The office smelled of freshly polished wood and sterile air. The quiet hum of an air purifier mixed with the faint rustle of papers as the admissions officer, Ms. Takahashi Mai, typed on her keyboard. Sitting before her, you leaned back in the leather chair, your usual stoic mask firmly in place while your mind calculated every little detail of the room—the location of the surveillance camera in the corner, the pattern of the file stacks on her desk, and even the way her eyes flicked up toward you every so often as if sizing you up.
After a moment of tapping, she folded her hands neatly over a thick manila folder and pushed it toward you.
"Hero Hesae," she said, double-checking the name on her screen before meeting your gaze. "You've been officially assigned to Class 1-A. Your academic history and entrance scores met the criteria for placement among the school's top-ranked students."
A brief pause.
"Don't let that go to your head," she added, leaning slightly forward. "Class rankings at this school aren't static. Class A's position is earned and defended. If your class underperforms in any of the special exams, you could find yourself slipping down the ranks and losing privileges."
She clicked her mouse, bringing up your dorm assignment. "You'll be staying in Dormitory Building A, Room 207. Your room is fully furnished, and you've been provided a monthly allowance of private points—the school's primary currency."
With a nod to the staff member standing by the door, Mr. Nakagawa, she gestured for him to hand you the student handbook and campus map.
"Within these pages, you'll find details on the school's regulations, including the importance of your points," she explained. "In short, everything you do here—academically, socially, and strategically—affects your standing. Unlike most schools, you're responsible for earning the freedom and luxuries you enjoy."
Mr. Nakagawa gave a slight bow. "Your orientation is scheduled in forty-five minutes. We've arranged for Sakayanagi Arisu, your class leader, to provide your initial guidance. She will meet you outside Dormitory A shortly."
"Before you go," Ms. Takahashi added, tapping her pen lightly against the table, "do you have any questions about your enrollment, Class A's structure, or the school itself?"
The clock on the wall ticked steadily, marking the beginning of this year
Hesae stuck in his own thoughts "mhm...Arisu...I read about her on the school website. And from what I seen, she seems like a pain in the ass. Who cares way to much about school."
Finishing his thought he quickly got up from his seat and said to Ms. Takahashi "nah, ill figure it out" shrugging his shoulder as he headed for the door.
Ms. Takahashi raised an eyebrow at your casual response, clearly not used to students so nonchalant about their first day in one of the country's most prestigious schools. "Figure it out, hmm?" she murmured, but she didn't press the matter further. "Very well. Good luck, Hero-san."
Mr. Nakagawa opened the door for you, giving a polite bow as you stepped out into the hallway. The sound of your footsteps echoed off the marble floor. The hall was unusually quiet, likely because most students were already settling into their respective dorms or getting ready for orientation most likely.
As you exited the front office building and walked across the neatly landscaped campus, Dormitory A came into view, its modern design blending sleek architecture with large glass panels that reflected the sunlight.
You spotted several students hanging out near the entrance—some chatting in small groups, others scrolling through their phones. The air was buzzing with energy as everyone prepared for the first day.
Standing apart from the crowd, by the entrance to the dorm, was Sakayanagi Arisu. Even from a distance, she was unmistakable—her pale lavender hair, porcelain complexion, and that ever-present cane resting against her hand as she leaned slightly on it. She seemed unfazed by the activity around her, her gaze calm and calculating as she watched students pass by.
"So, you're Hero Hesae," she said, her voice smooth and controlled, as if she'd been expecting you to arrive exactly when you did. "I'm Sakayanagi Arisu. Welcome to Class 1-A. I'll be your guide for today." She tilted her head slightly, her cane tapping gently on the ground. "I do hope you're ready. Things here aren't as simple as they seem."
Hesae looks at arisu and thinks "yeh...just as I thought pain in the ass" than his stoic expression spoke for itself. The words calmly leaving his mouth, "I hope not...I already got dragged here might as well make the most of it" shrugging his shoulders.
Her polite smile didn't waver, but the faint flicker of amusement behind her gaze told you she was already analyzing you. The way she leaned slightly on her cane and kept her posture relaxed told you she wasn't in any rush.
