"Lastly, Kris Blazewood," Mr. Kwame announced, his voice carrying through the quiet room.
Kris stood up, his expression calm and unreadable, while the other students who had been called earlier began rising from their seats as well, preparing to head to the changing rooms.
Belle, who had just stood up herself, felt a small flutter in her chest at the sound of Kris's name.
She tried not to show it, but before she could fully process the feeling, Selina nudged her lightly.
"Come on, Belle, let's go," Selina said, already starting to move toward the door.
Belle hesitated for a brief moment, sneaking a glance back at Kris.
'I knew it!' she thought, a small smile tugging at her lips. But before she could dwell on the thought any longer, Adam's snide remark cut through the moment.
"I can't believe Kris passed," Adam muttered, rolling his eyes as he leaned toward Belle.
"He must've sold his organs or something to get a decent Data Beast."
Belle frowned slightly and avoided Adam's advancement, feeling conflicted.
"Yeah… I guess…" she mumbled, not wanting to agree but also not feeling like she need to keep up with her image.
She glanced back at Kris once more, her expression softening before she followed Selina toward the exit.
As the last of the chosen students left the room, the atmosphere shifted.
The students who had not been called sat frozen in disbelief, still processing the reality of being left behind.
A wave of disappointment settled over the classroom, heavy and suffocating.
Some students, like Jang Seonghoon, slumped over their desks in silent resignation.
His head hung low, hands gripping the edge of his desk as if trying to hold on to a hope that was slipping away.
Others stared blankly at the door, the sight of their classmates leaving with excitement only deepening their sense of failure.
The unspoken fear hung in the air, were their Data Beasts not strong enough? Some hadn't even scanned a Data Beast yet, and the weight of that realization made the silence feel unbearable.
A few murmurs rose from the crowd.
"I guess we weren't good enough," one student whispered, eyes downcast.
"This Data Beast is the only thing my family could afford…" another added, voice filled with disappointment.
Just as the hopelessness seemed to settle in fully, Mr. Kwame's voice broke through the room once more.
"To those who were not called today, do not despair. There will be a second chance in the middle of the month. For those who haven't yet scanned or captured their Data Beasts, or if your Data Beast wasn't suited for battle you may have time to acquire a second one, this will be your opportunity to qualify."
A ripple of hope washed through the room. Eyes that had been dull with defeat brightened once more. Whispers of determination spread among the students.
Jang Seonghoon, who had been silent and slumped in his seat, slowly lifted his head. His eyes narrowed with focus, and he clenched his fist, whispering to himself,
"This time for sure…"
It was a quiet, almost inaudible promise, one that no one else heard. For a brief moment, it felt as if he were the only person in the room.
The energy in the classroom began to shift again, from despair to resolve, as the unselected students clung to the hope of a second chance.
....
The boys' changing room buzzed with energy as the selected students prepared for the Data Beast Exam. Thursday and Necho stood near their lockers, animatedly bantering.
"Admit it, you were nervous yesterday!" Necho teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Me? Nervous?" Thursday laughed, leaning back against his locker with a casual air.
"I was just trying to boost your confidence, mate. You needed it!"
Necho shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, right! I could see you sweating; your back was drenched."
Kris observing their dynamic with interest. Just yesterday, they had barely exchanged words, but now they joked like they'd been friends for years. It was a refreshing sight.
"Hey, Kris," Thursday called out, suddenly shifting his focus.
"Were you nervous being called last?"
Before Kris could respond, Necho stepped in to defend him.
"Nervous? Look at his face! He looks like he just came back from his vacation, not a drop of sweat at all, unlike you."
He gestured at Kris' face, whose calm expression seemed unbothered.
Thursday chuckled, nodding in agreement. "True!"
But as he heard the last sentence, he playfully shoved Necho.
"I wasn't nervous, okay!?"
Kris smiled, enjoying their banter.
"I guess I just didn't think about it much. I'm more curious about the first round."
As they approached their lockers, Kris glanced around, suddenly unsure of which one belonged to him.
Necho, noticing Kris's hesitation, tapped a nearby locker.
"This one's yours, use your ID to open it."
Kris watched as other boys opened their lockers effortlessly, swiping their ID cards against the lock.
He tapped his ID on the locker that Necho indicated.
With a beep sound, the lock sprang open, revealing his training uniform, it was a navy blue track suit, with the school logo on the left side of the chest area.
Kris peered around his locker, taking in the decor.
Stickers of Data Beast Adventure adorned the walls, and among them were various stickers of Lily, the show's main character, each depicting her in a different pose.
'That boy really was something else.'
The obsession was justified; after all, he had watched an episode just yesterday in the club room with Miguel, and it was fun.
Even in his room, countless expensive figurines of the characters and various Data Beasts that appeared in the show filled the shelves, a testament to his predecessor's obsession with the series.
Kris shook his head and began changing out of his school uniform.
He started with the blazer, then unbuttoned the inner clothing. As he pulled it off, a collective gasp echoed around him.
"Whoa! Did you let bees go wild on your body?" one classmate exclaimed, eyes wide as they all saw kris' back muscle.
Kris turned to the crowd, confused by the sudden attention. Another gasp followed, and Thursday chimed in, "What did you eat to have a body like that?!"
Kris's physique was lean and toned, a result of the days he had spent training. His arms showed defined muscles, and his abs hinted at the potential that lay beneath the surface. He stood with an unintentional confidence that caught the attention of his classmates.
In the background, Miguel silently gave Kris a thumbs up, clearly impressed. Necho stood nearby, nodding speechlessly, his gaze fixed on Kris's physique.
Feeling embarrassed under everyone's eyes, Kris quickly grabbed his training uniform and slipped it on.
"Seriously, how did you train your body?" Necho asked, still in awe.
Kris just shrugged, "I just started training three days ago."
The disbelief in the room was palpable.
That's not a body that was made three days ago, Laughter erupted as classmates exchanged skeptical glances.
"Three days? No way!" one voice chimed in.
Adam stepped forward, a smirk on his face. "I bet you trained your body just to impress Belle!"
Kris shook his head, unbothered by the comment.
"Why? Did I hit a nerve, Kris? Belle would never like you even if your body is like that!" Adam taunted, leaning in closer.
Before Adam could continue, Miguel decided to intervene. With perfect timing, he "accidentally" tripped, yanking down Adam's pants in the process, exposing a member of his family.
The room turned quiet and then erupted into laughter.
Necho reacted immediately, his eyes wide.
"Bean sprout?"