PART 23: A Second Competition

The following year the tournament introduced stricter sponsor protections and a stronger independent oversight process.

Chloe and Sophie were invited back not as competitors but as student mentors.

They agreed only after receiving assurances that they could work with all qualifying teams rather than serve as decorations for the award ceremony.

Penelope volunteered to photograph the event for the student newspaper.

She had spent months learning to make portraits of people while they worked, and she wanted to capture the effort hidden behind polished presentations.