Group 2 – Deeper Forest Trail, Afternoon
The air grew cooler as Group 2 ventured deeper into the woods. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above, casting shifting shadows across the forest floor. The path ahead was uneven, wild, and overgrown—nothing like the main trails.
Aisa Nakamura walked at the front, holding the map with a calm, focused expression. Her eyes moved swiftly over the terrain, every movement calculated.
Behind her, Ryker walked silently, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the surroundings without a word. His presence alone made the team feel sharper.
Ren Sudo adjusted his backpack. "No signs of any marked trail. You sure this is the right way?"
Aisa nodded. "This group wasn't meant to take the easy path. Stay sharp."
Luna Haruki checked her gear. "I heard this forest is over a hundred years old. Some say it's cursed."
Kaede Mori rolled her eyes. "Great. Love that for us."
Reo Kanzaki cracked a small grin. "At least we've got Ryker. If anything tries to kill us, we'll just throw him at it."
Ryker gave a quiet sigh. "Not funny."
Aisa came to a stop at a mossy clearing. "This'll be our temporary base."
Ren crouched and inspected the ground. "It's damp, but stable."
Aisa turned to her team. "Kaede, Reo—gather large stones and branches. Luna, check for nearby water sources. Ren, you're with me. Ryker…"
He looked at her.
"…watch our backs."
He gave a slight nod.
The group spread out and got to work, moving with more precision than excitement. There was little talking—just quiet cooperation. This wasn't just an outing for them. It felt like something more.
Ryker stood alone near the edge of the clearing, eyes narrowing.
Far away, a faint glint of metal reflected off a distant tree—too clean, too out of place.
He muttered, "We're being watched too."
As the group settled into their tasks, Ren Sudo stole a glance at Aisa as she knelt beside a tree stump, marking something on the map with a piece of charcoal.
He leaned slightly toward Ryker and said under his breath, "You ever notice how Aisa's… different?"
Ryker didn't respond, but his eyes shifted toward Ren, signaling him to continue.
"She's not just smart," Ren murmured. "She's... pretty. And the way she works—so focused. Sensitive to everything around her. Like she sees the details we miss."
Ryker gave a small hum of acknowledgment but said nothing.
Ren chuckled to himself. "Kinda makes you want to keep up with her, y'know?"
Aisa suddenly turned. "Ren. I need your help over here."
Ren blinked, caught off guard. "Y-Yeah! Coming!"
He jogged over, a faint smile lingering on his lips.
Ryker remained where he was, watching both of them from the shadows of the trees, expression unreadable.
Riverside Conflict
The sun was slowly descending, casting a golden hue over the dense forest. The sound of rushing water guided Ryker and Ren toward the riverbank as instructed by Aisa.
Aisa had handed Ryker a small bag and said calmly, "Ryker, go find food with Ren. We'll need water too. Try the river. And don't come back empty-handed."
Ryker didn't reply. He simply nodded and turned toward the trees.
Ren followed quickly. "Man, she's all business today…"
After a short walk through the foliage, the forest gave way to a rocky clearing—where the river shimmered in the light.
But what greeted them wasn't peace. It was people. Dozens of them.
Three groups had already arrived, and every prime spot along the river was claimed. Students lounged comfortably with their water buckets, tools, even half-built fishing lines. It looked like a festival, not survival training.
Ren's shoulders slumped. "W-We're too late… They took all the good spots."
Ryker stood still, eyes narrowed, scanning the area.
Ren scratched the back of his head nervously. "What do we do now? Should we look somewhere else?"
Ryker stepped forward, his voice calm.
"Nah," he said, glancing left, then right. "One position is perfect."
He walked toward a narrow, shaded bend of the river—a spot hidden slightly behind a curtain of thick reeds.
Ren hesitated. "That's... not even flat ground."
Ryker crouched and pointed. "But the current's slower here. Fish gather near the rocks. We won't need space. Just skill."
Before Ren could reply, voices called out behind them.
