At dinner that night I sit with Yzak, like I always do. He's been pissed off all day. First Athrun beat him in a fight in advanced battle strategy, then, as if that wasn't enough, Yzak failed miserably in OS programming. He should have asked for help, but being the proud bastard he is, he ignored everyone and as a result messed it all up.
And to top it all off, the instructors showed us our rankings just before dinner. Athrun was at the top, of course, but then the Amalfi kid ended up second. Yzak looked as if he was seriously contemplating strangling him there and then.
"Dammit, Dearka!" Yzak full on stabs the table with his knife. I jump. That's gotta leave a mark. Many of the other people in the room turn around and give us strange looks.
"Yzak, cool it, Ok?"
"That bastard!" I don't think I've ever seen Yzak calm before, but now he's taking 'mad' to a whole new level. "How did he end up ranking second? He's not even good at fighting. He's just a freak who plays the piano!"
"He IS pretty smart, though," I shrug. I don't like Nicol or anything, but I'm not going to deny that he has talent.
Yzak sends me a death glare, before going back to stabbing his food with unsettling viciousness.
"And Athrun. He doesn't even have to try. He will always come first; they have to rank him first. His father is so important, they can't risk offending him."
"Yzak, stop it. You're making a scene."
"It's just so UNFAIR! No matter what I do, Athrun will ALWAYS do better than me. Always."
I start to feel sorry for Yzak. Coming first really means a lot to him. I had managed to place fourth overall. Just under Yzak. I don't mind, really. As long as I'm in the top five or so, I have a guaranteed spot with the Le Creuset team. Although, if Athrun and Nicol ends up being with us, I'm not sure if I'll want to be in it.
"Although Athrun DID defeat you this morning…." I trail off, seeing Yzak's glare.
"Or," I add quickly, "There's always next time."
"Yes, next time." Yzak spits out.
The murderous look Yzak gives me next makes me very glad that I am his friend, and not his enemy. Otherwise I'd want to be in a place very, very far away from here.
"I'll get him next time, that bastard Athrun Zala."