I’m gonna win this fair

The young inventor and his teacher finally arrived at the science fair. After a short walk through the building where over 2000 inventors were congregated, they arrived at their assigned spot.

"This is our table, Mi-kun. We still have an hour before the fair starts. While I'm preparing our table for the contest, how about you take a walk around and familiarize yourself with the atmosphere."

"Sure, master." He said sleepily.

The master needed calm to properly set up the display of Ano’s invention. If his young disciple remained nearby, it wouldn’t be possible for him to do what he wanted. Fortunately, the young boy was asleep and went into a state of submission to anything his teacher said.

Ano took a walk around the vicinity of the fair. There were people from all walks of life. People wearing ripped and filthy clothes; people with bionic modifications on their bodies... Even people of different ages. There were jealous old people who did not let anyone see their creations before the fair started, and children with small devices made out of plastic and wooden sticks.

This was a place for technology companies to find the new technological revolution that would change the world for the better. After a while of looking around, the boy realized that all those inventions lacked a social good. He could only see the individual ambitions of their creators.

****

The fair began an hour later. The judges began to evaluate the various creations of the participants. Different groups of judges from different companies were looking at the devices shown there. It was not a contest that had a single winner though.

The goal of the whole thing was to hire people who were really valuable to society. Ano was relatively calm. He knew he would get the attention of Asu Industries. He had everything planned for when the evaluators from the company he hated arrived.

"ANOOOOO-KUUUUUNN!!!! HELLOOOOOO!!!!"

A girl greeted the young boy from the distance as she ran towards him, waving both arms.

"My, but it is indeed the famous leader of The Northern Stars. Are there any miscreants around the fair?" Said her young friend.

The school Hana attended used to take those who showed great intelligence to such events. Despite having returned to school only 2 weeks ago, Hana proved she had great intellect and a great ability to learn.

"No. Everything is under control." She said superiorly. "I've come to help you win, Ano-kun! I think your project still needs the help of someone talented like me to win the contest. Tell me, is Z20-kun ready? Were you able to get him to move?"

"Z20, run the play routine."

The metallic dog jumped off the table and started barking and chasing Hana, who started running with a smile on her lips.

"Hahahahaha. Awesome Ano-kun, you got it to move!"

While Hana was playing with Z20, Master Akira told him about a rumor he heard a moment ago.

"Ano, I've heard that Yu Asu himself is appraising the projects. Are you sure it's okay for you to let your project run free out there?"

"Don't worry da... master. Those are rumors. Yu Asu would never come here. A rich guy like him would send his henchmen to steal the ideas of young inventors like me. After all, he has already stolen my sui..."

As Ano said these words, an extremely well-dressed person stood in front of the young inventor's table. He wore a tailored black suit, adorned with a golden brooch in the shape of a bee, the symbol of Asu Industries. His gold-embossed branded glasses glittered in the light of the room. His pearl-colored tie, made of the finest expensive silk and his shoes so polished they looked like mirrors, dazzled Ano.

"I'm afraid you have the wrong idea about me. Hello. Mi Ano from what I see." Said the well-dressed guy with a gaze so piercing it could chill the blood.

Ano shuddered, got up from the chair, and with a terrified expression, stood in a defensive stance while not taking his eyes off the young genius billionaire. That's right, Yu Asu appeared in front of him. Yu watched the boy's reaction and continued.

"Don't be afraid; I've heard worse comments from people I thought were my friends. So, what's your project? Is it some kind of cloaking technology? I see your table is eerily empty."

Ano, without a second thought, moved the device on his wrist closer to his mouth. "Z20, execute routine of attac... Z20, return to the alpha point."

The dog stopped playing and returned to the young inventor's station. With a leap, the automaton jumped up onto the table and sat down across from Yu.

"So, explain to me what your automaton does." His gaze remained just as penetrating throughout the conversation.

"It's a bomb-sniffing dog. It can detect explosive material within a 20-kilometer radius. It's also capable of constantly tracking their movement. Using his integrated virtual map and his radar, you can see how many people in this fair are handling explosive materials in their experiments."

Thanks to the tools Z20 has, it was easy to demonstrate its operation. Unfortunately, this didn't attract the attention of Yu.

"It's an interesting device. But I've seen better ideas around here. Maybe with a couple more years of development, you can work for us in internships." The billionaire stated coldly.

Yu turned away. He was ready to leave and get on with seeing some worthwhile inventions. Ano shuddered again. He had to stop Yu from leaving in any way he could.

I can't let this opportunity slip away. I have to give up my pride right now and do what I have to do.

"Wait, Mr. Yu, I have one more thing to show you."

