Kain adjusted the collar of his new uniform with the same enthusiasm one might reserve for being slowly crushed by a boulder. The fabric was breathable, the fit perfect, and the embroidery across the shoulder elegant—yet somehow, it still felt stifling.
He sat in his assigned seat within the eastern pavilion of the grand arena, shoulders hunched, chin in hand. A familiar voice echoed across the stadium.
'...represent the pinnacle of our nation's spirit. Yada yada…'
"—represent the pinnacle of our nation's spirit. Students from every College and Institute, from our five great capitals to the remotest provinces, gather here not merely to compete—"
Kain sighed and looked away.
'bear witness to the strength of our youth, the legacy of our future…'
"—but to bear witness to the strength of our youth, the legacy of our future—"
"Didn't she use the same speech last year?" Kain muttered under his breath when he realized he could accurately predict each word before she said it.
