As the teacher stepped out of the classroom, students stretched and whispered amongst themselves, but the room quickly fell into an uneasy silence as Kakeru Ryuen rose from his seat. His movements were deliberate, his presence magnetic yet foreboding.

"Listen up," Ryuen began, his voice sharp and commanding. "This class doesn't need a democracy or a group of sheep pretending to lead. What it needs is a tyrant—someone strong enough to take control and crush anyone who stands in the way."

He strode to the front of the room, his smirk oozing confidence. "And that tyrant is me. If this class wants to rise to Class A, you'll need someone who can handle the pressure, the schemes, and the competition. That someone is me. From now on, I make the rules. If anyone has a problem with that, step up and prove me wrong."

The class fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Then, a loud scoff broke the tension. A boy with wild, dark green hair pushed back his chair and stood, his fists clenched. "You think you're the boss here? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Before Ryuen could respond, the green-haired boy charged at him, swinging a wild punch aimed directly at his face. Ryuen sidestepped effortlessly, his smirk widening, and countered with a sharp kick to the boy's leg. The impact sent him stumbling to the floor with a loud thud.

"Pathetic," Ryuen said coldly, his eyes glinting with disdain. "You couldn't lead a pack of stray dogs, let alone this class."

Before he could finish his taunt, two more boys sprang into action. One had short, light brown hair and dark brown eyes that burned with anger, his stance low and aggressive. The other, broader in build with brown hair and determined eyes, moved quickly to back him up. They came at Ryuen from opposite sides, trying to catch him off guard.

The boy with light brown hair lunged first, throwing a punch aimed at Ryuen's jaw. Ryuen dodged smoothly, stepping back just in time to avoid the second boy's powerful swing. With a practiced fluidity, Ryuen countered, delivering a sharp jab to the stomach of the broader boy, making him stagger.

The light brown-haired boy took the opening to throw a kick, aiming for Ryuen's ribs. Ryuen twisted, blocking it with his arm, and retaliated with a sweeping kick that sent the boy sprawling onto the floor.

"You're all bark," Ryuen muttered, turning his attention to the broader boy, who was already back on his feet. The larger boy charged at him, fists flying in a flurry of strikes. Ryuen weaved through them effortlessly, landing a solid punch to his shoulder that made him grunt in pain and stumble back.

The classroom buzzed with shock and tension as Ryuen straightened, his smirk never leaving his face. "Three of you couldn't even scratch me."

The three boys glared at him from the ground, their bodies bruised and their pride even more so. Ryuen's eyes scanned the room, daring anyone else to step forward.

Suddenly, a girl with short blue hair and piercing violet eyes stood up, her gaze intense. Without a word, she sprinted toward Ryuen, delivering a swift kick aimed at his side.

Ryuen dodged, his grin unfazed. "Oh? You want to try too, huh? You've got guts, Blue."

The two exchanged blows, their movements sharp and precise. The clash between them electrified the room, drawing gasps from the other students. Ryuen's confident demeanor never faltered, while the girl's expression grew more determined with every failed strike.

At the back of the room, a tall boy with dark skin and a muscular frame stood quietly, his imposing figure commanding attention even in his silence.

Meanwhile, Katagiri Yuuichi , his chin resting on his hand as he watched the scene unfold. His sharp eyes flickered with intrigue. "This Ryuen guy... he's not just loud; he knows how to push buttons and command attention. Interesting."

Next to him, a boy with neatly combed hair and sharp glasses muttered under his breath, "It's only the first day, and they're already fighting." His tone was low but filled with disbelief as he adjusted his glasses, casting a sidelong glance at the chaos.

As the blue-haired girl and Ryuen continued to spar, the tension in the classroom grew thicker. Every strike and dodge seemed to cement Ryuen's presence as a force to be reckoned with.

A tall figure stepped forward, his voice low but firm.

"Stop. Enough."

The room seemed to pause at his commanding tone, the weight of his words carrying more than their brevity suggested.

Ryuen turned, his smirk unwavering. "And what if I don't?" he said, his voice dripping with defiance, eyes locked challengingly.

The tall figure stepped forward, his body coiled with tension, feet planted firmly on the ground. His fists were raised, elbows slightly bent, as his eyes focused intently on Ryuen. The stance was calm, controlled, yet ready to strike at a moment's notice.

