Inside the box-shaped classroom, arranged in perfect symmetry, harsh white light from fluorescent tubes embedded in the ceiling illuminated everything without pause. On the front wall, a massive screen flashed complex equations, alternating with the emotionless voice of an automated system.
: {Mathematics Lesson Unit 2 is now beginning... Please cooperate to maintain your behavior score.}
Each students wore a thin device called a "Sense Plate" at the nape of their neck beneath their collar—an artificial neural interface that directly transmitted learning data into the brain. Some wore exhausted expressions, while others closed their eyes in focus, trying to process the overwhelming stream of information.
Rain sat in the corner of the room, leaning back against his chair with sluggish movements, eyes half-closed as if he might fall asleep any second. Beside him sat Eliza, a girl with long, dark brown hair.
"Fuuuh…" Eliza exhaled softly before nudging Rain.
"Hey, Rain, you hearing this?"
Her voice was soft as the wind, but it was enough to jolt him back to alertness. He quickly straightened up, then shook his head to dispel the drowsiness.
"Sorry... There's just too much data flowing in. I'm just... a little dizzy."
Eliza offered a small smile and leaned over to show him her personal note screen, which she used to jot down her analysis of the equations. Rain glanced at the screen for a moment before accepting it with a murmured thanks.
: {Please answer the following question to receive one behavior point.}
A prompt appeared instantly on everyone's display.
: If X = 2 and Y = -3 in the equation F(X,Y) = (2X + Y)^2 – XY, what is the result?
Students scrambled to input their answers. Everyone knew that a correct response would earn them a point toward their "Behavior Evaluation," which affected privileges like rest time or even the right to request personal items at the end of each month. Those with heavily negative scores from their initial tests were especially desperate to climb out of the red after hearing the rules. Falling below the minimum threshold would result in being assigned "special supplementary lessons" during breaks.
"Sigh…" Eliza whispered, "This brain-training mode is going to kill us."
Rain gave a faint nod before turning back to his screen. The data continued to stream into his mind—an endless tide crashing against the thin walls of his consciousness.
End of the morning class period.
The chime signaling the end of the lesson faded, leaving behind only the soft sounds of footsteps and tired breathing echoing through the hallway.
"Hey, wanna go to the playground?" Gaia asked, stretching his arms lazily.
"There's a playground here?" Zyn raised an eyebrow, glancing at Gaia with disbelief. "Didn't they say we're not allowed to leave the classroom area?"
"Didn't you listen to the announcement on the first day?" Gaia smirked. "This place is huge. There are different zones—an electronics lab, a library, and even a large room set up as a playground. And more rooms too, but we can only access them during break time."
"Sounds almost like an underground amusement park…" Zyn murmured.
"Maybe it is," Gaia narrowed his eyes. "I'm guessing this whole facility is a giant underground base. We just haven't been given clearance to access most of it yet. The elevators are locked, and each floor is massive. But even with just that much info, it's enough to say this definitely isn't just an ordinary place."
Rain asked curiously,
"So how do you know all that?"
Gaia gave a faint, easy smile before answering casually,
"I've just been observing since we first stepped in here. The rest? Mostly guesses."
Zyn gave a small nod, then turned to ask the two who had been silent the whole time,
"What about you guys? You coming?"
Rain shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure. Nothing better to do anyway."
Eliza didn't say a word—she just nodded slightly, as if merely choosing to tag along with the group.
The four of them started walking down the corridor, guided by the glowing ceiling lights that stretched like lines into the distance. When they reached the large room referred to as the "playground," the doors slid open with a soft whoosh.
Inside was a high-ceilinged hall, bathed in warm, gentle lighting. The floor was divided into color-coded zones, each designated for different activities—sitting areas, simulated jump pillars, flexible surfaces for movement-based exercises, and even an interactive holographic display wall.
There were quite a few other students already there, all seemingly using this break to ease the tension built up from the morning's grueling lessons—lessons so intense they felt like they could set your brain on fire.
Rain stood silently, observing the surroundings.
Even though it was called a playground… it still felt more like something designed for testing than for fun.
______________________________________________________________
The four of them spent their break time in the playground to the fullest—running around, jumping, or simply lying back on the soft flooring to release the mental tension built up from the intense morning classes.
As fatigue gradually settled in, they all came to rest on a long bench beneath simulated sunlight streaming down from the high ceiling.
"Hey, what do you guys usually like to do during your free time?" Zyn asked as he leaned back against the bench casually.
"Me?" Rain replied in his usual flat tone. "Reading... and sleeping."
"Didn't expect that. Surprisingly simple," Zyn laughed.
"What about you, Eliza?" Zyn—who was sitting beside her—leaned in close, almost touching, drawing everyone's attention.
"M-Me...? " Eliza looked slightly hesitant before replying softly, "Well... I read sometimes, and… I like looking at pretty clothes and stuff like that."
"Oooh, so you're a fashion girl, huh?" Zyn grinned mischievously before poking her cheek playfully.
