The gymnasium buzzed with noise that morning, filled with the restless chatter of students. Some were lounging casually on the bleachers, while others huddled together, discussing what they might be facing next.
"I heard the test isn't just physical, but also about reflexes!" a nervous boy exclaimed.
"Seriously? I didn't even get to warm up!" his friend replied, panic written all over his face.
Elsewhere, two female students were deep in serious discussion.
"I'm sure this is more about observation and reaction. Not just physical speed, but instinct and accuracy too," said the girl with glasses.
"Well… as long as it's not just running laps. That's exhausting," her friend sighed.
A few students were stretching their arms and massaging their shoulders, trying to loosen up before the test began. A tense and anxious atmosphere hung in the air.
Before long, footsteps echoed from the gymnasium entrance.
"Hikari~!" Shera called out, clapping her hands excitedly. "This place is amazing! It's so huge!"
Hikari gave a small smile at Shera's awe-struck expression. On the other side, Renji Arata strolled in with his hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded as if still half-asleep.
Shera glanced at the two of them. For a moment, she froze, watching how calmly and confidently they walked. To her eyes, Hikari and Arata seemed to carry a completely different aura from the rest of the students—an air of rivalry, but also of composure.
"Why do you two… look so calm?" Shera murmured, just loud enough for Hikari to hear.
Hikari turned to her briefly and answered softly, "Because… I'm ready."
Suddenly, the steady sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall. A middle-aged man in a gym uniform stood tall at the center of the court.
"All students, gather!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
The room fell silent instantly. The students began moving to the center of the gym, forming lines as instructed. All eyes were on the authoritative figure standing before them.
---
"I'm Mr. Yuuto, your PE teacher," the man began, his voice carrying firmly across the gymnasium. "Today, you'll go through the Basic Selection Test, which will determine your class placement based on both academic and physical ability. You've already completed half of it during the academic exam this morning. Now it's time to test your body and mind."
The students began to murmur among themselves, some looking tense, others merely curious.
Not long after, a female student in a black-and-white uniform with a special assistant coach jacket approached Mr. Yuuto's side. She carried a tablet and a clipboard.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Qeira, a second-year student and assistant coach for the orientation program. I'll be explaining today's test system," she said warmly with a confident smile.
"There are five parts to today's test," she continued. "Each part assesses a different aspect of your abilities. Here's the breakdown and rules."
Some students took out small notebooks to jot things down—including Hikari, who had been standing attentively the entire time.
Qeira glanced at her tablet and began listing:
"First, a time-based logic challenge. You'll be given visual and numerical logic problems with very limited time. This tests your focus and thinking speed.
Second, the reflex course. You'll go through a sensory obstacle path with light-based reaction tests. Points are given for speed and precision.
Third, reflex duels. You'll compete in two-on-two mini-games to test reflexes and quick strategy.
And fourth—and final—a lightning team puzzle. This tests cooperation, strategy, and memory. You'll be grouped into teams and tasked with assembling complex patterns within a time limit."
Murmurs immediately filled the gym.
"That's a lot…"
"Duels? That sounds intense…"
"Team puzzles? Does that mean I have to work with people I don't even know?!"
Qeira raised a hand calmly to quiet the crowd. "Relax. We've already prepared the groups and carefully planned the system. One important rule: no external tools like calculators, phones, or outside communication. Anyone caught cheating will be disqualified immediately."
Suddenly, a loud "BEEP—BEEP—BEEP" echoed from the overhead speakers. The large screen above the stage lit up brightly. A mechanical voice rang out:
"Displaying temporary academic rankings: Top Ten."
The gym went silent. All eyes turned to the screen. One by one, names and photos began appearing:
1. Amara Kirisaki
2. Kenjiro Fushinami
3. Kira Honjou
4. Takuma Shiden
5. Hikari Nao
6. Renji Arata
7. Mei Yura
8. Daichi Morishima
9. Riku Tenzawa
10. Saya Matsuda
"Eh?! I'm fifth?!" Hikari shouted, her eyes wide.
Shera, standing beside her, blinked in surprise. "Arata's sixth? He literally slept through the test…"
Hikari's gaze sharpened as she looked back at the screen. the top four students are next to them one of them, Amara Kirisaki, a long-haired girl with glasses, was staring at her with a faint, cold, and irritating smile.
"Her again…" Hikari growled under her breath.
A few students began clapping for the top ten.
"Maybe they're from some elite school?" another student whispered.
