Wednesday — 3:45 PM
Classes had ended early. The corridors of Genesis Institute felt strangely quiet, like the school itself was holding its breath. Teachers were in meetings. Students were told to "rest." But everyone knew the reason.
Next week — the special exams begin.
Far above the dormitories and classrooms, past secured elevators and reinforced glass doors, the Starclass meeting room glowed with soft, clinical light.
Around a large black table sat a dozen elite students. Their uniforms had subtle gold accents. Their expressions were sharp, focused — but all eyes slowly turned toward him.
Zihan Chen.
The only student to ever score 1000/1000 on the Genesis entrance exam.
He stood near the window, arms crossed, posture relaxed. His hair was pitch-black, long and smooth, falling just past his jawline. His skin was ghost-pale, and his eyes—deep, inky black—didn't shimmer like the others. They absorbed light. Looking at him too long felt like being dragged into a void.
And yet… he smiled.
> "The exam's next week," he said, voice soft, almost kind. "Do your best."
That was all.
But the moment he finished speaking, a heavy silence fell. Not fear. Not exactly.
Obligation.
Every student in that room felt it — the weight behind his words. That smile that made them want to perform, to win, to rise — or disappear.
---
Meanwhile — Genesis Dorms, Lower Grounds
"Alright," Kai stretched his arms wide, walking between Luca and Alexei. "Classes are over, no homework, the teachers are in their secret council of doom… which means: boys, we got ourselves a long weekend."
Luca didn't answer.
Kai glanced at him sideways. "Don't look so excited, man. You might crack a smile."
"I'm fine," Luca replied, deadpan.
Kai turned to Alexei. "You hear that, Alexei? 'I'm fine'. He's clearly thrilled."
Alexei didn't respond either. He was slowly eating a gummy bear, holding it between two fingers like it was made of crystal.
"I'm helping Ashley with her studies tomorrow," Luca added, still staring straight ahead. "She's coming to our room friday. With two of her friends."
Kai stopped walking. "...You're kidding."
"No."
A beat. Then—
> "A full 3v3?! Bro, well played!"
Luca side-eyed him. "The other two are here for Alexei."
Kai looked at Alexei.
Alexei was holding another gummy bear between his fingers, staring at it like it was sacred.
He popped it into his mouth and let out a small, content hum.
Kai's mouth fell open.
> "WHY is it always the tiny sugar goblin?!"
Alexei blinked up at him, then smirked. Just a little. The kind of smile that says 'Yeah. Stay jealous.'
Kai let out a dramatic sigh and grabbed Alexei's gummy pack. "That's it. Candy privileges revoked. Hand it over, Goblin Prince."
Alexei frowned and reached for it silently.
Kai held it above his head. "What now, fun-size?"
Luca stepped in, snatched the pack, and handed it back to Alexei without a word.
Alexei gave a quiet, satisfied nod and kept chewing.
Kai clutched his chest. "Wow. I see how it is. You two have your little sugar cult, and I'm the outsider."
Luca continued walking. "Correct."
Alexei followed, still munching.
Kai jogged to catch up. "You guys are heartless."
"You're loud," Luca replied.
"I'm charming."
"You're annoying," Alexei mumbled softly through a mouthful of gummy bear.
Kai gasped. "Even you?! Betrayal."
Luca glanced at Alexei. "You eat too many sweets."
Alexei slowed down for a second. His expression didn't change much — but his voice was just a little quieter than before.
> "I wasn't always allowed to."
Kai tilted his head, but didn't ask.
Luca didn't say anything either.
They just kept walking.
A buzz broke the silence.
Kai pulled out his tablet. "Oh?"
Notification from the Class F group chat:
[Ashley_S]: "Tomorrow — pool day at the Genesis indoor facility! Just a bit of fun before study mode. @LucaVitali @AlexeiZorato.Slv— you two better show up!"
Kai stared at the screen.
"…Wait. Just them?"
He scrolled.
No mention of him.
"HELLO?! What am I, the background character?!"
Luca didn't react.
Alexei offered him a gummy bear.
Kai took it with a grumble. "Fine. But I'm still crashing that pool day."
