Chapter 1: Losing credits
It was the day he first met JOHAN GORE.
He ran to school that day, his bike had been stolen, stolen in the dynasty riots. Well it was more like taken, snatched from his hands
He reacted with a lunge to push away the man, until their eyes met, and he felt the intensity behind the man's gaze.
He could kill, he thought.
He hesitantly withdrew his hand, cowering away. The man took the bike, ran in the mob and threw it at the wall of policemen.
Sadly it still had his stags on it, the dynasty found it and that cost him a thousand credits, almost half of all he earned in his life. Years of good behaviors, good grades all flushed down the drain.
I wish I threw the bike at least, then it would be fair. He says to himself
His parents weren't happy, they'd have to go to the dynasty headquarters to clear things up or they won't be getting that boat, or that store, not with that kind of credit.
He almost got hit by a truck that day, but he was determined to let nothing stop him from keeping his credit up. But he made the mistake of falling asleep.
it was the exam period and they were all in a fight for their families as well as their futures
What you did, the dynasty always traced back home, same with the bike, same with the exams.
He ran out of breath as he staggered towards the entrance of the school. The doors were closed. He pushed on it, they didn't bulge.
It's locked. He thought. I'm late again. He slaps his forehead. Damn it?
He peeped in through the smoky window, he could see the credit officer patrolling the halls. He sighs feeling distraught at what he had to do.
I'll lose more credits if I miss roll call
So he knocked on the glass, he could see the credit officer turn and hurriedly walked to the door. The man slots the key in and jiggles it around, the lock clicks open.
He could see the officer smile through the glass. The officer opens the door and yells at his face
Your late!
I know sir, I'm really sorry sir, could you please spare me the ticket.
No, not you, not this time.
He sighs and tries to hurry in, the officer shoots his hand out in front of him, blocking him.
I still haven't given you, your ticket. Hold on
Come on, I'll miss roll call.
You shouldn't be late then
At least this way he'd skip a much harsher fine for school absence, if he makes it in time for roll call.
The credit officer scribbles something on a note,
He looks at his pocket just above it's it's his tag, a series of number everyone in the schools are given, to track thier credits it was essentially a second name, the name the dynasty knows you by.
He rips the note out. Hands it to him and says.
Take this to the principal during recess.
You can go
He's just nods
He quickly burst into a run
The guard screamed at him
No running in the hall?
He stops immediately turning his run into a fast walk, he looks back at the officer who's still watching him.
He turned back repeatedly checking on the officer. As he makes the turn he braces himself for another run. He looks back a final time, the officer's is locking the doors
He can't see me!
He quickly burst into a run, the sound of his sole against the floor echos through the halls.
The officer could hear, he takes down notes.
Cuasing nuisance during school hours - 10 credits.
The dynasty sent a monthly report in mail to every household with a kid in the system. You couldn't hide your score from your parents, and they couldn't hide thiers from the government.
Everything you did counted for something, as a teenager making mistakes will cost you credits, you wouldn't want to hit zero credits.
The dynasty will come for you if you hit zero , no teenager wants to be another Fubara Yoma.
He almost ran past the class door. Grabbing unto the handles to stop his sliding motion.
Quickly pushing it open and without closing the door or looking around the class he bows and says.
I'm sorry I'm late miss yoshida! I'm terribly sorry, I overslept and it won't happen again!
He doesn't get a response, all he hears is a low gasp from the back of the class and slight whimpering
If you punish me, please do so with after school chores, please don't harm my credits, I beg you.
There's no response, he fears the teacher is just staring down at him. He starts to feel a bit embarrassed, afterall his crush sits in the front row.
Maybe I startled her as I entered the class, I'm so going to get it.
He's still bowing . He slightly looked towards his classmates. They were trying to look away from him, the ones that looked at him seemed in a deep state of distress barely able to keep it together.
His crush in the seat in front of him was shivering, her uniform soaked from sweat. and tears running down her eyes.
Her eyes slowly met his and he felt the extent of her fear. She looked up towards the black board and he raised his head slowly, following her gaze.
As he raised his saw Kagane standing a few feet from him holding a gun to the teacher's head.
Kagane burst out laughing.
You're a hoot Tobio.
The shock was too much for Tobio he couldn't say a thing, he could only look up at him, he's body still slanted in a bow
How long you gonna do that for Tobio? get up.
He slowly gets up and a bit confused, he looks around the class, looking for any clues that turn this into one big joke, a prank on him, but he could see everyone was visibly shaken,like they had all met death.
He looks back to kagane. The teachers legs were shaking, her sweat had dripes unto the barrel.
I told you I could do it
Tobio still in disbelief, shook his head, confused
What? Was all he could says
Here you go, kagane says throwing him a small handgun, a revolver.
Tobio caught the gun almost on reflex,and with both hand. he didn't know why. There was another whimpering in the class, some one was trying to hold back thier tears.
Looking at the gun. It didn't feel like the toys he got for Christmas it felt like something Eastwood would carry, that's all the reference for guns he knew.
