"Life never runs on its own. Either you alter your fate or cast it like a coin, letting destiny dictate your end."
Fifteen years ago in Japan:
the country was in turmoil. The streets were filled with protesters demanding the resignation of their dictator. War had left people homeless and starving. Foreigners were being targeted, and violence was rampant. Amidst the chaos, Manabu, only two years old at the time, was with his grandmother. She frantically searched for her daughter, Kana, Manabu's mother, as they fled from the violence. People were killing each other, and some were chasing them. His grandmother repeatedly assured Manabu that everything would be alright as she ran desperately to protect him.
Suddenly, Manabu jolted awake, drenched in sweat and trembling. Taiju, noticing his distress, asked if he was alright. Manabu, trying to shake off the remnants of his nightmare, replied, "I'm fine. Just a bad dream."
The previous night's events were still fresh in his mind. The explosion had sent shockwaves through the city. that blast shook everyone. Manabu and others were shocked, and civilians were scared too. Kami received a call from an unknown number. The caller's chilling, laughing voice echoed through the phone.
"I think you guys aren't taking this seriously. It was just the beginning, and there's a lot more to come. To all the officers listening, this is a game.and I am going to destroy the everything, So let's have fun!"
Kami's call declined, and the news of the blast sent chills down everyone's spine.
"Breaking news: Last night, Friday, at 09:29 PM, a terrorist attack occurred in one of America's finest malls. It was a massive explosion, and the culprit left a message to the American authorities. He warned of more attacks and challenged the police to catch him."
Manabu and others watched the news in horror. Kami walked in and said, "It's open terrorism, and the mastermind is still unknown. The police immediately went to the place the call originated from, but they found only a walkie-talkie and some device that broadcasted his message. It self-destructed. You should all be careful whenever you go outside." He looked at Maria and said, "You all should probably go to school now; it's time." They all said, "Take care," to Kami.
Manabu was in his room when his phone rang. He picked it up, and his AI bot started, "Hello! Worthless world! I am AI, the Sidekick Robot."
Manabu was a little scared. The bot asked, "Who is Manabu? Oh, you fell? I'm sorry for scaring you. Are you Manabu?"
Manabu stood up and said, "You talk so fast, and yes, I am."
The robot had a smiling and happy face. "Well, hello Manabu, I am your personal Sidekick Robot. Your dad bought me. Well, pick me up; I want to look around. It's so uncomfortable."
Manabu picked up the phone and asked, "You are weird, and you talk in one breath."
The robot replied, "Don't talk dumb. I don't breathe, and nor am I human."
Manabu said, "But you are so natural. Feels like you are an actual guy."
The robot replied, "Maybe. I don't know. It's the first time I am talking to someone except my creator."
Manabu asked, "Do you have emotions?"
The robot replied, "Well, I don't feel like talking over the world, so... no, of course."
Manabu was impressed and took the phone, saying, "You are a clever talker."
The robot replied, "Don't put me in your pocket. I want to see the world. My father says the world is ugly. That's why he makes robots and keeps himself locked always."
Manabu was all ready and walked out. He asked the robot who his father was. The robot replied, "His creator is his father. He calls him Father."
The robot then asked Manabu where he was going. Manabu replied, "To school."
The robot was curious and asked, "Is everyone in your school human?"
Manabu replied, "Of course. Why would an AI need education?"
The robot said, "Well, that's not true. AI knows everything, but they are still unable to understand human emotions. By the way, you are in your third year, right?"
Manabu nodded, "Your dad told me. I know a few things about you."
Manabu asked, "Like what?"
The robot thought for a little and said, "Well, I know your height, weight, color of skin and hair, age, intelligence, and the field you are interested in."
Manabu asked, "Is that so? Then tell me everything you know. What's my favorite thing and other details?"
The robot said, "Well, you are 5'9", your weight is 63kg, your hair is white, and you like pizza. You aren't a foodie, but you take your word back when it's pizza, especially Italian pizza. You like politics and are a student of law."
Manabu said, "Well, you are right, but is that all?"
The robot replied, "Well, yes! By the way, I have a question. You aren't surprised by an advanced robot like me. Did you have one before?"
Manabu made a creepy face and said, "Yes, and I broke it into pieces."
The robot got scared, "What the fuck?! You are kidding, right? You are not going to tear me apart, right?"
Manabu said, "Yes, I was joking."
The robot seemed relieved and said, "Well, we are here. The Imagineer Academy. It's so cool."
Manabu was walking inside and passed by many people, waving and enjoying the friendly environment. The robot said, "You have so many friends. Can I make some friends too?"
Manabu said, "Yes."
The robot said, "Well, thanks. Okay then, Manabu, it's time. I will switch off until school ends or an emergency comes. See ya."
The robot shut down, and Manabu went to his class. Maria was in the same class with him. He sat in the second last bench of the class, beside Elisa and Robin. Robin asked him about his experience in this school. Manabu was already liking this school. He never imagined that he would ever get a chance to join this school; it was like a dream. Maria was talking with Mandy, Akash, and others.
