The mall buzzed with chatter, music, and flickering lights from bright store signs. Code walked past the aisles, his black coat brushing lightly against shelves stacked with snacks and stationeries. His gaze was detached, uninterested, until he stopped in front of a rack and quietly picked up a pack of tissues.
Beside him, Ivy clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head playfully.
Code turned to her, his tone as calm as ever.
"Remind me again… why you're here in the mall with me?"
Ivy smiled, eyes gleaming.
"I decided to follow you to see your preferences," she said, her voice sweet and confident. "So next time, I'll be the one doing all your shopping."
Code's eyes lingered on her face for a moment before drifting away.
"Don't you think you're going overboard with all this?" he asked quietly.
"No," Ivy replied without hesitation. "I'm not."
Before Code could respond, a group of girls across the aisle waved excitedly.
"Ivy!" they called, smiling.
Ivy waved back, her bright energy clashing against Code's dead calm.
"I'm coming!" she said cheerfully, and hurried off to join them.
Code's gaze followed her only for a second before he moved on.
He walked to another shelf, reached out for a bottle of water—
—but another hand reached for the same one.
He looked beside him.
Aria.
Her sharp eyes flicked toward him as she picked up the bottle.
"Oh. It's you."
Code's voice was unshaken.
"Yeah. It's me."
She turned to leave, but Code spoke again.
"About the assignment you gave me—"
"We'll talk about it some other time," Aria cut him off, her tone cold but composed. "Just not here."
"What's wrong with here?" Code asked, unbothered.
Aria's eyes narrowed. "You can keep talking to yourself if you want. Or listen to me." She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Tomorrow at the café during recess. Don't bring Ivy this time."
Without another glance, she walked away.
Code watched her leave, then quietly picked another bottle of water and walked off.
---
Later That Night — Locker Room
The sound of metal lockers clanging shut echoed through the dimly lit room. Code, Caden, Torin, Ken, and Riven were all dressed in black and white butler uniforms.
Caden let out a dramatic sigh as he tied his gloves.
"Second day of our part-time job," he groaned. "I didn't know earning money could be this exhausting."
Riven laughed softly. "Let's just keep working hard, Caden."
Torin snorted. "Don't listen to him, Riven. He's lazy."
Ken nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Caden just wants to slack off."
"Come on, guys!" Caden protested. "I'm telling the truth! Serve my master for one day and you'll understand what 'exhausted' really means!"
Code silently buttoned his cuffs, expression unreadable.
Caden turned toward him suddenly.
"Hey, Code, can I swap with you and serve your master instead? You and Riven are the only lucky ones here. Cute girls as your masters—how unfair is that?"
Torin crossed his arms, nodding seriously. "Honestly, I'm jealous."
Riven rolled his eyes. "You're ridiculous, Caden. Just because we got female masters doesn't mean it's easier."
"You're naive, Riven," Caden said, patting his shoulder with mock pity. "When a cute girl is bossing you around, you don't even feel tired. You'll do the hardest work with a smile—and if she says something sweet?" He clasped his chest dramatically. "You're done for."
Torin pretended to wipe imaginary tears. "He's right… we're the unlucky ones."
Then, both of them hugged each other like tragic brothers.
Code glanced at his watch calmly.
"It's getting late."
Riven nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
Ken rolled his eyes. "You two idiots done crying? Move it."
Caden and Torin immediately broke apart, straightened their uniforms, and the group left the room together.
---
Girls Dorm — Room 5
Code knocked softly on the door.
A faint voice came from inside. "C–Come in…"
He pushed the door open. The room was dark, lit only by the pale glow of a desk lamp. The curtains fluttered gently. On the bed, wrapped tightly in a blanket, Lyra sat shivering. Her nose was red, tissues scattered on the floor.
"You're here…" she murmured, embarrassed. "Sorry you had to see me like this."
Code stepped closer without a word. He placed his gloved hand on her forehead.
Lyra froze. Her cheeks turned crimson.
"W-What are you doing, Code?"
He knelt beside her bed, his eyes calm as ever.
"You've caught a cold."
Lyra nodded weakly.
"I'll prepare something for you," he said, already standing.
"N-No, it's fine!" she protested. "I'll be fine after a bit of rest—"
Code didn't listen. He gently laid her back on the bed, removed her glasses, set them neatly on the table, and pulled the blanket over her shoulders.
"I'll make the soup now," he said calmly, and walked out.
Lyra's heart raced.
She stared at the door after it closed, whispering to herself, "I didn't stop him… why didn't I even try to resist?"
---
Minutes later, Code returned holding a tray. Steam rose from the bowl of soup.
He set it on the table beside her.
Lyra tried to sit up, but her body was weak. Code helped her, carefully placing a pillow behind her back.
"Here," he said, handing her the tray.
