chapter one hundred and eighty one

pov hope

I opened the door to the room, finding the mysterious boy rolling his eyes as he finished organizing his things in the closet. His discontent was evident, and I couldn't help but sense the tension in the air.

"Hello, folks. Looks like we'll have a lively coexistence," I commented, trying to lighten the atmosphere. The mysterious boy snorted but didn't say anything.

Shortly after, two other boys entered the room. One of them, tall with dark hair, introduced himself as Simon, while the other, more laid-back, said his name was Liam. It seemed like we would probably be sharing the same room throughout the competition.

"This competition promises to be a unique experience, doesn't it?" Simon commented, trying to establish some kind of connection. Liam just shrugged, maintaining his challenging gaze.

The mysterious boy, who hadn't introduced himself yet, intervened. "Only the winners stay. You don't need to worry too much about who your roommates will be in the future."

He headed to