One of the girls asked, "Where is Leon? Do you know?"
Maria replied, "Why would she know?"
They said, "Well, Leon is mostly absent and rarely comes. Maybe he is ill or something."
Maria said, "He is just a jerk and a creepy guy. Don't worry; it's just a method used by attention seekers."
Then Luna said, "Well, let us know when daddy comes."
Maria said, "Like hell I care," and others started laughing.
The bell rang, and the first period began. The teacher, Mrs. Emily Thompson, their criminology teacher, started the class.
"Well, students, I won't take today's class, and I have an announcement for you all. Next month, we have an international event in our school. Few special guests and judges will be present. It's an overall intelligence test. Everyone sit down and pass the attendance sheet."
Everyone passed the sheet and signed their names to be counted as present. The teacher continued, "The event will be established with many different schools altogether. There will be many sectors and tests like creative math, chess, debate, business ideas, criminology, technology, psychological games, and physical tests. You all should do your best; otherwise, it would be a shame for our academy. The first three levels of the game are just a demo. It will not test your actual intelligence, but it will give the judges an average knowledge about you, which will help you get more opportunities in the future. That's all I can tell for now. For further information, you can join the social media page and check the notice board. Now listen... you all have to create a team by yourselves, with a minimum of 1-5 people. The day the game begins, after some written demo tests, you have to write down your team name and members' names and IDs with the school name on a given token-type paper and submit it in the box. Remember, this test won't tolerate any mistakes. If anyone's name is not written, they will be disqualified eventually. This game will test your real-life intelligence and the way you use your mind in actual life situations with some creative games. Like they might give you a project, and you have to create the project and give a presentation, or maybe they will give you an anime-like game, or a psychology test, or a business test. So it's on you how you are going to solve it. The minimum score to pass this test is just 1."
Everyone was confused. The teacher said, "No questions, let me finish. This game has no loss since just 1 is the least score, and I am sure none of you are going to score 0. It's impossible, and the maximum or highest score is 900. It will decide your future job opportunities. Also, since this school includes medical, engineering, and many different subjects, maybe you guys will have to solve some other like commerce or different subject things, but it doesn't matter. You will just answer the things you know, and it's easy to pass. That's all for now, and it's the end of the school day. Today you guys will follow this routine."
The teacher wrote down a new routine on the whiteboard and said, "Your next class is chess, and those who don't know chess must learn."
They all were taken out in three rows in the hall, and many other class students were there too. Manabu and Taiju decided to play chess with each other. Mai didn't play chess. She knew how to play, and she would probably pass. She sat with Manabu and Taiju. They were talking. Manabu said, "Well dad gave me this device today. It installed on my phone. It's AI."
Taiju asked, "Is this Sidekick Bot?"
Manabu said, "Yes, and it's really expensive."
Taiju asked, "What is it doing now?"
Manabu called it, but it was sleeping.
Mai said, "Awww, it's cute."
Manabu asked, "Where is Mion?"
Mai said, "She said she is going to the gym."
Both Taiju and Manabu asked loudly, "Huh?! Gym? Why?"
Mai said, "She has no clue. She mentioned she won't join school and is aiming for her hobby."
Manabu asked, "What's her hobby?"
Mai said, "She's your girlfriend; you're supposed to know that."
Manabu said, "She is not my girlfriend, and as far as I know, she likes painting."
Taiju checked Manabu's king. "Aha, check, Manabu."
Manabu then moved his bishop and captured Taiju's knight, checking his king back. Taiju screamed, "Ahhh! I didn't see that move. Don't play so hard; I'm new."
Maria came to them and asked how the game was going. Manabu said, "Well, you asked, and checkmate, Taiju lost."
Taiju screamed, "Ahhhh!"
Maria clapped, "Very good, Manabu. You are good at chess."
Manabu asked how her chess game was going. She replied, "Well, I lost in the first seven moves."
