Maho's point of view
I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him. Standing in the courtyard, smiling.
Morning was so peaceful. Sunlight poured through the dorm window like nothing had changed. It was almost beautiful. Sunlight reflected off the glass buildings. Birds perched on the trees. Students walked calmly across the courtyard. It all looked normal. If I hadn't heard the announcement last night, I might have believed this was just an elite university.
Riko was complaining about the dorm beds. Tsuki was scrolling through her phone. Everything looked normal. Sara was already brushing her hair in front of the mirror when I sat up. "See? Nothing scary happened. It's probably just dramatic elite-school stuff," she said lightly.
Maybe she was right. Maybe I was overthinking.
We were called to the main auditorium at 9 a.m., all the 100 of us!
Kai stood on stage with his perfect posture as he was normally. The principal stood beside him, smiling gently as always. It's all like nothing's changed right?
"Good morning, Trial Students,"she said warmly. Her voice was soothing. "Today marks the first day of your evaluation."
Evaluation? What kind of evaluation did she mean? Are we going to write an exam? I've not read anything yet!!
"As you know, this is a seven-day residential trial. Only the most capable among you will be selected for regular admission."
A murmur spread across the room. Only the most capable? Like in what? Were we writing an exam now?
Kai stepped forward. "Hoshizora does not measure intelligence alone," he said calmly. "We measure adaptability, Courage and Decision-making under pressure."
The lights dimmed. It was getting dark. My fingers tightened around the edge of my seat. I gulped and whispered ''What is this even about?''.
A large screen behind them turned on. It was really huge! It displayed our names. All one hundreds of people like us.
Then slowly— Ten names turned red. My heart's beating just got faster. It was suffocating there even there was so much of space. The room fell silent. Sara squeezed my hand. "It's random... right?".
The principal smiled. "These ten students have been selected for today's evaluation round 1" Kai said smirking.
My eyes widened as I heard that. What are they going to do now!?
One of the students whose name turned red stood up shakily. "W-What kind of evaluation?"
Kai didn't answer, but smirked. Instead, security guards entered the room. They guided the ten students toward the stage. Hopefully, our names were not picked yet.
The screen changed again. A new message appeared...
"Only three will remain."
A ripple of fear spread through the auditorium. I was in shock, I didn't move. It felt like I was paralyzed! OMG, what is this now!!!?
"What does that mean?" Riko whispered. I couldn't answer and I didn't.
The principal clasped her hands together gently."Within the enclosed testing arena, you will demonstrate your will to survive."
Survive? My chest tightened, I couldn't breathe. I felt like someone stabbed me. The doors at the side of the stage opened. Behind them— A fenced courtyard area, High walls, No exits.
"This is insane,"one of the selected students said. "This is just an interview trial!"
Kai's voice cut through the panic. "You signed the agreement."
The student froze. We all did. We remembered when we signed the form they provided. ''Withdrawal will not be permitted after entry.''
"Your performance will determine your future here,"the principal continued softly. "You may begin."
The gates to the enclosed courtyard slammed shut. For a moment— Nothing happened. The ten students just stood there, Confused. They were all Breathing heavily.
Then— A loud metallic sound echoed. Weapons dropped from the ceiling. They were all Knives, Batons. A collective gasp filled the auditorium.
"No..." Sara whispered.
The students inside stared at the weapons, Then at each other. Fear shifted into something else. ''Desperation.''
"No one said you must use them," the Principal added sweetly. "But only five will advance."
I felt like I was going to collapse now. I felt like someone stab my heart. My body felt so heavy, I couldn't even move.
Then one student lunged forward screaming, and everything exploded into chaos. I couldn't look away as blood splattered across the concrete and screams filled the hall. Someone tried to climb the fence but was dragged down. It was messy, clumsy, terrified violence. This wasn't trained killing; this was panic survival.
Sara was crying beside me. Riko covered her mouth. Tsuki looked frozen. I felt numb, like my body had shut down to protect itself.
One by one, they fell. When it ended, three students were still standing, shaking and covered in blood. The other eight didn't move, dead!
The arena doors opened, and the surviving two were escorted out silently.
The principal smiled proudly. "Congratulations,"she said. "You have proven your determination."