Aisa stepped through the trees, arriving with two more students. Her sharp eyes scanned the crowded riverside and then settled on Ryker.
"What's the situation?" she asked.
Ryker stood. "Crowded. But we've got a spot."
Aisa walked over and glanced down at the rocky bend. "Tight space… but workable." She turned to the others. "We'll need a net."
Ren blinked. "A net?"
Aisa didn't smile. "We're not wasting time waiting with bait and sticks. If we want food before sundown, we catch everything at once."
She looked at Ryker. "Can you make one?"
Ryker gave a faint nod. "I'll need vines. And help."
Ren raised his hand quickly. "I'll help."
Aisa turned to the others. "Start boiling water. No one drinks from the river directly. We don't know what's upstream."
As the team moved into action, Ryker and Ren disappeared back into the forest, the air now tense with purpose.
Aisa knelt by the river, her reflection rippling on the surface. "Let's see which group survives the first night."
The river flowed steadily from left to right, its current gentle but deceptive.
Ryker stood on the left bank, gripping the makeshift vine net they had crafted in under twenty minutes. His sharp eyes traced the current's pattern, calculating.
On the opposite bank, directly across from him, stood Ren—barefoot, slightly trembling, holding the other end of the net.
"Are you sure about this?!" Ren called out.
Ryker didn't respond. His eyes stayed locked on the water. Then, with a swift flick of his hand, he threw his end of the net low into the river.
Ren flinched, instinctively pulling his end tight.
The net unfurled perfectly like a wide trap beneath the surface, carried downstream by the current. Fish, startled by the sudden movement, darted straight into the net's arc.
"Now!" Ryker shouted.
Ren pulled hard. Ryker stepped back, dragging his end up with force and precision. The net curved like a crescent moon, water spraying in all directions.
Dozens of fish thrashed within.
Aisa, watching from the shore, blinked. "...Already?"
Students from other groups stared in disbelief. Some had caught two, maybe three fish after nearly an hour.
Ryker and Ren had over fifteen.
But Ryker didn't stop.
He reset the net, stepping back into position. "Again."
This time it took two minutes.
Another massive sweep. Another load of fish.
By the end of the second round, Ryker's group had the most fish on the riverside.
Some students whispered in awe. Others clenched their jaws in frustration.
Aisa smirked slightly. "That's Ryker for you…"
Ren, panting, held up the heavy net, water dripping down his arms. "I–I think I pulled a muscle…"
Ryker looked at the pile of fish. "One more round. Then we stop. That should last the night."
Ren groaned. "You say that like this is normal…"
But in that moment, all eyes were on Ryker. The calm boy who came late… and still outdid everyone.
As the sun began to dip low, the smell of grilled fish drifted through the air.
Aisa knelt near the fire, carefully turning the skewers. Her movements were delicate, almost artistic, and her eyes stayed focused on the fish to make sure each one cooked evenly.
Ren took a bite—and his eyes lit up.
"W–Wow, Aisa! This is too delicious!"
Another student from the group nodded quickly, their mouth full. "It's true…! It's like something from a royal feast!"
Aisa blushed lightly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I'm glad you like it…"
Ren turned to Ryker, nudging him with his elbow. "You're lucky, man! Aisa's cooking is top-tier!"
Ryker was quiet. He looked at the fish in his hand, then at Aisa—who glanced back, eyes shimmering slightly.
Then he said bluntly, "This one's mine."
Everyone blinked.
"Huh?" Ren asked, confused.
Ryker held up the biggest, juiciest, perfectly grilled fish.
"This one… is for me," he said seriously, as if claiming treasure.
The group burst into laughter.
Aisa smiled softly. "You caught the most, so… I guess it's fair."
Ryker nodded. "Exactly."
Then he took a bite—and for a moment, even Ryker, the ever-calm and mysterious one, paused.
"…Tastes good," he muttered.
Aisa looked away quickly, her heart skipping a beat.