At the end of the massive underwater tunnel, the light suddenly brightened. The full view of Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, resembling a futuristic fortress suspended above the deep blue sea, was revealed to all the new students in the bright morning sun.
The magnificent complex of modernist buildings was neatly integrated into the carefully planned artificial island.
Glass curtain walls reflected the light of the sky and the colours of the sea, wide roads were lined with lush greenery, and in the distance, the outlines of standardised sports fields and facilities-advanced gymnasiums could even be seen.
The air was filled with the salty scent characteristic of the sea breeze, mixed with the fresh fragrance of newly mown grass. The bus smoothly drove across the giant bridge connecting the island and the tunnel entrance, finally stopping at the plaza in front of the imposing main academic building.
The new students streamed off the bus, wearing expressions of awe, nervousness, or high ambition, merging into the bustling crowd.
Jin quietly moved with the flow of people, his gaze calmly sweeping over the institution that would house him for the next year.
Its newness, vast scale, and sense of meticulous order were completely different from any environment he had known before.
The excitement and anticipation floating in the air were, to him, more like background noise that required observation and analysis.
"Arima-san!" A clear, pleasant, and enthusiastic voice sounded at his side. Jin turned his head and saw Kushida Kikyo quickly catching up, her face bearing a sun-like, brilliant smile—a smile that seemed capable of dispelling the unfamiliarity of a new arrival.
"What a huge school! It's even more magnificent than it looked in the pictures!" she exclaimed sincerely, her bright eyes sparkling with curiosity and anticipation for the new environment.
"Mm." Jin responded simply. The two naturally walked side-by-side toward the imposing main school gate. The massive gate was simple yet powerful in design, topped by the prominent school emblem and name.
"We'll be living here for three years now. I don't know what the future holds, but please take care of me!" Kushida Kikyo said as they walked, her tone sincere and friendly, without any hint of trying to curry favour.
"Thank you so much for your help on the bus earlier, Arima-san. I really don't know what I would have done otherwise." Her words flowed naturally, like a warm stream.
"It was nothing. You already thanked me more than once." Jin replied calmly. He looked at Kushida Kikyo beside him. Her social skills were indeed highly pervasive, just like the smile she displayed.
In just a few minutes, she had already nodded, smiled, and greeted several unfamiliar students they passed, as if they were old acquaintances.
The flow of people converged at the school gate. New students needed to follow the class signs to different assembly points. The area in front of the bulletin board was already crowded, with the class assignment lists posted there.
"Ah, the class assignments are over there!" Kushida Kikyo pointed toward the bulletin board. "Let's go take a look, Arima-san!"
The two approached the crowd. Jin's gaze calmly swept over the list, and he quickly found his name in Class 1-B.
At the same time, he heard Kushida Kikyo beside him let out a cheerful, "Ah!" "I found it! I'm in Class 1-D."
Her voice remained bright, but her gaze lingered for a moment on Jin's name in Class 1-B.
A fleeting look of slight disappointment quickly crossed her eyes, only to be immediately replaced by her signature warm smile.
"That's too bad, Arima-san, we aren't in the same class!" She turned, sincerely telling Jin, her smile still bright.
"Well then, we'll part ways here. I need to go to the Class D assembly point. See you after the entrance ceremony!"
She waved at Jin, her movement natural and full of energy, then turned and, like a nimble fish, merged into the flow of people heading to the Class D assembly point. Soon after, he saw her enthusiastically chatting with a few other girls also headed to Class D, completely Immersing herself with her outward porsona of a 'Angel'.
Jin watched her back disappear into the crowd. Class D. He calmly withdrew his gaze and followed the signs toward the Class 1-B assembly area.
The entrance ceremony was held in the school's central auditorium. The hall was astonishingly large, with a high, wide dome and stark lines, filled with modern and technological aesthetics.
A huge electronic screen hung above the stage, playing a promotional video for the school, showcasing its top-tier facilities, brilliant college admission and employment results, and students' performance in various national-level competitions and activities. Soft, cool-toned lighting illuminated the thousands of neatly arranged seats below.
The new students took their seats according to class sections. Jin sat in the Class 1-B area, surrounded by unfamiliar faces also wearing brand-new uniforms.
He could sense a subtle tension permeating the air. His gaze swept over the Class D area, where he easily spotted Kushida Kikyo. She was smiling and chatting quietly with several girls next to her, looking completely immersed with her outward 'Angel' persona at ease.
The ceremony officially began. The principal walked onto the podium. He was a middle-aged man of average height, with a serious face and eyes as sharp as a hawk, wearing a crisp dark suit.
His voice, steady and powerful, carrying undeniable authority, spread through every corner of the auditorium via the high-quality sound system.
"Welcome, new students of Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School."
The opening remarks were concise and direct.
"You are the cream of the crop, having emerged from countless competitors nationwide. What you hold in your hands is a pass to the top universities and elite classes in Japan, and even the world." His gaze slowly swept over the young faces below the stage.
"But please remember, Advanced Nurturing High School is not a comfortable cradle. What is practised here is absolute 'Meritocracy'!"
The concept of 'Meritocracy' was deliberately emphasised, striking everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.
"You have been assigned to different classes. This is merely a preliminary arrangement based on entrance evaluation, intended for organisational purposes." His words were cold and realistic. "But Advanced Nurturing High School has only one core spirit: Competition!"
"There is no meaningless sympathy or charity here. Do you want better resources? Do you want more recognition? Do you want to prove your worth?" The principal's voice rose slightly. "Then fight for it with your own ability!"
"In every competition, in every activity, in every instance where you need to demonstrate your capability, give your all, surpass others, and surpass yourselves!"
"The starting point is not the finish line. The composition of the classes is not set in stone. Your future performance, the results you achieve in competition, will define your position and worth here!"
"Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School is a microcosm of society, and even more so, a crucible for refining true gold. Here, you will learn the most fundamental rule of survival—only ability can earn respect and the future.
I hope that three years from now, when you stand at the graduation ceremony, you will all be worthy of the path you chose, graduating with honor forged by your own abilities!"
The principal's words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the initial excitement of many, but also igniting a flame in the eyes of others. The auditorium fell into a heavy silence, with only the echo of the principal's final phrase.
"I wish all new students success in their endeavours," dissipating in the crisp air. Competition, meritocracy... these words formed the underlying tone of life at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School.