I arrived at the great hall with an envelope in hand behind a long line of other students. Oak tables that could seat one-hundred students a piece were placed evenly apart and decorated with white linen and vases of magnolias. A warm and hazy light spilled out of the stained glass windows revealing oil paintings of famous world leaders. I looked above the old baroque columns to the ceiling that was painted to resemble the Sistine Chapel, the only difference being every figure's eyes were blacked out in this painting. It gave the impression that God isn't allowed to see what goes on here.
The smell of burnt paper and lemon juice grew stronger the further I ventured in. I was placed last in line so I managed to see each student fumbling with their envelopes. A few nervously arched their bodies to get a better view of the front. The closer I got to the front the more nervous their fidgeting became before they unloaded the card like it was a ticking time bomb. A man in a pristine, grey suit and thick rimmed glasses would take the envelope, take out a piece of card and direct the student to their seat.
Eyes widened and jaws were left agape after they saw their seating arrangement. There was one table set apart from all the others. Rot had spread into the wood and cracked the table down the middle. Unlike the elegant, Italian golden chairs to the West of the great hall it was surrounded by cheap plastic chairs. A slim, pink haired girl went to sit down just a few minutes before me managed to snap her chair. The barely stifled sniggering and sarcastic claps drowned out her light sobbing as she awkwardly tried to reattach the broken legs. Eventually, she was forced to just stand.
All students were seated except for me, the last in line. I handed over my envelope. The teacher took it and opened it up, removing the blank card from inside. He held it up to the ceiling, inspecting it thoroughly and proceeded to take a lighter from his pocket. He ignited it and held it under the card. The white film burned away and revealed my name and number.
Seat: 500/500 - Higasa Ryunosuke.
The very last seat.
So it was a hidden message written in lemon juice? Explains the smell. Even if somebody were to open it there was no way to alter the message. And even if you did find a way to swap cards with someone of higher status for an advantage it wouldn't have made a difference. Knowing the calibre of student here it was bound to tempt at least a few of them.
"After you proceed to your seat the entrance ceremony can begin." said the man.
I stared at the final chair. A dilapidated wooden mess barely held together. One leg was missing and the back was ripped out. Rusty nails had been hammered in so the tips would scratch and puncture the legs of whoever sat down. There was no way I'd be sitting in that.
"If you do not take your seat you will be expelled."
The man said sternly and straightforwardly that if I didn't rip my legs apart I would be sent packing. Cackles could be heard from the other end of the hall and from my own table. Even the pink haired girl who broke her chair raised her hand to hide the smile creeping across her face. Very well, I would do what is required. I walked slow, keeping one eye on the gazes that followed. I stood by as the pudgy student sat at 499 smugly pulled it out.
"It suits you, haha!" His thin lips coiled upwards and his breathing quickened in anticipation of the pain I would receive. I heard the faint murmuring.
"Ha - he's really going to do it. The lower ranks have no shame." A girl with golden drills said, as she cocked her head upwards to look down on me. The murmurs continued saying I should get it over with already, that I was holding up the ceremony and I should have just drove the nails into my skull instead.
"You have one more minute to comply, failure to sit in the chair will result in your immediate expulsion. Do you understand?" The man's tone grew more severe.
I inched closer to the chair.
"Ha - he's not gonna do it. Look at him, he's too scared to get a few cuts!" The pudgy student tried to entertain the tables that seated the higher rank students.
I grabbed the leg of the chair with one hand and lifted it above my head to the gasps of nearby students.
"Hey! Violence is prohibited here, it's prohibited! Put the chair down!" The same student protested. He raised his hands above his head.
"Okay."
I thrusted the chair upside down onto the floor and smashed the wood, leaving a pile of rubble. I took a seat on top. This should have been enough.
"We will now proceed with the ceremony." The man from earlier pushed his glasses up in acceptance of my strategy.
"Hold on, he destroyed the chair! There's now way that counts!" The pudgy student continued to make a scene.
Damn, I accidentally stood out.
The man turned to face the student.
"He has taken his seat. Nowhere did it state he had to take it a particular way nor did it say he couldn't change the nature or assembly of the seat. He bent the rules to his advantage. The ceremony will commence."
There was nothing to say to that. The student held his tongue and grumbled into his hands.
The murmurs had stopped as the Principal appeared at the podium facing the students.