1:00 P.M. - The Finals
The air inside the gym had changed again.
By noon, the corridors were nearly empty, the echo of footsteps fading beneath the rasing hum of the crowd gathering for one last showdown.
Above the main stage in the waiting area, the digital board glowed in bright red letters:
Final Round - Freshman Academic Competition.
Only two groups remained.
Group 1 - Ezra Miller
Group 3 - Emilia Stevens
As the two groups entered Room 1 in the gym, the cheers surged like a wave before settling into a low steady roar.
At the front stood Levi Pattison, the Student Council Tresurer and sophomore coordinator.
He lifted the microphone, his tone calm but charged with anticipation. "Final match," he announced. "Ten rounds. Two groups. One champion. Let's begin."
Round 1
"Ezra Miller," Tresurer Pattison called holding the draw box. "Please draw the first subject."
Ezra Miller reached in and unfolded the slip with measured calm: "Mathematics"
Questions fired rapidly. Buzzers clicked in quick rhythm- both sides sharp, confident. But Ezra Miller's group was quicker- every question answered within seconds.
Group 1 leads 1–0.
Round 2
Emilia stepped forward next and drew a slip: "English Literature."
Westions came in a steady flow. Emilia's group moved in rhythm, voices precise and calm, answering before Ezra Miller's group could even react. Their timing was flawless.
Groups Tied 1–1.
Round 3
Ezra Miller stepped forward again, drew a slip and read aloud: "Physics."
The questions hit fast and heavy. For the most of the round, it was neck to neck- untill Emilia's group stumbled on a tricky question near the end. Ezra Miller's group seized the momentum in claiming the round.
Group 1 leads 2–1.
Round 4
Emilia stepped up, unfolding the slip, and scanned the word before reading it aloud: "Geography."
The questions came quickly. This time Emilia's group worked in perfect sync, confidence rasing with each answer landing like a drumbeat.
Groups Tied 2–2.
Round 5
Ezra Miller reached in and unfolding the slip: "Current Affairs."
Questions came one after another rapidly. Both groups pressed hard, but Ezra Miller's group edged ahead by answering the final question correctly.
Group 1 leads 3–2.
Round 6
Emilia's voice was steady as she drew a slip and announced the subject: "Reasoning"
The frst question flashed onscreen- hesitation from both sides. Then Emilia's teammate buzzed first, answering correctly. The rest of the round followed in smooth rhythm- steady, confident, precise resulting in Emilia's group claiming the round.
Groups Tied 3–3.
Round 7 - Essay Round
Tresurer Pattison placed a box of Essay topics on the table. "Ezra Miller, please draw a topic."
Ezra Miller reached in, drew a topic, and read aloud: "What Defines Leadership?"
Both groups chose their writers. Ten minutes. The only sound- the scratch of pens and the hum of the ticking clock.
When scores appeared, the screen flashed the result: Emilia's group had edged ahead by one point.
Group 3 leads 4–3.
Round 8 - Speech Round
Tresurer Pattison set down the box of Speech topics. "Emilly Stevens, please draw a topic."
Emilia stepped forward and drew a topic: "The Power of Education in Shaping the Future."
Ezra Miller volunteered himself to speak. Emilia faced him - calm, collected.
Ezra Miller spoke first- steady, deliberate, building momentum. Emilia followed- passionate and eloquent, her voice carrying warmth and conviction.
When the scores came through, it was almost even- almost. Ezra Miller's delivery earned the higher mark.
Groups tied 4–4.
Round 9 - Word Guessing
The tension was unbearable now. Tresurer Pattison placed the final category box of Word Guessing topics on the table. "Ezra Miller, please draw a topic."
Ezra Miller stepped forward again, drawing a topic: "Technology."
Both group's assigned members leaned forward, hands over the buzzers. Ten questions, ten clues- each hint sharper than the last. In the final seconds, the assigned members of Ezra Miller's group struck fast, taking the round.
