Cote: Elite in Action

Kayden -Part 9

—Kayden, can you explain why I have reports from your teachers saying you've been sleeping in all of their classes? —asked Anri, glaring at him.

Anri Teieri, the girl Keisuke had told Takeshi about, was nineteen and lived in a small apartment with Kayden, who was only twelve. Although her expression showed anger, it was clear that she was getting used to situations like this.

—You already know why, Anri. It's so boring to go to class when I know more than the teachers —Kayden complained while still flipping through a One Piece manga. He really liked the theme and was completely immersed in the story.

—Yeah, I know. You're some kind of prodigy who could be president of the world if you wanted to —Anri huffed, crossing her arms—. But I don't care. Remember, I'm in charge of you, and my job is to make sure you at least behave in school.

—It's not like I'm doing anything wrong —Kayden responded without taking his eyes off the manga—. If I already know everything, the teachers could try to ask me a question in class. If I answer correctly, they should let me sleep. It doesn't affect anything, but those guys are stubborn.

Anri sighed, resigned.

—Still, make an effort not to argue with them in class. Teachers also have pride, you know? Even if they make a mistake sometimes, don't embarrass them in front of everyone.

Kayden let out a small laugh, clearly enjoying the situation.

—It's not my fault they make mistakes. At least I pay attention sometimes, right? It's just that every time I do, it's to correct them.

Anri shook her head, biting her lips to contain her frustration.

—You know what? I won't say anything if you get suspended or expelled. It's your problem. You're smart, so you'll figure it out on your own, since you never listen to me.

Kayden just smiled, without taking his eyes off the manga's pages. To him, school was just a boring place full of useless rules, and dealing with Anri when she was mad was just a small price he was willing to pay.

...

School life for Kayden Osawa was, at best, a monotonous routine, and at worst, an endless parade of silent frustration. It was hard to find anything that challenged him or even kept his interest for more than a few minutes. The classes were predictable and repetitive, filled with basic concepts he'd already mastered years ago. Even when he tried to pay attention, he found errors or simplifications that the teachers used to avoid confusing the students, which only made him roll his eyes.

For him, his classmates were like little kids trying to understand the world. Their concerns seemed absurdly insignificant, and their conversations revolved around topics he considered trivial: who had gotten the best grade on the last test, who was dating whom, or what show was popular that week. Sometimes he tried to participate, but his comments were too complex or elaborate, and they ended up causing confused or uncomfortable looks.

Kayden was a prodigy in everything he put his mind to: math, literature, history, martial arts, even music. Playing the piano was his refuge, a way to find peace amidst the everyday chaos. But the problem wasn't the lack of challenges; it was the disconnection he felt with the rest of the world. He lived in a kind of self-imposed intellectual isolation, where no one seemed to understand his perspective, not even the adults who were supposed to guide him.

Sometimes he wondered if it was worth trying to fit into that environment. He knew his teachers resented him for correcting them in front of the class, and although Anri always told him to be more considerate of others' pride, he couldn't help it. Why should he let a mistake slide just to protect the dignity of someone who was supposed to be an academic authority?