Kairo stood frozen in the school bathroom, heart pounding as the glowing message floated in front of his eyes.
[System calibration... 100%]
He blinked. The air around him felt heavier, almost electric. The message didn't disappear.
[Welcome, host, to the Hybrid System]
His throat went dry. He looked over his shoulder. Nothing. Just the dim flicker of the light above.
'Is this really happening?' he thought.
Another screen blinked into view, clearer than before:
[Status]
He gulped. Slowly, new lines appeared beneath it, each one settling in neatly.
[Name: Kairo Darnel]
A digital portrait of him hovered above the text, faintly glowing. It looked just like his reflection: a lean teenager with deep brown skin, short cropped hair, sharp cheekbones, and tired dark eyes. His frame was slim but toned, built like someone who ran a lot but didn't lift weights. His school uniform hung slightly loose on his shoulders, but his posture—alert and tense—made him seem taller than he was.
[Level: 1]
[EXP: 0/100]
[Strength: 9]
[Speed: 8]
[Stamina: 10]
[Endurance: 9]
[Mutation Type: Unknown Hybrid]
Kairo stared at the numbers. They meant nothing to him.
'Okay… I guess I'm average? Or not? Is ten good? Is one bad?'
He reached a hand toward the glowing panel, but it faded immediately.
No buttons. No instructions.
He exhaled and rubbed his temples. 'Alright… calm down. One step at a time.'
Outside, the bell rang.
---
Kairo walked back to class, trying to keep his breathing steady. His thoughts were a mess. Was he a mutant now? For real? And what even was a "Hybrid System"?
The classroom buzzed with soft chatter as students flipped through their textbooks. Mr. Denham stood at the front, writing notes on the board about post-war society and the rise of private military corps.
Rell leaned over as Kairo slid into his seat.
"Took you long enough," he whispered. "What were you doing in there, summoning a genie?"
Kairo forced a chuckle. "Something like that."
He tried to focus, but the words on the chalkboard blurred. He tapped his pencil against his desk. Could he bring the system back? He concentrated, thinking hard: 'Open Status.'
The screen appeared instantly.
[Status]
[Name: Kairo Darnel]
[Level: 1]
[EXP: 0/100]
[Strength: 9]
[Speed: 8]
[Stamina: 10]
[Endurance: 9]
[Mutation Type: Unknown Hybrid]
It hovered again, invisible to everyone else. Just him. No one reacted. Rell was busy doodling on his desk.
He stared at it for a moment longer. The word "Hybrid" kept tugging at him.
'What does that mean? Half of one mutant and half of another? Or something else entirely?'
Before he could think further, a pen bounced off his shoulder.
"Bro," Rell whispered. "You've been zoning out like you saw a ghost. You good?"
Kairo blinked. "Yeah. Just tired."
Rell leaned back with a grin. "Man, you better wake up. We've got club hour soon. Coach's gonna kill us if we're late again."
That reminded him—the school's club system.
Every student in year three and above had to join at least one club. It was a big deal. Clubs weren't just for fun; they helped with practical skills. Some kids joined the robotics club to prep for engineering careers. Others were in the arts and drama clubs, hoping to get spotted for performance scholarships. There were even mutant training clubs for licensed students, though those were rare and expensive.
Kairo wasn't in anything flashy. Just the football club. Nothing serious. But it was good exercise, and Coach took it seriously.
Rell was there too. Their whole crew joined it last year.
"I heard we're scrimmaging the seniors today," Rell said, stretching his arms. "They're gonna crush us."
Kairo gave a half-smile. "Only if you keep skipping practice."
Mr. Denham clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone. Class is dismissed for club hour. Please don't loiter. Get moving."
Chairs scraped back, and the room filled with chatter and rustling bags. Rell tossed his pencil into his backpack.
"You coming?"
Kairo stood slowly, eyes drifting one last time toward the now-faded screen.
'Whatever this is… it's real,' he thought. 'And I need to figure it out.'
He slung his bag over one shoulder and followed Rell out.