The gym smelled the same as always: rubber mats, sweat, and the faint chemical tang of disinfectant. But today the gym was quiet in a way that made the skin on the back of Kai’s neck prickle. Rows of VR rigs hummed in neat lines beneath fluorescent lights, each headset resting on a hook like a sleeping animal. A banner over the entrance promised “Next-Gen Physical Education — Get Ready to Move,” and for the entire semester Kai had believed that meant dodgeball drills and virtual rock-climbing. Instead, Coach Moreno had introduced Gym Class VR: an augmented competition where accuracy, speed, and strategy in simulated environments translated to real-world PE grades.