[Location: North Side of Death Island]
The moon blessed the ocean with its pale light, the water reflecting a quiet, almost unreal purity. A gentle wind drifted across the surface, carrying with it whispers of distant memories—some warm, some heavy.
High above, the airplane cut through the sky, its metallic body glinting under the moonlight.
Inside the plane, most candidates were asleep in their respective seats. Some murmured in dreams, others snored softly, their bodies relaxed, unaware of what was about to happen.
Hikaru's face looked calm as he slept, his breathing slow and steady.
Inside a separate cabin within the plane, the instructor sat on a sofa, sipping tea. The faint aroma of it lingered in the enclosed space. His eyes shifted toward the clock attached to the wall, the ticking sound faint but precise.
Without a word, he placed the cup down and pressed a button beside him.
A low mechanical hum followed.
Slowly, the trapdoor on the floor of the cabin slid open, metal grinding softly against metal. From within, a microphone rose upward with a quiet whirr.
The instructor leaned slightly forward.
"Instructor speaking."
His deep, cold voice echoed through the entire passenger cabin.
In an instant, every hitmen candidate woke up. Some gasped, others jerked upright, confusion flashing across their faces as the voice settled into their ears.
"The time has finally arrived," the instructor continued, his tone calm yet commanding. "Prepare your equipment. Those selected, equip your parachute backpacks."
A wave of urgency spread.
Candidates scrambled to their feet, grabbing straps, tightening belts, securing parachutes. Sayuri moved quickly, her expression focused as she adjusted her gear. The air filled with the sounds of movement—footsteps, fabric rustling, metal clicks.
But Hikaru…
Remained asleep.
As if nothing existed.
As if the world itself had paused around him.
Then—
SLID!
The trapdoor beneath the candidates opened completely.
Without warning—
They fell.
The wind that felt calm a moment ago turned violent, roaring past their ears as the candidates plummeted through the sky. Air pressure slammed against their bodies, clothes snapping wildly, breaths breaking under the force.
Chaos erupted mid-air.
Candidates clawed at each other, desperation twisting their faces.
"Hey! Give me that—I need it, you shithead!" one of them screamed, reaching out, fingers barely missing a parachute strap.
Bodies collided, fists flew, and hands grabbed at anything they could hold onto as they fell toward the dark ground below.
Sayuri struggled, gripping her parachute tightly against her chest as another candidate lunged at her.
"Give it to me, or I'll kill you!" he snarled, trying to snatch it away.
"No! It's mine… we can share it too!" Sayuri replied, her voice strained, fighting to keep her grip as the wind tore at her hair and clothes.
Just above them—
Hikaru.
The rushing wind slammed against his body as his eyes slowly opened. His expression held no trepidation—only calm awareness.
In a swift motion, he twisted his body mid-air, adjusting his fall with precision as he descended toward them.
The man suddenly froze.
A presence.
Cold. Close.
He turned his head—
And met Hikaru's eyes.
Before the person could react—
Hikaru's hand shot forward, grabbing his collar and yanking him closer.
CRACK!
The sound was sharp, unnatural.
The man's body went limp instantly as Hikaru twisted the men's neck, lifeless, drifting away into the darkness below.
For a brief moment, the chaos around them seems dull.
Sayuri, shaken, quickly reached for the hook on her backpack.
Swoop!
The weight on her back vanished.
Her eyes widened.
The parachute—
Was now in Hikaru's hands.
Without hesitation, he pulled the hook.
FWOOSH!
The parachute burst open above them, fabric stretching wide as the wind filled it. The violent descent slowed, the pull jerking their bodies upward slightly as the ropes tightened.
Hikaru held Sayuri firmly by her collar, keeping her steady as they descended together.
The ground rose closer.
Closer.
Until—
They landed.
Sand and dust shifted beneath their feet as they touched down with a controlled impact, joining a few other survivors who had managed to secure parachutes.
Above them—
The screams continued.
Then slowly…
One by one…
They faded into silence as the failed candidates reached the ground.
As the survivors began to celebrate, some laughing in relief, others collapsing onto the ground with heavy breaths, a sudden voice echoed through massive speakers hidden across the land.
"Congratulations for clearing your first stage…"
The voice was calm, yet carried an unsettling weight.
"From now on, the second stage begins. Here are the instructions—reach the center of the island. There, you will find a train station. The train contains limited seats. Those who pass this stage will advance to the third stage…"
A brief pause.
"…and those who fail… will die on this island."
The words sank in.
Instantly, panic spread.
Some candidates bolted toward the center without hesitation, their footsteps kicking up dust. Others turned on each other, eyes filled with suspicion and desperation, weapons already drawn as survival instincts took over.
The brief moment of relief shattered completely.
Amid the chaos, Hikaru simply started walking toward the direction of the train, his pace steady, unaffected.
Behind him—
A voice called out, soft yet trembling.
"Thanks… for helping me that time."
Hikaru stopped and turned slightly.
It was Sayuri.
Her posture was a little stiff, her hands nervously clasped together.
Hikaru replied coldly, "Don't follow me."
"H–hey… that's rude of you," she said, forcing a small, awkward smile. "But… let me help you once. You helped me back then. My mom always said we should help people who help us."
Her voice carried sincerity, even through the nervousness.
Hikaru didn't respond.
He turned away and continued walking.
The conversation ended as if it never mattered.
Yet—
The only reason he had saved her back then was not impulse.
It was something deeper.
A fragment of morality.
Something his girlfriend had once placed inside him…
Making him more human than he used to be.
As the next journey begins Sayuri started to follow Hikaru.