Chapter 1: Gray Aster, Certified Loser
Gray Aster was late again.
He didn't just run late; he glided into lateness like a leaf in a storm. His tie flapped wildly, his backpack swung like a pendulum, and his shoes squeaked as he stumbled over a cracked sidewalk stone.
By the time he reached Nowhere High's gates, the bell had already rung. Students were moving into their classrooms, muttering, laughing, and staring at the chaos Gray had unintentionally caused.
"Why… is running so hard?!" Gray wheezed, grabbing his chest. "I thought legs were supposed to be easy!"
A teacher's voice cut through the courtyard."Gray Aster! Late again!"
Gray panicked. "Not late! Just… early for tomorrow! Yeah, early for tomorrow!"
Some students chuckled. One of them muttered, "This kid's on another level of idiocy…"
Mina, sitting by the window in her classroom, shook her head as she watched him from afar. Her short bob swayed with the movement, her expression equal parts annoyance and curiosity. Why does he always make excuses that are worse than being late?
Meanwhile, Riku, Gray's oversized best friend, peeked out the classroom door."Gray… your fly's open."
Gray froze. For a split second, his world narrowed down to one horrifying possibility. Then, with a frantic yank, he zipped up and wiped his face with both hands."…That was tactical. Yeah. Tactical distraction."
Riku snorted. "Sure, tactical."
Gray flopped into his seat, exhausted from merely existing. He rested his face on the desk, closing his eyes. Another day in the life of Gray Aster, the human joke.
What Gray didn't know was that this joke was about to turn into a legend.
Morning Mayhem
The lesson started, but Gray's brain had already powered down. He stared at the ceiling, watching the fluorescent lights flicker as his mind wandered.
If I just… pretend to sleep, maybe today will pass without tragedy.
Suddenly, a pen rolled off his desk. Gray reached for it and accidentally flung it across the room, where it hit the class monitor. The monitor yelped, knocking his pencil case onto the floor.
"Gray!" the teacher yelled. "Focus!"
Gray saluted with a shaky hand. "Yes, sir! Focusing… on the pen. Very dangerous pen. Must be controlled."
The classroom stifled laughter. Mina sighed. "Why is he still alive?"
Riku whispered from behind, "Because he's the best at surviving disaster."
Cafeteria Disaster Looms
Lunch arrived. For Gray, lunch was sacred—a holy trinity of curry rice, miso soup, and a perfectly crispy chicken cutlet.
He balanced the tray with the care of a bomb disposal expert. One wrong move, and disaster would strike. And disaster… was Gray.
On the way to his usual table, Gray's foot caught on nothing. His stomach lurched, and he stumbled forward.
"Whoa!" he shouted, flailing his arms.
The tray flew through the air, curry, soup, and chicken cutlet spinning in a magnificent arc…
And landed square on Razor, the school's notorious bully, who was mid-bite.
The cafeteria went silent.
Razor froze, then slowly rose, dripping curry like a soggy statue."You…" he growled.
Gray panicked. "It wasn't me! It was… gravity! Newton made me do it!"
Razor's gang rushed him. Gray flailed, tripped again, and his forehead smashed into Razor's chin.
Razor collapsed, unconscious.
The students gawked."…He just did what?!""He one-shot Razor?!"
Gray sat up, dizzy. "…I think I broke my brain…"
Rumors Begin
By the next day, Gray was already a legend. Students whispered about his "secret power" and "hidden strategy."
"I heard he's a martial arts genius!""No, no—he's a master tactician, secretly plotting all his victories!"
Gray walked in, half-asleep, sandwich in hand. "Why is everyone staring?"
Riku nudged him. "Gray… you're officially a gang leader now. People are following you."
Gray choked. "WHAT?! I can't even do push-ups without crying!"
At that moment, delinquents from other classes approached."You… Gray Aster? We want to follow you."
Gray's jaw dropped. "…Follow me? I can't even lead myself to class on time!"
And thus, the weakest boy in Nowhere High became its most feared name.