Kanzaki Ryuuji POV
We normally had Saturdays off, but lessons were still being held at this outdoor school. However, the timetable was slightly different from weekdays. Our lessons were only in the morning. Once those were finished, we had free time.
The special exam started on Thursday. It was already the third day of camp, and discord was beginning to manifest within the group. It started early, just after five o'clock in the morning.
"Aah, I'm so goddamn tired!" shouted Yamauchi at the outdoor cooking area.
"So is everyone else. And make sure to measure the ingredients correctly—don't mess up the amount of miso," said Eiichiro, flipping through the breakfast menu the teachers had given us.
"Why do I even gotta help make food in the first place?!" he groused, though he kept stirring the miso to make it dissolve. "I've never cooked anything."
"We could get hit with a penalty if our whole group's not here," Norihito reasoned. "So, we don't have any choice."
"Whatever, dude, like I care. God damn it. Oh."
"What was that?"
"Nothin'."
"No, that was something. Where's the salt you were just holding?!"
"I put it all in."
Norihito turned off the fire in a panic. He tasted the soup and choked.
"Ack! It's not even edible."
If we'd given that soup to the seniors, it would have invited a lot of criticism. Not to mention it was probably unhealthy too.
"You have to start over."
"Screw that. You do it. Or what about Ike?"
"Heh?! I'm busy if you haven't noticed!" Ike shouted at his friend.
I sighed. "Sotomura, help your classmate."
"Yes, sir!" Sotomura stated, giving a salute with his fish slice before approaching Yamauchi and starting with the miso soup once again.
With that, I focused once again on the frying pan I was holding on the camp stove.
"Dude, you're really good." Sou complimented.
"I'm used to cooking my own meals," I said simply.
As I continued with my task, Sudou approached me silently, carrying a bowl filled with whipped eggs.
"Thanks. If you're up for it, can you cut up some vegetables too?"
Giving a nod, Sudou skilfully brought the kitchen knife down on the cutting board, dicing vegetables with ease. We'd be feeding a lot of people, so I kept churning out fried eggs.
"You seem pretty skilled in the kitchen as well, Sudou," Ryouta complimented with a small laugh as he prepared the raw vegetables and tableware, one of the easy jobs.
"I've been learning how to cook these past few months..."
"Right, you're in the basketball team, so, I guess you have to make sure to eat healthy," Ryouta thought out loud.
"Eh? Y-yeah! That's why I learned to cook!" Sudou said hastily.
Laughing a bit, Ryouta left it at that and the two of them continued dicing vegetables.
At least, Sudou was being helpful.
Akabane Karma POV
Something happened while I was studying morality during our third period that Saturday.
I heard a girl's cheerful voice outside, and peering out the third-floor classroom window, saw Ichinose race spiritedly through the yard.
As I watched, I was able to discern, to a certain extent, the people who were members of Ichinose's group. I spotted several of her classmates like Mako, Yuki and Ando who were conversing with Matsushita from Class C.
Dead last at the back of the group was Karuizawa Kei, breathing heavily and looking up at the sky, seeming ready to collapse.
Ichinose noticed Karuizawa lagging behind and slowed down. She matched her pace to run supportively alongside Karuizawa, encouraging her. They exchanged a few words. Then, Matsushita came up beside them. She told something to Ichinose, and after some hesitation, Ichinose sped up, leaving the two Class C girls running alongside each other.
My lips curved upwards a bit seeing them. Kiyotaka chose interesting members for the four groups I prepared...
It felt strange to see those three in the same group, though. In a way, they all had important positions in their class, so I wondered how that hierarchy developed in that group.
Unlike our groups where the likes of Kaneda, Matoba and I were clearly the leaders. On the girls side, Sakayanagi, Mikoto and Suzune shared one group, while Nao and Hiyori were together in another group... I bit my lip, trying to hold back a laugh. Kiyotaka's approach to take me down was pretty interesting. Since I was untouchable through conventional means, my focus had to go to the other Class B groups and identify which one was going to fall... Yet, I couldn't be sure Kiyotaka would stick to conventional means and despite having a certain control over Koenji, his mood was as changing as the sea.
Feeling a surge of curiosity about how those groups were doing, I gazed out the window instead of focusing on the lesson. When our instructor spoke up, though, I paid slightly more attention to the class.
