Will to Survive

By : CJDGOAT

...

V0 Chapter 4 - Senpai, I Found You!

In the early morning, the cold, sterile sound of my alarm rings again. I can recount hearing this sound at least 3700 times in the past. That's only the extent of my memory relating to this familiar sound.

Assuming that I've been here since birth, the number is likely closer to a little over 5000 days.

The alarm in question is at the far side corner of the room above the bed in which I sleep. It reads 'eight-zero-zero.'

'Another day of this boring routine. Fantastic.' I sat up in my bed with the apathetic face I'd grown to adapt to the monotony of this white existence.

I habitually scanned the room for any surprises. In my readings, I've learned that a 'home' is the place one must fall back on after their daily routine. Work, school, play. No matter the endeavor, a member of society always falls back on a home they claim for themselves.

These white walls I've known for the last 13, almost 14 years of my pitiful existence don't provide me with a sense of security. Nothing about this room at the end of my vigorous training each day brings me a sense of relief.

'All this to build the leaders of Japan? Is all of this necessary?'

These thoughts swirl in my head daily as I make my way towards the training room.

"052, YOU'RE LATE! 300 PUSH-UPS IN 2 MINUTES, NOW!" The instructor screamed at me the second I stepped foot in the room.

052 has been what I've been called my entire life. According to the instructors, I'm the child of two hyper-intelligent and talented people. They took an interest in this prestigious facility known as the 'White Room.'

My 'father' ended up donating his sperm to my 'mother' so that I could be born and raised here. The rest is history.

Throughout the years, I've seen many of my peers drop out. Although, supposedly, this wasn't the case for the generation before mine. They call it the 'Demonic 4th Generation.'

It's rumored to have only 1 living survivor, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-senpai. Every day, our achievements are compared with that man. He gives me something to live for. Although I gave up on trying to surpass Senpai years ago, he still gives me a reason.

Meeting someone so perfect and intelligent even by my standards has to be fascinating.

To be frank, I believe if I tried my absolute hardest, I would eventually surpass him. At least I think so. The level four course has been pretty easy so far, even with my near minimum effort. Ayanokouji-Senpai is said to have taken the level six course. A level five is viewed as the human limit.

Honestly, I'm not even confident Senpai exists... but he gives me hope. I wish Takuya could see what I see. He's become so enveloped and obsessed with surpassing Senpai, that he's forgotten who he is. A year ago, he even moved up to the fifth-level curriculum.

I haven't seen him since, but the instructors were kind enough to let me know he's still alive.

'298... 299... 300! There.' I quickly rose to my feet after completing my punishment.

"Good work, 056. There's more of that to come. After you bathe, you will prepare for your hardest test in years. The White Room will be shutting down temporarily and we plan to exterminate any defective products. You may ask, "Why?" But it is necessary as it is unclear whether this facility will re-open while you're all viable for testing and data collecting."

[Early August]

After the toughest week of my life, I, Ichika Amasawa, am finally free!

On top of that, today is a good day! I have just witnessed a recording of the greatest fight ever had.

It was the Ayanokouji Kiyotaka showing down with some random rich kid. Of course, my Senpai won with overwhelming victory!

I need to clean up my room now; there's a puddle all over the ground. That's the first time this has happened while thinking about Ayanokouji-Senpai.

I can't believe he's real. He's so handsome too!

"Kyaaaaa!" I couldn't help but squeal!

But, there's a serious issue. Yesterday, a strange adult who goes by Sakayanagi invited us to his high school. However, every 5th-generation student, according to society, is a 2nd-year middle school student. Senpai is of the age of a 3rd-year student, meaning if this Sakayanagi approached Senpai, I wouldn't be able to see him for a year.

Luckily, the rest of the 5th gen doesn't seem interested. It also seems they aren't interested in Ayanokouji-senpai, assuming they have seen the fight.

Additionally, it seems like even if they know of his existence, they might've not connected Sakayanagi's visit to Senpai.

Either way, I win. In 8 months, Senpai. You will be all mine. You may only exist to me as the wallpaper of my cellular device, but one day, we'll be face-to-face.

'Agh! Now there are two puddles on the floor...'

End of Chapter 4...