Yamato and Yuki returned to the base of class 3, which was next to a small hill and relatively open. Though even from the top of the hill, there was no other base visible, which made Yamato wonder how Satoshi was able to find them so quickly. Yamato grew quickly bored of just waiting around in the base, where everyone was doing something and it was very noisy. Since all he wanted to do was to relax, he took a small chair and table, and sat down with a cup of tea at the top of the small hill. Looking down at the camp, it was quiet and peaceful even. Leaving Yamato with just his thoughts.
"Sigh… What a troublesome bunch… Almost getting killed didn't shook me as much as I hoped it would have… I assumed I had grown somewhat fond of everything by now… Or at least find it tolerable enough to dislike the idea of me being ripped out of this life. But hey, guess not. Or maybe I just knew Yuki would catch it. I mean, of course I knew but still. A little too close. I'm sure she is bothered by that and will probably be on edge for a while now. Understandably so… What was up with that guy? We aren't even wearing protection like we did in the test exam, yet he throws around lethal attacks. He didn't even know if we had the objective or not, so it was an unnecessary risk. Clearly he never had to deal with a lot of consequences… Neither have I. But I don't goe around throwing spears at people's heads… It was an interesting soear… Made of shadows. Haven't seen that kind of magic yet. I figured Yuki would be the type to use things like that… But then again, she is an angel. Maybe not that fitting to attack with shadows. But whatever… This is nice… Just me…"
He closed his eyes and leaned back, for once, without a care in the world.
Meanwhile down in the camp, Yuki had been mapping out the surrounding area from what she and Yamato had scouted out before they were so rudely interrupted. Elara had taken on the role of a leader in Yamato's absence, which after her loss in the test exam, she wouldn't have done with him present. Though he had declared earlier that "everyone just do whatever and good look", which she took as permission. Even though she doesn't actually need one from him. After Yuki informed the class of her and Yamato's encounter with Satoshi, tension built around them, especially with Arina, who immediately felt responsible for not coming along. Although she would have only made things worse, since the objective was never to fight, and she would have probably done just that. Yuki was proud of her own achievement to hold back, even though her hatred and disgust for Satoshi were immeasurable at the moment, and will be for probably forever. She doubts Arina would have been able to act with as much self control in the moment. Or at least is she telling herself that. Speaking of which, Arina entered the tent where Yuki was busy drawing little people on her map and adding little things with colored pencils.
"Ahem… Yuki?"
"Not now! Can't you see I'm drawing a flower next to my other flowers?!"
"Oh, uh, sorry, I guess… But I really need to talk to you."
"Didn't even knock…"
"There is… No door?"
"Excuses! But fine, what did you need? But make it quick, I'm about to draw the best part where I need full concentration!"
"About Satoshi… You said he attacked you with no provocation? And just left afterwards? I don't really understand the situation you guys where in…"
"Are you calling me a liar?!"
"N-no! Of course not! I'm just having trouble making sense of it… It seems weird…"
"Well, it was weird! Super weird! World's full of weirdo's. There are even people who talk to people who are clearly already taken, and try to steal them away! Can you believe that?!"
"Uh… You mean like… cheating?"
"Prohibited word! Never say again or I'll cut ya!"
"Oh… Okay, I guess I will try to not use it if it triggers you… But back to my question…"
"Yes, yes, but I don't know what else to tell you. Get a picture of him yourself, I guess. Or ask Yamato. Actually, don't do that! He's on vacation!"
"…He is? This is a pretty big exam… Can you just leave out without consequences?"
"Well, what exam worthy are you doing right now?"
"Nothing, I guess…"
"See? It's more about participation and assessing our abilities. Testing against each other. Comparison and stuff. It's up to us how much happens."
"That… Make sense, I guess."
"Sure does!"
"I'll… Just let you draw then…"
"I feel like I wanted to ask her something else… But I forgot what it was by now… Guess I'll go meet this Satoshi guy and make a picture of him myself, like Yuki said…"
"Yes, be gone! Hush, hush, my artistic mind is disturbed by your presence."
