[Kurushima Pov]
It didn't take long until everyone was finished and both the second and third year student's seemed to await us outside.
Of course it was better now to form the large groups with everyone having formed their small groups. However we also had until the evening time to decide for our group, so it wasn't necessarily to decide right on the spot.
Nonetheless, everyone from the boys could agree with whom they're in a small group.
I chose a group in which I wouldn't be bothered as much and one with none of my classmates in it.
Of course I could have chosen one of the last two remaining Groups, but in one of these two remaining groups are Ayanokoji and Koenji with some other of my classmates in it, alongside Ryūen in one of them, too.
It would have been bothersome... as well as a bit more harder on getting myself a cellphone.
Besides... I couldn't take the question out whether that bastard's son would look into my bag like he did once, already.
As for Ryūen, while I did not have much problems with being in a group with him, I knew very well his goal, of expelling me, because of what I did to her.
He wouldn't have been able to become the leader of the group and drag me down but he would have annoyed me, with wanting to know my reasoning behind it perhaps, alongside doing some other annoying things so I let it be.
As for his class's group, neither did I have any great relationship with Ryūen's class, especially since I ended things with her, even less than it already was, so I also wouldn't want to be in their 15 member group.
And before I'm going to these stupid Class A folks, I'd rather go to Kanzaki's group.
I might as well protect him temporarily by Ayanokoji, since there's an easy way of figuring out whether he's the person I'm portraying him to be or not.
A physical confrontation if you'd like to say, to test whether he's Y or not.
But of course, as long as it's not with them being alone, it's a very high risk still to do that.
I didn't want this to happen at all to this point...
But I failed miserably, at that day...
There was not one doubt in my mind that I was able to defeat him back then, but he turned out to be stronger than I thought.
Even if I used all the martial arts I know... I'd still be a challenging fight...
However, there's not one single time I ever lost and it won't happen now either.
If we two fought again... all-out, I'd win.
That's what I can say, comfortably.
I'm not losing against that bastard's son...
What's the point of my so called century like talent if I'm losing against a lab rat...?
Even though I never was one to speak much about my talent, I had much pride in it.
No matter what, I knew, no one at this point of age, was better than me.
It's a conviction I carried with me since long and it won't change now either.
My talent is one of the only things I can always rely myself on.
"What a surprising group-up you've, Kurushima."
I looked at the person who spoke to me out of nowhere, with him being slightly taken aback when his eyes and mine met, seeing nothing more than pure indifference in them.
But a moment afterwards he slowly began to grin.
"Surprising? I guess you could formulate it like that. But at least these people here will amount to something unlike the rest of my class."
"You're quite honest. I always liked that about you. But you don't seem to care what your class thinks about you, do you?"
"Why should I? It's finally time they to do something on their own. Especially in this exam it shouldn't be a huge problem. Whether that results to them disliking me for me not cooperating is something I couldn't care less about."
"What's the point of a class if I deal with mostly everything important alone. I'm not a free trip to Class A. I brought them to Class A in a speed no one saw ever before in this entire school and now look at where we are again."
"They just had to exert themselves and make sure we win in the Sports Festival, but even that wasn't possible, apparently. In any case if one of them isn't even getting past this exam, they are better off disposed once and for all."
He smirked at my face as he listened to my whole explanation amusingly.
"Apparently, both Horikita-senpai and I were wrong about you. I had my doubts sometimes, but even I wasn't quite sure. Horikita-senpai always classified you as a team player, a communitarian, who does everything for the benefit of his class."
"Is he right with it?" he looked at me, amusingly.
"A communitarian, huh...? Given what I've done so far for my class, it's fair to say I'm in a way one, wouldn't you say so, Nagumo-senpai? Besides, I don't expect much of them, aside from following my commands after this exam, if they're interested in graduating from Class A."
"So it's just you against the other classes, huh...? Well, that's quite an amusing freshman we've in this year, right, Horikita-senpai? Neither a fully communitarian like you, nor is he following my meritocratic completely ideology, either."
"That must be a real shame since you hoped he'd continue your ideology further, next year. It seems like that won't happen unfortunately again, Horikita-senpai."
Quickly after, Nagumo released a laugh as he looked at Horikita Manabu's distressed vision. But he quickly turned his back on him, looking at me.
"I hope your group is interested in teaming up with our's, Kurushima? I've found quite the joy in our conversation and I trust you with your abilities much enough."
"I'm unfortunately not the leader of my group, so he'll decide which group we'll join. If you want to have me so much in your large group make him a good lucrative offer."
