The night air was still, the moon casting pale silver light across the academy grounds. The silence was broken by Ivy's soft voice, carrying a playful chill.
Ivy smiled, tilting her head, her eyes gleaming with obsession.
"Will you... accept my love, Code?"
Code's expression didn't change. He stood still, silent for a long moment, before finally replying in his calm, detached tone.
"Sorry. But I'm not interested."
Ivy pouted, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.
"Why?"
Code's gaze shifted toward the dorms. "It's getting late. I better go to my room. Goodnight."
He turned to leave, footsteps quiet under the moonlight.
But then—
The night split open with a silver light—a knife, whistled toward the back of his head.
Ssshh!
Code tilted his head barely and inch, the blade slicing through empty air, grazing a few strands of his hair. But Ivy had expected the dodge. In midair, she twisted her wrist, and the knife swung horizontally, cutting across with deadly precision.
This time, Code's hand shot up like lightning—
Clang!
He caught her wrist mid-strike, the force sending a gust of wind through the night. The impact vibrated between them, their strength colliding, neither yielding.
Ivy's lips curved into a twisted smile, her breath quickening in excitement.
"You're strong, Code…"
His tone remained steady, his eyes unshaken.
"What are you trying to do, Ivy?"
Her eyes narrowed, voice dripping with sickly sweetness.
"I'm showing you the extent of my love."
Code's grip tightened slightly.
"It seems you're bad at showing your love."
Ivy giggled, eyes wide, almost sparkling with madness.
"Come on now… I'm just getting started."
With sudden agility, she shifted. Her free hand clamped onto his wrist, her body twisting like a serpent. She hooked her leg around his arm, pulled herself up, and slid across him with uncanny grace.
Whip!
In seconds, she was wrapped around him from behind, her legs coiled around his torso like a constricting snake. Her arm locked around his neck, pressing against his windpipe, cutting off his air circulation.
Her hot breath brushed against his ear as she whispered with a chuckle:
"This… is the extent of my love, Code."
But Code's face remained as calm and lifeless as ever, unfazed even as her hold tightened.
Her knife gleamed in the moonlight as she raised it high, then drove it down toward his chest.
Thud!
Blood sprayed.
Code had caught the blade with his bare hand. The steel pierced through his palm, crimson dripping slowly down his arm.
Drip… drip…
Ivy leaned harder, forcing the blade deeper into his flesh, her eyes locked with his.
And then—she smiled. A sweet, twisted smile.
"Even now, I still don't sense fear from you. Code… you really are the one I've been searching for."
The knife dug deeper, blood soaking his hand, but Code's eyes didn't flicker. His voice came, low and steady.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
With a sudden surge of strength, he tightened his grip on the knife still embedded in his hand, and—lifting Ivy along with it—he swung his arm and prepared to slam her down into the ground.
Woosh!
But Ivy pulled the knife free at the last moment. Using the momentum, she pushed off his arm, flipped backward, and landed gracefully in a crouch, the moonlight reflecting off her blade.
Code glanced down at his bleeding palm, crimson dripping steadily onto the ground. His gaze shifted back to Ivy.
Her face flushed red, breath heavy with excitement as she stared at the blood on her knife. She licked it slowly, obsessively, her tongue trailing along the crimson-stained steel.
"Mmm~" Her smile widened, eyes burning with madness. "Now we're connected, Code… you and I."
Her voice trembled with eerie delight.
"Just like in marriages, where they tie the knot… we're connected through blood, Code."
Code's expression didn't change. He stayed silent.
Ivy's footsteps echoed as she walked closer, her knife dripping blood. She stopped directly in front of him, staring up at his cold, calm face.
"That expression… that calm, lifeless look." She giggled softly, almost cutely. "That's what I like about you, Code."
She tilted her head, her eyes softening strangely, and with a sweet smile she whispered:
"See you in class tomorrow."
