The Headline Task.

The scary-looking homeroom teacher of Spades Class 1 stared down at the entire class, almost murdering their sense of being in the process, before slipping back.

"Now I'm going to brief you on the school's rules and obligations. But I don't have that time so I'll leave that to your smart watches." She stepped down from the teaching podium.

She started pacing slowly before the still, shock-ridden students.

"As you may have gathered, the Spade's class in general has never produced a person of standard sitting, not a president, general, or otherwise throughout the course of this academy's history, and certainly not a Sapphire."
She shot a quick glance at Tiger, "—at least we'll have a decent chance now,"
Her gaze was unsettling, like that of contempt mixed violently with curiosity and shock. She really made Tiger's presence feel like an anomaly.

And of course, she gave Shade the same look. Dark didn't miss it.

"Your classes officially start today, failure or weakness is not tolerated. No need to rush, though, seeing as your first year is actually your only fun year. Strive to liberate our class. Good luck."

"Understood!!" They all chorused in perfect unison and Miss Bory instantly jolted, raising a brow.

"What the hell was that, are you robots? Don't creep me out." She shot even more deadly glares at the students.

At this point, Tiger and Dark were totally out of it, undoubtedly uninterested;Tiger was trying to control his yawning while Dark's undivided attention was given to the field next to the building.

Miss Bory retired to the teacher's table.

"At your current level, you're only concerned with six subjects: Sciences, Alchemy, Physical and Mental Health {P.M.E}, History, Psychology, and of course Current Affairs." She adjusted her bulgy glasses.

Then she whispered under her breath,"With failing particular subjects warranting expulsion, but I'll let you find those out."

"What?!" The whole class went nuts, raging on as their bodies shook with uncertainty.

"I hope alchemy isn't one of them, I don't know a thing about alchemy!" A student behind the class wailed holding his head.

"You don't know a thing about anything" Another student behind sneered at him.

The uproar didn't show any signs of concluding, but the stone-cold teacher didn't seem to care in the least.

Amidst the outrage, a sharp bell rang throughout the entire floor, maybe even further, and the class's noise was reduced to nothing.

"It's time for your first class, and its administrator would be here soon," Miss Bory made for the door as they all watched her in silence.

"Just bear in mind—" She stopped abruptly, turning slightly towards the class once more.

"— After each year, the classes are reshuffled according to your individual achievements, lasting reputation, or acquired status. This semester is your only chance to have a good footing."

"It doesn't get any easier."

With Miss Bory's final words, the class felt a little at ease; some were thrilled with the fact that they still had a chance to be exonerated.

Others had the lasting sting of being assigned to a better class being impossible, seeing as their current classes were chosen for a reason.

That means we stand no chance if we can't replace a member of the other classes,This was exactly how Dark saw it.

Interesting. 
LSP— you don't disappoint.

RECREATION TIME.

The cafeteria of the Year One building was packed with the freshmen. It was the one constant place where students of all four classes could cross paths during school hours.

The arrangement and setting of the tables were welcoming and accommodating enough to make you push all your current issues aside.

It was as lively as expected, with most students gladly chatting, laughing, whispering, or gossiping, amongst other things.

Some tables were still totally vacant, probably kept for the elites as none of them were spotted within the cafeteria at the time.

The cafeteria doors swung open as quietly as possible, and Dark and Shade strolled through. Despite their best efforts, most eyes still fell on them, locating them in the blind spots they had hoped to walk unnoticeably in.

Nevertheless, they barely seemed to care about the latched eyes. They continued until they got to an empty table at the edge of the cafeteria.

They took their seats opposite each other and then a young man clad like a butler approached them with their food, probably how it's done at a top school.

"It's hard to get used to such prying eyes; they creep me out," Shade lay back, tapping the table repeatedly.

"Speak for yourself, I don't feel it at all." Dark stared at the food for a short while, then gently shifted it aside.

