On a dimly lit train, the sound of boots against flesh echoes through the carriage.
"Please! I'll pay you the money, I promise!" Kazuya Kaneko begs, sprawled on the floor, his face bruised and smeared with blood. His voice trembles, but it's drowned out by laughter from the group of men surrounding him.
"You should've thought of that before skipping payments," the loan shark sneers, driving his boot into Kazuya's ribs. Kazuya gasps, clutching his side.
The man leans down, grabbing Kazuya by the collar with a malicious grin. "So, tell me. You're Kazuya Kaneko, right? The harmonious child of gold? That's what you call yourself, isn't it?"
Kazuya's mind races, fighting the pain. That's right. I'm the harmonious child of gold... or at least I was.
The man chuckles darkly, his tone dripping with mockery. "Then why are you so filthy poor?"
Laughter erupts from the group, echoing in the desolate train car. Kazuya's face burns with shame as he presses his forehead to the cold metal floor.
The loan shark straightens, lighting a cigarette and exhaling smoke lazily. "I'll give you one more week to pay back what you owe. Just one. And if you don't..." He flicks the cigarette ash onto Kazuya's battered face and grins. "We'll take your organs instead. Understand?"
"Y-yes, sir," Kazuya stammers, swallowing his pride. "I'll get your money. I promise."
The men leave, their laughter trailing behind them, as Kazuya lies there, trembling. One week. Just one week...
Kazuya stammered to his feet, clutching his ribs. "How am I supposed to pay them off?" His mind raced for answers but came up blank.
"I see you need a job, huh?" a voice interrupted, low and calm.
Startled, Kazuya looked around but saw no one. "Yeah, I need a—" His words faltered as the world spun around him. The pain surged through his battered body, and before he could say more, everything went black.
When Kazuya woke, the sterile white of a hospital ceiling greeted him. Confused, he blinked, sitting up with a wince. "Where... am I?" His mind pieced together fragments of the subway beating. "Did that guy... bring me here?"
His eyes landed on a card sitting on the bedside table. He reached over, ignoring the sharp sting in his ribs, and turned it over. An address was printed in bold black ink.
"An address?" Kazuya murmured, his heart pounding. He swung his legs over the bed, his injuries protesting. "I've only got a week... I can't waste time." Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand, using the wall for support. His legs threatened to buckle, but he refused to give in.
By the time he reached the address, he was drenched in sweat, his breath ragged. A towering building loomed before him, its windows dark and its structure imposing. Hesitant, Kazuya knocked on the heavy door.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" His voice echoed.
The door creaked open, but no one appeared. Warily, he stepped inside. "Hello? Is this the guy I saw at the subway?"
The air grew thick with a swirling fog. His vision blurred, and his knees gave out beneath him. "What... is this..." His body hit the floor with a thud, and darkness swallowed him once again.
A deafening noise jolted him awake. Kazuya blinked, disoriented, and found himself in a dimly lit cave. He wasn't alone. A quick scan revealed five other people scattered around, their expressions ranging from confused to menacing.
A deafening noise jolted Kazuya awake. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light of a cavernous, unfamiliar space. Shadows danced across jagged walls, and as his senses returned, he realized he wasn't alone. Five other figures surrounded him, each bearing the same look of confusion and guarded hostility.
"Where... where am I?" Kazuya muttered, his voice echoing softly.
One of the strangers broke the silence, his tone sharp. "Hey, does anyone know what the hell's going on?"
Kazuya tried standing and instantly felt an odd lightness in his body. He jumped experimentally and grinned in astonishment. "Wait, my injuries... they're gone!"
Before he could process it further, a booming, mechanical voice filled the cavern, sending chills through his spine:
"Welcome, contestants. You have been gathered here for one reason: to win a fortune beyond imagination. One of you will walk away with wealth enough to last a lifetime... but only one."
The weight of the words sank in, and the atmosphere shifted. Kazuya's heart raced, but a wide smile spread across his face despite himself. The others, however, turned wary. Eyes narrowed, fists clenched—it was clear alliances were far from anyone's mind.
