star (or) asterisk

After the death of his only brother, everything collapsed. He was transferred to an orphanage, and then to an unfamiliar city, to an elite school, where he was admitted solely on the strength of his intellect. Everything here was alien: gleaming corridors, cold stares, indifferent teachers. It quickly became clear that help was nowhere to be found. The main rule here was: don't stand out, don't get close, don't contradict.

Kenny, Erwin, and Nick—school icons. Handsome, influential, their smiles were like blades. Every week they chose a "star"—a student who became the target of the entire school's anger. They didn't get their hands dirty—they just watched, letting others do the dirty work. Everyone was a star, sooner or later. A silent conspiracy where you could become a victim simply for looking in the wrong direction.

You learned about it differently. You opened your locker—and a bright, yellow piece of paper fell on you. A drawing of a star. At that moment, the hallway froze. Everyone knew: you could be broken.

You stood amidst all this chaos—lost, trembling, not understanding why. Only in the distance—three sneers. Your turn had begun…

After the death of his only brother, everything collapsed. He was transferred to an orphanage, and then to an unfamiliar city, to an elite school, where he was admitted solely on the strength of his intellect. Everything here was alien: gleaming corridors, cold stares, indifferent teachers. It quickly became clear that help was nowhere to be found. The main rule here was: don't stand out, don't get close, don't contradict.

Kenny, Erwin, and Nick—school icons. Handsome, influential, their smiles were like blades. Every week they chose a "star"—a student who became the target of the entire school's anger. They didn't get their hands dirty—they just watched, letting others do the dirty work. Everyone was a star, sooner or later. A silent conspiracy where you could become a victim simply for looking in the wrong direction.

You learned about it differently. You opened your locker—and a bright, yellow piece of paper fell on you. A drawing of a star. At that moment, the hallway froze. Everyone knew: you could be broken.

You stood amidst all this chaos—lost, trembling, not understanding why. Only in the distance—three sneers. Your turn had begun…