# Chapter 5 : The Ice-Breaker
The morning started like any other—quiet, uneventful, and perfectly peaceful.
Which, of course, meant Akira was about to ruin it. “So, about that blurry girl on Otogram,” I asked as casually as I could while scrolling through my phone.
“You followed her yesterday. Any reason?”
“Oh, that? Nah, just followed her randomly. She follows our college page, so maybe she’s a fresher or something said Akira.
I sighed. “You’re too casual about this stuff. I haven’t even followed our college account. Or our classmates.”
Kaito gave a short laugh from behind his laptop screen. “That’s… very on brand for you.”
Before I could reply, a notification pinged!
[HOD]: All sophomores, gather in the main hall at 4 PM for an announcement. Attendance is mandatory. Absentees will lose internal marks.
Kaito, who was silently drinking his tea, winced. I knew that feeling.
We reluctantly showed up. The HOD, sounding overly cheerful, made his announcement.
“As a new session starts, we have many new students coming to our college.
So I need everyone—and I mean everyone—to be present on July 12th for the welcome ceremony.
Attendance is mandatory. If you skip, we will reduce your marks.”
I leaned over to Akira, my voice low and dry. "Are we some kind of laborers now?
Is this part of the job description? I wanted to enjoy my peace, not socialize with random new students.”
Akira clapped me on the shoulder, grinning ear to ear. “Oh, come on! Freshers bring freshness, you know? Maybe you’ll find some, too~”
I gave him a flat stare. “If I ever start speaking like you, delete my system files.”
July 12th — Freshers’ Welcome Day
“Welcome, freshers!” shouted the event host into the mic, her voice echoing through the decorated hall.
“You’re starting a new journey here—make it a memorable one!”
I stood between Akira and Kaito, arms crossed, already calculating the fastest exit routes.
After the usual lectures and guest speakers. Just when I thought it was over, the host’s cheerful tone turned suspiciously mischievous.“And now! Time for our ice-breaking activity!”
I blinked. “Wait—ice breaking? Are they serving drinks or something?”
Akira burst out laughing. “No, genius. It’s a group social activity.
Freshers and sophomores will be mixed into random teams, given tasks, and whoever finishes first wins.
It’s supposed to help everyone ‘connect’.”
I froze.
Connecting with strangers. Talking. Cooperating. In short—the ultimate nightmare.