Alexei tilted his head. "You don't even swim."
"I float with style."
Luca let out the faintest breath — not quite a laugh. But close.
Thursday - 10:42 AM
"You know what's the only good thing about Genesis?" Kai asked, arms behind his head as they walked toward the indoor recreation center. "It's not the training. It's not the tests. It's that little fake city next to campus. Cafes, arcades, a ramen bar. Even a freakin' bookstore with beanbags. The upperclassmen call it Genesis Town."
Luca didn't respond.
"They even have a tattoo studio," Kai continued. "You know how bad I want a dragon wrapped around my arm that says 'No Homework, No Cry'?"
Alexei blinked slowly. "That's... dumb."
Kai grinned. "Still thinking about it."
Today, F Class had taken over the indoor pool. Thanks to Ashley Smith, who somehow convinced the staff it was an approved 'team-building activity.'
When the trio arrived, the large pool area was already buzzing. Music played from a portable speaker, beach towels covered the lounge chairs, and someone had even brought floaties shaped like sea animals.
"And thus," Kai spread his arms, "begins the social event of the year."
---
The Pool Cast: F Class Chaos, Activated
Ashley Smith, in a sleek light blue swimsuit, waved them over.
Her two close friends:
Giulia, with bronze skin and wavy hair, had a sharp look in her eyes and a flirtatious edge.
Nora, more reserved, stood with arms loosely crossed, calmly surveying the crowd.
Derrick, the loud football player, came over grinning. "Yo, Vitali! Heard you're tutoring Ashley. You free to help a guy out too?"
Behind him:
Tiana, confident and vibrant, full of charisma.
Seo-yeon, quieter, eyes curious, towel held neatly in her hands.
Iker and Mads, already splashing around, acting like overexcited kids.
Arta, sitting by herself, silently watching with dark, unreadable eyes.
Lucia, glasses fogged, book open, eyes flicking to Luca when she thought no one noticed.
Sofia, chatting animatedly in the center of a small crowd, half the boys orbiting her like satellites.
Julien and Daisuke, near the diving board, laughing and messing around.
Claire, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, the only one looking like she was still in a classroom.
And quietly, near the lockers, sat Noah Brooks, feet in the water, half-smiling but clearly uncomfortable.
Ashley greeted them with a grin. "Took you long enough."
"You were early," Luca said flatly.
"I call it being punctual with style."
Kai scanned the pool area. "This class is actually kinda stacked. If someone starts a fight, it'll turn into a reality show."
"That sounds... inevitable," Alexei muttered, opening a small pack of gummy bears.
Nearby, Tiana called out to Alexei, waving. "Hey, you should take off the hoodie for once. You look good, y'know."
Alexei glanced up, paused, then shrugged. "I'm fine here."
"Suit yourself," she smiled, genuine but not pushy.
Seo-yeon gave him a small nod. "I like your hair. It's cool."
Alexei blinked once, then quietly returned to eating another gummy bear.
That's when Kai appeared behind him, flanked by Iker and Mads.
SPLASH!
All three shoved Alexei into the pool.
He surfaced slowly, blinking water out of his lashes, his curls now completely flattened.
"JUSTICE FOR THE AVERAGE-LOOKING!" Iker declared
Alexei simply floated to the edge and leaned his arms on the pool rim. "You're all immature."
Luca dropped a towel near him smiling lightly. "You're going to get sick."
"I won't," Alexei muttered, barely suppressing a smile.
Giulia had been watching. She chuckled softly.
---
The afternoon passed in waves of laughter and chaos. Derrick organized a water polo match. Ethan tried to freestyle rap while treading water. Sofia hosted a mini dance-off. Lucia managed to sit near Luca without exploding. Arta never moved.
Giulia sat beside Luca near the shallow end.
"You're different," she said simply.
"Not in the 'weird' way. Just... different. Quiet, but never lost.
He didn't answer right away. She didn't seem to mind.
"You ever let people see what you're thinking?"
"Rarely."
"You should, sometimes. Might surprise you."
He glanced at her. "Maybe."
She smiled to herself, tucking a strand of wet hair behind her ear.
