Japanese Vanguard is a disgrace.

We created the game.

We exported it to the outside world.

We invested millions up millions in developing the game as much as we could.

Technology and science took leaps for the sake of what began as a hobby where people played with pieces of cardboard.

And then, he created it.

A competition capable of lasting decades.

A bridge between reality and one's wildest dreams.

A testament to man's never-ending desire.

Yet, the moment we look at the leaderboards for the Messiah Grand Prix outside our frontiers, we're forced to face reality for what it is.

No.

That isn't true.

Only I have to face reality.

They all choose to ignore our pitiful state.

But I'll be dead before I degrade myself to their level.

I'll be dead before I accept their Vanguard.

So I will do it.

I will save japanese Vanguard.
-----

The group of old yet well suited men that sat around the conference table finally finished reading the proposal that had been placed in front of them. Some simply dropped it back, others laughed among themselves, some just sighed, yet the exception to group sitting at the end of the table remained as serious as he was when they first arrived.

"Momoi... You're a good employee. That is an objective fact. Miss Payic would have not made you her stand-in if you weren't." The oldest of the bunch began. He sat on the opposite side of the table, and met the serious gaze of the youngest with one of his own. "But this proposal is a joke. What is this event meant to accomplish? No one gains anything out of this. Out of professional courtesy, I suggest you forget Project HIGH REPLICA and move on with your life. Vanguard is doing better than ever in Japan, there is nothing to save."

"Momoi Takatora, the hailed child prodigy from the boonies who became the modern day Zhuge Liang, going so out of his way to ask the government for help..." Another men whistled. "If japanese Vanguard's this bad, then why don't you go back to playing? Fix it your-"

"Are you done wasting all of our times with that rubbish?" Takatora asked, his gaze on the one who sat across him as unmovable as a mountain. "Thank you. As much as I would prefer to wait for your generation's laughable mentality to die with you, the more I wait, the more of a laughing stock the Vanguard you oh so love to play becomes. Gentlemen, face the facts. The winner of the Messiah Grand Prix won't come from inside our boarders. The numbers in our leaderboards are moot when the numbers past our frontier are five times higher. The fact one city's leaderboard surpasses the leaderboard of our entire country should terrify you. Just how Japan will never win a World Cup, it will never win a Messiah Grand Prix."

"And your solution to that is what? GEN Academy on land? Do you even listen to yourself, Momoi?"

"I find it offensive you'd compare my HIGH REPLICA to that establishment."

"Yet you offer a small portion of what it offers."

"A small portion of what it offers... Is your lack of foresight that grand with your age?"

Takatora drew his phone from the breast pocket of his blazer and set it on the table. A few taps later, he remotely activated the holographic projector in the center of the conference table, displaying a smaller version of the island city.

"GEN Academy produces people for all walks on life, that much is a fact, yet they lack one key aspect: focus. They teach people everything, and when you train for various things, when you split your focus, you never reach the apex of something."

Takatora snapped his fingers-

"A Vanguard player produced by GEN Academy cannot become the best player in Japan, let alone the world. That is simply a fact."

-and the projected replica shattered into small cubes of data.

"And that is where Project HIGH REPLICA differs from the moist school you love so much. Project HIGH REPLICA will produce the ultimate Vanguard player that will save our country's dying Vanguard."

"Are you done?" One of the old men asked. "Read the room, Momoi. No one here will agree to fund this project. Just drop it and move on."

The air inside the room grew colder with Takatora"s next words.

"Agree? Fund? What rubbish are you talking about?"

All who were distracted with their own conversations suddenly had their eyes on the young black haired man.

"Did you ever truly believe I had gathered all these government officials here to ask for permission? For money? You've become a foolish bunch with your age." He sighed. "I have already obtained the sole permission I needed long ago. HIGH REPLICA's headquarters finished construction last month. The invitations for the project were sent at the start of the week."

"What? But how?!" The one who whistled moments ago asked, slamming his hands down in the table.

"Have you forgotten already? Fine, I will remind you."

Takatora ran a hand through his hands, allowing his glowing green eyes to fall upon all those who sat in front of him.

"For aslong as Miss Payic approves of my decisions, I am the one who rules Mikazuchi Technologies, ants."

The meeting room was thrown into chaos. Everyone either talked or yelled over each other, turning every spoken word into just a sound in a whirlwind of incomprehensible noise.

But his piece was said, so after returning his phone to his pocket and gathering his files, Takatora got up and headed for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?! You've got alot to explain, Momoi Takatora!" The eldest man demanded with a booming voice.

