Chapter Text
Phainon is a special child, as his mother always reminds him. He was born when the sun was at its highest peak, and his crying changed into laughter the moment his mother held him. From the moment he can stand on his own, it seems to be ingrained in Phainon’s mind that anything can be achieved perfectly as long as he can put his mind on it. But still, he grows up surrounded with his parents' love, his friends’ solidarity and even neighbours’ coddling.
Growing up, Phainon always be the neighbour’s child that everyone wishes their children to be. He’s kind, helping his parents’ work after school while still maintaining his studies, and always ranks first in their hometown’s school.
Aedes Elysiae only has this small school, where elementary and junior high schools exist in the same building because they only have this small batch of students. In Phainon’s class, he only has the same five friends that he keeps seeing from the beginning he enrolls until now. Sometimes, when a new term comes, they don’t have any students because of how sparse their younger population is. Even Cyrene’s class only consists of her alone.
The same friends, the same teacher that has been juggling on several responsibilities, the same building. When a new term comes, he helps the teacher by moving the desks and chairs on the empty class that will house new students. When graduation comes, Phainon helps as a committee to enliven the atmosphere.
He becomes their little celebrity with how many events he fills as emcee. Whenever there’s any agenda or programme, anyone will spot his white hair among the committee. His parents sometimes will also attend as guests to fill the space, even when it’s not his graduation year.
As the last year of his junior high school encroaching ends, Phainon keeps thinking about his future. Is this how his life is going to continue? Phainon really loves his parents, his friends, and his little village, but he doesn’t think it’s enough for him. Their little village is not enough to contain his growing ambition and dream.
But what is his dream? He still has a vague idea either but he wants to help his village to get the recognition they deserve. His charming little village will boom in the future because he will make the place more famous, more popular with a golden view of wheat fields as their landmark!
There is a tiny little wish that he doesn’t dare to voice out lest he will be branded as ungrateful but Phainon yearns to visit big cities like he keeps seeing on television. Or better yet, living in the city. He keeps on wondering, do they live the same as he is in this town? If it’s different, he wants to see with his own eyes. He wants to see how the lights will glimmer as the night falls. He wants to see how far other regions are to his little town. He wants to see what he will become as an adult.
Aside from that, Phainon often daydreams, perhaps, if there’s any new student moving to Aedes Elysiae, will he still feel this way?
So Phainon silently tries to search for places where he can put those wishes and make them into realities. He persistently keeps on searching at public libraries, his school’s clipping, his teachers’ recommendations. When the time after the final exam ends, he breaks his piggy savings and goes to the post office where he sends his applications.
The man behind glass is his former teacher’s husband. As the man sees the address and the quantity application Phainon about to send, he gives the boy a knowing smile. “Youngsters should be brave to pick a lot of options.” The boy doesn't know what to answer but he gives him an enthusiastic nod.
Phainon gets his letter of admission in Chrysos Academy with merit-based scholarship tuition, on one bright autumn day. It is time for harvesting their wheat, everything is so hot and so dry and lots of pollen flying around, it itches his skin and yet he stands dumbly when the mailman, another neighbour of his family, congratulates their parents on their son’s achievement. The other villagers look up from what they’re doing on their field as they try to watch a commotion, and congratulate them after they pass around the information.
Bewildered, his father opens up the envelope and after he finishes reading, instantly his gaze finds his son as his mother snatches it. Her eyes move fast as she reads the content inside, bulging out when she gets to the main part. “Let’s go home first to talk about this.”
The moment the house’s door closes, his mother’s temper erupts. Even Snowy knows this is the moment she springs to action and runs out lest she gets into the crossfire. “Why didn’t you tell us about this?” His mother is still pacing around the house as she tries to digest the information. “Mind sharing us the information, Phainon Khaslana?” At the mention of his birthname, Phainon knows he is in big, big trouble.
He almost never gets out of the conversation unscathed. “You should’ve told us about your wish, son.” His father says after hearing his explanation. His big sigh means that he is saddened because his boy never wants to share about the hardship, only the good news. But Phainon is still young, he still loves tearing up the moment he gets into confrontation, his words choke up the moment he tries to voice out his arguments. He dislikes disappointing his parents.
“I just– don’t know whether I can manage to enroll.” Phainon says between hiccups, and his mother’s anger cooling as she pulls her son into deep embrace. She rhythmically pats his back, the motion takes Phainon back to time where he was younger and liked getting into debates with Cyrene, resulting in him coming home in tears and would forget their little altercation the next day.
“Whether you succeed or not, we just hope you can confide in us of your decision.” Her mother mumbles but Phainon gives more tearworks on her clothes as he hears it. But he nods in acceptance.
Packing up his belongings to bring to Okhema is the hardest part of continuing his journey outside his hometown, it leaves his room devoid of life, together with saying goodbye to the place and people he’s known since all his life. His parents follow him to take care of him for a week before coming back to home in Aedes Elysiae. Hearing about being left alone in the big city gives him a hollow feeling, even when it is his own decision on going to a different place.
But the reward of seeing how big his school is and an even bigger smile his father gives him when they enter his dorm room, Phainon thinks it’s all worth it.
Chrysos Academy is an elite school, consisting of elementary school, junior high school and high school on different grounds, and they give mandatory dorm living for the first year of high school, no exception. The place is so massive, even Phainon gets his own living space for him alone. He is grateful because whenever his parents visit, it means he won’t make it awkward for his roommate.
The distance from Aedes Elysiae to Okhema City covers almost an entire day, because traveling from his home to the nearest airport takes almost 6 hours, and takes another 12 hours with a plane means that he can’t always go home whenever he wants to.
Which means missing the harvest season from now on as he still attends school. Phainon still feels bad about letting his parents go replanting and reaping alone, but his mother just snorts when she hears it.
“You’re saying like we live alone in the middle of nowhere.” Technically, yes, they live in the middle of nowhere, but Phainon knows better than to debate with his mother. “We’re still young, you know?” This time, it’s Phainon’s turn to snort, resulting in him getting smacked by his mother. “Of course we are! We still have several decades ahead of us, enough to live long enough to watch you become grown-up and cover tuition for your children later.”
They arrive Saturday, one day is enough to pack out Phainon’s belongings, air the room and clean up the bathroom. Phainon lets his parents occupy the bed while he sleeps on the blanket-covering floor. Sunday is the time when his mother goes outside to give food they bring to his left and right neighbours, Aedes Elysiae speciality. “The boys are so polite, make sure to befriend them later, okay?” After that they go around the school to see the place where Phainon will now learn, and eat outside.
Okhema is a very high-paced city, as everyone needs to be anywhere and walking slowly means anyone will cast their annoyance gazes towards him, and he gets carried away by human current the moment his hand slips from his parents grasp. It is the wrong time to walk outside because of lunch break. His legs get jittery when they arrive on the station because being smushed against lots of people means he can barely stand on his own feet, only capable of standing uplifted because of the pressure of every side.
Phainon silently vows to diligently drink milk so he can tower over them!
When Monday arrives, Phainon dresses up under his parents’ watch. His parents’ habit to wake up the moment the rooster crow makes him bleary showers. He takes his breakfast from yesterday’s food that only needs heating. He pretends not to see his father tears up as his mother helps him tie his tie windsor knot. His usual choker is hidden beneath his collar uniform. When she finishes, she gives a loud exhale and also gives a big peck on his forehead.
“We’ll still be here after you finish. Learn to your heart's content.” Phainon gives his mother a big hug, and kisses her hand to take the blessing she gives freely. He does the same to his father.
“This is still the first week, perhaps we don’t straight away study.” He gives an explanation as he puts on his shoes that the school gives together with his uniform and books. Phainon wants to use the purple bag that his cousin gives as his graduation gift, and Phainon truly loves the color but he will need to see whether it is alright to use other things which are not from the school.
“Either way, don’t come home too soon. Search for any information the school gives, okay? Listen to what the teacher says.”
Phainon nods in understanding, his parents follow him to the front door. “Okay, Mom. I get it. I’m off then. See you guys later, Mom Dad!” He waves his parents goodbye until he waits in front of the elevator. He is still waving until the moment the elevator door closes.
When he walks around with his parents to survey the school grounds, Phainon doesn’t need to be alert because, well, he is with his parents. Phainon only needs to follow wherever his parents wander. Now when this is his turn to walk alone, there’s always something new to see. The welcome banner in front of the school gate, students that meet up and come together with their friends, the road that is covered in cherry-blossoms petals.
Hustle bustle that comes whenever the new semester starts.
Phainon writes at the back of his head to take his parents after this to commemorate the time he makes it to high school by taking lots of pictures with them. Preferably with the name of his school as the background. And asks one of his friends to help him photoshop Snowy inside, he will miss him dearly.
