FLASHBACK
Yuki sat against the back wall of the classroom, his arms wrapped around his knees, eyes lowered to the ground. The echo of mocking laughter filled the air as three figures stood around him, blocking his escape.
Yuri, the calm and collected leader, stood a little apart from the group, his arms crossed as he observed Yuki with a cool gaze. "You really think you belong here, Yuki?" he said softly, though there was no mistaking the disdain in his words. His voice was quiet, but carried authority, and his demeanor was far more composed than the others. "People like you don't know how to fit in."
Axel, the childlike, carefree member of the group, chuckled and shrugged. "Heh, he's so easy to mess with, though! Just look at him, so quiet and all!" He tossed a crumpled paper at Yuki's head, his voice lighthearted, as though the whole thing was just a game.
Eric, the most vocal of the three, stood proudly with his chest puffed out, a self-satisfied grin on his face. "Yeah, look at him, trying to act all high and mighty. Pathetic," he sneered, clearly enjoying the moment as if he owned it. He glanced at the others, waiting for them to laugh along with him. "You know, I'm just too good for this place. I don't even know why I bother with losers like him."
Yuki remained silent, his body tense. He knew this routine all too well. The mocking, the insults—it wasn't new, but it still hurt. Just as the bullying was about to escalate, a loud, unexpected voice rang out.
"HEEEELP! PROFESSOR! PROFESSOR!"
The classroom went still. Yuki looked up, his confusion mirrored by the other students. From outside the window, a professor's figure appeared, looking down with a raised eyebrow.
"Did you call for me?" the professor asked, his voice cutting through the air.
Eric blinked, clearly thrown off. "What the hell?" he muttered, his earlier smugness faltering as he glanced around.
Yuri, who had remained calm throughout the scene, now turned his gaze towards the professor, his expression unreadable. There was a slight pause before he sighed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Tch. Guess that's one way to handle things," he murmured, though he didn't seem rattled.
Axel, oblivious as ever, giggled. "Haha! He really did it! Called a professor! That's so funny!" His laughter rang out, light and carefree, as though nothing about the situation was serious at all.
Eric shot Axel a sharp look. "Yeah, that's... not funny," he muttered, his pride wounded by the unexpected interruption.
Asahi stood at the back of the classroom, a grin on his face as he watched the bullies retreat. His plan had worked, and he couldn't help but feel satisfied with how things had turned out. "Don't sweat it," he said, his voice relaxed. "You'll get used to it."
The bullies, seeing that the situation was no longer in their control, grudgingly backed off. Yuri gave Yuki a last, neutral glance before turning away. Axel, still giggling, followed along, and Eric, though deflated, stuck close to his group.
Yuki, still sitting on the floor, stared up at Asahi, a quiet understanding passing between them. Asahi wasn't like the others. His unconventional way of stepping in had made all the difference.
Asahi gave him a small, reassuring smile. "You okay?" he asked, his tone casual but kind.
END OF FLASHBACK
Yuki, Asahi, and Rainne were wandering through the dense forest, the midday sun beating down on them. Though the air was thick with humidity, Yuki maintained his usual calm, steady pace, leading the group with an ease that kept the others moving forward.
Asahi, ever the carefree one, seemed to float along beside him, his casual attitude bringing an occasional smile to Yuki's face. Rainne, who usually stayed a few steps behind, glanced over at Yuki, taking in his composed expression as they continued their journey.
Suddenly, the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore reached their ears. Yuki stopped for a moment, his gaze sharp and focused. "We're close," he said quietly, his calm voice cutting through the otherwise peaceful surroundings.
Asahi, sensing the shift in Yuki's mood, grinned. "Guess we're about to hit the beach, huh?"
Rainne nodded, her interest piqued. "It'll be nice to have a break."
The trio pushed forward, and soon the trees began to thin. The bright sunlight pierced through the gaps in the canopy, and before long, the sight of the beach stretched before them. The soft golden sand met the brilliant blue of the ocean, and the waves rolled in rhythmically against the shore.
Yuki's face brightened slightly, a rare spark of emotion breaking through his usual calm. His eyes scanned the horizon, the peaceful sound of the water soothing after hours of walking through the forest. "We made it," he murmured, his voice almost reverent.
Asahi, always relaxed, stretched his arms wide. "Told you it would be worth it," he said, his smile wide.
Rainne let out a soft sigh of relief. "It's beautiful," she agreed, the tension in her shoulders easing as she took in the view.
