My name is Haruki, a 17-year-old ordinary guy who spends his days like everyone else—studying, attending school, and doing nothing extraordinary. People usually call me Haru.

  I never wished for an exciting life, never thought, "I wish something thrilling would happen." I was just living the same boring routine every day… but little did I know, things were about to change forever.

  At HomeMom: "Haruki! Your lunch box is ready. And don’t forget to take your water bottle!"

  Haruki: "Yeah, yeah, I got it, Mom…" (Still half-asleep, everything felt blurry.)

  Mom: "Did you stay up all night pying games again?"

  Haruki: "Huh?! N-no! What games? I don’t even know what that is!" (I panicked—busted!)

  Mom: "If you don’t start sleeping on time, I’ll take your phone away!"

  Haruki: "Okay, Mommy…" (I sighed, but just then, the gss of water slipped from my hands.)

  Mom: "HARUKI!!!"

  Haruki: "I-I'm sorry, Mommmm!"

  At SchoolEmma: "Hey, Haruki! How are you?"

  Haruki: (Emma… my childhood friend and cssmate. She’s been with me since we were kids, but sometimes she talks way too much. Huff…)

  Emma: (Hits Haruki on the head.)

  Haruki: "Oww! Emma, what the hell?!"

  Emma: "Why aren’t you listening to me?!"

  Haruki: "I am listening!"

  Emma: "Oh really? Then what did I just say?"

  Haruki: "Uhh… uh… umm… something about… ahh, never mind. You just wouldn’t understand—it’s Smash, not some kiddie game!"

  Emma: "HUH?! WHAT DID YOU SAY?! YOU’RE SO DEAD!"

  CssroomTeacher: "QUIET! Everyone, sit down! Summer vacation starts today, but that doesn’t mean you all should forget about studying!"

  Haruki: (Huff… Just when I thought I'd finally get a break, they’re already talking about studying! Come on!)

  Teacher: "Css dismissed. You’re free to go."

  Emma: "Haruki, listen up! What’s the pn for this vacation? Let’s prank Uncle by putting a bomb under his phone!"

  Haruki: "Are you crazy?! We’re 17! Stop acting like a kid!"

  Emma: "Oh, so you can do stupid stuff, but I can’t?"

  Haruki: "Okay, fine. Let’s do something big this time. Let’s go to the Dead Forest and do a bravery test!"

  Emma: "The Dead Forest?!"

  Kouki: (In a creepy voice) "Sounds like a great idea…"

  Haruki & Emma: "AHHHHH!!"

  Haruki: (Sps Kouki) "Damn you, Kouki! You scared the hell out of us!"

  Emma: (Laughing) "Look at you, Haruki! You wanna do a bravery test, and you got scared already!"

  Kouki: "And look at you, Emma—your makeup almost fell off from fear!"

  Emma: "Says the guy whose name sounds like a cookie! Want me to break you into pieces?!"

  Kouki: "It’s Kouki, not cookie, you idiot!"

  Haruki: "SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU! Listen to me… We meet tomorrow night at 11 PM, right at the entrance of the forest!"

  Kouki & Emma: "Okay, boss!"

  Haruki: "Bring the others too. Tomorrow… we py the game of death. Heheheh…"

  Teacher: "I heard that, Haruki."

  Haruki: "A-Ahh! I-I meant, the game of… uhh… learning and adventure?"

  Teacher: "Yeah, yeah. Now get out before I show you a real game of death!"

  Haruki: (Ughh… If only I were the principal, I’d show him!)

  Teacher: "I heard that too."

  Haruki: "Arghhh…"

  After SchoolEmma: "Okay, Haru, make sure to bring some safety gear, just in case. You know… wild animals, or whatever."

  Haruki: "Yeah, yeah, fine. But let’s not overthink it. If we see anything dangerous, we run!"

  Emma: "Got it!"

  Kouki: "I’ll bring torches. I have plenty of them."

  Haruki: "Good. Then we meet tomorrow."

  He had no idea… that something was already waiting for him in the forest. Was it death… or fate?

  Chapter One Ends Here.