''Name?''. A man asks.
''Togata Toriyama, sir''. Togata replies.
''Gender''. The man asks.
''Uhh Male??''. Togata replies. ''Is this man daft?''. Tick asks irritated.
''And Age?''. The man asks.
''8 Years old sir''. Togata replies with a smile.
''Well Togata you're all signed up, Goodluck''. The man says. ''Thank you sir
''He doesn't need it!''. Tick says with pride. ''C'mon Tick nothing wrong with a little luck''. Togata chuckles with a smile. ''Please spare me young one, Luck is where the underprepared meet the Inexperienced and I've raised you to be none of those now have I?''. Tick says with pride.
''Yeah, yeah''. Togata replies rolling his eyes. ''Keep your wits about you boy, this is your only chance, win this and gain the scholarship, then phase 2 begins, we've prepared for this!''. Tick reminds.
''Chest up, back straight''. Tick says as he is cut off by Togata. ''Keep your poise, be a gentleman''. Togata says finishing his sentence. ''Hmmph! Don't forget your humility boy''. Tick teases. ''How can I when you're in my head?''. Togata replies.
''Well then since you're soo independent you'll be on your own for this one''. Tick says offended by Togata's comment. Togata laughs. ''Of course I am there's no way I'm cheating, It's not gentlemanly or is it?''. Togata replies faking a British accent. ''Not at all, although I don't like your tone, don't mock me boy''.
''Enter the hall this way''. Tick says. ''Hope you're not leading me the wrong way?''. Togata asks. ''Well, since you couldn't be bothered to memorize the hall's layout you'll have to rely on me then won't you?''. Tick scoffs. ''uhh huh''. Togata replies.
''Wait that's the kid!!''. A man says. ''They say he's only 8 years old!''. A woman replies. Gossip and stares fill the hall as Togata walks to the participants area. ''Humility!! Wave, and smile boy''. Tick says. ''I am..''. Togata replies trying to focus and talk to Tick at the same time. ''Here we are take a seat''. Tick says.
Togata sits down with other participants. ''Steady yourself now, breathe..'' Tick says. Togata takes a breath feeling just a bit nervous.
''If you're nervous then none of us stand a chance''. A girl to his side jokes, although her face seems more worried than relaxed. Togata notices she's tapping her leg alot. He holds it down. ''Don't worry, If everyone's nervous then everyone stands a chance don't they?''. Togata asks smiling. ''Yeah.. I guess so''. The girl replies smiling, she stops tapping her leg.
''Participants come to the stage!''. A voice says as people clap and cheer the contestants on. Togata gets up. ''Shall we?''. Togata asks as he raises her a hand. ''Yeah.. thanks''. The girl says grabbing Togata's hand.
''How were my manners?''. Togata asks. ''80 points for chivalry and minus 60 points for being smug''. Tick replies. ''uh huh''. Togata says smiling.
''Here we go, this is how it will work, There are 20 contestants picked from across the continent and 2 rounds. First round. Fastest Finger First, then a difficult questions round, get a question right, win a point, there are 100 questions per round''. An announcer says. ''Ready?? Go!! ''What is 569x1230''? An announcer asks.
Togata buzzes almost immediately. ''699 870''. Togata replies. ''1 Point Togata Toriyama!'', The crowd cheers. Togata answers question after question.
''At the end of the round, in first place Togata Toriyama!''. The announcer says as people cheer loudly. ''That's it Togata!''. Sister Iris screams from the crowd. ''Sister compose yourself''. Sister Sumire says.
''In second Amy Loosehill''. The announcer says as he continues saying the rankings. Togata exhales deeply then looks to his left. ''Hmm didn't think she had it in her?''. Togata says. ''Well maybe you gave her too much of a confidence boost?''. Tick replies as they both look over to see it's the girl with the jitters they saw earlier.
''Round 2, Difficult questions! There is a screen in front of you, do your working and right down the answer then send it to be Insta-marked most questions answered correctly wins this round''. The announcer says.
''Ready, set, Go! Tom's calculator doesn't have working cos and tan keys, help him find the answer to Tan 30 without using a calculator yourself!''. The announcer says.
''Tom...''. Togata says smiling getting distracted for just a moment. Suddenly just as he is about to send the answer. Amy answer it first. ''Correct Amy Loosehill!''. The announcer says as the crowd cheers. ''Togata focus! You must not get distracted!''. Tick warns.
''I did just for a second!? Maybe Fastest Finger First wasn't her strong suit and this is''. Togata says worried. ''Then focus!!''. Tick says.
''Question 2!''. The announcer says.
Question after question Amy closes the gap, causing Togata to get more and more nervous, until eventually they are tied with one question left.
''Togata focus!''. Tick shouts. ''I'm trying!''. Togata replies worried.
''Last Question! A jet arrives at it's location in 20 minutes, it travelled a distance of 300 km and took 2 stops each lasting 4 seconds calculate it's speed In meters per second, ignoring air friction and acceleration time! round to 1 decimal place''. The announcer says.
