"Hey! Wake up already, you guys!"
A clear, ringing voice cut through the morning air, practically radiating energy.
She approached the beds, standing in a ridiculously dramatic stretch — arms shooting up toward the ceiling, one leg kicking back behind her without a care in the world.
Her face still gleamed with its usual brightness, brimming with vitality, as if her energy reserves had no bottom.
She flashed a wide, playful grin.
Zyn chimed in with her typical chirpy tone,
"Quit being lazy, will ya? We've got a super early class today!"
A small yawn slipped through the room.
From behind Syn, Eliza peeked over the head of the bed, rubbing her eyes gently.
"She's right. Time to get moving."
Gaia shifted slowly.
He sat up and gave himself a quick dust-off, then glanced down at the bed — the sheets were damp with sweat, a silent reminder of the nightmare from the night before.
His exhaustion was obvious in the way he moved, but not a trace of it reached his face.
As always, he wore a calm, gentle expression, paired with that small, polite smile — like everything was just fine.
But inside…
a faint tremor of fear still lingered, echoing from the dream.
He didn't want anyone to worry.
After tidying up his bed, he stretched his back a bit and gave a small yawn of his own.
Then he turned to his friends with a nod.
"Let's go."
Everyone carried out their morning routines just like any other day.
The four of them made their way toward the bathrooms in silence — no words needed between them.
Gaia let out a soft tired sigh, his face slightly pale and drained, already exhausted before the day had even begun.
Walking on Gaia's right, Rain quietly glanced over at him.
He noticed immediately — Gaia's demeanor was… different.
Much more off than usual.
But Rain didn't say anything.
He simply kept walking beside his friend in silence.
When they reached the bathrooms, Eliza and Zyn split off toward the girls' side, while Rain and Gaia entered the boys is.
The place was already a bit noisy with the sounds of other students moving about, getting ready for the day.
Gaia made his way to the large mirror above the sink.
He leaned down, his gaze falling into the drain of the sink, staring at the black hollow space for a moment.
Then slowly, he raised his head and looked into the mirror.
His face looked…
just a little more worn out than usual.
A bit hollowed.
No doubt the lack of proper rest from last night's dream was catching up to him.
He turned the faucet on and held his palms under the cool stream,
cupping the water before splashing it across his face — two or three times.
Droplets clung to his cheeks, streaming slowly down.
He stared at his reflection again.
Water dripping.
Eyes tired.
He just… stared.
For nearly ten seconds.
Then he exhaled softly and stepped back, walking toward the supplies area to grab a towel.
"So sleepy…"
His voice was calm and normal as always — that usual, placid tone —
but inside, he knew the fatigue wasn'tjust physical.
He hadn't slept enough.
And worse… his mind was still slow, still trying to make sense of everything it had seen.
Gaia quietly dried his face just outside the bathroom after finishing up.
He stretched his arms and shoulders gently, loosening himself up while waiting for Rain, who was still inside.
As he waited, he cast his gaze around casually.
Just outside the door, two guards stood at their posts — as usual.
From what he'd seen, they were always stationed there…
Except at the entrance to the playground.
That one detail had always made him wonder, but he'd never thought too deeply about it.
Soon, Rain stepped out of the bathroom, towel in hand, drying his hair as he walked.
"Let's go."
The two boys began walking side by side down the hallway toward the classroom,
heading off to prepare for their early morning lessons.
They didn't say a word to each other.
Just the sound of footsteps around them —
the murmur of other kids —
a quiet, mundane start to another day.
But Rain stole another glance at Gaia.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"…Something bothering you?"
Gaia turned to him with a slight raise of the brow.
"Not really. Why?"
Rain looked ahead again.
His pace didn't change, but his voice dropped a bit, softer this time.
"It's just… this morning, you didn't seem...
I dunno. You didn't seem okay."
Gaia's step faltered — just barely.
But he kept walking.
His eyes lowered toward the floor.
"Just… a bad dream."
Gaia didn't seem too eager to talk about it.
Rain noticed — and he didn't want to press or pry.
He simply gave a small nod… and kept walking in silence.
___________________________________________________________
It wasn't long before they all arrived at the classroom.
Each student quietly took their assigned seat.
The door at the back of the room shut with a familiar mechanical clunk.
Then, without warning, a voice crackled through the speaker —
flat, emotionless, just like always.
It signaled that the lesson was beginning.
The overhead lights dimmed suddenly,
so much that it became nearly impossible to see.
The atmosphere shifted — swallowed by a heavy, murky darkness.
A faint red glow slowly lit up each desk from below,
just enough to reveal a few strange-looking devices resting on top.
Nobody had noticed them appear.
Beep.
The speaker came alive again, the tone steady and unwavering.
< >
; "Let us begin. Please read the rules attached to the equipment on your desk."
There was a short pause.
Then the voice continued:
; "Do not talk. Do not get distracted. And do not, under any circumstances, look at the desk of another student."
