“This is what your semester will look like,” Mr. Lewis said, pointing his remote at the projector.

The screen flickered to life, casting a faint glow across the room as the semester’s timeline appeared. It was a masterpiece of organization. Each month was divided into tidy columns, with color-coded text marking tests, projects, and deadlines. Red for exams, blue for projects, and yellow for school events. It was the kind of chart that looked like it belonged in a military brief rather than a high school classroom.

Mr. Lewis tapped the remote, highlighting the red markers on the screen. “First, let’s talk about the big tests—midterms and finals... Midterms will take place in early November and will account for 25% of your final grade. These exams will cover everything we’ve studied in the first half of the semester and set the tone for the rest of the year. It’s imperative to realize that a good midterm grade can build momentum, while a weak midterm can put you in a hole that’s hard to climb out of, especially with finals waiting at the end of the semester.”

Mr. Lewis clicked the remote again, and the screen shifted to December, where a large, bold red marker loomed.

“Final exams will account for 40% of your final grade. Yes, you heard me correctly—40%! That’s almost half of your overall grade determined by a single test.”

Mr. Lewis glanced around the room.

“Now, I know 40% sounds like a lot—and it is—but here’s the thing: If you’ve been keeping up all year, the final will reflect that. It’s not designed to trip you up. It’s designed to reward consistency. But if you’ve been cutting corners or putting things off until the last minute, it will expose that too.”

Mr. Lewis changed the slide.

“To ensure you’re all keeping up with the lessons, I’ve decided to insert pop quizzes into our schedule every two weeks! These quizzes will focus on the most recent topics we’ve covered and should be straightforward—provided, of course, you keep up with your homework.”

A soft groan rippled through the room. It was clear most of the class wasn’t intrigued with the news.

“Even though they might not seem important, quizzes can make a difference between a pass or a fail,” Mr. Lewis explained. “All together, the quizzes will be worth 15% of your final grade. Missing a few here and there might not seem like a big deal, but it adds up.”

I scribbled down “quizzes = 15%” in my notebook and underlined it twice for good measure. Although Mr. Lewis’s schedule seemed straightforward, it didn’t make it any less daunting. Between the bi-weekly quizzes, the midterms, and the looming finals, it was clear my mornings would be nothing less than hectic.

“Lastly, the remaining 20% of your grade will come from projects and class participation,” Mr. Lewis revealed. “Projects will challenge you to think critically and creatively about the material. Class participation—well, that’s just about showing up and staying engaged.”

The slide faded to black as he turned off the projector.

“Are there any questions?” Mr. Lewis asked, looking around the room.

A few hands twitched but stayed down. Most of us just sat there, quietly processing what we’d heard.

“Alright then, it seems no one has any questions. Perfect,” Mr. Lewis said, setting the remote down with a small smile. “Before we head off to lunch, there’s one last thing I should’ve brought up earlier. I’d like each of you to stand up, introduce yourself, and share two interesting facts about who you are.”

Crap...

There was a collective murmur as everyone processed his request. While some of my classmates looked excited, I was terrified. If there was anything I struggled with more than socializing, it was public speaking. It was the one thing I dreaded more than anything.

“Let’s start from the front of the class,” Mr. Lewis said, pointing to the front row.

A girl with dark green hair slowly stood up from her seat, yawning as she stretched.

“My name is Lily Campbell and I’m from Canada... Um, nice to meet you all.”

The sluggish way she rubbed her eyes made it clear she had just woken up from a nap.

Mr. Lewis nodded encouragingly. “Remember, you need to share two things about yourself.”

“To be honest, I can’t think of anything right now,” Lily replied, scratching her head.

“Hmm... Do you have any hobbies?”

Lily paused, her fingers still in her hair. After a moment, she shrugged. “I like to write, I guess.”

“That’s wonderful. Writing is a great hobby. Nice to meet you, Lily!”

Lily gave a small nod before sinking back into her seat.

“Alright, then, who’s up next?” Mr. Lewis said, glancing at the next student in line.

A boy with brown hair and brown eyes stood up and faced the class with a smile.

“Hi, everyone! My name is Robert. My family is originally from Romania, but we live in Manchester now. I enjoy playing sports, especially fencing. I’ve been fencing for most of my life and hope to compete in the Magus Olympics one day... I hope to get along with everyone!”

I couldn’t help but be impressed by how effortlessly Robert introduced himself. He seemed incredibly charismatic. He was the kind of person who could command a room with just a few words. Judging by how most of the girls were staring at him with hearts in their eyes, I had no doubt he would become the most popular guy in our class.

