*FLASHBACK – 7 YEARS AGO*
A younger *Mira*, just 10 years old, skipped down the hallway in her oversized school shoes, clutching a paper with two hands.
"Teehee! Dad's gonna be sooo surprised I passed this exam!"
She giggled, her ponytail bouncing with every step.
She stopped at a hallway corner.
> "He *did* say I shouldn't come to his office…"
Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
> "But I can't wait for him to come to my dorm after work. I'm gonna surprise him first!"
She clutched the paper tighter and turned the corner, running down the *seventh floor* hallway — the executive wing.
As she reached the office marked *Mr. Kang – Imperial Logistics Head*, she paused.
There was a voice — low, sharp, dangerous — coming from inside.
> "What do you mean you can't?"
The voice cut through the air like a knife.
Mira froze.
Her tiny body pressed against the wall beside the slightly ajar door.
> "It's a building full of people," came her father's voice — shaky, conflicted. "I can't just end all their lives because of one man."
Mira's eyes widened. She peeked through the door crack.
Inside stood *Mr. Williams*, in a sleek dark suit, facing her father across the desk.
"Oops... not him again," Mira whispered, heart pounding. She had seen him before — always around her dad. But never like this.
> "Mr. Kang," Williams said, his voice drenched in threat.
> "Are you saying you *won't* do this?"
Her father looked down.
> "That's not... what I meant."
Williams walked slowly around the desk, placing a hand on Mr. Kang's shoulder.
> "Let me remind you what's at stake…"
> "Your job. Your daughter. Everything you've built. Everything *we've* built."
He leaned closer.
> "I told you — *burn the building*. I want no proof left of that man's existence. If that means the entire complex has to go… then so be it."
> "Wretched people living in those apartments. Collateral."
Mr. Kang visibly trembled.
> "I… I can't..."
Williams didn't flinch.
> "Then do it for your daughter."
Mira's hand flew to her mouth. Her tiny fingers trembled. The paper slipped from her hands, landing silently on the floor.
Her father... was being asked to kill people?
And for what?
She backed away slowly, careful not to make a sound, tears brimming in her eyes.
---
*BACK TO PRESENT – LEAVE GATE*
Mira stood just past the gate now, alone.
The air felt different. Lighter... but colder.
The voices of the past still echoed.
She reached into her bag and touched the corner of the worn-out paper from that day — her perfect score.
> "I thought Imperial was a dream."
> "But dreams don't come with bloodstains."
She walked down the steps, the towering gates shutting behind her with a *final clang*.
*Mira Kang had left Imperial.*
But Imperial… wasn't done with her.
---
> *"But now… now that my father's resigned… I know it."*
> *"They won't let him leave with Imperial's secrets."*
> *"That's what I'm scared of."*
> *"That's why— I have to be with him right now."*
She whispered breathlessly, "Please… Dad, be okay… just be okay."
---
*IMPERIAL GROUNDS — 4:02 PM*
* SPEAKER SYSTEM *
"All students... report to the school hall immediately."
"All students... school hall. This is mandatory."
"All students… hall. Now."
The announcement repeated three times across the entire campus, sending ripples of murmurs and concern throughout every dorm and classroom.
---
*IMPERIAL SCHOOL HALL – MINUTES LATER*
The massive hall was filled—buzzing with whispers, side glances, and tension.
Students from every class sat in their clusters. Some slouched with boredom, others curious, a few anxious. The air was thick with the weight of uncertainty.
On stage stood *Mrs. Marion*, one of the head instructors, known for her no-nonsense demeanor and strict adherence to rules.
"Silence, please," she said, her voice sharp yet poised.
The murmurs faded.
"As we all know… this year's *International Music Competition* is only a few months away," she began.
"But this year… there's a shift."
Whispers rippled again. Everyone sat up straighter.
"Usually, Imperial leads the scoreboard without challenge," she continued, her voice firm.
"But now, rival schools—*Cambridge West, Evergreen Harmonics, Osaka Vibe*—have challenged our title."
"A formal review has been launched. We are no longer just *participating*—we are *defending* our name."
Gasps. Excitement. Panic.
"Wait—other schools challenged Imperial?"
"This hasn't happened in 8 years…"
"Are we really slipping?"
Mrs. Marion raised her hand. "Silence."
"This is no longer just a showcase. It is a battle for prestige. For history."
"And for the first time ever… only *one team* will represent Imperial."
Students froze.
"Only *eight participants* will be selected."
Shouts followed instantly.
"WHAT?!"
"No club is even up to 8 members!"
"That's insane!"
"This is sabotage!"
Mrs. Marion stayed calm.
"This is an opportunity. And not every club will survive it."
One girl raised her hand, confused.
"But how do we form the team? Through our clubs?"
Mrs. Marion gave a slight smirk.
"No. The team will be a mix."
"This year, we are picking members only from last year's *Top 3 Clubs*: *Vicki Log*, *D-X*, and *Celestrix*."
The entire hall erupted.
---
*Crowd Murmurs:*
"Wait, what about our club?!"
"I was training all year for this—what the hell is Vicki Log anyway?"
"Ugh, Viki's gonna get picked again?"
"I heard Celestrix lost their pianist…"
"D-X? Aren't they still inactive?"
---
Mrs. Marion raised her voice again.
"Silence."
The room stiffened.
"Clubs are no longer safe zones. This is not about names—it's about *skills, chemistry, and results.*"
"Auditions for the final eight begin next week."
"And for the rest of you—try to be useful."
She turned away, and the screen behind her displayed:
*IMPERIAL REPRESENTATIVE TEAM – AUDITIONS START JULY 10*
*LIMIT: 8 PARTICIPANTS ONLY*
*QUALIFYING CLUBS: VICKI LOG | D-X | CELESTRIX*
---
*NAO*, who sat in the crowd beside *Ria*, felt her heart sink.
"Only 8 people? Out of the entire school?"
Ria whispered, "This is war."
Nao stared at the screen.
Her hands trembled slightly.
"Only eight… and I just got here."
*"Do I even stand a chance?"*
---