"No. My guests will be arriving at HR's HQ soon. You don't need to know anything. But-"

Takatora looked at the older men. The fear his gaze induced turned the room silent in a moment, and those who had gotten up in fustration were forced to sit back down.

"Japanese Vanguard will be saved. My HIGH REPLICA will make it a reality. We're on the road to change, and if you want your grubby names anywhere near the glory this change will bring, you will need to pull your weight. So here is my ultimatum. If you desire the government to obtain anything from this project, then pay up. Legal fees, food, energy, maintenance, etc. You will even pay to Mikazuchi Technologies the amount that was used in the project so far. In exchange of us losing not even one cent and you having no power over anything related to the project, you get to bask in the unending glory HIGH REPLICA will bring."

-----

Deep into the green scenary of rural Tokyo, standing out like sore thumb when compared to the sea of trees surrounding it, stood the facility housing Project HIGH REPLICA, an hexagonal fortress with six towers in each corner, all with the red and white overlapping cards that served as the project's symbol painted on their walls, and two massive doors, almost like a gate, leading into the inside of the building.

One after the other, buses transporting the project's participants stopped in front of the entrance, allowing for the three hundred entries to gather in front of the tall doors. Though the majority of the group was composed out of boys, there was the occasional girl, a ratio of about two hundred fifty to fifty, and all in the same age range, between sixteen and nineteen.

As per requested in the invitation they all received, they came with only essentials such as hygiene items, a tracksuit, some clothes of their choice, and of course, their deck and ID Medal. Afterall, every single person there was a participant of the Messiah Grand Prix.

Some of the people present began to talk among themselves, commenting how the doors were still locked shut despite them having arrived at the commanded time, in turn leading to loud noise polluting the natural sounds of the rural area.

But that wouldn't last for long, as the giant screen above the doors suddenly began broadcasting live from wherever Takatora was. The camera was too zoomed in on his face to show his surroundings, but it was enough to erase all the noise in an instant.

"Good morning, and thank you for accepting my invite. Welcome to Project HIGH REPLICA. As stated in the letter you received, this is a training facility that will work towards augmenting your cardfighting abilities to a world class level."

The sight of the young black haired man lead some to start whispering among themselves again.

"Wait, I know him! He's that superstar player that retired from the game when he was seventeen!"

"You meant that dude who won the U20 when he was what, thirteen? I remember watching him on TV when I was a kid, that guy even went to worlds a bunch of times!"

"Yeah, but he never made it past top 8. Still, the guy's a beast! It's just a shame he retired so early, he had the Vanguard world by its balls."

"Allow me to tell you the story behind this project." Takatora said. "For years now, I have watched the state of Vanguard in this country decline. Every year, it sells better than the previous one, that much is a fact, but every year, it's as if we move down a tier in terms of ability. You will find many japanese names amidst the upper echelon of the professional scene, yet how many of them made their careers here? You are young, but I have no doubt you've of the name of Chisaki Shiguru. An amazing player, a tyrant of his time... But his career didn't began here. He began his career overseas. That is how he managed to go so far and leave such an impact in this world. But if he were to have starter his career here... What a disgrace that would have been. He would have just lived as a diamond in the rough and have retired sooner. That is the state of Vanguard within the japanese borders. There is no shortage of talent, yet no one will bother to pollish the diamonds right in front of their eyes. Our Vanguard is decaying, and I cannot allow that decay to be our legacy. As such, I created this- Project HIGH REPLICA. You are all diamonds in the rough, but within this fortress, you will be pollished. So, I open my doors to you, and launch a second invite."

As Takatora opened his arms, so did the gates to the facility.

"Give up everything else in your life for the sake of Vanguard! One of you will step out of this fortress as the strongest player in the world. Everyone else will be tossed like yesterday's garbage, but such is the price to shatter the shackles pulling you into the dirt. Step through these gates and become the change our Vanguard has been silently crying out for!"

Whatever silence was created while Takatora talked was quickly overthrown by a noise louder than the one before. After hearing all of that, almost no one was capable of not talking about it.

And yet, none dared to take one step towards the gates of the castle until someone boldly ran past them. After that, it was a snowball effect. Everyone ran through the gates, it was miracle the sole entrance to the buildint didn't become jammed.

As the three hundred participants ran through the halls towards the central area, the screens on the walls surrounding them lit up, once again displaying Takatora's face.

