Classroom of the Elite, A Hypocritical Gray Life

"Does everyone have any opinions?"

"...I think it's fine." Shibata expressed his agreement, and soon after, most of the others voiced the same sentiment.

"In that case... Shiranami, are you able to accept this task?" After pondering for a moment, Kanzaki provided the answer for the candidate.

"Eh, me?" Suddenly being singled out by name, Shiranami Chihiro appeared somewhat flustered.

"Is it okay for little Chihiro? If it really feels like too much, it's fine to refuse. Everyone will understand, and we still have plenty of other people to choose from."

"No, it's fine. As long as I can be of help to everyone."

"Then shall we decide on this?"

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

Although it took a little time, fortunately, the entire class reached a unanimous decision on this option, and just at that moment, Teacher Hoshinomiya returned.

"Sorry everyone, I've cleared up the issue. Well, do you have any questions you'd like to ask?"

"Teacher Hoshinomiya, we have already arranged the identity of our leader. Do we need to report it to you now?"

"Wait, I only left for a short while, didn't I? Do you really not need to discuss it a bit more?"

"Yes, we have already decided."

"I will remind you once more: once the leader's identity is confirmed, it will not be replaced without a suitable reason."

"We have certainly taken that into consideration, Teacher Hoshinomiya."

"I understand. Then tell me now." Teacher Hoshinomiya nodded.

Ichinose followed instructions, stepped forward, and whispered the name of the leader into the teacher's ear. During this time, Teacher Hoshinomiya kept looking at me with an unreadable expression, while I pretended not to notice and surveyed the situation of the other classes.

Class A seemed to be preparing to head into the forest, while Class C and Class D were still scattered in groups. Class D, in particular, seemed to be having an argument over there.

"Alright, the school will send you the specialized unlocking card as soon as possible. Now, everyone can set off into the forest. Oh, right. Regarding the usage of the portable toilets, do you want to hear it now, or should I explain it in detail once you've found your campsite?"

"Will it be a hassle?"

"Since it's a portable toilet, it certainly won't take up too much time."

"Then please explain it first, Teacher Hoshinomiya, so that everyone can get to work."

Teacher Hoshinomiya nodded with a satisfied, mischievous smirk. However, a chill ran through our hearts, because whenever Teacher Hoshinomiya wore that expression, something unpleasant always happened.

Don't let her mature appearance fool you; she is as playful as a child at heart.

As we expected, the instructions for using the portable toilet left us feeling troubled.

The main body is a foldable cardboard box, which is supposedly a high-quality product. By covering and securing it with absorbent cloth, the plastic bag inside can be reused about four or five times.

"Who, who could use this? We'd be seen!"

Perhaps we could tolerate it if a disaster were truly upon us, but right now, no one could endure such humiliation, especially not this group of urban students.

"How could that be? The school naturally considered that, so we have specially prepared a lightweight tent that can also be used for changing clothes."

"No, it's impossible. Even so, I can't accept this."

"Me neither."

"This is just too dirty."

The boys were fine, but the group of girls immediately couldn't take it and began to complain.

"Everyone, don't panic yet. If it really comes down to it, there are temporary toilets in the guidebook. If everyone needs one, we can purchase one."

"Are we really going to buy it? This thing costs twenty points."

"I think it's necessary to buy one so that we can feel a bit more at ease."

"Clap, clap--" Ichinose suddenly clapped her hands, interrupting everyone's conversation.

"Let's wait a moment to discuss this matter. Teacher Hoshinomiya, is there anything else you need to tell us?"

"No, that's all for now, at least."

After hearing Teacher Hoshinomiya's answer, Ichinose nodded. "Everyone, let's head into the forest first. Standing on the beach like this isn't a solution. Students from other classes are still here, too. It's best if we put some distance between us and them. Besides, under such a scorching sun, no one will be comfortable. In any case, let's find a shady spot first."

As she spoke, Ichinose took the lead in carrying the tents, and we boys followed suit.

At the same time, Class A also made their move. I paid special attention, turned around, picked up the heavy cardboard box, and joined the transport team.