As she tried to balance it, her trembling hands slipped. The bowl tilted—hot soup splashed. Code caught it mid-air, though some spilled across his glove.
Lyra gasped. "I—I'm so sorry! Are you hurt?"
"It's fine," Code said calmly, setting the bowl down.
"Wait, take this," she said, offering him a tissue.
He accepted it, wiped his hand, and walked quietly toward the kitchen. Moments later, he returned with a chair and sat beside her again.
"I'll feed you," he said flatly.
Lyra blinked, stunned. "Huh?"
Code picked up a spoon, blew on it, and held it near her lips.
The warmth of the steam brushed her skin.
Her face turned crimson. Slowly, she opened her mouth, and he fed her.
For the first time, she couldn't tell if her heart was beating from fever—or from him.
---
Room 9
The candlelight flickered over a white towel draped over the smooth back of a girl with brown hair. She lay face-down on a massage table, her voice calm.
"Riven, are you ready?"
Riven approached with a small bowl of oil and a smile.
"Yes," he said gently. "I'll start now."
He poured the oil onto her back, rubbing it carefully along her shoulders. The girl exhaled softly, her tension melting away.
Then a phone rang. She lifted her head slightly.
"Riven, could you bring that?"
He fetched it from the desk and handed it to her.
"Thanks," she said, sitting up and answering. "Hello?"
"Cecilia! How are you doing?" a cheerful girl shouted from the other end.
"I'm fine," Cecilia replied, her tone smooth and soft.
Riven waited for her to finish so he could continue the massage, but she raised a finger without looking at him.
"You can… help yourself to something else for now," she said, before turning back to her call.
Riven chuckled quietly and stepped back, shaking his head.
---
Room 5 — Later
Lyra lay peacefully on the bed now, a damp towel resting across her forehead. Code sat silently beside her, replacing the towel every few minutes.
When she finally drifted into sleep, Code checked his watch. 8:00 p.m.
He stood, placed the chair neatly back in its spot, and took one last look at her sleeping face.
Then he left, closing the door behind him without a sound.
---
Class 1-D — Morning
The classroom buzzed like a restless hive. Laughter, gossip, the shuffle of papers — all mixed together in the morning chaos.
But Code sat apart from it all. His elbow rested on the desk, hand under his chin, gaze fixed out the window. His silver tie glinted faintly under the light, but his expression didn't move. His eyes were elsewhere — distant, unreadable.
Across the room, Aria quietly flipped open a book. Her eyes glided across the pages, but her mind wasn't there either. The faint scratch of paper turning was the only sign she was alive.
Caden and Torin walked toward Ivy, who stood near a group of girls, chatting and laughing.
Caden crossed his arms. "Ivy, can we talk to you for a sec?"
She smiled, graceful and warm as always. "Sure," she said, and followed them outside through the back door of the classroom.
Once they were alone, Ivy stopped and tilted her head slightly. "So? What is it?"
Caden's calm broke instantly. He pointed at her, his voice raised.
"You lied to us! You said our stars went missing with the ARCS! Do you know how far I ran, thinking I had to start from scratch? I nearly passed out from panic!" he barked, his voice echoing down the corridor.
Ivy's lashes lowered, her voice soft and sweet.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make fun of you," she said. "I thought that's what I heard. I should've checked the information before telling you both. Please forgive me."
She bowed her head slightly, her tone dripping with sincerity.
Caden froze — his anger crumbling the second she looked down like that. His face flushed red. He scratched the back of his neck, mumbling,
"W-Well… since you're apologizing, I guess… maybe it wasn't your fault after all."
Torin sighed, shoving Caden lightly on the shoulder. "That's it? That's all you've got after yelling like a madman?"
Ivy smiled faintly. "It's okay, Torin. He's right — I shouldn't have spread false information. For that, I really am sorry."
Torin waved it off. "We forgive you, Ivy. Someone probably just tried to prank you. You fell for it, that's all."
Caden nodded quickly. "Yeah. I forgive you."
Then Ivy reached out — gently grabbing Caden's hand.
"Do you really forgive me?" she asked softly.
Caden's heart jumped to his throat. His eyes darted to her hand, then — for half a second — to her chest, dangerously close. So close… he thought, swallowing hard.
"Y-Yeah, of course! I forgive you! So stop feeling bad, okay?"
Ivy smiled, her charm effortlessly disarming. "Thank you. Shall we go back to class now?"
"Yup," Torin said, and the three walked back inside.
Ivy rejoined the girls. Caden and Torin slumped into their seats, still dazed.
Then the door clicked open.
Instant silence.
Code 11 stepped into the classroom.
Every student instinctively rose as Riven called out, "Greet."
"Good morning!" they chorused, their voices stiff with discipline.
Code 11 stood before them, her sharp eyes scanning the class.
