The central courtyard of Rajawali High School that morning resembled the floor of a collapsing stock exchange. Hundreds of students were packed together, jostling, elbowing, and standing on their tiptoes to surround a massive portable videotron that the organizing team had installed in front of the faculty lounge just before dawn.
Normally, group assignments—whether for a Biology project or a scouting camp—were handled manually. A simple list would be taped to the wooden bulletin board, messy and prone to being vandalized or torn.
But this time, the atmosphere was chillingly different. The four-meter-wide LED screen displayed a high-definition list scrolling automatically against a deep navy blue background, adorned with the shimmering gold logo of the "Grand Study Tour."
There was no cheerful laughter to be heard. In its place was a thick, anxious murmur, sporadic shouts of protest, and the occasional, sharp sigh of relief.
Salim stood on the periphery of the crowd, protectively clutching his bag to keep it from being crushed. Beside him, Dani was jumping up and down like a caffeinated kangaroo, trying to catch a glimpse of the screen over the heads of the taller students.
"The scrolling is so slow! I'm losing my mind here, Lim!" Dani complained, his voice cracking with nerves. "I've already made a vow to fast for three days if I get grouped with you, Rizki, and Maya. I swear, if they separate us, I'm staging a protest in the Principal's office!"
Salim remained silent, his sharp eyes scanning the movement patterns of the text on the screen. He wasn't hoping for a miracle. Ever since the meeting with Mr. Adrian, Salim knew that the word "random" in the organizers' dictionary was an absolute lie. In the world of statistics, nothing is truly random if the variables are controlled by a central entity.
"Groups 1 through 10 are mostly Social and Language students..." Salim murmured, analyzing the data as it flowed. "Groups 11 through 20 are mixed... Wait."
The screen scrolled to the list for Group 17.
GROUP 17
Leader: Rizki Pratama (XII Science 1)
Members:
Dani Hermawan (XII Science 1)
Toto Suharto (XII Social 4)
Abdul Rohim (XII Science 2)
Siti Aminah (XII Language)
"NOOO!" Dani shrieked hysterically, a mixture of joy and devastating disappointment. "I'm with Rizki! Yes! But... Toto? That street thug? And where are you, Lim? Where is Maya?"
Salim felt a sharp pang of unease. Being separated from Dani and Rizki meant losing his social comfort zone. Dani was the comic relief that kept him sane, and Rizki was the diplomatic shield that smoothed over conflicts. Without them, Salim felt exposed.
The screen continued its relentless scroll. Group 20... 23... 25...
And finally, it halted at Group 27.
The names were displayed clearly, printed in a bold, authoritative sans-serif font.
GROUP 27
Coach Location: Bus 3 (VIP)
Salim Nur Hidayah (XII Science 1)
Salma Nur Azizah (XII Science 1)
Saifuddin (XII Science 3)
Alya Putri (XII Science 2)
Rehan Saputra (XII Science 3)
Salim stood frozen. He read the list three times, blinking to ensure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him due to sleep deprivation.
Dani slapped Salim on the back so hard it knocked the wind out of him, his jaw dropping in shock. "Holy... Lim. Do you see that? That's not a study tour group. That's... that's an All-Star freak show!"
"What do you mean?"
"Look at the composition!" Dani counted on his fingers, his eyes wide. "Salma, the terrifying Student Council President. Udin, the Karate Captain who can break bricks with his teeth. Alya, the ice-cold Red Cross medic. Rehan, the shut-in hacker ghost. And you... the math professor who's too lazy to live."
Dani shook his head in awe. "This is either the most genius group ever formed, or a group that will end up murdering each other before the bus even hits the hotel. Good luck, bro. You're going to need all the prayers I can muster."
Salim didn't respond to Dani's banter. His mind was racing, processing the data at a frantic pace. This was no coincidence. The probability of these five individuals—each a specialist in their respective field—landing in the same group by pure chance was one in millions.
Salma = Leadership & Organizational Strategy.
Udin = Physical Power & Defense.
Alya = Medical Expertise & Biochemistry.
Rehan = Technology & Intelligence.
Salim = Logic & Pure Strategy.
This wasn't a list for a sightseeing tour. This was a classic RPG Party Composition. Tank, Healer, Tech, Leader, Strategist.
"They are preparing us for war," Salim whispered, a cold shiver racing down his spine. His suspicions were now 100% confirmed. Mr. Adrian's algorithm had selected them based on functionality, not emotional proximity. They weren't being sent to a resort; they were being deployed as a unit.
"Lim!"
A familiar voice called out. Salim turned to see Rizki approaching, his face etched with concern.
"I saw the list. We're separated," Rizki said, sighing. "I got stuck with Toto. It's going to be a long trip trying to keep him from starting a riot. But you... your group is incredibly intense."
"I know," Salim replied shortly.
"Watch yourself, Lim. I heard Rehan is in your group; he's impossible to talk to. And Salma is a perfectionist. Don't let yourself become a victim of their intellectual bullying," Rizki chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, though his eyes betrayed his worry.
Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted near the videotron.
"THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!"
The voice was high-pitched and shrill. Rinto.
Salim and the others turned to look. In front of the committee desk, which was manned by two of Mr. Adrian's men in black suits, Rinto was having a meltdown. His face was a violent shade of red, and the veins in his neck were bulging. Beside him, Nadia stood with her arms crossed, her expression as sour as if she had just swallowed a lemon.
