Survival Game, Book 1: The Fool

Act One: Chapter Five

It took Azumi about 2 weeks to call again and tell Ryou to return to her office. It was late July now, and for once, Ryou was actually grateful to get away from the blistering heat and return to the cool sanctuary of Survival Game's headquarters. His gratefulness didn't last long when he stood in front of the glass doors, the skyscraper of a building looming over him like a giant. Who else did she choose? And what could the tests she spoke of be? Those were the questions he kept asking himself over and over.
When Ryou entered this time, Azumi had awaited for him in the lobby, a group of three others with her. He recognized the tall boy with long, wispy black hair and a hideous scar on his jaw as Kouji Kawakami. The one next to him, a half-American girl with several piercings that looked very small in comparison to Kouji, was someone who Ryou was pretty sure he saw in the library once or twice after school. She had an American name, he remembered from the strange pronounciation, but he couldn't recall it. He thought it was something like Kristina or Kristine, but neither of them seemed to suit her so he wasn't sure. There was another girl at the end of the trio, her long black hair and gorgeous features appearing more hauntingly as Ryou recognized Yuriko Shimamura, the woman who'd been convicted for several murders months ago. He had always wondered what happened to her, with the lack of news updates, and he guessed this was it.
"I'm glad you made it." Azumi greeted Ryou as he reluctantly joined the group. "I welcome you four to joining our third and official trial of the Survival Game. As you can guess from the name, the Grandmasters see their whole plans as one game of chess, and their hierarchy is based on that. That is why our program is called Survival Game, to show them that we chose to play their game with them and we shall watch them fall... if the four of you succeed." She glanced at each group member in turn, suggesting she was seeing if anyone had questions, before moving on. "The four of you will be placed on individual floors. Each of you will be assigned a mentor, who will be the ones creating and evaluating your tests.  I cannot tell you what tests you'll have, however. The mentors I assigned for you are all trusted colleagues of mine, each of which who has successfully taken the AX drug and gotten their powers. They were considered failed prototypes to the Survival Game due to my personal connection with some of them, unfortunately, but I'm sure they'll have much to teach you."
"So, let me get this straight..." Kouji began, sounding more puzzled than sarcastic as Ryou would've thought. "We have to take these tests to see if we can inject some weird medicine? Isn't that kinda pointless if you already chose us specifically."
"I chose you four for connections to the Grandmasters mostly, but I also believe you can survive the after effects. These tests are not only a requirement on my end, but a way to prepare you to endure what is to come. The drug, and the fighting that'll occur afterwards. You cannot be sent into battle without any guidance on what to do." Azumi replied with slight annoyance as if she'd explained it before.
Connections to the Grandmasters...? That was all Ryou had heard from her reply before becoming lost in thought. But, I don't know them... maybe she meant the other three. He was about to ask, but the girl whose name he still didn't know had beat him to it. "Kimura-san, from my understanding, only Shimamura-san had connections with the Grandmasters." She intruded respectfully to her supervisor.
"Yes, my apologies." Azumi quickly corrected herself. "With that said, if you don't have any questions, you may ride the elevators to your designated floors. Nakahara-san has floor 1, Kawakami-san has floor 2, Aramaki-san has floor 3, and Shimamura-san has floor 4. Your mentors will guide you from there. I wish you luck and hope for your success." The four began to head to an elevator each, clearly wishing to begin their tests and get things over with. Ryou was more hesitant than Kouji or Yuriko, who instantly headed to their assigned floors, and he lingered a few moments before entering. Aramaki had been reluctant as well, but she seemed to be lost in thought about something else before realizing the elevator door was opened and quickly stepping inside.

What was seconds seemed more like hours as Ryou continued to wonder. He was sure he could pass whatever test he faced if it was a more academic based one, but he felt that was highly unlikely. When he stepped out of the elevator, a small hallway with a single door at the end greeted him. There's no one here... He thought skeptically as he slowly walked down the hall, suspicious of traps or hidden objects. He didn't know if it was even part of the test or not but he could never be sure. Where's my mentor? He continued to wonder as he approached the door, worrying he'd been placed with a terrible one who skipped out on him. His questions were answered as a hidden speaker buzzed the exact second he placed his hand on the door, one he now noticed had strange Victorian designs carved into its wood and a crystal knob. Looking back into the dim, candle lit light, he realized the wall also had weird patterns on it.
"Nakahara-kun." A man's voice jolted him from his observations, even when he was expecting it. "I welcome you to my first test. I hope you find it most enjoyable." The tone of his voice had a rather flamboyant touch peppered into it that kinda annoyed Ryou, but he'd never disrespect his seniors by voicing such complaints. "Go through the door and the test will begin."
"What... kind of test is it?" Ryou asked self-consciously. He hated the thought of talking to the hidden speakers, feeling like he was having a conversation with himself than his mentor. But maybe he's waiting for me, and this is part of the test too. Maybe he's evaluating me right now and testing each choice I make.
His mentor's reply interrupted his thoughts. "It's a test of fate, Nakahara-kun. Fate will choose your path from here on out. There'll be no right or wrong answers, just as in life itself. Rather you pass this test or not will all depend on your choices." He explained, his answer only making Ryou more confused. "For instance, you have a choice right now. Will you enter the door? Or will you take your hand off that handle and turn away? Will you forfeit the Game, giving up before you've begun? Or will you continue on, and see what lies beyond the boundaries of your mundane life? The choice is yours."
He makes it sound like it's life or death. But, maybe it is.... "I have to do this... for Mom's sake. For Hideo's. If they can be happy from my sacrifice, then..." He knew he had to do it now. He took one deep breath, weighing his options one last time, and decided to begin the first test. So, without looking back, he opened the door.