## **Chapter 1: The Vanishing Point**
The campus of the **National Institute for Future Leaders** loomed before me, its towering steel and glass buildings reflecting the afternoon sun. Everything about this place felt **sterile**, meticulously crafted for efficiency. No distractions. No weaknesses.
Around me, students moved with purpose, their postures confident, their gazes sharp. **They all belonged here.**
I didn't.
I kept my pace steady, my expression neutral as I followed the orientation group through the pristine hallways. My father's words still echoed in my mind.
*"This is where your future will be decided. You will not embarrass this family."*
He had already decided long ago that I wasn't the son he wanted. That role belonged to my older brother. I was sent here not with expectations, but with **one last chance** to prove my worth.
I had no interest in playing that game. **I just needed to survive.**
### **Fading into the System**
By the time we reached the dormitory, I had already begun dissecting the school's structure.
- Classes were ranked based on performance.
- Dorm assignments followed a hidden evaluation process.
- The school encouraged competition, both directly and beneath the surface.
The patterns were obvious. **Those who aimed for the top would either succeed or be destroyed. Those who aimed for the bottom would be discarded.**
But the ones who stayed in the middle? **They were ignored.**
That was my goal—**never first, never last.**
At dorm check-in, I received my student ID. **Class 1-C.** A perfect placement. Strong enough to avoid being targeted, weak enough to stay off the radar.
I exhaled quietly. This could work.
### **The First Threat**
Dinner was served in a massive common hall, where students gathered in groups, naturally separating by class. I picked the least occupied table near the window. Alone. Unnoticed.
Or so I thought.
A tray clattered onto the seat across from me. My gaze flicked up, meeting sharp, calculating eyes. **The student wasn't from my class.**
"Kei Fuyushima, right?"
I didn't react. My pulse remained steady. "Who's asking?"
The student smirked. "Ichika Renji. Class 1-A."
Top class. **Dangerous.**
Ichika leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You're an interesting one. The way you avoid attention, your careful placement in Class C—" He tapped his temple. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"
I kept my expression blank, but my fingers curled under the table. **This wasn't good.**
I had done everything right—kept my grades balanced, stayed in the background, avoided unnecessary interactions. Yet somehow, this guy had noticed me.
And from the look in his eyes, he wasn't planning on letting me go.
Ichika smiled, and it wasn't a friendly one. It was the kind of smile that said, *I'm going to make your life interesting, whether you like it or not.*
I exhaled slowly.
**So much for being a ghost.**
---
### **End of Chapter 1** ## **Chapter 2: The Predator's Smile**
Ichika Renji didn't take his eyes off me.
His expression was calm—too calm. That easy smirk, the relaxed posture, the way he idly tapped his fingers against the table as if this conversation meant nothing to him. **It was an act.** He was watching me closely, searching for a reaction.
I gave him nothing.
"Not much of a talker, huh?" Ichika mused, tilting his head slightly. "That makes sense. People like you—" He gestured vaguely, eyes never leaving mine. "—like to keep things quiet."
I took a slow bite of my food, chewing deliberately. My heartbeat stayed steady. My breathing remained even.
Ichika was testing me.
I had seen people like him before—not in my old school, but at home. **My father, my brother, the guests they entertained.** People who spoke in layers, each sentence a move in an unseen game.
I already knew my best strategy.
Say nothing. Let the silence stretch. Let him fill in the gaps himself.
Ichika leaned forward slightly, his smirk widening. "You know, most people in Class C fall into two categories: those who belong there and those who don't." He studied my face carefully. "Which one are you?"
I met his gaze evenly. "Does it matter?"
"Hmm." Ichika propped his elbow on the table, resting his chin on his palm. "If you were just another average student, you wouldn't be interesting." His eyes sharpened. "But you are."
I kept my expression neutral, though I could feel his words probing at the edges of my carefully built walls. **This wasn't just a conversation. It was a hunt.**
"You don't stand out, you don't fall behind," Ichika continued, his voice almost amused. "Your grades are *good*, but not *too* good. You keep your head down, avoid conflict, and yet…" He trailed off, letting the words linger in the air between us.
He wanted me to react. To deny. To confirm.
I did neither.
Ichika exhaled a soft laugh. "I've seen people like you before, you know. The ones who slip through the cracks, unnoticed." He leaned in just a little more. "But there's always a reason."
I put down my chopsticks and met his gaze with a calm, uninterested stare. "You seem invested in this."
"Of course." Ichika grinned. "I like puzzles."
I didn't respond.
A flicker of something crossed his face—mild irritation? Amusement? Hard to tell. But I had seen it. **A crack in the performance.**
Good.
Ichika exhaled, sitting back in his chair. "You're good at this," he admitted. "Most people fumble when they're put on the spot."
I picked up my tray. "I don't see the point in entertaining nonsense."
His smile widened. "So you do see this as a game?"
I paused.
It was subtle, but he had shifted the pace of the conversation. He was still **testing me**, still looking for something—some kind of slip-up, some confirmation that his suspicions were correct.
I let the silence stretch again before answering. "If that's what you think, then go ahead."
Ichika let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you alone… for now." He pushed his chair back, standing up. "But you know, Kei…" He glanced back at me, that sharp glint still in his eyes.
*"Ghosts don't attract attention. So why did I notice you?"*
I didn't answer. I simply turned and walked away.
But as I left the dining hall, I could still feel his gaze on my back.
---
### **End of Chapter 2**