Game in the Forest

On the morning of the third day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the forest's mist, Class D's camp was already bustling with activity. The students packed their gear, preparing to set out toward the island's center.

Hanyu Xiuyi stood at the camp center, making a final confirmation of the action plan. His black hair was slightly disheveled in the morning light, but his eyes were sharp and focused.

"Listen up, everyone." He raised his voice. "Today's mission is to reach the island center and find the special supply point. The distance is about eight kilometers, crossing through dense forest and mountain areas. Estimated time is six to eight hours. There's no turning back—we have to succeed."

The students listened intently. After two days of wilderness survival, these once-pampered young boys and girls now bore more grit and less naivety on their faces.

"Now for the groups." Hanyu continued. "Group 1: Vanguard Group, led by Sudo Ken, responsible for scouting and vigilance. Group 2: Resource Team, led by Hasebe Haruka, responsible for collecting food and water along the way. Group 3: Support Group, led by Hirata Yousuke, responsible for carrying main supplies and helping physically weak students. Group 4: Rearguard Group, led by me personally, responsible for covering the rear and handling emergencies."

He swept his gaze across the group: "Maintain visible distance between groups, and stay in contact via walkie-talkies at all times. Report any abnormalities immediately. Understood?"

"Understood!" The group answered in unison.

The team set off. The forest was quiet in the early morning, with only birdsong and footsteps breaking the silence. Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Sudo Ken walked at the very front, his red hair standing out sharply among the tree shadows. Behind him followed a few physically strong boys, each holding a wooden stick and watching their surroundings warily.

"Stay close, everyone!" Sudo shouted back. "Don't fall behind!"

Hanyu Xiuyi walked at the tail of the line, flanked by Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji Kiyonaga. Horikita still wore her usual cold expression, but Hanyu noticed she occasionally checked on the weaker students in the group. Ayanokoji, as always, remained calm, as if this long trek were just an ordinary stroll.

After about an hour of walking, the team encountered their first challenge—a rushing stream cutting across their path.

"The current's strong!" Sudo shouted from the stream bank. "We need to find a place to cross!"

"There might be a shallow beach downstream." Yukimura Teruhiko adjusted his glasses. "But someone needs to scout ahead first."

"I'll go!" Sudo volunteered.

"Wait." Hanyu stopped him. "Matsushita, what do you think?"

Matsushita Chiaki—the always-calm short-haired girl—stepped forward and carefully observed the stream. "The current is fast, but the depth probably doesn't exceed knee level. The problem is the stones on the bottom are slippery. We'll need auxiliary tools."

"Use ropes." Hanyu made the decision. "Sudo, take a few people and secure the ropes on the opposite bank. Everyone else crosses holding onto the ropes."

The plan went smoothly. Sudo Ken and a few boys waded across first and anchored the ropes on the far side. The girls gripped the ropes and crossed cautiously. A few with poor balance nearly fell, but with help from others, they all made it safely.

When it was Sakura Airi's turn, she stared at the rushing water, her face pale, fear filling her eyes beneath her brown long hair.

"I... I..." Her voice trembled.

"Don't be scared." Sudo called from the opposite bank. "Hold the rope and walk slowly! I'll catch you!"

Sakura Airi bit her lip and stepped into the water, shaking. Halfway across, her foot slipped, and she screamed as she pitched forward.

"Watch out!" Sudo immediately jumped into the water and caught her.

Amid the gasps of the group, Sudo half-carried, half-supported Sakura to the opposite bank. Once on land, her face flushed bright red, and she muttered a quiet "thank you" before hiding behind Kushida Kikyo.

"Well done, Sudo." Hanyu said approvingly.

Sudo scratched his head, looking uncharacteristically embarrassed. "It's nothing... I couldn't just watch her fall."

This small incident lightened the group's mood a bit. But Hanyu Xiuyi didn't let his guard down—he knew the real test was still ahead.

After another two hours of walking, the team entered a dense primeval forest. The trees here were taller, the light dimmer, and the ground thick with fallen leaves.