Ryuen raised an eyebrow in response, his smirk widening. "Sure, you've got power," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "But you won't be the one who wins in the end."

Finally, Ryuen stepped back, brushing dust off his uniform with a casual air. "That's enough for now," he said, his smirk unrelenting. His gaze shifted to the girl. "You've got fire, I'll give you that. But don't forget who's in charge here."

He turned back to the class, his voice firm and unyielding. "If any of you want to make it to Class A, you'll do it my way. I'll be the tyrant this class needs, and I'll drag you all to the top. If you don't like it, get out of my way."

The girl glared at him, her fists still clenched, but she didn't move forward again. The air was thick with unspoken challenges, and the eyes of every student darted nervously between Ryuen and the others.

"Now, there's one more thing we need to do. Get back to your seats" Ryuen said, clapping his hands together sharply.

 "We're stuck with each other, so let's get this over with. Everyone, introduce yourselves. Name, hobbies, whatever—don't make it boring. And I want to hear about your strengths and weaknesses, too. I don't want to waste my time with pointless introductions." Ryuen said, his tone firm. "Starting from the person sitting to the right of my desk and moving up to the front. Get on with it."

The class exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared openly refuse.

"I'll start," Ryuen said, stepping forward. "The name's Kakeru Ryuen. My strength? I'm the smartest guy in the room. My weakness?" He chuckled darkly. "I don't have one."

The room was silent at first, but Ryuen's presence was overwhelming. It wasn't a suggestion; it was a demand.

A bespectacled boy was the first to stand, adjusting his glasses nervously.

"My name is Kaneda Satoru," he said, his tone steady. "My strength is my academic performance—I'm good at solving problems and understanding concepts. My weakness is... I'm not very athletic."

Ryuen smirked. "Brains, huh? Good to know. Who's next?"

Katagiri, calm and collected, stood up next. "Katagiri Yuuichi. I enjoy thinking strategically, and I'm good at analyzing situations. My strength is staying composed under pressure. My weakness? Sometimes I trust people too much and get caught off guard."

Ryuen gave a small chuckle. "Trusting people too much, huh? That's a weakness you'll want to fix." He leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp. "Don't let it drag you down, Katagiri."

Shiina Hiyori stood next. She stood up hesitantly, her silver hair cascading down her back. "Um... my name is Shiina Hiyori. I enjoy reading novels, especially mystery and historical fiction. My strength is... I'm good at organizing things. My weakness is... I'm not very good at speaking in front of people. I hope we can all get along." Her voice was soft but genuine, and she quickly sat back down, looking relieved.

Ryuen nodded, motioning for the next student to speak.

"Yamada Albert," he said simply. "Strength. Physical power. Weakness. Not much of a talker." He sat back down without elaborating further, his words succinct but effective.

Ryuen nodded approvingly. "Efficient. I like it. Keep going."

Ryuen's eyes landed on one of the three who had attacked him earlier, his smirk returning. "Alright, you. Your turn."

Komiya Kyōgo stood up, his eyes briefly meeting Ryuen's before speaking. "I'm Komiya Kyōgo . I enjoy playing basketball and working out. My strength is... I'm very quick on my feet, both physically and mentally. My weakness is... I can be too competitive sometimes, which clouds my judgment."

Ryuen's smirk deepened. "Too competitive? Sounds like a weakness that'll get you into trouble. Don't think I've forgotten what happened earlier."

Komiya stiffened but nodded, sitting back down as the tension lingered.

When it came to Ishizaki, his reaction was even louder. He stood up, slamming his hands on the desk. "This is stupid! Why do we have to do this? You're not the boss of me, Ryuen!"

Ryuen's gaze hardened. "You think you can talk to me like that?" he said coldly, stepping closer.

Ishizaki stood his ground. "Yeah, I do."

Ryuen smirked. "Keep testing me, Green. You'll regret it."

For a moment, it seemed like Ishizaki might lash out, but the sharp look in Ryuen's eyes made him hesitate. Muttering under his breath, he reluctantly slumped back into his seat.

Ryuen turned his gaze to Ibuki, smirking. "If Green doesn't want to introduce himself, then Blue, it's your turn." 

