Ashy-note: Luna had always been so apathetic. Think of that before you comment on how everything here sounds so flat, being so bare and having no proper grammatical delivery… it will be weird for you guys, but it's going to be worth it at least. This one's for a change.
You make a penny-sized Alice stone, everyone is amazed. How did you do that, they ask. You say, with a little flare of happiness at being asked, It was easy, you should try it, I'll show you. They crowd around you, gasping, happy, eager to learn, and your heart swells with pride and the joy of imparting knowledge to others. You're nice. You really are.
Or at least, you were.
She screams out, Hey everyone, I made one too. Then she shows all of you an Alice stone the size of a normal rock, and you're instantly forgotten. Everyone flocks to her, and you're left with a lonely stone.
Wow, yours is so much bigger than Luna's, Yuka, how did you make a stone like that.
You fight off the tears in your eyes. That might have been the final straw, no one knows, but it didn't matter either way. You were only hoping, after all. You were only wishing things were different. That somehow you would be more recognized for your efforts. But all were futile. No one stood beside you. Everyone hated you. The few people who were on your side weren't really, if not for some strings you pulled against them to make them go with you instead.
You go to the corner and slowly — almost romantically, lovingly — you sit down, lean your head against your drawn knees, and cry. You do just that; you cry and no one seems to notice. They were still busy learning from her.
All around you the classroom bustles and people murmur but in your head you hear nothing except questions that instead of calming you down only do the job of burying you deeper in your golden misery.
Who was the second man to land on the moon.
Who was your first kiss. Your first boyfriend. Your first best friend.
Who was the first king on Earth.
What was the second spacecraft that reached the moon.
Who was the second oldest man to ever live.
What was the second fastest animal on Earth.
Who got second in the Finals.
Who's second to sweet, lovely Azumi Yuka.
A scowl runs up your throat, turns into a growl of both anger and annoyance, and your eyes move to the far end of the room.
It occurs to you that no one ever really paid attention to anyone other than the first. The truth had been repeatedly shoved into your face countless of times already, always when you were with Yuka. Yuka is so perfect, who's that girl. Did you hear about Azumi's new stunt. Koizumi, who's that.
So it becomes a general rule to you that no matter how good you are, if you come second, you mean nothing. It makes a mark on you, it leaves a permanent impression on your skull.
You decide to dry your tears and you stand up to leave the room, right after Yuka's exit. Second again. Always number two. Always next. Never first.
Everyone groaned when she left, but when you put your hand on the doorknob, their lives go back to normal. Sneering a little you think to yourself, No one cares.
So you walk out of everyone. And then you realize just how much it's true.
No one really cares who comes next.