Forest Games

On the morning of the third day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the forest mist, Class D's camp was already bustling with activity. The students packed their gear, preparing to head for the Island Center.

Hanyu Xiuyi stood in the middle of camp, giving the plan one final check. His black hair looked a little messy in the morning light, but his gaze was 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. It's about eight kilometers away. We'll have to cross dense forest and mountains, and it should take six to eight hours. There's no turning back. We have to succeed."

The students listened intently. After two days of Wilderness Survival, the pampered boys and girls had grown more resolute, and a little less childish.

"Now, we'll split into groups," Hanyu continued. "Group 1: the Vanguard Group, led by Ken Sudō, will scout ahead and keep watch. Group 2: the Resource Team, led by Hasebe Haruka, will collect food and water along the way. Group 3: the Support Group, led by Hirata Yousuke, will carry most of the supplies and help anyone who's struggling. Group 4: the Rearguard Group, led by me, will bring up the rear and handle any emergencies."

He looked around at them. "Stay within sight of the other groups, and keep in contact by radio. Report anything unusual immediately. Understood?"

"Understood!" they answered in unison.

The group set off. The forest was quiet in the morning, disturbed only by birdsong and footsteps. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Ken Sudō led the way, his red hair standing out among the trees. A few of the stronger boys followed behind him, each carrying a wooden stick and warily watching their surroundings.

"Stay close!" Sudō called over his shoulder. "Don't fall behind!"

Hanyu Xiuyi walked at the back of the group, with Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji Kiyonaga beside him. Horikita still wore her usual cool expression, but Hanyu noticed her keeping an eye on the weaker students. Ayanokoji remained as calm as ever, as though the long hike were nothing more than an ordinary stroll.

About an hour later, the group faced their first obstacle: a swift stream running across their path.

"The current's strong!" Sudō called from the bank. "We need to find a place to cross!"

"There may be a shallow stretch downstream," Yukimura Teruhiko said, adjusting his glasses. "But someone will have to scout ahead first."

"I'll go!" Sudō volunteered.

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

Matsushita Chiaki—the short-haired girl who was always so calm—stepped forward and studied the stream. "The current's strong, but I don't think it's deeper than our knees. The problem is that the rocks on the bottom are slippery. We'll need something to hold on to."

"We'll use a rope," Hanyu decided. "Sudō, take a few people and secure it on the opposite bank. The rest of you can cross while holding on to it."

The plan went smoothly. Ken Sudō and a few other boys waded across first and secured the rope on the opposite bank. The girls crossed carefully, holding on to it. A few of them nearly lost their balance, but with help from the others, everyone made it across safely.

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

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

"Don't be scared!" Sudō called from the opposite bank. "Hold on to the rope and take it slow! I'll catch you!"

Sakura bit her lip and shakily stepped into the water. Halfway across, her foot slipped. She cried out and pitched forward.

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

As everyone gasped, Sudō half-carried, half-supported Sakura to the opposite bank. Once they were on shore, Sakura's face flushed bright red. She murmured her thanks, then hid behind Kushida Kikyo.

"Good work, Sudō," Hanyu said approvingly.

Sudō scratched his head, looking unusually embarrassed. "It was nothing... I couldn't just watch her fall."

The little incident lightened the mood. But Hanyu Xiuyi didn't let his guard down. He knew the real test still lay ahead.

After another two hours, the group entered a dense stretch of Primeval Forest. The trees here were taller, the light dimmer, and the ground covered in thick Fallen Leaves.

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

"What is it?" Horikita asked.

"It's too quiet," Ayanokoji said. "The birds have stopped calling."

Hanyu immediately grew alert. Ayanokoji was right. The birdsong they'd been hearing had disappeared without them noticing. The only sound in the forest was the rustle of leaves in the wind.

"Everyone, stop!" he ordered. "Sudō, send someone ahead to scout!"

Ken Sudō sent two boys to investigate. A few minutes later, one of them came running back in a panic.

"There's, there's a trap up ahead!" he panted. "Tripwires made of branches and vines, and pits dug into the ground! If I hadn't spotted them, I would've fallen right in!"

Hanyu Xiuyi's expression darkened. As he'd suspected, Ryuen had already laid an ambush here.

"Can we go around?" he asked.

"There are Steep Slopes on both sides. We can't get past them," the scout said, shaking 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. Be careful—there may be more we haven't spotted."

The students began carefully clearing the traps on the path. Some were obvious, like tripwires and pits. Others were well hidden, like Thorns disguised as branches and heavy objects hanging from trees.

"Those bastards!" Ken Sudō cursed as he cleared the traps. "Fighting dirty!"

"Stay focused," Hanyu warned. "Watch your step."

The clearing went slowly. Just as the group was about to make it through the area, something went wrong.

"Ah!" A scream came from the middle of the group.

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

"What happened?"

"I, I stepped on something..." Karuizawa was in so much pain that tears welled in her eyes. "I think it was an Animal Trap..."

Hanyu crouched to examine it. It was a simple Animal Trap made from branches and vines. Crude as it was, it had a nasty bite. The trap had left a bloody mark on Karuizawa's ankle.

"Medical Kit!" he shouted.

Hasebe Haruka hurried over with the Medical Kit. Hanyu carefully removed the trap, disinfected the wound, and bandaged it.

"Can you walk?" he asked.

Karuizawa tried to stand, but immediately sucked in a sharp breath from the pain. "No... It hurts too much..."

