Final exams were coming in a month. Alex and Hikaru started preparing for it. Hikaru stopped taking the transformation serum and prepared for them intensively. In school, his behavior improved, but he was still hostile to Alex, which at that point was normal.
'How's the preparation for the exams?'
Alex made small talk with him.
'Good, Extremely good. Nothing is going to stop me from coming first, not even you.'
His voice was as sharp as ever when talking to Alex.
'Good luck, Hikaru.'
Hikaru studied day and night for the exams. From cram school to brain boosters, he was going all out. This was his last chance. Alex trained to prepare himself. He had to get stronger if he wanted his plan to work. From doing full-body exercises to running full marathons, he waited for the day.
The days of the exams drew nearer, and finally, they arrived.
March, the month of exams, had come. The frost of winter had started to thaw, and the sky became clearer. Trees that endured the onslaught of the cold were rewarded with new life. Birds were returning from their tiresome migration, and animals were coming out of hibernation. It was the indication that spring had begun.
Students were rushing as the time for the exam reached near. Hikaru inhaled a deep breath to calm his nerves and entered the classroom.
'Are you prepared for the exam, Hikaru?'
Alex cheekily questioned him.
'Are you, Alexander?'
Hikaru countered his question.
'Of course, just so you know, you will lose.'
'You took the words right out of my mouth.'
Things were heating up when the invigilator arrived.
'Now everyone, take your seats. The exam is about to start.'
The three days of exams slowly and steadily got by. All that awaited was the result. The result was pinned on the board. Hikaru went early to see it.
He was devastated as he dreadfully saw Alex's name on top of his. He refused to believe what he saw. He didn't know where he went wrong.
'It's about time you acknowledge reality.'
Hikaru didn't notice that Alex was behind him.
He fell on his knees due to the shock as Alex leaned towards him.
'I have always been better than you at everything. You were always weaker than me. You could have never competed with me. You can never win.'
Hikaru was on the verge of tears as Alex was rubbing it in
'You can never be better than me, not in intelligence, not in strength, not in anything, and you will never be.'
Like a demon sucking the soul out of his prey, his blue eyes gave a bitter impression, dominating Hikaru and crushing his soul. Alex saw the principal around the corner and walked away.
'Congratulations on getting a perfect score again. I must say, Alexander, they don't people like you often. You're a one in a million. You deserve a special reward. Tell me what do you wish for.'
'Thank you, sir. As for the reward, I would like a party to be arranged, or am I asking too much?'
'Not at all. It would take some time to get things ready. When do you want it to be?'
'If possible, I want it to be celebrated at night on the day after tomorrow.'
'It will be done.'
'Thank you again, sir.'
Alex went home, victorious. Jason was already there waiting for him.
'I feel kinda bad doing this to Hikaru.'
'It was your plan.'
'I know.'
'Are you certain you want to do this, Alex?'
'I can't stop now after making you do that.'
Both Hikaru and Alex got a perfect score in all the subjects except for 1. Hikaru got 99 out of 100 in English, and Alex aced that one too. That was what everyone thought.
Hikaru didn't actually lose a single point in any of the subjects. Alex knew he probably wouldn't miss a point, so he asked Jason to switch Hikaru's English paper causing him to lose a point.
He needed Jason to do it to make sure Hikaru loses. All of this was done to drive him crazy.