ACT 1 – CHAPTER 3: The Spark in the System

The air inside the old computer lab was thick with tension. Dusty monitors buzzed faintly in the corners, but no one paid attention. The room was full—dozens of students from the Computer Science course, the remaining members of the gang once led by Cy.

All eyes turned as the door creaked open.

Footsteps echoed.

And then he walked in.

Cy.

The room went dead silent.

Murmurs rippled across the crowd like a wave of static.

Migs stood up from the back. "What the hell are you doing here, Cy? Don't start anything."

Cy raised both hands, a lazy grin on his face. "Relax. I'm not here to stir trouble. I'm just here… to welcome our new leader."

Axel stayed seated at the front, arms folded, expression unreadable.

"What's the real reason you came back?" he asked, voice low but steady.

Cy chuckled, stepping forward. "Come on, you beat me fair and square. That makes you the leader now. And I respect strength. I think you'll make a good one."

"I don't want to take over," Axel said. "I want to end this gang nonsense."

The room tensed again.

"You serious?" Cy asked, blinking like he misheard.

Migs crossed his arms. "Big words, man."

Axel stood. His voice didn't rise—but the weight behind it did.

"I didn't come to this school to fight. I came here to live a normal life. But if I have to tear down every gang in East University just to get that peace… then so be it."

Cy's grin faded.

"You think beating a few gang heads will change anything? This system—it's been here longer than you. It's tradition. Blood, titles, territory. You don't just break that."

"He's right," Migs added. "The other courses aren't like ours. Some of them… they're ruthless."

Axel looked around the room.

"Then I'll try anyway."

Silence followed.

Cy stepped forward, disbelief in his voice. "You really think you can fight the system?"

"I'm not doing it alone," Axel said. "I've got Louise."

Louise, who had been quiet at his desk in the corner, nearly choked. "Me?"

"Yes," Axel said without turning. "You."

Cy scoffed and rubbed his face. "Man, what the hell did I walk into…"

He turned to leave, shaking his head. "Looks like I made the wrong choice coming back here."

But Migs moved in front of him, stopping him mid-step.

"Maybe we should hear him out," Migs said, his voice lower. "Aren't you tired of this? The fights, the politics, the pointless rivalry? We're in college now. Shouldn't we be chasing something better?"

Cy's jaw tightened. "Going against this system… it's suicide. You're not just fighting gangs. You're going up against the entire culture of East University."

He stepped around Migs.

"I'm out."

⸻

Later That Morning – Computer Science Classroom

Migs, Axel, and Louise sat together in the same row, the mood heavy.

The classroom buzzed with noise—students chatting, cramming for the upcoming midterms, laughing like nothing strange had happened. But between Axel and Migs, there was only silence.

Awkward. Unspoken. Tense.

Neither said a word, both replaying the earlier confrontation in their minds.

Then the door opened with a loud creak.

Five students entered—each wearing the signature red-white patches of the Education Department. Sharp eyes. Clean uniforms. Calculated confidence.

The room fell to a hush.

One of them leaned down toward Axel's desk, smiling with mock politeness.

"So you're the new leader of Computer Science, huh?" he said quietly. "Come on then. Let's test your skills."

Axel stood up without hesitation, his chair scraping the floor.

The student turned his back and motioned with a jerk of the head. "Follow me."

Axel followed.

Migs stood as well, cracking his neck as he moved. "No way I'm letting him go alone."

Louise watched them leave, his eyes wide.

"Oh no," he muttered under his breath. "This doesn't feel right…"

As the two disappeared out the door, tension spread across the classroom like wildfire.

⸻

End of Chapter 3