"E minus… D minus… E. C minus! D minus…"
Lloyd placed the paper he was holding on the table and sat on the chair. Reading all that carefully was a lot to take in for him. Despite that, he quickly passed the shock phase and immediately went on to the denial phase.
He cleared his throat, "Mr. Mario—"
"Don't call me that!" The man sitting across the table answered firmly.
Almost everyone secretly called him by the nickname Lloyd just mentioned, mainly because his face structure and mustache were extremely similar to the classic video game character with the same name. Thankfully, it only remained to his face, the rest of his body had nothing to do with the character.
Lloyd breathed in and out, "Are you… sure you didn't mix up your piano notes with my grades paper?"
"To answer your question in your manner, Mr. Ashford." The man laid his arms on the table, "First, Mr. Ashford, I don't play the piano. Second, your full name is on the top corner of the paper! Third, might I add again, your overall field score is right at the bottom over there."
"I see…" He tried his best to avert his eyes from the man's gaze. "So what I—"
"Your written test scores are beyond repair. I can only hope that your field score might make up for it… but that is damaged as well. Right now, you have two options, Mr. Ashford. Either you accept those scores and drop out by the end of this semester, or you do exactly what I tell you to do."
It didn't take much for Lloyd to think about it, "Which is?"
"You'll have to take night field missions for a week, plus your normal field missions if there are any. If you do well, mostly on the night missions, your score will rise. Only then will I offer an appeal to the higher-ups and see if they can excuse your written test grades for this time. Field scores outweigh the test scores, so you better thank God that such an option exists."
This whole plan came with an advantage to Lloyd, he thought. Not only could he focus on honing his skills during the night with these extra missions, but he still had more time outside with the rain.
That was until he realized the rain had let up from looking out the window.
While he kept a tight front on the outside, he was on the verge of tearing up and breaking down on the inside.
— Why does the world hate me so much? The suffering won't end.
But there was still another benefit or downside to it all that he didn't quite get, depending on how one perceived it, night missions were essentially scouting the town for any abnormalities, and that, if you weren't a reader, was difficult, especially for Lloyd. The best-case scenario for him would be nothing happening and he could just sit back or train some more and earn back his scores just for that.
"You'll be starting from evening till midnight." The man collected the document from atop the desk and placed them under, wrapping up the matter. "As for tonight, you'll cover the borders of Clockwork Town. The town's been rebuilt already, but the city needs extra security around it considering what happened again. The Academy would be more than happy to offer its assistance through a student of theirs. Of course, you, of all people, should understand the benefits."
— Then you're definitely making a mistake here. Sending out the same guy who messed it all up? That's a big no-no: a recipe for disaster. Personally, I wouldn't choose me either.
But he couldn't say that out loud. He knew better than to deny his only chance. It was his responsibility now, and he needed such a gig more than anyone. It was what it was.
Hands between his legs and a bit ashamed, he asked. "Can someone tag along—"
"No!"
The advisor was quite clear with what must be done. This was all for Lloyd's own, his own individual scores. Getting the aid of someone, with or without their consent, defeats the very purpose of this punishment — that, and it wouldn't be fair to the third party.
However, true to his nature, Lloyd wasn't a great listener.
※※※
— What does he think I am? A one-man army?
Exiting the advising office, Lloyd was immediately faced by a tall figure in the hallway, around the height of Shogo's, maybe even slightly taller. It was a man who seemed to be middle-aged. Despite that, he had a well-built physique. His slick, yet slightly long, hair matched well with the shape of his head. Unlike teachers in the Academy, who had their own uniforms as well as separate from the students, the man dressed rather elegantly. It was as much a uniform as the others, but it was different. A dark suit contrived of linen vaguely shielded his black shirt and tie that matched well together with the rest of his attire. It was as if he was priming himself to attend a funeral. But it wasn't bizarre, not in the least.
He bore a fierce look on his face, that was just his nature, yet there was deep warmth in his eyes, the kind of warmth you would find rare in adults.
Just as the seconds of analyzing were done on Lloyd's part, he took a step back and lowered his torso, bowing in respect to the man. It was none other than the principal of this very academy, after all, Professor Ludwig Cain.
A man of principles and precise reasons for actions, that was the kind of man Principal Cain was. Unlike the previous principal, whom he inherited the position from, he wasn't a man held back by the past and traditions. When he first earned that position, he was but a mere professor at another academy believed to be rigid and one who would invoke unease into the students, which were just frantic rumors by those aiming to damage his reputation. In reality, he was easily adaptable to obstacles and change and held the Academy in the best interest of all. One thing that was for sure, he was better than the previous principal.
"No need for formalities, young Ashford." The principal moved his hands in a calm gesture, telling the boy to return back to his usual form.
He spoke in a deep voice, not to the raspiness of a smoker. It was just a normal deep, and a soothing, resonant voice like any other, one that fit the tone and was likely to be heard in a grand speech or something.
Even with all that respect and those good virtues, Lloyd did not like him.
It wasn't his quelled smile. It wasn't his straight posture. It wasn't the non-existent threat that ticked him off. It wasn't anything really.
Yet, there was still something about him, a lingering shadow that loomed over him from behind. It was that thing… that sole apparition that gave birth to Lloyd's instinctive enmity.
"Yo!" The blonde-haired boy wonder himself appeared from behind the principal. Shogo Kuroiwa passed him and walked toward Lloyd. "How did it go with the advisor?"
Relief seemed over Lloyd as his friend returned back to the scene, breaking the weird trance he was about to drop into.
"Eh… Could've gone better." Lloyd folded his hands behind his head, showing off his ease. "I'm stuck on the night watch now, apparently."
Shogo kicked him in the knee and laughed, "Just be thankful you got a second chance, manuke. Don't waste it."
"He is right!" The principal spoke up.
It was quite a troublesome matter having the principal of the entire Academy hear about a student directly in front of him suffering academically. To Lloyd, he just didn't want to receive another lecture, especially not from the principal — even if he was on friendly terms with him on the surface.
"But this will be quite educational for you, boy." The principal explained, "Imagination peaks at nightfall. Neverland always shined its beauty in the dark, setting forth a path for a reality of your own. Perhaps the blooming stars in the night sky could be of help to you."
— Pretty sure I'll have plenty of time after I've done counting them.
But the principal was referring to him perceiving the path of constellations and letting his mind free. Counting them would be of no benefit at all in the first place.
"Do not fear the darkness, young Ashford. I've had many students come to me pleading for them not to go out in the night — mostly because of its inconvenience and interference with their pre-planned "schedules"." He laughed, "And you want to hone skills from what I've heard. So it's the space you need right now for freedom of the mind. A perfect page is not made of a bright void, it is emptiness itself. Utilize it… and write."
The principal patted both the boys' shoulders and left the scene with a wave with his back turned.
"I'll have a discussion with the board about your suggestion, Shogo. Oh, and until next time, young Ashford."
His words weren't exactly the wisest, but it was the most sensible. It reminded Lloyd of his earlier discussion with Shogo about how dreams were the secret to an author's ultimatum.
Shogo yawned. "Hey… Do you need help with the night watch?"
"Wait— You're going to tag along?!" Lloyd was shocked but excited more or less.
"No… but I do know someone whom we can bend to our will. Might take a bit of effort though."
"Count me in!"
Both of them looked at each other with the most devilish smiles on their faces. There was no end to the "innocent" mischief they could cause together. If they wanted to do something, whatever they had in mind, they were going to do it no matter what.