"We will now begin self-introductions. However, you won't simply be introducing yourselves. Please keep in mind that this will be one part of your lesson. From now on, you will all be giving a speech every day. The themes will differ between grade levels, but the four fundamental criteria on which you will be judged are volume, posture, content, and communicativeness.'"
The word speech had indeed cropped up in the syllabus we'd been given back on the bus, making this undoubtedly one of the subjects we'd be tested on as part of this special exam. I was willing to bet every member of our large group would have to deliver a speech they'd composed themselves at some point. This part of the exam would be hell for people who lacked public speaking skills.
The instructor went on to notify the first years that they would be giving speeches on what they'd learned in their first year of school and what they'd like to learn in the years to come. The second- and third-years had to speak about their plans for the future, like attending university or getting a job.
"For real? Talk about a shit exam," my classmate Takanashi Tarou spat.
I understood how he felt, but he was being much too loud. Even the teacher seemed to have heard him, though he didn't take Takanashi to task over it. We could do as we pleased, but we needed to remember that our actions would ultimately affect the group.
When free time rolled around, a young man approached the first-year group. Takanashi, who had had his legs sprawled on top of a desk, instantly corrected his posture. The new arrival was Nagumo.
"I think you should adjust your attitude a bit," he said.
"S-sure. Well, I wasn't really makin' any fuss or anythin'."
"I'm not just talking about you, Takanashi. That applies to you, too, Kouenji."
I suppose he had to address anything that might affect the large group's overall scores.
"We're going to be evaluated based on the test on the final day, right? I don't think taking these lessons seriously is that important."
"The written test isn't everything there is to this special exam. Haven't you considered the possibility that our instructors will be taking your behaviour in class into account? And how exactly do you plan to score well on the test if you don't take the lessons seriously?"
"Simple is best. This is me we're talking about, no?"
"I see. You're saying getting a high score is easy for you, eh? Well, we'll see if you can make good on those boasts when the special exam comes around. You're part of this group—shouldn't you want to avoid acting in ways that make your teammates uneasy?"
"A group that's made uneasy by my actions is a group that has no value."
"You don't get to decide that, Koenji."
"Then who, may I ask, does?"
"No one person. The whole group does. Every student here decides."
Oh, I wish common sense worked so easily against Koenji.
"I'm worth far more than the rest of you combined. An average person cannot correctly judge the exceptional."
"You're too ignorant and infantile to even be called a high school student," Nagumo sighed.
Koenji didn't flinch, but before I knew it, nearly half of the second years had begun to encircle us. Even Takanashi's smile faded, his face growing stiff. Threatening words could be heard being murmured around us. I yawned exhaustingly, not feeling like intervening.
"Besides, it's not just Koenji. There's a number of you who've been causing all sorts of problems."
He probably meant me; since the exam began, I barely paid attention to any class. But I always did that. The others had been taking the lessons seriously, in their own way. Nagumo was surely lumping us first-years together because he wanted us to focus, letting us know that we'd be earning our seniors' ire if we continued to behave impertinently. Koenji was merely the straw that broke the camel's back.
"I think that's enough, Nagumo."
Unable to stand by and watch the situation unfold, Ishikura, the third year that played Old Maid with us the other day, stepped in to help.
"I know you're just trying to coach them, but the way you're doing it could come off as bullying. If that happens, you'll be the one in trouble. The first years understand the situation well enough. Isn't that right?"
Ishikura looked to us for confirmation, and every one of us, including me, nodded. Except for Koenji, of course.
"Excellent, Ishikura-senpai. You really got a handle on things, didn't you?" said Nagumo happily. He'd been watching the whole thing go down from the side-lines. "You really are too good to be kept in Class B. Maybe you're just really unlucky, Ishikura-senpai."
"Luck, huh? Much as I hate to admit it, I think it's just that my skills aren't up to par."
"I agree."
All eyes turned to me for a moment.
"What?" I asked as if I hadn't said anything. Nagumo rolled his eyes and continued the conversation.
"I don't think that's true, Ishikura-senpai. The only reason you haven't been able to rise to Class A is because there's a genius like Horikita Manabu in your way. I know you've fought the good fight for three years. There's a 312-point difference between Classes A and B right now. Even though graduation is around the corner, I think you're closing in on them."
