The word "Vietnam" kept repeating in Kiyo's mind.

Vietnam...? Why is there a country with the same name as ours? I know a little about the Earth but... I didn't know there was country that coincided like that..

Sunny sighed again and said:

"What a pity for that family. Heh..."

Kiyo suddenly saw Sunny's unnatural smile:

"Why are you smiling?"

Sunny was silent.

CVP didn't react either, even though it saw the smile.

Things started to get even weirder when Sunny started laughing.

"How desperate isn't it... Four people in the car, three people lost their lives, leaving one child behind... Ah, how tragic is it!"

No matter how much Sunny laughed, his face darkened and tears seemed to begin to flow.

Kiyo was startled and shouted:

"Sunny! What's wrong with you?!"

"What's wrong with me? I've always been like that." - His voice suddenly turned cold.

"What is it, Sunny? What's going on with you?!" - Kiyo was both confused and annoyed.

"What happened to me? Haiz, you don't know? Why are you so dumb?"

Kiyo bangs the table:

"How will I know if you don't tell me?! Since last year, you've been acting very strange, I thought you were just under work pressure, but how can I know the truth behind it?"

"Work pressure? Heh. I'm stressed? I'm very comfortable with my dream career." - Sunny smiled wickedly. "I think only a killer would see something like that in front of a design job that's right for him."

Kiyo felt that Sunny was implying about him, and protested:

"What did you say?!"

"Did I piss you off for telling the truth? As expected, I want to see more. That accident... I caused it."

Kiyo's eyes widened, his face went pale.

"What...?"

"I was absent from this apartment for three days in a row preparing for that plan. I took a temporary leave because of it. Somehow, I changed the direction of the car and staged an accident."

At this point, Kiyo's anger and resentment rose:

"SUNNY! What the hell?! Why are you so reckless as to kill three people?! Have you lost your mind?!"

"Lose my mind? I just did as he said. You're indifferent, Kiyo? I've only killed three people, and you must have been more than a dozen since middle school."

"It's not a matter of comparing who kills more! Sunny, is there something in your head that's turned into such a mess?"  - Kiyo asked bitterly.

"Something in my head?" - Sunny sighed. "Maybe it's time for me to tell the whole truth why I am like this, if you didn't break your arm, you might be like me.."

"The truth?..."

"About what?" - CVP curiously asked.

***

A year ago...

There were three more days until graduation, but Kiyo had to take the last week off of the school year and of the student life.

Kanryo put his hand on the table, sighed.

"Damn, Kiyo is absent, which means our class will have to take pictures without him!"

"It's too bad." - Junko felt the same.

Sunny turned and said:

"He just broke his arm, it would be very dangerous to go.."

"Sunny... What did he do to get hurt like that?" - Genjitsu said annoyed.

"Because of the fight.. The thugs blocked his way while going to buy a phone... And one of them hit his hand with a nail bat."

Kanryo jumped up, exclaiming:

"A nail bat?! How can someone be so evil??"

"I can't believe how heartless they are." Junko shook her head, disappointed.

Tomoyo has just come to class now, her face has a worried look.

Junko saw that, ran over and asked:

"What's wrong, Tomoyo?"

"I don't see Nam and Kaori anywhere! Teacher Charlotte too, she didn't come to teach yesterday, she didn't come to school either." - Tomoyo put her face on the table.

"She must be busy, don't worry-" - Junko reassured her.

"If she's busy, we should know, right?"

Junko thought it was reasonable, so she turned to ask the whole class:

"Do you know why the three of them didn't go to school?"

Everyone shook their heads, no one knew.

Tomoyo is a bit more moody. Even though the whole class had gathered, there were still three people missing in the schoolyard.

Junko also finds it strange, Nam is not at home either.

They asked Kaori's mother, but she also didn't know where her daughter was, and was extremely worried.

The next day too. They are still absent, so the class had to discuss the yearbook shooting plan without them and Kiyo participating.

Mattia had already bought some rolls of film and Genjitsu had also thoroughly checked his camera. (Mattia has one too, but Genjitsu's camera is much better.)

Angie crossed her arms and said:

"Hey, now that we have a smartphone, can we take a picture with it?"

"But it's still better to take a photo with a camera. Unlike a phone, it prints the photo itself and you can stick it on an album." - Junko explains to Angie the benefits of shooting with a camera.

"Ok whatever."

Mattia pasted another picture and Sunny wrote next to it.

Junko suddenly noticed that Mattia looked at the pasted photo very carefully.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"I'm double-checking. You know, in order for the album to be a memento, I have to make it as perfect as possible." - Mattia looked at the photo.