He smiled at me, "I'll see what I can do, then."
Quickly, everyone returned back to their groups again. It was now time for us, the first year's to choose in which second year group we'd like to be in.
Starting with the agreement from the leader's of our small group, Class A would choose with whom they'd want to partner up first.
But while they did so, Kanzaki asked me a question as I was leaning myself against the wooden house, my hands in my pockets.
"Any recommendations?"
"Not at all."
"I see... Who do you think will win the exam?"
"Who, huh...? I think I'll go with the student council president's group."
"Huh? Didn't he choose members from both Class C and D in his group."
"He did. But if you're that foolish to think that puts him below the other small group's in the second year, you're quite naive, Kanzaki. While both classes surely have some less talented student's, he's still paired up with the competent one's in the class."
"Anyway, that decision is up to you. Tell me the results later."
"Where are you going, Kurushima?"
"Sightseeing. I figured while you're all at it, I might look myself here around. It won't hurt much in particular, neither is it prohibited by any means, so don't fret too much about it, Kanzaki."
"Till later."
I gestured, walking to the door.
Without excessively much talking I made it clear that I wasn't interested in what decision he'd do nor had I the intention of giving him any specific recommendations at all.
I did give him my honest opinion, though, when he asked who would win, strangely.
Despite the fact that I disliked Kanzaki for various amounts of reasons, I could easily talk to him, without letting my hatred out.
At this stage I didn't even care about a small fry like him or that of his family.
He and his family were small fries compared to Atsuomi Ayanokoji's caliber. I wasn't even sure how much they knew about the project, but at least his family was involved in it, too.
That reason was enough for me to destroy them later onwards.
They also happened to own around a percent of my family's company's share, which they bought at the moment they died, but that was not the point.
Not technically, but... yes... I held deep resentment for it. I don't like anyone profiting from my worst memory, their deaths.
I'll get back what's originally belongs to me.
But until then, they can see themselves as lucky, till I turn 18.
18... huh...?
It's still such a long time... ahead...
About 645 days left...
I wish I could age sometimes instantly.
With a pained smile I opened the door, leaving those who were outside alone.
In an instant one of the teacher's that had complained just tens of minutes ago about my attitude saw me, my face meeting his.
But unlike the last time he kept his mouth shut.
He knew very well that I neither must have had the intention of bonding myself with anyone nor was what I did right now prohibited in the school manual by any means.
Everyone could go to their respective rooms whenever they wanted.
In actuality, I didn't even know in which room I was in since the teacher's would be saying it later, once everyone decided their small group's.
Not that it in particularly bothered me though.
I had no intention of being there right now, either.
I walked slowly towards the hallways all around, mesmerizing everything that my eyes laid contact upon, for potential escape routes for the middle of the night.
For some good amount of time I looked myself around here but once a good set amount of time passed I sat myself down on a nearby table, taking a book from by bag, out.
"Why... did I even borrow this? I never read it nor had I the real intention at all... but... for some reasons I ended up doing it."
"'The Honjin Murder's', huh...? I guess it's worth to take a look in it. She recommended it after all so it must be a good book."
I had seen this book and the remaining volumes of it sometimes in my library, but I never read any of them, for some strange reasons.
8 Years later I'm finally deciding on taking a look of it.
"I'll suppose whether I end up liking this or not will decide if I read till Volume 6 or not."
Immersing my eyes on the book I began to read it for a decent while until I noticed by a slight glance on the clock that it's since a while time for lunch now, according to the manual.
"One and a half hour is already over, huh? It's definitely quite a good read. I'm going slow but I finished seventy percent of the book, regardless. What an irony that this is still my slow reading."
"Haah... really painful. Besides this book I've nothing much with me. I suppose it's better to read it some other time then."
Closing the book, I put it in my bag, slowly walking towards the cafeteria where I'd be arriving rather a bit unpunctual.
At the immediate sight of the cafeteria, many, if not everyone, turned their eyes on me.
They all seemed to look at my face, particularly my unusual eyes.
It must have spread like a plague, not just among the boys, but the girls too. Being ten minutes late didn't help, but it wasn't much of a bother.
Cafeteria time is special since it's the only hour of the day when guys and girls can meet. Outside this one-hour period, there's no other time for them to interact.
For most boys this lunch period is something they are rather excited about.
But I found nothing particularly thrilling or exciting about this.
I looked at the menu in the cafeteria and immediately took the one towards my liking. Without wasting much time I sat myself alone on an isolated table.
"Kurushima-kun. Why are you sitting alone?"