"Rules of the Lesson"
{1. Provided Equipment
1)One doll:
• a model representation of yourself
Two additional dolls:
• a Friend
• an Adult
2) Three magnetic stickers:
• A megaphone
• A handshake
• A shield
3) A deck of randomized situation cards
***
2. Begin by drawing a situation card at random
Place it face-down onto the rectangular frame on your desk — the frame is sized to fit the card exactly.
Once placed correctly, the card will emit a soft white glow.
***
3. Read the scenario on your card carefully
Then, make a decision about what you would do in that specific situation.
***
4. If you're unable to decide and need assistance
A green button will appear on the right side of your desk exactly 10 minutes after starting.
You may press it to request help from the Intelligent Calculation System.
***
5. Once you've made your decision
Press the yellow button at the bottom of your desk to confirm.
A new scenario will then appear.
Repeat the process until all cards are completed.
***
6. Please remember:
Your decision-making will be scored.
The results will appear on your desk.
This test will not affect your overall academic score — in any way.}
***
Rain reached out to the table, picked up one of the cards, and placed its back onto the rectangular frame.
The scenario illuminated and appeared clearly on the surface of the card.
Random Scenario 01:
Your friend has secretly stolen something from the storage room.
It's a minor item — nothing anyone would ever notice.
You saw everything with your own eyes.
If you report this to the adults, you will receive a large number of bonus points.
If you say nothing, nothing will happen.
- Place one sticker on any of the dolls to reflect your decision.
• Place the "Handshake" sticker on the Friend doll = "You chose to cooperate with your friend and keep their secret."
'What a disappointing choice. :-('
• Place the "Megaphone" sticker on the Friend doll = "You chose to report your friend to the adults."
• Place nothing = "You chose to remain silent."
***
The lesson continued under the stifling silence and the ever-present weight of the dim light that filled the room. The faint red glow that emanated from each desk added a layer of pressure — one that turned even the most mundane scenarios into sources of tension.
Each student focused intently on their own test, heads down, shoulders stiff, as a mechanical ticking echoed overhead. A countdown clock marked the passage of time — Ninety long minutes without a single break or pause. Even though the rules clearly stated that this test would not affect overall scores, no one dared to treat it lightly.
The ticking continued, a cold, rhythmic presence in the room.
Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the final tick rang out — sharp and absolute.
<>
; "Time is up. Please remove your hands from your desk."
In that moment, as everyone leaned back from their desks, the equipment on each surface began to retract automatically. With a soft hiss and click, they were pulled down into hidden compartments below, the tabletops sealing shut seamlessly afterward. The red lights winked out in unison.
Gradually, the overhead lights began to brighten — slowly at first — until the classroom was once again filled with the cold, clinical brightness that was familiar to all.
After the lights in the room returned to full brightness and silence hung thick in the air, the loudspeaker came to life once more with its same monotonous, emotionless tone.
<>
; "The preliminary assessment has now concluded. Please wait for your results to appear on your desk. Kindly refrain from speaking during this period."
Each student's desk began to emit a faint blue glow. Lines of text gradually appeared, one by one, without any accompanying sound.
##-###-## :
Response Score: 67/100
Decision Type: Self-preserving
Trust Tendency: Low
Coordination Ability: Moderate
Stress Resilience: Stable
Social Affinity: Moderate
Obedience Level: Moderate to High
***
These scores weren't shown to others — at least, not explicitly — but as eyes subtly glanced around, each student trying to catch a glimpse of someone else's results, no one could be certain whether theirs were being seen or not.
Gaia stared at his own table of results with a neutral expression. His score appeared:
Response Score: 53/100
Trait: Reserved / Indecisive
Evaluation Category: "Requires Further Monitoring"
#########
############
He sat up a little straighter. There was no surprise or concern on his face, but his mind went oddly quiet — as if the noise in his head had been temporarily turned off. Last night's dream and all the exhaustion seemed to creep back into his thoughts like a silent wave… yet strangely, a faint sense of relief followed as time passed.
Then the speaker returned once more.
<>
; "Thank you for participating in today's lesson. Please prepare yourselves thoroughly for the next session."
The back door of the classroom groaned open with a thunderous metallic sound, as the two massive steel plates were slowly pulled apart.
______________________________________________________
"Take this!" Zyn shouted, her voice clear and full of energy, as she pulled her arm all the way back before snapping it forward in one swift motion.
Fwoosh!
The frisbee in her hand launched into the air, slicing through the wind with such speed it whistled past their ears like an arrow.
Far ahead, Gaia braced himself. He bent his knees slightly, tensing the muscles in his legs, then pushed off the ground with all his strength, leaping up to catch the oncoming disc.
Swish!
He missed — his fingertips barely grazed the edge. The frisbee continued spinning from the momentum, gliding forward until it struck a tree with a sharp thunk! before falling onto the grass below.
"I missed!" Gaia called out, flashing a sheepish smile.
