The gates of APEX Academy rose like the entrance to a fortress.
Kai Hayato slowed his car as he approached, eyes narrowing. Polished steel walls stretched endlessly on both sides, embedded with security cameras and holographic displays flashing the academy's emblem. Beyond the gates, he could see it—the racetrack, cutting through the campus like a scar of asphalt, wide enough for Formula cars to scream at full speed.
This wasn't a school.
It was a battlefield.
Earlier that morning, Kai sat with his parents and younger sister around the small breakfast table in their cramped apartment. Morning light filtered through thin curtains, illuminating peeling wallpaper and a table scarred by years of quiet meals and late-night arguments.
At the center of it all lay the APEX letter.
The silver hawk emblem glinted faintly, sharp and predatory, completely out of place in a room this small.
His mother reached for it first.
Her fingers trembled as she unfolded the digital printout, eyes racing across each line. With every word, her expression tightened—fear creeping in where hope should have been.
"Kai… this… this isn't safe," she said, voice cracking. "It says here—" She swallowed hard. "—make a Formula One number one. And if anything happens…" Her hands shook as the paper rustled. "They won't be responsible. They— they don't even pretend to care."
She looked up at him, eyes shining with tears.
"Don't you see? You could die."
The word hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
Yui inhaled sharply, clutching her chest. Her chair scraped back slightly as she leaned forward. "Big brother… this is insane." Her voice was small, scared. "Why would anyone create something like this? Why would they let you risk your life like that?"
Kai felt his throat tighten.
He stared at the emblem, at the words he'd memorized already, and forced himself to breathe.
"I know," he said quietly. "I know how it sounds." His hands clenched on his knees. "But this… this is what I've been chasing. Ever since I was a kid. This isn't just a chance—it's my only one."
His father leaned back in his chair, the wood creaking beneath him. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, eyes never leaving Kai.
"Kai's right," he said after a moment. His tone was calm, steady—grounded. "It's dangerous. No point denying that." He glanced at the letter again. "But it's free. he's not asking us to sell the house or drown in debt."
He looked back at his son.
"And this is his dream. He's been running toward it since he was barely tall enough to reach the pedals. If this is the road that leads there…" He sighed. "Then stopping him now would be crueler than letting him try."
"Kazuo—" his mother whispered, shaking her head.
"But he's our son," she continued, tears finally spilling over. "What if— what if we lose him?"
Kai stood then, stepping closer. His voice softened.
"Mom."
He took her hands gently, feeling how cold they were.
"I'll be careful," he said. "I promise. I won't throw my life away. But I can't turn my back on this. If I do… I'll regret it forever."
Yui wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "Just promise me one thing," she said, voice breaking. "Promise me you'll try not to get hurt."
Kai smiled—a small, sincere smile—and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll come back," he said. "Alive. I swear." His gaze hardened just a little. "But I can't stay where I am anymore. I don't want to be just a street racer. I want more."
His father nodded once, firm.
"Then go," he said. "Show them what you're made of." A faint grin tugged at his lips. "Just don't make me buy you a new car because you wrapped this one around a wall."
A soft laugh escaped Kai before he could stop it. Dad I don't need a car for F1 its called a kart it's way different from what I do
Even his mother let out a shaky breath, wiping her tears.
"I can't believe I'm letting you go," she muttered, half to herself.
Kai looked down at the APEX letter one last time.
The hawk seemed to stare back.
[Now]
Security guards waved students through in waves. Luxury cars rolled in one after another—sleek supercars, transport vans, sponsored vehicles bearing racing logos. Engines purred softly, controlled, disciplined.
Then there was Kai.
His old street car coughed as it rolled forward.
The guard glanced at it, then at Kai. His eyebrow twitched.
"…Street racer?" he muttered under his breath.
Kai didn't respond. He stepped out, slung his bag over his shoulder, and walked past the gate. Whispers followed.
"Does that car even belong here?"
"Did security mess up?"
Kai ignored them all. He looked around, taking everything in—the massive garages, the engineering buildings, the private simulators visible through glass walls, the perfectly maintained practice circuits looping around the campus. This place was high-end, competitive, merciless.
And everyone here looked like they belonged.
Except him.
Over a hundred new students gathered near the main plaza, each radiating confidence. Racing suits branded with elite clubs. Drivers from famous junior leagues. Karting champions. Simulator specialists. Sponsored prodigies.
