011 Pioneer Class - Part 1 - Mirai’s POV

Mark was awful at riding a bike.

Like, spectacularly, hilariously awful.

For fifteen straight minutes, I instructed him, guided him, and even gave him a push. Each time, he barely lasted five seconds before wobbling like a newborn deer and crashing to the side.

“Dude, what was that?!” I cackled as he faceplanted into the grass. “You looked like a marionette with its strings cut!”

Mark groaned, peeling himself off the ground. “You said to balance!”

“Yeah, and you failed spectacularly.” I grinned, wiping tears from my eyes. “Oh my god, this is better than I expected.”

Mark scowled at me, brushing dirt off his uniform. “I thought you were supposed to teach me, not laugh at my suffering.”

I tried—really, I did—but the moment he got back on the bike and immediately veered straight into a bush, I lost it again.

“Pfft— AHAHAHAHAHA! STOP! I CAN’T—”

Mark stood up, twigs sticking out of his hair, and glared daggers at me. “You suck as a teacher.”

“And you suck at biking!” I wheezed. “We both have our flaws!”

Mark muttered something under his breath but climbed onto the bike again. He was determined, I’d give him that. Unfortunately, determination didn’t mean skill.

Another fall. Another laugh. Another attempt. Another disaster.

Eventually, I wiped my eyes and sighed. “Alright, alright. We’ll do this again tomorrow. It’s getting dark.”

Mark exhaled, clearly exhausted. “…Fine.”

I hopped onto the bike, motioning for him to get on. “C’mon, I’ll drop you off.”

We stopped at a posh-looking place called Northstar House—some high-end dorm or something. Mark hopped off the bike like his life depended on it.

“Alright, thanks, bye!” He started aggressively shooing me away, waving his hands like I was some stray cat.

I blinked. “The hell’s your problem?”

“Nothing! Just—go! It’s late! You should get home!”

“…Pffffft.” I smirked. “What, don’t want your fancy dormmates to see you hanging out with me? It’s barely been a day and you are basically a stranger to me… a fun stranger… Anyways, I still owe you—”

Mark stiffened, then scowled. “That’s not it.”

But the way he practically ran to the gates without looking back? Suspicious. Adorable.

Though, now that I thought about it…

I couldn’t actually imagine him caring about something like that.

I pedaled through the streets with ease, the night air cool against my face as I made my way home. The roads were mostly empty now, save for the occasional car rolling by. Streetlights buzzed overhead, casting long shadows over the pavement.

The neighborhood I lived in wasn’t exactly high-class—it was one of the cheaper areas on the island. Most ESPers with wealthy families stayed in dorms or high-rise apartments closer to the Academy, but I had to budget my way through life. Even then, the Academy never failed to provide the bare minimum of luxury.

My place was an old but well-maintained apartment complex tucked away in a quieter part of town. The building wasn’t flashy, but it was clean, secure, and had everything I needed. The landlord was a retired ESPer who barely gave a damn as long as rent was paid on time.

I parked my bike at the rack, locked it up, and took the stairs two at a time. My unit was on the third floor, nothing fancy—a single-room setup with a small kitchenette and a bed. I flicked the light on, tossed my bag onto the chair, and changed into my work uniform.

Time for my real job.

Being an ESPer Academy student was already exhausting, but tuition and living expenses weren’t going to pay for themselves. So, five nights a week, I worked as a convenience store clerk. Paid by the hour. Nothing glamorous, but it kept me afloat.

And then there was weekend work.

I sighed, pulling my hair into a quick ponytail. The real exhausting part of my schedule. But that was for later.

For now, I had a shift to get to.

The night shift was slow. Not dead, but slow enough that I could sneak in some studying when no one was looking.

While most of our textbooks were in PDF format, I insisted on having mine printed. It was easier on the eyes, and more importantly, it didn’t look bad while working. Scrolling through your phone at the counter made you look lazy, but reading a book? That gave the impression of someone industrious, even if customers sometimes gave me weird looks.

I flipped through a page, absorbing the material on ESP theory, when the doorbell jingled. I glanced up and saw a red-haired guy striding in.

Him again.

I recognized him from the auditorium earlier. He was across from Mark—what was his name? Karl? Yeah, Karl Brandt, the guy who screamed about being number one.

He walked straight to the fridge, yanked it open, and pulled out a can of beer.

I closed my book. “That’s not happening.”

Karl didn’t even flinch. He walked up to the counter, placed the can down, and met my eyes with a confident smirk. “One beer.”

“You’re a freshman,” I pointed out. “I’m fairly certain you’re underage.”

He leaned in slightly, that cocky smirk still there. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

I folded my arms. “ID.”

Karl didn’t move. Neither did I.

We stared each other down in absolute silence.

The fridge hummed. The clock ticked.