Turning away, Ivy slowly walked into the moonlight, her figure swallowed by the shadows.
Code looked down at his bloodied hand, his voice low and steady, almost amused.
"So… this is how I meet my first stalker in high school."
His footsteps echoed as he walked off as well, blood dripping with every step, the two figures vanishing into the silver glow of the night.
---
The Next Morning — Class 1-D
Slide.
The classroom door rattled open, and Code stepped in, his bandaged hands catching the faint morning light.
"Code!"
Something tugged at his leg. He looked down calmly to see Caden clinging onto him like a drowning man.
"What's wrong, Caden?" Code asked flatly.
Caden's face was pale. "This watch… it won't come off! I've tried pulling it, scratching it—even when I wanted to bathe—but it's stuck! It just won't budge!"
Ken sighed from his seat. "Don't mind him, Code. We already told him ours won't come off either. He just won't believe it."
Caden scrambled up, grabbing Code by the shoulders. "Don't listen to them, Code! Just tell me straight. Is yours the same as ours?"
Code's expression didn't change. "Yes. I tried to remove it. It didn't work."
Caden froze, then whispered in horror, "My life is over…"
Code tilted his head. "At least it's water resistant."
"Is that supposed to make me feel bette—really?!" Caden leaned closer, his eyes wide.
Code blinked. "I guess not."
From the back, Torin slammed his hands on the desk. "What's your big deal, Caden?"
Caden rushed to him, whispering like a conspirator. "What if these watches have cameras? Imagine—a woman controlling it, watching every one of our private moments! Think about it, Torin!"
Torin stared at his wristwatch, then shrugged. "I don't think there's a camera."
"You know what, forget it!" Caden muttered dramatically. "I'll find a way to rip this cursed thing off myself."
Code walked to his seat, dropped his bag, and sat down.
Aria's sharp eyes fell on his bandaged hand. "What happened to you?"
Code glanced at her briefly. "Nothing worth worrying about."
"You didn't do something that might jeopardize our plan for the fourth floor, did you?"
Code's eyes narrowed slightly. "It seems the fourth floor is all you can think about… instead of your classmates."
Aria stiffened. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Code didn't answer.
"Hey! I asked you a question—"
Click.
The door opened again.
"Good morning, everyone~" Ivy sang sweetly as she stepped in, her smile radiant as always. She moved gracefully to her seat.
Yua beamed. "Ivy, I'm glad you're here! How was your master yesterday?"
Ivy tilted her head, tapping a finger to her chin. "Hmm, I don't really know… but it was okay, I guess."
Sena smirked. "Oh, you just don't want to tell us."
"No, it's not like that!" Ivy laughed nervously.
Code watched her silently, then turned his gaze out the window.
Riven rose, gathering the class's attention. "Ivy, about the ARCS account. How did it go?"
Ivy stood gracefully. "The account has been created. But we need a name."
"Right," Riven nodded. "We can't leave it nameless."
Caden suddenly leapt to his feet, grinning like a fool. "Then use this—The Flaming Unicorns! Think about it—unicorns are strong, rare, and magical! And the flames mean we're unstoppable and fierce!"
The class froze in silence.
Then—
"Pfft—HAHAHAHA!" Torin clutched his stomach, tears in his eyes. "Flaming unicorns?! Are you serious?!"
Caden glared at him. "Go on, keep laughing!"
Ken patted his shoulder. "Seriously, Caden… that sounds like a kid's cartoon."
Aria sighed, muttering under her breath, "He's impossible."
"Thanks for the idea, Caden," Riven said carefully. "But I don't think 'Flaming Unicorns' is the right choice."
Caden puffed his cheeks like a child and sat down, muttering. Torin kept snickering beside him.
Juro stood, adjusting his glasses. "Then allow me. I suggest Collective Nexus. We are not just individuals, but a network. A nexus represents both connection and strength—each of us linked like nodes in a greater system."
The room quieted.
