The classroom fell silent as the teacher, Dr. Marcus Havel, stood at the front. His presence was imposing, with his steel-gray eyes scanning the room. He was tall, dressed in a neatly pressed suit, his salt-and-pepper hair almost blending into the austere atmosphere. The students were seated in rows, tension in the air as the first day of school at the Genesis Institute had begun.
"Alright," Dr. Havel began, his voice sharp and authoritative. "I will take attendance, and we will proceed with the day's agenda." His eyes scanned the list, ticking off names as he went.
"Elena Tran," the teacher called.
"Here!" replied a confident voice. Elena, a girl with long black hair and bright green eyes, gave a small wave to the teacher, her posture straight as she sat.
"Ava Reynolds," Dr. Havel continued.
"Present," came Ava's soft voice. Ava was a blonde with a fair complexion and a quiet demeanor, but her eyes held an intense focus that suggested a sharp mind behind the calm exterior.
"Ethan Ward."
"Here!" Ethan replied with a smirk. He was a tall, lanky boy with brown eyes and messy hair, his expression always filled with confidence. He was the type of person who always seemed to have something clever to say.
The teacher's voice grew slightly more tense as he read the next name. "Alexei Zorato Silva."
Silence. No answer.
The teacher's eyes narrowed. "No response?" He repeated the name louder, but still, there was nothing.
Dr. Havel sighed and placed the roll sheet down. "Well then, it seems we have a lot to discuss."
The room held its breath. Luca, sitting in the middle, couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. This wasn't just a regular school. Genesis Institute had set a stage for the most ambitious students on the planet, and from the very beginning, it was clear that every single moment counted.
After the attendance, Dr. Havel stepped forward and began his speech. "You have all been placed in Class F," he said coldly. "This class is for the students who have failed to impress in the entrance exam. You all scored below 500 points out of 1000."
The room grew tense again. Most students had never been in a position like this before. Class F was not just for anyone; it was for the students who had proven themselves to be far below the top-tier candidates, and yet… here they were.
"The entrance exam," Dr. Havel continued, "is designed to test not only your academic abilities but your physical prowess, leadership skills, and your ability to think under pressure. It is a system of 1000 points, each section graded on a scale from 0 to 200. You all know how it works. However, those of you in Class F have much to prove. You will need to fight for your place, and fast."
Luca felt a chill crawl up his spine. He had scored 350 points out of 1000. That score wasn't bad by his standards, but it was nowhere near the kind of score that made people take notice. Yet, he knew he had something the others didn't: strategy.
Dr. Havel's voice broke through his thoughts. "It is possible for all of you to move up. The goal should be to reach Class C by the end of your time here. Not only can you advance, but your position will determine your future here at Genesis. The competition will be fierce, but if you want to survive, you must excel, or you will fall."
A few students exchanged uncertain glances. But Luca? He already knew what he had to do. He had no choice but to play the game. But not the same way everyone else did.
"Now," Dr. Havel said, his voice softening, "I will announce your living arrangements."
He read from his list. "Luca Vitali, you will be paired with Kai Nakamura and Alexei Zorato Silva."
Luca's eyes narrowed at the mention of Alexei's name. He hadn't heard much about the boy, but from the silence during attendance, he could tell Alexei wasn't one to follow the rules.
As the students filed out of the classroom to head to their assigned dorms, Luca exchanged a quick glance with Kai. Kai was a boy of few words but had a certain energy about him. As the two of them walked together, Luca could feel the unspoken understanding between them. They weren't here to make friends, not yet anyway.
"So," Kai spoke up after a brief silence, "how do you feel about the whole… situation?"
Luca took a moment before answering, eyes focused ahead. "I don't care about their rules. This is just another game. And I plan on playing it better than anyone."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. You don't look like the type to take risks."
Luca smirked slightly. "You'd be surprised."
As they approached the dormitory, they noticed a peculiar sight. The building was supposed to be for the freshman boys of Class F to D, but standing in front of the door was a girl ?
She—or rather, they—stood with arms crossed, back leaned against the wall with an effortless kind of grace. Dressed in the Genesis uniform like everyone else, but somehow… it looked different on them. More elegant. More tailored.
Kai tilted his head. "Uh… did we take a wrong turn? This is the guys' dorm, right?"
Luca didn't answer. His eyes were locked on the figure in front of them. Something wasn't adding up. The presence felt different. Not like a girl who'd gotten lost—more like someone who absolutely knew where they belonged.
The figure straightened up, giving them both a disinterested glance. "You're 103?"
The voice was soft.High-pitched. Masculine… barely. But enough.