 Ibuki shot him a cold glare but didn't move to stand. "I'm not introducing myself," she said flatly, not bothering to rise from her seat. "

If you want to know, figure it out yourself."She crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair, clearly refusing to comply."

Ryuen shrugged and turned back to the podium, his smirk still lingering. "Whatever," he said, his tone laced with amusement. "You can just sit there, Princess. No one's forcing you."

He rested his hands on the edge of the podium, his gaze sweeping across the room with a sharp, calculating look. "But don't think I'll forget this," he added, his voice cold, the unspoken threat hanging heavily in the air before he refocused on the class.

Next, Kondo Reo, one of the three who had attacked Ryuen earlier, stood up, his posture stiff and uneasy. His eyes flickered nervously before he spoke, trying to mask his fear. "I'm Kondo Reo, and I like playing basketball," he said, his voice lacking its usual confidence. "My strength is... I'm pretty good at the game. But my weakness is... I get too worked up sometimes, and it messes with my focus."

Ryuen's piercing gaze didn't leave Kondo for a second. "Basketball, huh?" Ryuen said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Sounds like a good way to burn some points if you're not careful. But if you ever get too 'worked up' with me, there won't be a game to play."

Kondo immediately shrunk back, visibly uncomfortable under Ryuen's gaze. He quickly sat back down, his face flushed with a mixture of fear and embarrassment.

Next, the group of three gyarus stood up, and the first one introduced herself as Manabe Shiho, followed by Yamashita Saki and Yabu Nanami. They didn't seem particularly skilled at anything.

One by one, the rest of the class introduced themselves. Some were eager to speak, while others were clearly uncomfortable. All the while, Ryuen stood at the front, his smirk never wavering as he assessed his classmates.

When the last student sat down, he clapped his hands together. "Well, looks like we've got an interesting mix here. Some brains, some brawn, some dead weight." He chuckled, leaning against the desk. "Don't worry—I'll figure out how to use all of you." 

Katagiri smirked faintly, a glint of intrigue in his eyes. "This class really is a hornet's nest," he mused. "And Ryuen is definitely the leader of the pack... at least for now."

.

.

Katagiri pov

In the afternoon, as I walked back to the dorm, I decided to stop by a convenience store. The bell above the door jingled as I entered, the cool air conditioning a welcome relief from the heat outside. I grabbed a few snacks, my mind drifting back to the chaotic events of the day.

As I moved deeper into the store, I noticed two people I had seen on the bus earlier. One was a guy with messy black hair, wearing a relaxed expression, his posture leaning against the shelf as if deep in thought. The other was a girl with long black hair, her serious expression focused as she scanned the rows of beverages. They were talking quietly to each other, but their conversation wasn't loud enough for me to overhear.

I hesitated for a moment, eyeing them carefully. There was something about their demeanor that caught my attention, especially the girl. Her sharp eyes and rigid posture made her seem like the type who calculated every move, like a predator assessing her surroundings.

The guy, on the other hand, had a quiet confidence that seemed dangerous in its own right. But there was something almost vacant about him, like he was watching the world through a detached lens, calculating every move but not really engaged with it.

These two... I thought, feeling a shiver run down my spine. They don't seem like the kind of people you want to cross paths with. There's something calculating about them...

I didn't want to get involved in whatever dynamic they shared, so I quietly grabbed my snacks and made my way to the counter. I had learned enough today about the people around me to know when to stay out of certain situations. But something told me these two might be players in the bigger game that was unfolding.

At noon, I returned to the dorm, the soft sound of my footsteps echoing through the empty hallway. I entered my room and dropped my bag by the door, sinking onto my bed. My thoughts immediately turned to the 100,000 points they had given us for the month.

"100,000 points... is that too much?" I muttered to myself, staring up at the ceiling. With so many students here, it felt like an unreasonable amount. Was it really necessary to give such a large sum, especially when the number of students could easily make things unbalanced?

I paused, thinking again. "Or maybe it's just the first month... They're just testing us, right?"

The thought lingered in my mind, but it didn't ease my concerns. Even if it was the first month, the implications of such a high amount of points could still cause trouble—whether for alliances, conflicts, or manipulation.

"Yeah, it's probably just the start. But still... 100,000 points?" I thought, unsure if it was just a test or if there was something deeper to the game.