26/12/2024: It's now under editing — I'll upload all the edited chapters one by one. Some of the chapters just need to be formatted properly, so it shouldn't take too long — but for others, I might rewrite.

Also: didn't know I had to say this, but this whole fic is very satire. I didn't search up on snakes (Terry) and I certainly don't condone animal abuse (Lily). Please understand that. Also, the writing is way worse than my other fics, so beware of that. I don't like Heated Rivalry much, but it got popular so I decide to try edit it so it's at least tolerable in my eyes.

Additional note: This story contains, like, three instances of the childhood friends to lovers trope. I know. That's terrible. Don't worry, I think it's terrible too — don't ask me what I was thinking when I made this fic, because clearly I wasn't thinking LOL

Still, I hope you enjoy!

Daisei Private Institution was known to be a prestigious academy—one that boasted stellar grades, won every award, and hosted wealthy, intelligent students.

Acceptance rate was extremely low, and only the cream of the crop were able to get in; and even then, cliques were often formed. There was the bottom of the gutter; the ones who had barely scraped through, and then there were the high-achievers—the ones who scored the top in the grades.

Point was, it was near impossible to get accepted.

And...yet you did. You got in, somehow.

Okay, maybe not somehow. You had wanted to go to Daisei for ages: you didn't care if it was an all-boys school, you figured that finding a wealthy spouse in a school where everyone was wealthy would be a good career plan. See, you weren't exactly super rich, like you would have liked to be. You had snagged that scholarship and you were ready to drive the highway to money.

You applied, and woohoo! You were in. Along with the acceptance letter had come the uniform and the rule book, which was unfortunately three hundred and sixty four pages long. You hadn't looked at it.

"Mom, I'll have to pack my bags to leave for Daisei." You strolled in the room, the envelope in your hand. It was heavy, smooth, and even had the name of the academy embedded on it. You wondered with amusement if the parchment paper had cost more than the clothes you were wearing.

"That's my boy," she beamed. "I made you breakfast."

You peered at the burnt mess on the table.

"That looks like burnt bacon. I thought you said we ran out of bacon? Did you go to the grocery store?"

"No, but our neighbor had that pet, remember?" Your mother looked innocently at you. "What was its name again? Lily?"

Lily the pig. Your neighbor's pride and joy, a big fat pink pig with a squiggly tail... you had heard that your mother and your neighbor had gotten into a fight again; and it seemed like this time, the casualty was the poor pet pig that was now sitting in front of you. To be fair, your neighbour had cut up your mother's beloved garden. But on the plus side, since your mother was growing poisonous plants, the neighbour had to be hospitalised.

"You murdered Lily," you deadpanned, "and you even burnt her. It's..." you poked it. "I can't even pierce my fork through it. It's too tough."

"Hm." Your mother's eyes furrowed, "I think I might have set the heat too high."

"You think?"

"Ugh, fine, I did." Your mother huffed, furrowing her eyebrows, "well, I'll probably head to go bungee jumping later." She hummed, before she added thoughtfully: "but without a rope."

"Without a rope, you'll die."

"Oh, right." She sighed. "Don't be a mood-killer, [Name]."

Your mother was flighty, utterly eccentric and absurd. According to your father, who was currently in the sea somewhere trying to find an endangered species of shark, you were first terrified as a child when your mother did such off-putting things, but you supposed it had become normalized to you over time.

"The people at Daisei will be weird," she warned.

"I think I'm pretty used to it. I live with you."

"Aww," She beamed.

"That wasn't a compliment. Anyways, I just decided to tell you first, before I pack and get going." You set down the fork, looking hopelessly at the plate of bacon. Looks like you would have to go without breakfast.

"Don't forget Halsey."

"What?"

"Your lucky rock. Your father shipped it from...what was that place again? Oh. Right. Antarctica."

"I won't forget her."

"It's him," your mother glared at you, "don't be rude."

"Okay." You shrugged, before you hugged her tightly. "Anything else?"

"Have fun at your new school. Send letters. I want details. Remember to miss me."

You smiled at her, amused. "I will."

She smiled back, and it reached her eyes.

.

.

There were so many things to pack.

You figured that since the uniform was essentially the only thing you needed, besides the other basic essentials. That meant you could leave a little space for Halsey the rock. If it really did bring luck, it was better to be safe than sorry. Who knew?

I can see my future life in front of my eyes, you thought, my rich husband.

"Are you ready? I can drive you down," Your mother shouted from the kitchen—was that a saw? Was she sawing her way through the bacon?—"we can rent a limousine or something. Wouldn't want to get bullied on your first day."

"Oh. That's really thoughtful," you hummed. "Okay."

A limousine? That was good—

"And we could have one of those orangutan drivers, [Name], wouldn't that be funny?"

"If you wanted me dead, you could have said it in a more direct way. Nevermind then. Just drive me in your..."

"Horse," Your mother supplied, yelling, "we could ride a horse down. After all, isn't Daisei like a super prestigious place? With all the posh people and..."

"Actually," you zipped up your bag, "I think I'll take the bus there."

"Suit yourself. I'll see if there's any rock climbing around here. Ooh, maybe since you'll be away from home, I can go exploring around the world! See the volcanos, the sea, the views..."

