J-Rock Battle Royale
by Scarlet and Dana

Chapter 3

A video? Is he kidding or what?

Toshiya could read the same surprise on Saga's face. His friend was looking intently at him, frowning, with a palm massaging his forehead in confusion.

"They're more crazy than I thought..." Saga sighed. "Was that even possible?"

"Stop the chitchat and listen!" Yoshiki shouted

Toshiya immediately immobilized each of his muscles, the tension in his body increasing as he heard the loud voice of his teacher. He was obsessed by his own panic and its power was so undeniable that the boy had to fight against his will not to whine pitifully in front of his classmates. Toshiya was loosing the control he usually had on his nerves; his heartbeat was running crazy and his temples were soaked with sweat. Fear was making him quiver but at the moment he saw that Kyo's hands were as well, he knew that the blonde wasn't frightened like him; his friend was literally fuming.

Please, Kyo. Don't do something stupid!

"I'm sorry teacher" a weak voice apologized.

Toshiya raised his eyes at the moment he became aware of the fact that his teacher hadn't been scolding him but Shou Kohara (B-6) and Hiroto Ogata. The two boys were sitting one beside the other and were holding hands. He could have been surprised but the only thought that crossed his mind at that moment was that they were too nervous to bother with hiding their mutual attraction.

He had to speed up or teacher Kaneshiro would probably let the snake of the class rip his throat. Toshiya rushed to the 2^nd floor's bathroom. The main one was usually filled, at that time of the day, with students who wanted to miss a few minutes of their class and Toshiya did not have time to loose. Yumi Kaneshiro wasn't the kind of person who would allow someone to leave her classroom; Toshiya even had to use his best puppy eyes to persuade her. He shouldn't have drunk two bottles of cola at lunch time… But what was done was done. He wouldn't have to hear her speech about how-the-black-board-must-not-be-used-to-write-personal-messages after all, which was quite a good thing.

Toshiya pushed the door in a hurry but stopped as he came face to face with two boys kissing on the counter.

"Hum... sorry" Toshiya stammered, interrupting the lovers.

He remained frozen on the doorway, a stupid look on his face as he saw the taller boy blush.

"No... it's alright you can go..." and at the moment Toshiya was about to move, the young man spoke again. "Toshiya... You won't tell anyone, will you?"

It took a few seconds to the brunette to react but he nodded at last.

"I won't. But... You know my name?" he asked, frowning.

"We're in the same class, remember?" the other answered.

He had been talking to Shou Kohara. Shou who was in love with Hiroto Ogata. Of course they were all in the same class. It's just that Toshiya had never been aware of those two boys' existence before that day.

"Hello everyone! My name is Miku." The man in the video was almost screeching.

Toshiya snapped out of his thoughts with a start. A small television that he hadn't noticed yet, on the teacher's desk, was displaying the so-called video.

"Congratulation to class 3-B of Kobe's municipal college! You've been chosen to participate to this year's Battle Royale." Both Miku and Yoshiki chanted, raising their arms in the air simultaneously. "I'm proud of you all!" the teacher added with a wide smile.

"I'm going to explain the rules of the Battle Royale. They are quite simple and easy to follow. First, you're on a deserted island that looks like this." A map of the island appeared in the background.

"Don't even try to quit, okay? You are surrounded by water and there are no boats. Don't even attempt to build one! We are watching you children!" After that, Miku pouted, crossing his arms. "Ah, I did not want to be so harsh. Promise me that you will be obedient then we won't have to be cruel with you."

"And don't stay around the school. It will be guarded." Yoshiki added

"We wouldn't want you to be in a bad condition during the game so each student will receive a surviving kit! Inside, there is a bottle of water, some food, a map of the island, a compass, a flashlight and a special weapon. Yep! A weapon to chop your little friends' heads! Killing everyone else is the goal of this game but we would have been really mean to ask you to murder your classmates with nothing but your hands, huh? All the bags contain a different weapon and you can't exchange it if you're not satisfied."

Behind Miku, the island's map reappeared. "The committee wants you to move during the game! The island is divided into many sections. Your teacher will tell you, three times a day, which ones are becoming danger zones. If you're in a danger zone, then you'll have to quit as fast as you can! Because if you stay, the necklace that you wear will automatically explode! And it will hurt... it will really hurt." Miku nodded at those words, raising one hand to touch the necklace he was wearing himself with the tip of his fingers.

"You can't remove your necklace. It is bullet-proof, shockproof, waterproof and many-other-things-proof. There is a time limit of three days. After that time, all the necklaces will blow up if there is more than one person alive! It won't bother you much if you're dead but if you aren't deceased yet you probably won't appreciate the sensation. So, that's all I can think about... Ready guys? When I'll call your name, you will be allowed to grab your bag and go out of the school."

It was real. There wasn't any room left for doubts. They would have to fight against their dearest friends to remain alive. Toshiya glanced at Saga, Aoi... Kyo.

Why me? Why us?

"Boy number one, Amano Tora"

The game begins...

"Stop! JUST STOP!" Kyo stood up, his voice trembling with rage. Yoshiki sighed and paused the video before crossing his arms. He seemed annoyed, which wasn't a good thing. Not a good thing at all.

Even Tora Amano (B-1), who had been on his way to leave the classroom, wasn't moving anymore. Tora's face was blank and his skin was awfully pale. He was holding his own school bag; his grip seemed strong. His nervousness was unbearable and his fingers were rigid. He slowly turned his head, with hesitation, to catch a grasp of Kyo's blonde hair but he didn't have the courage to look at him face to face.

"I'm not going to participate to this crap!" the little boy added.

Kyo's voice was firm. He rushed to the front of the classroom until he stood before a dazzled Yoshiki; staring at his teacher with a disgusted look. He was shaking from his head to the tip of his toes but Toshiya couldn't determine if it was due to his anger or if his rationality had finally awoken to realise the precariousness of his situation.

"Now now... what do we have here, Niimura-san?"

[Remaining: 41]

Deaths:
Nakamura Shizuka (G-12)

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