Michael stared out the window, his eyes taking in the vast expanse of the high school campus. He wondered how it would feel to finally step outside the academic system world structure that had always felt like a prison lifestyle. It was a place he had never left, not once, for as long as he could remember.

Turning his gaze back to the classroom, he watched his classmates chatting among themselves.

"Sometimes, I feel like they don't even want to leave this systemic loophole," Michael thought, observing his classmates as they laughed and playfully fought with one another.

"Ahhh, at this point, I'm already losing hope of ever stepping out to see the outside world!" he muttered to himself with a sigh.

For as long as he had known, every student who completed their studies here ended up working for the system or the private government sector in charge of their academic based world structure system. It was an endless loop.

"But still," Michael wondered, resting his head on the desk, "what's going on beyond this system." 

After a moment of wondering, Michael's gaze landed on a few students sitting silently, their expressions cold and distant.

"Ahh, I guess I'm not the only one thinking about it," Michael thought as he observed them.

Suddenly, a hand slapped him on the back, followed by a playful yet mocking tone.

"Hey, my man! Looking moody as usual, aren't you?" Claude said with a grin.

Before Michael could respond, Claude's tone shifted, turning dark and menacing.

"I think it's time you accept the fact that you're never leaving this place."

Michael kept his head down, his fists clenched as he felt the weight of Claude's mocking words. Claude was one of the closest friends of Jake—the most feared bully in their high school—and his presence only made Michael's frustration grow.

"This is getting old and annoying," Michael thought, trying to suppress his anger.

Claude leaned in closer, his voice dripping with malice.

"Anyway, get up. I'm sure you know what you signed up for, huh?" he hissed.

Michael noticed the other students turning to watch, their eyes fixed on the unfolding tension. Aware of his reputation as the most picked-on student in the class, Michael stood up slowly, meeting Claude's gaze.

"Sure," he said firmly, his voice steady. "I'm ready when you are."

************

A Few Hours Later

Michael walked down the stairs, heading to his barracks after school ended for the day.

"Damn it! I really wanted to win so badly!" he thought, clenching his fists in frustration.

A swirl of emotions built inside him, but he forced them down. The vivid memory of losing to Claude after his bold display stung deeply.

"Damn it! Damn it! This hurts like hell!" Michael muttered angrily, slamming his hand against the wall.

Tears began to slip down his face as he let out a scream of anger and fear, knowing the bullying he already endured would likely worsen. After a few moments, he managed to calm himself.

"It's alright," he thought, wiping his tears. "All I need to do is come back stronger!" Despite the lingering fear of what lay ahead, he felt a flicker of determination rise within him.

Just then, a mocking voice cut through the air.

"Crying? Seriously?"

Michael turned to see Jake, the best player in the school, smirking at him.

"And weren't you the one talking big during the game?" Jake sneered. "Mister All Bark, No Bite."

Michael gritted his teeth, glaring at Jake.

"This damn jerk!" he thought, his anger bubbling again.

Jake stepped closer, his smirk growing wider.

"I saw everything—your maneuvers, your strikes, your attempts to read the situation. All of it was as pathetic as your existence."

Michael's fists clenched tighter as Jake continued, fully aware he was getting under his skin.

"Seriously, card games are so easy even toddlers could play them better than you!" Jake taunted, his grin widening with every word.

Michael glared angrily at Jake as he continued to talk.

"Keep talking crap, and I'll beat the hell out of you!" Michael thought, walking past Jake.

"The hell do you think you're going? I'm talking to you!" Jake shouted, gripping Michael's shoulder tightly and preparing to punch him.

Just then, a teacher's voice cut through the tension, and Jake froze, his fist still raised in the air. He glared at Michael, shocked by the interruption.

"What are you doing?" the teacher asked coldly, her voice full of anger.

Jake's face twisted with rage.

"Consider yourself lucky," he hissed, warning Michael before pulling back.

"Nothing! Just having a little chat with my buddy, that's all!" Jake said, forcing a smile as he stormed off, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Michael watched him leave, his cold glare unwavering as Jake's threat hung in the air.

"friend? Ahh Whatever," Michael muttered, scoffing as he's walking away.

Entering his room, the entire scene replayed in his mind. But as he sat at his desk, something caught his eye—a letter of invitation. A letter he was all too familiar with, one he had worked so hard to obtain ever since his curiosity about the outside world began.

"My curiosity just intensified," he thought, grinning with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.