Wilderness Survival in the Primeval Forest

December 26th, the day after Christmas. The students of Class D boarded the bus as planned, heading toward the destination of their next special exam. Just like the Uninhabited Island, this would be another wilderness special exam.

At the front of the bus, Chabashira was using a microphone to explain the precautions for the forest.

1. Do not litter; protect the natural environment.

2. There are clear trails and signs within the special exam grounds. The surrounding forest areas are dangerous wilderness, so do not enter undeveloped areas without authorization.

3. If you encounter danger, press and hold the red SOS button on your smartwatch for more than 5 seconds.

"Teacher, are there really bears?"

Ike raised his hand and asked mischievously.

"Thanks for the reminder. The school has issued bear bells to everyone. If a bear eats you, the school has purchased high-coverage insurance for every student. Just be more careful in your next life."

"Ehh!"

Ike's face darkened, and he felt a sudden urge to open the window and jump out of the bus.

"Just kidding, just kidding."

"Helicopters are patrolling the area constantly, and we've used ultrasonic devices to drive away wild animals."

"Also, there are high-voltage electric fences at the perimeter. Be careful not to touch them; an ordinary person wouldn't be able to be saved from that."

Chabashira explained, and the whole bus burst into laughter, though their eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity and nervousness.

That really scared me!

Ike complained inwardly.

There wasn't much of a tense atmosphere regarding this special exam following the final exams; most people don't dislike the idea of a trip.

The bus drove steadily along the winding mountain road, and the scenery outside the window gradually shifted from the steel and concrete of the city to suburban villas of varying heights.

Inside the bus, there was a sense of early-morning drowsiness, but more than that, an irrepressible excitement and anticipation. The morning sun shone obliquely through the windows, spilling onto every youthful face and bringing a gentle warmth.

In the back of the bus, The Three Idiots led the way, huddled together playing cards and bursting into laughter from time to time.

"Yamauchi, you can't even fit any more stickers on your face! Hahaha!"

Sudo mocked him relentlessly. After a semester of tutoring from Horikita, the gorilla's intelligence had surprisingly surpassed that of the intellectually disabled.

He had moved past playing cards based on instinct and had unknowingly discovered patterns and techniques.

"Don't get cocky, that was just bad luck."

Yamauchi's voice was so loud while playing that the driver turned his head slightly to warn them: "Don't be so noisy, watch your safety!"

The girls sitting in the middle were whispering in twos and threes. Karuizawa was discussing what kind of photos they should take later, with her camera and phone already prepared.

Sato was fiddling with her backpack, checking if she had forgotten anything, muttering to herself: "Sunscreen is packed, water is here, snacks don't seem to be enough..."

Winter travel is different from summer; clothes take up a lot of space for the sake of warmth, so everyone had to discard miscellaneous items.

Only Horikita and Hirata were seriously studying the wilderness survival manual, calculating how to survive better.

It seemed they had long been prepared for the upcoming adventure.

After the seven days spent on the Uninhabited Island last time, many people had begun to take camping-related knowledge seriously.

After two wilderness special exams, the school seemed to have a soft spot for camping.

"Hey, Kagami, is there any news from the student council about this exam?"

Kushida had chosen the window seat on the two-person bus bench to sit with Nagami, even rejecting an invitation from her good friend Wang Meili.

Sorry about that, Kushida thought to herself.

"It'll probably be rules similar to the Uninhabited Island. The school is keeping a tight lid on it this time; the only thing we know is that the rules will be announced once we reach the destination."

"With you here, I feel much more at ease. I'm not worried about the special exam at all."

When there were many people around, Kushida used "Watashi," but when they were alone, she used "Ore." This occasional change of face made Nagami want to roll his eyes.

"Kikyo, just treat this as a vacation. After all, I'm the strongest!"

"Mm!"

Kushida nodded vigorously, then looked at the scenery outside the window as it swayed back and forth.

As the bus bumped along the road, her eyelids grew heavy, and she gradually closed her eyes, unconsciously leaning onto Nagami's shoulder.

The sound of her breathing—hoo, hoo—was clear and close enough to hear.

He could even smell the faint scent of shampoo.

Looking down, the first thing he saw was the part in her hair at the crown of her head. The hair parted naturally from her forehead to the back of her head, the part looking like a winding path worn by years of walking. On both sides of the part, her hair hung down smoothly.

That thin line of the part shimmered slightly in the sunlight, and her hair, which was well-maintained and silky, was coated with a hazy luster under the play of light and shadow.

Occasionally, he could see a few faint red spots on her scalp, slight pressure marks left from wearing a headband for a long time, usually quietly hidden under her hair.

Her cheeks were delicate and smooth, as if one could see the hidden warmth of her blood through the slightly flushed skin.

Her eyebrows were curved like a crescent moon, her earlobes were small and round, her nose was petite and straight, and her lips were thin and soft, like cherry blossom petals stained with a faint pink.

Viewing her up close, more details rushed into view: the fine new hairs between her brows, the small tear mole beside the corner of her eye, the slightly raised peach fuzz on her upper lip, and the tiny blackheads on the wings of her nose.

(Distance lends enchantment, that much is true.)

When things are too close, even the smallest pimple seems magnified; Nagami couldn't help but sigh to himself about how things look smaller from afar and larger up close.

Soft music played in his headphones, specifically Flower Dance by the Japanese artist DJ OKAWARI; despite the "DJ" in his stage name, the song was incredibly gentle and beautiful.

Some students began to lean back in their seats to doze off, while others read novels, but the wilderness survival expert Bell Ike had a different train of thought.

"This direction? Are there any Primeval Forest areas near Tokyo?"

Ike, the camping expert, sighed in wonder.

From his window seat, Ike rested his chin on his hand and gazed outside.

At first, there were only low-lying woods, but gradually, the trees grew tall and dense, as if opening a green gate leading into a Primeval Forest. Then, it transformed into rolling mountains and vast green fields.

Distant mountain peaks loomed in the thin mist, and one could almost smell the fresh scent of the forest in the air.

As the bus drove deeper, the surrounding scenery became increasingly pristine. The once-lively carriage gradually quieted down, but the atmosphere began to heat up.

More people started staring out the windows; some took out their phones to capture the boundless green, while others simply put their phones away, greedily recording it all with their own eyes.

"Beautiful!"

Someone whispered a word of praise.

Occasionally, one could even see a small stream babbling in the distance outside the window, weaving together with the towering trees to form a vivid landscape painting.

Finally, as time passed, the bus came to a stop at the end of a narrow mountain road.

"We have arrived at the special exam location! Everyone, remember to check your luggage when you get off; don't leave anything behind!"

Chabashira stood up and said.

Many were startled awake from their slumber, and everyone lined up in an orderly fashion to disembark, stepping out with eager feet to embrace the arms of the Primeval Forest.

[Tomato Weather Forecast reminds you]

Today's high temperature: 10°, low temperature: 3°; Weather: Sunny; Air quality: Excellent; Northeast wind level 2; Suitable for hiking.