Battle Royale

"I still remember the class match," Noriko said as she glanced up at the ceiling. "Not this year's, but last year's...the finals. Shinji was on his own against Class D, who had four students on the basketball team. We were thirty points behind, but then you rushed over after your softball game, and together you two guys started an incredible comeback."

"Yeah." Shuya nodded. He noticed how Noriko was becoming talkative. That was a good sign. "I guess that's what happened."

"I was cheering you guys on. When we won Yukie was on her feet shrieking."

"Yeah."

Shuya remembered too. Because Noriko, who was always reserved, was cheering the loudest. And although he wasn't as uncoordinated as Yoshio Akamatsu, the unathletic Yoshitoki Kuninobu was standing apart from Noriko and the others. Shuya saw Yoshitoki, his hands waving and making devil signs. It was a humble gesture, but Yoshitoki's display of support moved Shuya more than Noriko and the other girls' screaming rally.

Yoshitoki...

Shuya gazed back at Noriko, and then realized that Noriko was crying. He reached over to Noriko, touching her shoulder, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Uh..." Noriko hiccuped slightly. "I was telling myself not to cry, but...then I was thinking how wonderful our class was..."

Shuya nodded. It might have been from the still lingering fever, or it might have been from the drugs, but Noriko seemed to be in an emotional state. He kept his hand on her shoulder until she stopped crying.

Eventually Noriko said, "I'm sorry," and wiped her eyes. Then she said, "I didn't tell you because it might end up disturbing you."

"What do you mean?"

Noriko looked into Shuya's eyes. "Did you know a lot of girls have a crush on you?"

The topic of conversation was so unexpected Shuya couldn't help grimacing. "What are you talking about?"

But Noriko continued, her face dead serious. "Megumi...and Yukiko too, I think."

Shuya tilted his head as if puzzled. Megumi Eto and Yukiko Kitano. Two of the players no longer in the running in this game.

"Those..." Was it proper to call them "those"? "What about those two?"

Noriko looked up at Shuya and said quietly, "They both had a crush on you."

Shuya's face stiffened. He hesitated and then mumbled, "...really?"

"Uh huh." Noriko looked away from Shuya and nodded. "It's easy to tell with girls. I just...wanted you to have fond thoughts for them." She added, "I am in no position to be telling you this now, given the situation I'm in."

Shuya had a dim image of the faces of Megumi Eto and Yukiko Kitano. Just a little though. Like, two teaspoons each. "Wow..." He exhaled. Then he said, "I wish you'd told me after we escaped."

"I'm sorry. Did it shock you?

"Yeah, a little."

Noriko tilted her head again, "But...I thought you should know in case I die."

Shuya looked up. His right hand squeezed her left wrist. "Look, please don't assume that. We're in this together till the end. We're going to survive together."

Noriko was taken aback by Shuya's sudden intensity. I'm sorry.

"Hey."

"Hm?"

"I actually know someone who's got a crush on you."

Now it was Noriko's turn to open her eyes wide. "Really? Why me?" She said this innocently, but the expression on her face vanished quickly. Shuya saw the fading light from the window reflected as an obscure rectangle in her pupils. She asked, "Is he a classmate?"

Shuya slowly shook his head. As he recalled those warm, bulging eyes, he thought, damn, how nice and peaceful it would have been just to be able to get worried over a romantic triangle involving a longtime friend. But that would never happen. No siree. It just won't. "No."

Noriko looked somewhat relieved as she looked down at the knees of her skirt and only mumbled, "I see." Then she looked up and said, "So who could it be? I wasn't in any clubs or teams. And I don't have friends in any of the other classes."

Shuya shook his head. "I'm not telling. I'll tell you once we're out of here."

Noriko looked slightly skeptical, but didn't pursue the matter.

After they fell silent for a while Shuya looked up at the ceiling. Even though tidiness was mandatory in a clinic, the fluorescent light hanging here had dusty covers. The lights didn't work. They couldn't turn them on anyway even if they did.

"Megumi-san...," he said. He added the polite "san" to her name. Boys can be so fickle, "...and Yukiko-san. If it's true...what could they have possibly liked about me?"

It was becoming pitch black, but Noriko appeared to be smiling a little. "You mind if I share my opinion?"

"Sure."

Noriko tilted her head. "Everything about you." Shuya chuckled and shook his head, "What do you mean?

"That's what it means to love someone." Noriko's suddenly sounded serious. "Isn't that how you feel about that girl?"

Shuya thought of Kazumi Shintani's face. He thought about it. He hesitated, but thought he should be honest. • "Yeah. Something like that."

"If it's not, then it's not real," Noriko said as if she were amused and then let out a quiet laugh.

"What?"