Chapter 1: The Test

A fire walks without knowing where it goes.
It doesn't burn to destroy,
only because it doesn't know how to extinguish itself.
When it finds something that still breathes,
it lets it live.
Then it keeps walking.

-------------------------------------------------

Ring Ring Ring

The bell rang.

The sound of chairs scraping echoed in unison, followed by the rapid footsteps fading away, hurried, growing more distant.

While one chair still held the weight of a half-dead body.

Ahhhh, only one month left until school ends, Takeru thought, staring through the window at the students pouring out from the school's main gate.

Tuk Tuk Tuk

The sound of leather shoes was approaching Takeru.

"Mr. Aragiri."

"Hmmm." Takeru turned his head and saw the hair slicked back with oil, the striped shirt, dark pants, and glasses on a nose that needed adjusting every two minutes.

"Yes, sensei?"

"I want you in the teachers' lounge. We need to talk."

I already know what he wants.

"Alright, I'll be right there."

"Thank you!"

A few moments later, that figure left through the door.

A FEW MOMENTS LATER

"Yes, sensei, what is it?" Takeru stood while staring at the teacher's oiled hair slicked perfectly back, avoiding eye contact with the instructor.

"So, Mr. Aragiri, you know your situation better than me, right?"

"Yes, sensei."

"Then what have you been thinking? There's only one month left, you know?"

"Yes, I know."

"I'm glad you know, but that's not the problem. The problem is that in your grade book there isn't even a single passing grade, except for physical education. Not even ONE! Do you realize that?!"

Takeru didn't try to justify himself, since he knew what the teacher was saying was nothing but the truth. "Yes, sensei, I know."

"If you know, then think about your future, please! I'm telling you this as a father, not as a teacher. You should know that I also have a son, still young and in middle school. He also has difficulties, but he doesn't make it into something unsolvable. He asks for help, goes to different tutors, asks me, his mother, his friends, and anyone who can help him. And at the end of the year he's not excellent like others, but he manages to move forward. You need to do this too, Mr. Takeru! When I suggested you join a decent club with kids who could help you, you didn't do it and preferred to go home. I stayed quiet then, but I can't stay quiet anymore. Your future is at stake, do you realize that?!"

"Yes, sensei, I'll try to improve."

"WHEN?! YOU'RE TWENTY YEARS OLD! IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS YEAR YOU'LL BE TWENTY-ONE WHILE OTHERS GRADUATE AT SEVENTEEN! YOU CAN'T WASTE YOUR WHOLE LIFE IN THIS SCHOOL! IF YOU CAN'T CONTINUE WITH YOUR STUDIES, TELL ME: I'LL FIND YOU A JOB SOMEWHERE, SO MAYBE THERE'LL BE SOME IMPROVEMENT IN YOUR LIFE!"

"Yes, sensei, I'll let you know."

He said nothing else.

There was no need for anything else.

He grabbed his backpack and returned to his house.

House in name only: it was just an abandoned warehouse from years ago, where he had placed a mattress to sleep on and a few other tools to get through life.

Takeru's days passed with the same daily routine ever since he'd left the orphanage.

Arrive at his so-called home, throw his backpack in a corner, eat instant ramen. After that, sleep for as long as possible. At most, at night, he'd drag himself out to take a walk through the streets of Tokyo and nothing else.

The 40,000 yen bonus the government gave him every month was a great deal for him.

THE NEXT DAY

Takeru, like every morning, woke up half an hour before school started. He washed his face, ate something, and then left for school, always wearing yesterday's clothes. In his opinion, showering should only be done once a week.

The high school wasn't far: it only took ten minutes.

But those ten minutes were hell for him, since he had to endure the stares of students every single morning.

Hands in his pockets, legs spread wide, back slightly hunched, and eyes downcast, he walked quickly to enter his classroom.

"Aragiri-san!"

Huh?

Takeru turned around.

Ahhh, Tanaka Kenji, the student council president.

"What is it, Kenji-san?" Takeru asked without making eye contact.

On the other side stood young Kenji, a third year like him, with a wide smile on his face. "Aragiri-san, this year the student council has decided something FANTASTIC! Right after school ends, during spring break, we're organizing a hanami! We've reserved a space in a park where the cherry blossoms bloom super early! A whole day together: food, music, and tons of activities!"

Then Kenji leaned in and in a low voice, trying to sound like a "good boy," said: "There'll be lots of girls too, hehehe."

Takeru listened to everything, then without turning his head, he glanced around from the corners of his eyes.

