Battle Royale

Yoji gently brushed his hands through Yoshimi's hair while she cried. "It's going to be all right now. We'll stay together no matter what happens."

Yoji's words sounded reassuring and tears came gushing out from her eyes. The rules only allowed one survivor, but I get to be with the one I love most. There was something about a time limit, but we'll just stay together until time runs out. If someone attacks us, Yoji will protect us. Oh God tell me I'm not dreaming.

Yoshimi remembered everything that happened between them since she met Yoji in their second year, when they ended up classmates. That special autumn day, when they bumped into each other on the street and decided to go to a movie together, then Christmas, then the strawberry shortcake they ordered and split at the cafe, that night's kiss, New Year's, dressing up in a long-sleeved kimono for the first temple visit (the sacred lot she drew was only "fair luck," while his was "very good luck," and he gave her his), and the unforgettable Saturday, January 18th, the night she spent at Yoji's house.

"Where have you been?" Yoshimi asked.

Yoji pointed to the group of houses. "In a house over there. But you know this collar... if I stay there, it's supposed to explode. So..."

Yoji looked serious, but Yoshimi thought it was funny. They were right near each other! She'd been wondering ever since the game began where could he be, only to find out he was right nearby....

"What's up?"

"I was hiding in one of those houses too. We were probably right next door to each other."

They laughed. Yoshimi realized how wonderful it was to share a laugh with someone you loved. It might be considered trivial, but no, it was essential. And now it was hers once again.

Yoji slowly let go of Yoshimi. His eyes suddenly fell on her right hand. Realizing she was still holding the gun, she burst out, "Ha ha ha. I forgot.... "

Yoji also smiled. "Nice weapon. Look what I ended up with."

He showed her what he'd been holding. She hadn't noticed it at all. On closer look, she saw that it was a dagger, the kind you might see in an antique store. The strip of thread wrapped around the grip was worn out, the oval-shaped guard had turned greenish blue, and as Yoji revealed by pulling the dagger out of its sheath, the blade was spotted with rust. Yoji returned the blade to its sheath and tucked it in his belt.

"Hey, let me check that out," Yoji said.

She offered the gun to him. "You hold onto it. I doubt I can do much with it... "

Yoji nodded and took the Colt .45. He held the grip and checked the safety. He pulled the slide, revealing the first bullet in the chamber. The hammer was still cocked.

"You have bullets for this?"

The gun's cartridge was fully loaded. Yoshimi nodded, took the box of bullets out of her day pack, and handed it over to him. Yoji took it with one hand, opening it up with his thumb to check the contents. Then he tucked it into his uniform pocket.

All of a sudden...Yoshimi couldn't believe her eyes. She was completely clueless as to what was going on—as if she were watching some baffling magic trick—as she looked at Yoji's hands.

Yoji was pointing the Colt .45 at her.

"Yoji?.. "

After repeating his name, she saw how Yoji had become a different person.

His face was contorted. The thick-lashed eyes, the large hooked nose, his wide lips, each part of his face looked the same as before, but she'd never seen this expression with its twisted mouth, revealing its teeth.

The contorted mouth spat out these words, "Go away. Get out of here!"

Yoshimi didn't understand what he meant.

Yoji sounded irritated. "I said get away from me!"

Still in a daze, her lips quivered, "Why?"

As if fed up with her, Yoji cried out, "You expect me to be with a bitch like you!? Get out of here, bitch!"

Something inside of Yoshimi began to crumble, first slowly, then quickly.

"Why?" Yoshimi's voice trembled. "Did I...did I do something wrong?"

The gun was still aimed at her. Yoji spat to his side.

"Give me a break. Even I know you're a slut. I know you've been arrested by the cops.... On top of that you slept with a guy old enough to be your dad. I know that too! You expect me to trust a bitch like you!?"

Yoshimi's jaw dropped as she stared at Yoji's face.

It was...true. She'd been arrested several times for stealing, and the police had taken her in once for blackmailing a high school student. And then there was...prostitution. A while ago Yoshimi had slept with some middle-aged men Mitsuko Souma had introduced her to. The money was good, she wasn't the only one doing it, and at that time of her life she was getting so fed up with everything. So wearing makeup she'd never worn, acting like an adult, and being with men who seemed in their own way generous didn't seem like a bad thing. Yoshimi assumed Yoji had known all this about her.