The moment Abe stepped back into the classroom, he knew something was wrong.
The once-familiar atmosphere of Class 2-B now felt suffocating, as if the walls themselves were pressing in on him.
The stares were still there. Watching. Judging.
But now, there was something else.
A sense of anticipation.
Abe ignored it and made his way to his seat. He needed to check the flash drive Reina had given him. But before he could even pull out his laptop—
Thud.
A stack of papers landed on his desk.
Abe's eyes narrowed as he looked up.
Standing before him was the homeroom teacher, Tsukishima.
"Arataki Abe," Tsukishima said, his voice unnervingly calm. "Come with me."
Abe glanced around. The students weren't even pretending to ignore the situation anymore.
They were waiting for his reaction.
Abe slowly rose from his seat. "Why?"
Tsukishima adjusted his glasses. "The principal wants to speak with you."
Abe felt something inside him tighten.
The principal?
David Havin.
The man behind everything.
Abe's fingers twitched slightly.
Was this a trap?
Most likely.
But did he have a choice?
No.
Without a word, Abe followed Tsukishima out of the classroom.
---
A Meeting with the Devil
The principal's office was on the highest floor of the school. A place no ordinary student ever had a reason to visit.
As Abe stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of a lavishly decorated room—expensive bookshelves, luxurious furniture, and a large window that overlooked the entire school.
And sitting at the grand mahogany desk was a man Abe had only seen in old photographs.
David Havin.
A tall, middle-aged man with neatly combed blond hair and piercing blue eyes. He exuded an air of authority, the kind that sent an unspoken message—I own everything here.
Abe remained silent as the man smiled.
"Arataki Abe," David said, leaning forward. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Abe didn't respond.
David chuckled. "Ah, I see you're not the type for pleasantries. That's fine."
He gestured toward the chair in front of his desk. "Please, have a seat."
Abe didn't move.
David's smile widened slightly. "Still on guard? I admire that. But I assure you, I only want to talk."
Abe slowly took a seat.
"…What do you want?" he asked.
David steepled his fingers. "I've been watching you, Abe-kun. You're quite an interesting student. In just a few months, you've done what no one else has managed before."
Abe clenched his jaw. "If you're referring to Murase, he got what he deserved."
David let out a small chuckle. "Oh, don't misunderstand. Murase was expendable. His role was merely temporary."
Abe narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying?"
David leaned back in his chair, his expression amused. "I'm saying that Murase was never the real mastermind behind Class 2-B. He was just a puppet."
Abe felt his blood run cold.
What?
"Then who—"
David interrupted him.
"You already know the answer, don't you?"
Abe's mind raced.
The files. The experiments. The missing students.
And then, it hit him.
"…The government," Abe muttered.
David smiled. "Bingo."
Abe gritted his teeth. "Why? Why would the government fund something like this?"
David exhaled as if the question amused him. "Because, Abe-kun… Class 2-B is not just an experiment."
He leaned in, his blue eyes gleaming.
"It's a selection process."
Abe's heartbeat quickened. "…Selection for what?"
David's smile turned cold. "For the perfect human being."
Silence.
Abe felt his entire body tense.
"Every year," David continued, "we handpick students with unique psychological traits. We push them to their limits. We break them, rebuild them, and observe who survives."
Abe's fingers curled into fists. "You're turning students into monsters."
David smirked. "Monsters? No, no. We are creating elites. People capable of surviving the cruel world that awaits them outside this school."
He tilted his head. "And you, Abe-kun… are one of the most promising candidates we've ever had."
Abe's breath hitched.
This was insane.
The entire system… was nothing more than a brutal test.
And he was just another subject.
David's voice snapped him back to reality.
"So, Abe-kun. I have a proposal for you."
Abe glared at him. "I'm not interested."
David chuckled. "You haven't even heard it yet."
He leaned forward.
"How about… you join me?"
Abe's eyes widened.
"You have already proven yourself," David said smoothly. "You are intelligent, ruthless, and unafraid to take action. Qualities that make you ideal for our program."
Abe's hands trembled with barely contained fury.
"You want me to work for you? After everything you've done?"
David shrugged. "I prefer the term collaborate."
Abe clenched his jaw. "And if I refuse?"
David's smile didn't waver. "Then you will be eliminated."
Silence stretched between them.
Abe forced himself to stay calm.
He needed to think.
If David Havin saw him as a valuable subject, that meant he wasn't disposable yet.
That meant he still had a chance to fight back.
"…I'll think about it," Abe finally said.
David grinned. "Good answer."
Abe stood up, turning toward the door.
"Oh, and one more thing, Abe-kun."
Abe paused.
David's voice was almost playful.
"If I were you, I'd be careful around Renji."
Abe stiffened.
"…What do you mean?"
David's smile turned razor-sharp.
"You'll find out soon enough."
---
Abe's Decision
Abe walked down the empty hallway, his fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
His mind was spinning.
Class 2-B was nothing more than a testing ground. A playground for twisted minds like David Havin.
And now, he had been given a choice.
Join them.
Or die.
But something else gnawed at him.
David's words about Renji.
Why would he warn him?
What aren't you telling me, Renji…?
Abe's eyes darkened.
He couldn't trust anyone. Not anymore.
Not even his own brother.
(To be continued…)