Black Envelope

When dinner was over, Akari and I helped mom clear the table, and after, Akari washed the dishes while I went to take a bath. When I was done, I told them goodnight then headed to my room.

Closing the door behind me, I lethargically walked towards my bed and pleasantly fell onto it. After laying like that for a few seconds, I turned on my back and faced the ceiling above me. After a while I then suddenly remembered the envelope that I found at the door earlier.

I then quickly sprung up from the bed, dashed towards the dirty clothes basket at the corner of my room behind the door and from it, snatched the pants I was wearing before . Raising it into the air, I stuffed my hand into the side pocket where I stuffed it. Next, I pulled out the envelope and threw the pants back into the basket as I got up and headed back towards my bed. I kept looking at the envelope in my hand as I sat on the edge of the bed and turned on the lamp light on the desk beside it.

"I wonder who left it." I whispered to myself while continuing to scan it. Curious as to what was inside, I then opened the letter. Inside there was nothing more than a black card with gold words imprinted on it and a black ticket which had the number 82 on it also in gold. Exactly like how my name was on the envelope.

"An invitation?" I then puzzledly said. Wanting to read what it was about I leaned my hands closer to the lamp so that the gold letters can reflect the light. As soon as I could clearly see the words I then began to read.

[Welcome player #82. Along with 250 more teenage gamers like yourself, you are invited to take part in Tahoma's Reality very first survival game and have a chance to win $50,000,000.

Tahoma's Reality is a reality TV show that has been operating for 5 years. This year we are proud to announce that the game will take place at an island for the very first time.

At the island, along with clothes and daily necessities everything will be provide for you.

Within 48 hours, should you accept this invite, carry the ticket contained in the envelope with you to the Port of Osaka and show it to the staff that will be waiting there with a red flag. You will then be transported to the island for the games.

Should 48 hours pass, and you have not yet turned in your ticket, your spot will be handed to another. I hope you make a wise choice.]

After reading the last sentence I slightly flipped it to the back to see if there was anything else written. Seeing as there wasn't I scoffed, "Who would believe such a thing?"

I then looked at the digital clock on the dresser next to the lamp. Startled at how late it was I swiftly stuffed the card back into the envelope and placed it in front of the lamp. I then turned off the light and wiggled myself under the bedsheets and rested my head on the soft pillow. All I could interpret after that was the soothing sounds coming from the city outside and the whooshes of the breeze then before I knew it, I was already asleep.

BEEP!BEEP!BEEP!BEEP!

Hearing the sound of my alarm loudly ringing, I turned in my bed and moaned. Beginning to get annoyed by the sound, I gripped my hand on the pillow under my head and pulled the ends over my ears in an attempt to ignore the noise. At the same time I then heard a loud knocking on my door which was then followed by the screams of Akari, "Hey, Idiot wake up," and just like this, she kept on banging on my door shouting, "Asuka."

Having enough of it, I let go of the pillows and shooted my hand towards the alarm clock slamming my palm on the snooze button.

"I'm up okay." I then exasperatingly bellowed. As soon as I did this the banging stopped and Akari's voice was no longer heard.

Not wanting to get up I moaned as I sat at the edge of the bed; raising my hand in front of my eyes to block the bright and warm sunlight seeping through the curtains. Then, I slipped my feet into my slippers that were under the bed and began to head to the bathroom for a nice cold shower to wake me up.

When I got back to my room after the shower, I hauled on my underwear and uniform, then grabbed my bag and headed downstairs for breakfast.

"Mom already left for work?" I asked Akari who was in the kitchen making cereal.

Turning around and bringing two bowls with cereal in her hand she answered, "Yeah."

I took my bowl from out of her hand and began to eat right away as she sat down around the table.

"By the way, are you gonna be home late today?" She then asked raising the spoon to her mouth.

Taking a huge spoon of cereal in mouth I then muffled, "Probably, I have training today. Why?"

"No reason. Just askin'"

When we were finished eating, We both left the house together and began walking to school.

[41 hours remaining]

[Saga Technical High School---Asuka's class---2nd period]

"Asuka."

I turned my attention to the teacher who called out my name. "Would you mind answering the question?" He then asked.

I stood up from my chair and watched him, not knowing what the question was. In that brief moment the class was silent and all eyes were on me. It was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

The teacher then sighed as he said, "This is exactly why you should listen. The question was why do animals fight and strive for survival?"

Hearing the question, I just stood there and though to myself. The teacher looked at me and after a while he disappointingly said, "If you can't answer sit down."

As he was about to turn his back to continue the lesson I then spoke, "Because their too stupid to make peace."

Hearing my answer the class began to laugh. Mr. Takahashi however, was displeased. "What makes you say such a thing Asuka?"

I then started to explain, "With animals, as with men, the cause of quarrel varies from territory to mate, to food. We're all living things, who need air, water, food and shelter to survive, but there is a huge difference between need and want. Just as animals, men have what they need. They have, air, water, food as well as shelter. However, they keep wanting more. That is what leads to war. Because they are stupid, they fail to realize that the survival that they are striving for, lessens everytime they fight for something they want but don't need. An organism's need for survival are fewer than wants, that is what they are too stupid to realize."

After I was done talking, the entire class was left in awe. Mr. Takahashi then applauded me by saying, "What a very elaborate answer Asuka. Well done."

I then sat back down in my seat as he further explained what I had said to the class. A few minutes later the recess bell then rang and Mr. Takahashi left the class.

As soon as he did, Jiro came rushing towards my desk and sat in the seat in front of me. "Asuka, tell me how you do it."

"How I do what?"

"How can you always answer correctly in class when you don't even pay attention?" Jiro questioned.

"It's called logically thinking Jiro. You should try it sometime." I then smiled as I leaned closer to him. When his head was in arms reach and then swung my hand and clapped the back of his head.

He wailed in pain as the sound echoed through the classroom, making a few student look at our direction.

"What was that for?" He then complained.

"Think long and hard about it Jiro. Don't talk to me unless you figure it out." I warned him as I got out of my seat and walked towards the classroom door. Still stunned by what I meant, Jiro followed behind me and began to ask, "Seriously Asuka, Why did you hit me? Wait, is this about yesterday. I swear I didn't tell Akari anything."

I then paused in the middle of the hallway, "I never said anything about it being about Akari."

Realizing that he had just sold himself, Jiro slapped his hand over his mouth. I turned and walked away as he just stood there. After realizing I was no longer in front of him he ran me down while apologizing in all sorts of ways.

On the other hand, while I was here in having goofing around at school, something sinister was happening elsewhere.