"After you reach the central area, all of you will be split into groups of fifty and be sent to one of the six towers. Valhalla, Tartarus, Ys, Naraka, Alexandria and Sanctum. Each tower is based on one of the six nations of Vanguard. Figuring out which is which shouldn't be too hard, and figuring out which one is the worst one is even easier if you pay attention to the modern metagame. We will talk again soon, unpollished gems. You have a test coming up."

-----

Over the course of an hour, the three hundred participants that stepped through the hexagonal fortress' doors were divided into six large groups, composed out of fifty people each, and sent down to the large halls present at every tower.

The doors of the sixth tower's hall closed as the all the fifty participants steppes into the room. The screen above the door lit up to show Takatora, who began listing out pairs and the table they'd be fighting on. With all participants set, he began explaining the details of this first test.

"Greetings again. This initial test is a simple cardfight to get a better picture at your capabilities as a fighter. That is all."

With his brief words out of the way, the screen went black again.

The fight taking place in the table closest to the western wall soon began. It was a clash between two boys around the same age, one with black hair tied back and one with white hair, the former of which extended his hand towards his opponent.

"Yume Tae. Let's have a good game!"

"Inoue... Inoue Takeo. You too." The white haired shook his opponent's hand. 'He's the smilling type... I can't blame him, this place feels too good to be true.'

"Nice to meet you, Inoue-san! Let's start! Stand up, vanguard! Jewelias Dracokid!"

"The vanguard! Scarlet Flame Recruit, Barkish!"

The turn order was decided by a coin flip done by the table's system. Yume would be going first.

"Draw. I'll discard and ride Jewel Core Dragon! Turn end."

Yume
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

Inoue
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw... Ride, Scarlet Flame Bow Soldier, Agiredo! Barkish's skill, I draw one card. Agiredo attacks! (8000)"

"Gandiva, huh? It's a great deck, but I'm not afraid of it, Inoue-kun! No guard!"

'K-kun...?! Guys like him really are the worst, we've only known each other for twelve seconds...' "Drive check! (Swordsman of Crimson Scales, Barnaia)"

"(Twin Marvel Dragon) No trigger."

"Turn end."

Yume
Hand: 5
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Inoue
Hand: 7
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Draw! I'll discard this one to ride Demonic Stone Dragon, Jewelneel! Jewel Core calls himself to the side and attacks! On attack, add 5k! (8000>>13000)"

"No guard! (Scarlet Flame Bow General, Ruguent)"

"Jewel Core moves to the soul and Jewelneel attacks! (15000)"

"Conduct Spark! (25000)"

"Drive check! (Cranium Burner) Nothing here. Turn end!"

Yume
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Inoue
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. Agiredo's skill. Since you have less than one rear-guard, I ride up for free! Ride! Scarlet Flame Bow General, Dipanel! Attack! (10000)"

"No guard!"

"(Best Harvest) No trigger."

"(Friend of the Netherworld, Ling)"

"Turn end!"

Yume
Hand: 6
Damage: 2
OXO
OOO

Inoue
Hand: 8
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! Alright, I'll hit you with everything I got now, Inoue! Get ready!"

'Stop climbing down the honourific ladder, we aren't long term rivals or something like that!'

"The four heavenly virtues crystalize into these shining gems! Make my dreams come true and take off! I discard and ride! Demonic Jewel Dragon, Drajeweled! Jewelneel's skill! Soulcharge, and with three different grades in my soul, I draw one! I call Twin Marvel, Ling and Empousa! Ling's skill, scry two, put one into soul and one on the bottom! Then, Drajeweled's skill! Counterblast, soulcharge two and draw one! Battle! Empousa attacks! (10000)"

"Flare Veil. (20000)"

"Drajeweled attacks! Skill, soulblast four cards with different grades to reduce your vanguard's power to 1! Then, Empousa's skill! She restands! Twin Marvel's skill too! Scry one, put it into my soul and he gets 2k! (8000>>10000) Virtous Dream Stone! (13000)"

"No guard!"

"Twin drive! (Demonic Stone Dragon, Rockargour) (Recusal Hate Dragon) No trigger!"

"(Meteor Flare Dragon)"

"Empousa attacks again! (10000)"

"Conduct Spark, guard! (15001)"

"Boosted by Ling, Twin Marvel attacks! (10000>>18000)"

"No guard! (Meteor Flare Dragon)"

"Turn end! Sorry, but I won't be leaving Empousa out for you! Empousa's skill! Since I restood her, I retire her to return the Rockargour in my soul to my hand!"

Yume
Hand: 8
Damage: 2
OXX
OOX

Inoue
Hand: 6
Damage: 3
OXO
OOO

"Hey, Takeo-san!"