Group 1 leads 5–4.
Round 10 - Teacher Round
Every voice fell silent. Even the air felt still. Tresurer Pattison set down the box on the table. "Final Round - Teacher Round. Emilia Stevens, please draw the subject."
Emilia reached in, unfolded the slip: "World Politics."
Five questions. Each more brutal than the last.
Question 1 - Emilia's group answered.
Question 2 — Ezra Miller's group answered.
Question 3 — Emilia's group struck back.
Question 4 — Ezra Miller's group evened it.
Question 5 — the final question, Ezra Miller's teammate flashed the buzzer and answered correctly.
The scoreboard blinked once. Then twice.
Final Score: Group 1 – 6 Group 3 – 4
The room erupted. Cheers, applause, disbelief.
Emilia exhaled, a soft smile breaking through the tension. Ezra Miller stepped forward and extended his hand.
"That was closer than I expected," he said quietly.
Emilia shook his hand, her tone calm. "You earned it."
As ljghts brightened, Tresurer Pattison announced in the microphone. "Congratulations—our Freshman Academic Competition Champions: Group 1, led by Ezra Miller!"
The crowd roared. Both groups stepped into the waiting area- Ezra's group glowing with pride and exhaustion. Emilia's group standing tall, applauding with quiet dignity.
At 4:00 P.M., in the assembly hall. The cheers still echoed long after the final score faded from the screen.
The assembly hall's bright lights shimmered against silver and blue banners draped across the walls. Laughter and relief blended into one unified sound of celebration.
At the center of the stage, Student Council President Simmons took the microphone once more. Her voice rose above the noise, steady and proud.
"Let's give one final round of applause," she began, "for every freshman who competed this three days. For every group that gave everything they had- this year has been one of the strongest competitions we've seen in years."
The applause swelled again. Even the coordinators at the back clapped, smiling, shaking their heads at the intensity of it all.
Present Simmons continued, glancing toward the two groups standing at the front.
"In second place - Droup 3, led by Emilia Stevens."
A spotlight swept over Emilia's group. They stepped forward, composed but smiling. The audience erupted again, chanting Emilia's name in rhythm. She bowed slightly, her grin modest but proud as she accepted the silver medal from President Simmons.
"And now," Simmons continued, her tone lifting, "the 2028 Freshman Academic Competition Champions- Group 1, led by Ezra Miller!"
Thunderous applause followed. Exra's teammates jumped, cheered, hugged each other. President Simmons handed them the golden trophy- a polished silver orb mounted on a black base, engraved with the words 'Freshman Academic Competitions - 2028.'
Ezra Miller accepted it with both hands, staring for a moment at itdyreflection before lifting it high. The crowd erupted again,
Across the stage, Emilia clapped too- her expression calm, proud, sincere. When Ezra Miller's eyes met hers, he lowered the trophy slightly and gave her a quiet nod of acknowledgment - one champion to another.
Present Simmons stepped forward again, smiling. "This competition exits to bring you closer- not just through skill, but through character. Today, you've all proven that teamwork, determination, and respect define true victory."
She turned to both groups. "You've made your classes proud."
Aplause thundered once again as music began to play from the speakers- a soft orchestral theme filled the hall. Coordinators gathered both groups for photos while cameras flashes lit the stage.
Outside, sunlight spilled across the courtyard where banners fluttered in the autumn breeze. Students lingered in clusters, talking, laughing, replaying every close call and every point won.
As the crowd thinned, Emilia and Ezra Miller met once more by the doorway.
"Let's make this a great freshman year," Emilia said lightly.
Ezra chuckled quietly. "Yeah- let's make it a fun and competitive one."
They shook hands- firm, steady- a handshake that carried both respect and promise.
Behind them, the Student Council members began lowering the banners. The competition was officially over.
But in the echoes of that final applause, something lingered- not just victory or defeat, but the beginning of something greater.
Something that would last long after the trophies were been put away.