Chapter 3: The Institute's Gate

"What kind of place is this?" Takeru exclaims.

All the students stood there with their mouths wide open, staring at the immense building in front of them.

"It looks more like a prison than an institute," Takeru says.

"No, worse than a prison. Prisons aren't this terrifying. Just looking at it from the outside makes me nauseous. GUYS! SOMETHING'S TELLING ME WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!

And where in Japan are we anyway? I've never seen this place anywhere! If we look around, there's nothing but a vast plain. Where the heck are we?"

But no one listened to him.

They were too EXCITED thinking about what awaited them inside.

So all 25 students who had been selected from their school, once they mustered up the courage, began walking forward.

And Takeru too, since he didn't want to be left alone behind—even though that's how it's always been for him.

"Hey, Sato!"

"What is it, Aragiri-san?"

"Doesn't all this seem a bit bizarre to you? You're going to become a monk, can't you predict something?"

Sigh.

"Aragiri-san, monks don't predict anything. They're also normal people, and besides, I haven't become a monk yet—I'm still just learning."

Takeru looks at Sato as he speaks. A guy of average height with a decent physique, lean but resilient muscles. He keeps his hair short like him, though he's shorter—reaches just up to his shoulder.

"Okay, but doesn't it seem strange?"

"A little, yes, but I think everything will be fine."

"You're too optimistic, Sato. WAY TOO OPTIMISTIC!"

"You should become optimistic too, it won't hurt."

"I hope so too. Well, Kobayashi, what do you think?"

Kobayashi—his third classmate. The Hikikomori.

Since he's a true hikikomori, he follows the HIKIKOMORI LAWS !

And one of these rules is --->  BE INVISIBLE TO EVERYONE!

"Kobayashi! Kobayashi! Where the hell are you?"

"Kobayashi-san! Where is he?"

Kobayashi has disappeared.

Where?

No one knows.

:)

Actually, he's right there next to Sato, but he's so silent that not even the sound of his breathing can be heard. A guy shorter than both of them, with an extremely slender body—you can almost see his bones, as if he hadn't eaten anything for days. He has somewhat long hair that covers his eyes if he doesn't fix it.

"KOOOBBAAAAYAAASHIIIIIII!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING!?"

Boom.

"AH! WHAT!?"

"Where the hell did you go?" Takeru says.

"Nothing, what were you saying?"

"So, basicall—"

So the three catch up with the others to enter while sharing their ideas.

Once they reach the giant gate, Kenji— MR GOOD BOY !

goes forward and knocks. He rings the doorbell that was next to it, embedded in the wall. It was simply a button, nothing else.

. . .

. .

.

For a few seconds, nothing happens.

. . .

. .

.

"AHM!"

BOOM!

Behind them, a guy who wasn't there before has appeared. The students turn around and see him—fully armed. He has a gun in his hand, armor and clothes similar to military gear.

"Excuse me, who are you?" Kenji asks.

"Documents."

"Huh?"

"I SAID SHOW ME YOUR DOCUMENTS. I NEED TO VERIFY YOUR IDENTITIES."

"Alright."

All the students, one by one, comply as requested.

"Sato! Look at that old guy, and now look at his two eyebrows together with his mustache. Doesn't he look like a sad emoji! Hahaha," Takeru says.

"You know that was a lame joke."

"Yeah, my bad."

Once the old man has checked and confirmed everything, he goes in front of the gate. He gives it two or three bangs and shouts: "ALL CLEAR!"

After a few moments, the gate begins to open with a loud sound.

The view ahead was so "magnificent" that they only see another layer of wall.

"What the he..."

In short, this entire immense building was constructed in the shape of onion rings—that is, created with multiple layers of walls until reaching the center. There are about five layers in total.

And in each layer there were guards everywhere—front and back. All armed.

There were electric wires, guard towers, and much more, as if these guys had to fight aliens instead of receiving normal students.

I've seen dangerous places when I was in the gang, but this... this is another level. The guards, the rifles, the electric wires... they remind me of certain places where we used to do "business." But this is worse. Much worse.

Takeru observes everything carefully as they walk. The other students were busy looking at the strange architecture and chatting with each other, but he had other questions.

He approaches the old soldier who was guiding them.

"Excuse me, sir, but why is there all this security?"

The old man doesn't respond. He continues walking forward as if he hadn't heard anything.

Takeru tries again. "I'm serious, what are you protecting in here?"

Still nothing. The old man doesn't even look at him.

