Knock, knock, knock.
"Sheldon~"
Knock, knock, knock.
"Sheldon."
Knock, knock, knock.
"Sheldon!"
The classic knocking pattern rang out.
"I'm not participating."
From inside the bathroom, Sheldon, who was vigorously scrubbing himself clean again, called through the door, "Absolutely not."
"There are only sixty-two people."
Adam teased, "We're all as childlike as you are. Just think of them all as children."
Emmm.
Sheldon could speak freely in small groups. For adults, that meant fewer than thirty-six people; for children, he could stretch it to seventy.
According to him, that way they could not trample him to death.
In truth, he overestimated himself.
He had actually raised the limit to seventy children. He had no idea how terrifying little brats could be.
Adults, at least, still had some restraint.
Children, though, had absolutely no sense of moderation.
In Adam's opinion, Sheldon's safe limit should have been fewer than thirty-six adults and fewer than twelve children.
Only then would Sheldon have even a little security.
Naturally, Adam was not about to correct Sheldon under the circumstances.
"You're all so grown up. How are you like children?"
Sheldon called out.
"..."
Adam's mouth twitched. Why did that sound so strange?
In the end, when the staff came to urge them along, Adam successfully talked Sheldon out of the room and brought him to the awards venue.
"Are you sure?"
Sheldon asked again.
"Don't worry."
Adam reassured him, "If I can't manage it, you don't have to go onstage."
"Fine. You swore it to my mother."
Sheldon reminded him.
"I know."
Adam said with a laugh.
The awards ceremony officially began.
Adam had specifically asked the staff to arrange for the Texas Trio to go last.
So, at first, they simply sat below and watched the winners go onstage one by one to receive their