Chapter 5: The Written Exam

The morning of the exam came far too quickly for some students. I had gone to bed late the night before, replaying every detail of my plan in my mind. But today, I had to set aside my thoughts of revenge and focus on one thing only: passing this written exam.

Onkawa University was ruthless. Every failure could mean expulsion. Excellence was the standard, and only the brightest were allowed to remain in this elite circle. I didn't have the luxury of making mistakes.

I got out of bed, took a cold shower to clear my head, and slipped into my uniform. The mirror reflected a young man—calm and determined. Today's exam was just another battle among many, but each victory brought me closer to my goal.

Once ready, I grabbed my bag and left my room. The dormitory halls were buzzing. Some students were quietly repeating their lessons, others trying to soothe their nerves with jokes. I simply watched. It was fascinating to see how even students from such a prestigious school could crumble under the pressure of a simple exam.

Arriving outside the exam room, I spotted Saya Atlehi sitting on a bench, a notebook in hand. Her eyes scanned her notes with absolute focus. The embodiment of perfection. A model student, brilliant, admired by all.

Nikolas, her boyfriend, stood nearby, looking grumpy, as if the exam didn't matter at all. He joked with a few friends, wearing his usual confident smile. An arrogant fool.

I took a deep breath and entered the exam room.

The students settled in one by one, the atmosphere heavy with tension. I took my seat at the back of the class, as always—my preferred spot to observe without being seen.

Madame Samaeki entered, carrying a stack of test papers. Her stern gaze swept the room before she spoke:

— "The exam will last three hours. Do your best."

She handed out the papers, and as soon as mine landed in front of me, I glanced over the questions.

History, politics, international relations... Broad, complex topics, but nothing insurmountable for someone like me. Each question was an opportunity to prove my worth.

Within minutes, the room fell into a heavy silence. Only the sound of pens scratching paper echoed through the air. I discreetly looked around.

Saya was already writing. Her expression was calm, confident. No hesitation. As expected.

Nikolas didn't seem to struggle either. He tapped his pen against the table, then focused on his paper, filling it in. Interesting… Maybe he wasn't as dumb as he seemed. I might need to revise my evaluation of him—better to overestimate than underestimate.

A small, knowing smile crossed my lips before I turned back to my own paper. Time to show what I was capable of.

I wrote carefully, structuring my answers with precision. Every sentence, every idea was a weapon.

Time passed quickly. Two hours went by in the blink of an eye.

Toward the end of the exam, I heard a noise beside me. I turned my head slightly and caught sight of Fiona—the girl who had introduced herself the day before. Her usual cheerful expression was giving way to panic. Her eyes scanned her paper frantically as she bit her lower lip.

With a subtle motion, she filled in the last of the questions.

I smiled inwardly.

— Impressive, Fiona… but I'm not here to make friends.

I subtly adjusted my arm and continued writing. In this place, only the strong survive.

When time was up, Madame Samaeki collected the papers.

"Pens down, place your exams at the end of the table," she said firmly.

The first trial was over.

The students let out a collective sigh—some relieved, others clearly worried about the results. As I exited the room, my gaze crossed Saya's. For a brief second, our eyes met.

She had no idea what was coming.

I slid my hands into my pockets and muttered to myself:

— Let the plan begin…