Across the pool, Kai was stacking inflatable rings onto Derrick, trying to make a floating tower. Ashley and Claire exchanged amused looks. Tiana played music from her speaker, and Sofia spun in the water like it was a performance.
Genesis, in all its pressure and madness, felt distant for just a moment.
F Class wasn't rising yet. But for the first time
They felt like a class.
Meet the characters revealed so far
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #S-001]
Name: Zihan Chen
Age: 14
Height: 1m75
Weight: 64 kg
Eyes: Deep black, absorbing light rather than reflecting it
Hair: Straight jet-black, medium-length, always perfectly in place
Class: Starclass
Nationality: Chinese
Type of Student: Absolute Prodigy / Aura Dominator
Hobbies: Abstract strategy games, silence, tea rituals, stargazing
Dislikes: Mediocrity, noise, artificial behavior
Notable Traits: The only student in Genesis history to score 1000/1000 on the entrance exam; speaks rarely, but every word seems to carry unseen weight; projects calm warmth on the surface, but exudes silent authority that pressures even top-tier students
Quote: "You don't have to fear me. But you will want to surpass me. That's enough."
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-084]
Name: Giulia Ferraro
Age: 14
Height: 1m65
Weight: 49 kg
Eyes: Emerald green
Hair: Chestnut brown, shoulder-length with soft waves
Class: F Class
Nationality: Italian
Type of Student: Charmer / Emotional Reader
Hobbies: Sketching people, journaling, romantic drama series
Dislikes: Boredom, being ignored, forced formality
Notable Traits: Flirty, expressive, but emotionally sharp; easily reads others' moods and adapts; naturally drawn to still waters like Luca
Quote: "Sometimes silence says more than flirting ever could."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-085]
Name: Nora Weiss
Age: 14
Height: 1m67
Weight: 52 kg
Eyes: Steel gray
Hair: Pale blonde, always tied back
Class: F Class
Nationality: Swiss
Type of Student: Rational Planner / Social Minimalist
Hobbies: Puzzle solving, photography, silent observation
Dislikes: Chaos, attention-seeking, overly emotional reactions
Notable Traits: Extremely calm, calculated; rarely speaks but when she does, it hits; prefers analyzing people from a distance
Quote: "Noise fades. Patterns stay."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-086]
Name: Derrick Price
Age: 14
Height: 1m86
Weight: 83 kg
Eyes: Dark brown
Hair: Short Freeform
Class: F Class
Nationality: American
Type of Student: Physical Competitor / Loyal Supporter
Hobbies: American football, lifting, friendly trash talk
Dislikes: Snakes, cheating, being underestimated for being loud
Notable Traits: Powerful build, surprisingly strategic in sports; earned his spot through a full athletic scholarship; outwardly chill, but dead serious about loyalty and effort
Quote: "I joke a lot, but I don't play about work."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-087]
Name: Tiana Blake
Age: 14
Height: 1m72
Weight: 57 kg
Eyes: Dark amber
Hair: Big afro, often accessorized
Class: F Class
Nationality: American
Type of Student: Performance-Based Social Leader
Hobbies: Dance, movement improvisation, throwing spontaneous events
Dislikes: Bad vibes, fake compliments, being sidelined
Notable Traits: Confident, magnetic personality; balances social presence and academic effort; often breaks tension without even trying
Quote: "Don't wait to be noticed. Show up like you belong."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-088]
Name: Min Seo-yeon
Age: 14
Height: 1m53
Weight: 40 kg
Eyes: Soft brown
Hair: Straight black, shoulder-length
Class: F Class
Nationality: South Korean
Type of Student: Artistic Achiever / Silent Precisionist
Hobbies: Classical piano, ink painting, quiet reflection
Dislikes: Loud people, careless mistakes, dirty shoes on clean floors
Notable Traits: Gifted in both visual and musical arts; prefers expression through creation; calm but confident in her space
Quote: "You don't have to speak loudly to leave a mark."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-090]
Name: Iker Delvaux
Age: 14
Height: 1m80
Weight: 62 kg
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Dirty blonde, spiky and messy
Class: F Class
