Chapter One

Corruption swarms the air and makes even the sweetest, brightest flower darken and become lifeless. Japan was nice once; no corruption and no B.R Act. I have heard stories about a "free Japan" but they can't be true, it all seems so bright. Now, it is all dark for the children. This entire, bloody B.R act was caused by the children. Apparently, we didn't "respect" adults. So, now I guess the Act is their way of achieving revenge. What is the B.R Act you may wonder, well I'll tell you.

The B.R Act is an declaration that forces one class of forty students to fight to the death, just to make an example of them to other "disrespecting" children. How sick can you get? I couldn't even imagine how hard it must be for the families that are affected by the act.
I deduct that this is going to happen to my school. It is obvious to me, see I was pulled out of class and told that I am to go on a field trip with all the other top ranked students in the school.

My High-school is separated into five years: Year 7,8,9,10,11. Each of these years are ranked into eight forms. Form 1 contains the smart students who do well in tests whilst Form 8 contains the students who have low grades and don't do well in tests. And then there is the Forms in between, the average people. I am more than average for my age, my teachers want me to move to Form 1. Funnily enough, I fail the entrance exam into Form 1 purposely so I can stay with my friends. Tricking is the only way to get what you want nowadays, the government doesn't care about how you may feel.

Anyway, back to the deduction. As all average minded people may know, 8x5=40. If they take the smartest boy/girl form each Form of every year then that will add up to the number of players required to play in the B.R act. Hopefully, my theory is incorrect.
I lay in my wooden chair watching the rusty clock tick. What is the point of going to school today? I know that I don't want to go to school because today is the day of the "field trip" that I got chosen to go on. I pick up my black planner with silver writing on the front that says: Joshua Alder... Year Nine... Form 903. Stuffing it in my bag, I hear a knock on the door. It must be Izumi: Izumi is a good friend of mine who has liquid hazel eyes (like mine) and long blonde hair (unlike me. I have brown hair that constantly covers my left eye)
'Come in!" I shout and she stutters into my bedroom.
'Are you ready to go?' she asks politely, I nod as an act of confirmation. She smiles and leads the way out, across the landing and down the spiral staircase; onto another landing and through the back door.
Her sky blue bike is laid down on the grass by mine, eager to be ridden. We hop on and ride out the garden and onto the pavement.
I want to tell her about my theory, but am too scared too. She, also is going on the field trip. That's right she is the smartest girl in 902. I am sure if I am to tell her, she will panic and not want to go, causing suspicion among the teachers. Hiding my fears isn't easy but from years of practice I adapt easily.

The moment we arrive at school, I realize that the chance of this happening has risen by 50%, is running an option? Can I make it out of here? There are buses parked outside the school gates, waiting to transport, us.
I hold my breath to try and calm myself down. There is a 65% chance that I will be abducted the moment I get on that bus. The headmaster's body language is suspicious today, his eyes always flickering from place to place and his hands glued to his pockets. I have seen him licking his lips a few times too.
The fear I feel inside of me is threatening to show itself... I cannot let that happen. I have to board that bus, and prove myself wrong. Maybe I am just being cautious. Maybe I have scared myself because of those stories. I'm going to board, and that is final.
We lock our bikes up outside the school and Izumi playfully drags me to the buses we encounter a line of students, all of which go to my school.
There's Takumi Golbert from 901, a smug smile wiped upon his face and his black short hair wavering in the wind. I've always hated Takumi, he was a smug jerk who has always wanted to be better than everyone else. And right now he is, and he can show it off. Right now he was the smartest boy in year 9.
Little did he know that he had been deceived… That spot would have been mine if I had wanted the place.
To be serious, I pity him. I can tell by the way he has a dire need to impress and be the center of attention, that he is neglected at home. Behind Takumi I see Takeo Coe, one of my friends, he may be a year 11 but that doesn't mean we can't be friends. We get along because I am mature for my age and he is immature in some areas of conversation. As I stare into his eyes, I can see a hint of excitement, is he purposefully trying to retain it.
He is in 1101, which means he is now the smartest person in the school. How is he not reacting amazed?
Behind Takeo I see Yutaka, another one of my friends. He is in 904 so I guess he did well in his maths exam last Wednesday. Yutaka has night black hair and green eyes that radiate with intellect.
Is it strange to love your school uniform? My uniform has only just caught my full attention because of utter boredom The uniform is a white shirt with a black tie. We must wear black trousers and always have our dark blue blazer on.
'Kazumi Phoenix?' the headmaster calls from by the bus entrance.
'Here!' she announces eagerly and then elegantly boards the bus. Kazumi is Izumi's' sister, her beauty is far above average. She looks like Izumi, as twins they look almost identical, but one thing separates them. Izumi has beautiful amber eyes whilst Kazumi's eyes are sky blue.
'Takumi Golbert?' the headmaster calls and Takumi raises his hand eagerly before saying "Here!"
'Izumi Phoenix?' the headmaster says as he looks over the students.
'Here!' Izumi replies and then boards the bus. 'I'll save you a seat." she whispers to me.
'Joshua Alder.' the headmaster demands.
'Here sir!" I reply before entering the blue bus with the school logo on the side.
The seat by Izumi is free so I fall into the seat and lay my head back. Yuka Peach sits on the other row, taking pictures of almost everything she sees.
'Smile,' she says bitterly. She must still hate me for breaking up with her a few months ago. It is easy to read her body language; she utterly, utterly hates my guts. She is in 907 so she isn't that smart; I broke up with her because I could never have an intelligent conversation with her. Her pure white hair covered one of her green eyes. Sometimes, I wish that I had never learnt to profile.
Well, I didn't exactly learn in the first place. My father was a Prison officer so he knew how to profile and slowly without even realizing he had done it he taught me everything I know. How to read people like a book, how to see when someone wants to attack you and last... how to protect yourself. Hopefully, I won't have to use the last skill.