Battle Royale

"Look, we both know why. Okay, later," Takako said as she got ready to run. Still, she felt herself hesitating as her feet trembled.

She stopped.

Because out of the corner of her eye she saw the weapon in Kazushi's right hand pointed at her.

Takako slowly turned around, keeping a close eye on his fingers on the trigger of his bow gun.

"What's this?" she asked.

She casually slid the day pack off her left shoulder and caught its strap. Would it be able to shield her from the force of the bow gun?

"I don't want to resort to this," Kazushi said. This was exactly what she couldn't stand about him. He was making excuses, but in fact he was trying to gain the upper hand. "So you better stay with me."

That pissed her off. But that was also when she noticed something. When she was hiding in the shack her uniform skirt got caught on a broken door. The tear resembled the slit up a Chinese dress, and now Kazushi was looking down at it. His eyes were strangely glazed over. It gave her the creeps.

Takako quickly moved her legs to cover them as much as possible. Then she said, "Give me a break. You expect me to join you with that stuck in my face?"

"So you promise not to run away?" Kazushi spoke in his usual arrogant voice. He didn't lower the bow gun.

Takako had to put up with him. "Just put that down."

"So you won't run?"

"Are you deaf?" Takako said sharply, and Kazushi reluctantly lowered his weapon.

Then he assumed a smug tone as he said, "I've always thought you were fine."

Takako raised her well defined, elegantly arched eyebrows.

She was exasperated. After threatening her life like this, he has the nerve to say I'm fine!

Kazushi's eyes fell on her legs again. He made no effort to be subtle, and his eyes were locked onto them now.

Takako lifted her chin slightly. "So?"

"So I won't kill you. Just stay with me."

Takako shrugged again. Any hesitation she might have had was now wiped out by anger. "I told you I don't want to," she spat out. "Later."

Takako turned to...no, this time she began moving backwards and staring back at Kazushi. Kazushi lifted his bow gun again. His face had the expression of a kid begging for a toy at a department store. Mom, I want it, I want it!...I see now.

Takako quietly said, "Stop this."

"Then...stay with me," Kazushi repeated. The way he tilted his head revealed how frantic he was trying to calm his nerves.

Takako repeated, "I told you, no."

Kazushi didn't lower the gun. They glared at each other.

Takako couldn't bear it anymore. "You know...what do you want? Say it. You're not killing me off. I tell you, I don't want to be with you, but you insist. I don't get it."

"I..." Kazushi stared at Takako with that leer in his eyes and said, "I'm saying I'll protect you. So...just stay with me. We're safer together, right?"

"You've gotta be joking. You have the nerve to threaten me like that and say you'll protect me? I can't trust you. Get it? Can I go now? I'm going."

Kazushi replied, "If you move I'll shoot you." He aimed the bow gun directly at her chest.

By openly threatening her like this Kazushi lost any chance he had of keeping to a civilized code of conduct (not that he had much of sense of that to begin with). He stood still and said, "You better obey me, girl. A woman obeys his man."

Takako was furious. Then he had the nerve to say, "You're a virgin, aren't you?" in a casual tone, as if he were only confirming her blood type (B).

Takako was at a loss for words.

"..."

What...did this asshole say?

"Am I wrong? Hiroki wouldn't have the guts to sleep with a girl."

Kazushi said this because probably he, along with many of her other classmates, had the mistaken assumption that she was going out with Hiroki Sugimura. She had two reasons to be especially annoyed, though. First of all, her relationship with Hiroki was none of their business. Second, Kazushi's making fun of Hiroki pissed her off.

Takako broke into a grin. She'd realized a long time ago how she could always grin when she was absolutely furious.

So she grinned like this at Kazushi and said, "What's it got to do with you?"

Kazushi might have misinterpreted Takako's grin. Kazushi grinned back. "So I'm right."

Still smiling, Takako glared back at him. Yes, in fact you are right. I might look a little flashy, but just as you said, I'm a virgin. An innocent 15-year-old girl. However...

It's none of your business, asshole!

Kazushi continued, "We're gonna die anyway. Don't you want to try it once before you die? I'd be a good partner."

Although Takako had never felt so angry in her life, she couldn't help but gawk back at him in amazement. Her mouth might have even hung open. His exasperating, outrageous behavior was bad enough, but now it was so out of control it was like he was from another world. Captain Columbus, that is San Salvador Island. Okay, they're barbarians. Beware of the barbarians.

Takako looked down—and burst out in laughter. It was incredibly funny. This sitcom would have been a hit.