#79 Survival Test 3

"Let's stop here, everyone" Hirata who was in front of the group stopped walking.

"What is it? Shouldn't we go look for the spots as soon as we can?" Ike questioned with an impatient tone.

"That's precisely why I wanted to make a stop in this small clearing. We can't just keep walking mindlessly without any destination so let's split into smaller groups and explore the area in each direction. After let's say 20 minutes of exploring, we will go back to this clearing and meet up with everyone." Hirata suggested that even though he was a bit worried that someone might get lost inside the dense forest.

'I am aware that it's currently hot but Horikita is really abnormally sweating. Maybe she really isn't feeling well. Knowing how stubborn she is, it makes sense that she wouldn't admit it. She will most likely try to endure it the whole week but if we will be too picky when it comes to spending the points on useful but not exactly necessary things, she might collapse. She will need to drink a lot so we should definitely find a spot near the river so we can have a stable source of water.' Yuichi thought and closed his eyes, trying to recall the view on the island from the ship.

'So-called spots will most likely be placed on some strategical places, so there should be some of them near the rivers...' Yuichi opened his eyes and looked up just to see sun rays going through the gaps between the leaves of the trees.

While Yuichi was thinking where to go, others were already forming the groups.

"We will also need a few people to remain here and watch over our stuff." Hirata said and Sotomura immediately raised his hand since he hated walking through the forest in hot weather. Yukimura also agreed to stay here with a few more girls who most likely wanted to make sure that boys won't go through their stuff.

"Iwamura-kun, what about you? You have been awfully quiet, it makes me kinda nervous, haha" Hirata asked before he laughed while scratching his cheek. Only when he said it aloud he realized that he was relying quite a lot on Yuichi, yet, he has no idea why is that so.

"Hm? I obviously have to explore to complete the map so I will be going...hmm...this way" Yuichi replied with an expression as if it should already be expected for him to explore with others before he pointed in a certain direction.

"Eh? Alright...does anyone wants to join Iwamura's group?" Hirata was a bit confused why Yuichi chose that direction out of nowhere since they couldn't see any difference because everywhere they looked, they saw only trees

"?! Um, I want to go!" A few girls that already agreed to stay suddenly raised their hands which slightly confused Yuichi.

'Maybe some of them didn't want to go with others because they were afraid of getting lost, but if that's the case, why would they put so much trust in me? Is it because I have a map?'

"Haha, please don't abandon the post you have already occupated, it would create a few inconveniences." Hirata politely asked them not to make any sudden changes.

"I will go..."

"..." Horikita said and went to stand right next to Yuichi. Everyone turned quiet and since groups were already more than less formed, she was the only one who never voiced out her decision.

Yuichi noticed Mei looking at him with a questioning gaze but he just shook his head. He actually made Mei stay and watch over their stuff since he doesn't trust anyone more than her. It also wasn't just about his stuff but also because he can't have eyes and ears everywhere. In case, something strange happens at this meeting point, he will have all information.

"Well, looks like there is no one else, shall we start?" Yuichi looked at his wristwatch and asked.

"Uh, you shouldn't go explore the area with just 2 of you..." Hirata said while looking around, at other already formed groups but no one looked like they wanted to leave their group.

"It's fine." Yuichi replied without a worry.

"Hmm..." Hirata turned to Karuizawa who was in his group and he started whispering something to her.

"What?! You can't be serious..." Karuizawa exclaimed with a dissatisfied expression.

Hirata whispered a few more sentences and she finally calmed down and approached Yuichi's group.

"I will be joining you two, please take care of me, Iwamura-kun, ...Horikita-san" Karuizawa said with a smile towards Yuichi and when she turned to Horikita she paused before calling her name. It was clear that Karuizawa didn't like Horikita for some kind of reason...well, there wasn't much to guess since Horikita was really antisocial when it involved the class.

'Why would you do this, Hirata? You are only giving me more work in case they start a fight, plus it will be a headache if they will start arguing. Maybe he wants her to monitor us...After all, their "relationship" doesn't really look genuine, maybe Karuizawa acts as his eyes and ears...'