"This place..." Ayanokoji suddenly stopped. "Something's off."

"What is it?" Horikita asked.

"Too quiet." Ayanokoji said. "The birdsong is gone."

Hanyu immediately became alert. Indeed, the birdsong that had been audible moments ago had vanished entirely. The forest was left with only the rustle of wind through the leaves.

"Everyone, stop!" He ordered. "Sudo, send someone to scout ahead!"

Sudo Ken dispatched two boys to check the front. A few minutes later, one of them came running back in a panic.

"There are traps up ahead!" He panted. "Tripwires made of branches and vines, and pits dug in the ground! If I hadn't been sharp-eyed, I'd have fallen right in!"

Hanyu Xiuyi's face darkened. Just as he'd expected—Ryuen had already set up an ambush here.

"Can we go around?" He asked.

"Both sides are steep slopes—no way around." The scout shook his head. "We'll have to clear the traps or turn back."

Turning back wasn't an option. Hanyu made his decision: "Clear the traps. But be careful—there might be more we haven't spotted."

The students began cautiously clearing the traps along the path. Some were obvious, like tripwires and pits; others were well-hidden, like thorns disguised as branches and heavy objects suspended from trees.

"Those bastards!" Sudo Ken cursed as he worked. "Playing dirty!"

"Don't get distracted." Hanyu warned. "Stay safe."

The clearing progressed slowly. Just as the team was about to pass through the area, an accident happened.

"Ah!" A sharp cry came from the middle of the line.

Hanyu rushed over and found Karuizawa Kei sitting on the ground, clutching her ankle, her face pale.

"What happened?"

"I... I stepped on something..." Karuizawa was in so much pain tears were streaming down her face. "It looked like an animal trap..."

Hanyu crouched down to check. It was indeed a simple animal trap, made of branches and vines—crude but effective. Karuizawa's ankle was already bleeding from the bite.

"Medical kit!" He shouted.

Hasebe Haruka immediately brought over the medical kit. Hanyu carefully removed the animal trap and disinfected and bandaged the wound.

"Can you walk?" he asked.

Karuizawa tried to stand up, but immediately winced in pain: "No... it hurts..."

The group was in a bind. Carrying a wounded person through the forest over a long distance was nearly impossible.

"I'll carry her on my back," Hirata Yousuke offered.

"You still have to carry the supplies," Hanyu shook his head. "Sudo, you do it."

Sudo Ken was taken aback: "Me?"

"You have the best stamina," Hanyu said. "And you're the vanguard, most familiar with the terrain."

Sudo looked at Karuizawa, then at Hanyu, and finally nodded: "Fine. Hey, Karuizawa, get on."

Karuizawa hesitated for a moment, then climbed onto Sudo's back. Sudo lifted her easily and continued forward.

This small incident tightened the group's atmosphere again. But Hanyu Xiuyi noticed that after this experience, the class's cohesion had actually strengthened—everyone helped each other, no one complained, and no one gave up.

After another hour of walking, the group reached a fork in the road. According to the map, one path led to a valley, relatively flat but longer; the other went directly over a ridge, shorter but very steep.

"Which way?" Hirata asked.

Hanyu Xiuyi thought it over. Conventional wisdom said to take the flat route, but the situation was special now—Ryuen was likely to set more traps on the easier path.

"Take the ridge," he decided. "It's steep, but the view is open, and it's harder to be ambushed."

This decision was wise. The ridge path was indeed difficult to traverse, but nothing happened along the way. When the group reached the summit, the sight before them stunned everyone.

From here, they could overlook the entire island. The blue sea surrounded it on all sides, the forest spread out like a green carpet covering the land, and the camp in the distance looked like a tiny speck.

"So beautiful..." Sakura Airi murmured, forgetting her shyness.

"Yeah," Kushida Kikyo smiled. "I didn't expect it to look this pretty from above."

Hanyu Xiuyi also gazed at the scenery, a complex emotion rising in his heart. This island was both an exam hall and a cage. But at this moment, he felt its beauty for the first time.

