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Anant's POV

The defeat wasn't just a sting; it was a scar. For the first time in ten years, my throne was gone. I spent every waking hour with a textbook in my hand. I wasn't just studying to pass; I was preparing like hell to reclaim what was mine.

But I wasn't the only one.

In the canteen, while everyone else was gossiping and inhaling samosas, I sat at a corner table with my Advanced Physics notes. I looked up for a split second and saw her. Krithika was a table away, a half-eaten apple in one hand and a highlighter in the other. She didn't even look up.

The next day in sports class, the coach told us to take a free period. Usually, I'd be on the basketball court, but not today, I leaned against the bleachers with my Chemistry module. To my absolute frustration, I looked across the field and saw the "Purple Pataka" sitting under a tree, her nose buried in a Biology journal.

It was becoming a pattern. Each time I reached for a book, she was already reading one. Each time I stayed back in the library, she was in the next aisle. Our classmates were whispering, shocked to see the two topper students in school turning every second of the day into a study session. We weren't just students anymore; we were rivals in a silent, paper-and-ink war.

Manvi's POV

I stood on the edge of the playground, watching Kittu under that tree. I turned to Dhruv, who was leaning against the fence next to me.

"I've never seen Kittu like this," I whispered, genuinely worried. "I mean, she's always been the 'Topper Type,' but this? This is mad. She's obsessed with those ranks and marks. It's like she's forgotten how to breathe."

Dhruv sighed, his eyes fixed on Anant, who was aggressively flipping pages on the bleachers. "Anant has always been competitive, but this version is new for me, too. He's usually effortless. Now, he looks like he's preparing for a literal battle. They're feeding off each other's stubbornness."

"It's scary," I muttered. "It's like the 'Peace' and the 'Titan' have both decided to become machines."

Krithika's POV

The morning assembly was usually a time for reflection, but as the prayer echoed through the hall, I noticed a movement to my right. Anant had a small, pocket-sized formula book hidden behind the person in front of him.

My competitive streak flared instantly. If he was gaining five minutes of study time, I couldn't afford to lose them. I reached into my blazer pocket, pulled out my condensed notes, and started reciting organic reactions under my breath.

We had become total bookworms. The canteen, the hallways, even the prayer hall-nowhere was safe from our rivalry. Finally, the next semester results were posted. My heart hammered against my ribs as I pushed through the crowd.

1. Krithika Gupta - 99.4% 1. Anant Mishra - 99.4%

A tie. Exactly equal. Neither of us stood out. I turned to see Anant standing right behind me. For the first time, we didn't argue. We just stared at the board in a stunned, exhausted silence. The war wasn't over; it had just reached a stalemate.

Dhruv's POV

Later that evening at the gym, the atmosphere was much quieter, but my mind was still on the tie. I walked toward the kitchen area to check on Manvi. She was distracted,probably dwelled in some thought and was chopping carrots with a bit too much speed.

"Manvi, slow down-"

"Ow!"

The knife slipped. I was at her side in a heartbeat, grabbing her hand. Blood was blooming from a small cut on her finger. A surge of protectiveness, sharper than I expected, hit me.

"Dhayan kaha hai tumhara?" (Where is your focus?) I yelled, my voice louder and harsher than usual. "You could have really hurt yourself!"

Manvi looked up at me, her eyes wide and startled. This version of me-the one who wasn't calm and composed-was clearly new to her. I didn't care. I dragged her to the first aid kit, my heart racing.

I sat her down on a stool and began cleaning the cut with antiseptic. I was incredibly focused, my fingers trembling slightly as I wrapped a bandage around her finger. When I finished, I didn't let go of her hand. I looked up, and the air between us suddenly felt heavy.

She was staring at me, her breath hitching. The gym noise faded away, leaving just the sound of our breathing. For a long moment, the world stopped spinning.

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