πππππππππππππππ ππ πππ πππ πππππππ πππ ππ πππππ ππππ ππ ππππ π πππππππ
ππ πππ πππππ ππ πππππ πππ ππππ ππ π, π, π.....
πππππ
The sharp mechanical voice echoed through the massive arena with a blue screen.
The air shiftedβdry, intense, and buzzing with tension. A soft gust of wind kicked up grains of golden sand as the countdown ended, and the giant clocks began to tick.
Team BlueβKei, Enji, Yoko, Satoru, and Brother Cheng Haoβstood still, calm yet alert, clad in fitted blue attire that hugged their bodies for aerodynamic movement. Across from them, Team Red lined up: Alric (a brute-like fighter), Mina (quick and sharp-eyed), Fael (nervous and twitchy), Dorin (strategic but slow), and Rae (cold and silent).
The game began with Team Blue as the watchers. The five of them turned around, facing the massive clocks, closing their eyes at the rhythm's command. The soft beat echoedβ Elonti belonti clock goes tick... tick... tick...
DING.
They turned.
And just like that, the hunters became the hunted.
The red team bolted, scattering to confuse their watchers. But Kei's sharp eyes instantly locked onto Fael, who twitched a toe just after the bell. She raised her hand in signal.
"Caught," she said coolly.
A flash of light. Fael vanished from the field.
The watchers turned again. Rhythm ticking once more.
DING.
This time, Enji, eyes sparkling with excitement, spun swiftly and caught Dorin stumbling back to position. "Too slow, mate."
Another burst of light. Dorin was gone.
Only three red players left. Their rhythm was now shaky, their movement hesitant.
Time passed.
The round ended.
Celestina's voice echoed:
"ROUND ONE OVER. RED TEAM LOST TWO MEMBERS."
Cheers erupted.
Round Two. Roles switched.
Now Blue would run.
Satoru cracked his knuckles. "Let's not screw this up."
Yoko stretched her legs like a seasoned athlete before a race. "Child's play," she muttered.
The rhythm ticked.
DING.
They ran.
Cheng Hao's movements were precise. His body hardly made a sound against the sand. Kei was a machineβcontrolled, calculating each move down to the breath. Enji zigzagged playfully, teasing the watchers before freezing in a perfect pose, always just in time.
Yoko dashed like a wave, her swimmer's form gliding forward effortlessly.
None of them slipped. None faltered.
They touched the red team one by one, completing their mission.
Time ended. No casualties.
"BLUE TEAM WINS. RED TEAM β THREE SURVIVORS."
The crowd erupted. Team Blue stood victorious.
Celestina smirked from the stands. "Well done."
When the final chime rang, the screen lit up in golden letters:
ππππππ : ππππ ππππ
πππππππππ πππππππ -ππππ:π| πππ:π
πππππππππππππππ ππ ππππ πππππππ ππππ ππππ
πππ ππππ πππ π. ππ πππππ
πππ πππ πππ ππ π πππππππ ππππ π πππππππ
πππππππππππππππ ππ ππππ πππππππ ππππ πππππ
The game concluded far sooner than I had anticipatedβits smoothness almost unnerving. Victory came with a quiet ease, just as Inaya had promised: I was still alive. The weight of relief settled over me like a gentle fog. As we returned to the house, the weariness from the day pressed heavily on everyone. Kei, Enji, and the others lay sprawled in deep slumber, their breaths slow and steady, bodies drained from the ordeal. Yet Inaya was nowhere to be foundβnot on the playground, not within sight. A curious unease crept in. What was she doing ?The question gnawed at me as silence wrapped the house in its soft embrace.
We didn't make the trip to the mainland last nightβKei and Enji were simply too exhausted to move. The next morning broke quietly, but that calm was quickly shattered when Celestina arrived with another announcement.
"So, everyone," she began, her tone sharp and commanding, "the next gameβ'Pearl Diving'βwill take place in five days. It's not an easy challenge. We will only need three players who are skilled in holding their breath and swimming."
All eyes turned toward Yoko.
Satoru spoke gently, "Yoko, you're our best chance. You're the only one here who really fits the bill. Are you up for it? I know it's a lot to ask, but we don't have any other choice."
Yoko's face lit with a soft smile, her voice sweet but confident. "It's okay. I think I can manage. Besides, Satoru, anything for you."
Before I could process that, Takahashi stood up, surprising everyone. "I think I can go too."
I blinked. Takahashi? That didn't fit at all.
Yoko, with her electric blue eyes and milk-tea colored waves that framed her face perfectly, was known around school as a swimming prodigy. She'd won more trophies than anyone could count. Pearl Diving was made for her.
But Takahashi? The guy was a musicianβblonde hair cut into a stylish wolf cut, sapphire blue eyes, and a voice that could silence a room. Sports? Not his thing. Intelligence? Decent, but nothing remarkable. What was he doing volunteering for something like this?
Before I could wonder further, Ema cut in with a cheeky grin, "If he's going, maybe I should join too. How hard can it be?"
Ugh. Ema. The school's resident bully and cheerleader. Always pushing boundaries, always stirring up trouble. Now this was getting out of hand.
Celestina's gaze swept over us, sharp and piercing. "You're sure about this?"
Yoko, crossing her arms, shot back, "We don't even have a pool here. Where are we supposed to train?"
Celestina's eyes flashed. "Physical Impact has a pool. You're going there. Now."
"Now? We're eating!" Ema protested, already halfway out of her seat.
"I don't care," Celestina snapped. "If I say jump, you jump. Clear? Move." Her voice brooked no argument.
Reluctantly, we rose, the weight of what was coming settling in as the air grew thick with determination and a hint of dread.