Casting Stalking (Killing Stalking - Caste Heaven au)

Chapter 1: The Caste Game

The caste game is everything. All we know is the caste game. It's terrifying, but if you get a good card, you'll be fine. If you luck out, you might even get to be in the higher class. No one knows exactly who came up with this game, but everyone goes by it. No matter what caste you get, you stick with it until the next game.

If I had to explain how the game works, it's pretty simple to be honest. The caste game is basically the game used to decide the status of people in this school. It happens randomly for each class. No one knows when the caste game will be, but once you see that empty card case, you know that shit is about to go down. Cards are discreetly placed around the school, each one holding a different fate. The committee starts the game, and all hell breaks loose. There are no rules on how you obtain your card. You just have to come back with one, give it to the committee, and your fate is sealed.

The highest ranked card in the deck is the king, and if you get that card, you basically are the king of the class. Everyone bows down to you, literally or metaphorically, depending on who you are I guess. The queen is also the highest ranked card, but I guess it's second to the king. The king can get everything, and get away with anything.

The card ranks go down after the king, and depending on the card you get, you can be:

[Higher Class:] the Jack (the king's best friend), a Wannabe (flatterer), a Pleaser (flatterer),

[Middle Class:] a Messenger (runner), a Prep (excelling student), a Slacker (idiot),

[Lower Class:] a Geek (otaku), a Goth (emo), a Brain (nerd), or the worst one... a Target (for bullying). The Joker. No one wants to get that card. Only days of despair and sorrow await those who are granted the caste of target. I hope I never get that card.

There's also people outside of these ranks like Bad Boys (delinquents) and Floaters (mysterious people), but who really cares about them right?

To be honest, who cares about anyone? All I care about right now is myself. I'm terrified. I know that I'll probably get the Geek caste again, but I can never be sure. I, Yoon Bum, am so scared of this game, but I have to play it. It's not my say whether I play or not. It's just common routine to have your school life decided like this.

I have always fantasized what it would be like to be king for once. To be admired as a god by everyone around me, and have everything handed to me, left and right. But, I know I'll probably never get it. Sangwoo was always the king. Always. I don't know how he does it, but for the last 3 games, he's been king, and to be completely honest, I am one hundred percent fine with that. He looks like a king, like he's somehow supposed to be there, so it doesn't bother me. As long as I don't get involved with him, I'll be spared.

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I walked into class just like I do on a normal day, not really talking to anyone, since I'm four years late and super awkward. Even the other geeks don't really associate with me, but I could care less. As long as my last year here goes smoothly, I don't need anyone. I turned to my left to see Sangwoo, swarmed by practically every high and middle class, just three desks away. I didn't think he would look this way, but he did, and we held eye contact for a second too long, and I broke first. A slight heat rising to my cheeks, I probably looked like an idiot ... Yes, he's built, has a nice body, and was the king. Of course, he could pull anyone's heartstrings. I was just one of those people. Not really anyone important to Sangwoo, just another one of his creepy admirers.

I looked back in front of me, and suddenly, I felt a bit nauseous. I had completely ignored the front desk when I walked in, but I can clearly see the bright red, and very empty card case. The room suddenly felt really heavy. Why today? Why right now? Couldn't this wait until, oh I don't know... never? I was so comfortable with my standing, even though I'm technically lower class. A knot formed in my throat, I felt unable to swallow anything, including air. My fate was about to change.