The Defectives (CotE x Male Reader)

Discussion

(Y/N)'s POV

Sotomura: Sorry to keep you waiting! Urrp! Urp! If you eat three heavy meals for lunch, you'll naturally have a full belly. I considered going on a diet, but it seemed futile.

The Professor walked up to me while patting his full belly, which was more swollen than usual. He met Yukimura and me right in front of the appointed room.

(Y/N): You're rather relaxed, considering the test has just begun. Me, I can hardly eat.

Sotomura: If you're not at full strength, there'll be trouble. It's like choosing a higher difficulty setting in a video game, wouldn't you say?

Yukimura: Stop talking like that. It's weird.

Of course, all the Professor's talk sounded like arcane magic to people who weren't accustomed to nerd culture.

Once you got used to it, it was fine. However, if I tried joining in right now, I'd probably antagonize Yukimura, so I decided to refrain.

Sotomura: Oh ho! Hmm, dost thou not care for my linguistic idiosyncrasies? Well then, Yukimura-dono, what wouldst thou like?

Yukimura: Whatever, I don't care. Just talk normal.

The Professor seemed like he wanted to antagonize Yukimura. Unfortunately, he started to talk in a language I didn't speak, but his passion came through loud and clear.

At any rate, we'd managed to kill some time. We arrived at a second-level room with a nameplate that read "Rabbit." The test had just begun, so the hallways were packed with students. Even so, it didn't feel cramped, most likely because the ship was so large.

Yukimura: The time for screwing around ended yesterday. From here on out, we need to fight for ourselves and for our classes.

Yukimura directed that statement toward the Professor, but I nodded in acknowledgement.

Karuizawa: Ugh. No matter how you look at it, we really do have the worst team.

Karuizawa entered the room, casting her eyes away from us. We had eleven people, Karuizawa included, and all sat in chairs arranged in a big circle. Given the low number of vacant spots, we were likely the last to arrive. I didn't know everyone's names, but aside from Ichinose and Ibuki, there was another student I recognized. It was the boy from Class A who I'd bumped into completely by chance during the previous test. I hardly recognized any of the other guys or girls. Rivals up until today, we suddenly had to cooperate with each other.

(Y/N): Why did they...?

Yukimura: What's the matter, (L/N)? Something on your mind?

(Y/N): It's nothing.

Students mostly divided into natural groups based on their class, but Karuizawa and Ibuki both sat a little further away, as if isolating themselves.

I'd thought for sure that Karuizawa would confront Ibuki the moment she saw her. After all, Ibuki Mio had stolen Karuizawa's underwear back on the island. You'd think she'd want revenge, but... Well, maybe Karuizawa was more mature than I'd thought, or maybe she'd already gotten her revenge. In any case, it was all rather unnatural.

Then, a voice came through the ship's loudspeakers.

"The first group discussion begins now."

A short, concise announcement. Naturally, no one was taking the lead. An awkward pall hung over the room. Then Ichinose Honami cracked a small smile and stood up.

Ichinose: Your attention, please! I don't know most of you, but I think we ought to introduce ourselves. After all, there are probably people here who haven't met before.