83 #82 Survival Test 6

When Hirata came back with the leader's card, he immediately gave it to Horikita. They quickly claimed the spot with a circle of students formed around the device considered as a spot to hide the real identity of the leader.

Students started slowly setting up the tents, well, it was mostly Ike helping others by instructing them.

Once the tents were set up and erected.

"...Look, I would like to apologize for appearing too harsh previously. I had no idea that none of you have any camping experience except for Iwamura-kun so my demands might have sounded a bit too sudden and unreasonable." Ike apologized but he didn't say it to anyone specifically so it was still possible that his opinion about Shinohara remained the same.

"Don't worry about it. We all want to obtain as many points as we can so it's understandable, we should all be more lenient. Still, it's good to know that we have 2 people who are experienced in camping outside." Hirata said with a smile to soothe the mood before looking at Yuichi with a grateful smile.

"Eh? I am not really experienced..." Yuichi said while scratching the back of his head with a slightly confused expression.

"*Yeah, you are really "experienced", you were able to spot that small footprint without paying full attention to the ground. We are really lucky to have you here*" Horikita who was conveniently standing next to him whispered in a sarcastic tone while wearing a smug.

'Oho? Is that sarcasm? If you mean by experienced, camping out in the mountains without any form of technology around...I guess so. Shishō used to take me out for those so-called promotion tests during the holidays where I had to use anything I find to survive the whole week until he came back for me. Ah, the memories...I was quite similar to others when it was my 1st week of such a test, I was even hesitant to drink from a clear river but after the thirst became unbearable, I drank it with a wide smile on my face.' Yuichi glanced at Horikita and she expected some kind of comeback from him but instead, Yuichi started staring into the forest with a faint smile.

"I am just a fan of these themes, I have read a few books about it so I am just interested in it, that's all" Yuichi replied after a while. He didn't want Horikita to think that he is too experienced because he was sure she would have given him many tasks to do.

*"I see, then you must be pretty excited to experience it first hand, right?*" Horikita smirked and asked.

"Not really...There is no real danger here. I like more dangerous stories. I mean, the pretext is great, students with a few teachers stranded on an inhabited island, however, there is something missing, I would like it if there was some kind of bloodthirsty monster hunting us down, then, it would make a great survival story." Yuichi shrugged his shoulders with a bit bored expression before he released a faint smile.

Others were paying attention to their words and while some students expressed some interest in discovering Yuichi's hobby, Ike who heard his last words actually shivered and started looking around in a panicked manner.

"This isn't anime so I doubt we will find any "monster" here..." Yukimura said while shaking his head.

"That's where you are wrong! Do you think those people in the stories were aware of such a monster? They too, were oblivious and skeptical like you, Yukimura-kun! You better watch your back once you venture deep inside the forest." A serious expression appeared on Yuichi's face as he pointed at Yukimura and said seriously.

Yukimura looked on the surface pretty normal, almost unaffected by Yuichi's words but then some students carrying bags stepped on a small branch, breaking it and making the sound which made Yukimura abruptly turn around towards the noise.

"Hahaha" Yuichi sensed that even other people were getting more anxious so he grabbed his stomach and started laughing aloud.

*Smack* "Stop fooling around and do something serious instead!" Horikita punched him in his left shoulder before walking away from him.

"...Iwamura-kun, do you really think this island is safe?" Some girls were probably seriously scared by his words so they decided to ask him with worried faces.

*Smack* "You are really an idiot. Didn't you say that we need to maintain the right amount of stress? Most people are already stressed out enough to call it quits from your words!" Mei who was among those girls punched him in the right shoulder and said with an "angry" expression but perhaps she was slightly scared too.

"Don't worry girls, these are just stories." Yuichi explained with a smile while rubbing his shoulder to make it look like it hurts just to satisfy Mei.

Most girls sighed in relief but some were still a bit worried.

"However, if it will make you feel better...If those stories were indeed true and something similar happened here, I would be the first one to die so none of you are in danger" Yuichi said with a gentle smile however there was a sense of humor in his tone.

"Huh? Why?" Mei asked with a bit worried expression.

"It's always that one who makes fun of others that dies first. I scared a lot of people and even made fun of the "nonexistent" monster. I created too many flags and karma would get back at me." Yuichi shrugged his shoulders and said with an amused smile.

Finally, a few of the girls giggled at his words.

"Thanks, Iwamura-kun, we feel much better now. Anyway, we should reorganize our things, see you later." The girls thanked him and went to join others who were moving the bags to one pile.

Mei watched their backs with a surprised expression before she turned to Yuichi.

"Was this your intention right from the beginning?" She asked in disbelieve.

"*What might you mean by those words, Mii-chan?*" Yuichi asked in a low voice with a teasing smile.

"*You know what I mean! They were all tense right after the survival test was announced but right now they are giggling and chatting without a care in the world.*" Mei pouted before she replied in a vexed manner.

"*Nah, I was just being stupid and I got too excited when talking about surviving. Let's go help the others.*" Yuichi replied in a teasing tone and lightly pinched her nose before trotting away from her.

"Hey! Come back!" Mei immediately held her nose before running after him with an annoyed expression.

...

The evening arrived quite fast and Kushida's and Ike's team has yet to return from the exploring. In case they wouldn't have found any food, they would be forced to buy it for points. They already bought a kettle and toilet so they already spent some points and it was still the very first day.

After helping others with moving the bags, Yuichi had nothing else to do so he went to lean against the tree, watching the surroundings with folded arms, occasionally closing his eyes to just focus on the surrounding sounds of nature.

In the end, it was decided that both large tents will be used by the girls because they are more "sensitive" when it comes to the disgusting things crawling on the ground. Some boys were obviously against it but instead of fighting against girls, they rather suggested buying another tent or two, but Ike immediately stepped in and stopped that suggestion.

While Yuichi was observing the surroundings and thinking about other classes, he sensed someone's stare, and when he looked towards the tents' direction, he noticed Ayanokoji looking at him with an uncertain expression as if he was hesitating to do something.

Those two's relationship was very weird, they have eaten a few lunches together, they talked to each other from time to time but probably both of them never considered the other a friend. Both were cautious around each other but Ayanokoji at least knew that it wasn't him alone, while he was observing Yuichi in the school, he noticed that he is cautious mostly around everyone with exception of only one person. This made him remember a face of a certain person and Ayanokoji wondered if the two were somehow similar in this aspect but he quickly rejected it since Yuichi is practically Hirata's communication skills + Horikita's social distancing, creating some kind of a weird mishmash. However, what he was sure of was that Yuichi's honest opinion on everything was completely unknown to everyone.

'...How is he able to stay popular while also look so lonely by standing there all alone? I guess I should at least ask him since Hirata suggested I ask him, plus it's not like we haven't talked at all since the beginning of the school year.' Ayanokoji sighed and started approaching Yuichi and with each step closer to him he felt as if it was becoming harder to take another step.

"Hey, Iwamura. I am going to collect branches for a campfire. Want to tag along?" Ayanokoji said but he felt a bit awkward, perhaps he wasn't as comfortable talking to him as to Ike's group.

"Hm? Sure, why not, I am bored and just looking out for a possible "intruder" anyway..." Yuichi shrugged his shoulders before he stopped leaning against the tree to gesture for Ayanokoji to lead the way.

'I have Mei here to look at others anyway, let's see if something interesting happens. I haven't talked to him that much since the 2nd month of the school year.' Yuichi thought as he glanced towards Mei who was talking to other girls.