"Alright, don't worry about getting lost but we will take it slow since I have to draw the map on the way" Yuichi said with a smile while waving with the map in his hand.

"Hm" Horikita on the other hand just hummed to acknowledge Karuizawa's presence but she refrained from wasting any words.

As expected, Karuizawa frowned when she saw Horikita's reaction, most likely thinking that Horikita thinks that she isn't good enough for Horikita to waste words on her.

With that finished, all search groups strode their direction inside the dense forest to find the spot.

'Still, why would Horikita chose to not remain on the meeting spot if she is not feeling well?...?!' Yuchi thought while slowly walking through the forest with Karuizawa on his right and Horikita on his left with a wider gap between them. When he glanced towards Horikita and saw her troubled expression with the face full of beads of sweat, he finally understood it.

'Heh...She is feeling useless, isn't she? If she actually remained on the meeting spot, she would perhaps feel much worse, this way, she can at least comfort her mind that she is doing something for the class.' Yuichi returned his sight to his map and released a faint smile.

"What is it?" Karuizawa asked with a curious expression while leaning a bit forward, staring straight into Yuichi's eyes.

"Hm? It's nothing...I am a bit surprised that you haven't supported Shinohara-san during her argument with Ike-kun and Yukimura-kun." Yuichi looked up from the map at Karuizawa and replied.

At this point, even Horikita leaned a bit closer to them to hear Karuizawa more clearly.

"Eh? Well, I have big expenses...So I thought it wouldn't hurt to suffer through one week to gain a bigger allowance each month, you know..." Karuizawa replied bashfully as if it was something to be ashamed of.

"I see, may I ask you something else? It might be a bit personal so if it will make you uncomfortable, feel free to refuse." Yuichi asked with a curious expression.

"Oh? Sure, go ahead! ..." Karuizawa seemed a bit surprised before she actually smiled, excited to talk more with Yuichi, or maybe she was excited that Yuichi was showing interest in her? Either way, she also noticed that Horikita wasn't joining in which made Karuizawa smirk at her, thinking that Horikita was feeling left out but she had no idea that Horikita had completely different problems than feeling left out right now.

"You are going out with Hirata-kun, right? Could you tell me more about Hirata-kun? We rarely have time to spend time together due to our club's schedules so I would like to know more about him." Yuichi asked but he was thinking about something completely different. Horikita who heard his question stopped paying attention to them once again.

'Hirata Yosuke, why were you placed in Class D? Excellent grades, good at sports, good at communication, social...Are you perhaps somehow similar to me? Aside from Ayanokoji, he is the person who intrigues me the most right now.' Yuichi thought while drawing some details into the map.

"Eh? Well, we are really going out but it's kind of hard to just start talking about him as a person. I mean...there are so many things to tell that I don't know where to start." Karuizawa replied with a slightly panicked tone. It was clear that she wasn't expecting this kind of question and to Yuichi, it sounded more like an excuse.

'Don't usually people in a relationship like to boast about their partner? Especially when it comes to teenage girls like Karuizawa who is going out with Hirata who is considered as one of the most popular guys in the school.' Yuichi thought while glancing at Karuizawa's face, observing her reactions

"It's alright, no need- Hm?" When he turned back to his map, he wanted to reply but he noticed something on the ground so he stopped and crouched down.

"What is it?" For the first time, Horikita asked with folded arms while standing next to him.

"footprints?" Karuizawa also stopped and looked at where Yuichi was looking before muttering with a confused expression.

"...These are very vague and judging from the size and form, they probably belong to a hare. Hmm" Yuichi replied before touching the small footprints with a thoughtful expression.

"Is something wrong about a wild hare living here?" Karuizawa asked since she was a bit confused by Yuichi's overreaction.

"I really wonder if this is hares' natural habitat, well, whatever, this footprint must be old since the mud is long dried." Yuichi sighed before getting up to his feet.

"You think that this is the school's work?" Horikita frowned and asked.

"I expected...well, definitely different animals so it's quite possible but I lack the knowledge to confirm it. I don't have a particular interest in hares' natural habitat so I have no idea, let's just get moving." Yuichi shrugged his shoulders before he resumed the search for the spot they could use as a base.