BR:1
Studying abroad in Japan was difficult for me. The culture was so different from America’s. I never quite caught onto everything. Luckily, I made some friends. Well, only two. A guy by the name of Hiroki, and a girl. Her name was Aoi. They were some of the very few who actually spoke english very well. They were my guides of the first day of High School. They were the only ones who treated me with respect. They were my closests friends. I always look back and remember them. All the things we went through.
I walked down the hall of my new school. The day was coming to a close, and I was about to walk home. I peered out the window and squinted slightly. The sky was bleached red from the sunset. Red blood-like streaks broke the sky, and cut through the clouds. The sun pierced through the window and into my eyes like a dagger. All I could hear was the light squeak of my shoes on the shiny floor. Then, to my side, a door opened. A student from my class stepped out. His name was Rento. He was at least a few inches taller than me. Our eyes met, and he grinned. “Anata ga koko ni kuru tame ni orokadesu.” He said, smirking at me.
I had heard that a lot the time I had been there. Aoi told me it meant “you are stupid for coming here.” She told me not to sweat it though, and he was like that with everybody. I looked at the ground and mumbled the only thing I could; “Baka…” His face changed to anger. “Anata wa ittai nani o iimashita no?!” He half shouted at me. That phrase slipped my mind, but not before he grabbed me by the neck.
I gasped loudly, then was cut off by his hand. I gasped for air and smacked his wrist. “Gomen'nasai!” I Pleaded. He laughed and let me go. I fell to the ground and heaved in air. Before I could say anything, he was walking away. I sat there and rubbed my neck in pain.
Just as I got up, Aoi and Hiroki, luckily, came around the corner. She smiled and waved, “Good afternoon, Ian-Kun!” She half-shouted. I smiled and waved back to her. She walked over to me and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, feeling her strangely comforting school uniform. She looked up from my chest and smiled to me. I smiled back. Hiroki walked over to me and gave me a high five. I stepped back and looked at them. Aoi’s black hair hung playfully in front of her face and her smiled warmed my heart to the core. She was nearly a foot shorter than me. Hiroki was about my height rocked styled back jet black hair.
“How’s it been going, Ian-kun?” Hiroki asked. I thought back to just a few minutes ago, but decided to not tell them. I nodded slowly, “Pretty fine.” I smiled my best. Aoi cocked her head at me and smiled her usual pretty smile. “Are you sure, Ian-kun?” she said, pointing a finger at me. I smirked and patted her head softly. “i’m fine, don’t worry.” I said, and started to walk away. Suddenly, I felt Aoi grab my hand from behind. I turned to her. Her face was in slight distress, but then cut off by her smile. “Y’know we’re your friends, right?” She said, “I know we only met a month ago, but we still got your back.”
I looked to her, then to Hiroki. “Hai, She’s right Ian.” He said, smiling to me, and I smiled back. I gripped Aoi’s hand and felt comfort in them. In Her. “Thanks, guys.” I stepped closer, “You two are great.”
Hiroki stepped forward and placed his hand on both of our’s. “Saigo Goma no yūjin.” Aoi said with a smile. I tilted my head in confusion, “Uhhh,...” She giggled lightly, then spoke; “It means Friends til the End.”
I felt my heart flutter with warmth as she said the translation. I was happy I made friends in this Foreign land. No pun intended. These two, were the only thing I had close to friends. Back then, I knew they had my back. Through thick and thin. Back in the states, everybody was a douchebag and could care less about a person of their same age, let alone a friend. But here, these people cared so much about each other. There was a sense of caring, love, and belonging. You could saw it was a bitter sweet paradise for me. But, as they say: The sun always sets in Paradise.
Aoi hopped along and smiled to me, “c’mon Ian-kun, Hiroki, we’re gonna miss the bus!” I was filled with joy. I turned to Hiroki, and nodded. “Race ya!” He said, then started sprinted off in front of me. Before I could think, my legs took off behind him. So this is what happiness feels like, I thought to myself.
We made it to the buses with time to spare. We trotted onto the bus and took our seats. The bus was rowdy. People shouting happily, passing note, giggling, and laughing loudly. Aoi sat next to me, and Hiroki sat in the seat across the aisle next to me. Only a minutes later, the bus started, and we were off. The rowdiness of the bus slowed, but was still there. Aoi stared out the window and smiled. I leaned over to Hiroki and smiled. “Hey, Hiroki, what are the chances me and Aoi could,...Y’know, get together?” I blushed lightly, and he just smirked to me. “There’s a bigger chance of me getting impaled on a stick than that.” He said, holding back laughter. I smiled back. I knew he was joking of course. “Now,” He yawned, “I’m gonna try and get some sleep.” I nodded to him and leaned back. I looked ahead and watched as the bus sunk into a dark tunnel.
It was just then, I noticed the rowdiness was gone. No one was awake. I felt my eyes go heavy. Well, might as well rest, I thought to myself. I closed my eyes, and drifted off.
I woke up, cold as all hell. I looked around. Outside the windows were dark. It was night; Dead of night. I quickly turned my head to Aoi. She was still asleep. Then, I saw something around her neck. A silver band hung around her neck. It looked like an oversized ring. Red lights flashed on it in a sporadic pattern. Just then, I heard shuffling next to me. I turned to see Hiroki, Awake. He too looked around in confusion. The ring was on his neck too. Then, it hit me. I touched my neck. I too had it.
“Ittai nani?” He said, spinning his head around. “What the fuck is going on?” I asked him franticly. He shook his head and grimaced. He went to scratch his neck and touched the Ring. His face turned to confusion, Then, Shock. “Oh god….” He turned to me, quickly, “Ian! It’s-...” He then was suddenly cut off by the opening of the bus door. We both went silent. Two men with big assault rifles stepped on first. The, an older looking man. He looked at us, the only two awake. He smiled the devil’s smile and lifted his arm. In his hand, was an air horn. He quickly blasted the horn. The ear piercing sound rattled the bus. Aoi jumped beside be as the noise shrieked through the iron can. Everybody was awake. Wide awake. They all stared forward at the man. He gave a cheeky smile, then spoke: “Gudo morunin, ereryone.” he said, in very poor english. The bus was silent. He looked to the two armed men, and they pointed their guns at us. “I said, Gudo morunin!” he half shout. A few kids gasped and greeted him in typical Japanese: “Ohayōgozaimasu sensei”
Then, the man cleared his throat and began to speak: “Hello children. I’d like to invite you to play a little game with each other.” He then pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it. The paper had an image on it. a deep, blood red graphic of “BR” with a rithe like circle around it. Beside the graphic, some text read: “Battle Royale: Survival Program”
“welcome,” the man said with his devil grin, “To Battle Royale.”
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