The Survival Relay Begins

The morning air was crisp and fresh. Excitement buzzed through the crowd of students gathered in the clearing. Today was the start of the Survival Relay — the first and most important challenge of the School Trip.

"The rules are simple," the teacher announced, holding up a map. "Each team will follow a different path through the forest. Along the way, there are checkpoints with tasks. Complete the tasks, collect the clues, and find your way to the final destination. The fastest team wins."

I exchanged a determined glance with May and Kaito. We were ready.

Rin, of course, stood at the front with his usual confident smirk. His team looked equally prepared — and I knew they would be tough to beat.

The whistle blew, and we took off. The forest closed around us, sunlight filtering through the leaves. Our first checkpoint wasn't far, but the task wasn't easy. We had to solve a puzzle to open a locked box. May's quick thinking cracked the code.

The second checkpoint was even tougher. It was a physical challenge — crossing a narrow rope bridge over a steep ravine. Kaito went first, his balance perfect. I followed, steady and focused. May hesitated, fear flickering in her eyes.

"I'm right here," I said softly, holding out my hand. She took a breath, nodded, and crossed. When she reached me, her hand stayed in mine a little longer than necessary.

We reached the final checkpoint, only to find Rin's team hot on our heels. The last task was a memory game — matching symbols hidden around a clearing. My mind worked fast, and we completed it just seconds before Rin's team.

As we raced toward the final destination, I felt it — this was our chance. Victory was within reach.

But the day wasn't over yet, and Rin wouldn't make this easy.