In Your Hands: The Thirtieth Hunger Games SYOT

Chapter 5

Shogo Hara POV

Hundreds of people are all stuck here together waiting to see who's going to die, and I'm the only one who's smiling. You wouldn't think I'd be happy, after my mother swapped my childhood for years learning how to kill someone, then died with the rest of my family in the fire that destroyed our house. After that all I had was my girlfriend, and she died giving birth to the only thing that made life worthwhile after that. And that's how I came to be the only boy at the Reaping holding a squirming little boy.

Kanu and I do everything together. Of course it isn't ideal for him to be at the Reaping, but school's out, and I don't have anyone else t take care of him. It's almost bearable here with him. As we waited for Gaudius to start things, I tossed him in the air and let him sit on my shoulders.

"Why are they all so scared?" Kanu asked, looking out at the crowd. Before we'd left, I'd told him we were going to see who got picked to be an actor in the Capitol. He'd find out the truth soon enough. My boy was sharp as a whip.

"They think they didn't do a good enough job," I said. "They're worried they won't get picked."

"What if you get picked?" Kanu asked. Gaudius saved me from having to answer. Kanu giggled when he saw our escort's lobster outfit. For once I was glad to see him. Gaudius made my lie much easier to believe. He selected a slip and read a girl's name.

"Scayle Curren!" He called. Scayle turned out to be a tall girl with dark hair and tanned skin. She was there a few minutes before Kisarna volunteered. I'd stopped training when my mother died, but I remembered Kisarna. She never struck me as arrogant or bloodthirsty, so her volunteering wasn't as expected as some, but she was a capable fighter. Gaudius selected the next slip.

"Shogo Hara!" he called. Even after all my training, I felt nothing but fear. My mother made sure I knew how to kill, but she could never make me want to. All I wanted wash to forget everything she ever made me learn.

"Dad!" Kanu cheered. I set him down and turned so he couldn't see the fear on my face. As I walked to the stage, images of my son flashed by me. All the things I would most likely miss tormented me: Kanu graduating, Kanu's first date, Kanu becoming a man. He was everything, and now he was gone. As I stood on the stage, I pretended to fix my hair so Kanu wouldn't see me wiping at my tears. I wanted to cry in fear and scream in rage all at once. When I saw my son jumping up and waving at me, all I could do was smile and wave back.

"I brought you a token, Dad," Kanu said when he came backstage. He handed me the giant spear he was carrying.

"Sorry, Kanu. Weapons aren't allowed in the Capitol," I said. If only that was true. Kanu frowned.

"I didn't bring anything else," he said. I rifled through my pockets and found a scrap of paper I'd doodled a shopping list on. I asked one of the Peacekeepers for a pencil and gave it to Kanu.

"Draw me a picture," I said. Kanu bent over his work with the intensity of a budding artist. I watched as he outlined a beach with choppy waves. Two smiling figures, on short and one tall, stood next to the water with their arms in the air. He labeled one "me" and one "daddy".

"There," he said as he handed it to me. I knew that in all the Capitol, I wouldn't find anything more beautiful than that drawing. My eyes misted as I looked at my beaming son.

"I won't be back for a while," I said. "But you'll see me on television soon. Some of my movies might be scary, but don't worry. I'll be all right."

"Can I come visit you in the Capitol?" Kanu asked.

"I'll need to get settled for a while first, but I'll send for you as soon as I can," I said. I held my son like I'd never held him before. I never wanted to let go of his innocence and joy. I smiled as I waved goodbye. Only after he was gone did I cry.

Kisarna Talent POV

I don't know why everyone at the Academy encouraged me to volunteer. I was never the standard Career- I just trained in case I got reaped and for some reason no one volunteered. They seemed to think I was the greatest thing since canned tuna. Maybe they were right...

It would sure surprise Arien if I volunteered. We were twins, so of course everything had to be a competition- who could catch the most fish, who could swim the fastest, who could eat the spiciest pepper, silly things like that. Even though he didn't train, we still argued over who was the strongest.

I was still undecided when Gaudius called Scayle. She wasn't a trainee, and I knew she wouldn't have a chance. I ran through the arguments in my head. This year, the male trainees were a tepid bunch. I could beat most of them. From what I'd seen of One and Two, it just wasn't a good year for Careers. With my strategic thinking and methodical attitude, I had a good chance of winning. If I won, I could take care of my family and avoid volunteering next year, when the Tributes might be stronger. I made my decision.

"I volunteer as Tribute!"

I saw Arien watching me as I waited for the male Tribute to join me. I knew Arien was safe. We'd long agreed that it was better for him to stay home. Even if the best happened, if we went together one of us would die. He didn't have to worry about getting reaped, either. In Four, there are always volunteers unless the reaped Tribute is especially capable. We don't waste trainees unnecessarily.

This turned out to be one of those years. Shogo Hara was well-known among the Academy pupils. He'd vanished a while back, right after his mom died. Shogo was a great student, but we all knew his mother was the fighter. Unfortunately for Shogo, he was plenty strong enough for the Academy boys to lie low. It was sickening how brave they could claim to be when they wouldn't volunteer so a father could stay with his barely school-age son. I almost wished I was a boy myself.

I was still nervous when Dad and Arien came to see me off. Dad gave me a dark blue stone on a black chain. He said it would be like bringing a piece of home with me.

"Do you think I'll do all right?" I asked Arien.

"Of course. You're like the best fighter at the Academy," he said, like I'd said something silly. My stomach fluttered and I looked down at the ground. I had to force the words out.

"I know I talk big, but I always thought you were stronger than me. That's one reason I volunteered. I was afraid I was a burden," I confessed. Dad and Arien both started.

"You always underestimate yourself. I didn't volunteer because I was afraid of you!" Arien said. I smiled shakily as confidence bubbled up in me.

"All right. I can do this. I'll be back as soon as I can," I said. I found that I actually thought I could.

I wish I had a good excuse for not writing, but truth be told, I've been watching Dragonball Z for the first time. Man, it's epic.

This time around the Victor's more in your hands, but I must admit I'm pulling for Shogo. Even though he's a guy I want him to win. I hope he's popular.