The space outside the mini movie theater became silent as the time went on. However, the humming of the computer responsible for the replay of Araka’s memories remained. 

“Is that really true that you had absolutely no idea about Matake before we interviewed you?” Huashin said. 

Araka nodded: “Before the entrance exam, the only thing I sensed was different was the fact my instincts saved me during the simulations. But even that, before the entrance exam, my mom didn’t mention anything similar.”

Huashin rubbed her chin. “What we didn’t tell you, back then when we interviewed you, was that these simulations were specifically tailored to stimulate your deeper cognition. The fact that your performance in these simulations was almost on par with actual SAIR agents was just some boosts, but a representation of what you are capable of,’ she paused a bit, then continued, “But more importantly, that was why we also brought Tenka in - she is Matake capable, despite not having Matake.”

“Wait, you mean you knew Tenka could theoretically gain Matake capability since day one?”

“Well, we weren't fully sure about that at that time,” Huashin said as she turned off the ongoing video. She then turned on the monitor again, and then opened a file: “But it was you who provided enough data allowed us to resolve some gaps in our knowledge and made such approach possible.”

“As in the time when I was able to save that “Anikara” from the simulation?”

—

It was the time when I entered the second phase of the activity - a rescue simulation course.  I adjusted my headsets inside the simulation pod, making sure it sticks to my eyes and ears, while thinking what type of simulation I’m facing: it was said that this would be a test on my physical and psychological readiness in a rescue situation, but was constructed based on part of my memories. How would it even be, I thought.

As the hatch sealed off, everything in front of me were replaced with full darkness. However with the ambient rhythms playing at the background, it didn’t take long for me to fall asleep.  

Wait, what was that noise?

Out of instinct, I opened my eyes, and then I realized it was something familiar - it looked very similar to the infirmary of my school, and I was waking up from coma. 

I slowly got up and looked at a mirror in front of me - while I got inside only wearing my underwear, I now found myself in a “Dando (傳道)”-style (Sailor style uniform) uniform. Beside the mirror, there was a small bottom attached to the wall. 

“Please press the button once you’re ready,” the announcement said. 

I looked around: Sunshines coming through the windows nearby blurring the scenery outside; the room was a bit dusty, and everything outside the infirmary was blacked out - just like a scene in a video game before unlocking new plots. 

I walked to the mirror and then pressed the button.

After a brief blackout, I found myself in the middle of the hallway. Why there was no student here? I thought. 

Suddenly, I heard some noises upstairs - it didn't sound like someone walking, but something crawling. Then, a faint roaring also came through the ceiling. Was the school occupied by some beast? I thought, I must find a way to escape from here. 

As I walked further down the hallway, the noise above became more intense. Then, after I made another turn, I found the whole scenery changed - instead of empty hallways and blacked out classrooms, it was littered with books and belongings that clearly belonged to students. Something must have happened here. 

Just as I was processing what was going on, someone approached from distance: her hair was messy, every step she made was telling me she was frail and hang on the last breath. 

"Sara, he-help me.”

I looked toward the girl and figured out it was from "Anikara" - someonelooked a lot like Anikara knew, with the tanned skin and brown hair, but her colour was blue instead of light brown. 

"Nin-cha, What happened?" I immediately ran toward her and try to stablize her by holding her left arm. 

"There- there is a - mutated here. Only several - no, almost no one escaped. Please, Araka - just bring me downstairs to the front gate. There will be SAIR agents there to save us," as she finished her sentence, she collapsed onto my body and almost lost her consciousness. I need to save her, I thought. 

I grabbed her torso and put her right arm on my right shoulder. It was surprising how I was able to carry this “Anikara”, which shouldn’t be the case in real life. As I slowly walked down the stairs, I realized that the lower level was worse than the previous level I was in - he ground was messier with traces of blood, and there were even graffitis on the wall.

“Go Back”

“Beast Here!”

”Hel-”

As I took a closer look, there were even some cellphones on the ground, with many of them had broken screens. Then, as I turned my face upward, something unbelievable was in front me - “Aqua”, another close friend of mine, crawling forward with blood stains on her uniform, with orange hair now covered her face like a moss. Unlike “Anikara”, she didn’t speak - only made faint groans, as if she were processed by a ghost.

“Sara, you- you don’t have to carry me,” the “Anikara”, who now gained some consciousness, told me. “Just - just make sure you make it to the front gate.”

Then, I suddenly found myself filled with confidence and certainty - just like what I felt when I saved Jinhui. 

“No, I’m going to save you,” I replied. But I need a weapon, I told myself. 

I looked toward the ceiling, and Fortunately, there was a fluorescence tube that stick out - maybe I could at least put up some fight with this, I thought.

It didn’t take much effort for me to pull the tube of. After lowering “Anikara” and placed her aside, I adjusted my stance with my new weapon and put up a fight. Please be my lightsaber now, I told myself - citing the line from the animated series “Drazen”. At the worst case, I will not die from this. 