As I expected, it was Kushida Kikyo, a rather annoying person, calling me out.
It seems like my speech in the bus wasn't enough for her. Then again she was using this as her opportunity, so it didn't surprise me in the very least.
My apathetic and indifferent eyes met her cheerful face, silently saying, 'Piss off'.
"I'm sorry to bother you. But I hope you can talk with all of us again. The things you said in the bus were really cruel. In particular to Ichihashi-san. She is still feeling a bit sad. I know you clarified this in advance already... but that was really... very cruel of you, Kurushima-kun."
"I think there are better ways of rejecting someone..."
As expected Kushida Kikyo was playing her part as a 'good-hearted angel' quite well, but her lies never even worked in the slightest bit towards me.
Even when we first met in the bus I deciphered right through her being right away. I couldn't care much about her... but she had her uses.
I suppose she has forgotten temporarily about that 'video', but it's not like I did need it in particular.
The last time I contacted her was in September, and now it's almost five months later
She must have forgotten the fear that she felt on that day, didn't she?
I don't necessarily care about her... but I might still have some plans for her.
You could have avoided it by speaking with me but I suppose, you're now more confident than ever facing me.
Nagumo Miyabi, who's backing you seemingly up, my slowly losing reputation in the class coupled with the suspicion of me being the traitor among some in the class must have made you this way.
I could see right through her friendly smile, but she was nothing more than a bothersome ant right now.
One that was annoying me right now with some moral spousing bullshit.
"Spare your farce, Kushida. I'm not telling you this again."
"W...hat?"
"I'm sure you heard me right. But if you didn't, I can repeat myself—loudly—so that everyone can hear us. Do you want that, Kushida Kikyo?"
I looked at her coldly, as if I was seeing her whole being, dissecting the facade she put up.
Her confident smile wavered, replaced by a flicker of unease. She glanced around, probably aware of the eyes that might turn towards us if I raised my voice.
"That's what I thought," I continued, my voice low and icy. "So, unless you want your little secret exposed, I suggest you to leave me alone."
Her face paled slightly, the cheerful facade cracking under the weight of my threat.
For a moment, she seemed to consider her next move, but ultimately, she stepped back, her expression a mix of frustration and fear.
"Fine," she muttered, barely audible. "But this isn't over."
"Right. Things just have started, Kushida. Tell Nagumo-senpai," I leaned in closer, my eyes drilling into hers, "that I'm ready for whatever he has planned."
She was visibly shaken by the revelation of the name Nagumo, as I knew they were collaborating.
Her composure faltered, and she took a step back, uncertainty flashing in her eyes.
"You... you know about that?" she stammered, trying to regain her footing. "How did you—"
I cut her off, my voice cold and unyielding. "I know more than you think, Kushida. So, run along and relay my message. That's not too much to ask, right?"
Her face turned pale, the fear evident in her eyes. She hesitated for a moment, nodded for a moment, then quickly turned and walked away, her steps hurried and anxious.
I released a slight satisfactory smile, until I decided to eat the things on my tablet further.
Hopefully, I'm not getting interrupted, again.
That's all what I hoped, right now.
Was it too much to ask to enjoy my meal in peace?
Apparently so, but to my surprise, it didn't bother me as much as I had anticipated. After the incident with Kushida, no one dared to disturb me further. Hirata and Sudo, however, remained visibly agitated, their anger apparent even from a distance.
But rather than let them waste my time, I continued eating.
It tasted strangely delicious, but I suppose that's to be expected of this area.
Culinary Art tastes here in particular very delicious.
For a while, I lost myself in the flavors, savoring each bite.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I noticed a familiar figure descending gracefully from the second floor of the cafeteria.
Her and I made eye contact for a moment, but I turned my head around, not focusing on the girl I still loved—regardless—of what happened between us.
That one moment our eyes met together—it told me everything.
I didn't want to imagine what I put her through all this time. Breaking up with her... it wasn't as easy as I thought.
Even now my heart aches because of it.
But—
I'm not here for love, a relationship, friends, nor anything else.
Just as before—Revenge—it still remains the reason why I'm here.
It's the only purpose I've in my life.
My Amor Fati...
But today... I need to call Aoki.
I might have to abandon some of my goals, depending on the outcome of our conversation and Chairman Sakayanagi's condition.
What an irony...
My fate is tied to his, technically.
Even though I'm the one who put him in a comatose state, nearby death's door.
"Fuck..."
My appetite immediately had vanished and I had trouble on eating anything further on my tablet.
Why does revenge consume my thoughts in moments like these?