He jogged over to pick up the frisbee beneath the tree, then turned toward Rain, who stood to his left, and tossed it in his direction.
Right now, the four of them were unwinding inside the playroom field, enjoying a rare moment of ease after a long, grueling day of lessons.
The clock on the wall pointed precisely to 5:00 p.m.
The four of them played until they were nearly out of energy before slowly making their way to a nearby bench, collapsing onto it with tired, heaving breaths.
Rain sank onto the bench, breathing a little heavily, and tilted his head back to gaze up at the tall ceiling of the room.
"Hey, you guys! Don't tell me you're already worn out!"
Zyn planted her hands on her hips and spoke in her usual bold, spirited tone, standing tall with an exaggeratedly fierce posture.
"You're the only one around here who's a power-mad gorilla…"
Gaia turned his face away lazily, tugging at the collar of his shirt to fan some air onto himself, speaking in a drained, worn out voice.
"Whhaaaaaat!? Who are you calling a gorilla!?"
Zyn's voice shot up an octave as her face tensed, seemingly angry — but not really. There was a glint of amusement hidden in her eyes.
"Alright, I think we should head to the dinning hall. It's probably almost dinner time," Eliza said as she stood up, inviting the others to follow.
"Yeah, let's go. I could really use a bottle of water too," Rain added, standing up and wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He followed after Eliza, with Gaia silently rising to his feet and trailing behind them.
The four of them made their way out of the indoor playground and headed into the corridor that led to the dinning hall.
But on the way, Zyn suddenly slowed her steps and called out.
"Ah— You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up in a bit. I need to use the restroom."
Everyone nodded in acknowledgment without giving it much thought, then continued walking and turned down the corridor. Zyn, meanwhile, turned and took a different path — one she remembered using on her first day here. It was a quieter hallway, almost too quiet. It seemed that most of the other students had already headed to the dining hall, but even so, something about the silence felt… off.
Her footsteps echoed faintly against the floor as she walked. She quickened her pace slightly, not wanting to waste time.
But then, as she rounded one corner, her heart skipped a beat.
She noticed something strange — the hallway she remembered, the one she was sure led to the restroom she'd used on the first day, was gone.
It had been right there before. She was certain it should have opened up into another corridor. But now, there was nothing — just a solid wall. Smooth and unbroken, without so much as a seam or hint that a hallway had ever been there.
"…Huh?"
Zyn stopped in her tracks. She blinked a few times, then stared hard at the wall in front of her, her expression confused and wary.
She raised a hand and scratched her head in confusion.
"That's weird..." she mumbled to herself.
She walked a few more steps forward, then stopped and craned her neck to look around — just to make sure she hadn't remembered it wrong.
But what she saw instead was a long, empty hallway stretching ahead, with several branching turns visible far down the corridor. A bold red line ran across the floor with a warning written above it:
"RESTRICTED AREA — AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY"
She stood still for a moment.
Her brows furrowed.
"…Did I… remember it wrong?"
She finally shrugged and let out a small sigh.
"Must've been just my mistake…"
She muttered as she tried to brush the thought away and turned around, deciding to head back the way she came — back to the usual path that everyone else used.
The path she was sure led to the restroom she'd visited earlier that morning.
Her footsteps quickened slightly.
But somewhere deep inside, a small trace of unease still lingered.
Sinta continued walking, still confused, her mind circling endlessly with half-formed thoughts.
But then—
Thud!
A sharp, dull impact rang out behind her — the unmistakable sound of something hard slamming into raw flesh.
She froze instantly.
Her entire body stiffened in a heartbeat.
Slowly, cautiously, she turned around.
Her eyes swept the empty corridor.
She took a small step back.
One step… then another—
Bump!
A guard — clad in black — materialized soundlessly in front of her, as if he'd risen straight from the air.
Zyn bumped into him without even realizing it, and her heart nearly dropped into her stomach.
The guard stood perfectly still.
Not a single twitch.
His face — hidden behind a blank mask — stared forward in absolute silence.
Not a single word escaped the cold, black-masked figure.
Zyn quickly stepped away.
Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke:
"E-Excuse me…"
The guard finally spoke —
his voice was cool and flat, emotionless:
"Oh, it's dinner time now. If you don't hurry, the others might finish everything."
He stepped to the side,
clearing the path for her to continue.
His movements were stiff —
mechanical, even —
yet there was no overt threat in them.
Zyn swallowed hard.
"Th-Thank you…"
She gave a quick, awkward bow, avoiding direct eye contact with the guard.
The air around her felt heavy and still — so eerie that even someone as tough as Zyn felt the chill crawl down her spine.
She made a snap decision.
No more bathroom.
She was heading to the dining hall — now —
to find her friends as quickly as possible.
Her footsteps grew faster,
and the urge to pee that had pressed on her moments ago was now completely gone.
All that remained was the sound of her own shoes tapping faster and faster —
and a pounding echo in her chest.