"Rest for ten minutes," he ordered. "Replenish water, check your gear."

The students scattered to rest. Hanyu Xiuyi walked to the edge of the cliff and looked into the distance. Ayanokoji Kiyonaga silently came to his side.

"What are you thinking about?" Ayanokoji asked.

"About the meaning of this exam," Hanyu said. "What kind of people does the school really want to cultivate through this brutal competition?"

Ayanokoji was silent for a moment: "Maybe just to make us understand that the real world is like this—limited resources, fierce competition, only the strong survive."

"But cooperation is also important," Hanyu said. "Without everyone helping each other, we wouldn't have made it this far."

"That's Class D's advantage," Ayanokoji said. "Other classes might be more capable, but they don't necessarily have this kind of unity."

As the two were talking, the walkie-talkie suddenly crackled.

"This is the Vanguard Group!" Sudo Ken's voice came through, clearly tense. "We found Class C people! In the valley not far ahead! At least ten of them!"

Hanyu Xiuyi's heart tightened: "What are they doing?"

"Looks like... setting something up? Can't see clearly, but it's definitely no good!"

"Don't alert them," Hanyu ordered. "Stay hidden in place, wait for the main force to arrive."

He turned to face the group, his expression serious: "Class C is setting an ambush ahead. Everyone get ready. We might have a tough fight on our hands."

The students immediately tensed up. Some were afraid, some were angry, but no one backed down.

"Hanyu, what do we do?" Hirata Yousuke asked, his face full of worry beneath his blond hair.

Hanyu Xiuyi looked at these classmates before him—two days ago they were Loose Sand, but now they were like a real team.

"Follow the original plan," he said calmly. "But be prepared for unexpected situations. Sudo, take a few people and circle around from the side to scout their specific setup. Everyone else, approach head-on with me."

"Head-on?" Horikita frowned. "Too risky."

"Sometimes the best defense is offense," Hanyu said. "Besides, I want to see what game Ryuen is really playing."

The group set off again, this time more alert. The atmosphere in the forest became oppressive, as if even the air had solidified.

When Class D approached the valley, they saw Class C's people. Ryuen Sho stood in the center of the crowd, directing several people as they moved something. When he saw Class D appear, he flashed a smug smile.

"Oh, finally here," Ryuen said loudly. "I've been waiting for you a long time."

Hanyu Xiuyi stepped forward and looked at him calmly: "What do you want, Ryuen?"

"Nothing much, just thought this competition was too boring," Ryuen's smile was dangerous. "So I wanted to spice things up—a 'showdown.' Winner takes all, loser goes home empty-handed."

"A showdown?" Hanyu frowned. "The rules don't allow violence."

"Who said anything about violence?" Ryuen pointed at something behind him. "See that? A Special Supply Point I found—a 'Challenge Platform.' According to the rules, classes can decide supply ownership through challenges. Winner takes everything, loser Returns Empty-Handed."

Hanyu Xiuyi looked over. Indeed, behind Ryuen was a wooden platform with several boxes on it, each marked with the School Emblem.

"How do you want to challenge?"

"Simple," Ryuen said. "Each class sends three people for three matches. Best of three, winner takes all the supplies. You dare?"

Hanyu Xiuyi thought quickly. This was a trap, but also an opportunity. If they could win, they wouldn't just get the Special Supply Point's supplies—they'd also crush Class C's morale.

"I accept," he said. "But the rules need to be fair. The contest events will be decided by both sides."

"Fine." Ryuen's smile deepened. "Then it's settled. One hour from now, right here. Don't even think about running—if you do, I'll report to the school that you fled without a fight. You know the consequences."

With that, he led Class C out of the valley.

The students of Class D gathered around Hanyu, their faces full of worry.

"Hanyu, this is obviously a trap!" Hirata said.

"I know." Hanyu said calmly. "But sometimes, you have to jump into the trap to catch the one who set it."

He watched the retreating Class C group, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

An hour later, the showdown began.

And the fate of Class D would be decided in this battle.