I made a silencer see, kagane says. Looking on at him with a childish smile on his face.
Tobio slowly raised his head, there eyes met
If I shot now… He pressed the gun against the teacher's head and pulled the hammer back…You wouldn't hear a thing.
The teacher whimpered and broke down into tears, she stops her self quickly, using up her remaining compusure trying to avoid stirring up kagane.
Tobio looked back at the gun, they looked expertly made, the silencers, even meticulously made. They'd work for sure, he thought.
If I shoot him then.. I can't, I can't shot him it's kagane, I should talk him out of this..but if I could shot him and safe everybody, I'd get a lot of credits. No it's kagane.
Come on don't you want it? Kagane says
I don't know kagane, I don't know what this is about
What, we talked about this, this woman here think she can ruin life as well as all of em here
Kagane you don't have to do this, you can make it back up, it's only a couple hundred credits. Come on.
It's a good thing you're my friend Tobio, I would have put a bullet in your head for saying that.
Chills ran down his spines as he heard those words from his best friend.
He's lost it, he won't listen.
Miss yoshida! Kagane says, how many did you take, tell him so he'd know, just how many credits did you take from me+
She shakes her head, her eyes begging the kid.
Where are your answers. Where's all that scolding gone to, remember you used to yell at me. how does it feels walking around with a gun to head now, that's how it feels, everyday in this school pretending to be who you're not, just so you'll get credit, where's all that algebra when you need. Kagane burst out laughing.
You know, miss yoshida I get it now, I get why yoma went insane. He let's the hammer got
It snaps.
The teachers eyes tremble, the whole class gasp, Tobio too. kagane burst at laughing
there's no bullet in this one silly, kagane says,Beside himself with laughter. Miss yoshida's unable to handle the mental stress. She faints, slumping to the floor
The student gasp and whimpers, trying to hold back their screams and tears.
Kagane turns his back to the class, facing the black board. He scoffs
Algebra.
He pops out the cylinder of his revolvers, only one bullet hole was empty,
Is that lady lucky or what, God told me to test their luck, see who was and wasn't lucky. I didn't want it to be the teacher. He pops the cylinder back in and sighs.
He puts his hands on his hips as he reads the equation on the board.
Tobio do you know this you? He says referring to the equation on the board. He still has his back to the class.
Tobio feeling the situation get tense, calmly slips his trembling finger into the trigger, something draws his attention towards Miku his crush.
She shakes her head at him, telling him no don't do it, don't don't anything
Tears well in her eyes. He felt the words in those eyes.
You'll get us all killed, they said
He shakes his head confused at what to do, he face turn red, tears begin to fill his eyes too
I don't do this, kagane, I can't
Kagane pushed up his glasses.
You said what?
He nods his head, I can't do this, this is crazy.
You can't do this come on, how about this? He walks towards the unconscious teacher and puts his foot on her crouch
Could you do this, he says jovially. I mean her. He chuckles
What? Tobio can't comprehend the look in his eyes
What happened to you.
My dad got my report yesterday, he hit me too hard, he sighs anyway he's dead now
Tobio hearts stops. The classroom instantly burst into tears in hearing his confession.
No, no, no, you didnt do that. Tobio losses his mind walks up t him hold him by the shoulder and shacking him
Tell me you didn't do that.
It hurt Toby, it hurt. He broke ultraman, I just couldn't take it after that, it's rare collible Toby, it could be worth a lot someday.
His words made Toby so sick, his face rrecoiled in horror
How can you say that
Get you hands off me Tobio! Kagane says on stern and treating way then he adds
I have to push up my glasses now
Tobio let's go of his shoulders. Kagane gently push up his glass then he looks out the window
Good I can see clearly now
What's with this guy, is like he doesn't care, Tobio says looking at him , barely recognizing his long time friend.
he was always so cheerful but when they got to high school the pressure had made him solemn and reclusive.
They still hung out together but his friend never told him anything personal. He had only heard rumors of his friends been caught in a crack down the dynasty did on a cult.
He never beloved the rumors, but now he felt other wise, afterall they were a lot of cults that honored Yuma's memory.
I won't be apart of this, you're doing a copycat aren't you. You're trying to copy Yuma.
Kagane face twisted into an intense frown immediately he heard him says the name. He swings his hand at Tobio. Hitting him with the butt of the gun.
Tobio falls to floor.
Miku lets out a mild scream, kagane glares at her, everyone in class cover their mouths, panicking.
He stands of over Tobio, he sits on his belly and tobi shivers as he draws his gun closer to his face. Blood spills out of his head into his mouth.
Kagane presses the barrel against his lips, Tobio, try to resist but his saw the look in his eyes
His gonna kill me
He lets go and Kagane pushes the gun into his mouth. He felt it graze his tongue.
You want original, huh? He pressed the silencer against the back of his throat.
Tobio trembles, his face completely covered in blood.
Kagane spins the cylinder of the revolver rotating the bullets
Now let's see how lucky you are.
He let's the hammer go
Bang!