The results were released at dawn.
No ceremony.
No buildup.
Just numbers.
A massive holographic screen lit up the main plaza of APEX Academy, its blue-white glow cutting through the early morning mist. Students gathered in silence, some confident, some tense, some already calculating excuses.
Kai stood near the back.
Arms crossed. Face unreadable.
The screen flickered once—then stabilized.
[APEX PROJECT – INITIAL RANKING]
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Names began to scroll.
---
Top Tier
Rank 1 – Adrien Villefort
Reflex: S
Race IQ: A+
Machine Adaptation: A
Mental Stability: A
Whispers exploded instantly.
"Of course."
"European prodigy."
"He's built for Formula."
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
Rank 2 – Luca Moretti
Rank 3 – Shin Kanzaki
Rank 4 – Elias Novak
Elite juniors. Sponsored monsters. Names already known in racing forums.
The higher ranks basked in silent pride.
Then the list continued.
Top 20.
Top 50.
Top 80.
Kai didn't move.
He already felt it.
---
The screen scrolled lower.
Lower.
Lower.
Then—
Rank 97 – Kai Hayato
The plaza went quiet for half a second.
Then it exploded.
Laughter.
Gasps.
Mockery that didn't even bother whispering.
"97?!"
"That's almost last!"
"That's the street racer?"
"Did they invite him as a joke?"
Someone snorted openly.
"Street trash."
Kai stared at his name.
Rank 97.
Out of 200.
Near the bottom.
---
Online – APEX Public Rankings (Live Feed)
The academy didn't hide the rankings.
They monetized them.
Screens around campus lit up with global feeds—social media reactions, racing forums, live commentary.
> @TrackMind: "APEX invited a street racer and he ranked 97th 😭 embarrassing."
@FormulaPure: "This is what happens when you let amateurs into elite programs."
@GOATWatch: "Street instincts don't mean shit against real drivers."
Memes appeared instantly.
Kai's old car.
A clown filter.
A broken steering wheel.
The internet devoured him.
---
Kai didn't flinch.
But inside—
Something twisted.
Not pain.
Anger.
---
A slow clap echoed across the plaza.
Students turned.
Rintaro Akagi stood atop the balcony overlooking them, hands behind his back, expression unreadable.
The noise died instantly.
Akagi leaned forward slightly.
"So," he said calmly, "these are your numbers."
His eyes scanned the crowd like a butcher inspecting meat.
"This ranking reflects your current value."
He smiled faintly.
"Not your dreams."
A few students smirked.
Akagi continued, voice sharp and deliberate.
"Some of you look relieved." "Some of you look disappointed."
His gaze hardened.
"And some of you look humiliated."
His eyes flicked—briefly—toward Kai.
---
"Let me make something very clear," Akagi said.
"This ranking is not just for show."
The screen shifted.
A new interface appeared.
[APEX POINT ECONOMY – ACTIVE]
Students leaned forward.
"From today onward," Akagi said, "everything in this academy is tied to your rank."
The screen began listing items.
Private Room Size – Rank Based
Meal Quality – Rank Based
Training Time – Rank Based
Car Access – Rank Based
Clothing & Gear – Rank Based
Medical Priority – Rank Based
A murmur of disbelief spread.
Akagi's voice sharpened.
"Your room?" "Your food?" "The car you drive?" "The parts you're allowed to touch?"
He smiled.
"All of it can be bought."
The screen flashed:
High Rank = Full Access
Low Rank = Restricted
---
Akagi spread his arms.
"Welcome to reality."
He tilted his head.
"In Formula racing, money decides opportunity." "And opportunity decides winners."
His eyes gleamed.
"So I decided to remove the lie."
A pause.
"If you want comfort—climb." "If you want resources—steal them with results." "If you want survival—win."
A student shouted, "And if we can't?!"
Akagi didn't hesitate.
"Then quit."
Silence slammed down.
---
Kai felt it then.
The room he'd been assigned suddenly made sense.
Small.
Plain.
Bare.
The food he'd eaten last night—nutrient blocks instead of real meals.
The car he was given.
Basic. Limited. Unforgiving.
This place wasn't just testing speed.
It was starving them into evolution.
---
Akagi's gaze sharpened one last time.
"Remember this ranking."
His voice dropped.
"It is the only truth you have right now."
He turned away.
"Dismissed."
---
The crowd broke apart instantly.
Top ranks walked with confidence—already discussing upgrades, better meals, better simulators.
Lower ranks scattered quietly.
Kai remained where he was.
Rank 97.
Street trash.
That's what they saw.
He clenched his fist.
"…So that's how it works."
Not fairness.
Not talent.
Survival.
Kai lifted his head, eyes burning.
"Fine."
A slow, dangerous smile crept across his face.
"If everything can be bought with rank…"
He whispered:
"Then I'll take everything."
The screen behind him still displayed his name.
Rank 97 – Kai Hayato
For now.