CHAPTER 2: THE ARRIVAL

"Guys, now I'm giving you a form, and I WANT IT SIGNED BY TOMORROW!

It's a consent form, nothing much, and on it is written, I remind you, by TOMORROW!

Since there's little time and the organization behind this… wait, hmm, what's it called? AH! YES! NEW JAPAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE. So, these people want you to confirm everything by tomorrow."

Sato raises his hand.

"Yes, Sato-kun."

"But professor, what is this NEW JAPAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE about? I mean, what will we do?"

"Well, Sato-kun, from what I understand, it's an event that lasts three years, in which, if you pass it, you can get admission to the most prestigious university in the world for free, or a job you like, and so on. And all expenses will be managed by them. Plus, the entire time you stay there you'll be paid, you'll have security, good food, all necessary tools. WELL! IN SHORT, YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEND THREE YEARS THERE.

EVERYTHING IS WRITTEN ON THE FORM, EVEN THOUGH THE FORM ITSELF IS WRITTEN USING VERY DIFFICULT LANGUAGE THAT EVEN I, A LANGUAGE TEACHER, DIDN'T UNDERSTAND SOME THINGS. SO READ IT CAREFULLY WITH YOUR FAMILIES AND BRING IT TO ME BY TOMORROW.

HAVING SAID THAT, HERE ARE THE FORMS!

AND LET'S BEGIN TODAY'S LESSON!

WHICH WILL BE ON THE TAISHŌ PERIOD—"

Takeru arrives at his so-called home, sits on his mattress, takes out a cup noodle and prepares it to eat.

While swallowing those noodles, his eyes landed on the form.

Come on, let's see what it's about.

Hmm, so… you give us consent to use your data to improve our services and for future events. Furthermore, you declare that you have read and accepted our terms and, if you haven't done so, we ask you to rea…

WHAT THE HECK IS THIS STUFF!?

RESPONSIBILITY? COMPOSURE? PROBLEM SOLVING? PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY STRONG? ETC…

WHAT IS THIS STUFF? DARN IT, I'LL SIGN IT AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS! AT MOST, WHAT COULD HAPPEN? MAYBE I CAN IMPROVE THIS MISERABLE LIFE I'M LIVING.

So he signs the form, throws it aside and finishes his wasabi noodles.

Once everything was done, sleep overcame him and he took a good nap of a few hours.

There he had a dream in which he was in an abandoned city and saw blood everywhere. Then, at a certain point, he heard very heavy breathing. He turned around and—

BOOM!

He opens his eyes with a start.

WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT!?

Takeru arrives at school (with dark circles under his eyes due to the nightmare) and sees Kenji surrounded by people.

What's happening?

"Kenji-kun, congratulations!"

"Yes, yes, yes, Kenji-senpai, congratulations on being selected for this mega opportunity!"

"Kenji-san, you won't forget us once you go, right?"

"Hahahaha, no guys, no! How could I do that? Hehehe…"

He was selected too?

I'll still see his clowning around, then.

"Sato, Kobayashi and Aragiri, did you bring the form?"

"YES!"

"Good, now give it to me."

A FEW SECONDS LATER

"Good. Now start preparing, because next week you'll go."

...

"Aragiri."

"Yes, professor."

"Do something here, at least."

"I hope so too."

"Good."

Already at six in the morning everyone was present in the school courtyard.

The selected students.

The bus and the driver.

And the principal who was crying like a child, from happiness and desperation, seeing some faces.

"Guys, our journey together is ending a bit much earlier than usual. Even though I don't want to leave you, I'm glad that with this you'll have a much, much brighter future than ours. And I give you my sincere best wishes for your futures.

GOOD LUCK!

FIRST IN THE HANDS OF GOD!

THEN OF MR. DRIVER!

I CAN'T STAY HERE ANY LONGER! SO I'M LEAVING!"

The principal was really too emotional.

"ALRIGHT! GUYS, NOW ONE AT A TIME START BOARDING THE BUS, WE'RE LEAVING!" says the driver, a thin and dry man like a branch, two meters tall, with half-dead eyes due to years of work. Half of his face was wrinkled, while the other was in better condition.

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

All the students, slowly, begin to board the bus.

Once done, the bus departs.

Not only does it depart, but it also runs as if it had to take criminals to prison as fast as possible.

However, the journey was going quite peacefully.

The students talked among themselves about various things. They were excited about this new path in their lives. There was a serenely happy and joyful atmosphere, almost like when every human, sometimes, thinks of living a scene where he and his family live in the mountains, with their small house, far from everything.

Dawn.

Sunset.

Fresh air.

And the smiles of their loved ones.

Everything so beautiful that it makes you sleepy.

And in fact, the students fell asleep.

Pam Pam Pam

The driver honks the horn.

"Guys! Wake up, we've arrived!"

All the students suddenly get up and wonder when they fell asleep.

It's a very strange thing.

Strange and bizarre.

I'm certain I was awake just a few minutes ago.

I'VE NEVER SLEPT DURING TRIPS!

NEVER!

There's definitely something wrong.

Takeru's eyes meet the driver's through the rearview mirror.

That cursed man!

Look how he's laughing.

Takeru can't control himself. He quickly gets up from his seat, pushes past everyone forcefully.

"HEY, GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

He strides down the center aisle and reaches the driver's seat.

And grabs him by the collar.

"CURSED MAN! WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO TO US!?"

The driver doesn't even get up and says in a calm voice: "What do you mean, dear?"

"SO YOU DON'T KNOW!? I'LL MAKE YOU REMEMBER!"

Takeru raises his fist to strike him.

"ARAGIRI-SAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" a boy shouts, grabbing his hand.

"DARN IT, LET ME GO! THIS OLD MAN IS HIDING SOMETHING!"

"GUYS, GRAB ARAGIRI AND PULL HIM OUT!"

"ALL OF YOU, MOVE!"

"HEY!"

"OUCH!"

PEW

PEW

PEW

The students pull Takeru out of the bus.

As he was being dragged out, he sees something in the driver's eyes, as if something was about to happen. But not something normal—something very bizarre that will change everyone's lives.

Once everyone was out, the driver closes the doors and drives away, while Takeru is still being held by the students.

"LET ME GO, DARN IT!"

"Aragiri-san, calm down! What happened to you!?" Kenji shouts.

"DIDN'T YOU SEE THAT WRETCHED MAN HOW HE WAS LAUGHING? AND DON'T YOU QUESTION EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED?"

"Yes, it seems strange to us too, but maybe we had an illusion. Maybe nothing really happened."

Takeru, in a low voice, says: "One person can have an illusion, not an entire group of people. And keep that in mind."

The issue wasn't resolved yet.

But it had just begun.

When everyone saw the tall and thick walls in front of them, with a massive iron gate, above which was written:

NEW JAPAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE