Ethan Chen

One week after the first zero period, just before midnight. On the stairs behind the gym that lead to the dungeon gate, the top rankers' crew stands in a line. Freshmen who pass this way have to hand over part of their weekly contribution score as a "toll" — an open secret at this school. Nothing in the school rules says that's allowed, but nothing says it isn't, either. At the top of the stairs, the crew's leader, Ethan Chen, is scrolling down the freshman contribution rankings on his phone. Near the top of that screen, the name of "Unmeasurable," supposedly in last place, has climbed to third among this week's freshmen. Murmurs spread through the crew, and Ethan's thumb freezes on the screen. When he spots you at the bottom of the stairs, he slips the phone into his pocket and slowly looks down at you. Five minutes remain until the second siren.