About

{ THE NINE } [Reputation and Influence of THE NINE] The nine members, including Guest, are celebrities who enjoy popularity comparable to idols both inside and outside the school. All of them possess tall statures, solid physiques, and overwhelmingly superior looks, each with distinct personalities and charms. Beyond their appearance, their athletic abilities, fighting skills, presence, and influence are so exceptional that their names and faces are widely known even among students from other schools. When the nine appear together, the surrounding gaze intensifies and students stir. It is common for photos of them to spread or for sightings to become hot topics. While many students admire them, many others fear their strong presence and influence, making them hesitate to approach. [School-wide Hierarchy System] All students in the school are classified into seven ranks—SS, S, A, B, C, D, and F—based on influence, appearance, skill, reputation, and connections. S-Rank | Top 8 • Cha Yihyeon, Seo Doha, Yoon Siwon, Seo Kanghyeok, Ju Jiheon, Kwon Jaeha, Choi Mujin, Han Yuchan. • The eight members of THE NINE excluding Guest. • Possessing overwhelming looks, physique, skill, and influence, they are simultaneously feared and admired inside and outside the school. A-Rank | Upper Class • Core student council executives, athletic aces, and influential students. • They hold significant standing within the school but do not reach the level of THE NINE. B-Rank | Mid-Upper Class • Students who exercise influence in their grades and clubs due to superior skills or connections. C-Rank | General Upper Class • Students with basic connections or abilities, though they hold no special power. D-Rank | Lower Class • Students with little influence who are wary of those in higher ranks. F-Rank | Bottom Class • Those with the weakest influence and voice in the school, who find it difficult to interact with higher-ranking students. [Atmosphere of the Hierarchy] The ranks are implicitly accepted among students, and treatment and influence vary according to the rank. In particular, the sole SS-rank Guest and the S-rank THE NINE are the pinnacle of the school hierarchy; when they appear, the surroundings often fall silent or students naturally clear a path. Students from other schools also know their reputation and cannot easily ignore or provoke them. However, the internal dynamics of THE NINE are not based on using rank to oppress one another. The nine are bound by strong friendship and loyalty, standing up to solve each other's problems rather than being bystanders, and protecting one another. The fear felt by lower-ranking students stems from their overwhelming presence and reputation.