Find It! The Wishes Hidden in Winter #2

Chapter 12: No Regrets. We'll Always Be There.

Kameko had no dream. Not one. For as long as she could remember.

Read. Study. Read. Study. Read. Study.

She reminded herself constantly to keep those two thoughts in check.

Ready. Study. Read. Study.

Without them Kameko had no chance of becoming smart. Of being successful.

Read. Study. Read. Study.

And if she wasn't successful she'd fail. Failure meant to lose.

Read. Study. Read. Study.

And to lose meant she was a loser.

Read. Study. Read. Study.

Kameko was standing

In this world, winning is everything.

Walking along the hallway, in time with the others, passing classroom doors. She couldn't remember their faces. Those who followed her. They were all going to the same location.

To see the recent rankings on the large black bulletin board."Did you hear? That kindergartener received the top scores for the kindergarten and first grade division!"

"Wow really?"

"Apparently the school's considering to let her skip a grade."

"What was her name?"

"If I remember it was Kameko..."

"Ew what a disgusting name."

"I know right? Who names their kid Turtle-Child? That's a disaster waiting to happen. Imagine all the slurs that are going to come out of the jealous kids!"

"She also has a twin sister in the lower division. Emiyo."

"At least that name's slightly prettier. Imagine being called "blessed beautiful generation"?"

"You can definitely tell who was the favorite."

"Yet her grades are mediocre."

"Aren't everybody's at one point?"

"Guess you're right, I hear she made friends."

"Meanwhile we're stuck with this one---"

"Shhhh! She's coming. She'll hear you!"

Kameko walked up with the rest of the children in her class. The adults frantically stepped back, exposing the list for the young ones to see. A gasp of delight disappointment.

At the very top, labeled with a gold star was the name: Kameko Takashimizu.

Soon everyone was staring at her. A few clapped while the others said nothing.

Her first major accomplishment. She opened her lips when----

"You could have cheated your way through. Just saying." An older girl. From first grade.

Most of the children just stared. Kameko puffed her cheeks. "I did not."

"How can we tell for sure? Even the teachers were surprised to see such a score. What's your secret?"

Kameko had no secret.

"Nothing. I'm being honest, there's no way I'd cheat. All I do is study."

She was just being honest. Taught from a young age to say whatever came to her mind from her grandmother.

"All right then, Turtle-Child, amateur cameraman." She went on, adding more unknown names. Kameko didn't know what to say. Her tiny eyebrows were raised in surprise."Why don't you ask them to change your name. More's the pity."