After spending one night at the hotel, the three of them—Nagi, Riku, and Hina—finally boarded the plane. It was a long flight. Over ten hours in the air. Nagi spent most of the trip staring at the seat in front of him or out the window. He didn't feel like talking. Not to Riku. Not to Hina. Maybe not even to himself.
He glanced to the side. Riku was sleeping with his headphones on, music still playing. His mouth was wide open, and his head tilted back in the most uncomfortable-looking way. Nagi wondered how he could sleep so easily.
On the other side, Hina sat by the window with a book in her hands. She hadn't said a single word since they got on the plane. She didn't even glance their way. Her eyes just followed the lines of her book, calm and unreadable.
So this is it, Nagi thought. I'm really flying to another city. To that place.
The food came and went. The hours passed slowly. Nagi tried to sleep but couldn't. His thoughts were too loud.
When the plane finally landed, the sky outside had turned a deep orange, blending into soft purples and dark blue. It was already evening.
As they stepped out of the plane, a wave of warm air hit their faces. The airport around them was clean and modern, its walls made of glass and steel. There were signs everywhere—some in English, others in languages Nagi couldn't understand. But English was always on top.
They didn't have time to wander. A tall man in a black uniform stood near the arrival gate, holding a sign with their names printed on it.
"Kashiwagi Nagi, Takanashi Riku, Aoyama Hina," the man read in clear English. "Please follow me."
He led them through a short hallway and out to a black car parked at the curb.
"The school is about thirty minutes from here," he said, opening the car door. "Welcome to Pacifica International Academy."
No one answered. The three students just nodded and got into the car. This time, the car dropped them off one by one at their separate buildings. Riku was first, then Hina. Nagi was the last to be dropped off.
A woman in a blue uniform was waiting at the entrance of the multi-unit building. She handed Nagi a key with a smile.
"This is your apartment key. Room 403. Your things have already been delivered."
Nagi nodded and thanked her softly.
The dorm was clean and quiet. He walked through the common area, which had a soft gray couch, a kitchen with shiny counters, and a wide window showing the forest outside. He found his bedroom and opened the door slowly.
Inside, his bedroom was simple but nice. A bed with white sheets, a desk by the window, a closet, and a small bathroom. His suitcase was already by the wall. He walked around a bit, opened the drawers, peeked inside the bathroom, then sat on the bed.
"…This is real," he whispered to himself.
After changing into the formal school uniform—plain white with a black vest—Nagi left his apartment building and wandered around. He still had time before the orientation started.
As he walked around the school grounds, he saw people. Lots of people. Students from different countries, different looks, different clothes. And some of them… some of them were famous.
He saw a billionaire's daughter surrounded by people taking photos. A famous idol with two assistants behind her. A popular influencer filming a vlog. An academic prodigy speaking with reporters. All of them the same age as him.
They're really my age? he thought, stunned. What kind of school is this?
As he kept walking, still looking around, he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. Then—bam! He bumped into someone.
"Ow—sorry," Nagi said quickly, taking a step back.
But the guy he bumped into grabbed his collar.
"Watch where you're going, asshole," the guy growled.
Nagi looked up. The guy was about his age. His hair was dark, and his uniform—it had a strange symbol on the shoulder. Behind him were three other boys with the same symbol on their jackets. Judging by their faces, they were all around Nagi's age too—but clearly not from the same country.
"H-Hey man. Sorry I bumped into you, alright?" Nagi said, raising his hands a little. He didn't want trouble.
The guy smirked, still holding his collar. "You think saying sorry fixes everything?"
"I didn't mean to," Nagi said. "It was an accident."
I've seen these shitty cliches on novels many times!
More students had started gathering, whispering and watching the scene.
"Yo, isn't that the Crimson Hounds logo?"
"Yeah… those guys are from that faction…"
"And who's that guy?"
Nagi's heart sank. What the hell is happening?!
The guy gripping his collar leaned closer.
"You look weak. I don't like weak people."
H-Huh?
Before things could get worse, someone else stepped in.
A tall boy with white hair grabbed the other guy's wrist and squeezed it tightly.
"You're ruining the orientation," the white-haired boy said in a cold voice.
The angry guy clicked his tongue and let go of Nagi.
"Tch. Fine," he said, glaring at Nagi. "I'll remember you, bitch."
He turned around and walked away with the others.
The white-haired boy looked at Nagi for a second, then said, "Don't cause anymore problems."
Then he walked off too.
Nagi stood there, still stunned, still catching his breath.
People around them slowly started to leave, talking in hushed voices.
Nagi sat down on a bench nearby and sighed.
It seems like misfortune is always on my side, huh?
He looked at the ground for a moment, then stood up and walked toward the dome for the orientation.
An hour later, hundreds of students stood in rows under a giant glass dome. All of them wore the same formal outfit—but some have different symbols printed. Lights moved gently above them, like tiny stars floating in the air.
At the center, a tall man in a gray suit stood on a raised glass stage. His voice echoed through the space as he spoke into the mic.
"Welcome to the Pacifica International Academy, first-years!" he said. "You are the best and brightest of your generation. You are the future. You are hope. Learn, grow, and connect. This is more than a school. This is history in the making."
The crowd clapped. Some students cheered loudly. Others looked proud and confident. But Nagi stayed quiet, his hands deep in his pockets.
He looked around. There were students taller than him. Smarter than him. More beautiful, more skilled, more confident. Athletes, singers, scientists, prodigies. People who probably had fan clubs, sponsors, or millions of followers.
They don't look nervous at all, Nagi thought. They belong here. They're good at something.
What about me?
Then, that small voice in his heart spoke again.
You don't belong here.
He stared at the floor and took a quiet breath.
Then I'll just have to find a reason to belong.