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Some of my earliest memories are of that boy. I keep my thoughts to myself, but him? As far back as I can remember, he was loud, bratty, always challenging me at anything I took an interest in. I couldn't skip stones on the water without him dropping in to insist he was better at it than me, and daring me to try and outskip him. Would usually take me near the whole day to match him, even with his help. And half the time, my mom would end up interrupting before that point to invite him to join me for lunch or dinner. It was like this that we spent every day together until the age of 10; the constant competition kept us bound together until that fateful day.
Some of my earliest memories are of that boy. He was so unpersonable! Barely said a word, just throwing himself fully into whatever took his interest. Maybe that's just the attitude you have to take when you're not a natural at anything. Still, that's no way to make friends! So being the generous guy I am, I tried to help him not be so lonely. But how do you even get a boy like that to pay attention to you? So I'd tell him all cocky how I was better than him! And then when I'd challenge him to beat me, he'd have to accept! That's right, I've always known how to get his attention. Though back then I never could keep it... But I'm getting so far ahead of myself, it's not even funny! Listen, all you need to know is that boy always needed a rival.
Something about him started changing when we turned 10. It's hard to say exactly what. He'd challenge me like usual, but he wouldn't help me, anymore. In fact, he seemed more invested than ever in making sure he stayed better than me. Even once I'd win, he'd have an excuse and insist it wasn't over yet. And every once in a while when I'd beat him, and he'd get so sullen. He'd disappear into his house, and I wouldn't see him for days. I'd actually start to worry, but I figured he needed space. So I gave it. It was like this that we stopped spending our days together at the age of 10. Still, I’d have called us friends until that fateful day.
Something about him started changing when we turned 10. It's hard to say exactly what. One thing's for sure: Looking at him, I didn't just see another boy, anymore. No, he was definitely something else! And I wasn't just keeping him company for his sake... But... he barely noticed me! I'd only have his attention as long as I was antagonizing him. He was the same as always. Was I the one who changed? It was harder not to think of him, but harder to stay ahead of him. As long as I was loud and cocky, his eyes were on me. But then once I was beat, I may as well have not existed. He wouldn't even come asking for me... Why didn’t he look at me the way I looked at him? Oh well, soon it wouldn't matter. There was something he'd never be better than me at.
That fateful day felt like the last time we'd ever stand side-by-side. It was a day we'd both been waiting for. He'd told me a lot about it, ever since we were kids. To be honest, it was him who'd made me so eager for this. I got to pick first. Choosing a partner is hard. There was no hesitation from him, though. He picked the one I'd be weak to. Before we'd even left the lab, he was telling me his was better than mine, and challenging me to beat him. We fought. He really was a natural. Always one step ahead of me. It made me want to catch up to him even more. But it didn’t feel like I was chasing a friend; I felt like I was chasing a rival.
That fateful day felt like the last time we'd ever stand side-by-side. I was done keeping him company. It was finally time for us to do what I wanted, not what he wanted. And there was no way I'd lose! My family was world renowned! I was gonna be the greatest, and there was no room for that boy beside me. I tossed away any fantasies of us making this journey together; he'd have to chase me, and this time, he'd never catch me. I'd be untouchable, and he'd be the one left wanting. When it came time to choose a partner, I wanted the one that'd be least vulnerable to him. I couldn't help myself, I challenged him right away. But it confirmed my suspicions: I was so far ahead of him, it wasn't even funny! I left knowing I'd never be vulnerable to him again.
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This journey is usually considered a coming of age adventure more than an actual competition. Far away from home, with loneliness and responsibility at once foisted upon you, you learn to take care of your partners, and you learn to let your partners take care of you. It's supposed to mature you. Without adults to have expectations of you, you can become whoever you want, whatever you want. But I only had mom, and I don't remember her ever telling me what to be. Maybe that's why I throw myself fully into whatever takes my interest. How can I know what I should do until I've gotten good at it? Gradually, though, I found my place on this journey. I found that what I wanted had been right in front of me all along.
The journey was a cinch for me. It's supposed to be about coming of age, but I was already ahead of it all. Others struggled to put together one team of partners to carry them through any type of challenge they might face, while I was juggling multiple teams that could handle any type! So I flew through my journey quickly. I'd already learned this life lesson: Putting all your time and care into one partner - or one team of partners - gets you nowhere fast. That lesson took me all the way to the final stop on my journey.
I wanted to take care of my partners, and I wanted to rely on my partners to take care of me. It wasn't how I'd become the person I wanted to be, it /was/ the person I wanted to be. Winning and losing had always felt aimless, and I never knew why I was trying so hard in the first place. But with this, I did. I was trying for my partners, and them for me. It wasn’t friends I wanted, and it wasn’t rivals. It was partners. On every stop of my journey, I'd seem to encounter his name. He was always one step ahead of me. I wondered if he felt the same, all this time. That was at the front of my mind as I reached the final stop on our journey.