He takes out his paper to see the classroom that’s assigned for him alongside his seat number. New desks and chairs, classmates that introduce themselves, spring winds that come inside the classroom, all of it makes Phainon’s heart race.
His homeroom teacher, Miss Possephone, tells the class that she used to be a member of an exploration team before her mother begs her to stay where she can see her. “Then I chose to apply as a teacher here as my mother sells her fruits in Marmoreal Market.” She explains, “Perhaps if you guys have time and decide to buy from our store, tell her you are my student, she will give you an extra.” She ends with a wink.
There’s a knock sound on the door reminding Miss Possephone about the school welcoming ceremony. “Oh, it’s time to go to the auditorium. Follow the student council senior outside.” The school council that acts as the guide has a red little flower on their lapel.
The distance they cover to the auditorium is rather far, but the senior graciously explains about many buildings they pass even when many of the students are already familiar since they have already enrolled in the academy from elementary.
Phainon listens up rather seriously, his mouth keeps on repeating the name of the building they pass. There's an indoor gym, indoor swimming pool, two basketball fields that become one with a soccer field, tennis ground… and many more…
Chrysos Academy truly lives up to its name as one of the elite schools in the entire Amphoreus.
In the top of the small hill, near the second entrance is where the auditorium is located. As they come inside, Phainon can see the venue is full because the seats are filled with first-year students along with their placards of the class. His eyes search for ‘Class 1-7’ and they are ushered to sit.
Not long after, the headmaster opens up the welcoming event. Headmistress Janus is her name, the speech she gives is not too long, precise along with some anecdotes. Something about in the full-grown world, everything is about knowing others. She also congratulates new students for passing the rounds of examination in order to get accepted. After that she calls for another name that turns out to be the first rank of the entrance examination.
Phainon tries to make out the face but he can only see green dots of his hair and the uniform he wears. He rubs his eyes to not let them strain. Great. The result of reading under the cover, with only his flashlight, is here. Perhaps there’s a wisdom in his mother’s nagging to not let this become a habit.
The first-rank student, whose full name is Anaxagoras, acts as new students’ representative and gives a student pledge and message to the new students for successfully managing to enroll in the Chrysos Academy. He tells them to enjoy life as high school students but also to not forget the obligation of one, which is to study. With a bored voice and hunched back, Phainon thinks of him giving the vibe of not wanting to stand in front of masses but doesn’t have a choice about it.
Truthfully he is so used to being ranked first so when the headmaster calls for another name than his, it evokes a funny feeling in his chest. Of course, he doesn't get to be the first because when he applies with the merit-based scholarship section he doesn’t need to take the exam, he just sends for his grades to be reviewed and hopes for the best to be accepted. Phainon then makes his new resolve in besting the first rank’s result as he sees the mint-haired boy keep on talking at the podium.
It is customary to wear a full attire of uniform when attending an event as formal as this one. Phainon can make out that Anaxagoras is wearing the winter uniform alongside his blazer. He doesn’t think that the weather is that cold, but perhaps the boy is running on the cold side? He can not focus on the content of Anaxagoras’ speech but he can make out how his green hair compliments the fall of cherry blossoms behind the glass-stained wall, its light glimmering his visage.
Phainon hopes that if he can get his eyesight checked sooner, perhaps he can observe this scenery clearly. The other students beside him are also full of gossiping, not helping the situation where the teacher keeps on glancing at their side. Thankfully, Anaxagoras’ speech is done and soon after, the welcoming ceremony is also over and Phainon along with his classmates return to their class where Miss Possephone is already waiting for them.
“Alright, class,” the teacher says after she sees her students are already back to their own seats. “Since this is the first week, we will start full class next week, BUT–” she makes an exclamation as she sees her students give a celebration, “I was hoping you guys will continue to attend even when we’re not learning yet.”
She then walks to the teacher’s desk and takes out a stack of paper which she shares to the front desks and the students push them to the back. “This is the mandatory club session. Please think this carefully because I will need the other half at the end of this week. Is there any question?”
One of Phainon’s classmates raises her hand and Miss Possephone points to her and nods. “When can we do self-introduction, Miss? I want to know about our classmates!”
“You guys want to do this? Oh, I thought it’s already outdated. But, sure. Tomorrow we can do it. Alongside with our structured class organization, yeah?”
