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Chapter 17 - mission impossible

Next Morning at KHSS__

Aria stepped through the gates of KHSS, expecting the usual chaos—the trash-strewn paths, the crumbling walls, the haunted hush of abandoned blocks.

Instead, she stopped dead.

The garden stretched out before her, trimmed and swept. The weeds were gone, the benches clean, the path neat enough to surprise her. It wasn't GHSS-level polished, but it was… different. Fresh.

As she walked deeper, she noticed more changes. One entire block stood locked and silent, the windows shuttered. Students were scattered across the yard, not whispering behind her back this time, but focused on their work—sweeping, scrubbing, dragging broken furniture away.

Aria blinked. For once, KHSS didn't look like a ghost house.

"Morning, Aria!"

She turned to see them—the group she had met in Room Zero before it was sealed. Ruby, Mike, Lolan, and Lily.

Lily bounded up first, hair bouncing with her energy. "Look, look! Doesn't it feel brighter? I told you this place could shine if we just started somewhere!" Her grin was wide, infectious.

Mike followed at his own lazy pace, hands shoved into his pockets. "Yeah, well… still not GHSS." He gave a small shrug. "But at least my shoes don't stick to the floor anymore."

Aria couldn't help a small smile at that.

Then came Lolan. He leaned in a little too close, voice dropping into that playful tone he always seemed to use with her. "I swear, Aria, you walk in and suddenly this place feels like it belongs in a fairytale."

Aria's lips twitched. She rolled her eyes, brushing it off like a joke—just like she always did with Leo. But inside, something tightened.

And then Ruby stepped forward.

"Ariaaa," Ruby sang softly, her eyes shining as if she'd been waiting just for this moment. "You look so sweet today. Like… like a baby I just want to hold."

Before Aria could answer, Ruby looped her arm around hers, clinging as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Aria stiffened. She wasn't used to people other than Sona being this close. Her face didn't show much, but her eyes betrayed it—just a flicker of jealousy, a glance at Sona who was standing a few steps back, watching.

Sona's smile faltered. Just for a second.

"Uh… we have to get to the rooftop," Aria muttered, trying to keep her composure.

"Then let's go together," Ruby said sweetly, not letting go.

Aria sighed quietly. She had no choice but to let Ruby tag along.

And as they walked side by side, Sona followed behind, silent, her expression carefully unreadable.

The rooftop door creaked open.

Everyone waiting—Zorvath, Mirzand, Rithul, Aswin, Sreya, and Danvy—turned their heads.

They expected the usual sight: Sona and Aria walking in together, Sona buzzing with energy, her laughter breaking the silence.

But instead—

It was Aria with Ruby clinging to her arm.

The shift in the air was instant.

Aria's voice was calm, though she kept glancing back toward Sona, who trailed behind. "Come on," she urged softly, but Sona gave her only a small nod, her steps slower than usual.

Sreya leaned toward Mirzand, her brows knitting. "Wait… is she—" she tilted her chin toward Ruby—"joining us too?"

Aria hesitated, lips parting, but before she could speak, Ruby chirped, "Yes, of course! I'm Aria's new bestie!"

The words hit like a slap.

Aria froze, her expression unreadable—but her fingers twitched. Slowly, she pulled her arm free from Ruby's grip.

"You can sit here," Aria said gently, motioning to a spot near the others.

Ruby pouted faintly but obeyed, settling herself down.

Aria turned, moving toward Sona's side. But Sona, without a word, slipped past her and sat between Sreya and Danvy instead. Her posture was casual, but her eyes avoided Aria's completely.

For a moment, Aria just stood there, the silence pressing in.

Then Zorvath shifted, patting the empty space beside him. "Here," he said flatly.

Aria nodded once and sank down between him and Mirzand.

The arrangement looked unnatural. The usual ease was gone. And though no one said it out loud, the tension hung over the rooftop like a storm waiting to break.

The silence stretched, heavy, until Aria cleared her throat. She turned to Zorvath, her voice steady.

"Did you order them to clean?"

Zorvath met her gaze without flinching. "You said so yesterday. Remember?"

Aria leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing. "I said it—but I didn't think you'd actually follow through this quickly."

"Then don't say things you don't mean," Zorvath replied coolly.

A flicker of annoyance crossed her face. She exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if this is all we're doing, it's already starting to bore me."

The words hung in the air like a challenge.

Aswin shifted forward, arms crossed. "Well, boring or not, there's a bigger problem. Students are already talking about skipping classes completely. With Room Zero locked, they can't gamble or play inside anymore—so they're planning to earn money outside instead."

Mirzand nodded. "If that happens, KHSS will be emptier than ever."

Rithul muttered under his breath, "Half of them are already thinking of quitting."

The group fell quiet again.

Finally, Zorvath's eyes cut back to Aria. His tone was sharp, almost accusing.

"You started this problem by locking Room Zero. So you end it."

Every head turned toward her.

The weight of their stares pressed down on Aria, the unspoken demand heavy in the air.

Aria's lips curved into the faintest smile.

"I already have the solution."

Her words drew every eye to her. Zorvath narrowed his gaze.

"Oh? And what's that?"

Instead of answering right away, Aria rose from her seat. She walked to the center of the circle, pulling out a neat bundle of papers from her bag—the very ones she had printed last night.

"These," she announced, holding them up.

Rithul reached out, plucking one from her hand. His brows knit. "A… quiz?" he muttered, almost in disbelief.

A ripple of laughter broke out across the rooftop.

Mirzand smirked. "Seriously? Half these kids don't even know multiplication tables. And you expect them to win quizzes for money?"

Even Aswin shook his head, chuckling under his breath.

Aria's eyes flashed. She didn't back down.

"If they don't know, then they'll learn. The few who do understand will teach the others. We don't have teachers—but we have ourselves. We can share what we know."

She paced slowly, her voice gaining strength.

"And that's not all. In Room Zero, I saw something else. Talent. Painting, dancing, music, games—raw energy just waiting to come out. If we guide that, if we put it forward in competitions, students can earn money from it. Half goes to them, half goes into donations to fix this school."

Her hand cut through the air, sharp and certain.

"Step one: batch the students. Step two: assign peer-teachers. Step three: get at least one set of books so we know the syllabus. Step four: build the stage for their talents. That's how KHSS survives."

The group sat stunned, absorbing her words. Sreya leaned closer to Danvy, whispering, "It… almost sounds possible."

But doubt still lingered.

Zorvath broke the silence, his voice blunt and steady.

"Your idea is good. But it's not practical."

Aria snapped her head toward him. "Then what do you have?"

He didn't hesitate. "If you believe in this so much, then I'll make you the leader of this project. All of it."

Her breath caught. "Leader?"

"Yes." His tone was absolute, his eyes locked on hers. "But if you fail, you shut your mouth, stay in the corner, and do as I say. No arguments. No second chances. If you win—then we'll do it your way."

The rooftop went silent.

Aria's fingers tightened around the stack of papers. Fear pricked her stomach—but beneath it, a spark of confidence flared.

Slowly, she lifted her chin. "Fine," she said, her voice firm. "I'll take it."

For the first time, Zorvath's lips curved into something like a smile. Not mocking—acknowledging.

And in that moment, everyone on the rooftop knew: the challenge had begun.

"Okay ، during this project going on including me everyone will follow your words"Zorvath will announce

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