"I'll make this easy," a brash voice rang out. A tall, broad-shouldered man with dark, piercing eyes stepped forward, his confidence radiating. "I'm Daiki Kobayashi. Save yourself the embarrassment and quit now—none of you stand a chance."
A blonde girl, strikingly pretty but with an air of mischief, crossed her arms and smirked. "Oh, please. You couldn't beat me on your best day."
Daiki snorted, giving her a dismissive glance. "You're cute, but you're still a girl. This isn't the place for you."
The blonde rolled her eyes. "It'll be fun watching your ego shatter when I win. I'm Aiko Tanaka, by the way. Remember my name when you're eating dirt."
The tension crackled between them as the others watched in silence. Finally, Aiko turned her attention to another woman, standing slightly apart from the group. "Hey, at least I'm not the only girl here. What's your name?"
The second girl had jet-black hair, and a face marked with faint scars. She glared at Aiko with cold, sharp eyes. "Yumi Hasegawa," she said flatly, her tone leaving no room for further conversation.
Aiko groaned and flopped onto a nearby bed, pouting. "Why is everyone here so boring? Can't we have a little fun before all the stabbing starts?"
Kazuya chuckled quietly at her antics and stepped forward, extending a hand. "I'm Kazuya. Nice to meet you."
Aiko's eyes lit up as she quickly shook his hand. "Kazuya! That's such a good name!" She tilted her head, suddenly curious. "What about your last name?"
Kazuya hesitated, his smile fading slightly. "I... don't have a last name anymore."
Aiko raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Jeez, what's your tragic backstory, huh?" she teased.
Before Kazuya could respond, two identical men stepped into the light. They wore matching grins and outfits, the only difference being the darker blue shade on one of them. The twin in darker blue spoke first, his voice playful. "I'm Riku Tanabe."
"And I'm Souta Fujimoto!" his brother chimed in.
Together, they struck an odd, synchronized pose. Kazuya and Aiko exchanged a glance before deciding to ignore them entirely.
Aiko fished through her pockets, pulling out a small device. "Anyway, forget those guys! Kazuya, check this out. I brought a game box! It just released!"
Kazuya's face lit up. "No way! I've been dying to get one, but I couldn't afford it."
Aiko held up the device triumphantly but immediately frowned. The screen was cracked, and the buttons hung loosely. "What the—! It's broken! I paid 500 for this! That was all the money I had left!"
She sank to the floor, nearly in tears. Kazuya crouched beside her, trying to console her. "Hey, don't worry. When I win the money, I'll buy you a new one."
Aiko sniffled and shot him a small smile. "Deal. But if I win, I'm buying you a new outfit. That one's tragic."
Kazuya glanced down at his torn, bloodstained clothes, suddenly self-conscious. "Oh... right. This is what I was wearing when I got jumped by those debt collectors..."
Aiko clapped him on the back, laughing. "Don't sweat it, ripped-clothes man. I've got your back. Just don't lose before you buy me my game box!"
A booming, automated voice echoed through the cave once more.
"Put on the uniforms near the bed you woke up on. Wearing them signifies your agreement to participate."
Kazuya glanced over at his bed, spotting a neatly folded uniform. He stood and stretched, shooting a glance toward Aiko.
"Well, guess I'll see you later," he said with a faint smirk.
Aiko giggled as she rummaged through her own box. "Sure, and maybe this uniform will be the miracle makeover you need," she teased.
Kazuya strolled back to his bed, shaking his head. Behind him, the twins were locked in an argument.
"No, this is my bed, not yours!" Riku shouted at Souta, pointing furiously.
Kazuya let out a small laugh. I'd hate to be those guys right now.
He opened the box and pulled out the uniform. The material was sleek and surprisingly durable, its dark color giving off a faint sheen in the dim light. Before changing, he glanced back at Aiko, who was already admiring her outfit.
"It's beautiful!" Aiko squealed, spinning around to show it off. The black material hugged her form, and she grinned mischievously. "It's a little tight, but I love it! It's easy to move in, too."
Kazuya slipped off his shirt, revealing lean, defined muscles. Aiko froze, her mouth slightly open in surprise.