"Don't get killed," you reminded your mother, "by the way, rock climbing doesn't mean hanging off cliffs. Well, technically it does, but I rather you take the safer option."

You heard a loud clunk sound and rushed out of your room, wearing your uniform and holding your bag.

"You look handsome. Just like me." Your mother grinned.

You blinked and frowned.

"I think you just sawed through the table, Mother."

.

.

—
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[ STUDENT COUNCIL ROOM ]

"There's another scholarship student coming," Inei tilted his head. "[Name]. Have you heard yet?"

"I read his profile." Daichi confirmed quietly, "he is an extremely talented student. The academy would be good to have him."

"Good?" Akio rolled his eyes, "Daichi only says that because he's the president. Because he's perfect and gives perfect answers. I hate those scholarship students. They keep waltzing in here, trying so hard to lick our shoes...get all our favour..." He made a face. "Don't you agree, Inei?"

"I don't really care," Inei muttered, "what I care is that your voice is spoiling the room air. I wanted to sleep."

"He's earned his way here." Daichi sighed, closing his eyes. "The scholarship students have done nothing to us."

"Nothing to you," Jun butted in, "but I find that the majority of the rule breakers all belong to the charity cases."

"Okay, Mr Disciplinary Head," Akio sneered, "can you be more uptight than that? I'm not referring to breaking the rules, I'm referring to how they're like. We play a prank or two, and then they break down. Weak." He scoffed.

"You only say that because your hair is dyed, Akio," Jun said calmly, sighing. "And well yes, I agree. Many of the students are lacking."

"That's because the game you all are playing is cruel," Daichi murmured softly. "Any one of you would break under that intense pressure."

"Nuh-uh, not us," Saito grinned as he entered the conversation, "I mean, we are part of the student council for a reason. A good one."

Part of that was true. Here, at Daisei Private Institution, the student council was the top of the top. The government running the school, the one with absolute power. It was also no secret that every single one of the members donated money to the school frequently; and on top of that, were extremely talented in various ways, and had perfect grades or at least, near perfect.

(Also extremely good-looking, but the male student population would never say that aloud.)

There was Daichi, the president. He ran the council and the school; was untouchable, soft-spoken, and gentle. Yet his status was much too imposing for people to talk to him.

There was Inei, the vice president. He aided Daichi greatly, and yet it seemed like he didn't even want to be there. Inei was apathetic, got bored easily, and slept in classes. He spoke in clipped tones; his answers short and curt. He seemed to have no interest whatsoever in life.

Jun, the disciplinary head who was strict, uptight, and dry. He was polite, yet too polite, that you could sense the condescending tone underneath it. It was no secret that Jun saw people as existences below him.

Saito, the treasurer. One of the more approachable members and the only one that actually had a solid friend group outside the council, he was out-going, even-tempered, and playful. Yet another side of him was more vicious; more malicious—the whole of Daisei remembered the incident where a spiteful student had deleted all his progress on his beloved game console, and the said student had quit the school abruptly.

Akio, the secretary. Vicious, devil-like, also playful; but not in a light hearted manner. He was playful in a way jellyfish were; his words were stinging. He didn't have any qualms about using underhanded tactics, or by using blatantly wrong ways to achieve what he wanted. At times, Akio would use academy cameras for blackmail—he ran the Daisei social media page. Simply put, he didn't have a moral compass.

And lastly, Kaen, the welfare head. He was organized, well-mannered, and liked to tease. He was the only one in an external club, basketball. The national team was practically begging for him, but for now, he stuck to the council. Kaen had a wall around him, yet at the same time, it wasn't like he was unapproachable. No one could be called close to him, per se, as no one could break down that iron wall of his.

Some were elected, some were hand-picked by the existing members in the council. But every time a new year rolled around, it would come the inevitable.

The game.

The student council was malicious and deadly.

They were twisted, high on their power.

"So [Name]'s the target this time?" Inei blinked his eyes lazily, "I have nothing else to do. We can play this game."

"I'll play it too." Jun narrowed his eyes.

"The uptight Jun is playing it? The last time, you looked down on us." Akio scoffed.

"I can always write you down for your crude appearance. Saito, Kaen, are you two..."

Saito looked up from his game console, grinning. He swung his legs down from the huge cupboard he was sitting on and jumped down.

"Of course I'm playing. You know I'll never miss this time of the year. Remember when I won?"

"Two years ago?" Kaen butted in, "I won last year, so I'm playing it again."

"What's the prize this year?" Akio smirked, "if it's a small change, I'm not playing it."

"Seventy million yen." Jun said immediately.

Aiko's smile grew wider. "And I suppose the martyr president Daichi won't be playing? Again? You didn't play last year. A shame. You were so good at it."

"I'm not playing." Daichi sighed.

"Suit yourself."

The five members smiled at each other . All different smiles; yet none reached their eyes.

This was the hidden tradition of the student council. A game. A fight to see who would be first to break the new scholarship student, to see what lengths the student would endure before they finally quit.

And this time, their target was [Name].

They were going to make your life a living hell.

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if u liked it, remember to comment your thoughts down as they would motivate me greatly!! don't forget to vote on it either