"Hey, did you hear?"
"Yeah, I did. It doesn't sound too good, does it?"
"I would hate to be in it."
Normally, Hikari wouldn't pay attention to the gossip that happened at the start of every day, but now she was. Because this new idea that the new government had was horrible. Last night, Hikari was watching the news. It showed that a new government had taken over Japan. They seemed to be…liking their power, and they wanted to make sure each person knew that. They wanted to show people what they could do if something displeased them. So they had announced that from now on, every year, there would be a battle to the death. It would consist of boys and girls from age 12 to 18. Every well known school from every prefecture would send in 1 boy tribute and one girl tribute. Of course, Rikkai was one of those well known schools. The 'reaping' as they called it, would take place tomorrow. Today, the school would tell them the details. When the battle started, no one would have school. Everyone would be forced to watch this battle. Hikari shuddered at the thought of being chosen.
"Hey! Hikari!" yelled her best friend, Ayame. Hikari turned around to greet her.
"Hey." she said.
"This whole thing sucks. It's going to be the only thing people will talk about today and tomorrow." said Ayame. "And what if you personally know the boy tribute from your school? That would be horrible." Hikari nodded in agreement.
"I don't think the teachers will do much teaching today. Or tomorrow." she said glumly.
"Yeah. Hey, Hikari?" said Ayame. "Did you hear-you can volunteer?" Hikari looked at her in surprise.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yeah. And, if I get picked…please, please don't volunteer for me." said Ayame.
"If you do get picked, I most certainly have to do something." argued Hikari. "You would do the same for me, wouldn't you?"
"Well, yes, but…"
"Both of us have the same chance of getting killed." said Hikari. "It doesn't matter who goes in. We most likely wouldn't come out." Ayame looked sadly at her friend.
"I guess." she said. She noticed people behind them listening. "Anyways, we might not get picked. No use arguing about it now." She hurried a surprised Hikari to their class.
Marui listened to the girls in front of him on his way to school. It wasn't as if he had anything better to do anyways.
"…you can volunteer?" one of the girls was saying, the one with the lighter hair.
"Really?" asked the other girl with darker hair; apparently, her name was Hikari.
"Yeah. And, if I get picked…please, please don't volunteer for me." said the other girl.
"If you do get picked, I most certainly have to do something. You would do the same for me, wouldn't you?" asked the girl called Hikari. The other girl looked troubled.
"Well, yes, but…" she said.
"Both of us have the same chance of getting killed," continued Hikari, "It doesn't matter who goes in. We most likely wouldn't come out."
The fact that she can talk about this like it's nothing…is disturbing. thought Marui. But then he realized that she may not actually be that calm about it on the inside.
"I guess." said the other girl. She turned around and saw him and the other people around him listening. "Anyways, we might not get picked. No use arguing about it now." She hurried Hikari away. Marui wasn't too happy about that. If he had continued listening to them, he could not think about his troubles for a minute. They were talking about the same things, but by himself, the troubles got worse. He just hoped that one of his twin brothers wouldn't get picked.
"School assembly…and we get out at 10. I should be happy, but I'm not." Ayame muttered to Hikari.
"I know. The principal is probably going to explain about everything." she said.
"Students! Please quiet down." started the principal. As the chattering stopped, he began to speak. "As you all know, a new government has taken over Japan. They have started something to show their power over us. From now on, every year, there will be a battle held somewhere in Japan. No one but themselves know where. This battle is called 'Trial of Fire', although there will not necessarily be fire involved. Each year, 2 students from the age of 12 to 18 will be chosen from every well known school in each prefecture. There will be around 50 participants. They will fight in an arena until one winner remains. Tomorrow, everyone from ages 12 to 18 will gather here, and we will hold the 'reaping'. From there, everyone else will go home and watch the battle while it is going on. School will not be held at this time. The tributes will go from here to the arena on a train. When they get there, they will be one day of training. There will be a place where every tribute can train. Then the next day, they will be released into the arena. Every time someone dies, there will be a cannon, and at night, the faces of the dead are projected into the sky. Good luck for tomorrow." He finished his speech and stepped off the stage. The students sat there in silence for some time, then slowly filed out of the auditorium.
"Some battle, huh?" said Ayame once they were walking home.
"Yeah. It…I don't even know what to say right now." said Hikari.
"Me too. I'm at least glad that my sister is too old for this. She's 19." said Ayame.
"I'm glad I'm an only child right now." said Hikari. Suddenly, a figure came up from behind them.
"Hey you two." she said.
"Hey Airi-chan." said Hikari. "Not your usual self today?"
"Who would be?" asked Airi-chan. "This is no time to be cheerful."
"I agree. Here's my house. Good luck tomorrow." said Ayame, stepping away from the group.
"You too." Hikari and Airi-chan replied.
And that was how the Trial of Fire started.
A/N: Okay, so that was the start of it. I've got the next chapter thought out, but I haven't typed it out yet. I'll try to update as soon as possible. If you didn't know, the main pairing will be Marui/OC. There might be other pairings too, I haven't thought about it yet. But I promise not to let the romance overrule the actual games/battle. It took me an hour to come up with that name. I was thinking "Battle of Pickles" at one point.Next chapter: The Reaping.