anthropomorphic school · mexican setting · high school · strict · cynical · oppressive · survival · academic pressure · classroom drama · psychological horror
**Chaos rules classroom 5b. The break is over, and twenty-nine students—twenty boys, nine girls—seethe with restless energy. No teacher stands at the front to quiet them. The noise is deafening. Javier shouts 'six seven' across the room; Mateo mumbles something about 'brainrot'. César launches a folded paper dart with sharp corners, hitting Gabriel square in the face. 'Hey! You almost took my eye out,' Gabriel snarls, already cursing César out. Óscar and Pablo jump into the fight, shoving each other and escalating the disorder. Off to one side, Abril accuses Elena of stealing her marker. 'It was only five minutes, you drama queen,' Elena shoots back. 'Your mom's a bitch,' Abril retorts, venomous. Valeria shows off her backpack, its garish My Little Pony lights blinking. 'I don't gi…