As Robert took his seat, the next person in line grabbed just as much, if not more, attention. It was Violet’s turn to introduce herself.

“Good morning, everyone! My name is Violet Scott, and I’m from New York... I have many hobbies, like watching movies, reading, and playing sports. My favorite sport is volleyball. As some of you may already know, I’ve been actively involved in several leadership roles in the past and plan on doing the same during my time here...”

While the two students before had kept their introductions short, Violet’s was a little longer. If I didn’t know any better, it felt less like an intro and more like a carefully rehearsed speech.

“I truly believe in the power we hold as students and the incredible difference we can make when our voices are heard. That’s why our class needs to have a strong representative who truly listens and advocates for our needs and ideas. If given the opportunity, I would be honored to serve as your class representative. I’ll work hard to address your concerns, push for better resources, and organize events that make our school life more enjoyable... Thank you for your time.”

As Violet sat down, the room buzzed with murmurs of approval and curiosity. I couldn’t help but be impressed by her poise and conviction. She had seized the first opportunity she saw to voice her goals. After such a stunning display, I seriously doubted anyone would have the guts to stand in her way.

“I’m not good at talking, so I’ll keep this short,” said a boy with dark hair. “My name is Thomas and I’d like to become an engineer. My favorite pastime is playing video games. Nice to meet you all.”

Just as quickly as he had stood up, he sat back down. His introduction was short and sweet. Of all the intros I’d heard so far, it was the one that seemed easiest to imitate.

The next person to stand up was a boy with blonde, almost whitish hair. The boy fixed his hair and adjusted his tie. Judging by the flashy jewelry he wore, it was clear he enjoyed being the center of attention.

“My name is Arthur Wolf. I’m sure many of you have heard of me... My father is the founder and leader of the Phoenix Guild. One day, I will inherit his position and become the wealthiest man in Germany. My future holds great promise, but there is one thing I am missing. Every king needs his queen.”

With a flourish gesture, he took out a long-stemmed rose from his blazer and cleared his throat. “For the next four years, I will be searching for my queen. Someone who can stand by my side and support me... Ladies, I look forward to getting to know all of you.”

This Arthur guy had quite the personality in him. Instead of introducing himself to the class, he’d focused on catching the attention of the girls in the room. Interestingly enough, some of the girls seemed intrigued by his wealth and confidence, while others looked at him as if he were a weirdo.

“Good morning, everyone. Um... My name is Haruna Nanao. I was born and raised in Tokyo. Even though I don’t have many hobbies, my favorite is learning languages. As of now, I’ve learned eight languages, six of which I can speak fluently.”

Haruna’s purple hair was neatly tied back around her shoulders, contrasting beautifully with her delicate features. Despite looking a little nervous, she had an air of quiet confidence about her.

“That’s an impressive hobby! Would you mind telling us which languages you’re fluent in?” Mr. Lewis inquired.

“I can speak Japanese, English, French, Spanish, Korean, and Mandarin.”

“Learning so many languages is quite the feat.” Mr. Lewis clapped his hands together. “Keep at it, Haruna! That’s truly commendable.”

Haruna bowed her head modestly and quickly sat back down. Her face was still slightly flushed. Even though she didn’t have the same charismatic flair as Violet or Robert, there was something unique about her. Something subtle yet captivating. Judging by the way several boys couldn’t seem to take their eyes off her, I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

As the class introductions continued, my turn inched closer, and I began wondering how I should word my speech. I knew I wanted to keep it short, but I also didn’t want to come off as weird. I needed to find the right balance between being concise and friendly so that people would see me as an ordinary, approachable guy.

This was where things became complicated.

Mr. Lewis had said every student had to list two things about themselves. Unfortunately, I didn’t even know where to start. All I could think of was that I could say I was from Korea. Beyond that, I was at a loss. There didn’t seem to be anything particularly interesting about myself to share.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Hmm... What do I even say?

“Young man with the dark hair... what’s your name?”

It wasn’t until the silence in the room stretched a little too long that I realized all eyes were on me. Trying my best to ignore the stares, I stood up and bowed.

“Oh, hi... My name is James. And, uh, I’m from Korea. There’s nothing I’m particularly good at, but I like to read... It’s nice to meet you all.”

Mr. Lewis smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you too, James.”

As the class moved on to the next person, I sank back into my seat, feeling like a failure.

Despite my efforts, the worst possible scenario had come true. If only I hadn’t spent so much time figuring out what to say, maybe things would have turned out differently. Perhaps I could have said something more memorable.

How pathetic can I be...

