's physical appearance. Meanwhile, the real Shroud had altered his appearance to mimic how he looked back in the days when he was known as the Grand Duke.

"Good luck with your mission," The Whisper said as he passed by the now-transformed Shroud, who had taken on the persona of Autumn.

"Hmm, make sure that you don't leave the house," Autumn repeated, his voice carrying an undercurrent of concern for The Whisper as he prepared to embark on his journey to a foreign land. He began walking towards The Whisper, who had assumed the form of Shroud.

"Also, be careful. Now that Kevin and Su are gone, and the Fire Moth thinks that I am alone," Autumn continued, his pace unyielding as he drew nearer to The Whisper.

"Those spies might entertain the thought of me doing something suspicious, so they might more blatantly spy on you," he cautioned, his words now a stark contrast to the casualness they had displayed moments ago. 

As they spoke, the announcement overhead chimed in with a polite reminder:

[*Ding-Ding* flight A-33 is about to depart, please head to Terminal B for verification and standard boarding procedure.]

With that, Autumn made his way towards Terminal B, clutching a ticket with the destination: Serbia.

To be continued...

****

A/N: I hope you enjoy the chapter and feel free to comment. Your thoughts and criticism are valuable in helping me improve and stay motivated to write more.

Here are some early concepts I have for this fanfic. I will be revealing more about them at the end of the volume