'He keeps going up the ladder...'

"What brought here? You know, what got you to accept the invite to partake in HR?"

"Oh... My Vanguard club at school wasn't doing anything important, so why not do something while everyone's break? Stand and draw."

Inoie Takeo was a liar.

"Ride! Scarlet Flame Marshal Dragon, Gandiva!"

"Huh? You don't have a chant, Takeo-kun?"

"I'm not... That creative. Dipanel's skill. Gandiva's skill becomes free during this turn. Then, play! Best Harvest! My vanguard gets a skill until the ene of the turn. Gandiva's skill! I choose Twin Marvel and reveal the top five. Since there's a grade one, Twin Marvel's retired, the rest's shuffled. The second part of Gandiva's skill, Gandiva's other skill and the skill given by Best Harvest activate! I bind two cards from my drop face down and draw two cards. I call Ruguent! On call, counterblast and retire Ling. Gandiva's skill, bind another card. Then, draw one. I call Barnaia and Stirguna next! Stirguna's skill. Soulblast, bind Ruguent face down to retire one, but since there's no targets, I bind a card in drop face down and draw. I call Alfakar. Gandiva's skill! For every face down card in my bind zone, my front row gets 2k! (10000>>18000) (13000>>21000) (13000>>21000) Boosted by Barnaia, Alfakar attacks! (18000>>26000)"

"Sheesh, these Persona Ride numbers so early on are something else... But I won't go down so easy! Stem Deviate! (28000)"

"Barnaia's skill. Bind itself to draw one. There's five cards now, so Gandiva gets an extra crit! (18000>>20000) (21000>>23000/2) (21000>>23000) Gandiva attacks! Alfakar's skill. Counterblast and bind itself to scry five and call Meteor Flare! Meteor Flare's skill, he gets 10k! Then, Gandiva's skill! (10000>>32000) (23000>>25000/2) (23000>>25000) Shatterpoint Pashupata!"

"So you do have an attack name, huh... Perfect guard!"

"Twin drive! (Scarlet Flame Bow General, Stirguna) (Flare Veil Dragon - Draw) All effects on Stirguna! (25000>>35000) Meteor Flare! (32000)"

"No guard! (Demonic Jewel Dragon, Drajeweled)"

"Stirguna! (35000)"

"No guard again! (Cranium Burner)"

"Aight..." Inoue quietly panted. "Turn end."

Yume
Hand: 5
Damage: 4
OXO
OOO

Inoue
Hand: 9
Damage: 3
Bind: 6
XXX
OOO

"This fight's been intense, but... Alright!" Yume slapped himself twice. "I'm going all out now! Stand and-!"

The screen lit up.

"Huh, this is as good of a time as any, considering everyone's on the fourth turn..."

Every fight came to a halt to look up at Takatora.

"Huh, alright... So, there's one thing I waited to explain until now. How will HIGH REPLICA go about making the ultimate fighter? Well, this facility has tons of equipment for physical and mental training, tons of simulations, the works, etc... But that's only 2% of the process. The other 98% comes down to the most human thing there is... Ego."

Despite the revelation, the room remained silent. Takatora held full control over its attention.

"Did you know that in football, the most important decision happens near the opposing goal? It all comes down to what the striker chooses to do. That's why you see so many teams crumble at the last moments. Strikers will follow their teamwork to the ends of the world and pass the ball... But the greedy egoists will tell their team to take a hike and score. Vanguard is the exact same. All three hundred participants here have been screwed up by being tied down to a team at some point, no one's a solo fighter. Some lost because their team went into a third game, some lost because their clubmates sucked at the game, and the list goes on and on and on... And that's what this decaying Vanguard our country's playing needs to return to the spotlight. We need our own greed-driven egoist! That's the purpose on HIGH REPLICA, to pollish you diamonds in the rough until only one, the ultimate egoist, remains behind!"

Yume's eyes widened.

"Wait... O-one...?"

"Yes, that's quite right. I said it already before the doors to the facility were opened, yet no one thought of the meaning of my words. Only half of the three hundred participants will move on to the first selection stage. The fifty of you were ranked by our team, and each fight right now is between one of the best twenty five and one of the worst twenty five. If you want your spot at the top, win and proceed, and keep evolving until you're standing on top of two hundred ninety nine corpses!"

Takatora cleared his throat. Perhaps he got too excited.

"Those who fail to proceed will have their ID Medals erased and will never be allowed into any grand event again. Afterall, you all agreed into giving up everything for Vanguard, did you not? Proceed, unpollished gems."

