Shinju Fabien woke to the persistent beeping of his alarm clock, its shrill tone pulling him from a dreamless sleep. He groaned, reaching out to silence it, then lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling. Today was just another school day, but the looming Phenomenal Skill Test was always at the back of his mind.
He got up, dressed quickly, and joined his family for breakfast. Hana was already at the table, sipping coffee and scrolling through her phone, while their mother was bustling around the kitchen, preparing their meal.
"Morning," Shinju greeted, grabbing a piece of toast.
"Morning, Shinju," his mother replied with a tired smile. "Ready for school?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," he said, trying to sound cheerful.
After a quick breakfast, Shinju grabbed his backpack and headed out the door, the cool morning air a refreshing contrast to the warmth of their apartment. He hopped on his bike and pedaled toward the school, his mind wandering as he navigated the familiar streets.
When he reached the school gate, he noticed something unusual. Two men in all-white jumpsuits stood by the entrance, their faces obscured by dark helmets. They seemed out of place, their presence adding a strange tension to the usually mundane morning routine.
As Shinju approached, one of the men stepped forward, holding what looked like a weapon scanner. Without a word, he scanned Shinju from head to toe. The device beeped, and the men exchanged a quick, inscrutable glance before motioning for Shinju to follow them.
Confused and slightly apprehensive, Shinju followed the men across the street to a nondescript building. They entered without a word, the interior dimly lit and filled with shadows. Shinju tried to ask what was happening, but before he could speak, the men disappeared into the darkness.
"Hey! What's going on?" Shinju called out, his voice echoing off the walls. There was no response.
Feeling his way around the dark room, Shinju's eyes began to adjust, but he could barely make out his surroundings. Just as he was about to give up and head back toward the entrance, the room suddenly flooded with light. In the center stood a large, metallic cube, its surface smooth and featureless.
A robotic voice filled the room. "Enter the cube."
Shinju hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to run, but curiosity and a strange sense of duty propelled him forward. He approached the cube, its door sliding open with a soft hiss. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
As soon as he was fully inside, the door shut behind him, and a high-pitched sound wave pierced his ears. Pain exploded in his head, and everything went black.
When Shinju came to, he was still inside the cube, but something had changed. The two men in white jumpsuits were standing outside, jotting notes on holographic clipboards. One of them turned to look at him, the dark helmet giving no hint of emotion.
"You can leave. The test is complete," the man said in a flat, robotic tone.
"That's it?" Shinju thought, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. After all the build-up, the test had been a blur of pain and darkness.
He stumbled out of the cube, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness, and made his way back to the school. The day had passed in a haze, and by the time he reached the school block, it was already night. He noticed a gathering in the school hall and decided to check it out.
Inside, students were milling about, a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. Shinju spotted Davi and several other familiar faces, all waiting for something. Moments later, a man in a black suit entered the hall, exuding an aura of authority that silenced the crowd instantly.
"Attention, everyone," the man began, his voice calm but commanding. "We are here to announce the names of the students who have been chosen for Paragon Academy."
The room held its breath as the man pulled out a list. "Davi Lazaro," he called first. Davi smirked, puffing out his chest as his name echoed through the hall.
"Other names followed: Akira Sato, Mei Lin, Hiro Tanaka, Aiko Yamamoto, Ren Ishida," the man continued. Shinju felt his heart pound harder with each name, the suspense almost unbearable.
Finally, the man paused before reading the last name. "And Shinju Fabien."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Shock and disbelief painted the faces of the students. Unlike Davi and the others, who celebrated with whoops and cheers, Shinju stood quietly, absorbing the moment. He was going to Paragon Academy.
The reality of it all began to sink in. Despite the strange and unexpected nature of the test, he had been chosen. This was his chance, his opportunity to prove himself and fulfill the promise he had made to his father.
As the celebrations continued around him, Shinju couldn't help but smile. The journey ahead would be challenging, but he was ready. He was going to Paragon Academy.