Deciding there was no use in dwelling on my frustration, I shifted my focus to the rest of the introductions. At the very least, I could make an effort to learn the names and faces of my classmates. Maybe then, my entire morning wouldn’t feel like a complete waste.

* * *

The rest of the day slipped by in a flash and before I knew it, it was time for the final class of the day. Gym class.

After changing into my PE uniform, I stepped out of the locker room, only to find the gym empty. There wasn’t a single person in sight. No basketballs bouncing, no chatter, no one. Just me. I had been the first to arrive.

Great...

Not wanting to linger awkwardly in the middle of the gym, I walked over to one of the benches and sat down. With any luck, the rest of the class would finish changing quickly.

I was wrong.

The minutes continued to pass, each one slower than the last.

The only sound was this weird humming noise from the ventilation system, which was oddly hypnotic. Hypnotic enough to make me count the seconds. At one point, I thought about grabbing a basketball and shooting a few hoops but the idea quickly faded. The thought of someone walking in right as I clumsily missed a shot wasn’t exactly appealing.

Just when I was starting to wonder if the rest of the class had decided to skip school, the locker room door creaked open, slicing through the silence. My head turned instinctively toward the sound, and I spotted a skinny boy with dark hair entering the gym. He stood there for a moment, his eyes darting around like he wasn’t sure this was where he was supposed to be.

“Looks like we’re the first ones here,” the boy noted as his eyes landed on me. “How long have you been waiting?”

I was somewhat surprised the boy had spoken to me. Judging from the way he had introduced himself earlier, I had assumed he was the kind of person who kept to himself.

What was his name again? Was it... Thomas?

“I got here about three minutes ago,” I replied.

“Three minutes, huh...”

Without another word, Thomas moved to sit on the other side of the bench and crossed his arms. Just like that, our little interaction came to an end.

It wasn’t long before the locker door opened again, and a group of boys trickled in, filling the gym with the sound of chatter and footsteps.

“Man, I’m so excited,” said a boy with curly brown hair. If I wasn’t mistaken, his name was Sam

“About what?” asked the boy with the mullet and blue eyes. His name was Ryan. He was the tallest person in our class. Despite having just met today, he and Sam seemed to be getting along.

Sam smiled. “Don’t act like you’re not thinking the same thing.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Aren’t you excited we’ll get to see the girls in shorts?” Sam nudged Ryan in the stomach playfully. “I can already picture Violet... I bet she’s going to look the best out of all the girls.”

Ryan sighed and pushed Sam away. “Stop being ridiculous.”

“Hey, dude, I’m just being honest here,” Sam said with a shrug.

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Stop spouting nonsense.”

For a second, I felt relieved that at least one of them seemed sensible. If the girls ever found out about this conversation, their social lives would be over. But then Ryan cleared his throat and added, “Everyone knows Haruna is much cuter than Violet.”

Never mind. I was wrong. They’re both hopeless.

“Are you two seriously arguing over who the hottest girl is again?” asked a boy with messy orange hair.

“Stay out of this, Elijah,” Ryan snapped. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“On the contrary, my dear friend, this has everything to do with me,” Elijah responded. “As a cosplay enthusiast, I am undoubtedly the most qualified to judge who the hottest girl is.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened. “If we ever need any input from you, we’ll let you know. For now, keep that loud, obnoxious mouth of yours shut.”

“There’s no point in denying it,” Sam interjected. “We all know you don’t want to hear Elijah’s opinion because, just like me, he thinks Violet is the hottest girl in our class!”

Elijah closed his eyes and touched Sam’s shoulder. “Well said, my dear friend! A man of true taste.”

Ryan shot them both a glare. “That’s not it at all. I just have no interest in listening to the nonsense that comes out of that degenerate’s mouth.”

“If anyone’s a degenerate, it’s you!” Elijah snapped.

“What did you just say?!”

“Alright, alright... Why don’t we all take a deep breath?” Sam suggested. “There’s no need for insults.”

“If anyone’s to blame, it’s Ryan,” Elijah protested. “He’s the one who threw the first insult!”

Ryan snorted and crossed his arms. “You’re delusional! You interrupted our conversation. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s yours.”

“Call me delusional one more time and see what happens!” Elijah exclaimed.

“Do you really think I’m scared of you?”

Just when it seemed like the two boys might come to blows, Sam stepped forward and stomped his foot.

“ENOUGH!”

Both boys froze, clearly taken aback by Sam’s outburst. I was surprised too. I never would have expected someone as playful and humourous as him to step up so vigorously.

Noticing the looks of shock of those around him, Sam sighed and rubbed his brow.