"I hope you've all become familiar with your masters' likes and dislikes," she said coldly. "By now, you should have at least some experience serving as slaves."
A murmur of unease rippled through the room. Code sat still, unmoving.
"Leaving that aside," she continued, "bring out your textbooks."
The chatter faded, replaced by the the soft rustle of pages and the scrape of chairs.
And just like that, class began .
---
Recess
The cafeteria roared with noise — trays clattering, laughter bouncing off tiled walls, the scent of pastries and coffee hanging in the air.
Code walked through it all, unhurried, his expression blank.
His eyes scanned the tables. She should've waited at the door, he thought calmly. Directing me would've been easier.
Then he saw her — Aria, sitting alone at a corner table, reading a leather-bound journal.
He approached. She didn't look up.
Without glancing away from her pages, she said, "Sit."
He sat.
Silence filled the space between them.
Finally, Aria closed the journal and looked up. "What do you think you're doing?"
Code blinked. "Do you see me doing anything? You told me to sit. So I did."
Her eyes narrowed. "Yesterday at the mall, you said you wanted to talk. That's why I brought you here. So speak. I don't have time."
"Alright." Code leaned back slightly. "Regarding the assignment — I didn't find anyone else from the M Generation. Torin and the others said it's rare. The ruling generation now is the P Generation."
Aria folded her arms, thoughtful. "I see. I questioned the girls, too — got nothing but nosy questions in return. It was pointless."
She paused, then added coldly, "Your friend Ivy refused to reveal her generation. I suspect she's hiding it, but the chances she's M like us are slim. I'll write her off for now."
Code's tone didn't change. "So what now?"
"This means we're the only M Generation students in Class 1-D," she said. "Less numbers, but I prefer it simple."
She held out her hand. "Bring me your phone."
He frowned. "What for?"
"Just hand it over."
Without a word, Code took his phone from his pocket and passed it to her.
Aria typed swiftly, then returned it. "That's my number," she said. "Since we're both M Generation, it's smart to cooperate. Call it a partnership."
"Partnership?" Code echoed, voice flat.
"Yes," Aria said firmly. "We're slaves, but still a team. I like working alone — but considering the situation, I'll make an exception. I want to keep an eye on you."
Code's reply was instant. "I don't like people spying on me and invading my personal space . So I'll have to reject your partnership."
He stood up to leave.
"Wait," Aria said sharply.
Code paused — then turned and sat down again.
"At first," she continued, "I thought your calm, laid back attitude would get us in trouble. But I realized something — I don't want to be watched either. So I won't do it to you. On one condition — stay put, and don't do anything stupid."
Code met her gaze. "I wasn't planning on doing anything. You're the one who dragged me into this generational talk."
"Good," Aria said curtly. "I've given you my number. Call me if you find anything. I'll do the same. But—" she stood, picking up her magazine "—if you ever call me for something unimportant, I'll regret giving you that number."
She started walking away, then turned back slightly.
"And Code," she said, her voice cold but sharp, "don't waste my time."
Code stared at her retreating figure, then glanced down at the phone.
"I'd better save it before it deletes itself," he muttered, typing in Aria.
He checked the time. "Guess I should get back to class too."
---
Boys Dorm — Room 10
Night fell.
Code stood at the door to his room. He swiped his card — the door beeped open. The quiet hum of the heater greeted him.
He took off his coat and dropped it into the basket. His tie loosened, he exhaled slightly — not in fatigue, but in routine.
He went into the bathroom.
Minutes later, he emerged with damp hair and a steaming cup of coffee. Sitting at his desk, he took a slow sip, his expression still calm, still detached.
When we arrived, he thought, they told us the rules. Our positions as slaves. Our class rank as Grent.
We were told to serve, obey, and be paid — like employees in a system designed to own us.
He pulled out his phone, flipping it in his hand.Ecah student was given 1,000 bronze stars to last the month," he murmured. "But how much will we get paid next month?"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"What will our masters' ratings be… for their loyal, hardworking slaves?"
He leaned back, sipping his coffee again, unfazed.
---
June 1st — Class 1-D
Silence.
Every student stared at the holographic screen behind Code 11.
Rows of names. Columns of stars.
A number of students trembled as they read the results.
Juro spoke first, his voice shaking. "Most of us… got two stars? That can't be right!"
Torin clenched his fists. "After all that work?! After everything we did, they dare give us two stars?!"
Lily stammered, "G-Guys… someone… someone got a one-star rating."
Everyone froze.
Aria's voice was the first to cut through the tension. "A one star? That's impossible."
Caden's eyes widened as he looked up at the screen. "I can't believe it. It's… it's Code."
All eyes turned to the back of the room.
Code sat there — calm, unreadable, one hand supporting his chin again, eyes half-lidded.
He looked at his name on the screen and muttered under his breath,
"Looks like I'll be starving this month."