[Welcome to Stellar High, Everest June]
Everest ignored the other voice and revealed a spectacular smile.
"I'll be in your care…"
"You are?"
He looked quite different now, with a tall, lean figure and ivory skin. His jet-black hair was still tied in a loose bun; only, it wasn't messy anymore, and it glistened now.
His deep, hypnotic golden eyes were now more vibrant and seemed to glimmer faintly at times, and his face had returned to its previous ancient, almost doll-like beauty, like that of a prized relic. All of it combined to give him a noble air. He was still wearing the same aged, silky black robe, though granted, it didn't look so worn out after some cleaning and matched his beauty flawlessly.
The interviewer first broke eye contact, faced with his spectacular smile. Then she smiled warmly once again, only this time it seemed forced.
"Sir. Y-you wish to know my name, why?"
Everest chuckled sincerely. Inwardly, though, he was beyond himself with laughter.
Hahahaha
No, seriously… who doesn't ask for names at a first meeting?
I can't. Can't even think of the right words right now.
He remained silent—only trembling subtly at times, suppressing the laughter—so the interviewer hesitated before stuttering.
"I-I can't."
He tilted his head in confusion.
"Why is that?"
She glanced around nervously before whispering.
"They're watching."
Everest surveyed the surroundings incredulously, a light smile playing on his face. Then he looked back at her with infectious doubt.
"Watching? Nobody's watching.
See… no cameras anywhere—"
"Of course!" she interrupted him abruptly.
"Hehe, I was just kidding…
Anyways, I'm sorry, but I can't share my name, Everest June."
As she spoke, her eyes couldn't help but dart around the room.
"N-now, back to the interview…"
Everest nodded obediently.
"Back to the interview."
The interviewer visibly relaxed.
"Ahem… place of birth?"
Everest answered perfunctorily.
"China."
She giggled.
"Should I take it to mean that your talent would be of Chinese nature then?
It's common knowledge that one's homeland plays a major role in the nature of one's talent."
Then she sized him up before adding hesitantly.
"Can… Can we be expecting yet another Superstar from China this generation?"
Everest smiled in response. He remained silent for a while before saying, half speculatively, half smugly,
"Hmmm… unfortunately, I grew up in England."
"Ohh."
Her face flushed in embarrassment before she gathered herself, muttering:
"Sorry, just a bit nervous on my first day. I keep jumping to conclusions."
She sighed.
"Ahem… anyways,
It's for the best that your talent is of English nature, seeing as you're enrolling in England: Stellar High.
It's really nothing to be hung up on, hehe."
She lost herself in a giggle before shuddering and revealing a mortified, apologetic expression as her eyes darted around once more.
"But, why are you here in England?"
Everest returned with a heavy gaze. Then he looked away and said with a sigh,
"Y'know… kids don't exactly have a choice where their parents wish to move to—"
But she interrupted.
"Parents? I thought you only had a dad?"
Everest looked at her casually and said, with a hint of disdain,
"You thought? Well, how about you do your research next time before an interview."
She shifted slightly, then nodded before pausing, shaking her head energetically.
"But that still doesn't explain why you moved to England.
Do you maybe remember the reason why your parents would leave their hometown, at least?
Your father especially, 'The Great Enigma Genesis June,' was an extraordinary man, one who wouldn't make rash decisions."
He answered with a mischievous grin,
"Do I?
Well, to start with, my mum was pretty extraordinary too.
As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure it was her decision."
She nodded perfunctorily and then looked him straight in the eyes.
"Is that why you've been off the radar for so many years?
It goes without saying that you've got a lot of explaining to do, bowing out of the stage like that right after your father's sacrifice."
Everest let out a dry laugh before burying his head in his hands—palming his face—for a minute.
"Mrs. Interviewer,
I am sorry I bowed out at such a critical time, but I have no explaining to do—"
"But—"
"—Because I don't even know what I should say, okay?"
She tilted her head.
"You mean… you're amnesiac?"
He nodded solemnly.
"But I'm back."
She giggled and glanced at him.
"In that case, a change has to be made.
Ahem… Welcome to Stellar High, Esteemed House of June."
He responded with a question.
"Is that all?"
She nodded.
"That is all."
Everest got up impatiently.
"Well then—"
"Wait!"
Panic flushed her face. "I forgot to ask what your talent is?"
He shook his head.
"Don't worry about it."
"Wait—what?"
She was completely flustered and wasn't ready for such a response, but by the time she had gathered herself, Everest June was already shutting the door from the outside.
As she nervously recalled all that had just happened, the door opened once more.
"Oh, right.
Where to next?"
It was Everest June.
She gave him a furtive look.
"First, my opinions…
Hehe, normally you wouldn't get such information until the announcement of the results…"
Everest turned unusually serious.
This is it…
"Everest June, you really are a mysterious one.
You'd no doubt be quite the performer out there, and I can't wait to see your talent.
So, I'm going to keep my eye on you. As for why that matters…"
He held his breath.
"You see, I'm actually the head of the admissions department, but 'HE' specifically sent me here to interview you," she answered indifferently.
Then the corners of her lips curved up as she said,
"Rosa.
Ms. Rosaline is my name."
Everest immediately let out a chuckle.
"Thanks, Rosa."
She nodded, then continued,
"We're all watching, and I know you're not foolish enough to see that as a good thing,
We know how dangerous you Junes are, but we also know how useful you can be."
Finally, she took a deep breath, as if in hesitation.
"You have passed.
Head out down the hall for the next step."
Then, without waiting for his response, she tossed something out to him. Everest caught the item almost reflexively and examined it.
It was a flexible glass card, glowing in a way that made it seem like it was merely a projection, not of this world.
"It's a stellar card.
Many call it a profile, but you're better off viewing it as your worth.
It is a profile, though. On it, you'd find everything we know about you, and everything the viewers know."
And just then, on the card, his eyes caught something. The world slowed down to a crawl,
Ahhhh, I see…
But, even now, do I really see it? I mean, for all I know, I've been blind… I've been blind to all of it.
It's too much, they're too many and I've already said so much.
Ahhhh
What do I do now?
His arms clenched into a fist.
He instinctively raised his head in alarm and immediately made a sharp, furious movement toward Rosa before he restrained himself and fled from the room as fast as he could.
As he ran the same question assaulted him
What do I do now?
On the card were many details, including Everest's name and his measurements, the blank slots for his philosophy and his talent, among others. But what caught his eye was something else.
[VIEWERSHIP COUNT: 1,456,666,419.]