Present Time
And that's how I got into this mess.
Is this really a good idea? Marianne!!?
I glanced at Anastasia, still thinking about that, when the second step of my thought was cut short by the teacher's voice echoing through the class.
"It is a law that a protocol battle cannot be refused if both parties agree to it—no matter if it's an educational zone as filthy as this one, or a mental asylum, which we resemble much more."
Her hate is showing a bit too much…
She stepped into the center, her cleavage bouncing through the thin fabric of her black suit. Adjusting her glasses, she continued,
"The match will be held in the central zone… around—"
She glanced at the wall clock. It was 14:00.
"Sato, how long do you have left?"
Glancing down at my watch, I noticed it had drastically slowed down.
149
149
149…
…
"One-forty-nine."
"Alright then, it will be scheduled right now. The quicker we get it over with, the earlier I get to go home anyway."
Gee, show a little bit of worry…
"Does anyone have a problem with that?"
Suddenly, an arm shot up.
"Miss, does that mean no exams today?"
"That is right. After the battle, a clean-up squad will be sent to the location. The school will be closed until tomorrow, and tests will be postponed."
The class exploded in cheers, a few whistles following.
"SATO OUR SAVIOR! TEST KILLER!"
"ONE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SATO, THE TEST KILLER!"
What nickname is that…
"WOOO, SATO!"
Dokuremi coughed.
"What about me..?"
"DOKUREMI AS WELL!"
The teacher swung her wooden ruler against the green table with such force that it created a small gust of wind.
"Now that everyone's quieted down,"
She walked back to her desk and grabbed the microphone connected to an electric plug.
"Test, test."
She tapped the mic twice or thrice — static filled the air.
"Ah, good, it works."
Suddenly, her voice echoed through other classrooms mid-exam. Teachers rose from their seats in confusion.
She leaned forward, placing both hands on the desk — her cleavage pressing against the wood — giving the front row students a very nice view. They blushed.
"Lucky them…"
Someone in the back whispered, barely seeing anything. Meanwhile, Anastasia tugged my sleeve.
"Hey, don't look. You've got Mari, right?"
I glanced at her, How does she know-
then nodded, not wanting to get on their bad side. Quietly, I sat beside her again while Dokuremi stood motionless, eyes fixed on the teacher.
"To you is speaking the homeroom teacher of class 3/7 from Crows Under Academy,"
She fixed her hair, then continued.
"I am demanded by protocol law to announce that two of our students — D Class's Dokuremi Konan and F Class's soon-to-be F0 student Naruhiya Sato — have declared a Protocol Battle. The wager of Naruhiya Sato will be…"
She glanced at me.
"…humiliation."
Her eyes shifted to Dokuremi.
"As for Dokuremi Konan — a wage of rank."
She paused, inhaling deeply, then continued:
"Due to the circumstances surrounding contestant Naruhiya Sato and his potential early demise, the battle is scheduled at precisely 14:10.
The match will take place at the central school grounds. By law, a protocol battle must be attended by everyone within a five-hundred-meter radius who can hear the announcement. That's all."
Within seconds, the entire school erupted in noise.
The students in our class covered their ears but grinned.
"HEY, OUR CLASS WILL BE FAMOUS!"
"SATO, YOU'RE INSANE!"
Wooden rulers slammed against desks across the building as teachers struggled to maintain order.
Our teacher raised her arm.
"STAND UP! LINES OF FIFTEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CLASS! CHOOSE A SIDE! DOKUREMI, SATO — YOU TWO WAIT FOR MY SIGNAL!"
Amid the chaos, everyone obeyed. Thirty students total — fifteen left, fifteen right.
At least, that's how it should've been.
It was a tradition for ranked battle contenders to be escorted between two lines of thirty people, symbolizing balance and submission before chaos. With fewer people, the teacher probably thought fifteen per side would suffice.
Naturally, everyone chose the right side — Dokuremi's side — except for Anastasia, who stayed seated beside me.
"Not choosing a side?" I asked. "Not yet." She answered and laughed lightly.
"You did it, lover boy. A system battle — your last chance at living. Are you happy?"
"A bit… everything happened so fast, I can't believe any of it."
Of course I was happy. I came this far, this fast. After waking up thinking death was inevitable — there was finally a glimmer of hope.
Can I win, though…?
Anastasia glanced at the right side.
"Man, completely the underdog, huh?"
"Haha… seems so. Well, it was to be expected."
"Definitely. You're an F, after all."
The teacher returned, clapping once.
"ALR—"
She stopped midway, realizing the left side was completely empty.
Then continued as if nothing was wrong.
"DOKUREMI IN THE MIDDLE! YOU'LL GO THROUGH THE RIGHT DOOR TO THE CENTRAL GROUNDS!"
Dokuremi stood quickly, glanced once at Anastasia but quickly shook his head, then shouted,
"FINALLY! I WAS STARTING TO GET BORED!"
He grinned, stepping to the center of the right line.
Not gonna even say anything to me- Alright well then be arrogant.
"DOKUREMI UNIT, FORWARD!" He yelled.
"OOUGH!" They yelled acknowledging his command as I stood up shaking the table below me, while the chair behind me got thrown into the lockers "DOKUREMI, I SWEAR ILL DEFEAT YOU, NO MATTER WHAT!"
He glanced at me and grinned
The first person in his line pushed open the door. Instantly, cheering from the halls grew louder.
More and more people from his side left slowly. Dokuremi approached the doors, still not acknowledging me besides a smirk.
"OOOOH! WHO IS IT!? SATO OR DOKUREMI!?"
Someone hijacked the mic, their voice echoing through the building.
Suddenly as he was in front of the doors he looked outside, "Come and try, death boy."
With that he left, immediately the halls erupted in whistles.
"IT'S DOKUREMI KANOOOOON! AND WHAT IS THIS!? IS IT JUST ME, OR DOES HE HAVE WAY TOO MANY FOLLOWERS!?"
The noise faded slowly as more and more of them left. I overheard someone whisper from the front,
"Now I feel bad…"
"Ahaha, shh, he'll hear!"
I clenched my fist.
The teacher followed Dokuremi's group to the door, checking that they were halfway down the hall.
"Alright!"
Turning around, she noticed Anastasia still seated.
"Anastasia? Didn't pick yet?"
"Why, of course I'm with Sato."
I glanced at her, both confused and thankful. Not having time to question it I ignored it.
The teacher nodded, scanning the room.
"And you?"
She pointed to a girl at the front reading a novel.
"Ah… not interested."
"Alright, you're with Sato then."
"Wait, what—"
She clapped her hands.
"Since you've only got two followers, you'll leave through the left doors first. The other two will follow right after."
Anastasia nodded. The other girl sighed.
"I don't wanna though…"
I stepped forward, cracking my neck, Anastasia followed tightly behind me with one arm clenching her left arm behind her.
"Finally. It's time."
The teacher smiled faintly.
"Haven't felt such a rush in a long time. Sato, listen."
"Yes?"
"You better survive at least five minutes. Don't let everything go to waste."
She threw her fist toward me — a gesture of encouragement.
More fired up than I am… Geez, alright.
"Got it."
My eyes narrowed, shifting from uncertainty to focus.
Standing before the closed left doors, I could hear faint cheers from the other group.
Not expecting anyone to be waiting for me on the other side, I gripped the handle.
"Ah, so everyone ignores me."
The girl tossed her novel onto the desk and stood beside Anastasia.
"Whatever. Make sure to at least entertain me, death boy."
I curled my left palm into a fist.
It's time to finally grasp destiny with my own hands.
I opened the doors and stepped forward.