With that the class is dismissed, and Phainon can see the difference of the club interest between his previous school and this one. When he was still a student in Aedes Elysiae the club they had was only a broadcasting club and gardening club. Phainon joined the broadcasting club but the only news they relayed was about the lunch they had that day and what’s the best companion when eating said lunch.
They are rather simple, really, both his previous school and his friends. Phainon always wants to smile when he thinks about them. But he can see the enthusiasm of the seniors to recruit new students in joining their club. Because by the time Phainon gets out from the school grounds, his hands are full with the leaflets about most of the clubs that exist in Chrysos Academy.
Phainon's eyes have been glued to a piece of paper for 15 minutes but his mind has been wiring longer than that. He only needs to pick one from all those stacks of papers and write it down and pass the other half to Miss Possephone. He sighs out loud for the nth time.
“You should pick what you want to do,” his mother suggests when she sees her son is confused about what club to pick. She is now also looking at the leaflets and tidying them up so Phainon can see all the options better.
“Well, that’s the thing. I don’t know what I want to do.” He answers while musing up his hair.
“Perhaps you can see their demonstration tomorrow? Didn’t you say earlier that some of the clubs will do it?” His father now stands up and walks towards where Phainon is seated. He pats at Phainon’s shoulder and takes up a plate of apple that he’s been peeling before Phainon comes back. “Eat while you think.”
Phainon sighs and he takes a bite at the apple slice. Crunchy sounds as he’s munching and he hums. “Well, you may have a point. It tastes good! Try it also, Ma.”
His mom smiles but declines. “It’s for you specially. Come, after you finish, let’s eat outside. After that we’ll go to check your eyesight.”
Tomorrow comes in a blink and Phainon goes to school at the same time as yesterday. His parents don’t believe in the notion of skipping even when the class will start next week. He can miss it if he was sick or incapacitated to move.
For self introduction, first Phainon writes something about him on a piece of paper. It contains his name, his age, and where he’s coming from. He also writes something about Aedes Elysiae and his dog, Snowy to make a good first impression for his classmates.
But by the time Phainon’s turn to do a self introduction, he mostly forgets about what he writes at the paper. But he manages to let out a simple sentence, “Hello, my name is Phainon and I'm from Aedes Elysiae. It is a small village at the south of Amphoreus.” Because his eyes catch the chalk at the end of the teacher’s table, he draws a simple map consisting of a rectangle about the whereabouts of his village.
“If Okhema is in here,” He puts a circle in the upper middle, “Then Aedes Elysiae is in here.” He puts another circle at the very bottom. “Pleased to be acquainted with you guys.”
His friends whisper-talk about how far he comes. Thankfully no one asks Phainon about his motivation for coming to Okhema, or else he will need to bluff a long story and it will turn into his private session retelling 15 years of Phainon’s long life.
“We have someone from somewhere far away. Everyone should help Phainon acclimate here, okay?” Miss Possephone then permits him to go back to his seat.
Everyone claps when his turn is over. Phainon walks back to his seat while smiling to his new friends. When all of his class’ turn is over, many want to exchange with his LINE’s ID, to which Phainon barely remembers how to add friends.
“Phainon, what’s your hobby? Do you like singing? Want to go to karaoke after school?” The person who sits in front of him, Karpos, asks.
“I’ve never been to a karaoke studio, is it okay next week? I still have my parents waiting for me.”
“Alright! No backsies, alright?” And Phainon smiles in answer.
“Hi, Phainon.” Phainon’s deskmate, Hapries, greets him, “You’ve really come a long way. Where have you been these past few days? Have you been to Marmoreal Palace?”
His deskmate turns out kind enough to invite him to watch a demonstration performance that they especially put up for new students in the auditorium. The attendance is not compulsory, but most students will come and join the excitement to see what kind of performance their seniors have produced for them. On the walk there, the conversation is filled with the fun experience they had in middle school. Occasionally, Phainon will inject his own experience here and there.
But how long is the conversation teenage boys have before they are steering into about girls? His new classmates turn out to be rather romantic because they’ve been dating a lot and want to have a new one before the class even starts.
They exchange some advice about what their past girlfriend liked to do, while Phainon only occasionally nods and hums to their talks.
“What about you, Phainon? Did you date lots of girls back home?”
Hearing that, Phainon startles and chuckles. “No, no. Because we have known each other since we were children, we are almost as close as siblings. Not that I have anything against childhood friends. It’s just… you know.” To which his classmates nod, barely understand.
