Despair High School Prologue

Prologue

That huge school building was built on a prime plot of real estate in the very center of the city, as if it was the center of the world itself.

"Veritas High School"

It is a super-exclusive academy, officially recognized by the government, aspiring to gather and cultivate high school students excelling in their respective academic fields.

General opinion is that graduating this school leads to certain success in life.

It is a school with several hundred years of history, legendary for sending its top students into leading roles in every professional field time after time.

Its stated goal is to raise this nation's "hope" that will bear the country's future on their shoulders. Accordingly, some people call this remarkable place the "Academy of Hope".

To be accepted as a student, there are two qualifications:

"You must be currently enrolled at a high school"
"You must super-excel at your field of expertise"

The school doesn't advertise for new students. To be accepted one must be scouted and invited by the school itself.

And so, looking at the front gate of that super-amazing academy...

...I stood.

Let me begin with an orthodox introduction. My name is Yudha Pratama.

My appearance, as you can see, is just your regular average high school student.
Inside, I'm just the same...

My personality, my skills, my school record... There is absolutely nothing special about them.
I don't have any special hobbies, any mutant powers, nor am I good at sports...

If you ask about my favorite pop stars, my favorite manga, my favorite music or my favorite movies,
They're always the things that come out top in popularity rankings. It's the same for most other things as well.

I'm a person who runs away at the mention of "the king's road". An average person among average people. 
That's me. Even this orthodox introduction reflects this, doesn't it?

Well, if I'm forced to give one redeeming trait, I guess I'd say I'm a little more optimistic than most people.

There's a reason such a normal kid currently stands in front of an abnormal school like Veritas High School.

"I really ended up at an amazing place. Is this something I can really handle?"

As expected, I was overwhelmed by Veritas High School extraordinary presence.

There's a good reason I'm having such a reaction. To help you understand better, let me explain about yesterday evening's school entrance preparation.

The students chosen by Veritas High School truly are super-top in their respective fields, and there's so much speculation about them that someone created a special thread on a certain Internet bulletin board.

As part of my preparation, I took a peek at that thread. Information about the new students was laid out there. Each and every one of them a "super high-school level" student leaping far above the average.

For example, the girl admitted into Veritas High School as a "Super High-school Level Idol" is the leader of a nationally adored idol group -- a famous high school girl.

The guy admitted as a "Super High-school Level Baseball Player" is the ace and 4th batter of the country's champion high-school team. An exceptional talent even professional teams took notice of.

The girl admitted as a "Super High-school Level Fashion Girl" is a popular model who appeared on the covers of many magazines, overflowing with charisma and capturing the hearts of high school girls everywhere.

Topping even that, the guy accepted in the position of a "Super High-school Level Gang Leader" is the head of Japan's largest motorcycle gang, feared and respected by punks across the entire country.

In addition, there was a "Super High-school Level Light Music Club Member", a "Super High-school Level Heir", a "Super High-school Level Swimmer", a "Super High-school Level Doujin Writer"…
"Super High-school Level Gamer", "Super High-school Level Photographer", "Super High-school Level Hall Monitor", "Super High-school Level Fortune teller", and so on.

Nothing but spectacular people who make me fully realize my own shortcomings.

I'm like a sheep that strayed into a lion's den.

...but there is also something that puzzles me.
No matter how much I search, there is no information about some kids on the list.

One of those is me, of course. An unexceptional kid with no skills.
But what about the others who don't come up in searches?

"Are they also people like me, with no merits to show off?"

Thinking that, I managed to gather some courage. A pitiful personality, if I may say so myself.

But leaving that behind, I the question you're asking yourself is...
Why was a normal high school student like me chosen to be among such magnificent "super high-school level" members.

The reason for that is explained in the acceptance letter that arrived from Veritas High School

"This year, we decided to accept one student chosen by lottery from among each and every one of the country's regular high school students."
"As a result, we invite you to attend our school as a person possessing "Super High-school Level Good Luck"."

In other words, they made it very clear the only reason I can attend this school is simple luck.

Honestly, I should have just rejected the offer.
But after hearing that graduating the school leads to success in life, there was no way I could do that.

But, when all is said and done, as I stood there in front of the actual school I couldn't help fearing I made a terrible mistake after all.

But I guess I can't just continue standing here like a statue...

As I whispered those words to myself, I took a look at the acceptance letter I held in my hand.

"New students are to gather at the entrance hall 8am"

There is still some time to pass until then…

Should I just go in?
Yeah. Let's go!!

With a bit of melodramatic determination you wouldn't think is needed when stepping into a school building for the first time, I walked toward the entrance hall.

So this is the entrance hall. There's still no one here...

I looked up at the magnificent wall clock that hang on the wall. The time was 7:10am.
The gathering is at 8. Still 50 minutes left.

It makes sense no one is here yet…

I was so nervous I ended up coming here way too early...

There was still plenty of time until the gathering time. Waiting in the hall isn't a very exciting thing to do...
Maybe I should go ahead and explore the school for a while... It will help in easing my nerves.

i'm a student of this school, after all. There shouldn't be a problem, right?

I'll just pass the time wandering around.

With that thought in my head, I took my first step into the depths of Veritas High School.
It was a moment charged with the feeling of hope that accompanies a new school life...