The “Aqua” sprinted toward me with her head down. "Ugahhhhhhhhh.” She is not the Aqua I knew, I told myself. 

As “Aqua” was about to grab me, I made a swift move to the left, narrowly avoiding being caught by her. 

Just before I could catch my breath, “Aqua” did not stop after its first failed attempt. Instead, she regained the grip on a backpack on the ground and made another move toward me. For this time, I was not that lucky - before I could swing the tube, I was put on the ground. 

What should I do now? I asked myself. Is it - is it game over for me?

Suddenly, another tube on the ceiling above fell onto the ground. It created a loud noise that I could see “Aqua” was distracted. 

I used all my strength on my leg and made a strong push onto “Aqua”’s body. It was a success, as I partially escaped her tight grip. I was able to reposition myself to the upper hand position by retrieving my tube nearby. 

“Aqua, I’m sorry,” I said while tightening my grip on the tube. 

As expected, after “Aqua” regained her position. However, she had her eyes on someone else - the weak “Anikara”. It is my chance. 

I raised my arm, made a huge swing toward the being from the back, and then - the tube break down into fragments, and “Aqua” collapsed. Further away, “Anikara” was breathing heavily. I took a closer look at “Aqua”, which now collapsed on the ground, and as I flipped her, I found she was not even a person - she was a beast; and as soon as I took a glimps of its face, it disappeared. 

"Sara, are you okay?" “Anikara” asked.  

"I'm okay. But we need to hurry up now.” 

I grabbed  "Anikara"'s hand and continued our journey downstairs. It didn't take very long for me to realize that something wrong with the staircase.

“Sara, why did you stop?”

“The floor number is wron-” while I was just about to tell “Anikara” about what I just found, the ground started shaking and both of us fell onto the ground. 

“Nin-cha, are you okay?”

Then, a long fault separated me and “Anikara”.

“Nin-cha, go! Go downstairs! I will catch up with you!”

I stood up from the previous shock and sprinted toward the hallway. While the ground was still shaking, I somehow managed to move around quite fast. Then, a barricade formed by desks and chairs appeared in front me - must be related to the previous beast I met. 

I looked back, only to find my way back was also blocked by collapsed walls and rubbles. So the only way out in get over the blockade. 

I climbed above a table, and then removed a nearby chair, and I got to another level. It didn’t take too long for me to create a path through, but as I cleared out the last desk, I found a huge gap between the stairwell and me. I looked back again, and another shock wave had led to the collapse of a nearby pillar. 

I should be able to make it, I told myself, while rubbing my hands. 

Then, I made a leap - a leap that I thought it was impossible to make. Just as I were about to cross over the gap, the ground collapsed again, and now I found myself fell deep into darkness. 

“Ahhhh!” I screamed. 

Just as I was about falling into the void, I found a steel pipe sticking out from the floor。 I quickly grabbed the pipe and held tightly, while seeing chairs and desks fell into the void. Even though it was just a simulation, I could feel the wind blowing me from below. 

“Just one more second, the SAIR will find me,” I told myself under the heavy breath.

However, my grip didn't last long, as I saw the wall the pipe came from started to show cracks - the pipe itself could no longer hold my weight. I needed to find somewhere to land myself, I thought. 

Fortunately, the pile of rubbles had previously fell into the void created a small hill that was tall enough for me to land on. It is risky, but it’s the only way out. 

As such, I let go of my hand and made myself land on the rubble. As I landed on the small hill, I l quickly rolled down the hill and eventually landed on the ground.  it didn’t take too long for me the feel the pain I landed on my knee while scratched myself  along the way. 

"Ah, ahhhh," I groaned as my pain had dragged me down. 

I used all my strength trying to get up from the ground, and surprisingly, my legs were healed. With my legs in full strength, I made my way forward and ran into the darkness. I found myself move faster and faster, and eventually I started to see light coming toward me. 

Then, everything around me were covered in light.

“Congratulations,” a voice came through. It was “Yoka”, the supervisor of this part of the exam. “It’s time for you to wake up.” 

I opened my eyes, seeing Tenka and Jinhui were both in front me. Behind them was “Yoka”, a short woman with muscles visible everywhere. 

“Did I pass the exam? Or I failed?”

“Of course you passed,” “Yoka” said, “If you don’t get the two green bars, I don’t know who else deserves that. 

—

“To be honest,” Huashin replayed the footage of Tenka’s simulation: “Tenka was having a similar simulation as you, but we only change the objective to save her friends as the priority. But still, she was experiencing something similar to yours - both of your simulation lasted longer than expected because we found some complexity in your cognitions.”

“And that complexity was a sign of a Matake field forming?”

“Well, not exactly the case for Tenka - hers was more of her capable of thinking more” Huashin said, “But for you, the whole chaos was a strong signal, stronger than words.” She let the word settled: “Because the fact you can get out from the illusion means your mind is actively defending your cognition against a mechanism designed for Matake field containment."