A Life Without Color

Chapter 16

What a week...

Sunlight shone through our meager window. I shoved myself off my stiff mattress and stretched, rubbing my eyes.. The back of my shirt was damp with sweat. Must have been a rough night.

Morning training was tougher than I remembered. I'd been neglecting my fitness for too long. The pieces of my plan were coming together exponentially faster than anticipated. These exercises could make the difference between escape and recapture.

Just as I leaned forwards to touch my toes, a soft rustling broke the tranquil morning stillness. Kouenji stirred, emitting a low groan and flipped over on his back. I rolled my eyes, flipping over to start working on sit-ups.

A shuffling to my right revealed Kouenji laying next to me and matching my sit-up speed. We continued this way for a while, rotating between various exercises without saying a word.

When the guards came to fetch us for class, we fell into step next to each other, walking down the hall. The air felt charged somehow. Like we were lending strength to one another instead of just draining it. The events of the last few days had succeeded in draining the tension between us and replacing it with a tentative feeling of camaraderie. One push from either of us could send it tumbling down, but for now we were content not to rock the boat.

The room was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional hushed whisper. It seemed as if every word spoken carried the potential to shatter the fragile equilibrium, leaving a palpable unease in its wake.

Amidst the silence, the rhythmic thumping of hearts seemed almost deafening. Each beat echoed in the room, a constant reminder of the heightened emotions and the unresolved conflicts that hung in the air.

Kei walked back and forth, her fists clenching and unclenching as she frantically paced the room. Her nervous energy was obvious to everyone watching.

Horikita sat calmly at her desk. She would have nothing to fear from this exam. There was no chance of her placing last.

Not yet.

Sudou was emitting a low moan, long and drawn out with his head sinking into his arms.

And then there was Yosuke. He noticed me looking and offered a serene smile in return. My conclusions about the results of today's exam solidified. Such a waste.

He jerked in surprise as the door swung open and that man strolled in like a king about to hold court. He held a small clipboard with what I assumed were our exam results resting on top.

"I will now announce the results of your most recent exam" he said, reaching underneath the clipboard and pulling out a thin sheet.

"1st place: 4-1. One-hundred percent."

"2nd place: Kouenji. Ninety-seven percent."

Kouenji grunted his displeasure at losing once again. I glanced over at him. He smirked back at me, tapping his hands on the desk to indicate his commitment to defeating me next time.

I'll best you on the next one, Ayanokouji-boy. A perfect being only needs one perfect victory to annihilate a rival.

I'm looking forward to experiencing more failed attempts at victory, Kouenji.

"3rd place: Horikita. Forty-three percent"

Horikita remained silent, sinking into her chair with a soft sigh of relief. She shot a concerned glance at Sudou, the most likely contender for last place.

"4th place: Karuizawa, who scored an abysmal nine percent"

Kei sank down to her desk. Her face was the picture of disappointment. It would only take a little more effort before she was ripe for her part in my plan.