Just then, the cafeteria doors were breached once more, but more noisily and violently, almost like they were kicked open.

Ds, along with his group, walked in, gaining all the attention at the moment. He walked confidently straight over to Dark's table and stopped before him. Dark didn't look up, it was like he couldn't see him at all.

"Get up," Ds ordered.

Dark didn't even spare him a glance.

"Get up!" Ds barked as he stopped his foot on an empty seat, the echo of his command still reverberating through the suddenly quiet cafeteria.

"This is petty" Dark said without looking up.

Ds clenched his fists hard, trying not to explode.

"There are other empty seats, just go pick one," Dark still didn't give him the satisfaction of his glare, visibly disturbed about something else.

"How dare you?!" Ds ground his teeth, almost drooling.

"Hey—"

"He said pick another." Shade said so softly with a placid look, but Ds didn't flinch.

"I don't need advice from—" 
Dark launched to his feet in an instant, his person shrouded in silence, startling even his roommate.

He raised his hands high up, 

"Hey, over here. I saved you a seat," he suddenly smiled, waving past them.

At the other end of his greetings was Tiger and his Vice Claw who had managed to slip in unnoticed as a result of the growing tussle.

Tiger smiled back, redirecting his steps over to Dark, his stride was small and slow, like a true boss.

"My my, what is going on here?, I hope you guys aren't fighting, that'll be a shame." He stated, taking his seat two seats beside Dark while Claw sat beside him.

Tiger scoffed, his eyes thinning, he watched idly as Dark sat back down as if he wasn't even addressing him at all.

"If he wants to pick a fight, he should do so with someone he shares the same status with," he smiled at Ds.

Ds still didn't say anything, he just took his foot down and turned away reluctantly. His anger was not hidden at all.

Dark watched keenly as Ds actually went to an empty seat and sat, pouting.

I knew it, Tiger must be the strongest and most influential among all the elites.Dark stared at his food, before him.

"Does this mean we're now friends, you took my advice?" Tiger quizzed, also not touching his food.
Dark didn't reply, he didn't even look at him.

Tiger sighed, his smile fading. "A lot of people befriend me, don't mess with me, or at least avoid me just to get to my sister, you're not one of them, are you?" 

"Not my type." Dark ruffled.

Tiger smile beamed once more, he turned his attention to Ds.

"You shouldn't go against Doomsday for now," Tiger's expression suddenly morphed into a serious gaze, and his words seemed to do the trick as Dark finally glanced at him.

"Among all first years, he currently has the most dangerous group, filled with crazy people and he is the craziest of them all,"

Dark raised a brow,  "Why the sudden warning?"

He didn't get a response, instead a smile.

"Won't you ask me to introduce you to my sister?" Tiger lamented, obviously trying to avoid the question.

Dark gave him a cautionary glance before giving it up. 

"I told you, I'm not interested."

After his reply they both went silent for a while, just looking around at others before Dark decided to restart their chatter.

"Do you think I can become a Premium Scholar without engaging in a single one-on-one fight?" His question was surprising and kind of confusing, but from his expression, one could tell it had depth.

"That's impossible, I'm sure we are going to have a friendly battle this semester," Tiger chuckled softly.

Of course you'd want that, being a tournament champion and all. Dark stared back at his food.

"Just focus on your strengths for now, I wouldn't want you all beaten before the headline task is announced." Tiger patted Dark on the shoulder.

"Headline Task?" Dark looked back at him.

"It'll be announced sooner or later," Tiger said as he stood up. Claw too stood, abandoning his meal.

"You must know what I love doing the most, I'll love to see you on the battlefield soon. I want to be the first to test your strengths," 
Tiger's words rested on the ears of the first years, though they didn't act out as usual; they just went on as though they didn't hear a thing.

"See you around my friend." Tiger made his way to the cafeteria doors.

Dark stared at his food once more. 

There's an assassin here, an inexperienced one.

Lousy assassin,

he smirked.