The first week of Zenith Academy's club activities had come to an end, but the real work was just beginning. For Seojun and Eunha, every decision carried weight not just for themselves but for their factions. The initial energy of recruitment week had given way to a more sobering reality: building a successful club wasn't about flash; it was about results.
In the Genesis Club's workshop, Seojun leaned over the drone prototype, his Scholar System calculating the latest adjustments. Hyunwoo stood across from him, arms folded. The tension between them was palpable, and the recruits, clustered at workstations around the room, were noticeably quieter than usual.
"This isn't working," Hyunwoo said bluntly, nodding toward the prototype.
"The specs are fine," Seojun replied, his tone clipped.
"The specs are over-engineered," Hyunwoo countered. "The drone's trying to do too much at once. Half of the new recruits are already overwhelmed just building the parts."
Seojun's Scholar System flagged Hyunwoo's critique as valid, but the admission stung. He hated inefficiency, and the current delays reflected poorly on his leadership.
"Then streamline it," Seojun said finally. "Focus on core functions and delegate simpler tasks to the recruits."
Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow. "You're serious? You're actually going to trust them with key components?"
"I don't have a choice," Seojun muttered. His Scholar System pinged softly, highlighting a series of alternative designs. "If we don't finish this project soon, Genesis will lose momentum."
Hyunwoo nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Good. Delegation is the first step to not driving yourself crazy."
At the western courtyard, Eunha stood before her assembled club members. A holographic map of the western dormitories hovered in the air behind her, filled with color-coded diagrams representing the recruits' proposed solutions for the logistics challenge.
"Team A," Eunha said, addressing a group of nervous-looking students. "Your solution is efficient, but you didn't account for potential resource shortages. What happens if supply lines are delayed again?"
One of the recruits stammered a reply, but Eunha waved it off. "You can't afford to assume ideal conditions. Rework your plan."
"Team B," she continued, turning to another group. "Your solution is creative but overly complex. Logistics is about simplicity streamline this and resubmit."
Hyuna watched from the side, arms crossed. "Tough crowd."
Minho grinned. "This is why I stick to smashing things."
Eunha ignored them, her focus on the recruits. "This isn't just an exercise. If you can't adapt and solve real problems, you won't last in Ascension. I expect better next time."
As the recruits dispersed, Hyuna stepped forward. "You know, if you keep pushing them this hard, some of them might snap."
"They need to be pushed," Eunha replied. "If they can't handle pressure now, they'll collapse when it matters most."
"Fair point," Hyuna said, smirking. "But maybe give them a carrot once in a while, not just the stick."
Eunha's Scholar System flagged the comment as a potential morale issue, but she dismissed it. "Results matter more than feelings. They'll thank me when they succeed."
Later that day, the twins found themselves in the academy's central forum, a wide open space where students often gathered between classes. Eunha was reviewing updates on her Scholar System when Seojun approached, his expression neutral but his tone sharp.
"Struggling with leadership already?" he asked.
Eunha glanced up, unimpressed. "I could say the same about you."
"Genesis is ahead of schedule," Seojun said, though his Scholar System flagged that statement as a slight exaggeration. "But I hear your recruits are struggling to meet even basic expectations."
Eunha's eyes narrowed. "Better to set high standards than to lower the bar for results."
"At least my team knows what they're doing," Seojun shot back.
"Do they?" Eunha replied, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Or are you just micromanaging every step?"
The tension between them was palpable, drawing the attention of other students in the forum. Whispers rippled through the crowd as the twins squared off, their rivalry now a public spectacle.
Before either could escalate further, a third voice cut through the air.
"Still at it, I see."
Both turned to see Park Jinwoo, his steady gaze carrying a quiet authority.
"You two could learn something from working together," he said calmly. "But I suppose that's too much to expect."
"We're doing just fine on our own," Seojun said coldly.
Jinwoo shrugged. "If you say so. Just don't expect to stay on top for long. Vanguard isn't waiting for either of you to get your act together."
With that, Jinwoo walked away, leaving the twins to simmer in the reminder that their rivalry wasn't the only one that mattered.
Back in the workshop, Seojun observed the recruits as they worked on the revised drone prototype. Hyunwoo's streamlined design had made the tasks more manageable, and the recruits were starting to show progress.
Still, Seojun's Scholar System flagged inefficiencies in their methods. He felt the urge to step in and correct them but forced himself to hold back. Jiyeon's earlier advice echoed in his mind: leadership wasn't about doing everything yourself.
"Focus on the bigger picture," Seojun muttered to himself.
Instead, he walked over to a group of recruits struggling with a wiring diagram. "What's the issue?" he asked.
One of the recruits hesitated before replying, "The connection points aren't matching the blueprint."
Seojun studied the diagram, his Scholar System generating a simplified solution. "Try this instead," he said, pointing to an adjustment. "And remember: if something doesn't work, question the assumptions behind it."
The recruits nodded, their confidence growing.
At the end of the day, Eunha gathered her club members for a quick debrief. The logistics challenge was progressing, but her Scholar System flagged potential morale issues among the recruits.
"Good work today," she said, surprising the group. "I know I've been hard on you, but it's because I see your potential. The solutions you're working on will make a real difference for the academy."
Hyuna raised an eyebrow but said nothing, letting Eunha take the lead.
"We're not just solving problems," Eunha continued. "We're setting a standard. And when we succeed, it'll be because of all of you."
The recruits seemed to stand a little taller, their earlier frustration replaced with determination.
By the end of the week, both Genesis and Ascension had made strides. Seojun's focus on delegation allowed Genesis to complete the drone upgrade, while Eunha's balance of pressure and encouragement pushed Ascension closer to solving the logistics challenge.
But the cracks in their leadership styles remained, and both knew that their rivals and each other would exploit any weaknesses they left unchecked.
The first round of challenges was complete, but the real battles were still to come.