"Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them" - Napoleon Bonaparte
The Tokyo International High School, situated on a secluded island provided by the Japanese government, serves as a premier institution for exceptional education. Its primary objective is to cultivate distinguished students who will contribute meaningfully to humanity's future advancement.
After deliberating extensively, I opted to walk to my newly enrolled boarding high school,Tokyo Inter. Uncertainty surrounded what awaited me. Having relocated due to my parents' divorce, I chose to reside with my mother.
This move necessitated transferring from my former school, where life had been stable, to Tokyo Inter. Honestly, I hesitate to form new connections or engage with unfamiliar individuals i'd have to bear with.Upon arrival, I noticed numerous students already present, all adorned in the identical attire as myself, confirming my presence at the school i was meant to be in.
The uniform, straightforward yet elegant, consisted of a crisp white shirt accompanied by a sleek black coat, complemented by a black tie and matching jeans for male students.
Female counterparts, equally impressive, wore a pristine white blouse paired with a chic black skirt and coordinating tie. The sight of these elegantly dressed young ladies remarkably enhanced my visual experience, their beauty twice illuminating my surroundings.
The campus stretched before me, majestic trees lining the lengthy approach and sleek concrete embellishing the entrance.
A five-minute stroll through the gateway captivated my refined sensibilities. Massive structures, 700 in total, towered above. Yet, uncertainty plagued me, unknown classroom, unfamiliar layout. No guidance provided, I awaited passing students to solicit directions.
A tall guy walked up to me, he had dark hair and looked a bit intimidating. I hesitated to ask him, but I decided to go ahead anyway.
"Excuse me, I'm new here and didn't receive a schedule. Could you tell me where I should go?"
"Go to the hall. They'll assign you to your class and go over the school rules."
"Thank you for your time."
The exchange went well—smoother than I expected. Luckily, I knew where the hall was since a big sign marked "Hall" was right in front of me.
After a short walk, I reached a large staircase leading down to the hall's fancy glass doors. As I stepped inside, a cold breeze from the air conditioning hit me, bringing instant relief. I had worried I'd be stuck in a crowded room with hundreds of other students, sweating through a long, boring talk from the teachers.
I sat at the very back, where I had a full view of the hall and could feel the cool air from the air conditioning. The hall had a sleek, modern look with black walls and polished floors that gave the room a clean, professional feel. Up front, there was a large stage with deep red curtains pulled to the side, and a tall podium stood in the center.
Behind it, a huge screen displayed the school logo, bright and bold against the dark background. Rows of seats stretched out neatly, all facing the stage, making it clear that this was a place for important announcements and events.
As I waited, more students came in and took their seats. Some were talking and already making friends, while others seemed to know each other already. A few were just on their phones. I sat there alone, feeling like an egg.
It hit 8:50 am, it seemed that everyone had arrived, as all the seats were now filled. We waited for a few moments until a man, appearing to be in his forties, stepped onto the stage and approached the podium. He had brown hair, a neatly trimmed mustache, and wore a very sharp suit, giving him a professional appearance.
He glanced over at a person seated at a nearby desk, who was focused on a laptop. It looked like he gave a small nod, probably as a signal for the person to bring up a picture or slide on the big screen behind him.
"Settle down, everyone. We're excited to welcome you to Tokyo Inter. This school is funded by the Japanese government with the purpose of preparing Japan's future. However, this school is different from others you've attended, there are many things to explain, and we'll go through each of them.
Address me as principle Tera, First, let's talk about the class system. Classes are ranged from A to D, Class A is the highest level, followed by B, C, and D. Reaching a higher class is important because this is a boarding school. The goal is to motivate and challenge students to work hard to live a good life. Here, students do not receive free meals. Instead, each month, you'll be paid based on your class points.
Class points are earned through competition with other classes. Performing well in exams will bring points to your class, and there will also be 'Special Exams' held by the school. These events are designed to test the skills and knowledge you've gained. In addition, nearly everything here can be bought if it's within negotiable terms."
During the explanation, a student raised his hand with a question, hoping Principal Tera would notice and respond, which he did.
"How do we know which class we're in?" the student asked.
Principal Tera nodded. "I'll explain that now. Please take out your phones and download the school app, TIA, created for students to view their overall abilities."
He continued, describing the categories the app tracks:
Academic Ability: This score is based on your exam performance throughout the year.
Physical Ability: This score reflects your performance in physical education, club activities, special exams, and other physical tasks.
Adaptability: This score assesses how well you adjust to different situations. It includes skills like quick thinking, communication, the size of your social circle, and how you present yourself within that circle.
Social Contribution: This score takes into account your overall behavior, attendance, participation in class, and any involvement in programs like the student council.
Overall Ability: This is a comprehensive score calculated from the four categories above. However, Social Contribution affects the overall score less than the other three categories.
"All of your information and grades will be displayed in this app," Principal Tera added. "You can also look up information on students from other classes."
I looked up my name in the app and saw that I was placed in Class D, the lowest class. This was based on my previous school behavior and academic records. After the briefing ended, we checked the app for our assigned classroom locations. Mine was listed as Room 14, so I knew exactly where to go.