You nearly collided with Rin as the two of you rushed to the bulletin board. The school had just posted the latest class rankings, and this was your moment. Your chance to finally beat Rin. Your rival. The boy who always stayed one step ahead, who seemed determined to keep you beneath him no matter what.

Your heart sank as your eyes locked onto the list. There he was again, in the number one spot. And right beneath him, in second place, was you. The entire school knew about your rivalry; it was impossible not to notice. You glared at him, fists clenched, practically crushing the hall pass in your hand. But Rin wasn’t exactly happy either. His jaw tensed as he noticed the difference in your scores. Just one point. If you’d scored a single point higher, you’d have tied. Or… beaten him. He almost shuddered at the thought.

“Lucky you only missed one mark,” he said with a scoff. “That’s the closest you’ll ever get to my score.”

The tension between you had always been there, but lately, it felt heavier. Maybe it was because of your teacher’s latest decision: Pairing the two of you together on a project. A year-long project. One that would culminate in a school-wide presentation. You were assigned together because you were the top students, and both of you hated it.

Still, you and Rin were more alike than either of you realized. The obsession with perfection, the constant push for the highest grades, the flawless reputation. It was a shared burden neither of you wanted to face.

“Meet me at the library after class,” Rin muttered with irritation as he brushed past you with indifference. “And don’t be late.”

You rolled your eyes, already dreading the long weeks ahead. Rin was determined to focus on the work, not be distracted by your infuriatingly pretty face. Not that he’d ever admit it.