"THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

"GETTING A DISGUISE!" Angin screeched, holding a fake moustache to his face. "Do you think he'll recognize us wearing this?"

Api's eye twitched. He was a hair's sliver close to punching him in the face.

"Of course he will, dumbass! What drugs are you on?"

"The only drug I need is you~"

"I'M LEAVING YOU ALONE IN THIS PLACE."

"NOOOOOOOOOOO."

The two idiots proceeded to do whatever dumb thing they could think of. Climbing random trees, trying temporary hair dye (Api's hair turned bright pink) or trying to give themselves a brain freeze by downing ten Slurpies in one go.

They spent most their time in a skater rink, where it was Angin's natural element. Api was there because he was interested, but not talented. Angin held Api's hand every time they got down to the place.

It was a place in the park, where there were curves and smooth holes designed for skaters, whether by rollerblades or skateboards, and even the occasional bike or scooter. There were rarely any children here, and it was vacant because every other teen was in school.

Angin spotted an old tree, and climbed it. His hand gripped the branches with ease, and in no time, he was in the highest spot of the tree, where there was a hole. He reached into it, and fished out a skateboard wrapped in plastic.

He hopped down and unwrapped it, almost too frantic. He revealed a blue skateboard, its yellow wheels faded and worn.

When he turned to Api, the delinquent was already lying on a nearby bench, head resting on the armrest as he played on his console.

Without a word, Angin readied himself on the board, and launched himself down to the rink.

As he rushed down, he felt air rush on his face, the power brushing through the strands of his hair. He was sure to balance his centre of gravity as he moved, rushing through the concrete rink without so much as tumbling over.

He skated in and out with no trouble, as if it was second nature. He was in his element, manoeuvring through the rink like the board was an extension of him.

"Aren't you two supposed to be in school?"

In mid-air, Angin whipped around in shock. He nearly tripped on his feet, but he managed to balance himself and the skateboard so they would land on solid ground.

He looked around him, but he saw no one. There was only an empty skating rink, and Api playing his games on the bench.

"I'm right here." The voice came from the trees. Angin turned to one of the tallest ones, and that's when he saw the coat of black and white. A teen their age was hanging upside down, using nothing but his legs hooked around the branch as support.

Angin blinked. He recognized that uniform. It was someone he saw in school, but only a glimpse.

"Aren't you're an exchange student from Celestium Academy?" Angin called, squinting his eyes from the sun. "What are you doing here?"

As he watched, he saw the elite student perform stunts that were too fast, too flawless to catch by the normal eye. Even Angin had trouble keeping up with his movements.

With a gentle thud, the teen was standing few feet from him, leaves sticking out from his hair. He didn't seem to mind.

"I asked first," he said. His eyes, as bright as they might appear, was cold and calculating. "What's your name?"

Angin bit the insides of his cheek. "Why? So you could go report to Tanah?" He kicked the edge of his skateboard and caught it in air. "And what's your purpose for coming here?"

"I have my reasons," the teen said, barely any emotion in his voice or eyes. His clothes and demeanour were enough to tell them that they are of different worlds, yet they are still human. "Should we exchange? My name's Daun. You can tell him my name for all I care, but all I want to know is yours."

Daun? The name sounded familiar.

Angin didn't have the best memory for names, but it was one name that he could recount with no trouble. Months ago, he'd heard that name. He'd heard crowds chanting that name.

They were all chanting Daun's name. The name of the winner of the global gymnastics last year, and the year before that, and the year before that.

Angin was there himself. He stood by the benches, watching in wonder as the referee put those gold medals around Daun's neck.

"You're Daun?" Angin demanded. "The one that won first place for-"

"And you're Angin, correct?" Daun interrupted him. His eyes weren't as cold as before. He had a faint smile on his lips. "I remember you from last year's competition. I saw your performance."

Angin's eyes widened in shock. Shock wasn't the best word to describe his feelings because there were too many. There were surprised, happiness, confusion, and most of all, admiration. The teen that stood before him was in a league of his own.

"That's me!" Angin grinned. He'd completely forgotten he was skipping school. Excitement ran through his veins. "Why do you remember me? Is it because I'm the most unique?"

Daun's faint smile didn't waver. "No, not because of that," he clarified. "I remember you because your school."