"Is that so."

Even though the class was still excited about the graduation ceremony, Tomoyo didn't feel any better, as the other three were still missing.

Not wanting to spoil the cheerful atmosphere of the class, she hid her anxiety and tried to focus on the plan.

Will she able to act like she's okay to the end..? Or will there come a time when she will have to collapse because she has pushed herself too hard?...

By the next day - the last day of school, the three were still nowhere to be seen.

Angie angrily said:

"That's really annoying! Why don't they come and get it done?!"

"I'm starting to feel strange too..." - Sunny's face gradually showed concern.

Genjitsu didn't play with the bug either, because he himself had a feeling that something was going to be wrong with the other three and the class.

He stood up and said:

"I suddenly felt like something wasn't quite right. Let me go find it."

"Hey, Genjitsu, is it okay?" - Kanryo nervously stood up.

"I'll be back, don't worry." - You walked out the door.

When Genjitsu was outside, it started to rain, so he opened his umbrella and walked out into the middle of the yard.

Following his intuition, Genjitsu was brought to a certain statue in the schoolyard.

It was a round ball, all gray, wearing a bow and having three circles on the surface. Among them, the two circles on either side are like eyes, and the middle circle has two horizontal lines next to it, looking like a... flag?

A cartoon character? Weird, why is there a statue here?

Genjitsu stepped closer to the statue, the ground beneath his left foot sank, and the statue took five steps back, creating a path into the ground.

As soon as he looked down there was a puff of smoke, he dodged it but accidentally inhaled it and passed out.

Thirty minutes later in class, Genjitsu still did not return.

"Don't tell me that Gen is also missing..." - Kanryo mumbled.

Tomoyo couldn't say anything either, she was thinking the same thing as Kanryo.

Suddenly she felt hotter than usual. Strange, it's raining, isn't it? Or is it because the classroom is too tight? No, the window is open.

Or was her anxiety making the air feel more oppressive?

Tomoyo wanted to take off her uniform sweater outside. The summer sweaters were much thinner, but she still felt hot. Although there is still a fan, even though it is still raining.

Suddenly the classroom door opened. The one who opened it was Kaori and Genjitsu was on her back.

Junko stood up.

"Kaori! You're back?!"

"And what's wrong with Gen??" - Kanryo also stood up.

"Everyone, the situation is very critical right now!" - Kaori tried to enter.

She gently placed Genjitsu on a red carpet.

"How's the situation??" - Tomoyo asked eagerly, while Mattia was checking if Genjitsu was still breathing, then wiped his face and head.

"Miss Charlotte.. is being held in a secret place, which we have never known! Nam too.."

"Then where is it?" - Tomoyo asked Kaori.

"Under a statue, at the dead end of the school... I can lead you there, but Genjitsu.. We has to wait until he wakes up.."

Kanryo took off Genjitsu's wet shoes and uniform shirt, leaving a partially soaked white shirt and brown pants.

"Still breathing, Kanryo." - Mattia spread a thin blanket over the person who fainted, except for the face and chest.

"But why did he faint in the rain?"

"Probably from heat stroke or inhaled something." - Sunny said.

"Ugh..." - Genjitsu opened his eyes, moving his hands slowly.

Kanryo heard it and turned around:

"Gen, you're awake!"

"Is this my class..? Who put me in there?" Genjitsu tried to sit up.

"Kaori. Why did you faint?"

Genjitsu frowned slightly, slowly recounting what had happened to him:

"When that passage opened, a puff of smoke rose up, I dodged it but still inhaled, then I fell down, slowly losing consciousness..."

Mattia heard that, pondered deeply and then said:

"It looks like he inhaled the anesthetic Chloroform... If he inhaled a large amount, he would pass out, but in some unfortunate cases it would cause death..."

"No wonder.. I just woke up with a headache.." - Genjitsu touched his head.

"Everyone... Should we go find the other two now?" - Sunny looked at everyone worriedly.

Genjitsu sat down on his knees, sighing:

"Did you see that I was drugged from under the statue? Kaori told the two of them were staying down there, which means the kidnappers sprayed it to scare off the rescuers."

At this point, the whole class sighed, no one said a word to each other.

The situation began to be awkward, if everyone was inhaled, it was unlikely that someone would come to the rescue in the pouring rain like this.

"What are we gonna do, class rep?" - Mattia asked Tomoyo.

Tomoyo closed her eyes. She needed a few seconds to decide.

