*** Note to readers: This story is based off of my previous story, Why Does Everything Hate Me? (https://my.w.tt/UiNb/v9zIqKarxH). I decided to re-do the story so I can write it better. It occurs at the same place with the same characters, so feel free to read what I have written on that. ***

 

     "High school... It's supposed to be the best time of our lives... or that's what people say.... or was it college? I can't remember..." says a brown-haired, average sized male. He wears black jeans and a dark blue jacket over his white button up shirt. Taking a deep breath, he mutters, “Maybe this is the year where I get to make friends... and have a nice year... and get a girlfriend..." 

 

     "Not happening Shoku!” Behind him, a girl with long red hair smirks and laughs. Her amused face is accompanied by a flower hair pin, a similar blue vest, and a knee length white skirt. She also has an orange ribbon around her neck.

 

      "Shut up Hana... I can get good grades..." Shoku yells at her.

 

      "Ha... You have as many A's as you have had girlfriends." Shoku grabs his chest as he feels her words pierce his heart.

 

      "Just because you're my sister doesn't mean you get to be mean to me!" Shoku yells. Ignoring him, Hana flicks her hair as she walks away from him.

 

(At the gate entrance to the school)

 

      Shoku walks up to the gate and stands in front, gazing at the large facility. "Ozotoki High.... this is where I start... to get good grades," he tells himself. "And a girlfriend," he adds in a whisper. Shoku suddenly feels his leg vibrate. He pulls out his phone and unlocks it. 'Hana: Not a chance'. Shoku collapses to the ground. "Maybe I give up on my high school life already," he shouts, exasperated. A male teacher walks up to the gate and notices Shoku sobbing on the ground.

 

      "Um, kid... the middle school is down the street," the teacher says confused. Shoku looks up with watery eyes.

 

       "I'm in HIGH SCHOOL!" Shoku yells. Even more confused, the teacher stares at him without response. The wind blows and the gate creaks. 

 

       "Oh okay..... Uh ... good job?" the teacher replies cautiously. Shoku gets up and walks in with his head down. The teacher slowly closes the gate. "Poor kid... he'll be single forever."

 

(In the school halls)

 

       Shoku walks down the school halls alone. The halls appear abandoned. No voices can be heard. "If I remember correctly, we were supposed to start with an opening ceremony in the gym..." He scratches his head. He looks around. Empty halls with doors to classrooms. "I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THAT IS,” Shoku says panicking to himself. A black-haired girl with a long pony tail suddenly walks down the stairs nearby. She is wearing a white dress shirt and a blue skirt with a dark blue jacket covering it. She has a blue ribbon around her collar. She glances over and sees Shoku curling into a ball and then looks away with her eyes wide open.

 

       "Ohh... I don't know if I should help him... He looks like a first year... but... I have to go to class..." she says to herself. Shoku's face slowly grows more worried. He begins mumbling to himself in an inaudible voice. "Uh.... what is he doing? I guess I'll help him out..." She takes a deep breath and approaches him. "Um... Hello? Do you need help?" Shoku looks over at her with watery eyes.

 

        "Um.... I'm lost and... I mean I need to find the opening cermony..." Shoku tells her, worried. 

 

        "Oh, sure it's just down the hall, take a right, then straight from there,” she replies. Shoku’s face grows red. 

 

        "Oh... of course, I... " Shoku quickly gets up and runs down the hall. She stares as he dissapears into the distance. 

 

       "Um... you're welcome?" She glances at the ground and sees a wallet lying on the ground. She picks it up and opens it up. She pulls out a card. 'Game Room Membership: Gold. Shoku Yoru'. A less than ideal picture of a younger Shoku in an attempt to be cool pose covers the left half. Sunglasses were drawn in with black marker. She quickly slides it back in. "Maybe I should do him a favor and discard this." She opens up the main compartment and looks at his money. Three small coins where two are arcade tokens. She rolls her eyes and puts it in her pocket. "Unbelievable."

 

       Shoku runs towards the two large open doors right outside the gym. He rushes in to see a large crowd of students standing in the center staring at the front podium, where a middle-aged man speaks. "Students, remember it’s important to balance your studies. Because if you don't, you won't be able to participate in the games where you can win prizes. If you don't, well you’ll be...,” the man looks amongst the crowd and sees Shoku slowly trying to join the crowd, “like that guy!" Stage lights flash onto Shoku. The lights shine brilliantly and Shoku raises his arms over his head. He falls to the ground as he squeezes his eyes. The middle-aged man looks over to his left, where a female student with pink hair and a side bun which supervises the controls. "Can you make it a little brighter?" he asks softly. She nods and moves a slider signficantly. The light suddenly becomes blinding. Shoku turtles up as the light begins burning him. "Don't be like this kid" the man yells out. The students back away as they see his skin become red. Far in the crowd Hana watches Shoku grunt. 

 

       "Hm... Guess that's what he gets for being late," Hana says shrugging it off. The light suddenly shuts off. The man on the podium then looks at the students. 

 

       "Oh yeah... go check your phones... There should be an app for this school. Open it and it should tell you who's participating in the game." The students pull out their phones. "Surprise! If you are selected, go to the back room." He walks off the stage. The students look at their phone. Some cheer, some complain.