"Are you saying you'll lead this group to victory?"
"Exactly. If you're willing to trust me, Ishikura-senpai, we'll win this special exam. And, as I'm sure will bring you no small amount of delight, I'll help you get to Class A. We might even be able to get Horikita-senpai removed from the school. Hmm?"
"Unfortunately, Horikita doesn't seem to be a group representative. And you aren't either, are you, Nagumo? There's nothing you can come up with that would be enough to drag him down."
"It doesn't matter if he's the representative or not. There are many ways to crush him," said Nagumo with a laugh.
"Sorry. But I can't trust you. Not with the fate of Class B."
"That's unfortunate."
Nagumo had simply laid out all his plans in front of everyone.
Oh, well. I left to continue with my day. Not like Nagumo's plan would be fruitful. Third-year Class B was doomed.
At dinner, I decided to meet with some of my classmates and discuss the state of our groups.
Or so I say, all I was really trying to do was get a better handle on the girls' situation. Ichinose and Shinobu's groups had me particularly worried, and I wanted to understand what was up.
Thus, leaving my tray in front of Ichinose, I sat at the same table as my classmates. To Ichinose's left was Shinobu and to her right Kanzaki, to Shinobu's left was Mako. While Yuki was seated at my left, at my right were Matsuo and then Beppu.
"So..." I opened the conversation, a beaming smile on my face. "How's everything going?"
I wanted to get down to business immediately. We only had an hour.
"It's going like clockwork, Karma-kun," Ichinose affirmed happily. "At least in my group, I don't know about the others..."
"Kushida-san hasn't given us any trouble," Shinobu said with a smile. "She's kept to herself and doesn't talk to anyone despite our efforts to engage in conversation, but she's been cooperating a bit."
"And how are the other girls' groups divided?" I queried.
I had a basic comprehension of what was happening on that side thanks to Fuka and Nazuna who were the ones I ate dinner with on the first days. But one always asked for something like money or food in exchange of information while the other loved to beat around the bush and never tell me the full story.
"The other four groups have students from all the other classes. Class A has five students in each group. Class C has five in one and four in the other three groups. And Class D has two groups with five students and two with four. Sakayanagi-san, Chikujoin-san, Shiina-san, and Sakura-san are the representatives of each group. They decided their groups rather quickly after our own groups were formed. Would you like me to continue, Karma-kun?" Shinobu recited as if she had practised that presentation several times since the exam began.
"Wow. Amazing, Shinobu-san," Mako had stars in her eyes. "How did you even memorize all of that?"
"And let me guess," I said. "Everything was decided by Sakayanagi, Mikoto and Horikita?"
Ichinose nodded. "How did you know?"
"Something similar happened on the our side," Kanzaki informed the girls. "We formed our groups and Matoba, and a few other leaders decided on the other groups."
"I see..." Mako thought. "But that's kind of weird, isn't it? I mean, the other classes aren't very united."
"Maybe the relationship between Nao-san and Ayanokouji-kun helped with that," Ichinose argued. "We decided things in the bus alongside Class C, so it makes sense that they had the time to plan something with the others as well."
"That's not important to you," I said. "You simply need to keep an eye on the Class C students in your groups—"
"Eh? You believe they might sabotage us? They're our allies, Karma," Mako interrupted.
"I. Don't. Care," I said slowly. "I need you to keep an eye on them at all times. I want you to know their slightest movement. And that includes your group, Matsuo."
There were enemies on the inside of whom I needed to be cautious.
"Don't worry, Karma," Beppu assured me. "We're monitoring them closely."
Kanzaki scoffed. "Yeah. I feel like I'm living in a barrack."
I nodded in approval. "That's good to hear. You've got the most irresponsible students in our year, so a firm hand is ne—"
"We're not in the military, Karma."
"I'm sorry, Mako. Why are you here again?" I interrogated, exhausted by her interrupting me.
"I'm accompanying Honami-chan and Shinobu-san."
"Whatever," I huffed. "My point is that our strategy is very risky. Therefore, we must be extra careful."
"I assume that's why you wanted me as the representative of my group," Kanzaki said bitterly.
I passed a hand through my face in exasperation.
These people hate me too much to notice their surroundings.
"What do you mean, Ryuuji-kun?" Ichinose inquired.
