Episode 8
While Luize was staring in shock at a GPA that didn’t fit White Bell’s elite reputation, Serena was in her room, pulling at her hair in horror.
“Ah! How could I not think of that?!”
She’d been studying political science when the realization hit her like lightning. She shot up from her chair with a yell.
“The White Bell president… is Luize!”
So that was the unease she’d felt earlier at the academy. Serena slumped back into her chair like a puppet with cut strings.
BANG!
Her door burst open. Her younger half-brother Charles barged in.
“Hey! You’re so damn loud!”
“Oh, uh… sorry.”
“‘Sorry’? That’s it? You’re always saying sorry but never change! If you’re gonna be an idiot, at least be a quiet one! Tell Mother to move your room already or something!”
What a brat. Already rotten to the core. Serena muttered as Charles slammed the door shut and stormed off.
“No, focus. That’s not the problem right now.”
What if Luize saw her application and thought she was following him? What if he believed she’d joined White Bell just to chase him again? The thought made her dizzy.
And if he was the one reviewing applications, her chances of passing the first screening were basically zero. Even without that, her grades alone should’ve guaranteed rejection. Still… she had secretly hoped.
“Guess I really should just study on my own.”
She slumped for a moment, then straightened, gripping her pen. Maybe it was better not to join a club Luize ran anyway.
“Yeah! This is for the best!”
She comforted herself, flipping through her political science textbook by moonlight. At least her strongest subject was going smoothly.
“Am I seeing this right… or am I losing my mind?”
Serena had started arriving at school early to study. The halls were quiet, even the usually packed bulletin board nearly empty. She walked past, but a new notice caught her eye:
[White Bell, Round 2 Interview Candidates]
The results were already out? Not that it mattered—her name wouldn’t be there. She skimmed the list carelessly. Then froze.
[10. Serena Cressia]
Her name. At the very bottom.
“I… I passed?!”
Her shriek echoed down the empty hallway. Thankfully no one was around to hear.
Maybe it was a mistake. Or a prank. But the official academy seal at the bottom said otherwise.
“No way… has Luize gone crazy?”
She’d heard he personally selected the interviewees.
“Unfortunately for you, I’m perfectly sane.”
“Gah! Luize?!”
She’d been so distracted she hadn’t noticed him appear beside her, leaning lazily as always.
“What, hard to believe? Honestly, with your grades, I get why it seems ridiculous you passed the first round.”
“What? Did you accept me just to mess with me?”
Serena glared at him. Luize’s eyes flicked briefly to the political science book in her hands before he replied in his usual flat tone.
“If you applied just to follow me into White Bell, you can forget it—”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I didn’t apply because of you, alright? I wanted a more efficient way to study. But fine, thanks for letting me through the first round. Since you did, I’ll ace the second round—and then I’ll take top student while I’m at it. Just you wait.”
She cut him off sharply, hugging her book with a smug smile as she turned dramatically to leave.
But she froze when he called her name.
“Serena.”
“What now? I’m busy—”
“Your classroom’s the other way.”
“…Oh.”
Ahem. I knew that. Pretending nothing happened, she spun on her heel and walked off in the right direction.
As soon as homeroom ended, Serena dragged Randy into the hall. She had to tell someone before first period.
“What?! You passed the first round?!”
Randy nearly jumped out of her shoes when Serena whispered it. Exactly the same reaction Serena herself had earlier.
“Well, can you blame me? You don’t believe it either, right?”
“Yeah… maybe it’s someone else with the same name.”
“No way.”
“True.”
Randy nodded, then turned to the window like she needed air. It sounded impossible, but Serena wasn’t the type to lie.
“Well, either way, this is good. White Bell’s impossible to get into.”
“Not yet. There’s still the interview. Ten people get this far, and they only pick one.”
“You never know. You already made it past the paperwork. So when’s the interview?”
She asked while unwrapping a chocolate, the sweet smell wafting through the hall.