Yuki stood there for a moment, simply breathing in the air, letting the peaceful scene wash over him. His calm demeanor remained, but there was a subtle warmth in his gaze as he looked out at the beach, a brief moment of serenity in the midst of their journey.
Asahi, not wanting to waste any time, took a few steps toward the shore. "Alright, let's take a break. We could all use some time to relax."
Yuki nodded, following his lead, and soon they were walking across the soft sand, their feet sinking into it with each step. The cool water lapped at the edges of the beach, and the three of them made their way toward the shore, ready for a moment of peace after their long trek.
----------
As Ryu and Marielle made their way deeper into the forest, the sound of the birds' calls faded, replaced by the eerie quiet of the island. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the path they were following. Ryu's strong steps kept a steady rhythm, while Marielle stayed close behind, trying to mask the fear that still gripped her chest.
Their goal was clear: find shelter and survive, at least for the night. But each step deeper into the woods felt more dangerous. The unknown hung over them, and they couldn't afford to let their guard down.
"Stay close," Ryu whispered, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of concern. He'd seen how the game was warping everyone's sanity—how desperation made people unpredictable. No one could be trusted, not yet.
Marielle nodded, gripping his hand a little tighter as they moved through the underbrush. They were just about to crest a small hill when they froze, hearing a rustling sound ahead. Instinctively, Ryu shifted into a defensive stance, his body poised and ready.
Marielle's heart skipped a beat, her grip tightening on his arm. "Ryu, do you think it's—"
"Stay quiet," he murmured. He crouched low, signaling for her to follow suit. They slowly advanced toward the sound, moving carefully to avoid drawing attention. The rustling grew louder, then stopped abruptly. A figure emerged from behind a cluster of trees—alone, with an expression of wariness and fear. Ryu immediately tensed, but when he saw the face, his expression softened.
"Angel?" he called out, his voice low but clear.
Angel, one of their classmates, whirled around at the sound of her name. Her eyes were wide with fear, and her hand instinctively reached for something hidden in her clothes. But when she saw Ryu and Marielle, her hand froze midair, fingers trembling.
"Ryu? Marielle?" she said, her voice shaky. "What are you...?" Her eyes darted between them, the wariness clear in her expression. "Are you... Are you with them? The others?"
"No," Ryu answered quickly, stepping forward with his hands visible and open. "We're not with anyone. We're just trying to survive. We're not enemies."
Angel hesitated, the fear evident in her eyes. "I... I don't know who to trust anymore," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I—I can't tell if you're here to help or if you're just another threat."
Marielle stepped forward, her voice gentle. "Angel, we're not going to hurt you. We're just trying to stay alive, like everyone else. You don't have to do this alone."
Angel's gaze softened slightly but remained cautious. She lowered her hand, still clutching the makeshift weapon, but not threatening them with it.
She took a deep breath and finally spoke, her voice quiet but steady as she began to recount her experience. "At first... it was chaos," she said, her eyes flickering with the memory. "Everyone was scattered, panicking. No one knew what to do. I—I tried to find someone I recognized, someone I could trust... but it was all so fast. The rules... the bracelets. The poison capsules. No one knew who had the upper hand, who was really in charge, or what was going on."
She paused, as if gathering her thoughts. Ryu and Marielle listened intently, knowing this was crucial information.
"I didn't want to be alone. I tried to stick with a few others at first, but... it didn't last. There was a lot of confusion, a lot of shouting. People started to turn on each other. It wasn't even about survival anymore—it was about fear. Fear of the others. Everyone was so desperate."
Her voice faltered slightly as she continued. "At some point, people started grouping up. But it wasn't to help each other. It was to hunt down anyone who was on their own... or anyone who was weaker. They preyed on the smaller groups, picking off anyone who wasn't in a strong enough position to defend themselves."
Angel's face tightened, her eyes darkening with the weight of what she was saying. "I've seen it, Ryu. Groups of students... they're not just surviving anymore. They're hunting, attacking anyone who isn't in their pack. It's like they've forgotten that we were classmates... that we were supposed to be in this together. All that matters now is strength, and who's willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive."
Ryu and Marielle exchanged a brief, somber glance. The game was warping everyone's sanity, pushing them to the brink where trust no longer mattered, only power. The isolation was starting to change the rules of how people interacted—it was survival of the fittest now.
"We've seen some of that, too," Ryu murmured, his voice quiet but firm. "But we don't have to be like them. We don't need to be part of that madness."