Finally, she stood up, resolutely said:

"Alright! The situation is already critical, we can't wait forever! We are a group, we have to save the other two together! Now we have to wear a gas mask to go. We can't wait for anyone to save them! Let's go, everyone."

"As expected of the class president of the whole class!" - Junko and Kanryo are excited.

"Hmm, it looks like you guys are all in agreement. Okay, if you guys go, I'll go too." - Genjitsu tried to stand up.

"You're still weak, don't push yourself too hard!" - Kanryo caught him.

"Both of us help him. Genjitsu is heavier than you." - Junko also joined in. "Kaori lead the way."

"Ah, yeah!" - Kaori picked up the phone.

Everyone, holding umbrellas and phones, followed Kaori to the statue.

She stepped on the ground that Genjitsu accidentally stepped on, to open the tunnel.

Everyone turns on the flashlight with their phone or a real flashlight.

"Wow... I didn't expect our school to have a path like this." - Sunny looked around.

"It's dark, be careful of tripping." - Mattia lights the way.

While everyone was not paying attention, Kaori stopped at a large step.

Tomoyo walked last, so she was there only later.

"Kaori.. you okay?"

She didn't say anything, just looked around bewildered.

"Are you feeling sick?" - Tomoyo asked worriedly.

"Tomoyo... You're such a great friend... Everyone loves you.."

"Hey, no need to be so-"

"That's why you have to get out of here! Sorry!" - Kaori then pushed her against the wall, causing Tomoyo to flip to another path.

The others were still on their way, when suddenly Sunny stopped.

"What happen?" Junko asked surprised.

"Where are Tomoyo and Kaori?"

"Here!" - Kaori ran from where she pushed Tomoyo away.

Annoyed Angie asked:

"Oh my god, this unnie, where are you going? Made me panicked!"

"Ah, sorry, Tomoyo's leg hurt, so.. I took her to the infirmary..."

"Haiz, I finally found you useful once."

"The statue seems to be near the infirmary, right? That's okay, it's easily to strain your legs when walking like this." - Kanryo said. "Let's keep going everyone, you have to be positive to find the two of them quickly!"

"Agree!" Junko nodded.

"..." - Genjitsu lowered his head.

Meanwhile, Tomoyo got up on the other side of the aisle, trying to kick the wall that just overturned her.

"It turned back? Could it be that I'm stuck in here?"

She had no choice but to continue on that path.

Halfway there, she met Charlotte. Tomoyo called out, "Miss!"

Charlotte turned around.

"Tomoyo..."

"Why are you here?"

"Well.. I'm just escaped from the kidnappers, so I went to a place where they don't know.."

"And where's Nam?"

"Maybe he does too. Come on, let's go Tomoyo, we'll meet the other friends and get out of here together!" - The teacher held Tomoyo's hand to keep from getting lost.

The students outside were starting to feel confused, because Kaori had been leading them for a while and still hadn't arrived.

Angie sighed.

"Oh geez, when are we coming?!"

"Calm down... it's almost there..." - Kaori quietly smiled.

Junko started to slow down.

"Hey, Kanryo, are you tired?"

"Yeah, my back is starting to get tired. Genjitsu, wake up."

"Huh..? Want me to come down? All right." - Genjitsu pulled himself off the backs of the other two.

As for the two girls, Charlotte stopped at an elevator.

"This is.." - Tomoyo surprised.

"Go in here and you'll find the rest. Come in."

The class rep entered, but the teacher did not.

"Eh..? Won't you go?"

Charlotte quietly pressed the button to close the elevator door, then pressed the button to go down.

"Miss?! Miss??" - Tomoyo bangs on the door.

What does it mean?! Why would Miss Charlotte let me go like this?

Doesn't she want to go..?

Kaori led the class to a very large room, black and white floors, blue walls, with projectors hanging all over the wall.

"What is this..?" - Sunny is confused.

"Kaori! Where the hell is this?!" Mattia was startled.

"Trap..." - Genjitsu was about to warn everyone, but it was too late.

"It's Nam, guys!" - Junko pointed somewhere.

The whole class - except Kaori, ran to Nam.

"You idiot, where are you going?"

"Where have you been these days?!"

Nam didn't answer, pointing at a projector.

It started to warm up, and hit Tomoyo's face.

"Tomoyo?! I thought she was in the infirmary? Kaori, what is this?" - Mattia asked.

"Ehem! Quiet, you seniors!" - A voice came from somewhere.

"A man's voice.. Thick Chushinese accent.. Could it be, this is.." - Junko recognized the voice.

