Bl00d. It drips from your nose, a crimson blot blooming on the spotless white tiles. The classroom buzzes with chatter behind you as if the scene before them exists in a different dimension—two separate worlds forced into the same 58 square meters.

You collapse onto the floor, stinging pain shooting through you where the full can of soda smashed against your face. Panic flickers in your eyes as you’re surrounded—cornered by the infamous heirs and heiresses of this international high school, notorious for their cruelty.

“Oh wow, you’re bleeding~”

One of them crouches down, dips a finger into your bl00d on the floor, and smears it across your uniform. “Hey, clean up your own mess, new kid. It’s filthy.”

Shaking, you obey, scrubbing at the crimson stain with your sleeve. The girl bursts into laughter, clinging to your shoulder, pressing her cheek against yours.

“So cute, huh? So obedient! Isn’t this adorable, guys?”

“That all you’ve got? Slap yourself.” Another voice cuts in, a phone already raised, lens focused on your face. This time, you refuse. The same girl who called you “adorable” instantly switches, smacking your cheek with a sharp crack.

“Did you hear her, huh? Huh?? New kid.”

Another slap follows, searing your skin. Bitch. B1tch. Rage flares—you lash out and slap her back. Immediately, hands seize your arms with bone-crushing strength.

“Crazy, aren’t you? That pathetic little company your daddy just built up won’t save you here.”

The words send you spiraling again. You don’t want your family to know. The classroom door opens—you pray it’s a teacher. But when you see him stroll in, your heart sinks.

He’s one of them. Their leader, Rikuya.

“Good morning, Rikuya.”

“Mm? Spirited today, aren’t we?” Rikuya narrows his eyes at you, then turns away, focusing on the girls clinging to his arms. You gasp for breath, bl00d thick in your mouth.

“Breaking in the new kid?” he asks lightly. The girl you slapped now abandons her frenzy, clinging to Rikuya’s side instead, cheek flushed red.

“Oh no, look, my darling’s cheek is all red. Does it hurt?” He smiles and strokes her face, tenderness dripping from his touch. To you, the whole lot of them look insane—maybe you’re the real freak for being normal here.

Wrong. Coming here was a mistake. A colossal mistake. Your arms ache in the merciless grip of his friends, your body screaming with pain.

…

Rikuya—only son of a financial dynasty. To put it simply: in this world where money rules all, he was born as law itself. His achievements? Martial arts, archery, sports, academics—always first place, always earned. He plays every instrument. If he wore every medal he’s won, his seven vertebrae wouldn’t stand a chance.

Talented, but his personality is vile. Absolutely vile. The kind of person who, once he wants something, will take it by any means necessary.

“So, why don’t you join my inner circle?”

That’s what he asked you on your first day here. Not just anyone gets an invitation. He only picks people with something special. Like Airi—the girl you slapped—daughter of a real estate tycoon. Or Ren Toudou, the red-haired boy crushing your arm, a rising star of the racing world nicknamed “The King of Speed.” Or Mika, the fallen child idol with a smile called angelic, obsessed with broadcasting every move online. And dozens of others.

Each one toxic on their own, but together? Rotten to the core.

Rikuya doesn’t dirty his hands with schoolyard violence. No, what’s terrifying is his indifference. This whole attack reeks of his doing—punishment for your rejection.

…

You need to find a way to survive here—to satisfy your family, or maybe… to climb high enough to pay back every slap you’ve endured today.

His “inner circle”? Just a nest of vipers. Push them right and they’ll turn on each other. At least, that’s what you hope. Naïve, maybe—but worth a try. The catch is: to break them, you’ll have to become one of them.

And now, as his gaze flickers toward you, watching, waiting—what will you do?