There was no time to wait, the next game was called out in quick success, summoning new players to the field. A series of pings echoed in the air as students’ IDs vibrated, and Sakura felt the familiar buzz, she clenched her fists, drawing in a heavy breath. There was no escaping this, it was her turn again.
Sakura stepped off the line, squaring her shoulders as she scanned the field. Across from her, three students on the red team had been called up: two older, familiar faces, their stances firm and unyielding, and a younger, first-year student who looked petrified. Glancing beside her, she noticed two of her own teammates—both underclassmen—stepping forward. They looked terrified, but determination burned in their eyes. Everyone knew what was at stake.
The whistle blew, and Sakura’s teammate passed the ball, the faint thud signalling the beginning of the match. The ball rolled across the field, landing at Sakura’s feet. Without a second thought, she began dribbling forward, eyes focused on the red team’s goal wall in the distance. Her feet moved on instinct as she weaved through two red players, narrowly dodging their attempts to knock her off balance. She could feel the weight of the game behind her.
With each dodge, she left her teammates and the red players further behind, pushing past the halfway line. Her heart pounded as she advanced, her gaze locked on the wall that loomed ahead—their goal. But just as she found an opening, a red player appeared in her path, his expression dark and menacing. Before she could react, he shoved her hard, his full weight behind the push.
Sakura felt the ground give beneath her as she stumbled, landing with a harsh thud. Pain shot through her side as she hit the ground, her vision momentarily blurring. The red player loomed over her, his face twisted into a sneer.
“Fuck you,” he spat, his voice laced with venom. Without warning, he booted her hard in the face, the impact bouncing her head on the field shooting pain through her skull.
Sakura’s vision darkened at the edges, blood trickling down from her lip. Her mind spun as a muffled voice reached her through the haze, distant yet urgent. “Sakura!” It was Yuma, her voice laced with worry and fear.
With a shaky breath, Sakura blinked, trying to clear her head. Her vision gradually sharpened, and the red goal wall came back into focus, as she forced herself to stand, every muscle in her body protesting. It’s me or them, she thought, gritting her teeth against the pain.
Ignoring the sharp ache in her side, she steadied herself, brushing the blood from her lip.She glanced down field at the ball, her stomach clenched, the three red players were advancing rapidly toward, passing the ball between themselves they easily played one two against the remaining defenders.
Sakura’s heart raced as she watched them set up for a final shot, the red team was seconds away from scoring, the ball moving in tight, precise passes as they closed in. The nearest blue defender was too far back to intercept, and the red forward’s foot connected with the ball, sending it flying toward the goal.
The final moments of the game were a blur of movement. a figure cut through the goalline, lunging in at the last moment, Takanashi. With a single fluid motion, he caught the ball mid-air, sending the red players’ scattering.
As he straightened, his eyes met Sakura’s across the field. He spotted her, wide open and positioned deep in the red half. Without hesitation, he wound up and cleared the ball with a powerful kick, launching it high and fast in her direction.
Sakura braced herself as the ball soared through the air toward her, the red players scrambling to get back. This was her chance.
Sakura sprinted up the field, her legs burning as she outpaced the others. With a final surge of adrenaline, she reached a point she could score, hordes of red goalkeepers pile in close attempting to shield the wall with their bodies, her foot striking the ball with all the force she could muster.
It soared through the air, heading straight for the wall. A dozen goalkeepers scrambled to stop it, climbing over each other in a desperate attempt to save the game.
The red player cursed, shouted and screamed over one another.
But it was too late. The ball hit the wall with a resounding thud.
The drone’s voice echoed across the field. “Please return to your sides. Points are being tallied.”
Sakura’s heart raced as she backed up, casting a wary glance at the turrets mounted along the walls. She knew what was coming leaving her chest heaving . One by one, faces pale, the three red players fell to a series of sharp pops which echoed across the school, and the jackpot climbed with a chime.
Sakura felt a cold sweat break out across her skin as she watched her opponents fall, their bodies littering the field. From the sidelines, Yuma’s voice broke through the Sakura horror, a mixture of relief and pride. “You did it, Sakura!”
On her way back to her line, her gaze remained fixed on the field, the bodies, the blood, Sakura whispered, her tone numb “we won.”
