Author's note: Thanks for waiting. Stay safe, everyone!

Battle Royale II: The Game

Chapter 21: Aoi's Delusions

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After having found some cover from a few bushes, Keiji sprung out. Remembering that Takagi had offered him a gun or two back at the clinic, he began opening fire at Akihito.

However, Akihito had dodged every bullet, before he resumed his pursuit at full speed. "Where are you, you little shit?" he called out.

At the same time, Keigo had taken a brief nap, until the sound of said gunshots awoke him. He checked his detector, and found that it was beeping, indicating the two boys's presence.

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Keiji and Akihito kept running, until the boy with the reddish-brown hair aimed for the boy's leg. With precise skill, the bullet cut through the area, prompting Keiji to hit the ground with a grunt.

By that time, Akihito had used up his current bullets, and changed magazines. This allowed Keiji the opportunity to shoot him, and to his surprise, it worked...or at least they should've.

In fact, they didn't seem to take the boy down, who retorted, "I've already got you in my sights!"

Keiji's eyes widened a bit, before Akihito shot another bullet. Luckily, the brown-haired boy was able to dodge them.

More bullets echoed from Akihito's weapon, until a few shots reached Keiji. Keiji could feel his eyes widen as he was close to the waters of the beach, until they slowly began to close.

"Miyazaki! I'll be right there!" he heard a voice call out. Said voice happened to belong to Keigo, as he aimed his gun right at Akihito and opened fire.

Just as Akihito was heading to the surface to the sea, the dark-haired youth went towards Keiji, scooping him out of the waters and quickly heading out to avoid being shot.

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Meanwhile, in a series of dilapidated ruins, Mikihiko and Shinnosuke had been able to collect the necessary materials that were perhaps key to getting them to remove the collars as well as hastening their escape plan.

"Okay, herbicide, fertilizer, light oil..." the boy with the glasses said.

"After that, we track down charcoal and sulfur; they're probably located near kei trucks." Shinnosuke added.

"But why do we have to use all this junk for?" Mikihiko asked.

Keiichi took out what appeared to be a worn booklet, and handed it over to him. The cover read as follows: Haraharatokei: Guerilla Soldier's Book Vol. 1.

"Haraharatokei...what does that even mean?" Shinnosuke asked.

In between the pages were old postcards, and as the pages flipped, they popped out. Many of them were of smiling children with guns, especially those that have survived the Program.

"These are postcards from my brother-in-law. He escaped to the United States to avoid taking part in the Program once. Now he's been kicking ass and taking names there, all the while learning things his school probably never taught him. He's still out there..." Keiichi explained.

There was also a letter written on the back of one postcard, and it read:

'I want you to keep smiling, no matter what. - Yuuta'

Shinnosuke couldn't help but ask, "Is this some kind of joke letter? Or better yet, it this for real?"

Keiichi did not reply, but rather took hold of the microphone on his collar. "Hey, Keiichi-" Mikihiko attempted to speak, but Keiichi instead shushed him.

Before long, he'd release a cylinder detonator resembling a pendant of sorts, to the two boys's shock. Holding his collar, Keiichi said, "This happens to be a bomb igniter that was supposed to be thrown at Kamon!"

Mikihiko and Shinnosuke were speechless as he continued. "From now on, I'm starting this fight on my own. Unfortunately I don't have time to waste, so perhaps you can help me?"

The boy with the glasses bit his lower lip while shaking his head, while the brown-haired boy next to him asked, "Do you really want us all to die? Especially Miss Maruyama?"

Mikihiko let out a deep breath, and almost out of reluctance, replied, "Okay. We'll do it."

Keiichi then said to them, "It's time to break the system. As long as we escape, we're all together. For Miss Maruyama!"

He raised his fist up to the sky, and the others followed suit, their fists touching each others's.

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Day 2 12:30 PM - 20 students remaining

Keiji's eyes began to open at a snail's pace, and when he finally came to his senses, he looked around. He happened to be what seemed to be a lighthouse, and when he looked to his side, it was Tomoko, sitting right next to him.

"Hey, Keiji." she said with a smile.

The brown-haired boy nearly jolted and asked, "What the...? Tomoko? Where am I?"

"You're in a lighthouse with me and a couple of my friends." she replied.

"But...how did you bring me here?"

"That Aoyama fellow was nice enough to send you over to where we are, so that we can get you patched up." Tomoko said, her smile not going away any second.

Outside the lighthouse, Keiji saw that Keigo was standing before the building, before turning his attention to the dark brown-haired girl. "Right now, it's close to afternoon. The broadcast had already concluded." she added.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"There were at least five dead. Last night's broadcast had Miyagi." she said to him.

"Seiichiro...B-But how?"

"I don't know." was her response, allowing him to close his eyes and hang his head down as a means to mourn him.

"Also, this morning..." she added.

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Some time ago...

Near some reefs, a girl with brown hair in a ponytail was openly crying, her knees pulled up close to her chest. She raised her head up, and spoke.

"Where are you, Lady Swan? Queen Peacock? Lord Grizzly? King Bullfrog?" she asked.

Aoi's voice was unable to attract anyone, and she once again burst into tears. "Where is anybody?" she asked between pitiful sobs. "Someday, my prince will come and save me from this nightmare..." she added, before finally getting the courage to stand up.

Taking a deep breath, she looked around, until a strangely familiar voice called out to her.

"Hello? Aoi? Are you there?"

It was Kasumi, but in her mind, Aoi knew it was something else. A bandit...wanting to steal her valuable items!

Her kitchen knife firmly in her hands, the brunette's teeth began to chatter, before she began to walk towards where the voice was located. "Who's out there? If you are friendly, then we can talk!" she spoke aloud.

"Aoi, it's me, Kasumi! Where are you right now?!" Kasumi asked, almost hesitantly. Unlike her friend, she didn't have her ice axe ready, as she was merely searching for her.

Soon, a girl with twin braids began to appear before Aoi's eyes. "You want to steal my weapon?" she asked her.

"What? Of course not! I was just trying to find you, so that we can...well, take part in the Program." Kasumi replied.

"You...you fool!" Aoi exclaimed as she took out her knife. "You're trying to sweet talk me into giving up my belongings? How dare you!"

"Aoi, you're acting awfully strange!" Kasumi spoke with a quivering voice, raising her ice axe out of fear.

Before long, the dark brown-haired girl lunged towards her, and stabbed her in the torso. The brunette's eyes widened as she too, had stabbed Aoi as well.

Just as their bodies slumped to the ground in death, Aoi muttered, "Ka...sumi?"

Aoi Matsumoto, Girl #15, deceased

Kasumi Nogawa, Girl #20, deceased

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With love for my fans,

Chrissy