June 2nd, 8:00 AM – Class 1-D
Kairon walked down the hallway, hands in his pockets, a faint noise coming from his classroom. As he stepped in, the room was loud—students standing, voices clashing.
He frowned. "What's going on?"
Ivy quickly came up to him, worry written all over her face. "Kairon… something bad has happened."
Before she could explain, a heated voice broke through.
"I told you I didn't do it!" Kei shouted. He stood, facing Sena and Meira. "It had to be those guys from Class C! They've always looked for a chance to set me up. This is probably their doing!"
Meira scoffed. "And who's going to believe that?"
The classroom door opened, and everything went silent. Miss Elira walked in, her presence enough to calm the storm. The students hurried to their seats.
Kairon sat beside Aria, who glanced at him. "You're late."
He rested his chin on his hand. "I overslept."
Miss Elira stood at the front of the class, her voice calm and firm. "Today, we have a serious issue. Someone stole examination questions from the admin office. Later, those questions were found in Kei's bag… thanks to a student from Class C."
Gasps and murmurs filled the air.
Miss Elira continued. "The same student, from the basketball club, also reported that Kei assaulted him after practice. He claims Kei got violent."
Kei spoke through clenched teeth. "That's how defense works. He came at me. I just responded."
"But there's no proof," Miss Elira said. Kei fell silent.
She glanced around the class. "If someone had witnessed the fight, the situation might be different."
Ivy stood up, her voice shaky. "Did anyone see Kei with the Class C student? Or hear anything?"
The room stayed quiet. No one spoke. The girl sitting beside Kei lowered her head.
Kairon watched her carefully, observing everything.
Suddenly, Kei slammed his fist on the desk. "Tch!"
Lucien, spinning his mirror on his finger, smirked. His legs were crossed on the desk, his hair perfectly styled.
"Honestly," he said, not looking up. "This class would look better without you,Mr Red Riot. You mess up the whole aesthetic."
He stopped twirling the mirror and smiled.
Kei shot up from his seat. "What did you say?!"
"Kei, stop!" Riven stepped between them.
Miss Elira raised her hand. "Enough. One week from now, there will be a hearing. Class C and the student council will be involved. Depending on the outcome, points will be adjusted. Kei may be punished… possibly even expelled."
The class froze in shock.
"And if that happens," she added, "this class will lose points as well."
---
Class C Party Room
A bright room filled with colorful lights and loud music. Students partied, laughing and drinking. A boy leaned back on a couch, two girls with him—one massaging his shoulders, the other holding a wine bottle.
He raised his wine glass and smirked. "Those monkeys in Class D must be panicking right now."
He took a sip. The girl beside him refilled his glass.
Across the room, a blue-haired girl stared silently at him.
Suddenly, the door burst open. A dirt-covered boy limped in, one hand clutching his side, a black eye forming.
"Ren…" he muttered. "I think… someone saw the fight with Kei. Someone might've been there."
A tall figure stepped forward. Cold. Intimidating.
"Bad boy," the figure muttered before punching the student again and again. His screams echoed through the party.
Ren watched, swirling the wine in his glass. The student collapsed onto the table, blood dripping from his mouth.
Ren poured wine on his head and said calmly, "This is what a victim should look like. Right?"
The injured boy nodded weakly. "Thank you…"
Ren smirked. "If this plan doesn't work, we'll move to the next. Just follow my orders."
---
Class 1-D, Later
Torin sighed. "This is all Kei's fault…"
Caden had his head on the desk. "Doesn't this suck? Another month without points?"
Sena folded her arms. "Kei should've just been kicked out."
"Right," Meira agreed.
Aria stood behind Kairon, staring out the window.
"Do you think the same?" she asked. "Should Kei be expelled?"
Kairon, still resting on his hand, replied calmly, "I don't think so. But maybe I should ask you. You didn't help him last time either."
Aria looked at her reflection in the glass. "Our points are at zero. Even if he gets expelled, it's not like we can go lower."
Kairon let out a small breath. "True. But… what if points are deducted later? Or if we need a clean record to reach Platinum rank? We don't really know how the system works."
She turned to him. "That's ridiculous."
"Maybe," he said. "But if we want to move up, we need to eliminate all risks. Kei's a good athlete. He said it himself. And he got accepted into the basketball club. He could still be useful—"
"Guys, listen up!" Riven suddenly spoke from the front of the class.
Everyone turned.
"I want to believe in my classmate," Riven said. "Are you all willing to help find a witness or any leads?"
Meira raised her hand. "I'm in!"
Sena nodded. "If Riven says so."
Ivy clutched her chest. "We need to trust him first. I agree."
Torin smiled. "Since Ivy agrees, I'm in too."
Caden gave him a look. "Sure it's not because you've got a crush?"
"What?! No—I mean—shut up!" Torin jumped on him as they wrestled on the floor.
Ivy walked over to Kairon and Aria. "Kairon, Aria… you'll help too, right?"
Aria sighed, still facing the window. "It's come to this. We have to help now."
Kairon gave a small nod. "Who knows. I'm not aiming for Platinum rank anyway."
Ivy leaned closer with a smile. "But you'll help, right? Thank you!"
Kairon scratched his head. "Yeah… sure."
She smiled. "Aria!"
Aria walked off silently.
Ivy looked back at Kairon. "Let's do our best. But Kei… probably shouldn't be involved in the search."
Kairon nodded. "Yeah. The defendant shouldn't be the one looking for witnesses."
"You're right," Ivy said, leaning in with a grin. "I'll talk to Kei. We'll start after school."
---
After School, By the Fountain
Ivy, Torin, and Caden sat on the edge of a fountain, tired. Kairon stood nearby.
Ivy let out a deep sigh. "No leads. Nothing."
Torin leaned back. "Maybe Kei really did lie…"
Caden added, "Wouldn't be a surprise."
"What about Aria and the others?" Kairon asked.
Ivy checked her phone. "I've messaged them. No luck either."
"KAIRON! IVY!"
They turned to see Lizzy waving as she ran over.
"Lizzy!" Ivy smiled.
"I heard you guys are investigating something," Lizzy said, catching her breath.
Kairon and Ivy exchanged glances before Ivy filled her in on everything.
"Class C, huh…" Lizzy said. "Sorry, I don't know anything myself. But I promise—Class B will help search for leads!"
"Really?!" Ivy stood up and grabbed her hands. "Thank you so much!"
Suddenly, Kairon pulled Ivy back gently. "Wait—"
"What are you doing?" she asked.
He thought to himself, There's probably a hidden agenda…
Out loud, he said, "We shouldn't trouble another class."
Lizzy cut in with a wink. "Don't worry. We'll take it seriously. Besides, I still owe you, remember?"
Ivy looked between them, confused.