Chapter 1 - Plan and Conflict

Chapter 1 - Plan

The positions are now sent through mail.

"""Here is the layout of the map venue.""" The general said, then revealing a map on the chalkboard.

The map is 67 hectares wide. The Class E starting area is in 'Fort Santiago, while we Class F is in 'Manila Highschool'

Well, i think it's not fair since Fort Santiago is much bigger than Manila High, but bigger base means it's harder to cover up all the base with guards.

Besides, we only have 20 members to begin with. We can't cover up the whole thing.

"So, we're gonna go start up with a plan." Kimiko Arize, the 5 Star General said.

The class who's shaking earlier seems to calm down. The second one to talk is the Arata Saito, the Colonel.

"But before that, we need to memorize all path in here."

Saito is one of the top students in class. But unlike Arize, Saito is much sociable than him. He also likes to watch strategy and action movies, so i think he's gonna go to fully use it.

"Okay, everyone, please come here." I said.

All of them are now looking at the chalkboard, where the layout of the 'Intramuros' was.

"So first, we're gonna go capture the 'Casa Manila' here. The following ones will be 4th Star Gen. Sahiro Eto, Major Nishimura Shuu, Private Azuki Chiho, Private Takisaki Ryuuto, and Spy Awawa Seiki. The leader of the group will be Takisaki, since he's the most calm in you." Saito said.

The Group A, who will capturing Casa Manila will be my group.

"Fuck! Why would i listen to him! I'm higher position than him!" Shuu said. He's one of the delinquents in our school, and pretty much he hates me because i always scold him about what he brings at school.

"This isn't time for that. Ryuuto is one of the student council, so pretty much he can lead everyone." Arize, who was silent at the time, said.

Arize doesn't really want to interfere to everyone's business. He's a full nerd that didn't have any things to do except to study. He's more like an introvert more than a nerd tho.

However, Arize interfering is unusual, i think because his life is also in the line.

"And why would i listen to nerds? Don't order around people and do your own business!" Shuu slams the desk, making everyone startled except me, Arize, and Saito.

"I can do my own business, but right now our life is on the line here. You didn't play this game before, but i used to play them on the Philippines. The most important in this game is teamwork, and intelligence."

"Fuck yourself up!" Shuu raged. But since he can't get out of the room, he holed himself in the corner of the wall.

"Well, that's an unpleasant sight, but let's continue."

Everyone pay attention to Saito, who just started talking again.

"Well, since Kimiko-san said he played it before, why don't you tell us more details about the game?"

Everyone nods. I'm also interested in this game. I played shogi before, so i'm confident in my board skills.

"Game of The General, the original game in the Philippines, is one where you need to take the enemy's flag or get your flag on the enemy's base to win, as the General said."

"However, in this game, you don't know what rank your enemy is. And if you killed the position higher than you, you will die instead. But sacrifices are needed in this game to know exactly the enemy's rank. For example, if the 5 Star General got killed, the killer is the Spy, since the Spy is the only person that can kill the General."

"And if a 4 Star General was killed, it's either 5 Star General or Spy that's killed them. Those tricks can reveal the enemy's rank, but be careful. If your pieces are much smaller, there's a smaller chance to win."

So that's how the game works. You need to gamble people to win, otherwise you will lose.

"Say, if you sacrifice people, then your group wins, what will happen to those who died?" Yuuki Erina, the Lieutenant Colonel asked.

In that question, the 'General' spoke.

"""The ones who will got killed will be sent through the spectator seat until the game ends. If their team wins, they will survive and can join to another round."""

With that, everyone is relieved. Sacrificing youself with your life to let the team win seems idiotic. But it's relieving that sacrificing yourself won't take your life.

"Okay, should we continue with the plan?" Saito said. Everyone agreed, except for Shuu who's got an annoyed face.

"So, after Group A captured the Casa Manila, Uzuma Uzuki, the other spy will observe the enemy through Manila Cathedral. Private Otosaka Urina will also observe together with Uzuki, so we don't have to worry about another spy coming. The remaining members will stay at the base and protect the Flag Shuno Haruno." Saito said.

"All we need is to prevent the enemy flag from coming here, kill the enemy flag, and to protect our flag."

Everyone seems satisfied to the plan.

"Hey General! Can we at least eat before the battle, please?" Saito shouted to nothing, getting the attention to General.

"Our lunch got interrupted when we got teleported here, so i would like you to please give us some food."

"""Then, i will get you some. However, during the battle, you need to find food for yourself.""" The general said.

After a while, Foods suddenly appeared from the air, and we're not familiar with it.

"What's this?" Everyone said in unison.

"""This is some of the Filipino food. The venue of the battle is in the Philippines, so i thought giving you filipino foods will set the mood."""

We looked at the food. There's a name in every pot that we're not familiar of.

"Wait, is that 'Sinigang¹' ?" Arize said

"Do you know those, Arize?" I asked.

"Well, i've gone to the Philippines with my parents, and Sinigang is my favorite food."

The other foods seems inviting too, such as Adobo², Menudo³, and many more.

We happily ate our lunch.

"It's delicious!" Everyone agreed. Shuu was staring at us, with an irritated face.

"Want some?" Saito asked Shuu, but he just brushed him off.

"Shut up." Shuu stare at the window of the classroom, but all he can see is illusion scenery of the city.

We just ignored him and ate the food served.

....

We finished eating, but there's still 20 minutes before the match. I walked through Arize and Saito who's discussing privately.

"Umm... may i join you?"

The two nodded. Then i sat on the two.

"You know, Shuu is suspicious." Saito said. We looked at Shuu, who's grinning in nothing.

"Why do you think that?" I asked.