Angel looked up at him, her gaze filled with a mixture of relief and skepticism. "I want to believe that... but it's getting harder. I've seen people turn, Ryu. I've seen how quickly things can spiral out of control. I—I don't want to end up like them. I don't want to hurt anyone."
Marielle stepped closer, her voice soft but reassuring. "You don't have to. We don't want that either. We'll stick together, keep looking out for each other. That's all we can do right now."
Angel's eyes softened, though the wariness still lingered in her expression. Slowly, she lowered the weapon fully, letting it hang by her side. "I don't know how much longer I can keep running... but I think I can trust you both. For now, at least."
Ryu nodded, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "Good. We'll figure this out. Together."
The distant cries of birds and the rustle of leaves in the wind seemed to fade as they gathered their thoughts, ready to continue on their journey through the darkening forest.
---------
As Yuki, Asahi, and Rainne walked along the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore seemed to drown out everything else. The air was cooler here, and the soft breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean, offering them a brief respite from the chaos they had left behind in the forest. It was a fleeting moment of peace, one that felt like it could last forever.
Yuki, always composed, allowed himself to relax for once. His steady pace matched Asahi's easygoing strides, and Rainne walked a little ahead, her gaze fixed on the horizon, as if searching for something beyond the immediate. Asahi had been right—the beach was a welcome change.
After a few moments of quiet, Asahi broke the silence. "Alright, let's just take a breather," he said, dropping his backpack onto the sand. "We've earned it." He spread out on the warm sand, his arms behind his head, his usual grin plastered across his face.
Yuki nodded and sat down beside him, taking in the expansive view, letting the peacefulness of the moment settle into him. Rainne, more reserved, stood at the water's edge, her feet just touching the cool water as she stared out at the distant horizon.
For a while, it felt like they had escaped from the nightmare that the island had become. But that sense of calm was short-lived.
A rustle of movement from behind them broke the tranquility. Yuki's head snapped up, his calm demeanor unshaken but alert, as his sharp eyes scanned the beach. He could see figures in the distance, approaching from the tree line. He tensed slightly, his hand instinctively going to the strap of his backpack.
"Someone's coming," Yuki murmured quietly, his voice betraying no hint of panic.
Rainne turned toward them, her expression instantly wary. "We need to be careful," she said, her voice low. "It's not safe here. There's no telling who's been watching us."
Yuki nodded, rising to his feet with a quiet grace, his presence always steady. "We'll find out soon enough."
The figures grew clearer, moving through the sand toward them, two of them standing out as familiar.
Yuri, the one who had an almost magnetic confidence, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, his posture radiating authority. Axel, beside him, looked much more relaxed, his childish demeanor still intact despite the chaos they had been thrust into. His bright, almost playful energy felt out of place in this tense moment, but it was unmistakably Axel.
Yuki's expression remained neutral as he met their gazes. Asahi, however, stood up fully, his hand resting on his belt with a sense of readiness, though his tone remained light. "Well, well, if it isn't the infamous duo," he said with a teasing smirk. "Didn't expect to see you two so far from the others."
Yuri's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze flicking from Asahi to Yuki and then back to Rainne. "You've been causing quite a stir," he said, his voice as smooth as ever. "I wonder how much longer you can stay out of the way."
Axel's grin was wide and almost carefree, as if nothing was amiss. "Yeah, we've been busy, you know? Haven't had a chance to take a real break. Looks like you guys are ahead of the game though." His eyes twinkled with mischief, but there was something sharper lurking beneath his innocent appearance.
Yuki remained silent, observing their every move, as calm as ever, but his mind was working fast. He could feel the tension in the air building. These two were dangerous, not just because of their abilities, but because of the unpredictability in their actions.
Rainne's posture tensed, her eyes never leaving Yuri's. The atmosphere between them crackled with a strange energy, as though the brief moment of peace they had found was being snatched away from them.
"Don't worry," Axel added, his voice light. "We're not here to fight. Not yet, anyway. Just wanted to see how far you guys were planning on going with all of this."
Yuri's gaze locked onto Yuki's, his expression unreadable, though a faint smile played at the edges of his lips. "You might want to rethink your position. This island isn't big enough for everyone."
The tension in the air was palpable as the four of them stood there, the waves crashing in the background, leaving them on the edge of something much darker.
Without another word, Yuri and Axel took a few steps back, their gazes still lingering on Yuki and the others. They didn't move far, but the silence that followed spoke volumes.
--------
[Died - 10] (Outdated)
[Remaining Students - 30] (Outdated)
Updates every 12 Midnight and is shown in the bracelet till 12:30