"I am Rinto! My father is a permanent donor here! Why was I placed with Sucipto? Why does he have to be in my group?!" Rinto slammed the printed group list onto the desk. "Change it! I refuse to be with him!"
"I also object," Nadia added sharply. "I was placed in a group where the average grade is below the passing mark. I cannot cooperate with idiots. It will drag down my report grade. Move me to an elite group, or at the very least, group me with Rinto."
the man in the black suit didn't blink. He stood perfectly upright, his aviator sunglasses reflecting Rinto's hysterical face. He didn't see Rinto as a donor's son. He saw Rinto as a 'corrupt data point.'
"The decision is final," the man replied. His voice was flat, robotic, and devoid of empathy. "The algorithm has determined the optimal composition for survival rates and social dynamics. There is no negotiation. There are no trades. There are no exceptions."
"Do you have any idea who I am?!" Rinto lunged forward, his hand reaching for the man's lapel.
Set.
The man's movement was almost too fast to follow. His right hand intercepted Rinto's wrist with the terrifying efficiency of high-level martial arts, twisting it slightly before delivering a firm, palm-strike push to Rinto's chest.
Rinto stumbled back three steps, nearly losing his footing.
"Control yourself, Asset Number 189," the man said icily. "In this program, your father's status carries no weight. The only thing that matters is compliance. If you disagree, feel free to sign the withdrawal form and remain at school for the duration of the trip to attend a remedial ethics class."
The threat silenced Rinto instantly. Staying at school alone while everyone else was on a private island? That was social suicide. Nadia also went silent, realizing that these people didn't care about her academic ranking.
"Man..." Dani whispered beside Salim. "That guy just now... that was a Krav Maga neutralization move, wasn't it? So efficient."
"Yeah," Udin said, appearing behind them out of nowhere and making Dani jump. "That's military technique. Rinto is lucky his arm isn't in a cast right now."
Udin looked at Salim. "We're in the same group, Lim."
"An odd fate, isn't it?" Salim offered a faint, grim smile.
"Not odd. Just heavy," Udin sighed, crossing his arms. "We have Salma and Alya. Two ice queens in one cage. I'd rather fight Raka for ten rounds than have to be the mediator between those two."
One by one, the members of Group 27 began to gather naturally in a corner of the courtyard, as if pulled together by an invisible gravitational force.
Salma arrived first, clutching her clipboard, her face set in a mask of professional seriousness. Alya arrived with the small first-aid kit she always carried, her expression blank and clinical. And finally, Rehan emerged from behind a pillar, his black hoodie pulled low over his head, looking profoundly irritated by the sun and the presence of other humans.
The five of them stood in a circle. Five distinct, clashing personalities.
"Alright," Salma began, immediately seizing leadership without being asked. "We are Group 27. I don't care if you like this arrangement or not. Our goal is singular: To complete this program with perfect scores and zero incidents."
"Perfect scores are subjective," Rehan murmured quietly, his eyes fixed on his phone screen. "I just want my data to be safe and to not be forced into playing tug-of-war."
"Rehan, please be cooperative," Salma snapped, her gaze sharp. "For the next few days, I am the Group Leader. Udin, you handle security and heavy lifting. Alya, you are in charge of our health, and especially... hygiene." Salma glanced pointedly at Rehan's slightly disheveled hoodie.
"Salim," Salma looked at Salim. Her gaze softened for a microsecond, but remained authoritative. "You... you help me think. I need your brain for navigation or solving whatever logical puzzles they throw at us."
"Understood, Madam President," Salim replied casually, offering a two-finger salute. "As long as my food rations are secure, my brain will function."
"Good," Salma nodded. "We meet again this afternoon in the Hall for the technical briefing. Do not be late by a single second."
Salma dismissed the brief gathering. Alya immediately headed toward the infirmary. Rehan dived back into the crowd, likely heading for the computer lab. Udin patted Salim's shoulder before walking toward the canteen.
Salim was left alone, watching the retreating backs of his new teammates.
"Group 27," he whispered.
He looked back at the videotron. Total of 40 groups. 200 students.
Maya and Rinto's group (Group 4) was a mix of popular kids and athletes. Nadia's group (Group 37) was a collection of selfish, high-achieving narcissists.
These organizers knew exactly what they were doing. They were creating a miniature ecosystem. There were predator groups, prey groups, disruptor groups, and... survivalist groups.
Salim realized that Group 27 wasn't designed to win a scavenger hunt. They were designed to survive the worst-case scenario. And that realization made his stomach churn. Not from hunger, but from fear.
"Lim, come on! The canteen is calling! The bakwan is waiting!" Dani shouted from a distance.
Salim forced a smile and turned to follow Dani. He would enjoy this last piece of fried snack with absolute reverence. Because he knew that once the bus departed, their normal high school lives would be over forever.
In the distance, on the second floor of the administration building, Mr. Adrian stood behind a tinted window, looking down. His eyes were locked on the dispersing crowd. He pressed a hand to the earpiece in his ear.
"Target validation complete. Group 27 has formed according to Beta parameters. Anomaly potential: 98%."
"Keep monitoring," a voice on the other end replied. "Especially the Mathematics Asset."
"Understood."
Mr. Adrian closed the connection. He watched Salim laughing with Dani.
Enjoy your laughter, boy. Before we take it away.