"Nothing," Yuki looked at Kanzaki. "He's just bitter because the Class C students don't respect his authority, right, Kanzaki-kun?"
Thud
"Ouch. You kicked me!" Kanzaki accused Yuki who was sitting in front of him.
"I did not."
"You did."
"There's no evidence indicating I kicked you."
"How do you explain the thud?!"
"What thud?"
I let out a sneer, seeing Yuki clueless face.
"On another note, what's up with this exam? Do we really have to worry about things like manners and ethics?" Yuki complained.
Mako laughed. "Yuki-chan, you're just complaining because the teachers correct you each time."
"In my defence those zazen positions are a pain! Who sits like that?"
"Hmm... I wonder. If this were a story, I'd say it was almost like a MacGuffin."
"Huh? MacMuff—"
"That's not what I said."
"I-I know that," she chopped me. "So, what is it?" She had no idea.
"It's an element that's important because it motivates the characters but is otherwise unimportant to the story itself."
"I don't understand, Karma. You should know by now I'm not as smart as you, so just explain things in a way that's easy to understand."
"I'm saying manners and ethics may be necessary but aren't really important in and of themselves."
"Then what's the point of this exam if it's not important?"
"Look at the bright side," Matsuo spoke. "We get to be outside of campus for a week."
"Yeah, to be on another campus," Yuki huffed. "I don't know why we can't do a school trip to Hokkaido or something like that."
"That'd be nice," Mako mumbled.
"And how's it going on your side, Karma-kun?" Ichinose asked.
"Yeah, Koenji-kun's in your group if I'm not mistaken," Shinobu followed.
"Perfect. The guy's actually pretty fun to talk to."
"...No wonder you'd get along," Mako muttered.
"What was that?"
"I wanted to ask you, Karma," she said, ignoring my question. "What's going on with Ryuuen?"
"Why?"
"Even the girls are talking about it, you know. Like why he quit being the leader and all. No one knows what really happened... Supposedly, there was a big fight between him and his subordinates."
"Yeah, I'm aware of the rumour. You believe I may know something?"
"Well, you had a few injuries around that date, and there was this conflict you had with Ryuuen because of the defamation thing, and you even had a sling in your arm..."
"Sorry," I shrugged. "I know nothing about it."
"But your injuries—"
"Totally unrelated."
"You really expect me to believe that?"
"You are free to believe whatever you want, Mako."
"If you weren't in the fight, how did you get those injuries before Christmas then?" she raised an eyebrow.
I shrugged once again. "What can I say, Mako? It was a really good video."
Yuki spat her drink, unable to contain her laughter. Something similar happened with Beppu.
"Okay... That's disgusting and totally unneeded," Mako said, showing her disgust at the mental image.
"Hey, you're the one that wanted to know." I laughed before putting on a more serious face. "Now, jokes aside. You really need to pay attention to what's happening around you if you want the strategy to succeed. If even one of our groups fails to meet the desired result, we will fail and we won't be Class A next month, so, please, be careful."
"So, what? Should we set traps or something?"
"Cheap tricks like that won't work in this exam. Just monitor the people you need to monitor, and everything should be fine."
"Hmm. Well, when you put it like that we cannot but do our best, right guys?" Yuki looked at the others who nodded, even Mako.
Dinnertime was almost at an end. Students started to disperse. And our table emptied progressively, until it was only Yuki and I left.
"You okay?" she queried. "You seem tired."
"I am... This exam... Let's just say a storm is coming."
"A storm? What do you mean? Are you saying something bad is going to happen?"
"Relax. It's as I told you, we just have to be attentive to our surroundings." I assured with a smile.
Accepting that answer, Yuki stood and told me to have a good night and sleep well, that I needed it.
I would like to think things probably wouldn't get too bad for us but... I sighed and leaned back on my chair.
In one of the tables in front of me, I noticed Kiyotaka and his group of friends were still here in the cafeteria. I raised my arm, made a gun with my hand and aimed at him.
"Bang..."
.
.
.
If only it were so simple.
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Takanashi Tarou from Shirobako, one of my favourite anime.
The volume will have 17 chapters. There will also be a few SS since I'm also mixing volumes 9 and 10, so the SS will show some things that will happen in between volumes.
Thank you for reading, I hope you're enjoying this volume.