“Today. After fourth period.”
“Today?! That soon?”
Serena’s casual answer made Randy freeze mid-bite.
“Did you even prepare?”
“I only found out this morning. What prep? Honestly, the interview’s probably just for show.”
Serena gave a crooked smile. White Bell valued grades above all. Even if she nailed the interview, the spot would go to the best GPA.
If anything, the whole thing felt more frustrating than exciting. And the fact that Luize was the one who’d approved her? Even worse.
“Whatever. I’ll just go and see.”
Serena ruffled her hair. She’d already declared war on Luize—backing out now wasn’t an option. Clenching her fists, she steeled herself just as the bell rang for first period.
“Oh right. First class… political science.”
At least she could take comfort in starting the day with her favorite subject.
By the time fourth period ended, Serena headed for White Bell’s exclusive classroom.
The other candidates waiting outside spotted her and gawked. Some even whispered loudly enough for her to hear.
“Hey, isn’t that Serena?”
“Isn’t she bottom of the class? What’s she doing here?”
Serena ignored them, sitting quietly.
Please. Nobody’s more confused than me.
She sighed until her name was called. Everyone else had already gone; she was the last.
“Serena Cressia.”
“…Ah, yes.”
“Come in.”
The same boy who’d collected the applications opened the door. Serena stepped inside.
“Hello.”
She bowed, then quickly scanned the room. One chair sat in the middle, facing three White Bell members—including, of course, Luize.
“Please sit.”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s begin the interview.”
Serena sat, palms sweating.
“Your grades… are near the bottom, yet you applied?”
A freckled redhead fired the first question. Right on cue. Serena smirked inwardly, lifting her chin.
“Yes. The academy rules say only a D average is required to apply.”
“Mm.” The boy gave a disinterested nod.
“If you were accepted, do you think you could handle our workload? It’s intense.”
This time a sharp-eyed girl with short brown hair spoke up.
“I’m confident I can.”
She answered firmly. The girl nodded once, unimpressed.
“Alright, thank you. Unless the president has anything to add, we’ll—”
“Miss Serena.”
Luize, silent until now, finally spoke.
“Yes.”
“This morning, you told me you’d be top student.”
“That’s right.”
Her blunt reply left the other two interviewers staring, mouths open.
“Were you serious?”
“I was.”
Her glare was fierce, her voice unshaken.
“And why?”
“…Excuse me?”
“You’ve never shown interest in studying. Why suddenly aim for top student?”
Why? To prove Bell’s article wrong. To show everyone—including Luize—that she didn’t love him anymore. And because she wanted out of that cursed house.
But how could she put all that into words?
“Well? No answer?”
“…To live my own life.”
She finally said it.
“To walk my own path. To stop chasing you and wasting myself. To take control and live for me.”
Her green eyes blazed, locking onto his blue ones. For a long moment he just stared, then his lips twitched into the faintest smile before he looked away.
Wait. Did he just smile? No, must’ve been my imagination.
The silence dragged on. Even the other two interviewers shifted uneasily.
“Uh… President?” the girl asked cautiously.
“…Ah. Then let me ask you one last question, Miss Serena.”
Luize leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
“If you do get into White Bell, what exactly do you plan to achieve here?”
Serena clenched her fists under the desk. She couldn’t just say “study hard.” That wasn’t enough.
“…I plan to prove myself.”
“Prove what?”
“That I’m not the girl who wasted her time chasing you. That I can stand on my own, compete fairly, and surpass expectations. If I join White Bell, I’ll use it to reach the very top—and when I say that, I mean top student of the entire academy.”
The room fell silent again. The freckled boy blinked. The short-haired girl muttered under her breath. Luize only studied her, weighing every word.
At last, he leaned back.
“…Noted.”
The interview was over.
Serena rose, bowed, and left with her head high—though her stomach was knotted with nerves.
What the hell did I just say?
Too late to take it back.
But one thing was certain: she wasn’t going to lose now.