Truthfully, Phainon has always been the short one in their friend group. He used to be pretty chubby as a toddler hence he was always used to being a recipient of being pinched on his cheeks. Cyrene would never stop to the point he shed his tears and ran away in tears. But the next day he would forget and continue to play again with her.
The performance is shown by several from that many clubs in order not to waste much time. They watch the most interesting play by Drama Club about a monster that craves affection from its maker, a song performance with lyrics they made by themselves by Music Band Club, and there’s even an idol-like performance by Dance Club.
They all look so fun. But after watching all of that, Phainon can imagine himself joining and becoming friends with them. And yet he feels there’s something lacking and he can’t quite put a finger on it.
At the end, one of the student committees that acts as the emcee says, they even get to make new clubs as long as the active members are more than five students, which is fair, even if Phainon wants to make new ones, he doesn’t know many students here.
After that, Phainon and his new friends are parting ways because they want to greet their middle school friends, which to be fair is rather rude, but he smiles in agreement. As Phainon walks, his legs are taking him towards the basketball court where many students are playing amongst themselves, and it looks so fun. And seems exhausting as they keep running towards the end while dribbling the ball and run back again when the ball is no longer in their possession.
But looking at their expression every time the ball enters each hoop makes Phainon think, how can they make that face? How much do they trust each other's teammates to keep on playing while maintaining the sportsmanship?
The point in applying to a school far from home is for Phainon to try many experiences he hasn’t tried yet. To go out of his comfort zone.
Phainon takes a deep breath, remembering his mother’s word, that anything is possible as long as he puts his mind on it. Yes, he can do it! He already put down his name and his class, now the only thing he needs is to write down the name of his chosen club.
He writes down ‘Basketball’ on the club section, and writes down ‘because it’s fun’ on the reasoning why he picked on the said club. Now the next thing to do is to give half to the club manager and the other half to his homeroom teacher.
By the time Phainon’s already given his form, he’s greeted by one of his classmates’ faces that also comes from a far place. Castrum Kremnon is one of places Phainon longs to visit, because it is said they worship Nikador as their deity instead of Kephale like in Okhema. In Aedes Elysiae, they have a blessing from Oronyx and still have a festival dedicated to the said deity.
“Phainon, right? I’m Mydeimos. We are in the same class.” Because of his red mark near his left eye which makes Mydei look rather fierce, but the moment Phainon crosses paths with him he finds out the other boy is rather nice.
Phainon holds up one of his hands in greeting. “Yeah, I remember! Are you here to apply to the club too?”
“Yeah, do you finish?”
Phainon nods. “Want me to wait for you?”
“Sure.”
The practice for basketball is three times a week, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. In order to have balanced rest and practice with commendable results, sometimes the coach will arrange them to have friendly matches with other schools in the same city. It is something to dread, Mydei explains, because the coach will determine the starter line up according to the results they do on the matches.
“Have you been playing professionally, Mydei?” Phainon tries to start a conversation. Mydei throws a glance at him, otherwise not commenting on shortening his name. They are now on their way back to report back to Miss Possephone about the club they’ve chosen. To familiarize themselves with the school ground, they both agree to choose the long way.
“Nah, I just play it casually.” The stones beneath their shoes make crunch sounds as they walk past a small garden that harbors a green house. It is a place where the Gardening Club thrives alongside on the school rooftop.
Phainon playfully pokes every leaf they pass by. “But you seem to know much about the game.”
“Well, I was a regular back in middle school.”
Phainon makes a ‘woah’ sound. “What role do you play?”
“Usually as a playmaker.”
“What’s that?”
Mydei gives out a long sigh. “Did you seriously pick a club where you don’t know anything?”
“Well, I know a center. And we can always learn, besides you will help me, right?”
“Who says anything about helping you though?”
Phainon unconsciously lets out a small pout. Acting cute and guileful is already ingrained in his bones to get whatever he wants back in Aedes Elysiae, forgetting that he is no longer at home.
“Alright,” Mydei concedes in defeat, “But I expect you to follow me whenever I go.”
“Understood, Coach!”
Because of this walking they take, Phainon knows that Chrysos Academy has a massive ground for the building and supporting facilities surrounding, but he doesn’t think it will be this big.
