Chapter One: The Game Begins
The night was quiet.
Tatsuya Kuroda closed his textbook and turned off his desk lamp. The dim glow faded into darkness, replaced by the soft rustle of sheets as he leaned back against his pillow. It had been a long day—one filled with formulas, deadlines, and the typical noise of high school life. Like most nights, he expected nothing more than a few hours of sleep before the cycle resumed.
In another part of the city, Aoi Himura lay sprawled on her bed, headphones blasting her favorite playlist. She drummed her fingers to the beat, her expression fierce even in solitude. Her room was a reflection of her—chaotic, bold, and alive.
Not far from her, Mei Tsukino stood by her window, her eyes tracing patterns in the night sky. There was something in the air—something she couldn't name. A chill, perhaps. A whisper in the silence. She clutched her arms without realizing it.
Elsewhere, Ren Sakamoto stretched lazily, half-asleep on his couch with a can of soda still in hand. Daichi Hayasaka practiced push-ups on the floor of his room, earbuds in, his breath steady. Shun Hayashi scribbled something into his notebook, then paused, eyes narrowing at the page as if the ink itself were lying.
They were all students of Kurohane High School, a prestigious institution perched on the outskirts of the city. Known for its academic rigor and intense competition, the school demanded the best. But tonight, none of that mattered.
Because without warning, the world went black.
---
Tatsuya's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar brightness.
A harsh white light buzzed overhead, burning his retinas as he adjusted. The coldness beneath him sent a jolt through his spine—hard tile, not the comfort of his bed. Groggy, he pushed himself upright, taking in his surroundings. Desks. Chairs. A blackboard. It looked like Kurohane High School—but not quite.
Something was wrong.
The usual hum of students and staff was gone. The air was still. Too still.
Then came the sound of movement. Tatsuya turned sharply.
Aoi sat up next, rubbing her eyes and scowling. "What... where are we?" she muttered, her voice low and uncertain—an unfamiliar tone from someone usually unshakable.
Others followed.
Mei stirred, clutching her sleeves tightly. Ren sat up with a grunt, glancing around in confusion. Daichi blinked rapidly, already on his feet, while Shun rose slowly, eyes sharp and calculating.
"What happened?" Mei whispered. Her voice trembled, barely audible. Her gaze swept across the room, and already her breath was short. "This isn't right."
"Is this a joke?" Shun scoffed. His words were laced with sarcasm, but even he couldn't hide the tension in his shoulders.
Daichi approached the nearest door. He rattled the handle, then tried another. "It's locked," he said grimly. "All of them are."
That was when it spoke.
A voice—cold, metallic, and distorted—crackled through the intercom, freezing them where they stood.
> "Players. Welcome to our deadly game. You have been chosen. Escape is impossible unless you win. Instructions will follow. Until then… survive."
Aoi flinched. Her fists curled tightly as she stormed toward the wall, slamming her hands against it.
"This isn't funny!" she shouted. "Let us out!"
Silence.
Tatsuya remained still, eyes closed for a moment as he collected his thoughts. When he spoke, his voice was low but steady. "We need to stay calm and think this through."
His composure drew the others to him instinctively.
"This isn't some prank," Ren said, his usual relaxed tone stripped away. "They're watching us. Whoever's doing this… they mean it."
Mei stood near the corner, her breathing uneven. "But why?" she asked. "Why are we here?"
Tatsuya turned to face them all, his gaze unwavering. "We're being tested. This 'game'—it's real. We just don't know the rules yet."
Shun crossed his arms. "You don't know that. You're guessing."
"I'm analyzing," Tatsuya replied, not looking at him. His focus was already on the hallway beyond. It stretched on endlessly, empty and foreboding. No windows. No other doors. Just corridor after corridor—a maze with no clear path.
Then, once again, the voice returned.
> "The game has already begun. The first challenge will be revealed shortly. Fail, and consequences will follow."
The words hit like ice water.
Daichi's hands clenched at his sides. Mei looked ready to collapse. Even Shun's lips tightened. Fear crept into the room like a shadow they couldn't shake.
But Aoi wasn't done fighting. She stepped forward, chin high.
"We're getting out of here. Together."
Tatsuya nodded, the gears in his mind already turning. "We'll stick together. We'll figure this out. But we need to stay focused. No mistakes."
Their eyes met. All of them. Each filled with uncertainty, but behind that—something stronger.
Resolve.
They didn't know what the game was. They didn't know who was watching or why.
But they knew one thing for sure.
They would face it together.
And they would survive.