 

       "Wait... this is a good thing right?" questions one student. "Wait... I don't know how to play!" exclaims another. "NO FAIR!" a few yell out. Shoku unwraps from his fetal position and tries to open his eyes. He attempts to look, but everything appears white. He places his hand on the ground and immediately flinches.

 

       "OUCH!" His skin glows a mild red. He jumps up and holds out his arms. A short, brown-haired male with black glasses walks up to him. He adjusts his glasses.

 

       "Someone got burned," the guys smirks.

 

       "Huh? Who said that? Yuki?" Shoku says while attempting to open his eyes.

 

       "It's okay old man... You don't need to worry. I got your back" Yuki replies. He walks to his back and slaps it. Shoku's eyes grow big as he yells.

 

       "What was that for!" Shoku yells.

 

       "You need to open your eyes. See the big picture. You're a noob" Yuki says calmly. "Speaking of noobs, did you get selected?" Shoku gives him a nasty look. He pulls out his phone and opens the app. Text suddenly flashes on the screen. 'You have been selected to LOSE'. Yuki glances at his screen. "Huh... that's oddly fitting. They know you very well". Yuki shows Shoku his phone. 'You have been selected' is displayed prominently on his screen.

 

        "I hate you" Shoku tells him, "Let's go... I'll enlighten you with my skill,” he says walking towards the back room.

 

        "Um... how do you enlighten someone with something you don't have," Yuki asks. Shoku stumbles.

 

        "Shut up". Yuki smiles and follows. The two of them head in with a few other students. A little behind, a long blue-haired girl with pink streaks at the tips and a bubbles pin, watches them enter. She lets out a deep breath and follows them in. Shoku and Yuki enter the brightly lit room. They look around to see rows of transparent monitors on desks. The computers are accompanied by high-end gaming chairs. The students stare in awe.

 

       "Hey, is this real? Am I dreaming?!?" a boy yells shaking his friend.

 

        "I think I'm going to cry" another student says sniffling. Tears roll down his cheek. Yuki looks at Shoku blushing.

 

         "Is this love at first sight?" Yuki says tearing up like a waterfall.

 

(Yuki's imagination)

 

        Bells ring with a joyous tune. Yuki takes a hold of the mouse of the computer. He picks up the monitor. He exits a large chapel holding the computer in his tuxedo. Shoku, also in a tuxedo, stands to the side smiling and cheering for Yuki. He smiles and leaps into the air. Birds fly in the warm, cloudless sky. The suns shine brilliantly. "It's true love!" he shouts. 

 

(outside of Yuki's ridiculous dream)

 

        Shoku stares at Yuki cuddling with the air. Some people turn to look at him. They begin to awkwardly turn away. "I don't know him,” Shoku says. Meanwhile, the blue-haired girl walks in and freezes. Shoku scoots away from Yuki, who continues his flatulent dream. The lights suddenly shut off.

 

        "Okay noobs! It's time to game on!" a female teacher yells in the speakers. The students look around but see nothing. "Oh.... shoot.... where are the lights again..." she mummers. A switch flips on. The blinding lights flash onto Shoku. Shoku flinches from the overwhelming illuminance. His eyes burn and he falls to the ground.

 

         "What is wrong with these lights!" Shoku whines in pain.

 

          "Whoops... um... could you fix that Kuki?" the teacher whispers. The bright lights shut off. A new light shines center where a lone teacher sits in a blue and white track suit, sitting and holding a microphone. She has long black hair tied up in a pony tail. She appears to be around 35 years old. She smirks. "Sorry about that kid... I'll make it up to you later! Anyways, I'm Ms. Saori!" she says trying to sound cute. The guys stare without any response. "Come on, at least pretend like you’re interested in me," she pouts. The guys shrug. She makes a fist. "FINE," she yells. Shoku slowly gets up, rubbing his eyes. He blinks rapidly, trying to keep his eyes open. "Okay, where was the boy I shone on before?" she asks. The blinding light shines back onto Shoku.

 

        "AHHHH!" Shoku yells in pain.

 

        "Oh there he is!" Ms. Saori shouts. "Can you grab that scru- I mean student-Kuki?" she says talking to the side. The pink-haired girl from the assembly nods. She walks up to Shoku, who is turtling on the ground. She looks at him briefly and then kicks him in the side.

 

         "Ooof!" Shoku wheezes. She grabs his sides and rolls on the floor. Then, she grabs Shoku's hand and drags him to the front. Many students stare and laugh.

 

         "Here you go," Kuki says smiling.

 

         "Thank you," Ms. Saori says to Kuki. "And thank you for volunteering" she says smiling at Shoku. Shoku looks up at her with his teeth clenched. He slowly gets up with his hand rubbing his eye. "Alrighty, it's time to talk about what happens in here....." Her face suddenly loses all emotion. She grabs Shoku by the hand. Shoku follows her while trying to regain vision. She pushes him into a gaming chair. She moves to the mouse and clicks a few buttons on the monitor. She shoves a helmet on his head.

 

          "Huh, what's going on?" Shoku yells. Ms. Saori smiles.

 

          "Game, start!" Ms. Saori yells as she clicks a button. Shoku falls back into his chair, unconscious.