chapter 2

Chapter 2

The sunlight streamed through the large windows of Classroom 1-6, illuminating the faces of the new students who sat in silence. Some avoided making eye contact, while others glanced sideways, sizing up the atmosphere and their future classmates. It was clear that no one was happy to be in the lowest class, and that air of resignation hung heavily in the room.

Yoge Hagame, sitting in the last row by the window, looked outside. The noise of the courtyard was just a distant murmur to him. His relaxed posture, with one arm resting on the desk and his head slightly tilted, made him seem like he wasn't paying attention. But nothing escaped his eyes. Every movement, every whisper in the room, was recorded in his mind.

Professor Kenji Takamura cleared his throat to grab everyone's attention.

"Alright, guys. Before we begin with the formal explanations, I want us to take a moment to introduce ourselves." He smiled slightly, trying to break the tension in the air. "We'll go one by one, and you'll say your name, something about yourself, and why you think you're in class 1-6. Don't worry, we won't judge... at least, not too much."

Some students laughed nervously, but most stayed silent, uncomfortable. Takamura didn't seem discouraged.

"Let's start with the first seat!" He pointed to a skinny boy with messy hair sitting in the front row.

The boy stood up awkwardly, pushing his chair back with a screech that made several people flinch. He walked to the front and looked at the floor as he spoke.

"Uh... I'm Takeshi Murata. I like video games... and I think I'm here because I'm not very good at math... or science... or anything, I guess." He ended with a nervous laugh and hurried back to his seat.

The murmurs started, but Takamura clapped to encourage the others.

"Good job, Murata-kun. Sometimes acknowledging our weaknesses is the first step to overcoming them. Next."

The round continued. One by one, the students stood up, revealing little snippets of their personalities and, in some cases, their insecurities. Among them were a few standout names:

1. Kaede Tanaka: A girl with dark brown hair and a nervous expression.

She said she liked reading romance novels and was in class 1-6 because she froze during exams.

She seemed shy, but there was something in her tone that suggested hidden determination.

2. Ryota Nishimura: A tall and stocky boy with a laid-back attitude.

He introduced himself as someone passionate about sports but admitted his grades had always been terrible.

"I'm not here to study, but at least I'll try not to fall behind," he said with a carefree smile.

3. Haruka Shimizu: A girl with short hair and thick glasses, her expression serious.

She stated that she didn't know why she was in class 1-6, as she had always gotten good grades at her old school.

Her tone conveyed a mix of frustration and pride.

When it was finally Yoge's turn, the entire class went silent. Even those who had been whispering stopped. There was something about his presence that captured everyone's attention, although he seemed completely unaware of it.

He stood up calmly, walked to the front of the room with slow steps, and turned to face his classmates. His expressionless eyes scanned the room as if evaluating each of them.

"My name is Yoge Hagame," he said, his voice low but clear. "I have nothing special to say about myself, and I'm in class 1-6 because that's what the system decided."

He didn't add anything else. His tone and expression made it seem like he didn't care what anyone thought. The room remained in awkward silence for a few seconds before Takamura intervened.

"Thank you, Hagame-kun. Well... getting straight to the point is fine too."

Yoge slowly returned to his seat, ignoring the stares that followed him. "Curiosity is a dangerous tool if you don't know how to use it," he thought, as he looked back out the window.

---

As the introductions continued, Professor Takamura observed with attention. Though he didn't show it, he had already started evaluating his students. Every word, every gesture, gave him clues about who had potential and who might be a problem. When the last student finished, he stood up to address everyone.

"Thanks to all of you for introducing yourselves. I know that for many of you, being here isn't easy, but I want you to remember something: this class, even though it's 1-6, has just as much potential as any other. It all depends on what you're willing to do."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"Now, let me give you some advice: don't underestimate your classmates. Each of you has skills that can complement the others. Learn to work together, and you can exceed even the lowest expectations."

The class ended shortly after, and the students began leaving the room. Some talked among themselves, trying to break the ice, while others stayed silent, still uncomfortable. Yoge was one of the last to stand up.

Before leaving, he cast a quick glance at the group. He wasn't interested in socializing, but he knew that sooner or later he'd need to get to know these people better.

"A chessboard isn't won with just one piece," he thought as he walked out the door.

