Cote: Elite in Action

Choosing the Team

Finally, after three long hours of travel, we had arrived. The views were stunning: vast mountainous landscapes stretched as far as the eye could see, covered in a white blanket that sparkled under the winter sun. However, the cold was intense and biting, as if the very air had an icy edge that pierced to the bone.

The place was quite spacious, with a large clearing in the middle of a forest of tall, slender pines that seemed to touch the sky. The trees were coated in a light frost, and their branches creaked gently with the breeze, creating an almost magical melody. Around the clearing, several wooden buildings stood, constructed in a rustic style that blended perfectly with the surroundings. The windows, adorned with warm-colored curtains, seemed to invite people in to take refuge from the freezing air outside.

Buses were stopping one after another, like huge metallic insects, as students hurriedly descended, wrapping their faces in scarves and coats. As they got off, they quickly gathered, as if they didn't want to waste any time. Conversations about how they would form their teams began to be heard, mixing with the murmur of the wind and the crunch of snow beneath their feet.

To one side, there was a meeting area, with wooden tables and benches waiting to be occupied. A crackling campfire was at the center, and smoke rose into the sky, creating a cozy picture amidst the cold expanse. In the distance, a group of monitors was organizing themselves, ready to guide the students through the planned activities. The entire atmosphere was filled with a palpable energy, full of excitement and anticipation for what was to come.

—Wow, it's freezing out here! —exclaimed Mako, shaking her arms to try to warm up as she got off the bus. Her breath turned into a cloud of vapor in the icy air.

—True, I feel like I'm going to freeze at any moment —Yuki added, shivering a bit as she adjusted her scarf around her neck, as if that could protect her from the biting breeze. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and concern; she knew well her resistance to sudden temperature changes. She hoped she wouldn't get sick because no one wanted to deal with that on a trip like this.

—Kayden, I think we should start forming teams as soon as possible, like the others —Honami said to me, standing next to me. Her voice sounded determined, but her face showed a hint of nervousness as she watched the other students quickly group together.

—Yes, you're right. We'll be separated for most of our stay here, so you don't have to ask me every time. You're perfectly capable of handling it yourself —I replied, trying to instill a bit of confidence in her. There was something in her gaze that told me she was ready to lead.

—Okay, I'll meet up with the girls to form a good team —she said, flashing a smile that lit up her face. She turned around with determination, her hair waving behind her like a flag as she hurried towards her friends.

—Goodbye, Kayden! See you later! —Mako and Yuki shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the cold air as they walked away. Their energy was contagious, and a small smile formed on my lips as I watched them go, although at the same time, I suddenly felt a bit lonely.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice amidst the bustle of the students.

—Osawa! —Kanzaki called out to me, his voice clear as crystal in the chaos.

—Kanzaki! —I replied, turning to him. His face showed a mix of determination and concentration, as if he was planning something important.

—You mentioned that we should form a good team if we want to win, right? Do you have anyone in mind who would be the most capable in our class? —he asked, frowning slightly.

—Yes, I'm thinking of a group of twelve from our class and three more from other classes to maximize the rewards. This will be our main group, so we'll look for the best. You'll be in this group, along with Hamaguchi, Beppu, Shibata, Takahashi, Nakamura, Saito, Tanaka, Yamamoto, Suzuki, and Fujimoto —I said, listing the top students. I knew they were not only strong physically but also brilliant academically.