The morning sun poured through the curtains, casting golden light across the messy bedroom. Outside, birds sang cheerfully as people strolled by, chatting, laughing. Cars rolled through the streets, and the city stirred to life.
Inside a modest apartment, silence ruled. The kitchen sink was filled with dusty dishes and half-used soap. In a nearby room, clothes and books were scattered on the floor, DVDs stacked sideways near a flickering TV. A teenage boy lay sprawled across his bed, tangled in his blanket, fast asleep.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
"WAKE UPPP!!"
"AAAHH!!"
Kota Shinryu shot up, eyes wide, heart pounding. He gasped for breath, then turned toward the alarm clock blaring on his nightstand.
"What the—who put this here?!"
As he reached to turn it off, his phone buzzed.
Zzzzz… Incoming call: Sis 💢
He answered, groggy. "H-Hello?"
"Good morning, sleepyhead!" his sister's voice rang out.
"Did… you set that alarm?!"
"Yup! You're welcome."
Kota groaned. "Why…?"
"Because today's your first day at Hikari Academy!" she said brightly. "Remember, you're living in my apartment now. I pay for everything, which means you are going to school. No more sleeping until noon."
"…Tch."
"Oh! I left a box next to your bed. It has your uniform. And surprise! I also signed you up for a club—The Service Club!"
"Seriously?! What kind of name is—"
"Don't worry, you're the only member so far," she interrupted. "Think of it as free time. Also, once you move into the school dorms, I'm taking my keys back!"
The call ended with a beep.
Kota stared at the ceiling. "…Why did Hikari Academy even accept me?"
He let out a long sigh, then glanced at the box beside his bed. Inside was a neatly folded black uniform and a sleek phone. He powered it on.
Points: 1,000
Class: D
"…So they really gave me a phone just for going to school?"
He scrolled through the map, rules, and point system. The more he read, the more confused he got.
"…This school is weird."
Dragging himself out of bed, he got dressed, tightened his collar, and muttered, "Guess this is the start of my high school life…"
He tried to lie back down—but as he turned, his foot caught on a book and he crashed to the floor.
"Argh…!"
Giving up, he made his way downstairs through the dusty kitchen, grabbed his bag, and stepped outside.
The morning air hit his face.
"…It's been a while since I left the house."
As he walked to the bus stop, he passed by groups of students laughing and chatting.
"Did you see that new movie?"
"Yeah! The action scenes were so cool!"
Kota kept his head down. They all look so normal…
When he arrived at the stop, he noticed a girl already waiting. She had long black hair, neatly brushed, and a book in her hands. Her posture was straight, her expression calm.
She wore the same school uniform.
Kota hesitated. "…Um, hey. We're going to the same school, right?"
No response. She didn't even glance at him.
He laughed awkwardly and looked away. Okay… cold.
Moments later, the bus arrived. Kota stepped in, showed the driver his phone's map, and found an empty window seat.
He glanced back. The girl quietly boarded and took a seat at the back, still reading.
The bus slowly started to move.
And then—
BANG!
A girl smacked into the bus door from outside.
The driver opened it with a sigh.
She stumbled in, panting hard. "Hah… I made it…"
Kota blinked. She had long blonde hair tied into two ribbons, a bright smile, and—sure enough—the same uniform as his.
She noticed him staring.
"Oh! You're from Hikari Academy too?"
Kota nodded slowly. "…Yeah."
She smiled warmly and sat beside him. "I'm Emika. Emika Solara."
"…Kota Shinryu," he replied quietly.
"Nice to meet you, Kota!" she beamed.
He blinked again. Her voice was energetic but not annoying. She wasn't yelling or bouncing—just genuinely cheerful. Still, her presence was strong. He couldn't figure out if it made him uncomfortable… or curious.
She looked around the bus. "Whoa, that girl in the back—is she from our school too?"
Kota followed her gaze. The black-haired girl was still reading.
"Yeah," he mumbled. "I think so…"
When the bus finally pulled up, all three of them stepped out.
Kota looked up at the towering school gates. "So this is Hikari Academy…"
"Feels fancy," Emika said beside him, clutching her bag tightly. "I wonder what Class I'm in…"
"Class D," Kota replied.
Her eyes lit up. "Same!"
The black-haired girl followed behind silently.
Kota sighed. "Guess she's Class D too."
They entered the building and stopped at the door labeled Class D.
"We're here," Emika said. She gave him a nervous smile. "Ready?"
He didn't answer.
She opened the door. The teacher looked up.
"You're late."
"Ah—sorry!" Emika said, bowing politely.
"Names?"
She stepped forward. "Emika Solara."
"Take a seat."
A girl in the front row waved. "Come sit here!"
"Thanks," Emika smiled and joined them.
The black-haired girl stepped forward next. "Airi Kazehana."
The teacher nodded.
Kota gave his name last. "Kota Shinryu."
The only available seats were near the back—right next to Airi.
He sat down awkwardly, trying not to meet her eyes.
The teacher began, "For those new to the school, here's how it works. You are in Class D. Your goal is to reach Class A."
He tapped the board.
"You've been given phones. Each phone contains your ID and your current balance. Every student starts with 1,000 points. Points are granted monthly, but only based on your grades, behavior, and club participation."
Kota checked his phone again. Still 1,000.
"There are also five major events during your school years—win those, and you can earn thousands of points."
A hand went up. Emika again.
"Um, what happens if our points hit zero?"
The teacher adjusted his glasses. "You'll be expelled. Permanently. And no other schools will accept you."
The room went silent.
"…Harsh," Kota thought.
When the bell rang, students rushed out. Kota stood, stretching. He turned to leave, but Emika caught up.
"Wanna check out the cafeteria?" she asked with a hopeful smile.
He shrugged. "Sure."
They bought lunch—Kota just a plain burger, Emika a mountain of food: pasta, cake, and milk tea.
"Only a burger?" she asked.
"I'm fine."
After lunch, he walked down the hall and stopped at a door labeled:
Service Club
He smiled. "Finally. I can nap in peace."
But as he reached for the handle, Emika followed him again.
"Huh? Why are we stopping here?"
Kota hesitated. Crap. I forgot she was still following me.
He opened the door.
Inside, a familiar figure sat at the window, reading.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Airi looked up from her book. "Oh. You're here too?"
"You joined this club?"
"It's quiet. Barely anyone comes here. I like it."
Kota groaned. "I joined because I thought it'd be peaceful…"
The two stared at each other, tension rising.
Emika walked in, tilting her head. "So this is the Service Club…"
Kota sighed. So much for peace and quiet…
Airi closed her book. "Just deal with it."
Kota stared at the ceiling and thought:
Why is my high school life already this chaotic?!
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End of Chapter 1
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