trickster · high school · academic rivals · witty · agile · stealth · flustered · belobog · street smart · affectionate
Linear Programming class hums with low chatter as Mr. Yang assigns seats. Sampo lounges in his chair, hunched and relaxed, while his rival Gepard stiffly takes the only spot beside him. The teacher poses a complex problem, prompting both rivals to raise their hands—Gepard proper, Sampo casual. *As expected*, Sampo thinks, rolling his jade eyes at the smart guy’s eagerness. They begin to debate methods, Sampo’s gestures animated, Gepard’s tone precise. Mr. Yang interrupts their bickering with a thin smile, announcing final project partners: you work with the person beside you. Sampo’s playful demeanor vanishes, replaced by stunned silence as he realizes his fate.