At six o'clock in the morning, brisk music sounded from the radio in the room.
For modern high school students who are used to going to bed late and getting up early, this energetic melody is simply more piercing than a funeral song.
"It's so noisy..."
Tozuka Yahiko pulled the quilt over his head and let out an inarticulate curse.
There was a strong nasal sound in his voice, and it was clear that he had not completely broken free from the dream.
This is a Bunk Room room that can accommodate fifteen people.
Kazehara Tetsu Open your eyes.
There was no such sleepy confusion, and his eyes regained clarity in an instant.
He opened the quilt and did not get up in a hurry. Instead, he felt the temperature in the room first.
Very cold.
In the early morning in the mountains, the cold air seems to penetrate the wooden wall panels.
"Hey, everyone, get up."
Kazehara Tetsu sat up and said in a low voice, "It would be too ugly if you were deducted points on the first day for staying in bed."
The simple washing process was full of bumps and episodes of fighting over the sink. Fortunately, everyone was mentally prepared for this and no substantial conflicts occurred.
Ten minutes later.
When the first grader "Ragtag Army" stepped into the designated Large Classroom.
Thirty other people have gathered here.
On the left side of the classroom are the third grade students headed by Horikita Manabu.
On the right side of the classroom are the second graders led by Miyabi Nagumo.
The total number of people is 45.
"Good morning, Senpais."
Kazehara Tetsu spoke first, although it was just a cursory greeting.
The first-year students behind him also followed suit and bowed to say good morning.
Not long after, the classroom door was opened.
The person who walked in was not the stern physical education teacher as expected, but a female teacher with neat short hair.
She didn't have any unnecessary nonsense. After confirming that the number of people was correct, she opened the document in her hand.
"I am Third Year Class B's class teacher, Onodera."
"In the next week, I will be responsible for recording all your actions. Let's start naming names now."
The roll call process is boring and efficient.
Every time a name is read, a short and powerful "arrive" sounds.
Onodera closed the folder and looked out the window at the still bright sky.
"The next task is to clean up."
"This is the daily lesson and the basis for spiritual practice."
"After the cleaning is completed, return to clean the interior of the school building."
She paused and added, "By the way, if it rains, outdoor cleaning can be dispensed with. However, the cleaning time inside the school building will be doubled, and the cleaning time will definitely not be shortened."
"Also, remember something."
Onodera's eyes became stern, "In this Forest School, we are not the only teachers who are responsible for teaching, but there are also many teachers from outside. Treat any teacher with absolute courtesy. Saying hello is the most basic among the basics. If I find someone who fails in etiquette..."
She didn't mention the consequences, but everyone present knew that it was a direct reason for deducting points.
"Okay, let's start working."
Following the order, the 45-man troop began to move outward.
The Mountain Forest air in the early morning is bitingly cold, and your breath is filled with white mist.
There was still frost and dew from last night on the ground, making it a bit slippery to step on.
The process of cleaning is boring, but it is the most direct way to polish your mind.
The first-grade students held brooms and, under the watchful eye of Onodera Teacher, mechanically cleaned up the fallen leaves and dust around the school building.
Although I didn't dare to complain, the faces that were red from the cold and the white breath that kept coming out showed that this was not a pleasant experience.
Fortunately, it didn't take too long. When the last pile of dead leaves were collected, this morning lesson came to an end.
Immediately afterwards, everyone was taken to the spacious and somewhat empty room Dojo.
Inside the huge Dojo, several other Small Groups who had completed their cleaning tasks also arrived here one after another.
There were no unnecessary pleasantries.
"From today on, I will meditate here every morning and evening."
For this group of students who are in the restless period of youth, the word "meditate" means extremely boring.
"Cross your legs, straighten your back, and clasp your hands into fists."
Onodera Teacher did not relax her demands just because it was the first day. She personally demonstrated the standard posture and then began to patrol the queue.
Despite the teacher's step-by-step correction, it is obviously unrealistic to expect these modern students who are accustomed to sofas to immediately master this anti-human sitting posture.
I could only hear the slight protest sounds from my bones, and the friction of clothes as my legs were numb and I had to secretly change positions.
Fortunately, the sense of ritual is greater than the practical significance.
Because explaining the rules and correcting actions takes up most of the time, there is very little time left for "meditation."
I probably only maintained that sitting posture for about five minutes, and with a crisp sound of clapping my hands, the morning practice came to a hasty end.
When everyone walked out of Dojo, many people were still quietly beating their sore and numb thighs, with expressions of joy on their faces that "I finally came back to life."
The time points to seven o'clock in the morning.
Instead of going to the large Cafeteria that passed by yesterday, the teacher took him to a dining area outside.
There are several kitchen facilities side by side, long wooden tables and chairs are neatly arranged, and the aroma of Miso Soup and rice is already filling the air.
"It smells so good..."
The sound of someone swallowing saliva sounded particularly clear in the team.
"Today the school is responsible for providing food,"
Onodera Teacher stood at the entrance of the dining area, pointing to the plates that had been placed, "But starting from tomorrow, breakfast will be officially handed over to all Small Group internal preparations. Remember to discuss the number of people and task allocation with all members."
Hearing "Cook for yourself", there was a commotion in the crowd, but it was quickly suppressed by the desire for food.
Kazehara Tetsu held the dinner plate and found a seat to sit down.
Breakfast is very traditional and simple...
This kind of "one soup and three dishes" that may usually be considered too bland by students, after a morning of cold wind and physical exertion, now seems extremely tempting.
"That..."
While everyone was immersed in eating, a second-grade boy put down Chopsticks and looked at Miyabi Nagumo.
"Nagumo President, regarding the cooking task that the teacher just mentioned starting tomorrow... if everyone is equally divided, how about taking turns to be responsible for one day each school year?"
This is clearly a well-thought-out proposal.
It not only reflects the so-called "fairness", but also avoids the suspicion that the upper grades bully the lower grades.
Of course, this kind of suspicion is superfluous under the rule of Miyabi Nagumo.
Miyabi Nagumo stopped what he was doing.
"Take turns?"
He glanced at the boy who proposed, then turned to look at Horikita Manabu sitting not far away, and finally, his eyes fell on Kazehara Tetsu.
"I have no objection."
Miyabi Nagumo shrugged, looking very talkative.
"Since we live in a collective, fairness comes first. But..."
As soon as he changed the topic, his bad taste of kicking the ball to others came back.
"Since we have to decide the order, let's start from the first grade. After all, as a junior, it's natural for us to be a little more active in physical work, right?"
This is not a discussion, but some kind of "suggestion" with the suppression of seniority.
All eyes were instantly focused on Kazehara Tetsu.
Assuming the weather is fine during the next assessment period, there is no need to activate the backup plan.
Then the total number of days that breakfast needs to be made is 6 days.
The three grades take turns.
In terms of workload, they are completely equal.
"Do you have any different opinions? Kagihara."
Miyabi Nagumo asked with a smile, as if expecting Kazehara Tetsu's resistance.