---

The bell rang, marking the end of the introductions, and the students began to rise from their seats with a mixture of relief and nervousness. Yoge stood up calmly, not paying attention to what was happening around him. While his classmates chatted with each other, he made his way to the door with his usual blank expression, as if nothing mattered.

But as soon as he stepped into the hallway, he noticed someone was watching him. It was Kaede Tanaka, the shy girl who had sat next to him on the bus that morning. She was staring at him from her seat, her eyes narrowed, as if analyzing every movement he made. Yoge, unfazed, continued walking.

However, something had changed in Kaede's attitude. During the presentation, she had been nervous, but now, after seeing how Yoge acted so indifferently, something inside her had sparked. She slowly stood up from her seat, glanced toward the door where Yoge had just exited, and then, without thinking too much, decided to follow him.

---

In the Hallway

Kaede walked quickly, trying not to lose sight of Yoge. She didn't know why, but something about him had captivated her. In her mind, his words from earlier still echoed: "I'm here because that's what the system decided." The way he said it, with no emotion, no pride or shame, confused her.

"How can someone be so... indifferent?" she thought, as she pushed herself to get closer.

When they reached a corner of the hallway, Yoge stopped in front of a door that seemed to lead to a student lounge. He didn't look back, but Kaede knew that if she wanted to learn more about him, this was the perfect moment. She cautiously approached, trying to make no sound.

Yoge pushed the door open and entered, and Kaede, without hesitation, followed closely behind.

---

Inside the Lounge

The room was quite peaceful. Some students were chatting at tables, others simply resting after the long day of introductions. Yoge walked up to a window, opened it wide, and stood looking out at the horizon, as if completely isolated from everything going on around him.

Kaede, from the door, watched him without daring to get too close. She couldn't stop feeling an odd curiosity about him. "What does he really think?" she wondered. "Why does he act this way? And why does it seem like nothing matters to him?"

After several minutes of silence, Kaede gathered the courage to approach. She took a few hesitant steps, and with a trembling voice, spoke.

"Uh... Hagame-kun?" she said, almost in a whisper.

Yoge didn't turn around. His face remained impassive.

"Yes?" he responded in a cold, almost monotone voice.

Kaede stood still for a few seconds, unsure how to continue. She thought about asking him something about his interests, or maybe what he thought about the school, but something told her he wouldn't respond the way the others did. He wouldn't make it easy.

Finally, she gathered all her courage and asked what she truly felt.

"Why... why don't you have any expression on your face?" she asked. Her voice was soft, but filled with curiosity. "I mean... you don't care about what's happening here, right?"

Yoge stayed silent for a moment, then closed his eyes as if pondering the question. It was clear he wasn't surprised in the slightest that Kaede had noticed. In fact, he had expected something like this. Though he didn't care, Yoge knew that his puzzling attitude would attract the attention of those who were insecure or curious.

"It's not that I don't care," he finally said, his tone almost imperceptible. "It's just... I don't see the need to show something I don't feel. Others don't need to see my emotions. I don't have them for them."

Kaede stared at him in silence, confused, but something inside her stirred. In her mind, the pieces began to fit together, though she didn't fully understand what was happening.

"Does that mean... you don't have friends?" she asked without thinking, her curiosity taking over.

Yoge glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, but didn't fully turn toward her.

"Friends?" he repeated thoughtfully. "Friends are just pieces on a board. I don't need them to see me as one. I just need what's useful to me."

Kaede took a step back, shocked by the coldness of his words. However, she couldn't help but feel that, in a strange way, Yoge was speaking to her with an uncomfortable honesty. He wasn't lying, he wasn't hiding anything. He simply didn't care what others thought.

Kaede remained silent for a few seconds, processing what she had just heard. Finally, she spoke, her voice calmer, as if she had accepted part of the truth she had just heard.

"I don't know... but I think you're more complex than you seem, Hagame-kun."

Yoge didn't answer immediately. In his mind, something had shifted. Kaede had touched a sensitive spot, though he didn't show it on his face. As she slowly withdrew, Yoge couldn't help but think about what she had just said. "More complex, huh?"

The fact that someone cared about him in this way, even if it was superficial, only confirmed what he already knew: in this game, he was the one in control. Sooner or later, Kaede would become a useful piece on his board.