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10 chapters to the system
Don't forget to add to library
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Tatsuya's final university selection tests had sealed his future, gaining him admission to a prestigious foreign university. Relieved, he hoped this would mark a new chapter, one where his past no longer weighed him down.
Upon arriving at the university, he dove into campus life, choosing to focus more on socializing than on academics. Yet, despite his casual approach, he remained one of the top scorers, effortlessly balancing his social life with his studies.
His ability to do so puzzled his classmates, who couldn't figure out how he managed to excel so easily. His odd ppersonality didn't exactly look like a genius. He was too laidback to even look serious. His scores looked a fluke when put together with his personality. :]
One of Tatsuya's proudest moments was being selected to head the university's Kendo club. It was an opportunity that made him feel like he could finally build something of his own. On the club's opening day, 32 students signed up, and Tatsuya felt ecstatic.
The dojo became his sanctuary, the rhythmic sound of practice swords clashing filling him with a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.
However, with success came envy. Some students couldn't accept how effortlessly Tatsuya seemed to excel at everything. His mysterious past only intensified their curiosity.
They began digging, hoping to uncover something that could explain the enigma that was Tatsuya. But he had always been careful about what he shared, revealing nothing about his past except his nationality and the town he came from.
Even his parents lived far from his native town, making it harder for anyone to pry into his personal life.
Their curiosity reached a new level when they discovered Tatsuya often looking at an old photograph. Intrigued, they managed to steal it.
The photo depicted six children, including a younger Tatsuya, standing next to a middle-aged man. The image seemed innocent, but to those determined to uncover Tatsuya's secrets, it felt like a piece of a larger puzzle.
Frustrated by their lack of progress, they reached out to his former schoolmates, trying to piece together the story of Tatsuya's elusive past.
Days passed, and Tatsuya remained oblivious to the scheming that was happening around him.
One afternoon, as he walked toward the Kendo club for another practice session, something caught his eye—a crumpled pamphlet lying on the ground near a bench.
When he picked it up and read the names and details printed on it, his heart sank. The very past he had worked so hard to leave behind was being dragged back into his life.
With growing dread, Tatsuya rushed toward the clubroom. As he arrived, he noticed an unsettling silence. The room, usually buzzing with energy, was quiet. His eyes landed on a stack of papers left on the reception table.
They were resignation letters—from every single member of the Kendo club. His hands trembled as he realized that his worst fear had come true. The club he had worked so hard to build had crumbled in an instant.
The devastation weighed heavily on him. He stood in the empty room, feeling the familiar sting of isolation.
He had been here before—alone, misunderstood, and burdened by a past he couldn't escape. But something inside him had changed. As he stood there, a sense of clarity washed over him.
"A moment only exists for a second, but its effect may last a lifetime," echoed in his mind, a piece of wisdom that resonated deeply in the quiet room.
Rather than letting the setback break him, Tatsuya decided to focus on his studies. While those who had undermined him expected his academic performance to falter under the pressure, the opposite happened.
Tatsuya's grades soared, climbing to unprecedented heights. His academic achievements became untouchable, leaving his peers baffled.
The second-highest scorer was a full 12% behind him, an insurmountable gap that cemented Tatsuya's reputation as a top student.
As the semester came to an end, Tatsuya's hard work earned him an unexpected opportunity. Along with three other students from other universities, he was selected to travel to the Country U for what they were told was a contest. Given his recent academic success, Tatsuya assumed it would be another academic challenge.
Upon arriving in the at Country U's airport, however, it quickly became clear that this contest was anything but academic. They were housed in a luxurious hotel, along with other international representatives. The first day, they were subjected to IQ tests, which seemed ordinary enough. But by the second day, things took a strange turn when they were given physical examinations.
On the third day, they faced simulated exams that tested not just intellect but decision-making under stress. Then, on the fourth day, the real surprise came—combat training. They were taught the basics of melee combat, and by the end of the day, they were thrown into sparring matches, tested on their ability to fight.
The true nature of the contest still eluded them, but Tatsuya's instincts told him this was something far beyond a mere academic competition. As the days progressed, a sense of unease settled over him. He knew they were being tested, but for what purpose remained a mystery.
It all looked too typical to what looked like a contest for students. His competitors still looking all too relaxed to even raiise questions. He felt a little out of place. Something was missing here and he couldn't exactly point it out where.??!
Suddenly at the dining hall, he felt a stare from god knows who, leaving his back drenched in cold sweat. The intent in the gaze looked anything but familiar. He tried looking around but couldn't find the owner despite his efforts. The spots he looked at were all empty.
At the hanging balcony of the hotel's central hall
A girl around the same age stood behind the indoors window, with a rage on her face. Just as she was going to curse out , she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.
Looking at the caller's identity, complex emotions welled up on her face. After a few rings, she picked up.
"Where are you? Have you had dinner? Are you sure you're not coming?" A middle aged man's voice was heard from the other side.
"...I suddenly lost my appetite. I'll order room service when i feel like eating, later."
She disconnected the call after she looked ah Tatsuya having his meal with a polite smile and cautious-cum-curious eyes looking around, as if searching for someone.
She whispered some inaudible words before entering the elevator to go to her room.
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After the dinner, they were asked to stay in the hotel they were staying at as they wait for the results. Clearly mentioning them to stay indoors.
....