The screen was turned off, and though no words were spoken, the air in the room shifted entirely. Everyone soon returned to what was now a deathmatch.

"Die..."

"Huh?"

"Die... DIE FOR MY FUTURE AS THE BEST VANGUARD PLAYER IN JAPAN!" Yume screeched. "THOSE BASTARDS IN MY TEAM KEPT FUCKING EVERYTHING UP! I TOLD THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT ZORGA AND LIANORN WERE BETTER, BUT THOSE RETARDS JUST KEPT PLAYING THEIR RETARDED STRIDE DECKS! WELL, THOSE RETARDS CAN GO DIE IN HELL NOW! ONLY I GOT INVITED, BECAUSE ONLY I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES! I AM THAT GUY! STAND AND DRAW! DIE FOR ME, TAKEOOOO!"

'Your breakdown isn't an excuse to call me by my first name, you piece of shit...'

"Play, Masque of Hydragurm! Scry five and add Drajeweled Masques! Then, Masque's skill from drop! Shove it in soul to Persona Ride from hand! Karmic Demonic Jewel Dragon, Drajeweled Masques! (13000>>23000) The jewels that shine like my brilliant future will drown you, Takeo! Drajeweled Masques' skill! I purge Drajeweled from my drop to get a crit and soulcharge two from drop! (23000>>23000/2) I call two Twin Marvel and two Rockargour! (10000>>20000) (10000>>20000) BATTLE! Rockargour attacks! Skill, add 10k! (20000>>30000)"

"Conduct Spark, intercept with Meteor Flare! (33000)"

"Again! (20000>>30000)"

"Reony, Barnaia! (33000)"

"Drajeweled Masques attack! Skill! Counterblast, soulblast four, kill your power and kill Stirguna! Then, counterblast two to restand the Rockargours and scry two to put both into soul! (8000>>10000) (80000>>10000) Drajeweled Masques... KILL HIM ALREADY! (23000/2)"

"Perfect guard! Twin Buckler Dragon!"

"TWIN DRIVE! (Karmic Demonic Jewel Dragon, Drajeweled Masques) (Masque of Hydragurm) Boosted by Twin Marvel, Rockargour! (30000>>40000)"

"No guard! (Best Harvest)"

"AGAIN! (30000>>40000)"

"(Scarlet Flame Bow Soldier, Bausen)"

"Turn... Turn end! Next turn I'll make you die for my dream, Takeo!"

Yume
Hand: 4
Damage: 4
XXX
XOX

Inoue
Hand: 4
Damage: 5
Bind: 6
OXO
OOO

"Stand and-"

"That's why, that's exactly why! You lack motivation! There's nothing in your voice, in your eyes, in your entire self! Just throw the game, Takeo! Forget Vanguard for my sake! Takeo! Listen to me, Takeo!"

"Shove it..."

"Takeo! Your stupid high school club doesn't come close to me, Takeo! Throw them aside for my future, Takeo! Think which one of is more worthy of having a place in HIGH REPLICA, Takeo! I'm the one of us who's in the top twenty five, it only makes sense if I am the one who moves onward, Takeo!"

"I lied... Those asses kicked me out for not being as casual as them. Dammit, I began that club with them and they tossed me for just waiting to be a bit better..." Inoue sighed. "Stand and-"

"TAKEO! That's another reason for you to be my sacrificial goat, Takeo! You don't have anything to return to, so quit Vanguard for my sake, Takeo! It wouldn't make any sense for you to move on when me and my Drajeweled deck exist! It'd just be illogical for you not quit here and now, Takeo! Listen to me, Takeo! LISTEN TO ME, TAKE-!'

Inoue slammed his fist on the table. It was loud enough to make some heads turn.

"SHUT UP, DAMMIT! YOU'RE ANNOYING! GO PREACH TO SOMEONE WHO GIVES A SHIT OR CRY ABOUT IT ALONE!"

"T-take-!"

"Inoue! It's Inoue! My name is Inoue! Don't go around calling people you don't know by their first names, Tae! That'll make people want to beat the hell out of you, Tae! Stand and draw, Tae!"

"T-takeo...! What the hell is this about?!"

"Pieces of shit like you and my old clubmates... You always try to to drown my own dreams because I'm not an egoist..."

"Exactly! You're no egoist, but I am! That's exactly why only I should-!"

"But I'll become the king of egoists if it means beating the shit out of you out of spite and nothing else!