As in, why do you mean they need another big court for polo? Phainon only knows the other use for horses besides sportsmanship. Because in Aedes Elysiae, horses are used by other villagers as their livelihood, by taking villagers that want to go to the town to make big purchases with carrying carts, though mostly use donkeys as their main choice.
“Do you play polo, Mydei?”
“Not really, it is more to my mother’s jam.”
Phainon almost blurts out, ‘So you are rich too!’ before holding himself back. Unexpectedly, Mydei tells him about the reason why he moves to Okhema instead continuing his studies back in Castrum Kremnon.
“I moved here because the court has finalized the divorce between my parents. My father keeps harassing my mother for reconciliation even when he’s the one who initiates it. So we moved here, my mother and I, to start over. Also, my horse’s name is called Kokopo the Third.”
Phainon mulls over the best reaction for the news Mydei has gracefully told him. Eventually he settles for, “I would love to see your horse. About pets, I have a dog named Snowy. He is a Samoyed.”
Not long they pass by another big field where the environment is rather serene with big trees and water flowing into small bamboo before its content falls into the pond and repeats the same motion. Then there’s a loud ‘Thwack!’ sound, like something fast is getting lodged on the hard pressed surface. Phainon looks around to find out the source of the sound and finds a boy with mint-colored hair in black and white uniform with a staunch posture, his hands are holding a bow. In front of him lay many round targets made of straws.
When encountering something that makes him happy, Phainon will tell other people about it. Like the saying, one happiness, double happiness when in shared? Something like that, history and language aren’t his best subjects.
“Did you see that? Do you know that person?” Phainon tugs Mydei’s uniform to make the other boy see the same vision as him.
With the way his eyes in need of glasses that will only finish tomorrow is hindering him in looking about how this boy's appearance is. Phainon never thinks of himself as a pompous person but if he hasn’t signed up yet, he will join this club instead.
But thinking about the friends he’s already making, perhaps he will meet him through other methods. Something about many roads lead towards Rome, or something.
Mydei looks around before his eyes focusing on the person Phainon points at, the strawberry blond-haired boy raises one of his eyebrows. “Is it Anaxagoras?”
“You mean the first-rank in the entrance exam?” Phainon’s mouth makes an o shape. This is even better, because besides taking the first ranking, Phainon will also become the best member or even regular in his new club!
“I don’t see it clearly, but based on the colour of his hair, yeah I think so.”
“Do you know him personally, Mydei? Do you think you can introduce us later?”
“Such enthusiasm. I hope you will also have the same enthusiasm when we practice later.”
His first semester is spent with a routine that Phainon meticulously builds. Besides sleeping or studying in class, usually people will find Phainon on the court, learning basketball with exasperated Mydei. By the time Golden week arrives, his parents already leave for home, his friends also leave for home, and Phainon gets to have the entire court by himself.
Phainon wants to brag to Mydei about the hard work he’s been doing on court, perfecting his three-point shots when they play one-on-one together.
“Look at my shots, incredible aren’t they? This is the result of dunking everyday while you gallop with Kokopo the Third.” On the short vacation, Mydei has been sending him images of the famous Kokopo the Third, while his parents send him the daily antics Snowy has been doing.
It makes Phainon homesick but perhaps he can do this as practice when he goes to college later. And all that hard work is paying off because, even if he doesn’t get to play as a regular member of the team, he gets to sit in as a stand-by as a three-pointer.
“All you do is only practicing? What about mid-terms?”
Phainon blanks at the remarks. His hands stop the dribbling while Mydei easily steals it and dunk inside the hoop. “What about mid-terms?”
Mydei wipes his sweat on his face with a wristband on his hand. “It’s only three weeks before exams, HKS.”
“Oh my Kephale!” Phainon gathers his things before running out of court.
“Phainon! Where are you going?!” Their coach yells out when he sees the white-haired boy bolts out in the middle of their training.
“Infirmary, coach! My stomach hurts because of Mydei!” Phainon doesn’t forget to throw the other boy under the bus. Mydei only shrugged his shoulders as explanation.
The weather starts warming up the moment they have mid-terms, the blazer and long-sleeved shirt Phainon always wears is exchanged with short-sleeved uniform. He no longer needs to hide his choker beneath his collar, because evidently no disciplinary committee ever stops him for violating the dress code. So he brazenly shows off his choker.
Because Phainon is one of Basketball Club’s members, the trademark he starts to wear is a wristband. He chooses his favourite colour that wraps his hand, yellow and purple. They say wearing two different colours in one outfit is one of the criteria in becoming stylish, and now he will be!