Nationality: Belgian
Type of Student: Comic Relief / Shameless Opportunist
Hobbies: Meme creation, prank wars, speed-dating attempts
Dislikes: Silence, being ignored, homework
Notable Traits: Loud, often ridiculous, but surprisingly loyal; follows Kai and Mads into chaos with zero hesitation
Quote: "I aim to entertain. Intelligence is optional."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-091]
Name: Mads Olsson
Age: 14
Height: 1m74
Weight: 67 kg
Eyes: Ice blue
Hair: Blonde, short and spiky
Class: F Class
Nationality: Norwegian
Type of Student: Comic Relief / Chaos Engine
Hobbies: Pool games, dares, ranking the girls in the dorm
Dislikes: Rules, morning classes, being left out of a joke
Notable Traits: Wild energy, not much filter; dumb but aware he's dumb; weirdly likable despite being a public menace
Quote: "If you don't like the vibe, you're the problem."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-092]
Name: Arta Kelmendi
Age: 14
Height: 1m66
Weight: 50 kg
Eyes: Jet black
Hair: Sleek black, straight and shoulder-length
Class: F Class
Nationality: Albanian
Type of Student: Silent Observer / Emotionally Guarded
Hobbies: Reading poetry, sketching in margins, walking alone
Dislikes: Loud crowds, invasive people, assumptions
Notable Traits: Sits quietly, never interrupts, but notices everything; intimidating in her stillness
Quote: "People reveal more when you don't speak."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-093]
Name: Lucia Ortega
Age: 14
Height: 1m57
Weight: 45 kg
Eyes: Warm brown
Hair: Dark brown, shoulder-length
Class: F Class
Nationality: Argentine
Type of Student: Bookworm / Hidden Admirer
Hobbies: Reading novels, annotating everything, hiding crushes
Dislikes: Public speaking, teasing, being wrong in front of people
Notable Traits: Shy but observant; often lost in her books; has a growing but quiet affection for Luca she doesn't fully understand yet
Quote: "Books don't stare when you get nervous."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-094]
Name: Sofia Morales
Age: 14
Height: 1m63
Weight: 52 kg
Eyes: Golden brown
Hair: Curly and long, always styled
Class: F Class
Nationality: Spanish
Type of Student: Social Queen / Multi-Class Connector
Hobbies: Social media, group chats, dancing
Dislikes: Drama she doesn't control, fake apologies, unflattering lighting
Notable Traits: Extremely popular among all 9th-grade classes; always in the middle of attention, but keeps her secrets well; naturally charming but unpredictable
Quote: "Being popular is easy. Staying in control? That's the fun part."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-095]
Name: Julien Lebeau
Age: 14
Height: 1m75
Weight: 60 kg
Eyes: Light gray
Hair: Brown, short and tidy
Class: F Class
Nationality: French
Type of Student: Calm Support / Balanced Thinker
Hobbies: Soccer, documentaries, giving honest advice
Dislikes: Loudmouths, disorganization, fake friendships
Notable Traits: Easy to get along with; always seems to know when to speak or stay quiet; considered reliable by most students
Quote: "You don't have to shine to be solid."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-096]
Name: Daisuke Hanamura
Age: 14
Height: 1m77
Weight: 62 kg
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Dyed light brown, slightly messy
Class: F Class
Nationality: Japanese-Mexican
Type of Student: Charming Slacker / Soccer Show-Off
Hobbies: Soccer, flirting, late-night calls
Dislikes: Being benched, being ignored, strict teachers
Notable Traits: Has a reputation as a harmless flirt; skilled in sports but prefers people over pressure; probably has three crushes at once
Quote: "I like competition. Especially if it ends in a date."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-097]
Name: Claire Rousseau
Age: 14
Height: 1m70
Weight: 53 kg
Eyes: Deep green
Hair: Auburn, usually tied in a braid
Class: F Class
Nationality: French
Type of Student: Academic Backbone / Low-Key Authority
Hobbies: Strategic planning, note-taking, study circles
Dislikes: Sloppiness, laziness, fake leadership
Notable Traits: Serious, precise, and often the quiet enforcer of structure within the chaos; has a reputation of being Ashley's "common sense" friend
Quote: "Fun is fine. Just don't forget why we're here."