Ivy's eyes lit up. "That's… a great name, Juro. I love the meaning."
Sena nodded. "Yes, I like it too. What do you think, Riven?"
But Riven shook his head. "It's a fine name, but… I don't think it's right."
Everyone stared at him.
"Why not?" Ivy asked, concerned.
"Because," Riven said firmly, "the person who has the right to name this account is Aria. She came up with the idea in the first place. The honor belongs to her."
All eyes turned.
Aria stood, inhaling deeply. "The name should be simple. Sharp. Identity-driven. Not overcomplicated like 'Flaming Unicorns'…"
Torin snorted, earning another glare from Caden.
"…but not over-intellectualized like 'Collective Nexus' either."
Juro frowned. "Then what do you suggest?"
Before Aria could answer, Sena stood abruptly. "I don't think we should even be listening to her. She doesn't trust Riven. What's the point of her in this plan?"
Yua nodded. "Agreed."
"Enough," Riven raised his hand. "Let's hear her out." He looked at Aria. "Go on."
Aria's eyes sharpened. "Class 1-D."
Silence.
She continued firmly, "We don't need flashy names. Who we are is enough."
Clap.
Riven started applauding. Ivy followed, then Caden—though reluctantly. Soon, the whole class joined in.
Aria sat down quietly.
Code leaned toward her. "I didn't expect you to choose something so simple."
Aria's lips curled faintly. "Simplicity is power."
Code's eyes softened. "I see."
Riven nodded. "Then it's settled. Our account is Class 1-D."
Ivy smiled. "I'll meet with ARCS, then."
"But what about stars?" she asked. "When do we start compiling them?"
Riven rubbed his chin. "Not yet. Students won't give up stars willingly. Let's wait for now."
"Thank you, Riven, you're a life saver!" Caden cheered.
Aria slammed her hand down. "No. That won't do."
The room fell silent again.
She continued. "We need discipline. We should start with the 1,000 bronze stars each of us received. If we postpone now, we'll just keep making excuses later."
Caden shook his head. "No way. I need mine."
The girls quickly followed.
"I need to get my hair done!" Yua protested.
"And I have shopping to do," Sena added.
Aria's eyes burned with determination. "That can wait. Sacrifice is needed for a greater cause."
Code leaned toward her. "Asking for everything at once… isn't that a little cruel?"
She didn't flinch. "It's necessary."
Code looked away. His eyes slid to Riven. A leader must choose what benefits not just himself—but the entire class. What will you choose, Riven?
Riven exhaled. "I think Aria is right."
The class gasped.
"But," he added, raising a hand, "donating all 1,000 stars isn't realistic. Instead, let's each give 200. That way we stay disciplined while keeping something for ourselves."
The class murmured. Slowly, one by one, heads nodded.
"Fine," Aria said. "As long as our foundation is set, I'll follow your decision."
Riven smiled. "Good. Then 200 stars from each of us."
Ivy read out the account number. One by one, they transferred their stars.
When it was done, Juro checked the balance with Riven.
"Four thousand, four hundred bronze stars," Riven announced proudly.
The class erupted in cheers.
"We've taken our first step," Riven said. "We can do this, everyone!"
The room echoed with voices of unity.
But in the corner—Huegene leaned back, putting his feet on the desk. "I like it here on the fifth floor. Peaceful. Quiet."
Riven chuckled. "Quiet, indeed."
Just then—
Click.
The classroom door creaked open. Silence fell instantly.
Code 11 stepped in, her masked face unreadable. She walked to the front, dropping a file on the desk.
"I heard you made a student account," her cold voice cut through the air. "Impressive. Now let me show you."
Snap.
A glowing screen appeared mid-air. The words burned brightly:
Class 1-D
Balance: 4,400 Bronze Stars
The screen faded. Code 11's mask gleamed as she scanned the class.
Her voice was ice. "Shall we begin… class?"