Trial 1.2: No Way Out

1

Sora was brought back 3 years ago, in his 1st year of middle school. He was brought back due to the "Trials" for unknown reasons, and an unknown condition to pass as well.

In a time, he never thought-- and never wanted-- to experience again. 

But why?

Ms Yamada: You must be daydreaming, that's why you are not listening in class, right? Confident that you can do your math well? Would you like to attempt the question on the board?

Sora hesitated. If he said yes, it would be a lie, as he is not confident in his math. But if he says no, he would either get more punishment or maybe be judged by his classmates as well.

Sora: Umm... I'll try to attempt the question.

Sora then walks towards the whiteboard, and at the same time, reassures himself that he could do this as it's math from 3 years ago, it should be... easy for him now.

But after reaching the whiteboard, his eyes widened in shock. 

Sora: Shit... I forgot that I haven't done math for a while...!

Sora accidentally said it out, which led his classmates to roar in laughter again. Ms Yamada sighed and facepalmed.

 Ms Yamada: G... Go back to your seat. I'll explain the question again.

Sora walks back to his seat, with reddish ears, due to embarrassment. 

2

The bell rings, and the math class ends. As everyone is packing up their bags before heading out of the classroom, Sora does the same. But unlike normal students who are looking forward to going home and resting, Sora was devastated.

Sora: I need to complete 3 more questions... what a pain...

Sora whispers to himself, just then, 3 different classmates start walking towards him.

???: Hey Sora!

One of the classmates called out to him. Before he could turn his head and ask what they needed from him, he received a hard kick on the stomach. The kick was strong, and it sent Sora flying back and hitting the wall.

Sora yelped in pain, and he finally got a better look at the students. It's the usual 3 bullies who kept picking on him back in middle school, the same bullies who led Sora to shut himself away from the world. 

???: Why is my math homework graded a D, huh? I told you I wanted an A, didn't I!?

The bully, after saying this, grabbed Sora's collar and glared at him. It was Ryu, the leader of the group, who picked on Sora daily back in the day.

???: Didn't you forget, he's the ugly duckling in his family. But unlike the ugly duckling in the story, he will always remain like a piece of garbage!

Ryu's best friend, Taiga, made that statement before slapping Sora slowly.

Taiga: And for that, you will be helping us do extra homework!

Taiga punched Sora's stomach, which led Sora to cough out some saliva. 

???: Ew, look at that disgusting and pathetic creep.

It's Ryu's girlfriend from another class; Sora doesn't know her name. But usually, when the bullying is happening, she will be video recording it. And as usual, she was recording Sora getting bullied right now with her phone, humiliating Sora. 

The other students in the class watched. Either in fear or watching for entertainment. No one ever stepped in to help, no one will ever help even if they have the chance to. 

Even the teachers who passed by didn't want to help him. Either due to dissatisfaction towards Sora or not wanting to deal with it. Even after 3 years, Sora doesn't know why.

Sora was in despair, he felt the pain, the humiliation. He wants to fight back, he wants to be saved, he wants to get out of this situation as fast as he could.

But as usual, he kept quiet and didn't fight back. Just like the last time. 

After the 3 bullies walked out of the classroom. Sora packs up his stuff slowly before walking out of the classroom. But just then--

SNAP

Sora sees nothing but darkness again, just like before the "Trials" started.

Then-- a similar tap on the shoulder.

???: Sora, wake up.

Sora wakes up from his desk. Ms Yamada is in front of him, and all his classmates are in the classroom. 

Ms Yamada: You are still not awake huh? You will be getting extra homework again.

Wait... Didn't this happen like, just a few hours ago?

Sora looks around again, same classmates, same teacher, same math question on the whiteboard. 

Sora: Don't tell me... The Trials looped me back here again? 

His classmates started laughing. And his teacher sighed. 

Ms Yamada: What are you talking about? Still in your dreamland? 

Same people, same venue, same laughter, same sigh. 

Sora's eyes start to widen, and he starts shaking in fear.

He grabbed his own body, and he started hyperventilating. 

Sora: This... can't be real.

Sora immediately dashed out of the classroom doors, wanting to get out of this situation.

Ms Yamada: Hey! No one said that you can go out in the middle of class!

But Sora had already run out, and he was running down the corridors.

Why does the "Trials" want him to experience his pain in middle school again? What does the "Trials" want to gain through this?

Sora starts breathing rapidly as he runs forward, wanting to escape. 

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Sora’s lungs burned. His vision blurred.

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

His legs felt numb as he stumbled forward.

Sora: WHY!?!?!?!?  

Sora shouted on the top of his lungs. Just then, Sora hears the same SNAP sound. And he finds himself back in class, sitting in class again, with Ms Yamada in front of him.

Ms Yamada: Sora, wake up.

Sora starts trembling again, having ragged breaths. 

Ms Yamada: Sora, why are you shaking? Are you trying to pull off a trick to get out of the classroom? 

Classmates laughed again. As Sora hears the same laughter and his teacher's voice again, he starts to feel sick. He wants to puke.

That's when Sora realized--

There's no escape from this situation.