Renji, who had been staring blankly at the screen, finally nudged Hikari's shoulder. "Fifth place, huh? Not bad… Though I thought you'd be second or third."
"Shut up, you're sixth!" Hikari snapped, cheeks puffed in irritation.
Renji chuckled. "Still, we're in the top ten. That's good, right?"
Hikari huffed and turned forward. "I'm not going to lose to them…"
Renji glanced at her briefly, then faced forward too.
Qeira stepped up again. "This ranking is only part of your final score. The physical tests today can change everything. So do your best—don't underestimate anything."
Mr. Yuuto nodded in agreement. "We'll begin with the first stage. Follow the staff's instructions according to your participant numbers."
---
After the announcement of the top-ranking students and a round of enthusiastic applause, the atmosphere in the sports field fell silent once more. All the students now stood neatly in line, some still tense, others visibly excited.
Qeira, the assistant P.E. teacher who had previously explained the test system, stepped forward again to the center of the field. Her smile was warm, but her posture was firm and commanding—clearly not an ordinary student.
Qeira: "Alright, let's begin the first test!"
Qeira: "The Time-Based Logic Challenge. This will test how quickly and accurately you can process information and solve logical puzzles under pressure."
Shera: "Ugh... I don't think my brain's ready for this."
Hikari: "Weren't you just scared of running earlier? Now thinking's too much too?"
Shera: (looking up at the ceiling dramatically) "I didn't think it'd be this terrifying..."
Beside Hikari, Arata let out a loud yawn.
Hikari: (whispering, annoyed) "Seriously? You're still sleepy?"
Arata: "Yeah." (shrugs) "I actually like these kinds of tests. No big deal."
Hikari: (muttering) "How... how does that even make sense..."
Qeira: "You'll be divided into five large groups. Each group will enter the logic test zone one by one while the others wait for their turn. You'll have ten minutes per round. But remember—everyone gets different questions. No teamwork allowed. The system will evaluate based on accuracy and time."
Random Student: "Wait, this is basically a mock college entrance exam!"
Qeira: (chuckling) "Relax, this is just the warm-up. If this feels hard, what'll you do during the reflex duels later?"
The students who had looked excited earlier suddenly tensed up.
Event staff began directing students toward the first test area. Five large tents with black-screen walls stood at the far right of the gym. Above each one was a glowing digital label: "Zone A, B, C, D, and E."
The first group was called.
A voice echoed from the loudspeaker atop the bleachers.
Announcer: "Group D, please proceed: Hikari Nao, Arata Renji, Shera Ayaka, Kira Honjou..."
Shera: (panicking) "Us?! Already?!"
Hikari: "So we're in Group D, huh… Alright, let's not embarrass ourselves."
Shera: (deep breath, slapping her cheeks lightly) "You go first, okay? I wanna watch you panic a bit."
Hikari: (clicks tongue)
Inside the tent, it was completely silent. Each student entered a cubicle equipped with a touchscreen and headset. As soon as they sat down, a countdown appeared: 10 seconds.
Hikari focused instantly. She placed her hands on her lap, took a deep breath, and locked her eyes on the screen.
The first question appeared—a number pattern puzzle with multiple logical options.
Hikari (thinking): "Easy... Just a rotating variant of a sequence. The answer's D." (She tapped the screen confidently.)
The next question appeared. Hikari was clearly enjoying this. Her eyes scanned swiftly, and her fingers moved without hesitation.
In another cubicle, Arata leaned on one hand with a bored look. His eyes half-lidded, he nonetheless tapped answers with unsettling speed—almost like he had seen these questions before.
In the next booth, Shera was in chaos. Her cheeks puffed out, and she clawed at her hair.
Shera: "What the heck is this?! Alien code?!"
She misclicked twice and froze on the third question for nearly a full minute.
Kira Honjou, meanwhile, sat still as stone. Her gaze was sharp and focused, her movements minimal and precise. She didn't even blink.
The timer continued ticking... 7 minutes... 8 minutes... 9 minutes...
Hikari tapped her final answer and held her breath as she reached the end screen. Then—
『Test Complete. Please exit the booth.』
Hikari stood up and exited the tent, followed by Arata, Shera, and Kira.
Shera: "Ugh! I only managed to answer three! The rest I just guessed!"
Arata: "Guessing takes skill too, y'know." (hands casually in pockets)
Hikari: (turning quickly) "Wait—you answered all of them?!"
Arata: "Every single one." (smirking)
Hikari: "WHAT?!" (chokes slightly) "All that in ten minutes?!"