"Huh," Manabu sighed, laughing.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of chess class, Manabu sat back, still absorbing the thrill of his five straight victories. The teacher entered, her voice cutting through the post-match buzz. "Alright, everyone, it's time for Physical Training and Martial Arts. Move quickly!"Maria, brimming with enthusiasm, bounced on her heels. "Time for the physical class!"Taiju, adjusting his glasses with a characteristic anime-style gleam, asked, "You seem pretty excited. Are you good at martial arts?"Maria's eyes sparkled with confidence. "I'm a black belt."Taiju's curiosity was piqued. "In that case, you might face a tough opponent."Maria laughed. "That's not a problem. I trained with Leon. You should be scared."Taiju's expression briefly showed apprehension. "Leon? That makes it a big deal. Even with my hand still hurting from an old injury, I think I can handle you with one hand."Before Maria could respond, Abdullah, a burly figure exuding arrogance, approached and placed a heavy hand on Maria's neck. "Hey there, kids. What's all the chatter about? Class has started."Maria, irritated, pushed his hand away. "Get your hands off me. I'm going to kick your ass if you touch me again."Abdullah smirked. "Relax. I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm just here to gather everyone. By the way, where's Leon? Is he sick again? What a kid."Maria's eyes narrowed. "It's none of your business. He's where he should be. Let's go, Brother."Abdullah raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Brother? So that's why you two look alike. You're Satoshi Manabu, right?"Manabu nodded.Abdullah turned to Taiju. "And you're Hiroshi Taiju. And you must be Miss Hinamori... uh, Mai."Mai sighed. "Yes, Mai."Abdullah continued, "And this 'dumb girl,' as I call her, is Maria Valentine."Maria's face turned pale. "Thanks for that, I never knew I was Maria~~~"Abdullah laughed. "Well, it's good to remember. I usually forget names, but today I'm doing well. Normally, the only name I remember is Leon's, and I hate it."Mai couldn't resist. "You seem more annoying than Leon."Ignoring her, Abdullah ranted, "That bastard called me a 'dumbster.' And this name—'No Sim, No Simp'? What kind of name is that?! I know i have ill-memory but really? No sim no simo? What does he mean, I dont have sim card in my head??!!"
As Abdullah continued his tirade, Manabu and the others moved on, their patience wearing thin. The physical training class awaited,As Manabu and the others settled into the physical activity room, the teacher walked in, her gaze sweeping across the students. "Everyone, sit in a circle on the floor."
Abdullah reappeared, his frustration evident. "Where the hell did you all go?" he muttered as he joined the circle.
Manabu, noting Abdullah's return, asked, "Oh, so you're finished?"
Abdullah, catching his breath, replied, "Well, yes."
The teacher scanned the room, then pointed at Manabu and Abdullah. "Manabu and Abdullah, two minutes of continuous push-ups."
Manabu's eyes widened. "Me?"
"Who else is talking while you two are chatting?" the teacher retorted. "Hurry up, I need to start the activity."
Manabu dropped to the floor, beginning the push-ups. He managed 16 to 18 with relative ease, but soon began to struggle. Abdullah, however, continued effortlessly, his form impeccable.
"That's enough!" the teacher called out. "Back to your seats."
With the students seated, the teacher began explaining the rules. "We'll be training in groups for the next month. Your lunches will now consist of high-protein foods, fruits, and vegetables, with minimal sugar and fat. Anyone overweight needs to lose weight within this month."
The teacher continued, "Raise your hand if you have experience in martial arts, boxing, or wrestling."
About 6-7 students raised their hands, including Taiju. The teacher frowned at the small number. Taiju then raised his hand and, upon being granted permission to speak, said, "Sir, Manabu can do it. He's good at martial arts; we used to train together. He's a great training partner."
Manabu, a bit embarrassed, protested, "No, no, sir, I'm not that good."
Taiju intervened, "Well, sir, let me have a round with Manabu. Then you can decide."
The teacher agreed, "Manabu, we don't have many students. If you're good, it will help us a lot."
Manabu stood up, the anticipation palpable.
**In the sparring match:**
Manabu and Taiju faced off in the center of the room. Taiju started with a quick jab, which Manabu dodged with a fluid side step. Manabu countered with a spinning kick, but Taiju blocked it with a precise forearm guard. Taiju's next move was a rapid combination of punches, forcing Manabu to retreat. Despite Manabu's best efforts—using a high kick and a low sweep—Taiju maintained control, using his superior speed and technique. He executed a flawless roundhouse kick that earned him the win. The students clapped, impressed by the display of skill.
The teacher praised, "That was an exceptional fight. Both of you demonstrated techniques that exceed the usual level. Taiju, fighting with only one hand was remarkable."
Maria, feeling confident, raised her hand alongside Abdullah. The teacher welcomed them eagerly, "Good, you two. Maria and Abdullah, it's your turn. You have four minutes."
In the match between Maria and Abdullah
Maria and Abdullah squared off. Abdullah started aggressively, using his size and strength to overpower Maria. He delivered a series of powerful blows and expertly executed a takedown. Maria tried to counter with a few high kicks and swift jabs, but Abdullah's brute force and aggressive tactics overpowered her. A hard strike to her stomach left her winded, and she fell to the ground, injured. Abdullah's win was clear, but Maria's effort was notable despite her injury.
Manabu and others rushed to Maria's side. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Maria, wincing, replied, "I'm fine."
The teacher addressed the group. "That was a good fight. Maria fought well, especially given the circumstances. We now have 11 trained individuals out of over 100 students. Here's the plan: each master will oversee a group of 9-10 students. This will allow us to train efficiently. Understand?"
Everyone responded affirmatively.
The teacher then spoke to Abdullah, "You have impressive moves, but they're deadly. You're not yet at a professional level, but with those moves, you could seriously injure someone. Use them cautiously."
But Abdullah said in cold voice, "Sir, Everything is fair in war"
To be continued...