Taiju stared at the textbook, forehead scrunched up like a prune. Senku-who had finished his homework an hour ago and was now pursuing his own projects-could almost hear the gears clunking in the big oaf's head. Striving to churn out an answer, but never meshing properly. Senku counted down silently. If his calculations were right, Taiju would break right about-
"Ugh!" Taiju collapsed on his back in despair. "I can't understand this at all!"
Huh. Two seconds earlier than predicted. This homework must really be giving him trouble. "Tell me the problem, I'll walk you through it." Senku instructed.
"It's not just this problem, Senku! I can't understand anything in school! I try and try, but I just can't get it!" Taiju looked at his friend, lip trembling. "I'm never gonna be smart like you."
The big oaf's pouty expression was so sickeningly endearing that Senku's eyes rolled of their own accord. "It's not a matter of smarts. Anyone can learn anything if they put in enough study and time." Senku swiveled his chair to face Taiju. "That being said, you're not a honey bee, so stop wasting time trying to be one."
Taiju blinked dumbly. "...What do bees have to do with anything?"
"You studied ecosystems yesterday. Remember what you learned, about how different parts of nature connect and affect each other?"
"Yeah." Taiju perked up, glad to have a concept he could grasp. "Plants and animals are like pieces of a puzzle that all fit together to make the planet work!"
"Bees are a super important part of that puzzle. Not only do they make honey and wax-both insanely useful-they also pollinate plants to make them reproduce. Without bees, humans couldn't grow enough food to eat. We'd all starve to death."
Taiju let out a horrified gasp. Senku smirked. "Bees are 10 billion percent needed for the ecosystem. But they're not the only part that's needed. Herbivores like rabbits and deer spread seeds around and fertilize them so they can grow. Carnivores eat the herbivores so they don't populate too much and eat all the plants. Insects get rid of dead matter, which prevents disease and clutter. And birds eat insects so they don't overwhelm us humans."
Senku spread his arms wide, gesturing to the whole world around them. "Every piece of the puzzle is important. If rabbits tried to act like bees, they'd fail and the ecosystem would collapse." He poked Taiju in the chest. "You'll never be as good as me at school stuff, you big oaf. But you don't have to be a scholar to be important. You have your own skills; embrace them and find your place in the ecosystem."
Taiju's eyes, dull with confusion, lit up as he understood his friend's message. He smiled slowly, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. "Thanks, Senku," he sniffled. "That makes me feel better."
Senku hmmed noncommitally in response. He grabbed Taiju's textbook without another word, already plotting a way to get his blockhead friend a passing grade.
"...So if I'm not a honey bee, what am I?"
"It's a metaphor. But with your strength and stamina, I'd say an ox. Actually, a honey bee is fitting too; they've got crazy work ethic.
"Huh? But you said I wasn't-"
"It was a metaphor, you big oaf!"