Battle Royale

"Well, you got it wrong, Shuya. You don't seem to understand this game yet."

".. .what do you mean?"

Shogo continued, "In order to survive, being in a group gives you an advantage in this game."

Shuya considered this, then nodded. He was right. You could take turns being on the lookout, and you were stronger in case of an attack.

"So?"

"Think about it." Shogo nudged the shotgun resting on his knees with his hand. "Do you think I was risking much to stop Kyoichi? Do you think ordering him to stop would have actually stopped him? Maybe I was already planning on killing Kyoichi. Did I really have to kill him? Kyoichi never struck me as the type who'd attract a group, but maybe I ordered him to stop just to put on an act for you guys to join me. Wouldn't it be in my best interests to join you guys and then kill you off later?"

Shuya stared at Shogo's face, surprised by this series of clear and logical explanations. It was true Shogo was a year older than them. But he talked like an adult—a wise, mature adult. In this sense he resembled Shinji Mimura.

Shuya shook his head.

"There'll be no end to it if I start getting suspicious. You're not against us." He glanced over at Noriko "That's what I think."

"Me too." Noriko nodded. "If we can't trust anyone we'll lose."

"That's a noble thought, girl," Shogo nodded. "If that's the way you want it. I'm just telling you that you got to be careful in this game." Then he asked, "So what is it?"

Shuya all of a sudden remembered he was the one with the questions. "That's right. You. Why do you trust us? Teaming up with you doesn't necessarily rule out that one or both of us is against you. You said so yourself. You have no reason to trust us."

"I see," Shogo responded, as if amused. "An applied question. You're getting the hang of it, Shuya."

"Come on, I want an answer."

Shuya waved his hand still holding the revolver. Shogo drew back as if to warn him it was dangerous.

"Well?" Shuya insisted. Shogo raised his brow again. Then he revealed that faint smile on his face. He looked up at the branches looming above them and then looked back at Shuya and Noriko. He looked serious.

"First of all—"

Shuya saw something intense run across Shogo's calm eyes. He didn't know what it meant but it was intense.

"I have my reasons. I have a problem with the rules. No, the game itself."

Shogo stopped for a moment and then continued, "You're absolutely right, but...you see, I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I've always based my decisions on my conscience. So—"

Shogo grabbed the barrel of his shotgun standing between his knees as if it were a cane and looked at them. A bird was chirping deep in the woods. Shogo looked solemn. Shuya listened nervously.

"You two make a nice couple. That's what I thought when I saw you this morning, and I still think so now."

Shuya stared at him, his mouth agape. Couple?

Noriko spoke first. Her cheeks were bright red. "You have it all wrong. We're not. I'm not—"

Shogo looked at Shuya and Noriko and grinned. Then he broke out laughing. It was an unexpected, friendly laugh. He continued chuckling.

"That's why I trust you. Besides, you just said so yourselves. There's no end once you start getting suspicious. Isn't that enough?"

Shuya finally grinned. Then he said sincerely, "Thanks. I'm so glad you trust us."

Shogo continued smiling, "Oh no, the honor's mine." 

"I knew you were an individualist the day you transferred to our school."

"Easy with the fancy terminology. Sorry but I was born with these looks. I can't help it if I don't look friendly."

Noriko gave him a warm smile and said, "I'm so glad. Now we have one more on our side."

Responding to Noriko, Shogo rubbed his finger against the stubble under his nose and made an unexpected gesture. He turned to Shuya and offered his right hand. "I'm glad too...now that I'm not alone."

Shuya squeezed his hand. Shogo's palms were thick. In keeping with his appearance, it felt like the hand of a fully mature man.

Shogo stretched, passed Shuya, and offered his hand to Noriko. "You too."

Noriko squeezed his hand.

Then he looked down at Noriko's leg wrapped in bandannas and remarked, "I'd forgotten about this. Show me your leg wound first, then we'll talk about our plans."

29 students remaining

20

The sunlight reflecting off the opaque window with the detailed patterns began to turn white. As sunlight came directly through the top of the window into the building where Yumiko Kusaka (Female Student No. 7) was sitting against a wall, she squinted her eyes. She was remembering the trite phrase repeated in the sermons given by the local priest of the Halo Church which her parents and she (before her name was even registered) attended, "The sun will come every day, blessing every one of us with joy."

Oh yeah, I am so blessed to be part of such a wonderful game, ha ha ha.