I couldn't breathe. This wasn't an evaluation. This was selection through slaughter. I can't live here. This is worse than living in HELL!!
Kai's eyes moved across the audience, watching our reactions, studying us. "This is Hoshizora,"he said calmly. "And this is only the beginning."
Kai's words lingered in the air long after the arena was cleared. "And this is only the beginning." —
the three surviving students—stood trembling at the edge of the stage while the bodies of the others were quietly covered and removed with terrifying efficiency. The concrete was already being washed down. Staff members moved calmly, methodically, as if this were routine. As if students bleeding out in front of us was simply part of orientation.
That was the moment I understood- We weren't here to study. We were here to survive. And survival meant becoming something I never wanted to be.
My stomach twisted when I realized something. This wasn't random. This was structured. The screen flickered again.
''Round One: Completed.
Survivors: 2.''
A ripple of confusion moved through the auditorium. Two? But we had just seen more than that standing. Then I understood. Some of them had collapsed after the doors opened. Injuries and Blood loss; Weakness. Survival didn't end when the gate opened.
The principal stepped forward again, smiling as sweetly as ever. "The first evaluation has concluded. However, Hoshizora values consistency."
The screen changed.
''Round Two: Preparing.''
Another ten names turned red. Gasps filled the room. I could barely see anything. 10 groups, I realized suddenly. One hundred students divided into ten per round. That meant 10 more rounds. Ninety more students would walk into that courtyard. Only a handful would walk out.
"This is inhumane," someone whispered behind me.
"No," another voice replied shakily. "This is elimination."
The second group was escorted forward. This time, the fear was immediate. There was no confusion now. No hesitation about what the arena meant. They knew. We all knew. The gates shut again. This time, it didn't take long. The weapons dropped, and before the metallic echoes even faded, someone attacked. It was faster. More vicious. There was less screaming and more rage. The first round had been shock. The second was strategy.
I hated that I could see the difference. Sara buried her face in my shoulder, but I forced myself to watch. I didn't know why. Maybe because looking away felt like pretending it wasn't real. When it ended, only two were left standing.
The screen updated again.
''Round Two: Completed.
Survivors: 2.''
My breathing grew uneven. If this continued at this rate... By Round 10, there would barely be anyone left. The third group was called.
Then the fourth. With each round, the violence changed. Less panic. More calculation. Students formed temporary alliances, only to betray each other when the numbers thinned. Some tried to refuse. Those students didn't last long. Whether by another's hand or by something unseen, they didn't survive.
By Round Five, the auditorium was silent except for the sounds from the arena. No one whispered anymore. No one questioned. We just watched. Learning. That terrified me most. We should also go through this.
By Round Seven, the concrete didn't look like concrete anymore.
By Round Eight, my hands had stopped shaking. I felt hollow instead.
When Round Nine was announced, only ten students remained unselected. When Round Nine was called, the remaining ten students walked toward the arena under complete silence. No one protested anymore. No one begged. They understood what this was now. Survival wasn't about screaming the loudest. It was about lasting the longest. The gates shut behind them for the ninth time, and this time the screen above the courtyard flickered before displaying a timer.
03:00:00. (Three hours.)
A quiet ripple of tension passed through the auditorium. The metallic drop echoed again—but this time it wasn't just knives and batons. Protective arm guards, shields, and even limited medical kits were thrown into the arena. Not enough to save everyone. Just enough to prolong it. Finally, it all finished.
Now, the round 10. The last 10 including me and my friends where the next. The room felt like it tilted. Sara's fingers tightened around mine so hard it hurt. ''Maho....'' she whispered, but I couldn't respond. My ears were ringing. We were the final ten.
The principal's smile didn't change. "Please proceed to the arena."
My legs felt numb as we stood. Around us, the remaining students avoided eye contact. No one wished us luck. No one said anything. They were relieved it wasn't them.
The walk to the courtyard felt longer than before. The metal gates loomed ahead, already stained faintly despite being washed repeatedly. I noticed something different this time. There were more weapons; More shields; More medical kits; The screen above displayed a timer.
03:00:00. (Three hours.)
"This final round will determine the top survivors of the mass evaluation,"Kai's voice echoed from above. Calm. Controlled. Watching.
The gates slammed shut behind us. For a moment, none of us moved. The timer began counting down.
