History.
I've never been good at it.
You would expect that for someone who absolutely sucks at that subject, some nice studying will be done prior to that someone's examinations.
Right?
Well, I just want to let you know one thing.
I'm 100x better at procrastinating.
I stared at the open textbook in front of me.
Nothing made sense.
History was like an alien language to me, and cramming the night before the exam doesn't help either.
Well...time to take a break.
I leaned back on my chair, staring at the ceiling and contemplating where exactly I went wrong in life.
...
Too late now, Nobu.
Submit to your pitiful fate.
Ah, woe is me. I can already hear my grades crying.
...Better stop daydreaming about the summer break, and actually start studying.
I returned my gaze to the book.
"Oda Nobunaga (June 23, 1534 – June 21, 1582) was a powerful samurai warlord of Japan..."
I wonder if I can grab a cup of coffee before I write the exam.
"Oda Nobunaga (June 23, 1534 – June 21, 1582) was a powerful..."
Maybe a nice bagel too. Yum.
"Oda Nobunaga (June 23, 1534 - ..."
My bed looks so comfortable. Do I hear a voice? Is my bed calling for me?
"Oda..."
I leaned forward on my desk, completely knocked out with fatigue.
---------------
...
I was writing my history exam.
First question. Easy. Second question. Easy. Third...
I breezed through the problems, and was done before everyone else.
Yatta! I raised my arms into the air to celebrate, as tiny "100%" marks flew around me.
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Heh heh heh, nothing is too hard for the great Shirome Nobuyuki-sama after all.
As I laughed like a maniac, the scene around me change and-
I woke up.
...
It was just a dream.
...Obviously, idiot. What were you expecting?
I glanced at the clock beside me.
3:00 PM.
I sighed. Just 3:00 PM, huh...I got plenty of time, the exam ends at 3:15 after all...
...
...
...
I dashed out of my dorm like a raging storm.
---------------
"So, you missed the exam because you overslept."
"Yes, M'am."
"And you know that we don't allow make-up exams."
"Yes, M'am."
"And you will do anything to pass that course."
"Yes, M'am."
"Ok, sign here."
"Yes, M'am- Wait...huh?"
The evil chairwoman of my high school smiled at me.
"Congratulations, Shirome Nobuyuki. You are now the representative of Japan in the international 'Civilization' game!"
...
"Sorry, but...could you please repeat that?"
This was how I, Shirome Nobuyuki, got forced into participating in the biggest Virtual Reality competition that the world has ever seen.
And if I lose...?
"Well, then Japan will lose all the trillions of yen it bet on your victory. And you, of course, will be the first place on the 'Most Wanted' list in the nation."
...
Mother, father.
Your son won't be coming home any time soon.
Farewell.
-Prologue/trailer: End-