Arina left the tent, and went to her own where she sat down for a moment. Leaned against the wall was the sword Yuki gave her. It was approved by the school since it is more mana than metal, which makes it count as a summon. She chose not to question that logic and take it with her. Now she wasn't sure what to do with it. Just carry it around with her? Yuki said no one else could pick it up, so it being stolen isn't the problem… It was more the idea of attacking other students with it that made her feel weird. Somehow throwing a ball of fire at someone feels less wrong than attacking them with a sword your friend gifted you as reward for completing a hellish training week. But that aside, would she just go look for the camp of class 1, walk in and… Do what exactly? Look if she gets attacked by Satoshi for no reason? It would still confuse her. And be quite pointless too. Back to square one. Honestly, she was just bored. Everyone seemed to take it slow and prepare for the whole week. But she trained so much, she didn't feel like she needed more preparation. If anything, any longer and she gets less prepared! Thoughts about impatience circled in her mind, when she was about to fall asleep. Suddenly, she heard quick footsteps rush out from out of a tent near by. When she stormed out to look, Yuki turned to her confused.
"Uh… Is something?"
"I should be asking that! Why are you running? Did something happen?!"
"…Yes, actually. I finished drawing and I'm gonna show Yamato!! Do you think he'll like it?!"
".....argh! And I thought something finally… Argh! Didn't you say not to bother him since he's on vacation??"
"Yeah, that goes for you. I am obviously an exception~"
"…I'm going back to bed!"
"Sure, have fun. You have my seal of approval for that!"
"I didn't ask for permission…"
"You get it anyway! But now, I have to go show off my art achievements!"
And so she ran off, leaving Arina nothing but the permission to do nothing…
Back in her tent, she let out a deep sigh as she let herself fall onto the bed. Nothing fancy, but for a school trip… Not bad! Though she couldn't appreciate that right now.
Meanwhile on her way to Yamato, Yuki climbed the hill, not on the path that led directly up but a little around it, but directly head on. Just going the straightest way possible, through grass and such. Not caring for the flowers she stomps in doing so. The ones on her drawing were better anyway! Yamato had fallen asleep in his chair, but woke up quickly as he noticed a crazy woman climbing a hill for no apparent reason with a piece of paper in one hand and a serious expression for this not so serious task. Once at the top, she had wasted no time.
"Look, Master! I draw this just for you!"
"…Gee, thanks…"
He took the surprisingly intact piece of paper and inspected it a little.
"…A map…"
"Yes! And look, I drew you on this hill! So you can picture us better when you watch us in the exam!"
"That's… Actually nice. Thank you."
"…And if you look at the upper corner…"
"There is… You (?) sending heart letters to the hill?"
"That's right! And even on the map, the content is written but super small!"
"That's great, Yuki…"
"And since we are in nature, I also drew lots of flowers! But they aren't actually there, so take them as an artistic design choice."
"I figured as much…"
The map was so detailed, you could make out the form of most trees. In a forest! Yet there were unproportional flowers clustered everywhere for no apparent reason.
"Well, I hope you have fun with it! I will probably not be able to visit you up here that much if the others want to go push for the objectives of the other classes… Arina's already whining about us not doing anything…"
"That's okay."
"Don't you mean please come back safe and I will miss you…?"
"Sure."
"I'll miss you too!"
She gave him a hug. Then ran off again, leaving her drawing.
"…Is it just me or is she getting more childish every day…"
Back at the camp, Yuki saw slight chaos emerging. Elara seemed a little troubled with the management of so many things. The absence of some only made it more difficult. Yuki chose to grace her friend with her help and maybe manage to get first plans about achieving the objective of the exam.
Suddenly a tree near the tents caught on fire! Everyone quickly gathered to put the fire out, Arina came too and everyone else who wasn't paying attention to the Elara's instructions on managing the camp and exam preparation earlier now had her full attention. What a helpful fire! Which seemed to have started for no reason. Luckily everyone listens now.