Chapter 4: Is it possible to keep up with the pace of the classes at Kaino High?

“Not feeling like leaving us again today, are you?”

Not the kindest words I’ve heard from Tomoki, but I did put up an act yesterday. I arrived a few minutes earlier than I did yesterday, but was still the last one in the group to show up. Honestly, I still don’t know anything about these people that I’ve only been with for two days. I saw Maya folding a paper airplane and Toshiro reading his book. They seem to be consistently ignorant of the matters at hand.

“Ah. Sorry. I couldn’t come with you all yesterday.”

“No hard feelings. I suppose that means you’re thinking of joining us today?”

“I will.”

Tomoki smiled, and I got seated beside Akio, who was staring out the window and appeared to be deep in thought. I didn’t interrupt him, but instead checked the schedule for today. Math, Chemistry, Physics, P.E., and English. (A/N Yes I know Japanese students have 6 periods and the science subjects are not separated in first year high school but this makes life easier for me)

After all of that, I plan on analyzing strategies for the rest of the day with everyone else. That part of the test is like a game, the part that I was really looking forward to.

“Hello class~~!” I didn’t notice it, but Hachiroka-sensei had already walked in and set her soft drink on her table.

“Good morning Hachiroka-sensei!” Our class reciprocated.

“Today’s an important day, you should all be receiving maps of the labyrinth right about.. now.”

Right as she said those words, the notification of the email ringed in everyone’s phones.

“Now we don’t have much time today to spend on that, and we have a lot to cover, so I'd appreciate it if you all looked at it during your lunch break.”

Oh darn, I was hoping we could ask some questions about it right now during our homeroom period.

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“So your first block of the day with me is going to be maths~! We’re going to really press on the gas now so I hope you’re all ready! Let’s start with chapter 1 in our textbooks shall we? I’m sure there’s no need for us to review the quadratic equation, so we’re going to start with higher degree polynomials! Let’s start with a rudimentary long division question.”

Equation: (x^5 - 2x^4 + 2x^3 - 2x^2 +2x - 1) divided by (x-1)

“Please start solving this problem in your notebooks, and set your pencils down on the table when you’re done!”

The immediate shift in the atmosphere of the classroom was shocking, and I watched everyone speeding up their wrist movements as their pencils danced across their notebooks. Even I could do this one fast. Within a few seconds, the entire class was done.

“Everyone got x^4-x^3+x^2-x+1 right? Well done!~ Since everyone’s got that so fast, we can move onto some more interesting knowledge… like the cubic formula!~”

I watched in awe as she rapidly scribbled down the equation to solve a cubic polynomial on the chalkboard. This was no ordinary equation, it was giant.

“Um, Hachiroka-sensei?” Chikako raised her hand. “Is this part of the curriculum?”

“The curriculum is far too easy, we’re going to be dabbling around in the outskirts of the typical curriculum during your time here, just to make things more fun~.”

I’m not sure if I can classify this monster equation as ‘fun’.

“Have you all got this written down~~?”

Not yet, but we’re getting on it, our class thought while we rushed to take more notes than we had ever needed to take before.

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“Normally, first years only take Science 1, but since you’re a special bunch~, or to me at least~, we’re going to split the subject up into its components, physics, biology, and chemistry! Now that you’ve had a small break, let’s start with some chemistry!”

I’m completely worn out by the previous maths class, as we went on to computing various roots of cubic polynomials with the newly taught cubic equations. That’s more than enough computations I want to do today.

“Are we all familiar with chemical equations yet? Balancing them is simple too~?”

We learned basic chemistry and simple computations of chemical formulas last year, but that was about it. More computations might make me sick.

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“I’m exhausted…” Tomoki groaned. Physics class continued on after Chemistry class with a bombardment of vectors and kinematics equations - more calculations. I’ve done more computations today than I have all of last year.

“Ah we’ve all changed!~ Are we ready for some exercise??”

We had lined up in front of the track field not that far away from the school, and had all changed. The track and the field are freshly preserved, the goals looked polished. Even the seats were polished; everything was practically sparkling under the blazing sun. Sweat was already building up and we were eager to start moving around.

“Let’s start with three laps around the track~!”

We groaned, but started making our way towards the start of the track. I’m not a slow runner: some of my friends were athletically inclined, so I had to be able to keep up with them. We had just started our jog when a gust of wind flew past our ears; one student had taken off. That was enough to cause a chain reaction within the boys in our class to start sprinting as well. Three laps is by no means a long distance, so you often see boys sprinting at full speed the entire way through. If I’m going to run three laps, I might as well save some time and pick up the speed.

Most of the girls started chatting, so it became a competition between the boys to finish the three laps first. I couldn’t make out the boy leading the pack, but I saw Tomoko and Jisen neck-to-neck directly in front of me. I run a bit faster to catch up to them, before passing them with ease. I turn around and I wave back provokingly at Jisen, just to see his exaggerated response. Not letting me down, he got furious, and started running much faster. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud as I outran him and started searching for my next target. In the next two laps, I passed one more boy before finishing fourth. Maybe I shouldn’t have given them such a long head start.

I recognized the boy that dashed in front of everyone, and was shocked when I took a closer look at who he was.

“To-Toshiro??” He had taken his glasses off, so I didn’t recognize him.

“What?”

“Nothing! I was just surprised you’re such a fast runner.”