"Whoa, dude. I didn't know you were hiding all that under your tattered outfit."
Kazuya raised an eyebrow as he finished pulling on the baggier, more practical version of the uniform. "And I didn't know you'd turn into a cheerleader over clothes."
Aiko smirked, clearly not ready to drop the topic. "Why's yours so loose, though? Mine feels like a second skin." She looked around and noticed the others' uniforms also varied in fit and style. "Whoever's running this thing really put some thought into it."
Kazuya pointed toward a camera mounted high on the wall. "They're watching us. Guess they like putting on a show."
Daiki approached them, his footsteps echoing off the walls. "That's a better look for you, man," he said, nodding at Kazuya's uniform.
Kazuya glanced at him. "Daiki, right?"
Daiki smirked. "Looks like you've got a good memory." The two shared a quick laugh, but their moment was interrupted as the voice returned.
"Good. All participants have put on their uniforms. Now, you must choose a partner."
The words sent a ripple of unease through the group. Kazuya frowned, his mind racing. A partner? This is getting sketchy. We barely know each other.
"To confirm your partnership, simply shake hands."
Before Kazuya could process the instructions, Daiki extended his hand. "What do you say, Kazuya? Better to pair up now than get stuck with one of them." He nodded toward the others.
Kazuya hesitated. "You sure about this?"
Daiki shrugged, looking away. "Look, it's either you or one of the girls, and I'm not taking my chances."
The announcement rang out again. "Souta Fujimoto and Riku Tanabe have paired up."
Kazuya glanced at the twins, who had already clasped hands. "They didn't waste any time," he muttered before turning back to Daiki. "Fine. I accept."
He shook Daiki's hand, and the voice confirmed:
"Kazuya Kaneko and Daiki Kobayashi have paired up. Aiko Tanaka and Yumi Hasegawa are the final pair."
A hidden door slid open, revealing a dimly lit pathway. Aiko let out a high-pitched squeal.
"See that? Girl power! We're going to wipe the floor with you guys!" She wrapped an arm around Yumi, who looked less enthusiastic.
"Don't worry, Yumi," Aiko said confidently. "We've got this."
Kazuya motioned toward the entrance. "Let's go." The group followed, their footsteps echoing in the narrow corridor.
"Don't you guys think this is creepy?" Daiki muttered.
The twins responded in unison, "Yeah, we agree."
Aiko groaned. "Please don't do that again. It's even creepier than the corridor."
"Sorry," they replied simultaneously.
The group reached a dead end with two doors—one green and one blue. Kazuya stepped forward, trying the handle of the green door.
"It's locked," he said. "Try the blue one, Daiki."
Daiki attempted the blue door, shaking his head. "No luck."
Aiko smirked. "Maybe try reading the sign, guys."
They exchanged embarrassed looks before turning to the sign. Kazuya's expression darkened as he read it aloud.
"This looks like... tournament brackets."
The reality of the situation began to sink in as the group examined the chart. Daiki's face turned grim.
"It says the first match is through the green door. The rest of us wait in the blue room," Kazuya explained. He turned to the twins. "That means you two."
Souta's face went pale. "No. This can't be happening." He turned to his brother, whose expression was hollow.
"Don't worry, brother we can just do a friendly spar." Riku said, placing a reassuring hand on Souta's shoulder. Without another word, he opened the green door and stepped inside. Souta hesitated before following, his steps heavy. The door slid shut behind them.
The rest of the group entered the blue room in silence. A set of stairs led them to a massive arena with towering walls and blinding spotlights.
"This place is huge," Kazuya whispered, awestruck.
Daiki broke the silence, his voice low and solemn. "Most of us are going to die here, you know that, right?" Daiki said while looking at a paper on the wall.
Kazuya met his gaze, a single tear trailing down his cheek. "Yeah."
Aiko sniffled, her usual energy gone. "Kazuya... I guess we won't be able to keep our deal after all." Her voice cracked as tears spilled down her face.
All fights must be to the death
Inside the Arena
Riku and Souta stood face-to-face. The air between them was heavy with unspoken emotion.
"Alright, brother," Riku said, his voice steady. "Are you ready?"