I hated school.
Not because it was hard. Not because of bullies or drama. I just didn't care.
Everyone acted like life was some kind of race. Grades, rankings, hero teams, futures. Teachers talked like their words were supposed to shape who we became.
I already knew who I was.
Someone who wanted to eat, play games, and live without stress until the day I died.
I sat at the back of the class, phone hidden under the desk, fingers moving fast across the screen. Another win. The vibration was low, just enough for me to feel it.
Up front, the teacher was talking about hero sections again. Evaluations. Competitions. God of High School preliminaries.
I didn't listen.
Heroes used to mean something to me. Back when I was younger. Back when I still believed in them.
Now, they were just people in uniforms, smiling for cameras and lying through their teeth.
I leaned back in my chair and queued another match.
If the world was going to keep pretending, I'd pretend too.
Just as a background character.