Ars had just found out about the exam, and while most people would panic, Ars was feeling oddly confident. He was sure he could pass, no problem. But William, his ever-knowledgeable friend, warned him not to underestimate it. And then there was the author — who, with a suspiciously serious tone, threatened, "If you fail, I'll end the novel."
Ars wasn't worried, though. After all, he wasn't addicted to smoking, alcohol, or anything normal. Nope, his true addiction was anime. From the moment he woke up to the second he went to bed, anime was life. School? Anime. Homework? Anime. Conversations? Yep, you guessed it — anime.
But every night, as he finished binge-watching his latest series, a wave of regret hit him like a ton of bricks. He was wasting his life. One night, the regret was so overwhelming that he couldn't bear it. He made a promise to himself: "No anime before the exam. Never again."
With only twelve days left until the big test, Ars was determined to break free from his anime obsession. The very next day, he marched straight to the library, a man on a mission. He sat down, surrounded by piles of books. But there was something strange. Right in front of him was a man who looked... wise. Like, "I have all the knowledge of the universe packed in my brain" kind of wise.
Ars didn't waste any time. He knew exactly what he had to do. He began to "borrow" the man's knowledge — but soon realized, this wasn't just some random guy. Nope, this was none other than Professor Rukism Alivorg, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist who was also participating in the same exam. Ars' brain practically exploded.
"I need to talk to him," Ars thought. But the man was way too absorbed in his book to notice him. Hours passed. No luck. Ars wasn't going to give up, though. He waited for the night, hoping the professor would leave, and then he could impress him with all the knowledge he'd "borrowed." But nope. Rukism was still sitting there, glued to his book, like a statue made of pure intellect.
Finally, as the night wore on, Ars got his nerve up and walked over. He asked, "Sir, what's your name? I saw you on TV once — you're a Nobel Prize-winning professor, right?" Ars started buttering him up, not realizing that Rukism wasn't just a physicist; the man was also a master of dark psychology. He could read Ars like an open book.
With a raised eyebrow, Rukism replied, "My name is Rukism Alivorg. And by the way, you're lying. I can tell. What do you really want to know?"
Ars froze for a second. How did he know? But he quickly regained his composure. "I want to talk about the exam."
Rukism narrowed his eyes. "How do you know about the exam? Even the government doesn't know about it. Only a few geniuses do."
Ars grinned. "I'm participating in it."
Rukism blinked. "Wait, are you some kind of genius? A professor, perhaps?"
Ars shrugged. "Nah. Just a high school student. But genius? Not so sure about that."
Rukism's eyebrows shot up. "How do you know about the exam, then?"
Ars casually dropped William's name. "My friend told me. William Shepherd."
Suddenly, Rukism's face went from skepticism to utter disbelief. "William Shepherd? THE William Shepherd? No way! You're friends with him? Even a donkey wouldn't believe that! Wait, I know you. You're the Nobel Prize winner of the 'Lying' field, right?"
Ars grinned. "Nah, you want proof, huh? You're judging me already, huh?"
Rukism snorted. "Judging you? More like analyzing you, kid."
Ars wasn't backing down. "Ask me anything. I'll answer you."
Rukism smirked. "Fine, you're wasting both our time, but let's see if you can actually answer some real questions."
And so, Rukism proceeded to ask a ridiculous number of physics questions. And Ars? He answered every single one of them, without breaking a sweat. It was like he had an entire textbook inside his head.
At one point, Ars turned to the author (who was, for some reason, watching all this unfold). "Hey! Why are you skipping over these question-and-answer bits? The readers would love this! Don't leave them hanging!"
The author, who apparently had zero knowledge of physics, responded. "Look, I don't have to make this chapter long. Just trust me, we're skipping this part."
Ars rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever."
After what felt like hours of intense questioning, Rukism sat back, stunned. "I was completely wrong. You're not just some random student. You're a genius! What's your name, kid?"
Ars puffed out his chest. "Ars Segrain."
Rukism, clearly impressed, said, "So, Mr. Segrain, what field are you choosing for the exam?"
Ars grinned. "Physics."
Rukism nodded approvingly. "Good choice. I'm going with physics too. Anyway, I've got to go. I'll see you tomorrow in the library."
As Ars left, he found himself tempted by the neon lights of a nearby theater. Anime. One last episode wouldn't hurt, right? But then he remembered his promise to himself. "No anime. Not until after the exam."
Just as he was about to break his own vow, the author piped up again: "Those who cannot control their desires will never understand true peace."
Ars groaned. "Are you seriously quoting Pain from Naruto now? Come on, author, get original!"
The author, with a touch of sarcasm, responded: "Well, let's just say I'm preparing for the end of this novel. You're going to fail, after all."
Ars stared at the sky. "We'll see about that."
Next Chapter Tease:
Will Ars stick to his promise and become the genius everyone expects him to be? Or will his anime addiction pull him back into its all-consuming grasp? Stay tuned for the next chapter!