From inside the staff room, Hanson and Ms. Akasuki watched on, the only staff members able to stomach the students they once cared for, continued to kill each in a twisted game while it was televised, the holo display showed another game,showing another seven-on-seven game—students brawling viciously, desperate to stay alive.
Ms. Akasuki turned to Hanson, her face pale. “We need to stop them,” she whispered, her voice hollow. “They’re going to slaughter each other.”
Hanson leaned against the wall, his eyes unfocused and distant. “It’s too late,” he muttered bitterly. “They’ve tasted blood, and now it’s only going to get worse.” as he draws on his military experience.
Outside the staff room, the makeshift barricades created from desks and chairs served as a grim reminder of the chaos surrounding them. Hanson leaned heavily against the wall, fatigue etched into his face, while Ms. Akasuki stared in shock at the display.
“They’re students, not animals!” she said, the disbelief evident in her voice.
Stolen novel; please report.
Hanson’s gaze shifted to the floor. “We’re all animals. Like in war… once the walls come down, there’s a monster waiting inside each of us.”
Dozen sharp pops rang out, signalling an end to the current game.
Ms. Akasuki’s expression hardened, anger flickering in her eyes. “Bullshit!” she spat. “I’m going to talk to the principal. He has to end this!”
Hanson shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve tried, you can’t. His office is sealed tight.”
But Ms. Akasuki didn’t wait for more. She turned abruptly, storming off toward the stairwell. Hanson watched her go, his voice following her down the hall. “Just… keep safe, Akasuki.”
Ms. Akasuki marched down the corridor, each step fueled by anger as she approached the principal’s office. She pounded on the shutters of the door, her voice echoing down the empty hallway. “You have to end this! They’re killing each other out there!”
The intercom crackled to life behind her, the principal’s voice unnervingly calm. “Isn’t it wonderful?” he responded, his tone almost admiring. “Healthy competition.”
Ms. Akasuki turned to face the intercom, disgust written across her face. “You’re sick! These are our students!”
A faint chuckle echoed from the speaker. “I should tell the board, some of those knuckle draggers won’t be dragging down our SATs any longer.”
Akasuki’s expression hardened as she took a step back from the door. “If you won’t stop this,” she said, her voice shaking with barely suppressed fury, “then I will.”
“Take care, Ms. Akasuki,” the principal’s voice replied smoothly as she walked away. “I’d hate to lose such a valuable member of my staff.”
A sharp pop rang out, but Ms. Akasuki continued down the hall, ignoring the ominous sound of the turrets. She was focused on one thing, ending this nightmare.
On the field, the next round of Cuju football was about to begin. The next game was about to begin. High above the school, a drone hovered, its camera zoomed in on the dwindling number of players. The drone updated the current count, “33 Blue - 34 Red and the Jacket? It's Over Nine Thousand!” boomed the drone’s voice. The current jackpot displayed an eye-watering 9100 points, drawing anxious glances from both sides.
“Let’s see if we can make it an even thirty,” the drone added, its tone laced with amusement.
Sakura felt her ID vibrate once again. Her heart pounded as she prepared to step off the line, the weight of her teammates' survival bearing down on her. She glanced around at her fellow players, nerves tightening as they lined up. Then, just in front of her, Takanashi strode forward with unshakeable confidence, his gaze sweeping over the field, measuring up their opponents with an air of control.
Takanashi’s towering presence alone seemed enough to unsettle the three senior red team players facing him across the field, each one stiffening under his stare. Among them, a lone first-year red player shuffled nervously, glancing back toward his team as if he could escape Takanashi’s penetrating gaze. The young red player’s face was pale, his eyes wide with trepidation as he realised he had no choice but to face him.
Beside Sakura, a first-year blue player huddled slightly behind Takanashi’s shadow, her expression mirroring the red player's dread. Her eyes flicked between Takanashi and the looming red players, uncertain whether his presence offered protection or an invitation to fight for their lives. Sakura took a deep breath, aware that Takanashi’s aura was drawing everyone’s attention, creating a tense silence as both teams readied themselves.
