part-4

Minutes had gone by since Mr. Archibald began engaging with the class,

effortlessly delivering a wealth of information without missing a beat. His

relaxed smile, composed demeanor, and minimal gestures allowed him to

captivate the students' attention, keeping them enthralled with his words.

"He's impressive," John murmured under his breath, caught off

guard by the teacher's skillful presentation.

Talking to himself was a habit John had developed as a child, a result of

limited social interaction or perhaps his unconventional upbringing.

Nevertheless, he realized he had to curb this tendency in a normal social

environment.

"I can't let them think I'm weird. Ah, I’m doing it again," John

scolded himself, struggling to suppress his inner dialogue. Wincing at the

sound of his voice, he nervously scanned the classroom.

Maybe no one saw him after all.

Well, it shouldn't be too much of an issue. His voice was barely audible at

this point, unlikely to disturb anyone. Moreover, the considerable distance

between the students' seats, roughly a meter apart, ensured that his barely

audible voice wouldn't travel far.

"Alright, I'll be leaving you all now. Enjoy a ten-minute break before

your first period. Use the time wisely," Mr. Archibald's vague farewell

echoed through the room. "Have a great day," the teacher concluded, swiftly exiting the room

and closing the door behind him.

“…”

Silence fell upon the classroom the moment Mr. Archibald left, creating a

lot of awkwardness. What did they expect? Every person in that room was a

stranger.

"Hmm… this sucks" John glanced to his left, a fleeting thought

crossing his mind.

Contrary to his intentions, the stifling atmosphere intensified. It wasn't that

he hadn't experienced such a quiet environment before; in fact, being

homeschooled up to this point made him all too familiar with it.

Amidst the prolonged silence, however, something caught his attention,

despite his attempt to remain composed.

"I wanted to sit by the window..." He sighed.

Instead, John found himself occupying an ordinary seat in the third row and

fourth column—not exactly a coveted spot. He had known the chances of

getting a seat by the window were slim, but the outcome still left a bitter

taste. To make matters worse, the day wasn't unfolding as he had hoped.

"When you're dissatisfied, set a goal and work towards it," John

recited his mantra, making a decision. Rather than sulking like a loser, he

resolved to take action. Perhaps this was his opportunity to make a good

impression on his classmates and score social points.

If he was lucky, he could become the Class Representative and draw a

crowd of admirers. His popularity could skyrocket from there, and it wasn't

a bad idea at all. His heart raced with anticipation as he formulated the

perfect plan in his mind.

"Alright, let's—" He started.

"Excuse me, everyone. May I have your attention?" A beautiful

girl suddenly rose from her seat, a split second before John could make his

move. The moment her melodious voice reached his ears, he felt as if his

body was glued to the chair, rendering him immobile. Thankfully, his head could still turn, so he mechanically shifted his gaze

toward the captivating girl. Her seat was also positioned in the third row,

right beside the line of windows that offered an amazing view of the

enchanting surroundings beyond the classroom.

John couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

With her long brown hair and mesmerizing violet eyes, she commanded his

full attention. She was a total stunner, lighting up the room with her

dazzling smile. One glance at her was enough to take anyone's breath away.

Dressed in a neatly fitted uniform, her skirt gently swayed as she addressed

the audience, capturing the gaze of most, save for a couple of distracted

students.

"I’ll get straight to the point. These ten minutes we've been given

will likely shape the course of our lives here. I suggest we put this time to

good use." Her serious tone matched the expression on her face.

"Elaborate." A boy sitting beside her promptly responded.

Behind his glasses, his eyes remained fixed on the book on his desk, yet his

sharp reply revealed that he was listening to her every word.

"Firstly, I'd like to ask a question. How many of us here graduated

from this Academy's Middle School?"

The Richardson Elite Academy, as an academic institution, included a

Middle School program spanning two years. Upon completion, deserving

students were promoted to the High School level.

Based on this fact, a couple of students in the classroom had to be from the

incoming set.

However—

“Nobody, huh?”

No one raised their hands. Not even one.

“It seems I was right.” A hint of concern crept into her voice,

casting a shadow over her once vibrant demeanor. The bright violet hue in

her eyes dulled as if reflecting the gravity of the situation.

“Elaborate.” Once more, the boy beside her said. At this moment, tension gripped most of the students. Everyone wanted to

hear what the standing girl had to say. However, the knowing expressions

on several faces suggested that they were reaching the same conclusion as

the girl addressing them

“Only twenty-five students graduated from the Middle School during

the last session. As first years, the school split new entrants into two evenly

divided classes. That means only one thing.”

Whispers rippled through the room as more and more students pieced

together the puzzle, their eyes widening with dawning comprehension.

"It means that those who have been educated here before, who

survived the rigors of this prestigious academy, have been placed in Class

A," the girl continued, her voice carrying a mix of resignation and

determination. "That leaves us, the newcomers, in Class B."

The realization settled heavily upon the perceptive minds in the room. The

girl forged ahead, her voice steady and filled with conviction.

“Do you know what that means?” Some may have pieced it

together, but it was still a hard pill to swallow. Nevertheless, it needed to be

said.

“From the very beginning, we've already started competing.”

In Richardson Elite Academy, competition was everything, a driving force

that propelled students to surpass their limits. The elite nature of the school

demanded nothing less.

There was just one problem, though.

“We’re on the losing end!”

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