After the mid-term exam finishes, it will be the time for class-meeting while they are waiting back for the results. Their class representative hopes for all of them to participate in the event that will arrive.
Because of his athleticism, Phainon joins the relay as the first runner and playing basketball. While Mydei joins tennis and basketball with him. This time, he will show the result of intense and gruelling practice he’s been achieving in the club.
Usually it takes three days for his teachers back in Aedes Elysiae to finish reviewing the students’ answers. But here, with lots of students enrolled, they need almost two weeks. The basketball matches start on the first day, and with two of them as basketball members, it is no wonder that their class wins in the first grade.
The relay starts in the second week, and the run is divided into three times for each grade. For the first grade, the event will start at 10 in the morning. At that time the sun has not yet reached its peak and yet the weather is already sweltering with heat.
Many students choose to hide beneath the awning or trees alongside the race track to see the excitement of competition. But it is also not little to see students who choose to watch from their classroom’s windows.
So it is no wonder that one or two students will faint from the heat-stroke. But Phainon will never imagine that one will collapse in the middle of a race. After Phainon finishes his part in the relay, many students exclaim in shock and surround in one portion of the lane.
“Make way! Please, make way!” One of the infirmary students tries to part the commotion and sees the patient. Because of her small stature, she barely inserts herself before getting pushed out again.
Phainon helps her and shoves students beside them to make way for them. “Come! Help the student!”
The pink-haired student checks up the condition of the patient from his head to his veins. She concludes, “He needs to be moved to infirmary before he’s getting worse!”
Phainon nods and gathers the patient into his hands and tries to stand up straight with additional weight on his hands. The patient turns out to be rather skinny and his weight is no more heavy than the sack of potatoes. “Lead the way.”
“Follow me!”
The trip happens in a blur because they race against time. The infirmary is cool yet there’s not many students resting inside. Phainon gently lowers the patient before pulling his shoes off his feet, together with his socks.
“What do I need to do?” Phainon asks the pink-haired student.
“Take the cooling pad on the shelves and put it on his forehead.” She points into the shelves with a mirror and glass near the table. Phainon follows her instructions and tears open the plastic. He takes out the content and removes the film-barrier before sticking the blue side to the patient’s forehead.
“What’s next?” She takes out medicine in one of the metal boxes and puts it near the patient’s bed. She then moves to open up a fridge to take out a bottled-mineral water.
“Now we wait for Anaxa to wake up.” Hearing the name Phainon turns his head so fast his neck almost gets cramped. This is the time when finally he can put a face to the name he’s been hearing since semester starts.
“You mean–? This is the famed Anaxagoras?” Anaxa truly has beautiful mint hair when he’s observed up close. Though now the hair is sticking to his face because of the sweat, Phainon picks a tissue out from a box nearby and wipes it from Anaxa’s red face.
The pink-haired student stifles a laugh. “Yeah, and you are?”
“I’m Phainon from class 1-7. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Hyacine from class 1-4. It’s nice to meet you, Phainon. Thanks a lot for your help.”
Phainon waves his hand, not minding the extra hard work. “It’s fine.” He then stands up from where he’s sitting down on the mattress. “I’ll see you around, Hyacine.”
“Take care, Phainon.” She says when Phainon slides to open up the door.
“You too.”
Phainon misses the moment his class wins the runner up but soon he forgets about this event the moment his all of his subject’s mark being returned. Phainon peeks at the slip of paper that contains all of his marks and sees his rank at the bottom of the paper; 19/389. It’s not bad, but he knows he can do better than this.
Mid-term is yesterday's news and the next time he knows, it’s already time for final exams. That’s what happens when you have too much fun, time passes in a blink. And the next thing Phainon knows, he will be home during the summer holiday!
But first, he needs to pass this first. Because nearing summer, the weather is unpredictable. Sometimes, the morning will be raining and when afternoon arrives, the sun is already above head. The view of students studying in the library is no longer odd, but the request to open the place 24/7 remains rejected.
But what’s more odd is the stress on Mydei’s face. People who don’t know Mydei better might not discern the difference, but not Phainon. He’s already becoming Mydei’s best bro (self-acclaimed). Phainon can see the relief on his best bro’s face when Miss Possephone gives back paper containing all of his subject’s marks. He must’ve gotten great grades.
No matter, because the vacation is here and Phainon will come home! Finally!