Takanashi’s intense gaze resting briefly on Sakura. He leaned slightly toward her, his voice low enough that only she could hear. “Stay close behind me,” he murmured, his tone firm.
Sakura shot him a surprised look. “We need to work together”
He gave a small nod, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. “I know, but…” His voice softened just slightly, barely audible. “You’ll be safer if I take the hits.”
As the whistle blew before she could respond, Takanashi shifted his weight forward, his expression hardening, a sharp command in his voice as he directed his teammates into position. Sakura felt her adrenaline spike.
The red team, on the other hand, hesitated. They shifted nervously, watching Takanashi close the distance with a fearless intensity. He barely acknowledged the ball rolling toward him as he pushed into the red half, his eyes locked onto the nearest red players. His gaze alone was enough to make the closest opponents stumble back, one after another giving up ground as he advanced.
“Move it!” he barked at one of his teammates, gesturing sharply. The other girl quickly dribbled the ball behind Takanashi, passing it to Sakura as her legs locked up, unable to leave the blue half, As Skaura pushed forward, while red defenders flinched, in front of Takanashi, unable to withstand the sheer force of his presence.
One brave red player stepped up, trying to intercept the ball, while another attempted to block Takanashi’s path. Without hesitation, Takanashi charges them head-on, swinging his shoulder forward. The impact sent the student sprawling across the field as Takanashi advanced.
Sakura seized the chance, slipping past with the ball, weaving forward as Takanashi continued his ruthless assault. Another red defender darted in, but Takanashi grabbed him, lifting the player off the pitch and with a powerful heave, launched him back down the field. His movements were swift and fierce, cutting a brutal path to clear Sakura’s advance into the red half.
Above, the drone chirped eagerly. “The red team’s defences are faltering! Jackpot holds steady at 9100 points!”
Sakura’s heart pounded as she dribbled closer to the goal. A final red defender lunged toward her, but before they could close in, Takanashi appeared behind her, throwing a sharp, controlled elbow that sent the opponent flying. He held his ground fiercely, creating a wall of protection that allowed Sakura to keep pressing forward.
The red team, already in disarray, faltered further as Takanashi’s relentless assault left them scrambling, their formation crumbling under his advance.
“Come on!” Takanashi growled, his voice booming through the chaos as he threw another red player to the ground.
The line of goalkeepers before the red goal was thinner now, less intimidating this time, Sakura with a swift kick slotted the ball sailing into the red goal. As the goal registered, the jackpot tally soared to 9950, and the remaining red team members froze, waiting for the turret’s ominous ping. One by one, their IDs lit up, marking them for elimination.
The field went quiet as the sound of the turret echoed through the air, followed by a series of sharp, metallic pops. The red players closest to the goal dropped, eliminated by the turret’s unyielding aim. Takanashi watched the field with an unshaken expression, turning back to his team as the blue goalline erupted in victorious cheers.
Yuma, watching from the sidelines, felt her stomach turn. She had cheered when Sakura scored, but seeing the brutal consequences play out so coldly left her horrified.
“Sakura,” Yuma called out as Sakura moved back to the goal line, her voice thick with worry. “You… you okay?”
Sakura gave a small nod, but her eyes drifted back to the field, lingering on the fallen red players. “Yeah,” she whispered, but the word felt hollow, and she clenched her fists. “It’s… it’s just part of the game.”
Takanashi shifted awkwardly, clearly out of his element, but after a second’s hesitation, he walked over to her. Clearing his throat, he gave her a small nudge on the shoulder, trying to be gentle yet firm.
“Hey, don’t let it get to you,” he muttered, his voice gruff but softer than usual. “You did what you had to do. That’s all.”
Sakura looked up, surprised to see a flash of something almost kind in his eyes, though he quickly looked away, scratching the back of his head.
“I mean…” he added, clearly struggling, “they wouldn’t have gone easy on us. You’re tough, right? Gotta be tough to make it through this.”
He gave her a quick, awkward pat on the shoulder, his usual confidence faltering slightly as he spoke. “Just… keep your head in the game, okay? You’re doing fine.”
Sakura managed a faint smile, his awkward attempt at reassurance somehow lifting a bit of the weight from her shoulders.
“Thanks, Takanashi,” she replied softly.