Finally, Karl clicked his tongue and scoffed. “Tch. Fine.” He grabbed the can, walked back to the fridge, and slammed it back inside a little harder than necessary. Then, without another word, he turned and walked out the door.

I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head. “Psycho.”

Then I picked up my book again and got back to work.

What was up with this place? That was the second psycho I had encountered today—on top of Mark.

I really hoped this wasn’t some sort of contest.

The doorbell jingled again, and this time, it was my co-worker. A silent guy with brown hair and glasses. He gave me a small nod as he walked past the counter.

Matt Wentworth.

Mild-mannered, soft-spoken, and according to the boss, in a similar situation to me. Whatever that meant.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He smiled, headed to the back to change, then came out a few minutes later and started filling up the shelves.

I took that as my chance to sneak a look at my phone.

It was one of my most expensive purchases recently—a good smartphone, necessary for living in ESPer Academy. QR codes, schedules, transactions—basically, everything ran through it. I unlocked the screen, my thumb hovering over the email icon. My heart pounded.

The class assignments were out.

I took a deep breath and opened the email.

Pioneer Class.

I stared. Then stared some more.

I read it again.

And then—

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE—”

Matt nearly dropped the box he was carrying.

I clamped my hands over my mouth, my whole body trembling with excitement. Pioneer Class. The class of the elites. The best of the best. The strongest Espers of our year.

I was in.

I was recognized.

Matt blinked at me from the shelves, adjusting his glasses. “Uh… something good happen?”

I couldn’t stop grinning as I turned my phone toward him, practically vibrating in place. “I got into Pioneer Class!”

He tilted his head, squinting at the screen, then gave a small, impressed nod. “That’s… really good.”

“REALLY GOOD?! This is amazing!” I hugged my phone to my chest, still overwhelmed. “This means I’m strong. This means I belong here! This means—”

“You’re gonna be surrounded by psychos,” Matt pointed out, deadpan.

I froze.

…Oh.

I mean.

He wasn’t wrong.

***

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ESPER ACADEMY - FRESHMAN YEAR CLASS SCHEDULE

Class Designations: Pioneer, Advanced, Standard, Remedial

(Class schedules may slightly vary depending on designation, but Pioneer students follow this structure.)

MONDAY - FRIDAY

Time Slot

Class Name

Description

08:00 - 09:00

ESP Theory & Application

Understanding ESP mechanics, classifications, and weaknesses.

09:00 - 10:00

Combat Training I

Hand-to-hand combat, ESP-assisted combat, and endurance drills.

10:00 - 11:00

Survival & Field Operations

Navigation, resource management, cryptid identification, and ESP survival tactics.

11:00 - 12:00

Break / Lunch

Cafeteria and rest period.

12:00 - 13:00

Tactics & Strategy

ESP dueling, battle formations, enemy profiling, and mind games.

13:00 - 14:00

Mathematics & Physics

Focus on ESP-related physics, trajectory calculations, and applied sciences.

14:00 - 15:00

Esper Ethics & Psychology

Mental resilience, ESP-related psychological effects, and moral dilemmas.

15:00 - 16:00

Combat Training II (Sparring)

One-on-one matches, group fights, and ESP sparring under supervision.

16:00 - 17:00

Independent Training / Clubs

Self-study, skill improvement, or participation in ESP clubs.

SPECIAL NOTES:

* ESP Application Classes: Focused on developing control, enhancement, and countering ESP abilities.

* Combat Training: Splits into different groups based on skill level. Pioneer students often train against each other.

* Survival & Field Ops: May include unexpected field tests.

* Demerits: Given for failing to bring required materials (e.g., dictionaries).

* Masters: Elite instructors assigned to oversee Pioneer students.

***

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***

I stared at my class schedule, feeling my soul leave my body.

Too many subjects… Too little time for each.

Each subject looked insanely demanding. ESP-intensive, physically exhausting, and mentally draining—it was as if they wanted to squeeze every last drop of energy from us.

I sighed. Did Mark get into Pioneer Class too? He probably did. We practically worked as a team during the Entrance Exam. If I was in, he was definitely in.

I scrolled further down the email and found an Achievements & Notable Performances section. A ranking list.

Longest to Last in the Hide and Seek Exam

I skimmed through the names. Karl Brandt was listed near the bottom. No surprise there. Ron was also listed, but was it the same Ronald Ardent from earlier? Seemed likely. No way ‘Ron’ couldn’t pull it off…

Then I saw Mark’s name.

Third place.

Wait… I was second?!

I nearly dropped my phone. Who the hell beat me?

To be fair, I didn’t mean to feel entitled to it since it was Mark’s strategy and dragging me around that brought me this far… but still.

I scrolled up and saw the name:

1st Place - Matt Wentworth

I blinked.

