Maho's Point of View
One week passed quickly.
Seven days of classes, seven days of training, seven days of pretending this was a normal university.
We attended lectures. We submitted assignments. We practiced in our clubs. Students laughed in the gardens. Some even started talking about long-term plans, internships, and future careers. It almost felt stable. That illusion shattered on the seventh morning.
I already knew it; things aren't normal here. At exactly 8:00 a.m., the speakers came alive.
"Trial Students," the principal's voice echoed across the entire campus, calm and elegant as ever. "Today marks the completion of your residential evaluation week."
My heart skipped a beat. I was in the dorm lounge with Sara when the announcement began. She slowly lowered her notebook.
"All candidates must assemble in the main auditorium at 10:00 a.m. for the final selection."
''Final selection'' The words felt heavier than anything she had said before.
Tsuki stepped out of the room quietly. Riko was already pale. No one spoke for several seconds.
We all understood. This was it. At 10:00 a.m., 20 students filled the auditorium, those who survived the evaluation.
Just like the first day! But this time, no one looked relaxed. No one whispered. The stage lights turned on slowly.
The principal stood at the center. Kai stood beside her. Security guards lined the walls.
"You have spent seven days experiencing the academic and extracurricular environment of Hoshizora Private University," the principal began smoothly. "We have observed your discipline, adaptability, and personal development."
''Observed'' That word made my skin prickle.
"Today," she continued, "we determine who advances as regular students."
A massive digital screen flickered to life behind them. All one hundred names appeared. My fingers tightened around the edge of my seat. Sara reached for my hand. Tsuki stared forward without blinking. Riko's breathing became shallow.
Kai stepped forward. "This institution does not accept weakness," he said calmly. "You were informed from the beginning that withdrawal is not permitted. Only those deemed suitable will remain."
The lights dimmed slightly. The screen began scanning the names. Rows shifted, It Highlighted, Paused.
My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear anything else. Then— Names began disappearing, not turning red, not marked. Just.... vanishing. One by one, they started fading.
The auditorium remained silent except for the faint digital sound as each name faded away. Students looked around in panic. "What does that mean?"someone whispered behind me. No one answered.
More names disappeared, 40, 60, 80...
Sara squeezed my hand tighter. "Please," she murmured under her breath.
I searched desperately for our names.
Suzuki, Maho Rin: still there.
Nakamura, Sara: still there
Ishikawa, Riko: still there.
Hoshino, Tsuki: still there.
The list became shorter and shorter. The silence even felt suffocating. Finally— The names stopped.
5 names remained, out of 100.
My breath caught. Our four names were still glowing on the screen. Sara gasped softly. Riko covered her mouth. Tsuki didn't move, but I saw the tension in his shoulders.
The principal smiled. "These 5 individuals have been chosen for the final evaluation round."
Final evaluation? Again? Why? What is it this time? Kill ourselves? First kill the opponents now, kill us?
Kai's eyes slowly scanned the remaining names. "You will report to the eastern arena at 18:00 hours," he said calmly. "Attendance is mandatory."
Eastern arena? There was more than one. The realization made my stomach drop. The dismissed students were instructed to return to their dormitories. The non- selected students were taken by those guards.
No explanations, No congratulations, just silence! As we walked out of the auditorium, the campus no longer looked peaceful. It looked staged.
Sara's voice trembled. "Do you think... it's like before?"
I didn't answer. Because deep down—
I knew it would be worse.
Six hours.... It was six hours until 18:00. Six hours until the final selection.
And for the first time since arriving here—I truly felt afraid of what surviving might cost.