The Next Day.
A custom armored black Rolls-Royce glided down the road, flanked by a convoy of luxury escort vehicles protecting it from all sides.
Advanced Nurturing High School.
An institution dedicated to fostering elite talent. The brochure boasted that any student who successfully graduated was guaranteed their desired job or university placement with a 100% success rate. It also promised an extreme degree of freedom.
Inside the cabin, Mochi lay obediently in Ren's arms, enjoying her master's gentle strokes. Occasionally, she flicked her soft tail against the hand scratching her chin.
Ren ignored the cat's affectionate gestures for the moment. He was focused on the school's public profile, trying to decipher its true purpose before he even set foot on campus.
One grade divided into four classes: A, B, C, and D.
Does that correspond to Superior, Mediocre, Defective, and Trash?
A 100% employment rate, yet a caste system... Tsk. Only the apex predators get the opportunities. The other three classes are just cattle.
That must be it. Those at the bottom struggle to climb up, while those at the top must defend their thrones. How cruel. It's a system where you either get stronger and devour others, or you get devoured yourself.
"Ren-sama. Here is the dossier on all students and faculty, including this year's freshmen. The Master asked me to provide it to you."
Roberta, acting as both bodyguard and maid, saw him lower the brochure. She pulled a thick, detailed file from a leather folder and offered it to him.
Ren didn't take it. He pushed the stack of papers back toward her with a finger.
"If I knew the ending before the movie even started, where would the fun be?"
He shifted his position to get comfortable, allowing Mochi to curl up completely in his lap. He took the black sleep mask Roberta handed him and leaned back.
"Wake me when we arrive."
...
Inside a Public Bus.
"I truly am... beautiful."
Rokusuke Koenji, dressed in the school's deep red uniform, sprawled lazily across a priority seat. He held a small hand mirror, admiring his reflection and adjusting his perfectly coiffed golden hair.
"Um, excuse me. Could you please give your seat to this elderly lady?"
An unwelcome voice interrupted Koenji's self-admiration.
A girl with short, bobbed beige-colored hair, wearing the same uniform, stood before him with her hands clasped in a pleading gesture. She radiated an aura of pure innocence.
"No, I have no intention of doing so, pretty girl," Koenji replied instantly, refusing to be pressured.
The bus was full of seated passengers, yet this girl had targeted him first. It was obvious she saw him in a "priority seat" and wanted to use the situation to posture—to show off her own morality to the crowd.
Even if he did yield, the others would attribute it to social obligation, not his own benevolence. Koenji found her little performance amusing, but pointless.
Unfortunately for her, social pressure meant nothing to a man who placed himself above society.
"Oh... I'm sorry to bother you. I'll ask someone else."
Kikyo Kushida's expression stiffened for a microsecond. She hadn't expected Koenji to be so blunt. After all, she was a cute girl making a reasonable request.
How dare you refuse me? You arrogant narcissist!
She hadn't expected him to play by his own rules. To maintain her "angelic" image, she couldn't force the issue. She could only turn her pleading, watery eyes to the other passengers.
"Please... would anyone be able to give their seat to this grandmother?" Kushida flashed her cute expression again, moving to her next target after burying her annoyance deep inside.
The office lady sitting across from Koenji wasn't as thick-skinned as he was. Under Kushida's pressure, she forced a smile and stood up to offer her seat.
The bus was filled mostly with students in the same uniform. Many had been watching the scene with cold indifference. When the woman finally gave up her seat, a collective, silent sigh of relief swept through the vehicle.
They were all high schoolers; no one was inherently better than anyone else. Why should they sacrifice their comfort?
But unlike Koenji, they lacked the spine to refuse openly. They could only secretly pray that the "good girl" Kushida wouldn't target them next.
How uninteresting. And annoying. Not beautiful at all.
Koenji observed the sheepish expressions on everyone's faces and began to doubt his decision.
Was coming to this so-called school of elites the right choice?
He was bored. Everything felt mundane, and a normal school couldn't hold his interest. He had heard rumors that ordinary people couldn't survive here.
Did that not imply that everyone at the school was a genius?
Surely no ordinary person would be foolish enough to come here just to be humiliated. But looking at this bus full of cowards... was he wrong?
Whatever. I can't be bothered to think about the commoners. I am Rokusuke Koenji, the Golden Lion of the Koenji Family.
Suddenly, the bus screeched to a halt before reaching the designated stop. The doors hissed open.
"What's going on? We're not at the gate yet."
Some students grumbled but reluctantly shuffled off the bus. As they stepped onto the pavement, their complaints died in their throats.
A blockade of luxury vehicles—the kind usually seen only in magazines—was blocking the school entrance.
"Ren-sama, we've arrived," Roberta said softly.
"Mm."
Ren's eyes snapped open, alertness returning instantly. He stretched and stepped out of the car, cradling Mochi in one arm while Roberta held the door.
With the escort mission complete, the convoy of bodyguards peeled away. Soon, only the single black Rolls-Royce remained at the curb.
The scene at the school gate was now clear for all to see.
A young man with long hair, holding a white cat, stepped gracefully onto the sidewalk. Standing rigid by the door, Roberta bowed slightly, placing a gloved hand over the top of the doorframe to protect her master's head.
"Alright, return home. You too, Mochi."
Ren gently flicked the clingy cat's forehead and handed her to Roberta. He gave a curt nod, then turned and walked toward the school gates without looking back.
"Yes, Ren-sama."
Holding Mochi, who was still meowing and looking back at Ren, Roberta elegantly lifted the hem of her skirt with one hand and bowed as her master departed.
The students who had been watching in stunned silence finally erupted into whispers now that the protagonist of the scene had left.
"What was that? A young master like that is going to school with us?"
"Did you see his red eyes? He's gorgeous."
"He must be a freshman. I hope he's in my class... I might have a chance."
They didn't care if they knew him or not; the sheer spectacle was enough to ignite the gossip mill.
Meanwhile, near the bus stop, all previous doubts vanished from Rokusuke Koenji's mind.
A wide grin spread across his face, and a fire named "fighting spirit" ignited in his eyes.
"So you're here too... Dragon of the Katsuragi Family."