Four years had passed since that day.
Klara took a deep breath, slung her bag over her shoulder, and hurried downstairs. The aroma of eggs filled the air as she quickly sat down and began to eat.
"I'm finally sixteen," she muttered to herself. "My birthday was a week ago, and I had to wait for the uniform to arrive."
Just as she was finishing her meal, her phone chimed. She dug it out of her pocket and saw a message from Shio on IChatte.
> Shio: Yo Klara, should I come and pick you up for school? I can help with your luggage.
> Klara: Don't worry. I'll be fine.
Before she could put her phone away, a woman's voice broke the silence.
"You can finally attend the top school in the world, right here in Gavosia. Harven International School. A school where children from the most prestigious families gather."
The voice was a tall Asian woman with short black hair, sharp black eyes, and a long scar running down the left side of her face. Her gaze burned with excitement as she stared at Klara.
"You'll show them that my experiment wasn't a failure!" Hannah yelled, pulling her daughter into a fierce hug. Then she frowned. "But you should have just changed your gender. What if someone finds out? You know it's legal now."
Klara's uniform was a dark green boys' outfit with long sleeves and trousers, bearing the Harven insignia on the chest. At 5'4", her slim build and feminine features were still noticeable, but the outfit and her composure made her look convincingly boyish.
"Mother, it's not an all-boys school. Only the course I want to take accepts male students," Klara said evenly.
"But changing your gender would save you trouble," Hannah pressed nervously.
Klara met her mother's eyes, her tone steady. "Mother, don't worry I'll be fine."
"Tch. Do whatever you want, but if they find out, it's your fault!" Hannah grumbled before storming off.
"Do your best, big sister!" called a cheerful voice.
Klara turned to see her younger brother, a fair-skinned boy in pajamas, golden eyes bright like hers, and short blonde hair ruffled from sleep. He resembled their mother alot more.
"I will, little bro," Klara said with a soft smile before stepping outside. She inhaled deeply, letting the morning air fill her lungs.
"I guess Sir Kevin already arranged for my things to be in the dorm," she murmured, glancing at a message from him.
> Kevin: Sorry, Klara, I couldn't get you a private dorm. Most dorms are designed for socializing, so you'll share with some boys. Don't worry, each student has a separate room. Just be careful, okay?
> Klara: I understand, sir. Don't worry, I'll be fine.
Opening a taxi app, she ordered a ride. After a few minutes of anxious waiting, a sleek car pulled up.
"Where to, sir?" the driver asked.
"Harven International School, please," Klara replied calmly.
The drive was quiet, and soon the grand gates of Harven came into view. The entrance buzzed with new students and uniformed guards at their posts.
Klara stepped out, adjusting her school, and approached the gate.
"Student ID, please," a guard requested.
She handed him a green card with her name and details. He scanned it with his device, then nodded respectfully.
"Welcome to Harven International School."
Klara entered and took in the sight, massive rectangular buildings lined with embellished windows, where students studied behind pristine glass panes.
'If not for the sign at the gate, I'd mistake this for a luxury hotel mixed with a shopping mall,'' she thought dryly, glancing at the lush courtyard outside. 'Extravagant… yet perfectly maintained.'
'Even though I missed the welcoming ceremony, at least I'm still allowed to start today,' she reminded herself, checking her phone.
> Klara: Class A–1
Her mind wandered briefly as she walked. 'Four years of training and exercise helped tone my body, even if I couldn't bulk up. The fake muscle suit helps, though. With makeup and my design skills, I managed to blend it perfectly with my skin.'
A few girls she passed whispered among themselves, their gazes lingering too long.
'Success. I blend in as a handsome boy,'' she thought, patting her chest discreetly. 'Slightly uncomfortable… but it'll do.'
She stopped in front of the classroom door labeled A–1 and took a steadying breath before walking in.