Chapter 1: The Beginning at Kurohime High School

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Chapter 1: The Beginning at Kurohime High School

The bus heading toward Kurohime High School moved along a long, lonely road. Snow fell gently over the nearby mountains, but inside the vehicle, the atmosphere was filled with tension and nervousness. Students from various backgrounds, with different personalities, shared the same journey, each lost in their own thoughts. However, among them was one figure who stood out, though he wished otherwise.

Yoge Hagame sat in his seat, his eyes slightly narrowed, gazing out the window with no clear expression on his face. As always, his face was unperturbed, his gaze distant, as if nothing could affect him. No one could tell what he was thinking—or if he was thinking at all. Life had been hard for him, but that kind of suffering no longer mattered. What mattered now was surviving in the school before him, a place full of unwritten rules, competition, and, of course, the constant struggle to stay at the top.

Beside him, a girl seemed extremely nervous. Her hands trembled slightly, and her eyes, though trying to hide it, couldn't stop glancing at Yoge. She didn't know him, but something about him made her feel uneasy. However, he remained unfazed. There was something about him that made him seem untouchable, as if he were so far removed from everything and everyone that no one could even graze him.

The girl tried to speak, but her words didn't come out immediately. Instead, she stared ahead, swallowing the lump in her throat. Yoge glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She seemed like an ordinary girl—perhaps a bit nervous—but he had no interest in striking up a conversation. He had already learned to stay on the sidelines. He didn't need to get involved with anyone unless it was necessary.

Finally, the girl mustered up her courage.

"U-uh… You're new here, aren't you?" she said softly, almost whispering.

Yoge didn't respond immediately. His silence was as dense as the atmosphere surrounding them. After a few moments, he simply nodded, his expression unchanged. There was no need to say more. The girl, sensing she wouldn't get much else from him, returned to her state of discomfort, fidgeting with the edges of her uniform.

Kurohime High School was no ordinary school. It was a place where students not only competed for grades but also fought for survival. This school, located in a grand mansion isolated in the mountains, had a class system divided into six levels for first-year students and beyond. These levels didn't just reflect academic performance but also abilities in other areas: social, strategic, athletic, and, most importantly, the skill to operate in the shadows, where everything was truly decided. Each class was designated by a course number, and the most outstanding students had the chance to earn money and be treated as the elite.

But not everyone could be the best.

"Have you seen the rankings?" the girl asked, apparently trying to spark another conversation. "It's a really brutal system. Everyone competes for the top spot, and if you don't stand out, you're left behind. Some people already know this, but… I've never been to a school like this before. How about you?"

Yoge looked at her for a second, sensing the weight of her presence. It was a pointless conversation, but he had no desire to be rude. After all, he didn't mind speaking when necessary.

"I don't care," he said, his voice cold and uninterested. "It's all just an illusion to keep students occupied. I just need to stay under the radar."

The girl looked at him, surprised by the indifference in his words, but she said nothing more. Deep down, she thought Yoge either had no idea what being at Kurohime High truly meant or perhaps understood it far too well.

The buses began to approach the school, and the buzz of the students was palpable. Some of the bolder ones were already talking to each other, sharing rumors about the teachers, the school rules, and, most importantly, how to gain the favor of those at the top. The students with outstanding abilities were always in the spotlight of the teachers, while those who weren't ended up in the lower classes—like Yoge, in Class 1-6. That was his fate: the bottom of the barrel, the class made up of students with the lowest grades or abilities, but who, despite that, still had something to offer.

"What class were you assigned to?" the girl asked after a few minutes of awkward silence.

"1-6," Yoge replied emotionlessly, turning back to the window, avoiding looking at her.

She didn't respond immediately, but upon hearing the number, her expression changed. It was clear that Class 1-6 wasn't a good place to be, but Yoge didn't seem to care. The girl, perhaps more aware of the gravity of the situation, glanced around nervously as if searching for some kind of reassurance or explanation.

But Yoge was completely absorbed in his own thoughts. He had survived a life in an orphanage, and the competition at Kurohime High was just another obstacle in his path. It didn't matter how much he had to fight or how many students were willing to play dirty to reach the top. He had learned how to move the pieces on the board without anyone noticing, working in the shadows.

The bus finally arrived at the main entrance of the school, a massive building with an imposing architecture. There was something ominous about the way it stood amidst the mountains, as if it were a place where futures were forged for those who could bear the weight of competition. The students began to disembark, some with excited expressions, others visibly nervous.

Yoge stepped off the bus without hurry, maintaining his steady pace, and entered the school grounds without showing even a hint of fear. To him, this was just another stage in life, and he had a plan—even if no one else knew it.

"Welcome to Kurohime High School," he thought to himself as he took in the landscape with his empty gaze. "Here, winning isn't everything… but being above everyone else is what truly matters."

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