The third time, Takeru opens his mouth to ask again, but then he sees the weapon in the old man's hands. He decides to let it go. It's not worth insisting.

What the hell is this place?

After a long journey through the gates that lasts 15 minutes, the students manage to reach the center.

Takeru walks in silence, looking at the walls and the guards. His classmates are chatting with each other, but he's lost in his thoughts.

It's been almost two years since I met Sato. It was when I was repeating my second year for the second time. My past was extremely tragic. I was more than three years older than them, I'd wasted them in the gang. Usually people didn't appreciate me because of my past, and it's normal that they do so. In the end, my past wasn't even that great, and there are some regrets from it. Because of that, sometimes I miss those times and those guys. May GOD make them happy and may they walk the right paths in their lives.

Especially you, dear. Especially you.

With Kobayashi, it's not like I've talked much, but it hasn't been bad. He's a chill guy who minds his own business, and for that, respect to him.

One last thought crosses his mind as he looks at the building in front of them.

But now I'm here. For a new chance. I just hope it's worth it.

In the middle stood an immense and vast building that rose over multiple floors. It had an extremely modern and technical design—a fortified structure of dark metal and bulletproof glass, with solar panels on the roof and antennas soaring toward the sky. The walls were reinforced with steel plates, and each window seemed to be built to withstand an explosion. The building emanated an aura of total control and military security, like a technological fortress at the heart of a prison.

Then the old guy goes forward to the main door. He shows his ID through the camera and has the fingerprints of both hands scanned.

Once verified, the doors open.

And inside... it's like another world.

From the outside it looked terrible and seemed like a military base—from the inside it's full of luxury.

Shining floors, brightness from everywhere, the long corridor, and obviously the guards watching over.

The students follow behind the old man.

And the old man takes them outside again, but through another door—INTO THE COURTYARD.

However, once they arrive there, they realize it wasn't just a passage. It was the destination point.

But there, the students stood with their mouths open seeing the scene.

They weren't alone.

Besides them, there was a vast number of students coming from schools all over Japan. There weren't just hundreds, but almost more than a thousand. The exact number was unknown, since everywhere they looked there were only students and students.

And on top of that, the GUARDS.

More than the students, there were these damn GUARDS!

If there are 1,000 students, there are 10,000 of them!

The reason?

Still a mystery.

WELL!

Their 25 students also join the others like statues waiting.

FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT.

10 MINUTES LATER

Another old man climbs onto the stage, but this time he was dressed in an elegant suit. Well-groomed mustache, long gray hair reaching down to his shoulders—all well-organized, smooth, shining in the sunlight.

"I give you all a big WELCOME! I hope no one had difficulties during the journey. My name is KATO JIRO and I am the Headmaster of the NEW JAPAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE. I'm very happy to see you here!

You are our future! The future of this country, and you will shine like no one has ever shone before. I won't keep you here too long listening to my boring speeches, so I give you a big greeting. And up there on the leaderboard you'll find which class you're in. Each class will be made up of 25 students. From now on, everything else will be explained by your teachers. Good luck."

With that said, the Headmaster left quickly.

Meanwhile, all the students go toward the boards to see their classes.

An incredible crowd forms—everyone pushing to see those boards.

"OW!"

"AGH!"

"AYA!"

"KYAAA!"

"PIECES OF— MOVE AWAY FROM HERE!"

"OW, IDIOT!"

. . .

. .

.

SOME TIME LATER

"Alright, so we're in class 1J1! Classroom number 34," Takeru says.

"Yes! And we're together too! Isn't that great!?" Sato exclaims with a smile.

"Yeah, it's much better that we're together. Right, Kobayashi?"

He also nods his head.

The three start looking for their classroom.

"Let's hurry! I want to sit in the back by the window—it's the best seat ever!" Takeru exclaims.

But the school wasn't small at all. They had to spend at least 20 minutes finding the classroom.

But fortunately, their desired seats were empty, since there were only a few guys sitting in the front rows in the classroom.

Gradually, other students were also entering.

Each class was made up of 25 students.

Once everyone arrived, Takeru notices that only the three of them are from their school—besides them, everyone is new.

And the students, somehow, were also talking with those from other schools.

The atmosphere was pretty chill. Laughter, chatter, introductions. Some students were excited, others curious. There was a positive energy filling the classroom.

Takeru leans back in his chair and looks out the window.

Not bad. Maybe this place won't be as terrible as it seems.

Until...

the...

HOMEROOM TEACHER...

enters!

The door opens.

And the atmosphere changes completely.