The auditorium was a sea of black-and-white uniforms. It was hot, loud, and smelled like a combination of floor wax, new textbooks, and the first-day anxiety of a thousand teenagers.
Ren, having successfully navigated the main hall, slipped into the assembly just as the doors were closing. He bypassed the crowded rows, finding an open spot in the back, leaning his shoulder against the cool plaster of the wall. His bag was at his feet. Hands in his pockets, he was perfectly happy to be invisible.
He was an observer. And from here, he could see everything.
On the stage, with the other polished, perfect-looking student council members, sat his cousin, Haru Ishikawa. Haru caught his eye for a split second, gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, and then returned to his default expression of polite, professional boredom.
In the middle of the 2nd-year section, Ren spotted the basketball team's "B-Team." Ryota Sato was already getting shushed by a teacher for trying to start a wave. Two seats down, Osamu Dazai was already asleep, his head on his knees, a picture of total despair.
In the front row of the 2nd-year athletes, Jin Tanaka sat bolt upright, his posture rigid, vibrating with a tense energy, as if he was about to be subbed into a game. Beside him, Takeda Hiroshi sat like a statue, his massive arms crossed.
Ren's gaze drifted over the 1st-year section, a chaotic mass of new, nervous faces. And then... his eyes stopped.
In the middle of the girls' group, one girl sat with her arms crossed. She wasn't looking at the stage, or her friends, or anything, really. She was staring at the ceiling, her fingers tapping an impatient rhythm on her knee. She looked... annoyed. Bothered by the noise.
She must have felt the gaze, because her head turned. Her eyes scanned the back row and locked with Ren's for a single, brief second. There was no smile, no recognition. Just a mutual, unspoken "I-would-rather-be-anywhere-else" understanding. Then, just as quickly, she looked away, bored.
"Welcome, students!" Principal Sato boomed from the podium, his voice echoing. "Welcome to a new year at Northwood High! A year of... potential!"
Ren tuned him out, his gaze wandering back to the rafters. Potential...
"...a year of... hard work!"
His eyes traced the steel beams. Hard work...
"...a year to truly embrace the... Northwood spirit!"
Principal Sato finally finished his long, boring speech and gestured to the student council. "And now, a few words on club activities from our Student Council President, Ishikawa Haru!"
Haru stood up, walked to the podium, and adjusted the microphone. His voice was smooth, calm, and professional—the complete opposite of the principal.
"Thank you, Principal Sato. A reminder that club budgets are due by the end of the month. Please fill out forms 21-B and 21-C, and do not forget the equipment request supplement. We value your activities, but we... value punctuality more." He gave a small, polite smile that didn't reach his eyes, and sat down.
"Th-thank you, Ishikawa-san," the Principal said, clearly a little intimidated. "And now! To inspire our new 1st-years, we will hear from the captains of some of our finest clubs!"
A parade of students went up.
"JOIN THE KENDO CLUB!" the Kendo captain roared. "FIND YOUR INNER WARRIOR! KIAI!"
"The Drama Club... is... life," the Drama captain whispered, clutching her heart. "We explore the human condition... every Tuesday and Thursday..."
"And now," the Principal said, "let's hear from our Northwood Basketball teams! First up, the captain of our very successful Girls' Team, 3rd-year, Asuka Tachibana!"
A tall, confident girl with a sharp ponytail took the stage. The applause was loud and genuine.
"Morning," Asuka said, her voice cool and clear. "Northwood Girls' Basketball. We made the Prefectural Quarter-Finals last year. We're looking for players who are serious about winning, not just 'having fun.' If you can run, and you hate to lose, tryouts are this afternoon in the main gym."
She nodded once and walked off to another round of applause. She meant business. Ren found himself respecting her delivery. Simple. Strong.
"Excellent!" said Principal Sato. "And now... the captain of our Boys' Team... 2nd-year, Jin Tanaka!"
Jin stood up from his seat. There was no leaping or bounding. He walked calmly, with a stiff, deliberate posture, to the stage. He took the microphone, and a low, static hum filled the room. His eyes weren't blazing with chaos; they were sharp and intensely focused.
"Good morning," Jin said, his voice clear and strong, cutting through the chatter. "I am Jin Tanaka, captain of the Boys' Basketball team. Last year, our results were a disgrace to this school's legacy."
The auditorium, which had been rustling, went quiet. A few students in the back who had been laughing nervously stopped. This was... heavy.
"This year, we fix that," Jin continued, his voice flat and hard. "We are not looking for members who want to 'have fun.' We are not looking for friends. We are looking for players who want to work. We are looking for players who want to win. If you are not serious, do not come. Tryouts are this afternoon."
He didn't shout. He didn't wave his arms. The auditorium was dead silent. The contrast to the Kendo captain's roar was chilling.
Jin just gave a sharp, formal bow and walked off the stage.
Ren, leaning against the back wall, was genuinely surprised. He'd been expecting another clown like the ones at the booth. But this guy... he was the opposite. He was... intense. This was a level of seriousness Ren hadn't expected.
He had a single, clear thought:
He's serious. And he's desperate.
This was definitely not the place for him.
BRRRRRIIIIINNNGGGG!
The final bell rang, signaling the end of the assembly.
"All students, please report to your new homrooms!" Principal Sato announced over the din.
The auditorium doors burst open, and the chaos of the crowd began anew. Ren pushed himself off the wall, a ghost rejoining the stream, his hands deep in his pockets.
He headed for Class 1-C.