I decided to use it Because no one cares if I have it.
“ALL NEW STUDENTS, HEAD TO THE FIELD NOW! NO ONE GOES HOME!”
The orientation leader’s shrill voice echoed to the farthest corners of the school, making most of the new students click their tongues in annoyance. This was all because of the mandatory afternoon assembly they had to attend, even though the school bell had rung more than five minutes ago.
Among the new students’ sluggish footsteps, one set was unusually restless. They belonged to a petite girl with her hair messily tied up in a bun. Almost every second, the girl glanced at the silver watch around her left wrist, then clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“Ch-Cheresse...”
The girl whose name had been called turned toward the source of the voice—the girl standing beside her. The girl looked flustered, making Cheresse instinctively raise one eyebrow. “What is it?”
“C—could you move b—back a little? So the formation’s straight....”
Understanding, Cheresse immediately complied with the girl’s request. Then she turned to make sure her position was correct.
However, the girl had already turned away from Cheresse and was visibly smacking herself on the head.
__‘Did I do something wrong? Why is this girl so scared of me?’__ Cheresse wondered, confused.
It took the orientation committee a long time to straighten this chaotic formation. Not a single new student took the initiative to check their position, even though every class coordinator had shouted until their voices were hoarse. The complaints and protests only grew louder and louder.
Amid the commotion, one of the committee members approached the podium occupied by the New Student Orientation leader.
“Johan!” he called.
Johan needed no time to understand the signal from his friend. He immediately handed the loudspeaker to the young man as he stepped down from the podium.
The most influential person in all of North Star High School took control of the situation.
“Test. One, two, three,” he said into the loudspeaker. “Class coordinators, stop shouting.”
The noisy atmosphere, as chaotic as Senen Market, instantly fell silent. The exhaustion, fatigue, and anger seemed to evaporate along with the noise. The field, bathed in the weak light of the afternoon sun, suddenly felt cold and oppressive.
“Class coordinators, you’ve already appointed your class presidents, right?”
The young man’s simple question was immediately answered by nods from the other orientation committee members.
“Class presidents, come stand at the front and lead your classmates in straightening the formation...” Every participant and committee member held their breath as the young man left the sentence hanging in the air.
“I’ll count to one...”
“Two...”
The class coordinators suddenly panicked and began dragging their presidents forward. The situation grew chaotic again, but this time everyone had the same goal.
“Three...”
“STRAIGHTEN YOUR POSITIONS NOW!”
“Four... when I count to five, I don’t want to hear another sound! And when you’re done, class presidents, take your places to the right of your respective formations.” The young man’s order sounded casual enough. But the aura he gave off was the exact opposite of his tone.
“Four and a half...”
Several class presidents looked completely flustered, while others simply ran toward the places the young man had indicated.
“Five. Okay, no more unnecessary movement.”
The young man swept his gaze from the class formation at the far right to the one at the far left. His sharp eyes quickly scrutinized the students one by one, even those standing in the back rows.
“You, girl with your head down in IPS-3, leave your watch behind if you want to go home early!”
Cheresse jumped. The reprimand was clearly aimed at her. She immediately straightened up and looked ahead, unwilling to take any further risks.
“Good afternoon, students of North Star High School. I’m Felix. Today, I’m filling in for our student council president, who couldn’t make it.”
Although the young man named Felix no longer spoke as coldly as he had at first, the atmosphere around him still felt oppressive.
“Before Mr. Soetarji begins the afternoon assembly, I’d like to make a few announcements.” His gaze swept from right to left once again. “Today, a great many students have violated school regulations. First, many female students are still wearing ankle socks. If you continue ignoring the rule tomorrow, be prepared to go home from school without your shoes.”
All the female students violating the rule could do was let out heavy sighs and nod listlessly.
“Second.” Felix once again swept his hawk-like eyes over the line, examining the expressions of each student standing in formation.
“I’ve received information that some new students brought motorcycles. Is that true?”
Buzzing whispers immediately spread through the crowd, even louder than the grumbling from the female students complaining about the sock rule. Apparently, a great many students had violated this particular rule.
“Please be quiet!” the young man ordered sharply, silencing the afternoon assembly participants once more.
“We, the orientation committee, have confiscated the new students’ motorcycles parked in the school lot. If you want your motorcycles back”—the young man’s right lip curled faintly—“you’ll have to pick them up with your parents.”
“Damn it!”
Cheresse began yanking at her own hair. Her head suddenly started spinning at that last announcement. She was one of the students caught in the surprise raid. But how could she retrieve it when not a single member of her family was free at this hour?
The afternoon assembly began as Cheresse searched for a way to escape.
To be continued