The train screeched to a stop at the station. A flood of students boarded, each settling into assigned seats. One seat remained conspicuously empty between the last and second-to-last passengers.
"Yo," said the student in the very last seat, breaking the silence.
"You talking to me?" the other boy replied without turning.
"Yeah, who else?"
The second boy glanced around, shrugged indifferently, and gave a half-nod.
"I'm Kira," the first boy said casually.
"Chris," came the quiet reply, his gaze fixed on the passing landscape outside the window.
The train doors slid shut, and the whistle echoed as it began to move. Kira tilted his head. "Wasn't someone supposed to be in that empty seat?"
Chris jerked his thumb toward the rear window. "Maybe her."
Kira looked and spotted a girl sprinting after the train, waving frantically.
"Well… doors are closed, and this train's moving, so…"
They lost sight of her quickly.
"Even if the door was closed," Chris muttered, "who knows what kind of power she could've used?"
Suddenly, a glowing portal appeared overhead—right above Chris.
"You mean… like this?" Kira said, pointing up with a smirk.
Chris looked just in time to see the girl fall—straight into his lap.
Both their eyes widened. Their faces flushed pink. She quickly scrambled off and took the empty seat between them.
"I—I'm sorry, uhm…" she stammered.
"Chris," he replied, still a bit red.
"I'm Raya," she said, forcing a small smile.
"Raya, huh? A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," Chris said without thinking.
Raya turned crimson.
"I hate to interrupt the rom-com, but are you trying to make enemies before the school gate even opens?" Kira chimed in dryly.
"Enemies?" Raya blinked, suddenly tense.
"Don't worry," Chris said gently, meeting her eyes. "I'll protect you, no matter what."
She smiled at him—warmly, with trust.
Kira side-eyed them, amused. "If this is his vibe with girls, his school life's gonna be interesting…"
As the train entered a dimensional warp, the outside world shimmered—and they arrived.
They stepped off onto an open platform where the grand structure of Reality High School loomed before them.
"So this is it," Chris murmured. "The school I've always dreamed of…"
"I thought my old school was big, but this is… intense," Raya added.
"Let's keep moving. Someone's calling us," Kira said, already walking toward the school gate.
"Couldn't you have told us before leaving?" Raya pouted.
"If you'd been paying attention, you'd have noticed," he replied smoothly.
"Could it be that he is jealous of us" Chris thought to himself and smirks.
"He's thinking of something weird isn't he".
At the gate stood a middle-aged man. As they reached him, they were swept into a sea of students—hundreds, maybe thousands.
They pushed through the crowd and found a canopy for shade. They quickly rushed and headed towards it.
"I didn't expect this many people…" Raya muttered.
"Yeah, there are exactly 2,000 people here," Chris said calmly.
Raya blinked. "You counted?!"
"Not exactly. I can sense life forces within a 200-yard radius."
"Wait, you haven't awakened yet, have you?" Kira asked, eyes narrowing.
"Awakened?" Chris and Raya echoed.
"It's a long story," Kira said, brushing it off.
"I can do more though—"
"Not here," Kira interrupted. "People are eavesdropping."
Nearby, two students whispered.
"That sensory skill… He hasn't awakened yet, but we should eliminate him first," one said.
"Could be tricky," the other muttered. "that teammate of his doesn't seem careless."
An instructor approached silently. The group turned to face her.
"Welcome to Reality High School," she greeted with a warm smile. "I'm Lina. We're happy to have you."
"We're happy to be here, Lina-sensei," the students replied in unison.
Chris spoke up. "Can I ask something?"
"Of course."
"I saw students forming groups. Is that required?"
Lina nodded. "Yes. You need a team of four to ten people to proceed."
"What if we can't form a group in time?" Raya asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
"You're expelled immediately," Lina said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
What kind of school forces us to work together this fast? Are they aiming for that? Kira thought.
'Why now…? Why can't I just work alone again like I always do' Chris wondered.
Lina tilted her head. "Didn't you notice the band that appeared on your wrist when you entered the grounds?"
They all looked—and there it was. A sleek, black wristband counting down.
"Only five minutes left!" Raya gasped, collapsing to her knees. Chris moves towards her and gives her words of encouragement and she stands back on her feet.
"How are teams formed?" Kira asked.
"You get someone who has one of the bands on and touch your wristbands together," Lina answered.
Without hesitation, the three joined bands. A soft beep. Their team was registered—but still incomplete. They then break into silence thinking about how they are going to get another member. We've been here for a while but I don't think anyone will just willingly join our group. Based on what I have experienced about people, when crisis like this arise is when some people take advantage of others. After a while, Lina then breaks the silence.
"You've only got one-minute left. Maybe give up?" Lina suggested, still smiling.
Chris's aura flared, a short but fierce burst. "What did you say…?"
Raya hugged him from behind. "Calm down… It's okay…"
Lina blinked, startled by the force of his presence. It seems she spaced out after the aura burst from Chris huh… Well I guess I have no other choice. Kira then casually patted her shoulder. "It's alright," he said with a grin.
Lina blushed faintly and looked away. 'Did I just lose my cool' she thought to herself
"Chris," Kira said, "mind if I handle the last member?"
"Go ahead," Chris muttered, calming down. It seems I lost it again.
Kira walked to Lina and whispered, "Sorry about earlier."
She looked down. "I want to help you… but there's no time."
Kira smiled. "You said anyone with a band can join, right?"
"Yes, that's the rule."
"Even you?"
"…Yes."
Without warning, Kira tapped her wristband. Beep.
"You didn't—" Lina started to smile.
"I did."
Their smiles widened in sync, unnerving both Chris and Raya.
A notification flashed:
YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED STAGE ONE WITH A TEAM OF FOUR.
A larger announcement appeared in the air:
THE FIRST STAGE OF YOUR ENTRANCE EXAM HAS BEEN CLEARED WITH 997 STUDENTS EXPELLED.
Chaos erupted around them.
"You can get expelled for not forming a group?!"
"Who signed me up for this?!"
Meanwhile, a calm boy (Yuujin) stood at the back.
"Tsk. Pathetic. If they didn't know the risks, they shouldn't have come," Yuujin muttered.
"This is gonna be easy, right?" his teammate Louisa said playfully and grinned.
"Yeah, if all the students were the same."
ALL STUDENTS, REPORT TO THE CENTER FOR STAGE TWO. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
The voice echoed directly into their minds.
Lina turned to Kira. "Why would you…?"
"You said you'd help however you could," Chris said. But even so, I didn't expect him to do that. This kid is interesting. I guess getting to his good side was the right option.
"I did but… still…"
"What's done is done," Chris replied. "Let's go."
They began heading to the center of the grounds, now marked with a glowing circle. Kira gently held Lina's hand, stopping her.
"Becoming a student—is that a problem for you?"
She lowered her gaze. "No… it's just… I needed finances that is why I became an instructor."
"Was that the only reason"
"Well….no I also wanted to find a way to gain scholarship into the school"
"Did you find one?"
"No… not yet."
"Hurry its almost time" Raya shouted.
"Let's go," Kira said with a soft smile.
"…Yeah."
They dashed to join the others at the circle—just as the second stage began.