The final cue from the ceremony leader signaled the end of the formal event.
The previously tense and rigid atmosphere quickly shifted into liveliness.
Students dispersed—some heading to the auditorium, others toward the small practice field, and many just looking for shaded spots to sit.
The typical school buzz had returned.
Hazandeen's principal stepped forward and directed his attention to the guest delegation from Makazhar Elite School.
Wearing a practiced smile, he approached the Makazhar principal and greeted him warmly.
"Please, follow me to the main lounge. We've prepared some light refreshments there."
The Makazhar principal—a bespectacled man radiating high academic authority—gave a small nod. Behind him, several teachers and students from Makazhar, including David, followed in calm, orderly steps.
The group was escorted from the field to Hazandeen's VIP Lounge—a sleek and elegant room on the western wing of the school, usually reserved for high-level visitors or formal occasions.
Meanwhile, Hazandeen students who were part of the School Festival were instructed to remain on the field.
Event staff scrambled around, pinning up name lists on temporary bulletin boards.
Advising teachers huddled in discussions, double-checking forms and participant data.
The atmosphere was like a marketplace—noisy, hot, but filled with spirited energy.
Al didn't move right away.
He was still sitting beneath the large banyan tree, staring at the blue sky now veiled by thin clouds.
Rina, who had been sitting nearby, stood up and stretched her arms.
"Al… aren't you going to the auditorium?"
Al shrugged. "Auditorium?"
Rina rolled her eyes and tossed a small towel at his head.
"At least don't sit there like a depressed statue. We're supposed to be Hazandeen's champions—defending our school's pride against Makazhar Elite School!"
Al touched the towel. Soft. Soap-scented. Still warm—Rina must've brought it from the locker room.
"Thanks, but I'm kinda lazy today. I'd better stay out of it... besides, what could I even do? I'm just a regular student here. Huaaammm." He ended his words with a yawn.
Rina turned to him sharply. "Eh? I thought that rumor was just a joke from the afternoon class students. Turns out it's real, huh."
"What rumor?" Al asked, slightly curious.
"The gossip about you. They say you're lazy, always sleeping, a total weirdo, and—" Rina said casually, but her words were cut off.
"Stop!" Al raised his hand, signaling her to halt. "You don't need to continue. The more you talk, the more ridiculous those rumors are going to get."
"Hahaha. True. And now that I see you myself, those rumors are apparently facts," Rina said, laughing.
"Tch... if anything, I think you're the weird one here," Al replied while stretching lazily in his seat—more small talk than argument.
"Huh? How come I'm the weird one?" Rina asked, slightly annoyed.
"You went through the school's academic database just to find my contact, and even asked my classmates about me. You went that far to know who I am. Isn't that weird? Or... could it be you're interested in me?" Al said lazily, his tone teasing.
Rina scoffed, her expression souring as she snapped,
"Who would ever be interested in you?!"
Al simply smiled and didn't say much. Just...
"Who knows? Hehe." he said, his eyes wandered, searching for an empty corner where he could take his morning nap.
"Whatever. The point is—you have to join. Maybe you'll win the poetry contest or something," Rina said, trying to wrap up the conversation.
Al stood up and lazily brushed his hair back.
"If there's ever a contest for the longest nap, let me know. I'm sure I could win that one."
With that, he walked away, leaving Rina standing there, staring in disbelief.
---
Inside the VIP Lounge, the two principals sat on leather chairs with a long table between them.
David sat at the far end, silent, simply observing.
There was also Idham, representing Hazandeen in welcoming the guests. His sharp eyes locked onto David, a faint spark of rivalry glimmering between them.
Besides your family, what do you even have to rely on, David?Hmph... Look who's standing higher now. You're only in the second-best school, while I... I'm the top student of the best one. He smirked inwardly, silently comparing their status.
But unfortunately for him, David didn't even acknowledge his presence. He didn't glance his way, not even once—as if Idham were nothing more than a buzzing fly before him.
Tchhh... look at him. What, is he too scared to even look me in the eye? Hahaha. Relax for now, David. Once the competition begins, you'll see who the real main character is. Idham thought to himself.
He crossed his arms and exhaling sharply, trying to display an air of elegant dominance.
That soft scoff, however, caught a bit of David's attention. He turned slightly—just enough to glance at Idham—and offered a calm, warm smile.
That alone made Idham flinch inwardly. David's expression was far too composed for what Idham considered a brewing rivalry.
Then, almost imperceptibly, David's smile shifted—his eyes sharpening, arrogance seeping through the corners of his lips. That faint, crooked smirk cut right through Idham's composure, irritating him to the core.
Without another gesture, David let out a quiet, mocking chuckle—too low for anyone else to hear, but clear enough for Idham to feel its sting.
This brat... is he mocking me?! Idham cursed inwardly.