"You know, her girlfriend is in Class E. Meaning that there's a chance that he will betray us. He may be a deliquent, but he loves her girlfriend the most he will risk his life for her."

We looked at the suspicious Shuu. He's still grinning out of nowhere. I stood up and walked up to him.

"Hey, got any sec?"

He looked to me, giving me an annoyed look. "What do you want?"

"I know you're thinking of betraying us, so you should stop."

Everyone who heard got shocked, while Arize and Saito just put their palms o their head while saying "He's done it."

"Heh. Shut up. I can do what i want."

"I know you're thinking, so i suggest you to stop, otherwise i'm gonna kick you out from this classroom."

I was pretty confident. I practiced Judo, so a lump delinquent like him is just a piece of cake for me.

"Tch!" He just ignored me and looked again at the window.

Everyone looked at Shuu with half hatred and half worried. What if Shuu revealed the plan to the enemy?

As we grow our anxiousness, 10 minutes has passed on the clock.

"""I see some hatred going on here. You better solve it quickly or else you will lose."""

The general spoke, which grows our anxiousness more. Shuu doesn't have any reaction, while Saito and Arize just shook their head to each other.

I walked up to Saito and Arize again.

"I think i messed up." I said.

"No, the students got alarmed at him, meaning that they will investigate him." Arize looked at Saito, and Saito just nodded.

"And we have a plan if Shuu betrayed us, although we're not gonna tell you what."

I just sighed. I may be a student council vice president, but i literally suck at strategy.

While talking, Haruno walked up to us.

"Umm... can i join you three?"

"Sure." Haruno sat on the right side of me and left side of Saito.

"What am i gonna do?" Haruno said.

"Don't worry. You don't have to do anything." I patted her head and comforted her.

"But i don't want to leave you all the work, guys. It made me guilty."

"That's why we have a plan. Right, Arize?" Saito said, then looked at Arize. He just smiled.

"Although we can't reveal it until that time. We have 1 day time limit, so it's not that the enemy will attack us at the beginning."

Haruno just nodded. Then, another 10 minutes has passed.

____________

"""The game will start in 30 seconds. Prepare for battle."""

After the general saying that, we stood up and got ready.

We don't know what the enemy will going to do, but we need to be alert and stick to the plan.

"""The game will begin in 5..."""

"""4"""

"""3"""

"""2"""

"""1"""

.....

All of the sudden, our view changed to a highschool that we're not familiar of.

We looked around and got amazed by the view.

"So this is 'Intramuros', huh?" We all murmured.

"Okay! Group A!, stick to the plan!" Saito shouted.

We Group A grouped up together. We memorized the path to the Casa Manila, all we need is to conquer it.

However, Shuu was missing.

"Ummm... Shuu is missing." The one who blurted it out is Awawa Seiki, the Spy.

"Don't worry about him. Go now!"

By Saito's words, we all moved to the plan.

______________

(Arize POV)

When the game started, i caught a glimpse on a shadow that's running downstairs.

I followed it, anď confirmed that it was Shuu. He's taking the Muralla Street⁴, which is the opposite side of the Cabildo⁵ Street which leads to Casa Manila⁶"

"Hmm... as we thought." Arize brought his cellphone up.

"Saito, you there?"

"Yeah. What's up?" The other line said.

"Shuu is currently taking the Muralla."

"Okay, here's the plan."

We talked about the plan. After 2 minutes of talking, i hanged up the phone, only to see an unfamiliar figure.

"Yo!"

This voice.... belongs to Hiramaru.

Hiramaru is one of my friends in Class E. We've been schoolmates since in primary school.

"What do you want?" I said in a cold voice.

"Don't be like that, we've been friends since primary school, isn't it?"

I just silenced. Talking with an enemy is a really bad idea, so i need to get out of here.

"Say, why don't we have a deal?"

I was walking out when i heard him.

-To Be Continued-

__________________

¹: Sinigang is a Filipino soup or stew characterized by its sour and savoury taste. It is most often associated with tamarind (Filipino: sampalok), although it can use other sour fruits and leaves as the souring agent

²: Adobo or adobar (Spanish: marinade, sauce, or seasoning) is the immersion of raw food in a stock (or sauce) composed variously of paprika, oregano, salt, garlic, and vinegar to preserve and enhance its flavor.

³: In Mexican cuisine, Menudo, also known as pancita ([little] gut or [little] stomach) or mole de panza ("stomach sauce"), is a traditional Mexican soup, made with cow's stomach (tripe) in broth with a red chili pepper base. Hominy, lime, onions, and oregano are used to season the broth. It differs from the Filipino dish of the same name, in that the latter does not use tripe or a chili sauce.

⁴: Muralla is one of the streets in Intramuros.

⁵: Cabildo is one of the streets in Intramuros

⁶: Casa Manila is a museum in Intramuros depicting colonial lifestyle during Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

Additional Infos:

Manila Highschool: The Manila High School is an educational institution in Manila, Philippines. It was first built along the present site of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila on General Luna Street in Intramuros from July 1963 up to April 1967.

Manila Cathedral: The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Filipino: Basilika Menor at Kalakhang Katedral ng Kalinis-linisang Paglilihi; Spanish: Basílica Menor y Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción), also known as the Manila Cathedral (Spanish: Catedral de Manila), is the cathedral of Manila and basilica located in Intramuros, the historic walled city within today's modern city of Manila, Philippines. It is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Patroness of the country. The cathedral serves as the episcopal seat of the Archbishop of Manila.

Fort Santiago (Spanish: Fuerte de Santiago; Filipino: Kutà ng Santiago), built in 1593, is a citadel built by Spanish navigator and governor Miguel López de Legazpi for the new established city of Manila in the Philippines. The defense fortress is located in Intramuros, the walled city of Manila.

Source: Wikipedia