The University of Tomorrow (Part 1)

Miyuu slumped against the cushioned back of the transport pod as the cityscape blurred by in streaks of neon lights and holographic billboards. The hum of the pod's engine vibrated softly beneath her, a dull, consistent buzz that somehow matched the throb in her bruised knuckles — bruises earned from resisting arrest.

She flexed her fingers; the sharp ache reminded her that this wasn’t a VR sim she could log out of. Her damp, blonde hair clung to her face, and her pink coat felt like it had doubled in weight

Outside, the city sprawled beneath the pod, but she didn’t bother to look. She didn’t need to. She already knew where they were taking her.

Harmonia University.
The name alone made her want to punch something. Again.

“Let me guess,” Miyuu said, shooting a glare at the officer seated across from her. “Harmonia University, right? For ‘rehabilitation?’” She made air quotes so aggressively it was a wonder she didn’t dislocate a finger.

The officer didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on the glowing control panel, face impassive.

Miyuu exhaled sharply, slumping deeper into her seat. "Figures," she muttered, her voice sharp but cracking just enough to betray the weight in her chest.

She couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe her father was really letting this happen. No frantic calls from her family’s legal team. No last-minute deals. No miraculous get-out-of-jail-free card. Nothing.

She clenched her fists, struggling to process that this was real, that he’d followed through.

She replayed his warning in her mind, the one she’d so generously dismissed with laughter. ‘One more incident, and I’m signing you up for the S.E.E.D programme.’

At the time, she’d laughed. Of course, he didn’t mean it. He never meant it. But now? Sitting in this pod, hurtling toward the gates of Harmonia University, she realized the truth. That wasn’t a warning—it was a promise.

She’d seen it, hadn’t she? The exhaustion in his eyes during their last argument. She’d noticed it. She’d just ignored it. And now? Now, here she was.

Harmonia University wasn’t just a school—it was the school. The ultimate temple of human excellence. A breeding ground for future world leaders, innovators, and all those other annoyingly high-achieving types who probably woke up at 5 a.m. just to meditate and meal-prep. A place for the brilliant, the disciplined, and the perfect.

And somehow she—a hot-headed delinquent—was being dropped into the middle of it. Not by merit. Definitely not by choice. She was being dragged there like a malfunctioning android scheduled for a factory reset.

The pod slowed, gliding to a stop in front of the university’s gates. Sleek glass structures stretched into the night sky, shimmering with blue light that cast eerie shadows across the path below.

Just standing there made Miyuu itch for a cigarette, though she knew better.

A place like this would probably deploy a drone sniper to vaporize it out of her hand before she could even flick a lighter.

The pod door hissed open, and Miyuu stepped out, her sneakers meeting the ground with a thud. The officer who’d chauffeured her here didn’t bother with a goodbye. He just turned to her with a bored expression that made it clear he’d rather be anywhere else right now.

“Don’t screw this up, kid,” he said flatly.

“Yeah, yeah,” Miyuu muttered, shoving her hands into her coat pockets.

With that, the pod zipped away, leaving her alone beneath the oppressive glow of the university’s perimeter lights.

Her gaze flicked to the gates ahead, then to the empty street behind her.

Her pulse quickened as the thought hit her. Run.

Before she could second-guess herself, she turned on her heel and took a single step off the designated path.

A shrill alarm ripped through the air, loud enough to make Miyuu flinch.

"Unauthorized exit detected," a robotic voice announced from hidden speakers. It was lucky it didn’t have a physical form, because she’d already envisioned at least five different ways to dismantle it.

"Return to the designated area immediately."

For a moment, she considered just standing there to see what the system would do if she didn’t comply. Probably execute her on the spot. That seemed on-brand.

The gates slid open as if to say ‘Well? Go on’.

After half a second of hesitation—because what choice did she really have?—Miyuu stepped forward. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, the alarm cut off.

The silence that followed was somehow worse.

The campus stretched out before her. No students filled the pathways, no casual chatter broke the stillness. It was lifeless.

The sound of her own footsteps echoed as she trudged toward the main building.

At the entrance, a humanoid service bot greeted her.

"Welcome, Tsukishima Miyuu! I am your Orientation Unit, designated OR-5, here to ensure your smooth transition to Harmonia University.” It cheered. "Please proceed to the assessment hall. The student council president is eagerly awaiting your arrival!"

Miyuu rolled her eyes. "Of course he is," she muttered.

The android ignored her sarcasm, or maybe he was programmed not to care. He extended a slim metallic arm and gently gripped her wrist, she winced as it scanned the chip embedded beneath her skin.

A chill spread through her as she felt the system connect, slotting her into the university’s network.

"Connection complete," the android announced. "Your enrollment at Harmonia University is now finalized. Welcome to the beginning of your academic journey!"

Miyuu snorted. "Fantastic. Lead the way, robo-buddy."

The android didn’t even acknowledge her attitude. It just pivoted and began walking down the hallway.

Holographic displays lined the walls, projecting streams of global updates—breakthroughs in medicine, advanced clean energy projects, endless statistics proving how productive and enlightened everyone supposedly was.

It was nauseating.

K.A.T.O.’s voice buzzed softly through their neural link. Interesting... the network tracks everything—academic performance, social interactions, even emotional states. They probably know what you had for breakfast.

Miyuu groaned inwardly. Gee, thanks. What would I do without you?

Crash and burn, obviously, K.A.T.O. replied.

She didn’t dignify that with a response, focusing instead on putting one foot in front of the other. The walk stretched on forever, or at least long enough for Miyuu to start seriously wondering whether the android guiding her was deliberately trying to bore her to death.

Just as she was about to kick the back of its legs out of spite, they arrived at a pair of massive double doors. They slid open with a whoosh, revealing a dimly lit assembly room

At the far end stood...a statue? No, a boy. Miyuu squinted. Definitely a boy. Though calling him that felt wrong—he looked more a high-ranking official or someone who was raised by military grade androids.

He was unnervingly still, hands clasped neatly behind his back. The moment she stepped inside, his eyes locked onto hers. He didn’t move. He didn’t blink. Honestly, she half-expected him to salute.

His uniform looked like it had been pressed by the hands of god, and his shoes were shining so brightly they were practically emitting their own light source.

Miyuu briefly considered checking her reflection in them but decided against it. Staring at her own annoyed face would only make her mood worse.

"Let me guess," she muttered under her breath. "Student Council President."

Ding! Ding! Ding! K.A.T.O. chimed. And here we see the apex predator of the academic food chain.

Miyuu’s face twisted in disgust. Of course. The poster boy for perfection. Just great.