''Finally! a question in your favor! you've studied this Togata!''. Tick says. ''Yeah, yeah I have'', Togata replies but finds himself looking at Amy's Tablet. And everything seems to slow down.
''No! She's faster at writing! She's ahead of me, by a single calculation! She'll send the answer first, I'm gonna lose...''. Togata says to himself.
''251.7 m.s-1 Togata!!''. Tick shouts! Togata quickly writes the answer and sends it just before Amy. ''Togata Toriyama wins with 81 points!''. The announcer shouts. As the crowd cheers. Amy facepalms into the desk.
Togata pants as the announcer rushes over to give him the trophy and the scholarship ticket, but he doesn't smile as they take a picture. ''I cheated..''. He says to himself.
After the event Togata meets with the vice chancellor of the prestigious High school he wants to go to. ''Congrats Togata, although you're notorious for skipping multiple grades and I know you won't be with us for as long as we would like. It would be an honor for you to finish your education at our school, we'll prepare someone to come pick up your things whenever you wish in case you want to say goodbye to your friends back at the orphanage''. The chancellor says. ''No... I'll go later today, 6 pm sharp don't be late''. Togata says with a deadpan.
The chancellor is shocked. ''Well nothing wrong with being ambitious''. He smiles. ''See you then''. He says.
After Togata goes and sits outside everyone leaving the event congratulates him. ''I'm a cheat Tick''. Togata says. ''Togata listen to me''. Tick says. ''No! I didn't win this fairly, that isn't gentlemanly''. Togata says still holding the big trophy. ''Sometimes you have to do things that aren't so gentlemanly in order to achieve your goals, you must know that by now''. Tick replies.
Togata sighs. ''Yeah..''. He says. He looks over at Amy as she rests on the porch crying. ''But I have to set things straight''. Togata says as he walks up to her.
''Hey... Amy was it?''. Togata asks. ''Hey.. Congrats, you won fair and square, you're the better mathlete, you deserve it''. She says wiping tears from her eyes. ''Yeah..''. Togata says guilty. ''I'm sorry''. Togata says. ''Don't be, you won, your better and you deserve it''. She replies. Togata sits next to her. ''Don't beat yourself up, ... I really needed that scholarship, but this trophy means nothing to me, If I could I would let someone else win to be honest''. Togata sighs.
''Here take it''. Togata says handing it to her. ''No it's yours....''. Amy replies. Togata scoffs. ''It was so close anyone could have one, I didn't really win, lets just say it was.. luck.''. Togata replies. ''I insist, it will offend me as a gentleman if you don't''. Togata says smiling.
Amy laughs and takes it. ''Thanks.. Togata''. She says. ''No worries''. He replies. ''Make sure to hang it up where everyone can see. Togata says. ''I need to go now though bye''. Togata continues as he leaves.
Amy watches him as he disappears into the crowd.
''Well we missed our car, wanna fly Tick?''. Tick and Togata go to a obscure place and then Tick enters Togata's body allowing Togata to fly.
''That was very nice of you''. Tick says. ''Yeah it was the least I could do, I stole this from her''. Togata replies.
Everything goes silent for a minute. ''Tick?''. Togata says. ''Yes Togata?''. Tick replies. ''I know this isn't part of the plan, but I know I'm going to have to do some not so nice things to reach my goal, can we just promise we'll do everything to pay everyone back when we're done?''. Togata asks.
''As you wish''. Tick replies. ''And a little extra to compensate''. Togata says smiling. ''Of course, how gentlemanly of you''. Tick replies.
The 2 land and Togata walks Towards the orphanage where the car was already waiting for him. ''Togata! He's here''. A boy says. ''Hey''. Togata smiles as the boy and other new kids in the orphanage run up to him. ''Togata where were you we were worried''. Sister Iris asks. ''Sorry miss Iris, I just needed to do something and.. Think''. Togata replies.
''Well it's not unlike you, since you were a child you locked yourself up in your room''. Sister Sumire says. ''haha''. Togata replies sarcastically. ''When he was a child? To me he still is''. Sister Iris says coming over to hug him.
''But I must admit, even so young you're so grown up now''. Sister Iris continues. ''Too tight''. Togata says. ''Oh sorry, I'm just emotional''. Sister Iris says.
''We took the liberty of packing you're things, you never had much''. Sister Sumire says handing Togata his bag and hugging him.
''Don't Forget about us so soon now''. She says wiping tears from her eyes. ''I'll visit anytime I can I promise''. Togata replies.
''I know you're not one for these sappy shows of emotion but can you give me a hug? It's ok if you don't want...'' Sister Iris says as she's cut off by Togata rushing in to hug her''. ''You'll see me sooner than you think''. Togata says.
''Bye everyone''. Togata continues.
Everyone waves him off as he gets into the black SUV that came to pick him. Togata waves back.
''Next up AstroNova school Of Science and Technology''. The driver says.
''Yep''. Togata replies resting his head on the window as he watches the night sky''.
''Are you ready for phase 2 Togata?''. Tick asks.
''Never been more ready''. Togata replies as he adjusts his glasses, the crack on the lens gleaming in the lights of the night sky.