"My school?" Angin asked. "What's this to do with my school?"

"Oh, don't you know? You haven't heard of any rumours, have you." Daun shoved his hands into his pockets. "I remember your school in particular, is because it told me how shitty the tournament system became."

Angin blinked, his smile frozen in place. What? He thought, unable to process his words. This was his idol, slandering the school he was proud of?

"A school that's supposed to be closed years ago but hasn't," Daun continued, his smile still innocent, with no hint of malice. Yet his eyes said otherwise, looking at every fibre of Angin's body, as if it were defective. "I'm truly surprised that they even allowed you to compete. If I were you, I'd transfer. To anywhere but the school you're in."

"Hey!" Api's voice cut through their conversation.

Angin turned around, but he hadn't realized how tense he was. He could barely turn his neck, and he barely noticed the sweat dripping from his cheek.

"What did you say to him?" Api demanded, glare pointed straight at the Celestium student. "You better apologize! He's worked hard everyday to get where he is right now. You have no right to come and slander him!"

Daun shrugged, as if he weren't worth the time. "Worked hard?" he demanded. "By skipping school?"

"You-"

"Why, of course," Daun hummed. "I wonder what Cahaya's thinking. To go back to a friend that's sunken to this level..." His smile turned to a glare. "He's lost his fucking mind."

Daun turned to the Angin. "If I were you, I'd rather kill myself," he snapped. "How can you call yourself a gymnast if you can't even have decent self-discipline?"

"The hell's your deal!?" Api stormed forward, cracking his knuckles, but was stopped by Angin's hand raising in front of him. "Why're you stopping me? Aren't you angry?"

Angin didn't say anything for some moments, his windswept hair hanging loosely by his eyes. Then he looked up, and smiled kindly at the student.

"You're right," he agreed, though his voice was shaking and weak. "I'm not working hard at all. You're absolutely right."

This time, it was Daun's turn to blink in surprise. "Angin-"

"No." Angin held up his hands. "Whatever you're about to say, I know." He looked down. "I know I'm a bad student, skipping school and all that. But please." He looked up again. "Don't look at me as an example for Rintis High."

"Angin," Api growled, glaring at him.

For moments, Daun fell silent too.

It was only when Api began to herd Angin away, was when he finally spoke up. "Wait!" he called, raising an arm out.

Api turned to glare at him, but Angin held him back.

"Yes?" Angin glanced at him. He was smiling, but there were beginnings of tears in his eyes. His nose was red.

Daun grunted, and dug his fingernails into his own palm.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry I said all of that."

He didn't look like he was lying. He looked like he was truly ashamed of what he's done.

"It's alright." Angin nodded. "It's not your fault."

Api tensed when Daun began to walk over, as if he was hiding a knife behind his back. When he was only half a metre away from Angin, Daun held out an empty hand.

"I enjoyed your performance," he confessed. "I was genuinely surprised when you came from Rintis High. I would've thought you came from one of our rival schools."

Angin took his hand, smiling. "Thanks a lot." He held it tight. "I couldn't have found a better school to attend."

They smiled at each other, though it was awkward. Daun was easily taller than both Api and Angin.

Next to them, Api called, "So why are you out here? Skipping school?"

Daun turned to him. There was no hostility between them now. "Ah," he notes, scratching leaves out of his hair. "It's Physical Education. I pretended to be sick from the stench and left early."

"There's PE today?" Api demanded. He held his head in anger. "Damnit! I should've stayed back and pummelled Tanah's face!"

"He'll just punch you into the ground," Angin muttered. "You never land a hit on him anyway."

"Is this karate?" Daun interjected, looking surprised now. "Or taekwondo? Boxing?"

They turned to him. "What? No!" Angin clarified. "Those aren't even school sports!"

Daun didn't smile. "Yes, it is." He frowned. "Is that why I couldn't find any yearbooks related to it?"

"Why were you looking at yearbooks, anyway?" Api crossed his hands behind his head. "Those are just old junk that no one reads."

"I'm just looking at them because Cahaya's obsessed with them." Daun scratched his chin in thought. "He stopped."

Api grunted. "Then why did he stop?"

Daun looked to the ground. His eyes were riddled over with emotions they don't understand.

"Because he found the person he was looking for."