Chapter 53: Operational Arrangements

In order to better discuss the measures for dealing with this exam, we avoided mingling with the other classes and chose a shady spot, at the very least. However, the weather had already reached a point where one would sweat just by standing under the shade of the giant trees without doing anything.

"If it's alright, let's use this place as a temporary base for now." With that, Ichinose set down the heavy load she was carrying and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

After walking for more than ten minutes along the edge of the forest, I finally had a moment to catch my breath.

As expected of a high-quality cardboard box, it really was heavy.

"Are we choosing this place for the campsite?" Perhaps affected by the sweltering heat, Hamaguchi Tetsuya frowned after hearing Ichinose's suggestion. "There is no food here, nor are there any signs of a water source... This place isn't suitable as a campsite, is it?"

"That's why it's a temporary base. Everyone, just think of it as a place to rest."

Afterward, we were generously granted a three-minute break, and I found a fallen giant tree with a relatively smooth surface to sit down on.

Once the countdown ended, Ichinose stood up and returned to the center of everyone's attention.

"Everyone should be well-rested now, so please listen to my plan. If you have any opinions, please speak up as soon as I finish."

"I intend to divide our class into three groups to handle campsite scouting, searching for food in the surrounding area, and discussing the allocation of our points. Does anyone have any issues with this?"

"No."

Ichinose nodded. "Then, when assigning members, I would like to know if any of us are proficient in wilderness survival or have experience with camping or the Boy Scouts? If we have that kind of help, I think things will be easier for us. Is there anyone?"

As Ichinose asked with a hopeful expression, I checked the situation around me and was surprised to find that six people indicated they possessed such skills.

Among them, Nakahara Junichi, Kameyama Yuta, and Yasuda Shichinosuke had each participated in camping or the Boy Scouts, all claiming their abilities were modest but that they would do their best. Meanwhile, Imada Masakazu, Soma Shuhei, and Iwase Chiharu possessed considerable wilderness survival skills. Soma Shuhei, in particular, was said to already have basic survival capabilities. Incidentally, Iwase Chiharu was a girl, and I rarely see girls interested in this field.

"I never expected little Chiharu to be so accomplished in this area."

"My father and I used to mess around with it when I was a kid, and I guess I just accidentally got hooked," Iwase said, awkwardly scratching the back of her head.

"It's great that everyone is willing to help," Ichinose said, clapping her hands happily before returning the topic to the big picture.

"First, let's talk about the heaviest task: the campsite arrangements. Since there are six of you, I would like to ask Nakahara, Kameyama, Imada, and Yasuda to each lead two others—making teams of three—to search for a suitable location for our camp."

"The remaining students, led by Soma and Iwase respectively, will search for food around our temporary base. Since we haven't determined the situation in the surrounding area, this range must not be too far. As for whether the food is safe to consume, I believe Soma should be able to tell."

"No problem."

"Finally, the remaining students will stay behind to discuss the allocation of our points with me. Since these will eventually become our class points, we need to save as much as possible."

"Does anyone have any opinions on this arrangement? If you do, please be sure to bring them up; my plan isn't necessarily perfect."

"Let's do it this way; it doesn't sound like there are many hidden risks."

Ichinose waited for a moment, and after confirming that the team leaders and students were in unanimous agreement, she continued: "Then the next step is the distribution of team members. Please participate in that yourselves."

As soon as she finished speaking, the boys quickly formed their respective teams. On the girls' side, due to the presence of Iwase and Ichinose, most chose to search for food, a few participated in the discussion, and not a single one wanted to go out to look for a campsite.

This resulted in the Nakahara team, which was about to head out to search for a campsite, being one person short.

"Nakahara's team is still missing one person. Is there anyone else willing to join?"

Upon receiving Nakahara's feedback, Ichinose quickly asked the others at the temporary base, but there was no response.

How bleak. It seems there are plenty of people who dislike uncertain "long-distance travel."

"It's okay if there isn't anyone; two people are actually enough."

"If you don't mind, could you take me?" Just as Nakahara was about to give up, I suddenly interjected.

"Raku? Are you sure you want to join?" Takashima, who was in the same group as Nakahara, looked at me with surprise. "It's going to be very tiring."

