I had arrived. A new beginning in a new place that excel the last one in everthing.
The Karusumo Academy.
The entrance gate stood tall and imposing, constructed from a blend of sleek stone and reinforced metal. Its architecture seemed purposeful, as though the gate had been built for someone like me to pass through.
The stones were cold, hard, and the design was sleek yet resilient.
I walked forward, my footsteps and the footsteps of others echoing. The environment was a strange blend of contrasts, the outer walls of the school had the elegance of a Victorian estate, ancient and stately, while the inside promised the clean lines and bright lights of modernity.
It was a government-funded high school, but one that had clearly spared no expense in shaping itself as a symbol of power and prestige. Is this what a high school look like?
As I stepped deeper into the academy, my eyes roamed over the surroundings... I walked slowly, taking everything in. The students milling about, the teachers who seemed too strict, and the imposing buildings that rose around me like fortresses.
The smell of freshly cut grass mixed with the faint scent of chalk and paper. I wondered how many stories these walls had already witnessed. But while others might have been absorbed by the grandeur, I had other thoughts.
I had a plan.
The minute I set foot on this campus. I had something specific in my mind for my time here. And what was that plan?... To get a friend.
It's almost amusing, really. The government's research theorized that students who isolated themselves, refusing to build any social ties with others, often didn't last through their first semester.
Loners tended to fall into the cracks of the system, either dropping out or fading into irrelevance.
And while I wasn't one to care about fitting in, I wasn't here to disappear either. This time, I wasn't the shadow.
I wasn't the observer. If I was to operate effectively, I needed at least one ally. Someone who could help me navigate the intricacies of this school. It wasn't about trust, it was about utility.
But did I believe the theory? Maybe. But even if I didn't fully buy into the idea, I knew one thing for certain, blending into the world of "normal" people would require some semblance of friendship.
To act in the world of the mundane, I needed to at least appear like I belonged there. But at the same time. I don't want to be use by other people just from socializing,
As I walked further, I noticed something strange... My fellow humans were all wearing different uniforms, some were dressed in pristine white, while others were in black, just like mine. A sudden realization hit me, where on earth did they get these white uniforms?
I hadn't been given the option, and I was already getting tired of this black, monochrome look.... Maybe it was the comment that girl made earlier, calling me "emo," but now I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed a change in attire... But where to even begin?
Shrugging off the thought for now, I made my way toward the main building, where the entrance ceremony was scheduled to take place.
I glanced at the map displayed on the wall near the entrance, and for a moment, I was taken aback by the size of the campus...
It was massive, three sprawling sections, one for each year of students. Each section seemed to have its own distinct areas, classrooms for different subjects, art and music wings, and even a cafeteria.
The layout was meticulous, almost like a puzzle waiting to be solved.... As I studied it, I couldn't help but visualize how many students were crammed into this academy.
The sheer size suggested that each year would have at least 20 or more students per class. Common calculation, perhaps, but still, the magnitude was staggering
I continued walking, finding my way to the second, year section. This part of the school was bustling with students moving between the grades' classrooms, the musical hall, and the art room.
It had a certain energy about it, a sense of purpose in the way the students navigated through the hallways.
I noticed something peculiar, all of the students dressed in black and white uniforms reminded me of something.
The thought made me smile slightly but there was non on my face, I don't have the ability to physically show emotion.
"Chess pieces..."
I muttered to myself. That's what they looked like and the first thing come to my mind. Moving in formation, bound by invisible rules, the school rules, every action seen, every move measured.
White and black. Opposites, but also reflections of each other. A strange contrast, yet they belonged to the same game.
I wondered which piece I would be in this game. Would I be the king, controlling everything from the shadows? Or would I be the knight, moving in unpredictable ways, confusing my opponents before striking
Perhaps I was the rook, standing firm, waiting for the perfect moment to shift the entire board. But perhaps maybe...
I was the player of this game, playing against a bunch of sentience chess piece. But one thing was clear... I wasn't a pawn. And I never would be.
I continued observing as I moved toward the entrance hall, I thought of something, What did these colors mean? Was it simply a matter of preference, or did it signify something more? Rank? Status?
Or perhaps a deeper division between those who would thrive and those who would be crushed under the weight of expectation?
I filed the thought away for later. For now, I had to focus on the task at hand. I wasn't just here to blend in, I was here to excel.... To rise above the rest, quietly and efficiently without them seeing and knowing that I am above them all.
Winning is everything, I will lose in the end but that what I liked about it. No one wants to be on the top for eternity, and that how life work, a strong man will cry but is not cause they are weak, is cause they have been too strong for a long time.