The rain had just stopped when a black car pulled to a stop in front of the Zenith Warriors gate.
This was no ordinary school.
Zenith Warriors was one of the most famous elite schools in the city. Its buildings were grand, its fields spacious, its facilities complete, and most of its students came from wealthy families. Academic and athletic achievements were the school's pride.
However, behind its perfect reputation was another side that outsiders rarely knew about. The competition between students at the school was fierce.
The car door opened. A student stepped out with a black bag slung over one shoulder. His name was Raka Aditama. His hair was slightly messy. His uniform was neat, but not overly so. His face was calm, almost expressionless.
He stood in front of the gate for a few seconds, surveying the school grounds. Dozens of students passed by. Several of them immediately took notice of him.
"The new student?" "Looks like it." "A transfer student, huh?" "Who knows."
Raka ignored the whispers. He simply drew a quiet breath, then walked through the Zenith Warriors gate.
He had taken fewer than ten steps when a teacher approached him.
"Raka Aditama?"
Raka turned.
"Yes, sir."
"I'm Mr. Dimas, the homeroom teacher for Class 12-A. Follow me."
Raka nodded.
They walked through the main corridor. Along the walls were photos of high-achieving students, championship trophies, and various school awards. Raka observed everything in silence.
But he stopped when he saw a large photo on the awards display. A student stood wearing a Zenith Warriors uniform, a medal hanging around his neck. Beneath the photo were the words:
ALEXANDER GAVIN WIBAWA Student Council President of Zenith Warriors
Mr. Dimas noticed Raka's stare.
"Don't look for trouble here."
Raka turned.
"What do you mean, sir?"
Mr. Dimas was silent for a moment.
"Zenith Warriors has unwritten rules."
Raka looked at him.
"What rules?"
"Don't meddle in other people's business."
Raka only nodded.
"Yes, sir."
First Break
The Zenith Warriors cafeteria was far more crowded than Raka had imagined. He chose a table in the corner and sat alone. A few minutes after he opened his water bottle, three students approached him.
The student in front placed his hand on the table.
"New kid."
Raka raised his head.
"Name?"
"Raka."
"Full name."
"Raka Aditama."
The three exchanged glances.
"Raka Aditama?"
"Why?"
"I heard you were a sudden transfer."
Raka didn't answer.
The student then picked up Raka's lunch box.
"At Zenith Warriors, new students usually introduce themselves first."
Raka stared at the lunch box in the student's hand.
"Give it back."
The student laughed.
"What if I don't?"
Raka stood. He didn't yell or threaten him. He simply extended his hand.
"Give it back."
Instead, the student shoved Raka's shoulder. Raka took half a step back.
The atmosphere in the cafeteria began to change. Several students stopped eating and started watching.
The student smirked.
"I heard new students are supposed to know their place."
Then his hand grabbed Raka by the collar.
In a matter of seconds, Raka pulled the hand off his collar and moved to the side. The student lost his balance. Raka shoved his shoulder once. The student's body stumbled backward and slammed into a table.
Crash!
Several glasses nearly fell.
The student immediately stood up, his face red.
"You think you're tough?"
He stepped forward and threw a punch. Raka dodged. The punch passed within a few inches of his face.
Raka didn't punch back. He simply caught his opponent's arm and pushed him away.
"Enough."
But the student wouldn't accept it. He charged forward again.
This time, Raka didn't retreat. When the student's hand rose again, Raka deflected it and made him lose his balance. The student's body fell to the floor.
The cafeteria fell silent.
Raka picked up his lunch box.
"Don't look for trouble."
But before the student could get up—
"STOP!"
A teacher's voice rang out.
All the students immediately moved away. Two security officers arrived with Mr. Dimas.
"What's going on here?"
The student who had fallen immediately pointed at Raka.
"He attacked me, sir!"
Raka remained silent.
Mr. Dimas looked at him for several seconds.
"Raka. To the counseling office."
Raka nodded. He didn't argue.
Second-Floor Corridor
Raka walked alone toward the counseling office. His footsteps sounded soft in the corridor, which was growing quiet.
But then, suddenly, a memory surfaced.
The sound of shouting. The sound of something falling. Someone standing in front of him. Then a sentence that had stayed with him ever since.
"Never fight again."
Raka stopped. His hands clenched. He closed his eyes for a moment.
"It's over."
He opened his eyes again. But at the end of the corridor, someone was standing there. A tall student in an impeccably neat uniform. His hair was perfectly styled, his gaze cold. Two other students stood behind him.
Alexander Gavin Wibawa. Student Council President of Zenith Warriors.
Alexander watched Raka from a distance.
One of his friends whispered,
"That's the new student." "The one from the cafeteria?" "Yeah."
Alexander didn't answer right away. His eyes remained fixed on Raka.
"What's his name?"
"Raka Aditama."
Alexander repeated the name softly.
"Raka Aditama..."
Then he smiled faintly.
"Interesting."
His friend asked,
"Why?"
Alexander slipped both hands into his pockets.
"An ordinary new student doesn't move like that."
He walked past Raka without saying a word. But when they passed each other, Alexander stopped for a moment.
"Welcome to Zenith Warriors."
Raka turned. Alexander continued walking.
A few seconds later, Raka started walking again. But for the first time since setting foot in the school, his expression changed.
He realized one thing. Zenith Warriors was more than just an elite school. And someone like Alexander Gavin Wibawa clearly wasn't going to let him go through school in peace.
Meanwhile, at the end of the corridor, Alexander smiled faintly.
"Raka Aditama..."
He looked back.
"Who are you, really?"