Classroom of the Elite and the Arcane Warfare

Ch. 3.1 - Points? What Points?

It's high noon. 

Two hours has passed since the exam started and we still have the whole day ahead of us. Although some teams are probably racking up points as we speak, it's still too early into the game for us to be considered laggards.

But we can't slack around for too long. I only have enough supplies for a person and a half and I don't think Hirata, our new member, has any more to add to that. So, having successfully formed a Trinity, our next plan should be to look for supplies to at least allow us to survive the rest of the day.

There is a slight issue to that, however...

The high sun peeks through the dark leaves above our spot, shining light to my two teammates who are leaning against a tree trunk, eyes closed. 

I've been letting them rest for about 15 minutes after carrying them to a secluded spot in the forest. However. if we don't at least scavenge for supplies together, it might prove to be a bit troublesome in the long run. Although some people might find it wise to risk looking for other students to form a Trinity with, frankly speaking, I don't want to go through any of that trouble.

Besides, I've found some strong companions already.

Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yousuke.

I lean closer to the two of them, "It's time for you two to wake up."

I open the palm of my hand and gather heat around it with magic. Afterwards, I gently place it at the side of Horikita's face. I decided it'd be best to wake her up first. 

I could feel a brief softness on my fingertips before she suddenly jumps awake.

"Eh?" Horikita swats my hand away. "What are you doing?"

I turn to Hirata to do the same thing.

"Ah," he opens his eyes. "Huh?"

"Welcome back to the world, Hirata."

"Ayanokouji-kun?" he looks straight into my eyes. "What...happened?"

He scans the surroundings, possibly looking for a certain red-haired individual. On the other hand, Horikita holds her forehead with her hand, gently massaging it as she tries to stand up.

"Hiroto is gone," I tell them straightforward. "That means the three of us will have the form the Trinity."

Hirata's eyes grow and visibly shake. Immediately after, he covers his face with both of his hands.

"Not again...," he mutters. "Why does this always happen?"

"Did you finish him off, Ayanokouji-kun?" Horikita turns to me, looking slightly better.

"Yeah. He was already weak thanks to you."

"Well then, we should form the Trinity," she gets right to the main issue. "How do we do it?"

"Apparently we have to clock our watches together and keep it that way for five seconds. There's no going back after that."

"Alright," Horikita takes a step closer to me. "What are we waiting for then?"

"You seem excited," I try to crack a joke.

"What are you talking about?" her eyes snap at me. "Are you asking to be hit?"

"Okay, sorry."

Maybe you should go back to taking a nap...

Putting my thoughts aside, I stick out my wrist the same way as Horikita.

I turn to Hirata who hasn't moved since earlier, "Hirata?"

"...I don't think I should be your third member."