His deskmate thought the boy was still hung up on the question he shouldn't have gotten wrong, and couldn't help but marvel.
This was probably what people meant by a top student setting impossibly high standards for himself...
His deskmate was amazed and felt completely outclassed.
His deskmate was perceptive enough not to bother him.
He didn't want to walk straight into the line of fire.
His deskmate's opening remark was like a spell that opened Pandora's box.
That year's memories gradually stirred in the boy's mind.
Even though he hadn't meant to, those memories kept growing clearer.
Like a black-and-white reel of film taking on color.
The yellowed tint gradually faded.
Time raced across the images.
But backward.
The colors on the film grew more and more vivid.
As though it were brand new.
The images on the film seemed to come alive.
So lifelike.
So vivid.
The boy: ...
He pressed hard against his temples.
As if he could force those memories back down.
Unfortunately...
He was disappointed.
The dismissal bell rang, and the classroom immediately erupted into a hubbub.
His classmates left in a hurry.
The boy and his deskmate followed the crowd out of school.
Before they parted, his deskmate patted him on the shoulder.
"Top student, don't put too much pressure on yourself."
"You got a perfect score this time. What are you going to do next time?"
"You have to leave yourself some room to improve next time."
"Right?"
Hm?
The boy paused briefly.
Then he realized his deskmate had probably misunderstood something.
He grinned.
"No."
"I was thinking about something else."
"Really?"
His deskmate looked doubtful.
"Really."
The boy chuckled.
"I'm annoyed, sure, but I wouldn't spend all day obsessing over one question."
"Besides..."