Class of Bravery

Ryujin sits restless in his bunk, watching the ceiling. It's six o'clock, and he woke up at three. For him, that was a late start to his morning. He doesn't really sleep that much. So he's getting restless as he waits for everyone else to wake up. He hears a knock on the door, so he goes to open it. But the weird thing is... it's locked. He attempts to force it open, but he's too weak. 

"Did someone knock?" He quietly calls out, hoping someone can open it from the outside. The only response that Ryujin receives is a folded envelop that is passed from under the door. He sighs, knowing what this is. "Unlike the others, I'm not stupid. I know this is a test of mental strength, which is a major disadvantage of the people in this class. I can largely assume that one of you colleagues is currently doing something similar at... the other class."

"..." There is silence behind the door, and then it opens. A tall older boy with blonde hair and red eyes walks into the dorm. "Correct. You have solved a riddle behind the question as well, one that I was not even informed about."

A groan is heard from under the top bunk on one of the beds. "Shut up! Do ya'll dummies know what sleeping is?" It's Tsubaki. Her bluish-black hair is tied back in a very messy bun, and her green eyes are wide open. "Hey... and who's that?" She asks sleepily, pointing to the older blonde. The boy smiles. "Ah, perhaps I didn't introduce myself properly." He holds out his hand. "My name is Mori Hanizaki. And I-" Ryujin interrupts him.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You're our instructor, and you have a colleague who has performed a similar test on the other class, preferably a strength one, because class B's main weakness is their physical strength. That is why you challenged us with a test of mental providence, because that is supposedly our weakness. At least... most of us." He takes a glance at Tsubaki. She caffeine induced girl scowls. "Hey! I have a brain! Shut up. jerk!" She curses under her breath, before jumping down from her bunk and attempting to lunge at Ryujin. Megumi hastily grabs Tsubaki, stopping her.

"Calm down, coffee girl..." She mumbles, clearly half-asleep. "Your boyfriend isn't heading anywhere..." Tsubaki struggles against Megumi. "Let me at him! And I have a name, Megumi! It's Tsubaki! And he's not my boyfriend, he looks weird and he's skinny and smells ugly!" Megumi has already fallen asleep, her head falling on Gen. The dark skinned boy has been watching the the entire time silently, and his face flushes noticeably when the gray haired girl has fallen on his lap.

"Uh... wow, Tsubaki..." He murmurs timidly." You annoy her so much that she's gone gray." Tsubaki snorts. "Nope, she's always looked weird. I didn't do that much damage to her mental state." Gen groans, hiding his face in his hands. "I didn't mean it looked ugly, I had just happened to notice..."

Mori looks at them, glancing at Gen. "Mr Satoshi, I'm sorry to inform you that no head coverings are allowed on campus." He gestures to Gen's gray hat. Gen blushes. "Uh... can I keep it on? It's kinda embarrassing to-"

Tsubaki snatches it. "Don't be a wuss- oh... dang... can I touch your hair?" Gen's hair is nearly done in complicated elaborate braids that fall down his back, tied in a ponytail just at his broad shoulders. His face flushes. "Oh, I... uhm..." Tsubaki touches one, careful not to unravel the seemingly delicate work. "Do you... do these yourself?" 

Gen smiles. "Yeah... it's hard. Being... a black guy in Japan. When I moved here, I didn't want to just be thought of as 'the black kid'. When I was little, I realized how... different I was. I remember when my friend's mom would say "which one is Gen?" He would just respond with "The tall black one." I hated it. I kept transferring schools, since my parents traveled for work. And when I reached middle school... I had this idea. My dad had just returned from a business trip in Kenya, and showed me art of this beautiful Kenyan woman with amazing hair, it was so... defining. I had always thought of my hair as a frizzy mop of curls, and I had even tried to shave it. But then... I grew it out and started braiding it. By eighth grade, I wasn't just 'the black kid' anymore. I was 'The kid with the amazing hair'. I liked being defined by something other than dark skin." 

Megumi has woken up, listening to his story. "Wow..." She sighs. "That's some manwha backstory material right there."