The crowd didn’t cheer. They just stared.

The judges huddled. Liam stood with his arms crossed, his jaw tight. The obsidian suit suddenly looked like just a fancy gadget. The glowing seams felt like a gimmick next to a living, breathing piece of art that had a soul.

She surfaced. The pool deck was silent for a second longer. Then the art teacher started clapping. Then the janitor whistled. Then everyone lost their minds.

Maya didn’t scream or jump. She simply walked to the edge of the pool, scooped up the golden cap, and put it on her wet head. It fit perfectly.