Chapter 3: Moves on the Chessboard

The pale sunlight poured through the blinds of Class D. The morning stretched slowly, marked by introductions, shy chatter, and the first tremors of an unstable microcosm still forming. Winner, motionless in his seat by the window, hadn't moved an inch. He was observing. Every movement, every glance, every word spoken. It was a chess game that had just begun.

And already... the pieces were moving.

— "Hey, you over there."

A boy stood up, hands in his pockets. His uniform slightly disheveled, his arrogant smile a signature.

— "We should organize ourselves, don't you think? Like, elect a class representative. Someone to manage things so we don't spiral out of control."

He wasn't really expecting an answer. He was just marking his territory. His name: Nero Valsen. Loud, charismatic, and convinced he was the smartest. He wasn't stupid. But he was acting too soon.

A girl looked up from her book. Black hair tied back, round glasses, a cold stare.

— "You want to take control without knowing the rules. Bad strategy."

Silence. The other students watched the exchange, some amused, others uncomfortable. Nero smiled, but his tone grew sharper.

— "I propose. If you don't agree, propose something better."

She slowly closed her book.

— "It's too early to elect anyone. We don't even know who we are yet, or what each of us is truly worth. Voting now is like giving the car keys to a blind man."

Winner smiled inwardly. She was right. Her mind was sharp.

— Salia Mendel. Probably the smartest in the group… after him. But she talked too much. Showing your cards so early was dangerous.

Nero snickered, winked at a small group behind him, and sat back down, sighing.

— "We'll see when there's more than just silence."

Silence. Exactly where Winner excelled.

He briefly met Salia’s gaze. Fleeting. Like an unspoken recognition between two people who knew.

But he looked away immediately. Don’t attract attention. Not yet.

A few hours later, after classes, the room was nearly empty. Some had gone to tour the school. Others were already scheming in the hallways.

Winner finally stood up. He walked slowly through the room, brushing past tables and chairs. He stopped in front of the digital bulletin board. A list of rules was pinned there, including a new one:

> Note: The points of Class D may be modified at any time based on collective behavior. No complaints will be accepted.

Winner stared at the screen for a few seconds.

They were going to lose. Very quickly.

He could feel it. They were too scattered. No leader, no strategy. Just misplaced egos and hasty decisions.

And that’s exactly what he wanted.

> Instability is fertile ground for those who know how to plant the seeds of chaos.

He left the room without a word.

In a month, the special exam would strike.

But long before that, Winner Makyo would start playing.

From the shadows.