Kai blinked, lips parting slightly. "Wait… you're—"
The person gave a subtle nod. "Alexei Zorato Silva. This is my room too."
Luca's eyes narrowed slightly. That was Alexei?
Without another word, Alexei reached for the door handle and pushed it open. The light from inside the room spilled across his face—and that's when Luca saw him properly.
The first thing he noticed was the hair: long, thick curls, cascading past his shoulders like dark rivers of ink. The strands shimmered slightly in the light, framing a face that seemed sculpted by something otherworldly. High cheekbones, smooth brown skin with a warm golden undertone, and piercing pale blue eyes that looked almost translucent. His lips were soft, full, perfectly symmetrical.
It wasn't beauty. It was something beyond that.
If Luca hadn't heard the voice himself, he would've sworn this was a girl—no, more than that. Alexei looked more feminine than any girl he'd ever seen. Smaller, leaner, delicate in bone structure and posture. And yet, there was no insecurity, no awkwardness in the way he moved. Just… self-assured elegance.
Kai exhaled sharply, eyes widening with recognition. "Wait a damn second—I know you! You're that kid model! From Brazil, right? You were in, like, every campaign last year. Everywhere! Runways, perfume ads, even that luxury watch brand. What the hell are you doing here?"
Alexei raised an eyebrow, amused. "Trying to survive, same as you, I suppose."
Kai stared for another moment, genuinely stunned. "Dude. You're insanely famous. My cousin had you on her wallpaper for a year."
Luca, still quiet, walked into the room behind them. He wasn't easily impressed—but Alexei's presence lingered like a perfume you couldn't ignore. And now that he was watching him move, place his bag down, cross the room in a single graceful motion—it all made sense. This wasn't just someone used to attention. This was someone trained to be seen.
Luca finally spoke, his tone measured. "You chose this place. You had options. Why here?"
Alexei looked over his shoulder, one delicate eyebrow lifting. "Maybe I wanted something more real. Or maybe I'm just good at pretending."
Before Luca could reply, a knock echoed through the room. Three light taps.
They all turned toward the door.
Kai frowned. "Who the hell would be knocking already? We just got here."
Alexei remained still, gaze fixed on the door.
Another knock.
This time, slower.
Luca's eyes narrowed. "Should I open it?"
Kai stepped forward. "I got it."
He reached for the handle, heart thudding for some inexplicable reason.
Outside that door… someone—or something—was waiting.
Meet the characters revealed so far.
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-044]
Name: Elena Tran
Age: 14
Height: 1m58
Weight: 42 kg
Eyes: Bright green
Hair: Long, jet black
Class: F Class
Nationality: Vietnamese-American
Type of Student: Precision Thinker / Tactical Support
Hobbies: Origami, piano, competitive coding challenges
Dislikes: Laziness, overconfidence, loud noises
Notable Traits: Poised, razor-sharp intellect, thrives in structured environments
Quote: "If you're not two moves ahead, you're already losing."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-062]
Name: Ava Reynolds
Age: 14
Height: 1m68
Weight: 52 kg
Eyes: Light blue
Hair: Shoulder-length blonde
Class: F Class
Nationality: British
Type of Student: Analytical Observer / Silent Planner
Hobbies: Astronomy, journaling, studying body language
Dislikes: Attention, chaos, being underestimated
Notable Traits: Quiet but calculating, strong situational awareness, excels in data interpretation
Quote: "Silence lets you hear what everyone else tries to hide."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-057]
Name: Ethan Ward
Age: 14
Height: 1m75
Weight: 63 kg
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown, messy
Class: F Class
Nationality: Canadian
Type of Student: Confident Opportunist / Verbal Trickster
Hobbies: Debate club, freestyle rap, online strategy games
Dislikes: Authority, repetition, boring people
Notable Traits: Witty, charismatic, improvises well under pressure
Quote: "Every game has a flaw — I just find it before you do."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-045]
Name: Alexei Zorato Silva
Age: 14
Height: 1m53
Weight: 35 kg
Eyes: Pale, almost translucent blue
Hair: Long dark curls, ink-black with a soft shimmer
Class: F Class
Nationality: Brazilian-Russian
Type of Student: Social Chameleon
Hobbies: Manga,Street football,silent films, fragrance blending.
Dislikes: Crudeness, invasive questions, mirrors
Notable Traits: Ethereal appearance, unfaltering poise, history as a renowned child model; moves and speaks with elegant ambiguity. Master of attention without seeking it.
Quote: "Maybe I wanted something more real. Or maybe I'm just good at pretending."