The days at the Forest School passed slowly amid the monotonous chime of bells and the silence of the mountains.
Though it was ostensibly a communal life full of educational value, for these boys and girls in the bloom of youth, accustomed to the convenience and bustle of the city, it was an ordeal for both mind and body.
Tuesday. Wednesday.
Nothing momentous happened on either of those two days, nor were there any conflicts that would become stories to tell in the future.
There was only the wake-up call that sounded promptly at six every morning, along with the packed schedule of mental-discipline classes called "Zazen," "cleaning," and lessons.
Wednesday.
The students in the Large Group were scattered around the Dormitory Building, carrying out their assigned "cleaning" duties.
At the end of the second-floor corridor in the Teaching Building.
Yukimura Teruhiko, who usually clutched a book with a deeply troubled look on his face, was kneeling on the hard floor, gripping a gray rag and struggling with a stubborn stain.
"Here... and that corner over there..."
Yukimura Teruhiko panted as he pushed up his glasses with the back of his hand. "If we fail the inspection, we'll lose points."
Just as he was about to change positions and charge at the next patch of floor—
Someone silently stopped in front of him.
Yukimura Teruhiko looked up.
Backlit, Kazehara Tetsu stood tall, gazing down at him.
"...Kazehara?"
Yukimura Teruhiko paused, looking at the group leader in confusion.
"What are you doing, Yukimura?"
"First, put that rag down."
"Huh? But..."
Yukimura Teruhiko looked uncertainly at the rag in his hand, then at the corridor he hadn't finished cleaning. "But this area isn't clean yet, and the teacher doing the inspection will be here any moment..."
"That doesn't matter."
"Stand up."