Arata: "Took me eight. I spent the last two zoning out."
Shera collapsed dramatically.
Shera: "You guys aren't human..."
From behind, Kira glanced at Hikari and gave a faint smile before silently returning to her spot in the lineup.
That stare again. Hikari clenched her teeth.
Hikari: "I really don't like her."
Arata: "I dunno, she's kinda cute."
Hikari: "Not your business!"
The area grew noisy again as the next group was called. Several students who had just finished looked drained and confused, some still mumbling about whether their answers were even correct.
Qeira stepped forward once more.
Qeira: "Test one complete for Group D. Next group, please get ready!"
As Hikari and Arata returned to their line, they exchanged glances—each with a slight smile.
No words needed. Just a look—a look filled with rivalry and pride. Neither wanted to lose.
—
The camera slowly pans upward to the sky, leaving behind the rooftop of the gymnasium still filled with echoes of student voices and the golden afternoon light streaming through the tall windows. Faint sounds from inside still reach the air—test announcements, cheers, footsteps, and Qeira's voice guiding the next group.
The evening sky turns golden. Clouds drift gently, and the sunlight bathes the schoolyard in calm. From above, the majestic school building and its small garden beside it create a peaceful scene—an ending after a tense day.
The screen fades to black.
…
Cut to:
The school gate, the sun leaning westward. Students walk home, some chatting wearily, others still discussing the tests from earlier.
Shera, Hikari, and Arata stand in front of a vending machine, each holding a cold, misty can.
"Ugh…" Shera sighs while hugging her can like a pillow. Her hair is a little messy, and her expression looks… devastated.
"First test… missed three… second test… fell twice… third test… missed my turn… and then the team puzzle part…"
She doesn't finish her sentence and lets out a long, deep sigh.
Quick cut scenes:
Shera stares blankly at the logic board, eyebrows furrowed, misclicks twice, and stares at the screen in defeat.
Cut.
Shera runs on the reflex track, trips on the divider, and tumbles.
Cut.
Shera panics in front of the team puzzle table, her hands trembling as the time runs out.
Back to Shera now sitting on a bench near the vending machine, her head resting on her own arm. "I've failed… as a teen girl trying to look cool…"
Hikari smiles softly, sitting next to her. "But you tried. You stuck it out till the end. Not everyone can do that."
Shera lifts her head slightly.
"You know, She… most people would panic and give up, but you kept smiling—even after falling, even after messing up, you still tried. That's seriously amazing to me."
Shera stares at Hikari for a moment, eyes slightly glassy. But a second later, she jumps up and hugs Hikari from the side with a loud laugh. "HIKARI YOU'RE SO NICEEEEE!! I LOVE YOU!!"
"Eh—Shera?!" Hikari panics as her drink almost spills.
"Ehehe~! Thank youuu!!" Shera says in a cutesy voice like a little girl. "You're like a sweet big sister! I promise I won't give up anymore! Shera-chan will do her best!!"
"Bi-big sister?! We're the same age—"
"Doesn't matter, you're still sweet!" Shera hugs Hikari even tighter.
Arata, standing beside them, raises an eyebrow. He sips from his can casually and looks at Hikari with a sly grin. "By the way, you seem pretty confident after all that."
Hikari finally escapes Shera's dramatic hug. "Of course! Unlike you who's always sleepy. I'm sure my scores are decent!"
Arata chuckles. "Except for when you tripped on the reflex course… I almost laughed out loud. You looked like… a slipping penguin."
Hikari gasps. "Hah?! That's not funny at all! I got tangled in the rope trap!"
Shera suddenly remembers and starts giggling. "Oh yeah! You were like, 'Ow! Ow! Ow!' while crawling like a baby turtle! AHAHA!!"
"SERIOUSLY?! WHY ARE YOU BOTH LAUGHING?!" Hikari's face turns bright red—either from embarrassment or frustration.
Arata taps his chin, still looking amused. "Well, getting good scores is nice. But at least you left us with a memory to treasure."
Shera bursts into louder laughter. "I'll remember that forever! Hikari the tumbling turtle!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!" Hikari hides her face with the drink can. "I'm not talking to you two anymore!"
But the three of them end up laughing together. Even though the day was filled with exhausting tests, the warm evening and their silly banter made everything feel lighter.
The final cut shows the three of them walking away from the school gate. Shera still laughing, Arata yawning lazily, and Hikari—though still a little embarrassed—smiling as she walks between them.
In the background, the evening sky glows a soft golden orange.
To be continued… (End of Episode 1)