The bell in the Ninja Academy's east corridor was more merciless than Kiyo had imagined.
When it rang, Kiyo was still three steps from the corridor entrance, clutching half an uneaten rice ball. The instant the ringing stopped, his whole body froze, and the rice ball nearly fell from his hand.
"It really doesn't wait for anyone," he said.
Morita Yu passed by him. "I told you yesterday."
"Being told and hearing it yourself aren't the same."
Che stood beneath the corridor eaves, smelling the mingled scent of wood lacquer and morning dampness. The east corridor was brighter than it had been yesterday when they had checked the route. Several doors stood open, with children talking inside and the sound of desks and chairs being dragged around. Today was not an evaluation site, and no examiner sat behind a desk, but the tension had not lessened. It had merely changed clothes.
Kiyo finally stuffed the rice ball into his mouth and mumbled, "I'm not late, am I?"
Mine glanced at him from the corridor entrance. "You stepped under the eaves before the bell rang. You made it."
Kiyo looked down at his feet and found that his toes were right on the line. He let out a huge breath.
"My feet are more reliable than I am."
Morita Yu said, "That's hard to argue with."
Classroom Two was the third room in the east corridor. A small slip of paper was pasted beside the door, reading: "Post-Disaster Transition Group Two." The writing was fresh, and the ink still held a faint shine. Che felt relieved when he saw that his name was not on the door. Today, the door listed only the group, not the people. They would take their own seats only after entering.
Quite a few children had