The alarm clock buzzed. Seven a.m. I dragged myself up, hair a total mess, the bags under my eyes stamped on like tattoos. But then the sweet smell from the kitchen hit me, pulling me straight out of my slumber. I stumbled into the toilet, mumbling to myself.
"What's the point of going to the Job Academy? You'll still get a Job even without it. And half the ones who go don't even get Jobs in the end."
When I came out, towel on my head, steam clinging to my skin, I caught my reflection. Slender, not a muscle in sight-but at least the skin was smooth. I pulled out my uniform: a black jacket with gold stripes and a badge stitched with the initials "JA." Underneath, a plain white t-shirt and black trousers. Good enough. I sighed and headed downstairs.
"I guess it's just for the advantage... to get ahead of the ones who don't go," I muttered.
The kitchen was alive. Utensils floated like trained pets, the whisk spun in midair, knives chopped without hands, spatulas flipped pancakes that practically flew out of the oven. And there she was-Mom. Apron tied, eyes focused, every move perfect.
"Yup. My mom's amazing. Makes sense though-her Job is Chef."
She turned, smiling. "Xerx, quit standing there and dig in. I'm shocked you're up this early."
I scoffed. "More like I didn't get any sleep. The moment I laid my head down, the alarm started ringing."
She laughed. "You kids and your jokes. You should be a comedian, son."
I sat, fork in hand. "I'm serious, Mom. And besides-if I was a comedian, I wouldn't be a stand-up one. I love sitting down too much."
She burst out laughing. "Are you sure you're not one already?"
I cleared the plate in record time and stretched it toward her. "Bless me more, Mom. That was delicious."
She shook her head but smiled. "I know you're stalling, Xerx. Trying to make yourself late. It's not going to work."
I scuffed. "Damn. Caught. Anyway... Dad's already at work, isn't he?"
Her face softened, but she sighed. "Yes, Xerx. Now go to school."
I groaned, slung my bag over my shoulder, and stepped out the door. Another day of chasing a Job I wasn't even sure I wanted.
On the way to school, I was ambushed.
"Xerx, my main man! Looking as lazy as ever, I see!"
A boy with messy hair and fire in his eyes clapped an arm over my shoulder, matching my pace like we were lifelong friends. I peeled his hand off me with the delicacy of removing trash from my shoe.
"Who even are you again?"
The boy leapt back, clutching his chest as if I'd stabbed him. "Hey, Xerx, don't embarrass me in front of the ladies!" He waved dramatically to a group of girls across the street, their gold-and-black uniforms the same as ours.
The girls stared. One of them whispered, "Who even is that?" Another shrugged, "Just wave back. He'll go away."
Kaito-yes, that was his name-kept grinning like nothing happened. His sharp green eyes locked on me, trying too hard to look cool.
"You're embarrassing me, Kaito. You're too cringe to even be embarrassed."
He roared with laughter and slapped my back. "Oh, please. We both know without me, you wouldn't talk to anyone."
I smirked. "Exactly. People are a waste of energy. Drama-free equals stress-free."
Before Kaito could fire back, the academy loomed into view: towering, white and gold, with blue stained-glass windows catching the morning light. The Job Academy. Our so-called 'ticket' to the future.
We walked in, took the elevator up to our class. I leaned back against the wall, hands in my pockets, letting my thoughts wander.
"At least it's the final year. I'll be free of all this soon. Once I get a Job... I'll be rich, stress-free, and finally living easy."
A smile tugged at my lips. Unnoticed by me, a girl across the room was watching closely. Her jaw tightened, her fists curled under her desk. Rage boiled quietly in her eyes.
"Look at him... so carefree, so calm. Does anything even faze him? I still remember. That day..."
The memory hit her hard: the first day of school.
The classroom door creaked open and in walked their homeroom teacher, Miss Mia. Her glasses slid down her nose, her hair looked like she'd wrestled with it and lost. She wore a black jacket over a white polo and skirt.
"Hello, students. I'm Miss Mia, and I'll be your homeroom teacher this year. Today, we're going to learn what Jobs are. Anybody?"
The room was silent, students wide-eyed and intimidated. Everyone paid attention-except one.
At the back, Xerx was asleep.
Mia's patience snapped. "Young man! You, the one sleeping!"
Kaito nudged him. "Bro, she's talking to you."
Xerx stirred, rubbing his eyes. "What now...?"
Mia's eyebrow twitched. "Introduce yourself to the class and tell us what you think of Jobs."
"Oh, you could've told me that sooner, ma'am. But isn't the teacher supposed to introduce themselves before the students?"
Gasps filled the room. Mia's face turned crimson. "I'm Miss Mia. Now get on with it!"
Xerx squinted at her. "Oh, Miss. So... you're single."
The chalk whizzed across the room like a bullet and cracked against his forehead. Pain lanced through his body like he'd been run over a hundred different ways.
"Ow! Jeez, all I did was wake up..." he muttered.
Then he stood, stretching lazily. "Anyway. I'm Xerx Ronald. What Miss Mia just used was a Job skill. See, Jobs are divided into different types and classes. The Teacher Job, for example, has memory implantation, a knowledge domain... it's actually a legendary Job. But I'm sure you don't want me to bore you, so I'll be sitting down now."
He flopped back into his seat.
Mia froze, staring. Did he... bait me into using my skill just to explain it more easily? No... I'm overthinking this.
"Thank you, Xerx. That was... a wonderful explanation."
The class erupted in whispers. Before the buzz could die, a girl marched up to Xerx's desk. Nana.
Without hesitation, she slapped him. "Why'd you embarrass my sister!?"
Xerx blinked at her, then laughed. "It was your sister? Then why are you the one bothering me?"
Nana glared. "Did you really have to mention she was single?"
"I'm tired," Xerx said, leaning back. "Talk to me when you have something meaningful to say."
Nana's jaw tightened. Inside, Xerx thought: Perfect. First day of school and I've already made the most popular girl hate me. And all because I wanted things to be easy. My cruise through school is officially over.
Nana seethed, her thoughts the opposite: He knows who I am, and yet he talks to me like this? How dare he.
Out loud, she snapped, "Fine!" before storming back.
But deep inside, her anger burned for another reason. Mia wasn't just her teacher-she was her older sister. The one who trained for years, who her parents praised endlessly, while Nana was constantly compared and found lacking. Mia was proof of perfection, discipline, and success... so when Xerx mocked her, it felt like mocking everything Nana had struggled against.
Back in the present, Nana's eyes stayed locked on Xerx. Her fists clenched under the desk.
"Ever since then, I've been watching him. He pretends to be lazy, but he works harder than anyone just to keep life easy. He contradicts himself in every breath. And it's... infuriating. But the way he doesn't care what anyone thinks... it's amazing."