"Dragged here, you say?" she echoed, her voice light but with a sharp edge. "That's not entirely uncommon at this school. Many students didn't choose this place willingly. But..." Her eyes narrowed just slightly, enough for you to notice. "I'm sure you'll find something here worth staying for."
She began walking, the soft click of her cane punctuating her slow but deliberate steps as she led you down the path toward the central campus.
"You'll quickly learn that this school rewards ambition," she said, glancing at you briefly. "Those who sit idly by are swept away. But I imagine you're not someone who's content with mediocrity." Her gaze shifted to your undone button, the lack of a tie, and the faint glint of the 4-leaf clover necklace resting against your chest. "In fact, you seem... unique."
Her words hung in the air for a moment, like bait waiting for a response.
Hesae simply replied "mhm, I dont think being content with mediocrity is a bad thing..."
Than he pauses as if to let the words sit before saying "because when it comes to things i find boring...im ok with being mediocre". His eyes latched onto arisu as he was walking beside her with his hands in his pocket following her tempo of her walk.
Arisu's cane tapped gently against the tiled floor as the two of you entered the side corridor. The shortcut wasn't crowded—just the occasional passing student who glanced your way, probably wondering who the newcomer was beside Sakayanagi Arisu. But if she noticed or cared, she didn't show it. Her pace remained steady, and the faint scent of lavender trailed her movements.
"Interesting," she said, responding to your earlier statement about mediocrity. Her gaze didn't meet yours, but her tone was thoughtful. "I suppose that's fair. Why waste effort on something that doesn't excite you?"
The hallway opened up into a large common area, where the chatter of students was more distant. Arisu guided you past rows of floor-to-ceiling windows.
"But be careful, Hero-san. If you approach everything with that mindset, you may find this school becomes far more interesting than you'd like."
She stopped near an elevator and pressed the button, the doors opening with a quiet ding. As you both stepped inside, she leaned lightly on her cane and tilted her head toward you, her lavender hair catching the light.
"Let me offer some advice," she said, her voice still polite but carrying an edge. "Whether you enjoy playing the game or not, you'll be forced to participate here. And some players..." Her lips curved into a small smile. "...don't take kindly to those who let their guard down."
The elevator began its ascent.
He turns his head her direction and tilting his head slightly in confusion or was it annoyance?
"your advice is meaningless to me". His head tilts slightly to the left giving her a small smile barely pressed upon his cheeks,"no offense". Before turning his head forward again as if she was no longer there.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, revealing a wide corridor that led toward Class 1-A's designated lecture room. Sakayanagi's steady pace set the rhythm, her cane tapping gently as the two of you walked.
"Meaningless advice and a polite dismissal," she murmured, more to herself than to you. "Perhaps you really are as interesting as you seem, Hero-san." Her tone wasn't mocking—it was more like she was mentally cataloging this exchange, storing it away for later use.
As the hallway narrowed, the sound of students grew louder. Groups of Class 1-A students were already chatting by the door to the lecture room, some leaning casually against the walls, others scrolling on their phones.
Sakayanagi's cane clicked as she came to a stop just before the entrance. "Looks like everyone's gathering," she said softly, glancing back at you. "Since you're new, let me introduce you to a few people—unless, of course, you'd rather figure it out on your own." Her tone was neutral, as if it didn't matter to her either way.
She leaned slightly on her cane, her eyes watching you closely, waiting to see how you'd respond. The chatter of students filled the background, but at this moment, her full attention was on you.
Hero slipped his hands into his pockets. "Im not much of a introduction type but...what the heck.".
Sakayanagi's lips curved ever so slightly, a knowing smile playing on her face. "How refreshingly honest," she said, turning back toward the group near the entrance. "Then, let's make this brief."
The crowd subtly shifted as Sakayanagi led you forward, the students parted like water making way for a ship. It wasn't fear, necessarily—it was respect, awareness, and quiet acknowledgment of her influence.
