The Winner
Based on the Film and Manga "Battle Royale"
I don't own them other people do.
It's all in the name of fun anyway.
This was originally supposed to be part of a much larger story, but it works much better on it's own.
Day 1.
B.R. season 2010.
I was working in the bar when she first came in. She just sat down and drank beer after beer. She said nothing except to ask for another beer, trying to drink herself into forgetting what happened. She said nothing, except for when she would occasionally wipe a few tears from her cheeks until.
"Could you switch on the BR channel please?" She asked politely.
"Uh, why? I asked. We had never showed BR at the bar before. We had good reason not to.
"My son, He's playing. They selected him."
She was almost crying when she said that.
"I'm sorry. I'll turn it on for you."
I switched over to the BR channel just in time for Oneesans update.
"Good afternoon Japan!
Oneesan here.
Only 18 hours into this years blistering Battle Royale 15 students are dead so far.
Girls #1…….."
As Oneesan enthusiastically listed the casualties the woman started to cry.
"Your son?" I questioned.
"No, not yet." She sobbed.
Day 2.
She came back the next afternoon. I switched the BR channel on for her.
Could you check if he's….?" she tried to ask.
"Alive? Sure. What's his name?".
"Soichiro Tanaka" she answered softly.
I checked the live update displays, showing small pictures and the status of each of the participants. Those highlighted in red had already been 'eliminated'
/# BOY#18: -SOICHIRO TANAKA- CURRENT STATUS: ALIVE:#/
"He's alive. He's taking cover in a house." I told her.
"Oh thank God. Thank God." She said relieved. "Can I see him?"
I switched the T.V to 'Student Follow' mode.
A picture of a black-haired boy eating soup appeared on the screen.
"That's him, He's O.K.!" she said excitedly.
"And he's got an AK." I said to myself.
Day 3
"Good Afternoon!
Oneesan here!
Time for another update.
Only four students remaining.
Only six hours left to play.
Who will win?
Will anyone win?
Oooooh there's some action unfolding right now.
Let's watch!"
Oneesan finished and the screen switched to the live display.
Soichiro was firing his AK through the window. He was playing it smart. He wasn't just blazing away full-auto like every other student. Instead, he fired a few rounds at a time, taking a moment to adjust his aim between shots.
He stopped firing and sat down against the wall.
"I'm sorry mother." He whispered.
The woman looked up at the screen for a second.
'What does he mean?' I thought.
/# BOY #12: -KEITA SUZUKI- K.I.A: 3 REMAINING:#/
"My son was nearly killed. Only one survives." She started to cry again.
'He's a smart kid. He's avoided conflict so far. He's got a powerful weapon. He's only killed one person. The other survivors are both injured.'
I did the math.
Day 4
"Good morning Japan.
Oneesan here.
This years Battle Royale has ended.
And the Results are……
We have a winner!
With a playing time of 69 hours 30 minutes and a final score of two confirmed kills the winner is……."
/# BOY #18: -SOICHIRO TANAKA- WINNER! #/
"MY SON! MY SON SURVIVED! YEE-HAAA!"
She jumped for joy. The whole bar erupted into a sympathetic cheer.
Until she saw his picture.
"What's wrong with him?" she asked.
"Nothing." I responded.
"But he looks so……." She searched for the right word.
"Nobody gets through that uninjured. Mind body or soul, something gets hurt."
I knew from experience.
The end.