Still, neither of them made any overt reaction. They both masked the tension beneath a facade of civility, maintaining the image of "elite students" in what outwardly looked like a friendly, dignified atmosphere.
Hazandeen's principal initiated the conversation with a friendly tone.
"We're truly honored to host Makazhar Elite School here at Hazandeen."
The Makazhar principal smiled.
"We're pleased as well. Though our schools often compete... this collaboration is a golden opportunity for both student bodies."
"Of course," the Hazandeen principal nodded, "and I believe… our students will give each other an unforgettable experience."
David smiled faintly, hiding disbelief and a darker intent beneath that calm exterior.
Unforgettable experience, huh?
I'll make sure of it, he thought.
---
Back outside, the organizers began calling out names for team assembly.
A teacher stood on a bench and shouted:
"Students who registered or were nominated for the School Festival team, please gather! The preliminary roster is being posted now!"
Al simply walked past the crowd gathered around the announcement board.
He yawned wide, glancing lazily at the list of participants for the School Festival event from afar. He already knew—his name wouldn't be there. And sure enough, it wasn't.
What for? He wasn't active in any club, not popular, had no reputation, and didn't have any kind of talent show to sell. Everything about him screamed average—just a normal student with ordinary grades and skills.
The only thing that made him 'less' than others was his orphanage status. A label that was nearly impossible to alter, since it had already been officially recorded in the Ministry of Child Protection's database, which indirectly kept track of him.
Other than that, he was just a regular student—known mostly for his laziness and habit of sleeping anywhere. Not a bad reputation, but nothing to be proud of either. Purely average.
"Better head to an empty classroom. Cool, quiet, peaceful. Sleep. At least I've paid off that so-called debt of gratitude by coming early," he muttered as he turned away.
He turned and started walking lazily toward the west building.
But before he reached the stairs—
Fast footsteps approached from behind.
Rina rushed up, panting with a nervous look on her face.
"Al! Hey! You… you have to see this!"
Al frowned. "Now what…"
"Your name is on the list," she said, pointing toward the board.
Al froze. Blinked a few times.
"…Huh?"
Rina exhaled sharply. "And the crazier part… you're on the martial arts team. With me and… Jogo."
Al's world crumbled in an instant.
"Wait… no… this has to be a mistake… You must be kidding, right?"
His face drained of all hope. His head dropped, like a farmer realizing his crops had failed.
Just earlier, he had imagined a peaceful afternoon nap with nothing but wind to hug.
Now? Martial arts? With Jogo and Rina?!
"I'm just a kind rich kid, and now I'm being asked to join a competition to beat people up. Wow," Al muttered in disbelief.
Rina bit her lip, confused. "You... you don't know any martial arts?"
Al only shrugged. "Me? Actually... I do. But it's exactly because I'm too good that I'd better not join."
Rina took it as another joke and frowned a little.
"Al, I'm being serious here. Stop joking around." She paused, tone uncertain. "But wait... how did your name even get in there? Don't tell me... Jogo?"
They immediately went looking for Jogo—and found him near the practice field, surrounded by a few students doing warm-ups.
Jogo saw them approaching and gave a crooked smile—like he'd been waiting for this.
"What's up?"
Rina jumped in.
"Why did you put Al on the martial arts team?! He's not even in the club! He doesn't even—"
"Because he's a senior," Jogo cut in casually. "And since he's close with you, I figured it'd be efficient to place him on your team. Communication matters, y'know."
Al just stared at Jogo with a lifeless, drained expression.
"But Al can't fight!" Rina protested. "He's never even trained!"
Jogo chuckled lightly.
"Well, he can learn. Everyone starts from zero, right?"
Then he whispered—quiet but sharp,
"Besides… I want to see what this 'special boy' looks like in the ring."
Rina was about to argue again, but—
"The teacher already approved the roster," Jogo said, pointing at the board.
"You can protest, but it won't change anything. And besides… all seniors are required to participate. It's school policy. This is our last year here—what's wrong with giving a little back to the school?"
Rina fell silent, unable to argue further. Her face still anxious.
Al stood beside her like a sandbag—quiet, but boiling inside.
"Can't they just remove my name?" Al finally asked.
"Of course not. It's already been submitted to the committee. We're just waiting for the official announcement now. Anyway, why would you want it removed? Don't tell me you're scared? Hehe." Jogo sneered.
That slight mockery irritated Al, and he ended up agreeing—his decision made out of mild annoyance.
"Fine then... I'll join. But don't blame me if someone passes out in the first ten seconds."
His tone carried a warning—suggesting that his opponents might end up trembling in fear before him.
But Jogo completely misunderstood.
He let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Relax. Ten seconds is way too long for you," he said, thinking Al meant he would be the one fainting.
In his mind, Jogo could already picture Al being crushed—both mentally and physically—by a fighter from Makazhar Elite School. He was going to enjoy every second of it.
But what Jogo didn't know... was who the real predator actually was.
---