Chapter 18: Team Formation

The next morning...
An announcement echoed throughout Kisaragi University.
"All second-year students are to report to the main gymnasium immediately."
Students poured into the hallways.
The atmosphere felt different.
Everyone knew today was the day.
The teams would finally be announced.
...
Shadow walked quietly through the crowd.
Aiko waved from the entrance.
"Shadow!"
"There you are!"
Kenji sighed.
"You really don't know how to walk at a normal speed."
Shadow:"...Do I?"
Reina smiled.
"You don't."
The four entered the gymnasium together.
...
Hundreds of second-year students filled the massive gym.
Teachers stood on the stage.
A giant screen hung behind them.
The principal stepped forward.
Principal:"Good morning."
"As you all know..."
"The Island Examination begins in two days."
"You will participate in teams of seven."
Murmurs spread throughout the gym.
"Seven?"
"I thought it'd be five."
The principal continued.
"Each team will also have one captain."
"The captains have already been selected."
"The decision is final."
...
The lights dimmed.
The screen lit up.
TEAM 1.
TEAM 2.
TEAM 3.
Names continued appearing.
Cheers echoed throughout the gym.
Some students celebrated.
Others looked disappointed.
...
Finally...
The screen changed.
TEAM 07
Captain...
Kaito Kurose
...
Silence.
Aiko blinked.
"...Who's Kaito?"
Kenji looked around.
"I don't know."
Reina tilted her head.
"Maybe he's absent?"
The teacher called again.
"Kaito Kurose?"
...
Shadow quietly raised his hand.
"...Present."
...
Aiko froze.
"...WHAT?!"
Kenji stared.
"YOUR NAME IS KAITO?!"
Reina covered her mouth.
"...That's your real name?"
Shadow nodded.
"...Yeah."
Aiko pointed at him dramatically.
"THEN WHY HAVE WE BEEN CALLING YOU SHADOW THIS WHOLE TIME?!"
Shadow answered calmly.
"...Because everyone calls me Shadow."
Kenji sighed.
"That doesn't answer anything."
"I asked your name on the first day!"
Aiko shouted.
Shadow replied.
"...I answered."
"You said 'Shadow!'"
"...Exactly."
Aiko placed both hands on her head.
"THIS GUY IS IMPOSSIBLE!"
Even several nearby students laughed.
Reina smiled.
"I can't believe I never knew."
Shadow shrugged.
"...It never mattered."
...
The screen continued.
TEAM 07
Captain:Kaito "Shadow" Kurose
Members:
Reina Aoki
Aiko Tanaka
Kenji Sato
Riku Amamiya
Haruto Kanzaki
Mio Tachibana
...
One by one...
The seven students gathered together.
Haruto crossed his arms.
"So he's captain?"
Teacher:"Correct."
"I have better physical scores."
Teacher:"Captains were selected using the overall evaluation."
"No further discussion."
Haruto clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
...
A girl with long black hair slowly walked toward Team Seven.
Cold eyes.
Expressionless.
She stopped beside Shadow.
For only a second...
Their eyes met.
Neither reacted.
Riku:"...Looks like we're teammates."
Shadow:"...Looks like it."
To everyone else...
It looked like two strangers meeting for the first time.
...
The teacher handed every captain a sealed envelope.
Teacher:"Do not open this until tomorrow."
"It contains confidential instructions for your team."
Shadow accepted the envelope.
"...Understood."
...
Students slowly left the gymnasium.
Everyone began discussing strategies.
The Island Examination was finally becoming real.
As Team Seven walked away together...
None of them realized...
Their biggest challenge...
Wouldn't be surviving the island.
It would be learning to trust one another.