"Takeo!" Yume gasped.

"Play, Best Harvest! Gandiva's skill! Counterblast, reveal the top five and retire your right column! Then, draw two and bind two! Ruguent! Counterblast, retire Rockargour, then draw and bind another card! Stirguna! Soulblast, bind Ruguent face down and retire your final rear-guard! Draw one and bind one more card! Call! Alfakar, Barnaia, Bausen! Battle! Gandiva's skill! (10000>>32000) (13000>>35000/2) (13000>>35000) Boosted by Barnaia, Alfakar attacks! (32000>>40000)"

"Two Mal-Nigals! (43000)"

"Barnaia's skill! Bind and draw! Gandiva! Bausen's skill, bind itself to counterchrge! Then, Alfakar's skill! Counterblast, bind itself and call Ruguent! (10000>>38000) (35000>>41000/2) (35000>>41000) Shatterpoint... PASHUPATA!"

"Oi, Takeo! Take that back! That attack will push me to six! What are you doing, Takeo?! Drajeweled is clearly the superior deck! So just take that attack back, end your turn and die to me, Take-!"

With one single movement, Gandiva grabbed the entirity of Drajeweled's snout with his free hand, his grip strong enough to start crushing it like a soda can. The red dragon pushed the tip of the blazing arrow on his crossbow into Drajeweled's neck.

"Tae..." Inoue growled.

"I-inoue-san?!"

Gandiva pulled the trigger.

"Eat my piss and die!"

The blazing arrow ripped through Drajeweled's neck, perfectly separating his head from the rest of the body and burning the two cut ends to a crisp as to not allow any form of reparation.

The screen lit up.

"Congratulations to the twenty five of you who won. To the other twenty five, your ID Medal has crumbled in your pockets. Get the hell out of my facility, we have no use for egoless people like you. As they say beyond our boarders, lock off."

As commanded, the twenty five losers joined the other hundred twenty five and went back home with their futures in professional Vanguard kissed goodbye. The other twenty five gathered to listen to Takatora.

"The twenty five of you will be turned into five teams with five members each, and will constitute the teams of the Sanctum tower. Each team will share a room and be allowed to do whatever they wish until the first selection begins. Train, develop teamwork, cry, it's not my problem. Anyway, these are the following teams. Team 26 will have Langley Fujisaka, Hongo Teruto, Higashi Juro, Jyubei Anri and Hyudo Jin. Team 27 will have Wanima Takeshi, Shirogane Andou, Tetsuryu Mikiya, Kendo Mitsuya and Yamai Han. Team 28 will have Niku Niku, Fujioka Tamaki, Dojima Aruto, Katou Emu and Fuwa Miki. Team 29 will have Katsuragi Dan, Furyu Denji, Satonaka Takina, Mendo Kei, Amagi Ataru and Yamato Segi. And last but not least, Team 30 will have Kaguragi Date, Angelica Fujisaka, Moroboshi Rei, Kanisuka So and Inoue Takeo. Your rooms will have your team's number of the door, and your baggage has already been sent there. We shall talk again when the first selection arrives. But until then..."

The doors under the screen opened.

"Welcome to HIGH REPLICA."

---

Inoue sat on the edge of his bed, doing his absolute best to not be driven to insanity by his new teammates. Things were off to a great start.

'These people... Suck...'

Kanisuka So, big, bulky, black hair, some facial hair despite his age, could bench press the entire team, but instead spent the last two hours placing all the books he brought with him in the shelves next to his bed.

Moroboshi Rei, lanky, long hair, hasn't gotten up from his bed since they arrived and hasn't spoken a word up to now, too focused on his phone. Probably wanted to go home.

Angelica Fujisaka, blonde hair, definitely a foreigner, overall cute, but the visible lack of tattoos and muscles made her not be Inoue's type by a long shot.

Kaguragi Date, weird hair, tanned, twinky, probably popular in school, occasionally spoke english but thankfully wasn't a gamer.

Those two haven't stopped arguing since they finished packing.

"I said move your bed away! I don't want your nasty stinky anywhere near me! Or how would you like if I just set your bed in fire instead?!"

"How would you like to suck my balls instead, prickly princess? Geez, is that anyway to talk to your team leader?"

"Ah?! Who the hell died and made you leader?!

"These." Kaguragi removed his hands from his pockets and pointed up.

"Those? Those what? Your awful bug antenna bangs?!"

Kaguragi grinned.

"These balls."

Their fight kept going past dinner and deep into the night.

'Yeah, these people... They really... Really suck...'