02:59:43.
"Stick together," Tsuki muttered quietly. "At least until we understand how they're moving."
Across from us, Riko grabbed a baton first. One of the other boys picked up a knife. The smallest girl there secured a shield and backed away defensively. No one attacked immediately. Because this time—We knew. The first clash happened between two of the side students. Quick & Aggressive.
One panicked and swung wildly. The other blocked and countered, striking his shoulder hard. Blood appeared, but he stayed standing. Sara flinched at the sound.
"Don't hesitate,"Tsuki said quietly, not looking at us. "Hesitation gets you surrounded."
He wasn't wrong. Within minutes, alliances started forming.
Tsuki and another boy moved together, attempting to pressure isolated students. Riko stayed near the edge, calculating. Then chaos broke. One of the side students charged toward Riko. Instinct took over. I grabbed a fallen baton before I even realized I had moved. The impact vibrated through my arms when I blocked the swing meant for her. Pain shot up my wrists, but I held. This wasn't like watching. It's nothing but dying!
Sara shoved the attacker back with surprising force, and Riko stepped in immediately, striking the boy's leg hard enough to drop him. He didn't move again.
Nine left.
My breathing grew uneven. We weren't killers, we were defending. But the result was the same. The timer showed
02:11:08.
Across the courtyard, Tsuki betrayed his temporary ally with a sharp hit to the ribs when he saw an opening. The boy collapsed, gasping.
Eight.
"Don't trust anyone," Tsuki muttered, eyes dark.
As exhaustion began setting in, movements became slower but more desperate. Sara finally engaged, fighting strategically, aiming to disarm rather than strike fatal blows. Tsuki fought like she had trained before—controlled, precise, efficient. I hated how quickly we were adapting.
At 01:03:44, Sara took a hit to her shoulder and nearly fell. I pulled her back, heart pounding violently.
"Stay behind me,"I whispered.
"No," she snapped, eyes fierce despite the fear. "We survive together."
Seven.
Six.
Time blurred. Sweat stung my eyes. My arms felt heavy. My heartbeat roared in my ears.
Two boys charged toward us together. Tsuki grabbed a baton and blocked one strike while I intercepted the other. The impact sent a painful shock up my arm. I nearly lost my grip.
I blocked blindly. Sara screamed when someone grabbed her arm. Riko jumped in without thinking and hit him across the shoulder. Tsuki took a blow to the ribs that made him stagger, but he didn't fall.
"Don't split!" I shouted, though my voice barely sounded like mine.
We were breathing heavily now. Slower. Our movements less sharp. But we were still four. The others were tired too. That's when desperation made them reckless.
One of the remaining boys screamed and charged straight at Tsuki, ignoring defense completely. Tsuki braced himself and they both crashed to the ground. I moved without thinking, pulling the attacker off him and striking downward until he stopped resisting.
Five.
Only one more had to fall.
The last student standing against us looked around wildly, calculating, terrified. He knew he couldn't take four at once. He lunged at Me; I tried my best.
Sara stepped in front of me and took the hit to her shoulder instead. The scream that left her mouth tore through me.
Something snapped inside me. I don't remember deciding. I just moved.
I tackled him. We hit the ground hard. My elbow connected with his jaw. Tsuki pulled him off me. Riko struck once — shaking, crying — but firm enough.
That guy suddenly blocked us and stood up. He held the knife and stabbed me immediately.
I didn't feel any pain. I held my stomach and stepped back. But then something happened to me. I grabbed the sharpest knife fallen near me.
I went further and my last strike — He was dead. He didn't get up.
Four.
The timer read 00:47:16.
But there was no one left to fight. The chime echoed before it reached zero.
''Round 10: Complete.
Survivors: 4.''
The gates opened slowly. I looked at Sara's bleeding shoulder. At Tsuki's bruised ribs. At Riko's shaking hands. We were still standing. The four names from the original letter. The four who had been "selected."
As we walked out of the arena, the principal smiled down at us with quiet satisfaction. "Interesting," she murmured.
Kai's eyes locked onto mine again. "You did not turn on each other," he said calmly. ''Interesting choice."
Was that choice? No, it wasn't!
We chose our friendship not us! It was not fake. We took the pain of each other. Tears fell from my eyes.