My final test was as effortless as you might imagine. I was even able to pass it with my very first partner! The partner who reminded me of him. Him... I guess I was feeling nostalgic. But it didn't matter! I'd proven how far ahead of him I was. It's pointless to think about a boy who won't grow up. Especially when you're the champion. Champion! Does he know what that means? If he shows up, I'll tell him.
My final test was dramatic as they promise you it will be, but I could only think about what lay at the end. The moment I was told I had one challenge left, I could feel my heart in my chest. It was him. Not at my side, but in front of me. My heart was racing. I had to show him who I'd become. How I’d changed. How I've learned to take care of my partners, and how I let them take care of me. And I had to know if he felt the same.
It came down to the partners we'd left with. Last time, I was so far ahead of him! Something about him had changed. It's hard to say exactly what. But I was vulnerable to him, again. I almost didn’t even notice, my reign was over already! I was on top of the world, and this guy brought me down in a heartbeat. I didn't quite understand how he’d changed, but for a moment, I thought we felt the same. That boy was definitely something else. Although I don't like to admit it...
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When I told him, he flipped his lid. At least, that's how it went in my head. Truth is, I couldn't bear to tell him. In fact, I didn't tell anyone. They'd never understand. I was the champion, why give that up? But I figured he'd need the space. So I gave it. Besides, I still wasn't good enough. Rivals can be on different levels. Partners are equals. He was always one step ahead of me. It made me want to catch up to him even more.
I was alone again. I challenged him again, he won again, he asked me to trade with him, and the next day he was gone. Just like always, he'd defeated me and forgotten about me. I finally thought things had changed for a bit, and yet here I was. He was untouchable, and I was left wanting. But it felt different, this time. He'd taken a part of me with him, and left me with a lot to think about. I felt my worldview changing. I found myself helping the next generation, just like I'd always helped him catch up to me when we were younger. Before long, I was being looked up to as a leader. Someone who could help you become better for the sake of your partners. Heh, it's a strange feeling.
A snowy mountain peak isn't where most people would go to learn warmth, is it? But it made sense to me. If I could care for my partners there, and if I could trust them to care for me in those conditions, I would be good enough. Right? That's what I told myself. Besides, the mountain was less scary than facing him again. I did see him one more time, though. I returned to trade back with him. The longer I spent up there, the less I felt like I deserved to keep a part of him with me.
It turns out, I'm not good at moving on. Even with responsibility to tie me down, I still went off searching for him constantly. Where could he have gone to? One day, I visited the remains of an island whose volcano had erupted. That one really hit me. We can go on winning and losing in our games, but if nature so much as twitches, we can be overwhelmed in a second… I didn't appreciate what I had enough, and maybe I'd expected too much too fast. When that kid from another region showed up, it made me think about him all over again. I wondered where he was, what he was up to. I even couldn't help seeing his face on them... just a little bit. Whatever...
Isolation makes it hard to see change in yourself. I needed context. So whenever there was a new champion, I'd challenge them. But something was wrong. I was losing. In fact, it felt like the stronger I got, the more I was losing. So was I even getting stronger at all? It was around the moment I lost to that kid from another region that it really hit me. Taking care of your partners, and letting your partners take care of you. I hadn't really been doing either. Was I really not good enough? No, I was running away from what being a partner really meant. I had to recollect myself before I could go to see him. But by the time I went to him, he was already gone.
For the first time in years, I was thinking about him again. No, that's not true, though I like to pretend it is... That was the whole point of studying abroad: To clear my mind. Well, whether it worked or not, this invitation definitely uncleared it! A gathering of champions. A once every few years event. If I know that guy, he'll be there. That was the only thought I could manage before accepting. Something about me had changed. This time, I'd chase him, and neither of us would be left wanting.
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"Legend." It feels weird to be called that. Unlike him, I was never much for pomp. But still, I couldn't dream up a better job than this. Constant challenges for my partners and I, but even more than that... He and I can stand side-by-side every day. We don't just have to battle as individuals anymore. We’re partners, and here, we can battle as such. I couldn’t be happier.
"Legend." It feels great to be called that. I'll bet it makes him squirm a little though, haha. But still, I couldn't dream up a better job than this. Beautiful tropic islands, sun and sand as far as the eye can see, and a culture slow enough for me and him to really appreciate the time we spend together. It’s a perfect place for partners! I couldn’t be happier.
The idea of moving from home was tough. That was where we both became who we are. But on these islands, we could be whoever or whatever we wanted. It was a new chapter of our lives.
When this offer came in, the idea of moving from home was tough. I had to quit my old job, and leave behind my status as a leader. But traveling somewhere brand new together, I really felt I could take care of him and let him take care of me. It was a new chapter of our lives.
Winning and losing don't mean anything if you don't know what is - and who is - important to you. Strength isn't found in holding yourself to impossible standards and keeping other people out. These are the lessons that led me to these islands.
Winning and losing don't mean anything if you're moving so fast that you can never appreciate the moments. Expecting everyone to move at your pace all the time is a surefire way to end up lonely. These are the lessons that led me to these islands.
And from this point forward, no matter what, one thing is set in stone. He's my partner.
He's my partner. And nothing will ever change that.