Yunji woke up early, quietly getting out of bed. He headed to the bathroom to start his morning routine.
Twenty minutes later, Shinji and Denji were still fast asleep. Yunji emerged from the bathroom, looking refreshed.
Shinji slowly opened his eyes, rubbing the sleep off. 'What time is it?'
Denji groggily sat up. 'I don't know. Why are you up so early, Yunji?'
Yunji smirked. 'Someone's got to look good, and it takes time.'
Shinji rolled his eyes. 'Whatever, dude.'
As Yunji continued to get ready, Shinji and Denji struggled to wake up. They eventually got out of bed, still half asleep.
Shinji banged on the bathroom door. 'Come out, come out! We want to use the toilet, bro! Come out! You've been there for like an hour!'
Yunji chuckled. 'Do you know how long it takes to maintain this beautiful face of mine?'
Denji and Shinji exchanged frustrated glances. 'Just hurry up, Yunji!' Denji said.
Yunji finally emerged from the bathroom, and the three roommates quickly finished getting ready.
Just as they were done, the announcement came over the loudspeaker.
'Attention, Rookie Resident students! Please report to Room 304 for further instructions.'
The three friends exchanged curious glances and headed to the designated room.
Upon arrival, they found a room that was completely white - walls, floor, and ceiling. Everything was pristine and spotless. In the center of the room stood a large, white table with four staff members seated behind it, their faces expressionless.
The staff member began to explain, 'Now that you're all here, we'll begin the next step. You'll each receive a small band that will be placed on your wrist. This band will display your category and position, which will determine your team placement.'
Each student was approached by a staff member, who wrapped a small band around their wrist.
The staff member continued, 'The band will also track your progress and skills throughout the competition. Now, please look at your bands to see your category and position.'
As the students looked at their bands, they began to murmur among themselves. 'There are 500 people here... we're going to be divided into... um... let's see...'
One of the staff members smiled. 'Don't worry, you won't be cut... not yet, anyway. We have a surprise for you.'
Yunji grinned, feeling confident. 'Guys, don't worry. With me, your team is going to be part of the top five. I'm telling you, we're going to crush it!'
The staff member raised their voice, silencing the room. 'Now that you know your positions, it's time to begin the real challenge. Get ready to compete against each other and prove your skills!'
Just then, the staff member continued, 'Now, I know some of you might be worried about the reduction in groups, but don't worry, we're not cutting anyone yet. Instead, we're going to divide you into two leagues: the Aurora League and the Nova League.'
The staff member said, 'Your team placement is going to be decided by us. If you hear your name, go and stand in one of the designated circles.'
As the staff member called out the names, the three friends listened intently. Two names caught their attention: Genchi and Rito. Genchi was a tall, dark-haired guy with red threadlocks rolling down his back. He wore the standard uniform, but his unique hairstyle made him stand out.
The other intriguing person was Rito, a black-haired guy with light blue eyes and an unusual pair of black boots.
As the staff member continued calling out names, the three friends noticed that Genchi and Rito both had "Level 1" displayed on their bands.
Finally, it was their turn. The staff member called out, "Numbers 3 to 6, please step forward!"
Excited, the three friends joined the other students in their designated circle. They were introduced to their teammates:
Their goalkeeper was Runi.
Their midfielders were Shinji, Sato, and Akira.
Their defenders were Denji, Regine, Yoku, Sonhu, and Kaito.
Their attackers were Yunji and Kenzo.
As their team was revealed, the three roommates exchanged skeptical glances. They looked at their teammates, sizing them up. To be honest, they didn't look very impressive. They didn't appear to be exceptionally agile or athletic, but they still seemed reasonably fit - a little above average, but not by much.
Yunji raised an eyebrow, whispering to Shinji and Denji, "Are these guys for real? They don't exactly look like superstars."
Shinji shrugged, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see how they perform."
Denji nodded in agreement, "Yeah, don't judge a book by its cover, right?"
After the staff members finished calling out the remaining names, the room erupted into a mixture of chatter and relieved sighs. The tension had dissipated, replaced by anticipation for the challenges ahead.
The staff member raised their voice once more, "Alright, everyone! You're dismissed. Remember, classes will start tomorrow, and your training will begin immediately after. Make sure you're well-rested, because tomorrow is going to be intense."
With that, the students began to file out of the room, buzzing with excitement and nerves. Yunji, Shinji, and Denji exchanged glances, already mentally preparing themselves for the grueling training ahead.
"Let's get back to our dome and try to relax," Yunji suggested, leading the way out of the room. "We'll need all the rest we can get for tomorrow."
Dejin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's going to be crazy."
Shinji chuckled. "Bring it on."