I don't know.
Fuck...
Whenever I'm in a moment of peace or solitude, it's like my mind insists on dragging me back into the chaos.
Just with her, revenge wasn't constantly occupied in my mind.
But ever since that day, it resurfaced, and my old days returned.
Looking down at my half-eaten dish, I stood up and headed towards the dish drop-off station.
I can't even enjoy a meal in peace without thinking about revenge...
It's still so new, to get back in this rhythm, again.
However I suppose, this will be how my days are going to be now.
Haah...
As thoughts of leaving the cafeteria surged through my mind I headed towards where my small group was sitting and conversing with each other.
"What's our Room Number?" I asked immediately, coming to the point, interrupting their conversation.
"Room 203."
Kanzaki answered without hesitation, looking at me.
I did a small appreciative nod to him, walking with my bag away.
Even though I didn't like him, I did my best and expressed my gratitude.
It's better to get some temporary kind of understanding between him and me since he and the other's will be my roommates for seven nights.
--
After a short while, I arrived at the room, noticing that almost everyone had brought both suitcases and bags. I was the only one with just a bag and no suitcase.
It wasn't that I couldn't have taken a suitcase with me, but everything fit into my gigantic bag, so I spared myself the extra effort.
I tossed my bag into the corner and surveyed the room, deciding where I'd prefer to sleep. I liked being next to either the window or the door.
While I memorized every potential escape route from the floor in advance I wondered whether I should just not end up climbing out of the window in the end.
"Well... this is indeed quite the worrying aspect."
Since the rooms were on the first floor, climbing out of the window would be easy. However, it might draw some unwanted attention.
Then again, if anyone asked, I could easily say I was out to meet some girls.
As if I'd ever do that.
The idea of going outside, doing the deed, or potentially kissing didn't interest me at all.
Despite the potential risks, using the window seemed like a better choice, especially considering the teachers might patrol at night in the buildings.
While I was a bit entertained of the idea that some guys and girls would like to meet up in the middle of the night for 'love' it just made some things for me a bit more difficult.
We were in two separate buildings in technicality, with each one of the building accommodating girls and boys from all school years.
There were some ways you could meet up here, but it's not like they were particularly easy.
Then again, it didn't even slightly interest me at all.
What some guys and girls did could not even bother me much.
I was in a relatively stable and safe group, in which student's would not sneak out at night for meetings girls.
If a student got indeed caught and happened to be in my group, it'd be a bit of a problem, since they would notice my absence, too.
Of course some excuses can be made, but I'd rather prevent that from happening.
While the floor seems optimal, I'll go with the window, I suppose.
I wasn't even sure in which floor we'd be residing, but it's good that we're in the first floor.
Walking to the window I opened it, my eyes meeting some of the escape routes I could use.
I'd need to move to where our buses are, in order to move to the small town, with the electronic store, but it's a risk I had to take.
A cellphone with which I could contact Aoki was needed.
Those from ANHS only work for school relating phones and not the ones from the outside.
I could try to program it slightly, but I don't have any of the necessarily things at my disposal.
A phone is on a slightly more multitude difficulty than freezing a live camera, or making a small EMP device to unlock some doors.
Although it consumes quite the bit of battery... and I can't excessively use it as I don't have the privilege of soldering it anymore.
I didn't need it, but it's something I better have ready, in all cases.
Bribing or threatening staff was also an option, or leaving the school, itself, in the night, but that wasn't really possible, either, by any means.
Leaving the school could have work... but I had to swim for around one hour from the school island to the mainland and hide everything necessarily somewhere else.
Keycard, school phone, and many other things.
But to be entirely honest... this wouldn't likely, work either way.
It was also not possible during the two weeks of holidays or at normal days in general, as many students are till late-night out.
Coupled with that... I can't let the media see me, either.
I'm not in Kyoto anymore and news must have spread that I'm attending this school, so just one person recognizing me in the streets or making a picture of me might end up fatal...
At least here in this area, it's comfortably to say, none would recognize me, at all.
As much as I didn't want to admit it, I got some huge public media following my back for quite the long time.
And getting it in by any means through the security wasn't possible either...
I also didn't want to look suspicious, so that was naturally out.
"Haah..."
"This is another real drag..."
"But well... I'll be up to date with everything. It's just now the question whether I should get myself a normal cellphone or an old phone."
"Assuming I get a new one... with these things..."
It should be as they're worth more than that... but I can't say so for certain.
Shrugging off my thoughts I leaned myself against the corner where my bag was, looking at this rather small room where 15 people had to reside in.
