CHAPTER 2

MR X

A strange man walked into the class he was wearing a suit and some kind of mask, probably the same one that anonymous guy on the internet wears.He was with two other men by his side.He got to the front of the class and said "Good morning,I am MR X".

He then went on to say that he came for something special that we were all going to be apart of. My question was why security would allow this shady man in the school but , whatever

Then this man said something that caught everyone's attention.

He said "out of the thirty of you only five of you would be allowed to graduate".

This caught the attention of the class but wasn't really taken seriously.

Then our homeroom teacher came in and said.

"Please listen to MR X ,and don't get on his bad side".

The whole class was in silence again.

Could this be real ? Was this possible ? MR X broke the silence and said.

"I am with the government and this year we are only taking 17% of students from each graduating class"

There was still a silence.My classmates had stopped murmuring probably maybe because they'd realize that they had better listened to what this man has to say.

Somebody asked why this was so.

It was the class president and top student Naomi Okada She asked

"Supposing this was real then why is the government doing this ?"

There was tension in the whole room as everyone was waiting for MR X to reply.

"I do not know I am simply following orders".

I knew in fact he was lying, this was something he probably knew about.The Government wouldn't just blindly send orders without the person being sent knowing every detail about the mission.He was definitely lying.

MR X raised up his right hand showing five of his fingers. I guess this was a reminder of the remark mentioned earlier.

"All of you would be in school for 12 days" He said

"Your parents have been sent notices, they know what's happening" He said

I think at that point everybody already believed but, a small part of them still wanted to believe it was a prank.

"You all have 100 points. Each point represents life line, you have to safeguard each lifeline" He said

"As you can see you're already at a disadvantage" He said

"If you want to become that lawyer that accountant ,and that doctor, this is your only chance"

"or you could take the second option" he smirked

"What's the second option ?"-

Hiro asked

This was actually the first time he spoke since Mr X came in, I hadn't really noticed him at all.

"The second option is that instead of going to college,we give you your college tuition , and whatever you do with it is up to you" He smirked

"But don't think you'd be able to still go to school after that trade ? '' He started giggling and I was almost certain he was about to burst into an evil laugh but , he controlled himself.

"Ten million yen"

The class was in silence. It was clear that everybody was contemplating the amount of the money but, it came with a deadly condition.

"What about the people who lose" Hiro asked

"They wouldn't be allowed into any University, the government has arranged for NO school to accept you". He said

"in short nothing"

"That's right the winners will have everything and the losers will have nothing"

"You all will be split into three groups of ten and would be given necessary classrooms to base your self in".

"The practice will go on for 12 days straight, and there will be no connection between you and the outside world".

"Yes you can't see your parents".

He left the classroom and he was right ,the security didn't allow us leave the building. MR X told us our first challenge which he called "the beginning" would start tomorrow.

This was really an "all man for himself game" ,but I really hope that me an Hiro end up on the same team and even end up winning it and securing those fives spots.

THE FIRST GAME. -DAY 1

It was a cold Tuesday morning, we were still in school, and at this point everybody put it in their mind that this was real. They were all having conversations about how they would win this game together, even when they knew it was impossible. I wasn't really bothered by them winning or losing, all I wanted was for me and Hiro to secure two out of those five positions.

The selection began at exactly 7:30 am and we actually had the option to choose our teammates. I was on Hiro's team alongside eight other students,and so the first game begun.

We were all assembled to the hall and in our various groups when, Mr x stood on top of the stage and said

"Out of 10 of you in each Group, one from each will be left to rot alone"

"And that is the first game" he said

"Don't forget the three people that will leave the group will lose 10 points, which will be distributed among the group"

Everywhere was quiet,not surprising as there is no time for meaningless crap when everybody is fighting for their lives.

MR X went on to explain the rules , he said that there would be a vote and that any person in a particular group with the most votes would be cut off the group. Naturally people would go for the weakest link in the group, the guy who is better off gone anyway. I was in a really vulnerable position in this case because I had no friends,and my quiet persona makes people perceive me as weak . People might also try to play the team game initially and not 'vote' their weak friends out ,either way I was fucked.