He saw the faces of the other students, which weren't very pleasant.

Some of them, when their eyes met his, looked away and hurried off, as if he himself were a monster.

The answer was clear. "Thanks, Kenji-san, I'll let you know. But you need to tell me something in private. I don't like people staring at me, especially like this."

He took the form from Kenji's hand and continued walking. When he turned the corner, he threw that form in the trash.

Kenji just wants to make a good impression in front of others.

-------------------------------------------------

"Sakamoto!"

"Present, sir."

"Ito!"

"Present, sir."

"Aragiri!"

"Hmmm."

"ARAGIRI! WHAT KIND OF ATTITUDE IS THIS?! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO SAY 'PRESENT, SIR!' LIKE THE OTHERS?! WHY DON'T YOU UNDERS—"

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

"WHO IS IT?! COME IN!" the teacher shouted.

As soon as the doors opened, so did the teacher's mouth.

There were several men in elegant dark suits, accompanied by the principal.

"We apologize for the disturbance," said the principal, adjusting his glasses with a strange smile on his face, as if he'd discovered the meaning of his entire life.

"It's nothing at all! Hahaha, why are you standing there?! Come right in, hehe, excuse us for this behavior," said the teacher.

"It's fine." The principal cleared his throat. "Boys and girls, today I am very happy. Very happy. Because this is news that will surprise you as well." Then he took a deep breath and continued. "Our school is one of the few that have been chosen for this thing, which I won't tell you about but rather the gentleman standing next to me, who is the head coach of this opportunity that will be granted to you. So please, a big round of applause for Mr. Hama Shiro!"

"AND THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING IS THAT OUR SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE FEW THAT HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR THIS!!"

"I WON'T MAKE YOU WAIT TOO LONG! SO, MR. HAMA SHIRO, PLEASE COME FORWARD!"

Hama Shiro: a short man dressed entirely in black. A long coat that reached down to his knees, pants, shoes, and a hat.

A small face with thin, long mustache and a disgusting smile.

"Good morning, everyone! How are you? I hope you're well. As your principal said, we're here for something very important. Indeed, this year the government wanted to give an opportunity to all those who want a beautiful future full of happiness. And for this reason, the entire institute will take a test in ten minutes."

"CALM DOWN! CALM DOWN! Don't put pressure on yourselves, because if it doesn't go well, it's fine: you can retake it next year. It's not just for this year. The government will do it in the future as well. And if you're asking 'why didn't they warn us so we could come prepared?' I told you: don't worry. Nothing will happen even if it goes badly, so stay relaxed."

The information wasn't very clear.

Hearing this, confusion erupted in the classroom, as if a bomb had exploded.

The most studious ones opened their books and tried to read as much as possible, even though they didn't know what to study.

Some were seriously panicking.

Some were praying to GOD to help them, and others, like Takeru, with their heads in the clouds, were watching this circus.

Ten minutes passed.

The hooded men distributed the test.

"Everyone, there are one hundred open-ended questions. You have thirty minutes. Good luck!"

The exam began.

And the pens started dancing on the papers.

Only some of them.

And some still rested in peace.

Hmmm, trying never hurts. Let's see what comes out.

So, what's the first question? "Tell me the date when World War II started."

How should I know?

Whatever, I'll just guess.

I'll put the birthday of the ramen vendor who comes every day at five o'clock outside my house. I'm sure that old man is older than World War II.

Hmmm, after the first one... then the second question: "What is the unit of measurement for mass?"

Hmm... "R" for ramen, since mass builds up if you eat too much ramen.

And so on. Takeru shot all the answers randomly, without thinking.

Except for the ones about his league.

The thirty minutes ended.

The men started collecting the papers and disappeared without saying anything except: "Thank you!"

THE NEXT DAY

The teacher entered the classroom.

On his face was a mix of emotions, but not good ones.

His hands were trembling, and in them he held a paper.

"G—Good morning, e—everyone. The paper I have in my hands... inside here are the results of yesterday's test selection from your class."

Then the teacher put his hand over his eyes and continued: "I don't know whether to be happy or to be very, very afraid."

A long breath.

"BUT! I DON'T WANT TO BE A BAD TEACHER! So I congratulate Mr. SATO! KOBAYASHI! AND MR. ARAGIRI! FOR BEING SELECTED! CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU THREE!"

Clap Clap Clap

Only the teacher was clapping. The others were in temporary shock. And how could they not be, given that the three most hopeless students had been selected.

The Monk.

The Hikikomori.

And the Ex-Gangster.