COTE: The White Room War

Vol 4 Ch 21.3: Cow 3

Year 1

Season 1

Volume 4 - "To Deceive The World"

Chapter 21: Cow Part 3 of 3 - A Small Victory

It is the morning of the fourth and final day of the exam. 

A certain senpai of Amasawa Ichika's once said that she seems like the kind of person that listens to rock, and they would be correct.

Currently, the redhead is getting strange looks from onlookers as she skips and dances around while lightly headbanging to the second opening of the famous anime Death Note.

"-sawa-san!" Kei raises her voice to gain her attention, but she has failed.

Ichika spins around a full 360 degrees as she stares into a window and admires her own reflection as well as the view. The window is part of a bridge overlooking a massive theatrical stage, where some of the ship's employees are playing musical instruments. Connected to the stage is a large spiral staircase. 

The composer steps onto the stage and says into a microphone, "This last song is called Youkoso Jitsuryuko Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e." He raises his hands and counts in the band, and the pianist starts off with a fast melody.

The Fifth Generation's Best continues walking on, not caring about the stares she's receiving.

Reluctantly, Karuizawa follows after her, observing her movements. "You know, you could give yourself whiplash if you keep headbanging like that."

Silence.

Kei pouts. "Mou! Please lower your volume so that you can hear me!"

"I'm not even headbanging hard enough to hurt myself in the slightest. Besides, I can hear you perfectly fine, Karuizawa. I just simply chose to ignore you."

"Mou!"

"Now I see why you were placed in the Cow group. Hehehehe~"

"Mouuuuu~!" Kei scratches her hair with both hands in irritation. 

Ichika snickers. "I guess you could say that I... have successfully milked this joke for all its worth. Ba dum TSSSSSS!"

"Stop making fun of me!"

"Hey, in my defense, at least I have no malicious intent when I tease you."

"Meanie!"

"That's funny coming from you."

"..." Kei fell silent.

"What is it you need from me? You've been following me around like a lost puppy, hoping someone would adopt it. Oh wait, in an alternate universe, that's all you are. Not here. Under me, you are going to be far more useful."

"I was going to ask you what you think is the most likely result for our group in this exam. I mean, we're the most dysfunctional bunch, so how could we possibly win?"

"Dunno. That depends entirely on her. Sorry, but don't get your hopes up. We're not surpassing Class C just yet. Our goal for now should be to gain a stable number of Class Points."

"... What are we even doing anyway?"

"Going for a walk."

"We've traveled so many kilometers by going around every nook and cranny of this ship!" Kei's legs ache. "Why do I have to go with you in the first place?"

"So that you can experience a small sliver in a day of my life... Of Senpai's life." An oddly serious tone replaces Ichika's playful one.

Kei tenses up. "W-What does that bastard have to do with anything?"