Yu stopped, and without a word, turned around, walked over, and stared at the young inventor without saying a word.

The young boy was petrified; it was not the reaction he expected. He hesitated for a second before resorting to the plan B he had prepared in case his invention failed.

"I'm a big fan of yours! I saw you on TV the other day and I was in awe with your idea of your battlesuit. So I've made my own version of what I think would be cool to add to your suit." Damn...how humiliating.

Ano handed him the sketches and notes about the B.U.T.H.O he had edited two days ago; 

With this, I'm sure I'll catch his attention and I'll make my way into his company!! He will be surprised at how well I had came up with the workings of such a complex suit in a matter of a few days.

Yu grabbed the papers handled by Ano and began reading at a staggering speed.

"Interesting..." Yu proclaimed.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEH? Can you read the handwriting of this imp?" Master Akira said in amazement.

"Young man... no, Ano-kun. Give me your Net Share information."

Young Ano held out his arm to have his information stored in his Net Share chip scanned. This chip is a device that every inhabitant has installed in their forearm. Those with cybernetic implants in their arms had the chip repositioned in their brains. It was common knowledge that the chip was a spying tool, but removing it would lead to a punishment no one would desire. However, there were other ways to avoid being spied on even with the chip in your body.

"You are a candidate to work with us. For the time being, take your notes. Keep them and don't let anyone else see them. If it turns out that we end up reaching you, bring them to our company."

Yu knew he couldn't take some amateur’s notes with him. But he also knew that this wasn't the work of an amateur. He weighed two options; the most logical one was to think that the young inventor had been working on that project for years; the other, that it was pure luck. His bomb-sniffing dog invention was not something a professional would do, but that suit was different. As Yu debated with himself which reason made the most sense, he turned to leave, and then there was a scream.

"KYAAAAAAA!"

The Northern Stars leader screamed as she fell to the ground. The billionaire genius had inadvertently pushed her as he turned around.

Hana had arrived at the table a minute ago. She stood next to the billionaire as she held a plastic cup of juice she had gotten from another stall. She couldn't believe that her beloved friend had been chosen to work for the biggest company in the world.

"Ouch, that hurts!" Said the girl as she lay on the floor.

The billionaire looked at the floor. The juice had stained his suit. He stood there for 10 seconds, looking at the young Hana. As Ano walked over to help his friend up, Yu, without a word, circumvented the obstacles in front of him and walked away.

"Hana, are you okay? Are you in pain?" That damn Yu! What's wrong with him? He didn't even apologize! Does he think it wasn't his fault?

"Of course I'm fine. I'm the leader of The Northern Stars. Something like this can't stop me!" She said as a tear peeked shyly over her lower eyelid.

"But you're crying."

"I'M NOT CRYING!!!"

The girl didn’t want her friend to fight against the most important person in the metropolis. If he happened to say something out of place because of her fault, she would never forgive herself for it.

"You're right. I was wrong hahaha." He laughed nervously. "How about we go get another juice?"

One of Hana's sandals had broken because of the fall. Ano took off his own flip flops and put them on her embarrassed friend's feet.

"But Ano... you're barefoot. I can't accept that."

"Don't worry, I have more sandals at home."

While placing his sandals on his beloved friend's feet, Ano wielded the widest smile in the world and, while looking Hana into her eyes, said.

"Let's have a good time, Hana!"

Hana nodded and smiled back at her friend as she wiped away her tears. They both got up off the floor and went to enjoy all that the fair had to offer them.

The two friends wandered through the fair as Ano marveled at some of the inventions there. They tried on wigs that changed shape by thought alone; they played games that were controlled by mental impulses; they played with dogs that were over 40 years old thanks to cybernetic transplants; they ate ice cream and drank juice made from something better left unmentioned.

After a long day of stimulation and action, the two friends sat down to rest for a moment.

"Ano-kun... can you create a world where everyone could be happy forever?"

"I promise you that I will create a world where everyone is happy forever. That's my dream."

"So now that's our dream! Okay?" Hana said with a big smile.

The two young friends smiled at each other as if the rest of the world had vanished. At that moment, Hana realized that what she felt was not only admiration for her dear friend.

****

The day after the science fair, Ano went to his teacher's workshop, as he did every day. In the evening, he returned to the apartment where he lived in that brothel. That's when he saw that he had a new message on his Cyber Hut.

*Dear Mr. Ano,

Asu Industries would like to inform you that we will be counting on you starting tomorrow. An official Asu vehicle will be in front of the entrance of your house to pick you up at 06:00 am.

Please be punctual.

Asu Industries.*

With a dumbfounded look on his face, the young boy muttered. "I made it... Hooray..."