Gakuho Asano

Kunugigaoka Academy. Principal's Office.
The clock struck four in the afternoon when the director's office door closed with a soft click. The atmosphere was as immaculate as ever: perfectly arranged bookshelves, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and the enormous window overlooking the campus.
Behind the desk, Asano Gakuhō was leafing through a thick file without looking up.
The silence lasted for several seconds.
Finally, he left the report on the table.
—So... first place in math, science, language, history, languages... practically everything.
Another pause.
—And yet, Class 3-A lost a simple bet against 3-E.
His tone remained serene, but there was an edge that was impossible to ignore.
—Two weeks' vacation on a tropical island. All expenses paid. Lost.
She clasped her hands in front of her face.
—Do you know what the real problem is, Gakushuu?
Her eyes fixed on the boy on the other side of the desk.
—It's not that you lost the prize. It's that you let it happen.
A light knock echoed on the door.
—Director Asano.
-Forward.
Karasuma opened the door just a few centimeters.
—Excuse the interruption. The teachers have already finished checking the final grades.
—Leave them on the table.
Karasuma obeyed, giving the young man a brief look before withdrawing.
Gakuhō took the new report and raised an eyebrow.
-Curious.
He turned a page.
—Your individual results are practically perfect... and yet the collective result was a failure.
He closed the file with a curt sound.
—Explain to me what happened.
Her voice was calm, but the pressure she exerted was enough to make any student feel the weight of the conversation.
Everything fell silent.