My New Life As Suzune Horikita (COMPLETED)

Chapter 16: "The Survival Test Announcement"

It had been about three weeks since the start of the new school term, and we’d settled back into the rhythm of classes and daily life. Everything was going smoothly—until one day, a surprise announcement shook the whole school.

The day started like any other. After the usual morning classes, we were gathered in the auditorium. The atmosphere felt tense, as if something big was about to happen. The principal took the stage, his expression serious.

“A special exam will be held in two weeks,” he began, his voice booming through the room. “This will be a survival exam. All students will be divided into groups, and your task will be to survive in designated locations under harsh conditions for one week.”

The room buzzed with shock. I glanced around, seeing the disbelief on everyone’s faces. Whispers of confusion spread through the auditorium.

"Survival? Like... real survival?" someone behind me muttered.

A few students gasped audibly, and I could hear Sudo grumbling something about how unfair it was. I, however, stayed calm. I know exactly what this exam will be like. Thanks to everything I’d learned before, I was ready for this.

As we were dismissed, I noticed Ayanokoji approaching me. His face, as always, was unreadable.

“So, what do you think about this exam?” he asked, his tone casual, but I knew he was testing me.

I smirked, crossing my arms. “It’s not surprising. I had a feeling something like this was coming.”

“You’re not worried?” he asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.

I shook my head. “No. In fact, I’ve already started preparing. Physical training, survival strategies, you name it. You should be ready too, Ayanokoji. This is going to push everyone to their limits.”

He gave a small nod, his expression remaining neutral. “I see. Well, I’ll do what I need to.”

Just then, Kei and Kushida approached us, both looking pale with worry. “Did you hear that?” Kei said, her voice trembling slightly. “How are we supposed to survive for a week? What if something happens?”

I put on a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll make it through. This school wouldn’t put us in real danger.” I paused and then added, “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be prepared.”

Kushida frowned, brushing her hair back nervously. “I’ve never done anything like this before. What if we run out of food or water?”

I nodded, understanding their concern. “The key to survival is preparation. I’ll help you guys train for it. We have two weeks—plenty of time to get ready.”

As we walked back to class, the students were still murmuring about the exam. Some were panicking, while others seemed excited about the challenge. I noticed Ichinose deep in thought, likely already planning for how her class would tackle the test. Sakayanagi, on the other hand, had a sly smile on her face, as if she was already a step ahead of everyone else.

After school, I headed straight to the gym. The survival exam would require not just mental toughness but also physical endurance. I had been secretly working out every day since I first heard whispers about this kind of test. I increased the intensity of my training—cardio, strength exercises, and even practicing basic survival techniques like building a fire and rationing food.

A few days later, I was in the gym again when Ayanokoji showed up, watching me with his usual calm demeanor.

“You really are taking this seriously,” he said.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and nodded. “This exam isn’t just about surviving. It’s about showing who can adapt to difficult situations the best. I’m not going to let anyone catch me off guard.”

Ayanokoji leaned against the wall, observing me quietly for a moment before he spoke again. “You’ve already thought about what’s going to happen, haven’t you?”

I smirked. “Of course. I wouldn’t be preparing this hard if I didn’t know what was coming.”

“Well, good luck,” he said before turning and walking out of the gym.

As the days passed, I continued to train relentlessly. Whether it was in the gym or outside practicing endurance runs, I made sure every part of my body was ready for the challenge ahead. My classmates started to notice my dedication, and soon, others began training too.

Sudo, surprisingly, had also started working out more. One day, he approached me after a particularly tough session.

“Hey,” he said, panting slightly. “You seem to know what you’re doing. Think you could give me a few pointers?”

I raised an eyebrow, surprised at his request. “You’re asking me for help?”

Sudo scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrassed. “Yeah, well... I figured if I’m gonna survive this, I might as well be ready.”

I smirked. “Alright, I’ll help. But don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

We spent the rest of the session training together, and by the end of it, even Sudo had to admit I wasn’t holding back.

Two weeks passed quickly, and the day of the exam was finally here. As I stood with my classmates at the starting point, I felt confident. I was ready for whatever this test threw at us.

Kushida, who was standing next to me, looked nervous but tried to smile. “Well, here goes nothing, right?”

I nodded, determination clear in my voice. “We’ve prepared. Now it’s time to survive.”

The whistle blew, signaling the start of the exam. And with that, we stepped into the unknown, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

---Chapter 16 ends--