I took a closer notice of the room and noticed that above, at the opposite direction of mine, almost right next to the door a speaker was installed.
But as for anything else than that, there was nothing.
"I'll close my eyes temporarily. It's better to think of everything happening today evening, thoroughly."
As around thirty minutes have passed I heard the sound of the doorknob opening, seeing Kanzaki, alongside the other 13 people from his class appearing.
"Hello, Kurushima-kun."
One of the boys who entered the room said.
After closer inspection it was Shibata Sou who greeted me as the first one.
He was the one who won the MVP Award for the Sports Festival, wasn't he? Well, of course he did, after I got eliminated, forcefully.
I did a small nod back, thinking this was making it clear that I wasn't right now interested in conversing.
"I'm quite sleepy, so I hope none of you mind if I don't speak back."
Just to get this done with I tried on making things between this group less troublesome despite what they heard about my sudden attitude change.
"Of course."
Doing an appreciative nod, I leaned my head against the wall, closing my eyes.
I had no intention of conversing with them much, but I also wouldn't make things between us bothersome, so I'll do my necessarily part in this exam.
Perhaps... the group with Ryūen might have been the better choice.
Well... I don't care much about that anyway.
I'll sleep and rest until evening.
--
Waking up late at night, I saw everyone in my room peacefully sleeping. It was to be expected, truthfully.
We had to wake up early in the morning for our trip to the Nagano Prefecture.
Before any official news broke, I had assumed we would be heading to the Gunma Prefecture.
I wasn't entirely wrong, as it turns out; the place we're at is indeed relatively close to Gunma, but it's nestled in the heart of Nagano Prefecture.
The outdoor school is situated in a remote area surrounded by mountains, far from the bustling city life and closer to nature.
The serene environment here, while beautiful, made it evident why it was chosen for a training camp. The isolation is perfect for focusing away from the distractions of everyday life.
The area we're in, happens to be the surname of one of my classmates, Karuizawa.
Quite the strange coincidence, I say.
Even for her, most likely.
It wasn't much populated by any means, and it was more of a holiday resort.
Which made it similarly wise more difficult on obtaining somewhere nearby a cellphone from an electronic store as it was here not much populated.
Of course there were some stores like Yamada Denki here, but it wouldn't work on exchanging some of my valuable things I took with me.
Although... the local electronic stores are a different matter unlike the big electronic stores.
It's going to be quite a run, Kaoru.
32.4 Kilometers back and forth.
64.8 Kilometers in total, 65 Kilometers, better said.
That's going to take quite a good amount of time.
If I have an average pace of at least 23km/h I'll be back in around 3 hours here.
Although I think I can accelerate consistently up to at least 25km/h or 26km/h during these 32 Kilometers.
So it's between 1 hour and 15 minutes till 25 minutes just till I arrive there.
"Well..."
Taking a jacket with me, and some of my necessarily stuff, I walked right towards the window.
"That's going to be a bit challenging, I suppose."
I murmured quietly, not trying on alarming anyone here present.
Opening the window slowly and quietly, I jumped without making any noise out of it, closing it back, slightly.
"I'm heading opposite to where we'll be running from the next days onwards. I hope I'll still have some energy for that when I come back. A bath... might be particularly relaxing, once I'm finished."
Without wasting any further time, as I inspected nothing was wrong and everything was going as I hoped, I ran, from all the way up from the mountains to the city, Karuizawa.
"This will be quite the long run..."
"Let's see whether I can beat my records."
--
A/N: And this concludes the chapter.
I hope you all liked this chapter.
I like details so I did a bit of research what place would most logically be at the Mixed Training Camp so I ended up choosing the Nagano Prefecture and the small city, Karuizawa, with a population of 20.000 people.
Just found it ironic that there existed a city like that, and honestly, after looking through some pictures here and there I found this place really perfect for the outdoor school.
Kinu never stated anything aside from the official time the bus took, which is 3 and a half hours long so I took that as my source for the location, kinda.
Anyway, not talking about that, how did you like this chapter?
Next chapter will be his conversation with Aoki.
I hope you are excited about this.
Please tell me some feedback.
Did you like this chapter or not, and if so, what precisely?
Anyway, that's all.
Feedback, comments and reviews are always appreciated.
Also, for those who might not know it, I happen to have a Wattpad account, in which I'm a bit more active, these days.
If you want, you can follow me there.
Name is like previously, Riku3055.
Well, that's all.
Hope you liked it.
Have a good day.
(SAO Fanfic is also updated.)