They all said in unison, just as another projector flashed into the person's face.

"Cosmic Vietnam!"

Kanryo trembled saying:

"Hey... don't tell me... he's the one who came up with this?"

"No more waiting, we will see the most famous young pianist in the North of our country - Tomoyo, overcome this maze! Will she be able to come back alive? Let's put on some music."

He plays the song that Tomoyo herself wrote.

At first, everything was fine, until she stepped on a piece of brick, causing a long nail to poke into her leg.

Did he... turn on my music to make me follow the tune?

The rest of them turned to each other and said:

"Hey, hurry and save her!"

"But.. my legs can't move.."

"Wait.. me too."

All projectors come with Tomoyo, except for one with Cosmic Vietnam.

Even though Tomoyo followed the tune, she was still hit. Now, her right arm and left leg were injured, bleeding.

That is..!

Something hit her left eye, causing her to lose vision, lean against the wall, sweating, feeling so hurt and scared.

No.. I can't follow the tune anymore..

"I've also heard of you from the other teachers. Well-liked by everyone, an excellent class president for the past three years.. But from today, you don't need to be the leader of your class anymore!"

Tomoyo kept going. However, a crescent somehow, came from behind her and cut off the white bow (due to her crouching).

Now she is quite messy.

She was so scared that she cried and wanted to wipe it away, but both hands were covered in blood!

Stuffy, life-threatening, hopeless. Those are the words to describe this kind of torture.

The kids in her class couldn't move or look away anymore, everyone was sobbing.

"I don't want to watch anymore... Let me go home.." - Angie was also hopeless.

"Tomoyo, you did a good job. Keep going."

"E-Even now I can't get out, but me, my class, will definitely let you know the karma!" - She hit the screen exhausted and continued walking.

"Only able to say that? You'll be there anyway. I'll give you ten seconds. 10!"

"Huh?!" - She rushed forward.

"9-"

Something pierced her left hand, then fell off on its own; causing her to scream because of the pain.

"Oh, I forgot to say something. I don't like that kind of hope. But why should I encourage you like just now? There's no hope for you anyway from this point. 8!"

Despite seriously injuries to both her arms, left leg, and one eye, she kept running, running to the end, until she caught a glimpse of a door that read: "Exit".

"Seven! Six! Five.."

She approached, slowly opening the door. It gives off a white light.

"Four."

She suddenly saw a picture of the infirmary, with friends waiting inside and outside.

"Three."

"Don't go in there!" - screamed Mattia desperately.

"Two."

Tomoyo didn't hear Mattia's voice, and went in by herself.

She suddenly saw the image of Junko and the teacher, before she could say anything, two spears rushed forward, one pierced her chest, the other missed.

"A-"

She paused.

Blood seeped, dripping from that sharp spear.

Her face lost its life.

Blood slowly trickled from her mouth, down her chin, down her shirt, and then onto the ground.

The whole class witnessed that scene, crying even louder.

"Haha... You dare to kill our class president.... It's unforgivable.." - Mattia laughed and cried desperately.

"1, 0! Congratulations, Tomoyo! You have completed this challenge and you are lucky to go to heaven alive!"

"Oh, what a tragic death.. Tomoyo, you took the class to the next level, that was the pinnacle of despair!" - Sunny cried while laughing loudly.

The whole class cried and laughed.

As for Tomoyo, the spear had withdrawn from her body, returning to its place.

She fell to the ground, dying on the spot.

Blood splattered all over the brick ground.

.................

On graduation day, the class cancels their yearbook plan, attends the funeral of the former class president, and bury her in her hometown - the town of Machi.

Her two saddest songs were even played during the ceremony, and the School awarded her a special diploma and placed it on the altar, so the funeral became even more somber.

Since the day of the funeral coincided with the graduation day, they had to work faster but keeping the tradition, one had to prepare from the night before.

That evening, everyone gathered in class.

A vase of white flowers was placed on the desk where Tomoyo used to sit.

Miss Charlotte, standing on the podium, calmly said:

"Okay guys, I know yesterday was not a very lucky day for you, but today, we won't have many opportunities to see each other anymore. I'm about to switch jobs."

The whole class remained silent.

"I am very pleased that you have made it to this final year together, and have been together for the past three years. Now, when you grow up, even if you have to leave your hometown, you must remember everyone, okay? Just a little bit."

Charlotte wiped her eyes, and said:

"Well, time is limited, you can go home. Goodbye, I wish everyone a bright future."

When everyone was out of the building, the teacher detonated the whole classroom.