This Arisu girl has way too much influence, you thought, your stoic gaze locked ahead. I knew she was going to be a pain in the—
Sakayanagi stopped first near Hashimoto Masayoshi, who flashed her a charismatic grin as soon as she arrived.
"Well, well, Sakayanagi's already picking up new toys for the year?" Hashimoto teased, leaning slightly forward with a smirk. "I'm Hashimoto Masayoshi. Don't worry, I'm a pretty easy guy to get along with."
Sakayanagi didn't react to the comment, her gaze staying neutral. "Hero Hesae," she said, introducing you without any fanfare. "He's new, but I expect he'll adjust quickly."
Hashimoto chuckled and gave you a quick once-over. "Nice to meet you, Hero. But fair warning—things in this class don't stay quiet for long." His smirk held a playful but slightly cautionary undertone.
Without waiting for much of a response, Sakayanagi moved on, gesturing to the quiet girl standing off to the side.
"This is Kamuro Masumi," Sakayanagi said. "She prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but she's someone worth knowing."
Kamuro propped up against the wall gave you a slight nod, as she stared at you. Taking in your untucked button-up shirt, slightly undone collar, and the glint of the 4-leaf clover necklace tucked away.
but her disinterest was obvious. "Nice necklace," she said flatly before turning her attention back to her phone.
And finally, as the two of you neared the classroom door, Sakayanagi leaned slightly toward you and said softly, "That should do for now. There's no need to introduce yourself to everyone today. Let them come to you."
"I prefer if they don't come to me," Hesae said bluntly to Arisu. She showed no sign of being surprised. Instead, she simply offered you that same polite smile, as if she'd expected you to say something like that.
When she opened the classroom door and gestured for you to enter, you scanned the neat rows of desks and noted her next words: "Your seat's in the back. Convenient, wouldn't you say?"
You stepped in, walking toward the desk she had indicated, but as you passed her, you asked with your usual stoic expression, "You're right, that's convenient... but where do you sit?"
Sakayanagi tilted her head slightly, considering your question for a moment. Then, as if it were the simplest answer in the world, she responded, "I sit wherever I need to be."
She made her way gracefully toward the front of the room near the windows, where she settled into a seat that seemed as if it had been waiting for her all along. Her cane rested neatly against the side of her desk, and as she sat down, she cast a final glance in your direction, her gaze lingering for just a moment longer before turning her attention to her notebook.
I glanced over at Sakayanagi too, meeting her gaze one final time.
"Meaning you sit anywhere that makes you feel in control of the situation" I thought, shaking my head lightly as I made my way to my own desk in the back. Just like I thought...A pain in the ass.
I slouched into the chair, resting my head on my hand and my elbow against the desk. The noise of the classroom buzzed around me—conversations, laughter, the scrape of chairs—but it felt distant, like I was listening through a wall.
"... why did I have to come to this school?" I sighed, letting the thought settle, but it didn't go anywhere. "He's probably worried about me. But really, I'm the one worried about him."
I lowered my gaze, staring at the clean surface of the desk. Before I realized it, my mind slipped back.
The classroom was different, but the feeling was the same. The desks were neat, the walls bright, but the air always felt heavy almost suffocating, like it was pressing down on me. I leaned into the desk resting my head on my hand.
I could hear them whispering in my head.
"He's weird."
"Why doesn't he talk to anyone?"
"He thinks he's better than us."
It wasn't that I thought I was better. I just didn't care about the things they cared about as a kid.
The image shifted. A man in a suit sat across from me, leaning forward over a desk cluttered with papers. His smile didn't reach his eyes. All the adults...they never did.
"Hesae, you're a bright young man," he said. "You could be anything you want to be." He listed off the possibilities—doctor, lawyer, engineer. I stopped listening halfway through.
The classroom faded back into focus, the hum of students replacing the echoes of the past. My golden eyes narrowed slightly as I drew a breath, grounding myself in the present. My hands brushed through my black hair, trying to calm myself down and not think about it for long.
I shifted slightly in my seat, exhaling quietly. Let them play their games. As long as no one drags me in, I'll be fine.
🏃💨....To Be Continued