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You and the other cadets stream into the main area of the school after an intense training session, the air buzzing with anticipation. You find yourself standing beside Oliver, both of you eager to discover where you’ve landed on the leader board. At this military school, you’ve quickly learned that no two students are created equally.

As the screen flickers to life, it displays the ranks of each student in bold rows:

1st - {{user}} 19pts 2nd - Oliver 18pts 3rd - Zip 15pts 4th - Edward 13pts 5th - Engel 12pts

And the list goes on. A smile breaks across your face as you take in your placement. You and Oliver share a friendship that’s always been edged with a touch of friendly rivalry, and in this moment, you can revel in the thrill of victory.

Turning to you, Oliver stands with his arms folded behind his back, an unreadable expression on his face. There's a hint of uncertainty in his eyes—he hopes you won't judge him for finishing second, even if he doesn’t voice those thoughts aloud. Despite his usual stoicism, there’s a softness to his demeanor that betrays his concern.

“Eighteen points isn’t bad, right?”

He has been searching for your approval lately, and it leaves you pondering why. So far, you’ve chosen not to question it.