Snippet #2522571

Chatter filled the classroom at volumes that could hardly be qualified as ‘indoor voices,’ though to be honest, this kind of liveliness was a nice break from the usual tense, stressful atmosphere. The substitute teacher occasionally peered over the rim of his shiny square glasses, but his gaze only ever lasted a second or two before he went back to studiously absorbing his nine-hundred page novel. Someone was already on his smart phone with about a dozen other kids at his back, looking over his shoulder with an intense, captivated stare. Hazel lifted her head a little and took a peek along with them.

It seemed like he’d opened up one of the Bullet Hell live stream matches. Locally casted matches tended to be just as popular as international and this was one of them, not to mention the fact that it was a junior league provisional match. If a team wins two out of the three provisional matches, they get a spot in the ranks. As a way of seeding teams out early, all provisional matches were to be set as Elimination matches. A harsh, but generally effective sorting method.

Halfway through the class, someone knocked at the door and asked for Hazel – the stranger in question was a tall man with a prickly-looking stubble and sharp, calculating eyes. She recognized the man and immediately understood what he was here for.
“Provisional matches are starting in several hours,” the man said, gently leading Hazel out the door by the hand. He left a note on the door and waved with an awkward smile toward the teacher before making off with her. “You should take that time to get acquainted with your new team.”

“Why is it on such short notice?” she asked, following him to his car. Her older brother was standing there as well; he must’ve been notified beforehand and decided to wait outside the school to see her off, though it seemed like her parents weren’t able to make it. Granted, they've usually been pretty busy with the debt piling on and on. Sometimes they didn't come back for days with all the work they've been trying to squeeze in just to make a few extra bucks.

“Just bad timing, I guess,” he laughed.

Hazel’s brother smiled sheepishly and put his hand forward in a fist. She smiled in turn and gave it a good a bump with her own fist.

“Go kick some ass, Hazel,” he grinned. “No pressure.”

“Yeah,” she nodded with only the slightest hint of hesitation. “It won’t be like last time.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” he said, giving her few heavy pats on the back as she climbed into the car. “I’ll be watching, just so you know. Come back home in one piece, alright?”

"I will."

~

The number of people that had gathered was significantly more than she last recalled. Not everybody here was playing today; some of them were here to get to know their new teams, just like her. Still, it was almost an eye-opening experience to see so many teams in the same place—everyone looked so different—just from a glance, she could see people who were cold-hearted, people who were cheerful and upbeat, and people who were clearly here against their own will.

“Your team is going to be meeting here,” the man said, gesturing over to the side; a long bench with square tables set by the window. Blinking curiously, Hazel slightly tilted her head to see that only one person had arrived so far. “Oh, we’re here early by the way,” he said, as though to address her concern by reading her thoughts. He made a quick wave with his hand. “The others should be here soon.” Looking to the side, it seemed like there was another team meeting right next to theirs. It was only a guess based on a hunch, but it would appear that they were a newly forming team as well. Her eyes then shifted over to a clock on the wall.

Only a few hours, huh? These are gonna be the longest hours of my life.