I glanced at my coworker—Matt—the quiet, brown-haired guy currently mopping up a spilled drink near the back aisle.

Him?

How?!

I needed answers.

I casually leaned on the counter and called out, "Hey, Matt."

He looked up, adjusting his glasses. "Hmm?"

"You were in the Entrance Exam, right?"

He nodded slowly. "Yeah."

I pointed at my phone. "You placed first in the hide-and-seek ranking. How’d you do it?"

Matt hesitated. His grip on the mop tightened. "I… was never found."

I gawked. "Wait, wait, never?"

He nodded again, avoiding my gaze.

I let that sink in. Mark’s strategy was clever—disguising himself among the dorm staff and blending into the background. But Matt went several levels beyond that.

"You hid among the staff?" I guessed.

He scratched his cheek, looking awkward. "Sort of."

I squinted. "Then how—"

Poof.

Suddenly, a small black dog stood where Matt had been.

I gasped.

The dog wagged its tail, then, with another poof, Matt was back, standing there like nothing had happened.

"I'm… kind of like a werewolf," he mumbled.

Holy crap.

My brain short-circuited.

"That’s awesome!" I blurted.

Matt looked away, clearly flustered.

A thought crossed my mind. I should not say that was cute. It somehow felt demeaning. But it was cute.

Instead, I smirked. "I’m glad I’ll have a familiar face in class."

Matt’s lips twitched into a small smile.

Yeah. This would work out.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully. Matt and I worked through our shifts, occasionally chatting when there was a lull in customers. Eventually, we took a break, sitting at the back of the store and eating our packed dinners. Matt had a simple meal—rice and some fried chicken. Mine was a convenience store sandwich I had bought at a discount. We didn’t talk much while eating, just the occasional comment about work or what to expect of school.

Once the clock struck midnight, we clocked out, exchanged a few goodbyes, and went our separate ways.

ESPers needed less sleep than normal people, which was both a blessing and a curse. It meant I could stretch my time between studying, working, and training, but it also meant I had no real excuse to rest. Every second of downtime felt like I was wasting an opportunity to improve myself.

The bike ride home was peaceful. The streets in this part of the island were quieter, less developed compared to the extravagant districts where students like Mark probably lived. The apartment complex I stayed in was affordable but still well-maintained—ESPer Academy didn’t let even its cheaper housing fall into disrepair.

My building was a simple five-story complex with no fancy amenities, just a basic lobby and stairwell. My unit was a one-room studio, compact but functional.

I changed into more comfortable clothes and sat on my futon, pulling out my phone.

There it was. The email with my evaluation.

I hesitated for a moment before opening it.

***

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Subject: Pioneer Class Evaluation Report

From: Reina Morningstar

Mirai Valeska,

Congratulations on securing a place in the Pioneer Class. You are one of the few students selected based on exceptional performance during the Entrance Exam. Your results demonstrate a combination of instinct, adaptability, and an ESP with an absurd level of potential.

Here are some key points from your evaluation:

ESP Proficiency: You exhibit a unique control over probability, effectively allowing you to perform actions that align with your desired outcome. However, what sets you apart is not just your ability to manipulate luck but your unconscious synchronization with it. You don’t just get lucky—you make the most optimal choices in real time, almost like an unseen force is guiding you.

Physical Performance: While not the strongest physically, your ability compensates by allowing you to react with inhuman precision. Your agility, reflexes, and coordination put you on par with or even above more physically trained students. That being said, your raw physical endurance could use improvement.

Tactical Awareness: One of the highlights of your exam was your ability to work seamlessly with others while still maintaining an independent approach. You were neither overly reliant on teammates nor dismissive of their strengths. You also displayed quick thinking and decisiveness under pressure

Notable Achievements:

Ranked 2nd place in the Hide-and-Seek segment, only outlasted by Matt Wentworth.

Successfully engaged and subdued instructor with varied levels of success.

Displayed proficiency in adapting to both solo and team-based challenges.

With all that said, being part of the Pioneer Class comes with expectations. You will be challenged beyond what most students experience. Your limits will be tested, and failure will not be tolerated. Consider this your first and only warning: if you cannot keep up, you will be replaced.

Welcome to the Pioneer Class. Try not to disappoint me.

—Master Reina

***

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***

I stared at the screen for a long moment, rereading the email just to let it sink in.

Master Reina, huh? That was going to take some getting used to.

Her tone was as blunt as ever, but I could tell there was a strange sense of… pride? Maybe that was just me reading too much into it.

Either way, the message was clear. I was here because I earned it. And now I had to prove that I deserved to stay.

I let out a breath, flopping onto my futon with my phone still in hand. My body was exhausted, but my mind was too wired to sleep just yet.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

But I was ready.

Or at least, I hoped I was.