We were all handed a piece of paper and a had an equal right to vote but, majority carries the vote in the end ,and there are two votes I was at least sure of - Me and Hiro's.The rest,not so sure .

The game had already started ,and people had already started to vote out people in their piece of paper. It didn't take much for people to write the names of the teammates they wanted gone. I said I was the "likely" member of the voting in my team but, I forgot one small detail - or person. It was Daisuke Sato, a boy in my class,He is somewhat of an outcast in the class I would like to call him "cancelled", time for a flashback

Flashback

It was three months ago,and I'm going to be brief. This boy decided to plant a camera in the bathroom of a certain girl in the class her name was Yukiko suzuki, the pretty girl, popular with the boys ,and this guy paid an unexpected visit and pretended to want to use her "bathroom" for some reason, then he planted the cam in her bathroom. This dude would actually visit and then take the video, Watch it then repeat the process until he got caught, bro decided to finish off "right there"!!

Yukiko didn't realize anyone was there,she entered and Bam that's the story, bros life is ruined.

Back to current events.

Yes,so that was the story. I guess he just ended up in my group because nobody wanted him on their team.

So the first game had started and finished.I obviously voted out Daisuke because-well he was the most reasonable option ,and I think he is more likely the one to go out.I'm sure he was everybody's choice.

The challenge had finished and one of MR X's boys was going to start counting the votes.A few people were tensed up ,and I would normally be part of them but, this time I was supremely confident.

So, the counting of votes had commenced, and the masked man started calling out the three losers and "leftovers".

He said

"Kazuki Tanaka 7 votes"

"Akari Yamamoto 6 votes"

The last group was mine , and for some reason Daisuke was calm and collected he wasn't in a panic at all. Doesn't he realize what's about to happen to him ?

"Daichi yagami 8 votes"

I was shocked, confused and couldn't truly believe it -Me ?

Instead of Daisuke the pervert ? What was going on here ?

"This is how we will continue our challenge now and as for the three of you, your points have been reduced to 90" He said

I couldn't grasp at what just happened, so I decided to find out myself I confronted Daisuke in the locker room and ambushed him

I asked him

"What happened ,and who was behind all this"

He didn't want to flip then I told him that Hiro voted for me ,and Wasn't really a part of this since, I got 8 votes.

He smirked and said

"Hiro is the mastermind behind all this"

That sent shock waves through my heart but, I didn't believe him(but I kinda did)

"Then why do I have 8 votes instead of 9 then" I said

"Are you dumb?,he did that to cover himself up"

I couldn't believe the words of a pervert I had to find out from a reliable source,MR X

So I went to his office (well my principals office ) to meet him.There we're no changes whatsoever to the room,it just felt kinda weird that some unknown guy in a mask is in my principals office, and they cancelled school just to carry out this project.

"Can I have access to the surveillance cameras"

"Hmmm, I cannot give you that " MR x replied

"What do you need it for" MR x said

"None of your business?"

He ignored that statement.

I hissed.

"Fine,I want to know who plotted to rat me out"

"Hmmm" He chuckled.

"I can't give you still"

Humans are selfish creatures who have the least resistance when play to their own interests, I knew all I needed to do was to give something in exchange for what I wanted.

I hissed

"fine, then I'll sell you 10 of my points"

"Hmmm, interesting boy"

" well I do like your proposition"

"watching you play at a disadvantage will be fun to watch"

"Access granted" He said

I spent about 2 hours checking the footage of my team , at one point I was convinced nothing would happen until I left the room(in the footage),and that was when Hiro called the rest of the team and said,

"Hey guys so I have a plan" He said

"So all of us are going to vote Daichi out"

Everybody was in shock in the room.

"Isn't he your friend" Daisuke said.

Hiro paused

"Listen all of us are fighting for our lives" Hiro said

"Daichi has no skills, we don't want to be at a disadvantage from the start" He replied.

"you're right,He doesn't seem to be particularly good at anything"

I paused the video. I had enough, I didn't want to watch any of that bullshit. It was on ,and it would be a lot easier now that I knew who my enemies were. I always knew humans were out for themselves, but Hiro ? that straight up broke my heart. But why am I surprised.