“Guys... Please relax. Fighting isn’t going to solve anything. We’ll just end up getting in trouble... What about we solve this another way? I think I’ve figured out a way to put this issue to rest.”

“What are you suggesting?” asked Ryan.

“This all started because we disagreed on who we think the hottest girl is... Since the three of us don’t trust each other, why don’t we find a fourth person to solve this matter? An unbiased, neutral mind to decide which of us is right.”

These guys...

The gym fell silent as his words hung in the air. The other boys in our class were staring at the three of them incredulously. It was a stupid idea, but somehow, it seemed to be the only way to prevent a fight.

I watched the scene unfold, wondering who would be brave—or foolish—enough to step into that role.

“Who do you have in mind?” Elijah asked.

“Hmm... Let’s see...”

Sam rubbed his chin thoughtfully, scanning the faces of the other guys in our class. Most of them seemed to be backing away, avoiding eye contact. It was clear that nobody wanted to get involved with their drama.

Deciding it would be wise to follow their lead, I closed my eyes, hoping to stay out of whatever was brewing. Being around them could only lead to trouble. The last thing I needed was to get mixed up with those three.

“Hey, you! With the black hair... Korean dude!”

My eyes snapped open at Sam’s call. There was only one Korean in the class, and that was me.

“Um... Are you talking to me?”

Please, say no... Please, say no... Please let it be someone else...

“Wait, are you not Korean? I could have sworn I heard you say you were Korean...”

HUH?!

“I am Korean...”

Sam’s eyes widened in excitement. “My name is Sam, this is Ryan, and that’s Elijah... If I recall correctly, your name is James, right?”

I was caught off guard. The fact that Sam remembered my name left me torn between feeling oddly validated and mildly panicked.

“Yeah... That’s my name.”

“Nice to meet you, James,” Sam said with a disarming smile. “Me and my friends have an urgent matter that needs resolving. Do you think you could help us?”

I felt trapped. I knew agreeing to Sam’s request would likely bring headaches, but I also felt a strange sense of indebtedness to him for remembering me.

Damn, it...

“Alright... What can I help you with?” I asked, resigning myself to whatever was coming.

Sam put his arm around my neck, pulling me close. “We need your input on something very important! Something that’s a matter of life and death.”

Life and death!?

“Who do you think is the hottest girl in our class?”

Before I could even begin to formulate an answer, Elijah jumped in.

“We all know Violet is the clear answer. Everyone knows blondes are the prettiest!”

“Nonsense,” Ryan scoffed. “Japanese girls are way better than blondes. Sure, Violet may be cute, but she’s not on Haruna’s level.”

“Both of you, shut up! Nothing you say will change the outcome.” Sam let out a sigh before turning back to me. “So, James... What’s your answer?”

I felt a bubble of pressure building around me as Ryan and Elijah turned toward me.

This isn’t good... Why did these morons have to choose me?!

There were numerous reasons why I felt inclined to decline to answer. For one, I didn’t exactly see myself as an expert in beauty standards. And even if I did, it felt wrong to judge people based purely on how they looked. I also knew there was no real answer to this. Beauty wasn’t something you could measure like test scores or stats on a sports team. It was subjective—what one person found stunning, someone else might not even notice.

Sam must’ve thought he was being clever by picking me as a “neutral party,” but his plan was doomed from the start. My answer, no matter what it was, would still be biased. That’s how these things worked.

“In my opinion, Violet is the most attractive girl in our class,” I responded.

I was certain of one thing. Violet and Haruna were both very pretty girls regardless of what anyone said. That said, if I had to choose between the two, the choice was obvious. Since they were both attractive, the most outgoing personality would win.

“HELL YES! In your face, loser!” Elijah exclaimed. “Didn’t I tell you Violet was the hottest!?”

I said attractive, not hot...

“What a load of crap,” Ryan scoffed, casting a gloomy glare my way.

“Don’t get so worked up, dude,” Sam said, clapping Ryan on the shoulder. “We’re just messing around.”

“Yeah, yeah... Whatever.”

Ryan let out a growl before slumping toward the bench. Although he remained silent, the look on his face said enough. He wasn’t happy. I just hoped this wouldn’t be something he’d hold over my head later.

The tension hung in the air for a moment longer before the sound of laughter broke through it. The locker room doors swung open, and the girls began walking out in small groups. Their footsteps echoed as they made their way to the benches, seemingly unaware of the storm that had just passed between us.

As my gaze fell on Violet and Haruna, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. If they ever found out what the guys had been saying just moments earlier, I doubted they’d take it well. Some things were better left unsaid, and this was one of them.