"It should be fine."

"Of course we don't mind! It's a huge relief that you're willing to help," Ichinose said, smiling as she answered for Nakahara.

Just like that, we were all ready to go.

"Honestly, were you coerced or bribed by someone? You're actually participating in this kind of uncertain physical activity. Can you even handle it?" Once we dispersed, Takashima immediately voiced his inner thoughts, and Nakahara looked over with curiosity, seemingly seeking the reason behind my decision.

"How rude. Just because I don't usually do things doesn't mean I can't, okay? Besides, compared to searching for a campsite, I think picking fruit and doing mental labor would be more exhausting. Even though the route for finding a campsite is uncertain, what if we get lucky and find one without walking too far?"

"...You really went to great lengths just to be lazy."

"I don't think this counts as being lazy."

"Let's just say it is; it doesn't make a difference anyway. So, which direction should we head in, Nakahara? Is there any knowledge we can use to determine the location of a base?"

"Is there such a thing?"

"Eh, there isn't?"

"Even if there were, I wouldn't know it. I've only been camping, and the locations were provided by the local management beforehand. However, if you're talking about clues to judge a base location, maybe going to a higher place would make it easier to scout. By the time we get there at this hour, it'll be dark... can any of you climb trees?"

"While I think what you said makes sense, the latter part is clearly even more unrealistic."

"Haha, it looks like that's the case."

We didn't understand the surrounding terrain, which was the reason Ichinose chose to organize search teams. Although the guidebook issued by the school contained a rough map of the island, it only recorded the size and shape of the island; nothing else was explained. Even basic elements like slopes and forest area were not provided.

This situation was no different from a blank sheet of paper.

"So we were lost from the very beginning, is that it?"

"I hate to admit it, but the fact is we can only pick a direction at random and move forward."

"Then towards... the southwest?" I carefully offered my opinion while the two of them were hesitating.

"Wouldn't that be a bit too arbitrary?"

"We're already picking a direction at random and moving forward randomly. Could there be anything more arbitrary than that?"

"...I suppose that's all we can do."

The two sighed, then followed my suggestion and headed toward the southwest.

Chapter 54: Artificial Forest

The moonlight hazily shrouded this dark forest, revealing a gloomy and dismal atmosphere through the gaps in the branches that crossed at every turn.

The source of this tranquility was buried in the fear of death. This was neither a poetic metaphor nor a joke; it was simply the truth. Every subtle breath in the night and every shadow of a falling leaf glimpsed in the blur could make one hallucinate that they were already in the underworld.

Intense distortions occurred; even the towering trees might erupt into manic laughter, to say nothing of the aimless groaning of fragile, tiny insects.

Anything that made a sound signaled death.

Although the two were not strictly equated, I believed it so firmly that I stood as still as a stone carving weathered by the constant winds of a desert. With eyes half-closed, I stared intently into the darkness of the forest.

Then, the sound of a withered leaf being lightly stepped upon reached my ears.

What I smelled was the scent of gunpowder, gradually permeating the air.

It was precisely because of this that I could clearly distinguish the forest's natural state.

1

The mystery that forests have carried since ancient times lies in the inability to glimpse their entirety in a single instant.

The deeper one goes, the more impossible it becomes to grasp its vastness in one's mind, and the lush greenery surrounding us only further blurs our vision.

The sweltering, humid environment constantly stimulated my neurohormones, causing an itch to break out across my body. I slightly unzipped my tracksuit to ward off the heat, while simultaneously struggling to hold back my heavy breathing.

"Early spring and late autumn are fine, but wilderness survival in extreme weather like this in summer is just terrible."

"I suppose the school board took that into account, wanting to test our willpower."

"Cruel, it's truly cruel. I feel like I'm about to evaporate at any second."

"In that case, you should talk less like Raku; it might help reduce some of your moisture loss."

"Come to think of it, don't you feel anything at all, Raku? I don't think I've heard you complain about anything."

"Don't you see me drenched in sweat? I'm struggling to endure it just as hard."

"Sorry, I've already been defeated; I don't have the capacity to spare any attention to watch your battle."