The group was in a bind. It was almost impossible to hike through the forest with an injured student.

"I'll carry her," Hirata Yousuke offered.

"You still have to carry supplies," Hanyu said, shaking his head. "Sudō, you do it."

Ken Sudō blinked. "Me?"

"You're the strongest," Hanyu said. "And you're in the Vanguard Group, so you know the terrain best."

Sudō looked at Karuizawa, then at Hanyu, and finally nodded. "All right. Hey, Karuizawa, climb on."

Karuizawa hesitated, then climbed onto Sudō's back. He lifted her with ease and continued onward.

The incident made the group tense again. But Hanyu Xiuyi noticed that, after what happened, the class had actually grown closer. Everyone helped each other. No one complained, and no one gave up.

After another hour of walking, the group reached a fork in the path. According to the map, one trail led to a valley. It was gentler, but longer. The other went straight over the ridge. It was shorter, but steep.

"Which way?" Hirata asked.

Hanyu Xiuyi considered the options. Normally, they should take the gentler path, but the circumstances were unusual. Ryuen had probably laid more traps along the easier route.

"We'll take the ridge," he decided. "It's steep, but the view is clear, so we're less likely to be ambushed."

It was a sound decision. The trail along the ridge was difficult, but they made it without incident. When the group reached the summit, the view before them left everyone stunned.

From there, they could see the whole island. The blue sea surrounded them, the forest spread across the land like a green carpet, and the camp in the distance looked like a tiny speck.

"It's beautiful..." Sakura Airi murmured, forgetting to be shy.

"It really is," Kushida Kikyo said with a smile. "I didn't expect it to look so beautiful from up here."

Hanyu Xiuyi looked out at the scenery too, a complicated feeling welling up inside him. The island was both an Exam Hall and a prison. But for the first time, he felt its beauty.

"Let's rest for ten minutes," he ordered. "Drink some water and check your gear."

The students scattered to rest. Hanyu Xiuyi walked to the edge of the cliff and gazed into the distance. Ayanokoji Kiyonaga silently came to stand beside him.

"What are you thinking about?" Ayanokoji asked.

"I'm wondering what this exam is supposed to teach us," Hanyu said. "What kind of people is the school trying to shape through this brutal competition?"

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

"But cooperation matters too," Hanyu said. "We wouldn't have made it this far without everyone helping each other."

"That's Class D's strength," Ayanokoji said. "The other classes may be more capable, but they don't necessarily have this kind of unity."

As they spoke, the radio suddenly crackled to life.

"This is the Vanguard Group!" Ken Sudō's voice came through, strained with tension. "We've spotted people from Class C! They're in the valley just ahead! At least ten of them!"

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

"It looks like they're... setting something up? I can't see clearly, but it can't be anything good!"

"Don't alert them," Hanyu ordered. "Stay hidden and wait for the main group to catch up."

He turned to face the group, his expression serious. "Class C has set an ambush up ahead. Everyone, get ready. We may be in for a tough fight."

The students tensed at once. Some were scared, some were angry, but no one backed down.

"Hanyu, what should we do?" Hirata Yousuke asked, worry plain on his face beneath his blond hair.

Hanyu Xiuyi looked at his classmates. Two days ago, they'd been a scattered mess. Now they were beginning to look like a real team.

"We'll stick to the original plan," he said calmly. "But be ready for anything. Sudō, take a few people and circle around to scout their setup. The rest of you, come with me and approach from the front."

"From the front?" Horikita frowned. "That's too risky."

"Sometimes the best defense is to attack," Hanyu said. "Besides, I want to see what Ryuen's up to."

The group set off again, more wary than before. The atmosphere in the forest grew oppressive, as if even the air had gone still.

When Class D approached the valley, they saw the people from Class C. Ryuen Kakeru stood in the middle of the group, directing several people as they carried something. When he spotted Class D, he flashed a smug grin.

"Well, look who finally showed up," Ryuen called. "I've been waiting for you."

Hanyu Xiuyi stepped forward and calmly met his gaze. "What are you planning, Ryuen?"

"Nothing. I just think this competition is getting boring." Ryuen's smile was dangerous. "So I thought we should try something more exciting—a 'duel.' Winner takes all, loser walks away empty-handed."

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

"Who said anything about violence?" Ryuen pointed to the things behind him. "See that? It's the Special Supply Point I found—a Challenge Platform. According to the rules, classes can challenge each other to decide who gets the supplies. The winner takes everything. The loser gets nothing."

Hanyu Xiuyi looked past him. There was indeed a wooden platform behind Ryuen, with several boxes on it, each marked with the School Emblem.

"What kind of challenge?"

"Simple," Ryuen said. "Each class sends out three people for three matches. Best two out of three takes all the supplies. Do you dare?"

Hanyu Xiuyi quickly considered the options. It was a trap, but also an opportunity. If they won, they would not only get the supplies from the Special Supply Point, but also damage Class C's morale.

"I accept," he said. "But the rules have to be fair. Both sides will decide the events together."

"Fine." Ryuen's smile widened. "Then it's settled. We'll face off here in an hour. Don't even think about running away. If you do, I'll report you to the school for refusing to fight. You know what the consequences will be."

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

The Class D students gathered around Hanyu, their faces filled with worry.

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

"I know," Hanyu said calmly. "But sometimes you have to step into a trap so you can turn the tables on the person who set it."

He watched the Class C group disappear, a sharp glint passing through his eyes.

An hour later, the duel began.

And Class D's fate would be decided by this duel.