"Stop it already..." Eliza caught her hand just in time and shot back, "What about you guys then?"
"Me?" Zyn stretched slightly. "I'm into sports—soccer, tennis, boxing... Sometimes I feel like charging at people more than the ball," she added with a small, gleeful laugh.
"yah, you're like a gorilla" Gaia chuckled under his breath.
"Hmph! Don't make fun of me!" Zyn scrunched her nose at him.
Gaia raised his hands in surrender before sharing his own.
"As for me... I'm into mechanics. Gadgets, inventions, electronics, that kind of stuff. I usually spend my free time building circuits or tinkering with little projects... It's fun."
His words drew the attention of the group, all eyes now fixed on him.
"Uh... Is there something on my face?" Gaia frowned.
Zyn, now back beside Eliza, leaned forward. "I've known you for ages... and I'm just now finding out you're a science geek who builds stuff?"
"Well, you never asked."
"…"
A mechanical voice cut through the brief silence:
: {It is now time for the afternoon classes. All students, please return to your classrooms within five minutes. Thank you.}
Everyone paused for a moment before slowly rising from the bench.
Though faint smiles remained on their faces, something unreadable flickered in their eyes—an unease that couldn't quite be named.
It was as if this playground... wasn't truly meant for relaxation. Cameras and speakers were embedded in every corner, making it feel like they were being watched at all times.
_______________________________________________________
The classroom door clicked shut behind the last group of students.
The white, spotless room was quieter than usual—there was no chatter, no laughter, not even the usual sighs or heavy breathing from restless kids.
Each desk sat in perfect order, but one thing was different from the morning—there was no teacher standing at the front.
Instead, a large monitor mounted on the wall flickered to life, casting a soft blue glow. From hidden speakers, a smooth, synthesized voice spoke:
"Afternoon Lesson: Foundational Self-Awareness – Understanding Mistakes."
The screen displayed footage of them—yes, them—playing in the playground just minutes ago. Every movement, every laugh, every conversation had been recorded with unnerving precision.
Zyn furrowed her brows. "What the hell is this…?"
"In this simulated environment: if you violate rules, skip lessons, or display inappropriate behavior, the system will automatically assess your behavioral deviation. This is the new evaluation model that will judge each individual's conduct—unlike traditional test score deductions. From now on, this is the advance Level Behavioral Scoring System."
A series of line graphs surged upward, each one tagged with a student's name and number below their face—Behavioral Deviation Score: 7.2 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 3.3
Their names were clearly labeled under each chart.
Eliza's face turned pale. "W-What… are those scores?"
"This classroom will now lock automatically for 90 minutes until the learning session concludes. Students with deviation scores above the standard threshold will receive 'special lessons' to rebalance personality traits."
From each desk, small needles emerged from tiny slots on the armrests, clicking softly in sync like an ominous metronome.
Rain quickly turned to Gaia. "What are they going to do to us?"
Gaia had gone pale. "Not sure… but it's not going to be gentle."
The system voice echoed again, calm yet chilling:
"Beginning Deep Personality Evaluation… Please answer the following questions truthfully—even in your thoughts."
The lights in the room gradually dimmed, casting a cold gray hue that blanketed everything in quiet tension. The large screen flared to life once more, displaying the first sentence of a "test" that none of them had ever agreed to take:
---
Question 1:
"Have you ever lied for personal gain?"
(Answer silently. The system will assess based on physiological and neural signal changes.)
---
Eliza glanced toward her friends, her eyes beginning to tremble.
"This is insane… we're actually being mentally scanned…"
Ding!
A red bar beneath her name inched upward slightly.
Gaia clenched his fists.
"This is… stupid!"
---
Question 2:
"If you saw a friend commit a wrongdoing, would you report it?"
The system's voice returned—cold, but carrying an unspoken weight.
Rain lowered his eyes, his heart pounding faster without realizing it. Though he said nothing, his graph still shifted:
4.9 → 5.3
Suddenly, a small metallic box slid out from the side of Gaia's desk. Inside was a mechanism that looked like a microchip paired with fine needles. A personal command appeared on his screen—visible only to him:
---
"Student 'Gaia' has displayed behavioral deviation above the system average.
Please equip the learning enhancement device voluntarily...
…or the system will proceed automatically."
---
"Damn it…" Gaia cursed under his breath but remained still.
Ding!
A red warning flashed on his screen.
"Refusal = Resistance to Learning."
Panic began to ripple through the room.
Eliza covered her ears, burying her face into the desk.
Zyn reached out as if to stop Gaia—but her hand froze midway.
She didn't know what would happen to her if she interfered.
Then a voice echoed through the room... the voice of a "teacher" that was not even a human.
"The system was not designed to harm...
…but to correct
…to protect
…to 'erase' what is abnormal…"
Rain slowly whispered, "Erase…?"
A short clip flashed across the screen—
A student, unfamiliar to any of them, sat alone in a stark white room.
Trembling...
Breathing shallow...
Then the image vanished, replaced by a single word:
---
"Recovered."