Another Like Me - Part I (CoTE x OC) ✔

Chapter 14 - Deserted Island Special Test, Part 1

Chabashira-sensei had given us a wristwatch to wear in case of any emergencies on the island. The wristwatch monitored our heart rates and blood pressure, which would help in facilitating emergency medical treatment in case a situation arises.

Classes A and B were slowly getting ready to leave and enter the foliage and forestry of the deserted island, while Ike and Shinohara continued to argue about the toilet situation on the island. Chabashira-sensei had shown us how to use the cardboard box and vinyl sheets during our stay at the island, but the girls were adamantly turning down the option, and were pressuring Yosuke to buy the portable toilet from the manual. Yukimura joined into the debate, taking Ike's side. Yosuke was stuck in between helping the girls and complying with the more important concept of saving points for the class's benefits.

I decided to speak up and drive some sense into them.

"Everyone, can I have a minute?" All heads instantly turned to me, and Yosuke gave me a thankful nod for helping him out of the situation.

"I don't think it is wise to fight among ourselves at this point. We're anyways Class D, the class with the least Points out of all classes. This exam is an opportunity to close the gap between our class and Class A. Shinohara-san, it wouldn't hurt to try to use the makeshift toilet Chabashira-sensei has given us, right? We need to be up for the challenge. In case it really is bothering you, we can look ahead and buy a Portable Toilet then. Besides, Classes A and B are already on the move. We must not waste any more time than we already have. Our chances of winning are directly linked to the value and location of the Spot that Class D occupies. We must try to find something central on the island immediately."

There was silence following my short pep talk. It seems I had managed to drive the point in.

"Well, if Takeyama-kun says so, I think we can try.....", Shinohara-san mumbled.

"Please don't take it hard on yourself, Shinohara-san. If there really is a problem using the box, I'm sure the rest of the class will be willing to shell out Points to get a Portable", Yosuke added encouragingly, "for now, I think everything that Keisuke has said is of utmost importance. We must start preparing for the night right away."

Everyone had agreed to our points, and had come to a mutual understanding that fighting would not do our class any good. Ike and Shinohara had come to a truce for now, as well.

"Well, I think it is best if a few people can go and scour the island and look for potential spots to occupy. We should start heading out soon", Hirata chimed in.

"I'm not sure if that's a good plan, Yosuke."

"Why not?", Hirata asked me, perplexed.

"Even if 2 people from our class go ahead and search for spots viable for occupation, it would make no sense if there was no way to occupy the spot itself. What I mean is that we must send our leader along with the reconnaissance team, so that we can directly occupy the spot that we feel is a good base camp. Wait any longer and we run the risk of losing the spot out to a rival class."

Hirata thought about it for a moment, and had come to understand my point. "Well, in that case, we must choose who our leader should be right away."

Murmurs arose from the crowd, and the identity of the leader was thrown into the open for discussion.

"Isn't Hirata the best choice for leader?", Yamauchi piped in. What a naïve child.

"Yeah, shouldn't Hirata-kun be chosen as the leader? It's a fairly easy choice", Mori-san added in.

"No", Horikita spoke up for the first time, "Hirata-kun should be the last contender for leader. He is the class representative itself. Don't you think it'll be a fairly easy guess for the other classes to come to when they guess our leaders?"