44 Survival of The Fittest
Chie: "Class 1B student, every name that got called came forward~"
Chie then started to call them one by one.
It was Mashima, the English homeroom teacher in charge of A class, famous for being a stubborn person. He might seem beefy at first glance due to his pro-wrestling-like physique, but he was quite smart and taught special subjects sometimes before.
"First of all, I'm happy that you arrived safely to this place today. However, it's unfortunate that one student couldn't take part due to sickness."
'Arisu huh...' Ryou thought.
It was at this moment, Mashima reveal the truth behind this trip.
Mashima: "So, Let's go ahead with this academic year's first trial."
"Eh? Trial?"
"Sensei, What do you mean?"
"What trial?"
All the classes were ready to burst, only class 1B not voice their protest too much, since Ryou already remind them about something, and this is one of their calculation, but the worst one.
Mashima: "The duration period will be one week. It ends at noon on August 7. From now on, you are going to live on this deserted island for one week. It is a test to see if you can live all together as a group. Furthermore, this special trial has been designed in reference to real life corporate training. Even before we start I am going to give you hints about what it takes to win this special test."
Murmurs can be heard everywhere.
Furuichi: "Since this island is deserted, there are no ships or boats, what will we do about accommodations?"
Mashima: "That's right! Boarding a ship is not allowed without a justifiable reason. Living on this island requires you to consider everything, from sleeping place to meal preparation. The moment the test starts, each class will separately receive 2 tents and 2 flashlights. You will be provided with one box of matches. There is no restriction in supply of sunscreen cream. Each person will receive one toothbrush. As an exception, sanitary good are allowed without restriction only for girls. You can ask anything to your homeroom teacher. That's all. What's left now is to distribute the provisions."
"What? So to win this deserted island trial, I have to turn into a survivor? Now, it's not the time to talk nonsense! This is not an anime or a cartoon!" someone from class 1A asked.
'IT IS!!!' i want to retort him so bad.
'Ah... my 'See Ryou, Tease!' sense (not shinra tensei) is screaming want to tease these people' Ryou is gripping his hand to hold himself not to retort anyone else in that place.
Mashima: "It may not be to your advantage to know, but I will tell you a small piece of trivial information. This deserted island belongs to a big enterprise, the same that designed this very test. It is a top-secret operation, so nobody else knows what is happening on this island. What is the meaning of this test… I bet you guys are thinking like this, now. Or you may doubt the very existence of this training program, but, students who are thinking like this will become adults with no possibilities in the future. You may think… Is this talka basis to criticise with words like 'You're impossible', 'You're ridiculous'? But you guys are just students. You are still nobodies and your worthlessness is equal among yourselves. Are you going to criticise the methods of a top class corporation? That would be ridiculous. To give you an example. In order to control a corporation, you have to rise to the top as the manager. If you were the president who runs a higher-ranking company than the one I cited, you may have the right to deny it. However, there shouldn't exist a basis that seeks to deny lesser human beings, in the first place."
Many students still in shock, having just heard only fragments of these words. Wishfully thinking that this whole thing is just a lie. But it was exactly as Mr. Mashima had said before. There is no point into being in denial.
..
(Ayanokouji POV)
Starting to think selfishly, I realised my situation. I have to pass the election part of the trial first and stop thinking that 'This is ridiculous' or 'This cannot be happening'. I should start by trying to understand the people near me. Should I approach them with humor?
But what i'm surprised about is the look in class 1B students, it looks like they already something like this to happen. And then i shift my attention to a certain student, with black hair, tall and fit figure. His demeanor is too calm for something like this.
'What is on your mind, Hiroki-kun?'
..
(Horikita POV)
At first, i was on denial. I never thought about something like this would happen to us. I look at Ayanokouji, he seems like looking at someone and as i follow his line of sight, i see someone from class 1B.
I'm not aware about this all the time, but class 1B reaction is far from the others. Are they already accept this shocking truth?
And that man, Hiroki Ryou, he look so calm in this situation, is this why Nii-san look at him different from us?
..
(Third POV)
"But, teacher… It's supposed to be the summer holidays. And we came here with the pretext of a trip. Don't you think taking part in a training survival test instead is foul play?"
A student raise his dissatistfaction.
Some students of the class finally remembered how to protest. This was followed by the others, too.
Mashima: "I get it. You are not wrong about this point. I also understand your discontent and grumbling."
Mashima recognised a part of the objection by the students but did not make any trivial remarks. At that point everyone's dissatisfaction was obvious. The process of arriving at this point, the sense of objection. The point that the viewpoints of the students and the teachers were different.
Mashima: "But, do not worry. In this cruel every day life, to be coerced into rigorous criticism is quite common. When we say that this is a special trial test do not think of it too deeply. From now on during a week, you will swim in the sea, you will also have barbecues. I think it will be nice. You will be able to sit around campfires, talk with friends and develop relationships. That's not too bad, right? The theme of this special test is 'Freedom'."
Even though it is a test, they chose 'Freedom' as the theme. As soon as the students heard about the theme, they felt more perplexed.
Chiyabashira: "This survival test on the deserted island is supposed to be of major importance. It has been decided that each class will be provided with 300 points. If you decide to spend these points wisely for one week, there is a possibility that you will enjoy this test like you are being on a trip. For this very reason we have prepared a manual. Mashima-sensei has made this manual by gathering info from various teachers for years, until it was big enough to be turned into a book. This book contains a list of how you can obtain points. Advises about every day necessities, drinking water or finding food, also about how to make a barbecue. About equipment, ingredients and how to prepare a meal, how to catch food from the sea, how to have enough food and water, how to fully enjoy your everyday life, how to gather various tools and how to use them in many occasions."
Gradually the stern look on the students' faces started to change.
"In other words, with these 300 points we will be able to have whatever we want? That's right! We can obtain what we need by accumulating points! We may make it. If we make a proper plan of how to spend and how to accumulate points for one week, it's not impossible! If we can live with these points for a week then truly this test will be like a vacation. More like it will be the closest thing that we can have to vacation."
"But, teacher… You said this is a trial? Isn't it supposed to have a level of difficulty?"
"No, there is no difficulty, it will not even affect the second semester, I guarantee it."
"So… We just have to enjoy ourselves here for one week?"
Chiyabashira: "That's right. Just enjoy yourselves freely. Of course, to live a community life with the minimum necessary, there mustberules you have to abide, so that this won't be a difficult thing for you."
"Should we assume that there is really no risk?' If that is the case, then we should find out the real purpose of this trial…"
But the next few words by Mr. Mashima made the purpose of this test more obvious.
Mashima: "When this special examination is over, the points of each class that are left, will be added into each class' general points. The points will be reflected when the summer vacation is over."
There was no mistake, Mashima's last words were the biggest blow today and it let them all thinking about it. A written test calculates the literary ability, in this test the superiority is determined by the class as a whole.
With those words from the teachers, Ryou just calmly and never protest to them, the only thing in his mind now is how to get as much points as possible!
________________________________________________
A/N: ...the author has been inflicted by the effect of hunger.
Stuff the food inside his mouth immediately!
"Gi..gimme a F..food!"
