It was a calm Sunday afternoon when the Bad Touch Trio—Francis, Antonio, and Gilbert—decided to pay a visit to Arthur. They had something on their minds, a "test" that all countries were required to take each year—a sort of international check-up on political and economic performance, as well as a measure of social progress. It was a routine that every nation had to go through, but for some reason, the results for Arthur were a bit more personal this year.
The trio had spent most of the day teasing Arthur, as they usually did, but there was an underlying tension. Arthur was known for his competitiveness, his desire to maintain a certain standard, especially when it came to tests and challenges. The trio had been debating among themselves, but now, it was time to discuss the results with him.
Arthur sat in his cozy study, his spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose as he pored over documents and paperwork. The fireplace crackled softly in the background, adding a sense of warmth to the otherwise quiet room. As the trio entered, they couldn't help but notice that Arthur's usual brisk demeanor seemed a bit more subdued than usual.
"Arthur, mate," Gilbert grinned, leaning against the doorframe, "Ready to hear the results of this year's test?"
Arthur's eyes flicked up from the papers, his sharp gaze settling on Gilbert. He straightened up, brushing a lock of his blond hair from his face. "It's just a test, Gilbert. Nothing to be worried about. Let's get it over with."
Antonio and Francis exchanged amused glances, both having been used to Arthur's pride and stubbornness. He always downplayed things, but they could tell he was somewhat on edge today.
"Well, we all know you're going to get an A+," Francis said with a teasing smile, sliding into one of the chairs by the fireplace. "It's just a matter of whether or not you're pleased with the results."
Arthur let out a huff, shaking his head slightly. "I don't care about your teasing. I care about doing things properly."
As the trio gathered around the table, they unfolded the results. They could see Arthur's brows furrow as he scanned over the documents. The test scores weren't terrible—nothing earth-shattering—but there was one mark that stood out. A small blemish. A single mark that fell short of the highest possible score.
It wasn't even a failure. It was simply a note that Arthur had missed a small detail in his response. For most, it wouldn't have been a big deal, but Arthur's perfectionist nature made it feel like a crushing blow. He frowned deeply, staring at the paper for a moment before setting it down.
"I—I got an A," Arthur said, his voice tight. "But I missed something."
"Just one tiny thing, though," Antonio offered, trying to lighten the mood. "I mean, who's going to notice that? An A is an A."
But Arthur's eyes remained fixed on the paper, his fingers trembling slightly. His mind was already spiraling.
"No," he said softly, his voice shaky. "It's not good enough. I should have gotten an A+."
The trio exchanged concerned glances. Arthur had always been competitive, but there was something different in the air today. They could see his frustration building, his anxiety rising, and it worried them. They didn't know why a small mistake like this was affecting him so much, but it was clear that something deeper was going on.
Arthur's breathing started to quicken, his hands now gripping the armrests of his chair. The Bad Touch Trio, still trying to understand what was happening, stood in silence. It wasn't like Arthur to react this way. He was stubborn, yes, but he was also strong. So why did something as simple as an academic test cause such an intense reaction?
