Inside the Chamber
Six white tents stood side by side, arranged in a loose circle deep within the ancient forest.
Five of them served as accommodations for the second-year students of Class S, while the sixth belonged to their monitor—Yoruichi.
At the very center of the tents, a bonfire crackled softly, its orange glow pushing back the creeping darkness of the forest. The fire illuminated the massive trees surrounding them and cast long shadows across the ground.
The group sat around the flames on a long fallen log, enjoying the warmth after a long day.
"Ahhh~ that was such a long day," Nejire said, hovering lazily in the air while resting her index finger on her chin. "I can't believe this was the test they gave us. I thought we'd be fighting real monsters or something!"
Monet didn't even look at her
She was concentrating reading her book.but she asked nejire, "What did you expect, Jire-Jire?"
"It felt just like those rescue training sessions we did before," Nejire replied with a pout.
Black Maria exhaled smoke from her kiseru, her voice smooth and elegant. "Well, it doesn't really matter what they prepared. I'm just hoping some tough men show up eventually."
Soi Fon snapped her head toward her. "Focus. You're just going to flirt again. No wonder people call you a bitch."
"Fufufu~ they're just jealous," Black Maria replied, squinting teasingly at Soi Fon.
Across the fire, Konan remained quiet, calmly sipping her tea as she observed their banter.
Nejire suddenly perked up. "Hey—where did the Flash Goddess go?" She leaned closer to Soi Fon. "Hey, hey, Feng-Feng, do you know?"
Used to Nejire's behavior—and nickname—Soi Fon simply shook her head. "She said she found something interesting. Then she transformed into her cat form and ran off."
"Aren't we supposed to be evaluated and graded here?" Monet asked flatly, still reading.
"The job's simple," Black Maria said. "Wait for the signal, confirm their location, then rescue them before their injuries get worse."
"How many people have already been disqualified?" Nejire asked cheerfully. "I rescued about thirty-two!" She counted on her fingers.
"Two hundred sixty-four," Konan replied calmly after another sip of tea.
"Whaaat?! Already? It's only the first day!" Nejire exclaimed dramatically.
"That's not so bad," Monet said. "When I took this exam, nearly five hundred were eliminated on day one."
" Can't relate," Said Black Maria– "Right Konan" she added while looking at Konan.
"Umm"–konan reply while nodding her head.
"Was the recommendations test that easy asked Monet" . She stops reading her book and look at Black Maria.
Black Maria lean closer to her and she teasingly said
"Oh~ Monet do you wanna know about it —then call me Big sister I tell you everything."
Monet stared at her and she said, —"again with that fetish of yours. Maria. "
Nejire who was looking at them asked—" hey Monet — Was it a bad thing to call marsy, big sister"
"How should I know , maybe it's one of her way to gather Girls to work for her " said Monet then she Continued.reading her book.
Konan was stoic as ever. She just watches there interactions. Unbothered by the topic.
Fufufu— looks like someone is "being shy," Black Maria said while backing off and fixing her posture and sipping on her kiseru
But soi Fon scuffed at them—
"Look whos bragging...you're just lucky you've got recommendations Said soi fon." Who was still stretching her legs down.
"But for us who takes the Examination the problem wasn't really the monsters or the supplies. It's The setting and the terrain— and how we have to adapt quickly ," Soi Fon added, stretching her legs. "Imagine it surviving in a dessert environment and looking for points and Supplies at the same time that's really troublesome.
But this time examinees were lucky, it's a Forest setting."
"Still… this batch is disappointing. I don't feel any strong aura among them. No S-tier candidates."
Konan said nothing, simply closing her eyes as she enjoyed her tea.
Then—
"You're wrong about that, Soi Fon. I just met one. And he were just chilling.—Looks like he doesn't really care about the examination at all. A Really pretty interesting fellow."
The voice came from behind them.
They all turned to see Yoruichi standing there casually, a tub of popcorn in her hands.
"Oh, you're here, Monitor-san," Monet said. "Looks like you came out of the Chamber."
"Hey, that's not fair!" Nejire pouted. "I wanted snacks too!"
Konan gave Yoruichi a small nod.
Soi Fon frowned. "Sister… did you really leave the Chamber just to buy popcorn?"
So she likes popcorn… she thought.
Black Maria's eyes widened slightly. She leaned forward with a playful smile. "Oh~ Yoruichi. Where is this fellow who doesn't care about the whole test?"
"Hey, don't change the topic!" Nejire protested. "Where did you get that popcorn?"
Yoruichi smirked. She picked up a piece of popcorn with her thumb and index finger and tossed it into her mouth.
"Oh? Curious?" she said casually. "Ive stolen it from his house and You know, We were even watching movies together, but he got sleepy and went to bed first."
She said it as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
The group stared at her.
Movies…?
Bed…?
House...?
Stole....?
Inside this forest?
Same questions keeps running in their head and
Their confusion was written clearly across their faces.
"Well," Yoruichi added, turning toward her tent, "if you're that curious—and want to kill some time—go find and discover it yourselves."
She waved over her shoulder. "Don't forget your duties, ladies."
Then she entered her tent and closed it.
"…Him?" Black Maria murmured, lips curling upward. "Now I'm curious."
Nejire stared into the fire, clearly thinking hard. Whispering many question.
Monet didn't care—she returned to her book. But she Cleary wanted to see it for herself. A house in this Forest. Was it an ability. She smiled and her fighting instinct were kicking in.
Konan stood up quietly, deciding to get some sleep. But on her way to her tent she was releasing some of her origami's creation.
And Soi Fon had already begun calculating her search route—how to look for this mysterious individual while completing her mission at the same time.
They stayed silent because all of them knew if the Flash Goddess, "known for her power and her skills was telling them all that she had met an interesting fellow."That was partaking this very exam.That means only one thing he was strong. Maybe stronger than them that even Yoruichi herself leave her monitoring duty just to look for him.
( ﾟ∀ﾟ)人(ﾟ∀ﾟ )Black Maria stood up, she looks at the rest of them and she said "well ladies first come, first serve."
"Hey Maria don't forget the rescue duties" said Soi fon who have finally finish her stretching.
Monet put her book down and she also stood up, she removes her reading glasses and she turned around and walks towards her tent and she said "there still 6 days left and I'm sure if he's really that's interesting he would surely pass."
Nejire drop down from hovering in the air and she said— "hmmm...well I'll try search for him when I do my rescuing at the same time."
Then...
A robot like snail suddenly rings...
Purupurupuru...the snail robot suddenly opened its eyes and with its robotic voice.
[ Location: south west , Latitude 30°; Longitude 70°]
The five of them who wanted to do there own business, suddenly stops when they heard the Snail.
It's a rescue operation !
But before the other four could react.
Konan had already use her paper manipulation. she made an angel wings behind her and Fly away.
Someone was really excited.
( ﾉ^ω^)ﾉ