Volume 8, 2: Human Nature Put to the Test Part 2

Volume 8, Chapter 2: Human Nature Put to the Test Part 2

Cleaning and Zazen are done for the morning and since it's now around 7 o'clock, it's time for breakfast. But rather than the large cafeteria we used last night, we were instead taken outside.

There, a large, spacious area for meals had been prepared and there are even multiple kitchens. Several groups are already there.

"The school will be offering meals for today but starting from tomorrow, provided the weather is clear, you will have to cook your own meals with your group. As for the amount and how to share it, you'll have to discuss it amongst yourselves".

"Seriously? I've never cooked a meal before though".

Ishizaki muttered but there's no dodging this one since that's the rule. Preparations for breakfast continued on while we received instructions on how to cook starting from tomorrow onwards.

The breakfast menu's already been confirmed and apparently manuals on how to cook them will be distributed. Looks like we won't have to worry about not knowing what to cook.

"Geh, is this all.....?".

The menu is a simple one, a Japanese breakfast based on rice, soup and main dishes. But students with big appetites would understandably see it as being insufficient.

For the record, it looks like we can substitute this meal with something else but in that case we'll have to prepare the substitute ourselves.

"Thank god for the uninhabited island experience. Compared to that, I'd take this one any day".

As though he's somehow at peace, Keisei eats his breakfast.

"If we're going to do it fairly, then how about each school year has a go at it?".

In the middle of breakfast, a 3rd year boy who looked like a leader turned towards Nagumo and made his proposal for the breakfast rotations.

"That's right. No objections here. I'd like to start it off with the 1st years".

"How about it, 1st years? Any objections?".

There's no way anyone could say they object in a situation like this.

Assuming the remaining days will all have clear weather, the number of times we'll need to cook breakfast would be six times.

The order in which we'll be cooking is different but that's no reason for discontent.

It's not something you'd naturally accept as a kouhai, but it's not really something that shouldn't just shut up and accept either.

"Understood. Please go with that".

Our leader, Keisei, accepted that.

"Since we'll be cooking breakfast, what time do we have to get up tomorrow?".

"...just in case we should wake up two hours in advance".

Ishizaki vigorously shoots down Keisei's proposal. To wake up two hours in advance means waking up after 4 o'clock and making preparations to head out.

"Still, we've got no choice but to do it. It'll be disastrous if we fail to prepare breakfast".

"Then you guys do it. I'll be sleeping".

Ishizaki normally didn't have much authority under Ryuuen but here in this group he's risen to the top of the hierarchy. It's interesting that he's making declarations like this the moment his position changed.

Being celebrated as one of the people who overthrew Ryuuen may also be a cause of that. I don't particularly feel like confronting Ishizaki, who kept on acting bullishly despite knowing the truth. Because there's also the fact that he coincidentally happened to be placed in my group, which left him quite shaken mentally. Every time he makes a decision, it's not just other people he's hurting but also himself.

Ishizaki and Albert aren't cut out to be leaders or strategists.

They're more suited towards being the third-in-command and rallying the other students. As a matter of fact, Ryuuen should have left them in that position.

Keisei and Yahiko too, are similar in that regard. They're not as foolhardy as Ishizaki but they really aren't cut out for a position where they'd have to lead others.

I had expected Class B to be more actively involved but they've been unusually quiet until now and they're continuing to stand by watchfully. Perhaps they lack initiative. More than I had expected. With the exception of students like Kanzaki or Shibata, that is.

In which case, as I suspected, Hashimoto's the one best suited towards uniting this group.

He possesses both the prestige of being in Class A as well as the ability to assess the situation. Also, the fact that he's able to make decisions while taking others into account to a certain extent might be crucial for this group.

However, I don't really feel like he's willing to lead the group himself though.