Kai stood among them wearing plain clothes. The difference was obvious.
A staff member raised a hand. "All new students, follow me to the auditorium."
The crowd moved.
As they entered, Kai felt it. Pressure. The auditorium was massive, tiered seating rising like a coliseum. Filling it already were the hundred students who had been enrolled at APEX Academy.
They didn't clap. They didn't welcome. They watched. Eyes sharp. Cold. Measuring.
This wasn't an audience. It was a wall of rivals.
Kai took a seat near the middle. His pulse was steady, but instincts screamed. These weren't amateurs—they were the cream of the crop, forged by years of elite training.
A spotlight ignited on the stage. Footsteps echoed. A man walked out.
Silver hair. Tall. Lean. Posture relaxed—almost lazy—but the moment he stepped into the light, the room suffocated. Conversations died instantly.
Rintaro Akagi.
Principal. Head Coach. The man who had declared war on the world of Formula racing.
He looked down at the students as if inspecting livestock. Then he spoke.
"Welcome," his voice was calm, too calm.
"Welcome, current students… and upcoming students."
He paused, eyes scanning the room slowly.
"The hundred new students sitting here today—don't misunderstand something."
Some of them straightened, expecting praise.
"You weren't invited because you're special."
A ripple of confusion spread.
"You were invited because you were convenient."
Murmurs broke out. Akagi continued, unfazed.
"You came from the best schools. The best crews. The best junior leagues. Congratulations. That only means you've survived… so far."
He tilted his head. "And you—APEX regulars—don't look so proud."
Silence.
"You call yourselves the cream of the crop? Then today, I'll start proving how rotten most of you are."
The room stiffened.
"You all know what happened three weeks ago."
The lights dimmed. A single image appeared behind him: Liam Ferraro.
"Liam Ferraro is dead. The world's number one Formula driver. Crushed during practice."
A few students swallowed hard.
"Tragic?" Akagi shrugged. "Maybe. But here's the truth you're all too afraid to accept."
He leaned forward.
"The world does not care."
The words hit harder than shouting ever could.
"The world needs a number one. It demands a number one. And if one disappears…" His eyes sharpened. "…another must take his place."
Kai felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"So let me ask you something," Akagi said. "What makes a driver the greatest of all time?"
Silence.
"Talent?"
"Effort?"
"Passion?"
He scoffed.
"All garbage answers."
The screen erupted behind him—high-speed overtakes, brutal crashes, wheels colliding inches apart.
"The greatest driver is the one who survives pressure and evolves faster than everyone else."
He spread his arms. "Welcome to the APEX Project."
"This program exists for one purpose—to create a monster."
A murmur spread.
"You will race every weekend."
"You will face drivers from across this country."
"And eventually…" His smile widened. "…from the rest of the world."
Foreign flags flashed behind him.
"They will come here to test you. To analyze you. To destroy you."
"And if you break?" He shrugged. "Good. That means you were never worthy."
"Everyone in this room is your enemy," he said flatly. "The person sitting next to you?" He glanced at the seats. "Your rival."
A pause.
"And don't forget the ones outside this academy."
The flags burned brighter.
"The number one doesn't belong to a country. He steals the crown from all of them."
Kai's fists clenched.
Akagi straightened.
"APEX Academy has two divisions. Mechanics and racers. There are no mechanics here today."
Confusion rippled.
"Mechanics don't matter until a driver proves he's worth serving."
A few students bristled.
"Each of you will be assigned four mechanics. They exist to sharpen your claws."
His eyes gleamed. "I will break you. I will corner you. I will force you into impossible situations."
Then—slowly—he leaned forward.
"I will watch who evolves."
The screen behind him shattered Liam Ferraro's image into fragments.
"We are not looking for the next Liam Ferraro. We are looking for someone stronger."
"Someone more selfish. More ruthless. More obsessed."
"To be the fastest alive—you must become the predator."
His gaze swept the auditorium… then stopped. For half a second, his eyes locked onto Kai Hayato.
A smile—sharp and dangerous—curved his lips.
"And I hope," Akagi said quietly, "that the monster I'm looking for… is already sitting in this room."
The lights cut out.
Silence thundered.
Kai's heart pounded.
This wasn't a school.
This was a hunting ground.
And for the first time since arriving—Kai smiled.