...or at least, it should have been.

Eh!?

The moment I took that first step, my vision started to blur. It was as if the world turned into jelly, swirling around.

Round and round and round and round, slowly fading out...

And the next moment...

It's a door.

There's a door here.

But, more importantly, I’d better hurry.
I mean, I should go into this classroom.

"Should"?

Why? When did I decide.

No! There’s no time for this! If I don’t hurry.

Huh!?

"Are you... also a new student?" ask curlyhead guy.

"So, you guys are my...!?" I asked them

"Yeah. We're the new students who are supposed to start school at Veritas Hight School today." said orange-haired girl

So these are... my classmates?

Then... I’m inside Veritas? But that’s...

"They’re probably gathering all the new students in this classroom."  said Pink-haired girl

We're being... gathered?

"Oy. How about you at least come into the room?" ask fatty guy

" Eh? Oh, excuse me!"

...Why am I suddenly speaking politely?
They may all be "Super High-school Level", but they're also my classmates...

That's right... First impressions are essential! I must act dignified!

And so, as I tried my best to hide my nervous state behind a blank expression...

...I closed the door behind me, and took an empty seat in the classroom's back row

My dignity aside, though... what the hell just happened?

 "Um, can I ask some question fatty guy...?"

"What is it?"

"Why did you all gather here in this classroom?"
"I don't remember being told to gather here... Are we having the opening ceremony or something in here?"

"I was just thinking about discussing that matter with everyone."

"You were?"

" You don't mind, do you? It seems we are all here, so we might as well talk about it."

"Eh?! This is everyone?! How d’you figure that, huh?!" said rocker girl.

"There are sixteen desks in this classroom. Now that he's here, there are sixteen of us."

"It doesn't take a genius to figure it out."

"So, what should we talk about?" "Does anyone know why we've all been gathered in this classroom?" said chef guy.

"Before I knew what was happening, I found myself here... It seems everyone here is the same." "This is not natural. Your stupid faces tell me that you agree."

"That’s... that’s strange, you're right. If no one here can say how they came to this classroom..." ...wait, what do you mean, "stupid faces"?! said red hair girl

 "As soon as I entered the school I was inexplicably struck dizzy, and then inexplicably found myself outside this classroom."

"That was my experience. Was everyone's the same?"

"I...It was just like that for me too..." said me.

"Eh?! It wasn’t just me?" "Everyone getting dizzy at the same time... that’s kinda suspicious!"
 said chef guy again.

"I...It's very unlikely to be a coincidence, isn't it...?" said black hair girl.

 "Which means it isn't one." said fatty guy

"Huh?"

In other words, this strange phenomenon had some kind of a purpose behind it.

What he’s saying makes sense, but...

What purpose is being served by this? And for who?
I don’t like this...

So... Let's introduce ourselves first, and then figure out what's going on. Said Pink-haired girl

"We have other pressing issues at hand, but first we must introduce ourselves.", is it?
If that's the case, now is my great chance.

I already looked up information about everyone here on the Internet, but now I get to see what these guys are really like...

Let's hear from these 5 people first.

W...What’s with this huge metal bulkhead?
It's like the entrance to a military facility...

This is the same entrance hall I've just been to, isn’t it? I think I would have noticed it...

There's... something that looks like a gun attached to the security camera.
But it can't be the real thing, though, can it...?

That's a television screen.

This school is approved by the government, so it's not so strange if it has its own television station.
Nevertheless... there's something weird about it.

Er... Good day. My name's Yudha Pratama. Nice to meet you.

"You're that new face around here, aren't you?" "My name is Rizal Rizki. They've been calling me a "Super High-school Level Cook", but I prefer "Super High-school Level Chef" myself. It has a much more... sophisticated air, don't you think?"

Rizal Rizki: Super High-school Level Cook

"Hm hm hm... A pleasure to meet you."

"Oh! Now that you come to mention it, we two still have yet to introduce ourselves. Please excuse my lateness!" said orange-haired girl

"My name is Luria Nevermind."

"I come from the small European country Novoselic. I came to Indonesia as an exchange student." It is a pleasure to make your esteemed acquaintance! May we endeavour to maintain a lasting friendship!"

Y... You too...

Pure white skin that looks like porcelain... Blue eyes like precious jewels... Sparkling golden hair...

She has the kind of appeal that makes you just want to keep looking at her, forever.

"...Are you dazzled? I guess that's to be expected." "Luria is a "Super High-school Level Princess". She's actual royalty." Said Rizal.

Super High-school Level... Princess...?

Usually, I'd be surprised by something like that, but...

For someone as beautiful and overflowing with grace as her, such a title doesn't seem at all out of place.

"Um, this may seem a measure impudent... but... if I may be perfectly honest, that I am here pleases me a little."

"Eh? It does? Why?" 

"In my own country, I had not a single friend my own age who was my equal in status." "And so, for everyone to gather and partake in this group activity... It is a feeling most novel!"

"...I applaud you all!"

"Applaud...? Um, T... Thank you."

Somehow... I feel like I should kneel down before her.

"Hey, hey, you two. Are you trying to keep me out of your little group?" said Rizal

"No... not at all..."

Okay lest talk another student.











Ps : sisanya masih dipikir