“I feel free on the track, so when I’m on it I let myself loose.” I would never have guessed that the boy who cared only about his book would’ve been at all athletic.

“Is that so? You’re really fast.”

“I get that a lot… because I had a running talent I was allowed to skip P.E. classes and study instead.” Of course, that’s what you should be doing with such a talent in running. So he only runs when he is forced on the track, my image of him hasn’t changed much after all.

Tomoko and Jisen finally finished as well, before having the same reaction as me after seeing Toshiro.

“Toshiro?”

“Toshiro!!???”

We bantered for a while until everyone had finished. Then, Hachiroka-sensei appeared from within the crowd of students, she must’ve been running with the girls.

“Alright~ P.E. classes are not the priority at this school, but we still require you to be fit. As long as you show up to class and are getting exercise, that’s almost all you’ll be required to do. However, we do set goals that we’d like you all to achieve by the end of the term. Running long-distance, for instance. Boys should aim for under 7 minutes for 3 laps, while girls 9 minutes for 3 laps. I understand most of you will be able to break this easily, but the goal is to have everyone in our class running at least at that pace.”

I’m not worried, since 7 minutes was probably enough time for me to jog 3 laps slowly. However, from the looks on their faces, I can see a few boys in our class who were feeling uneasy about that goal. That also goes too for some of the girls in our class who were not athletic. Akio in particular had a troubled look on his face. They’re going to have to train harder than they ever had to train in junior high.

“But today... we’re going to have some fun today and play soccer!~” Hachiroka-sensei pulled out a soccer ball out of thin air, and tossed it towards the field. Was it hidden behind her back the entire time or am I losing consciousness under the heat of the sun?

“My team’s going to beat your team Tomoko!”

“Are you sure we can’t just be on the same team?”

“No!”

I laughed as I watched Tomoko and Jisen run towards the field, the fatigue had long disappeared and for the rest of the block we were focused on having fun.

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“Ah… finally.”

After lunch, we listened to Hachiroka-sensei teach us in English for 50 minutes. I’m not sure if I understood anything correctly, but I nodded along and answered some of the easy grammar questions she asked spontaneously.

I check the news headlines for today as my friends gather on my right. I’m completely worn out: it took all the effort and concentration I could muster up just to follow along the classes. They were way too fast and the amount of content we went through was way too much.

“That was a packed day wasn’t it, Katsu-kun.” Akio yawned.

“Yeah…”

“Have you been thinking about the labyrinth?”

Right, we still had that to worry about. We barely had time to catch a breath.

However, we started P.E. classes with running.

If there’s anything that’s important in escaping a labyrinth, it’s running.

“Yeah, I wonder how big it’s going to be.” The map was too intricate for me to analyze in class, but there weren’t any proportions indicated on it. Since our physical attributes are translated straight to the virtual world, those that are less athletically inclined are going to be at a disadvantage.

“Probably huge… it’s a virtual world after all…” Akio was exhausted, so exhausted that his speech was smoothed out.

“Are you alright? You’re acting… normal.”

“Not… funny… Katsu-kun…”

“You just rest for a while now. I’m going to listen to what the others are planning.”

Tomoko and Tomoki had been in an argument up until this point while Jisen and Maya were watching in fear.

“Our dorms are too far away! We should go to the second floor of the department room!” Tomoki disagreed with the idea of going back to Tomoko’s room, as she was quite eager to explore the upper levels of the extraordinary store.

“No… we’re only going to get distracted there, especially you and Maya. My room is dull and boring, we can focus on the labyrinth if we work there.”

“That’s no fun!”

“We’re not trying to have fun…”

“Your personality is so dry, I don’t think we should be working together anyways!”

“Fine with me, now if you’ll excuse me I have a test to ace.”

“HOOOOOOOOOLD ON.” I grabbed both of them by the shoulders. This was much too sad of an excuse to leave each other.

“Now, now, let’s be mature here. We’re in high school, not preschool, so let’s make up with each other… ok?”

“Ok.”

“Fine by me.”

That was too fast! Were they ever angry at each other in the first place?

“Sorry Katsu, we just wanted to draw your attention. We don’t have time to be lovey-dovey with each other right now okay?” Tomoki flicks her tongue out and winks.

“And we have the time for jokes? Good one.” I retorted.

“I was curious if I could beat Tomoko in an argument too, and this was the perfect opportunity!”

“Yes yes. So where are we going? I’ll drag Akio along.”

“Of course, the department store. We have some exploring to do.”

“Tomoko?”

“What? I was just arguing on the other side for the sake of the argument.”

When we decided on that, I shook Akio and dragged him along like I said I would. The store was crowded with students snacking, chatting, and sitting around the red tables near the food sector. We took the elevator up to the second floor, where the elevator doors opened to a long, empty dark hallway with only dim lit candles hanging off the walls. The lady behind the information desk on the left had long dark hair and wore a white cloth with red splatters.

If I’m not mistaken, that’s a ghost. The elevator doors have probably locked behind us, and we’re definitely not all making out of this building alive. If we’re lucky, maybe she’ll spare one of us. In fact, Jisen was already shaking while muttering rapid-fire prayers.

“J-j-j-j-j-j-jisen you’re n-n-n-n-n-n-not scared, are you?” Tomoki tried teasing, despite being frightened herself as well.

“O-o-o-o-o-o-o-of course not!”

“Jisennnnn! Come look at this skull! I wonder who it belonged to… it’s so interesting!!!” While the rest of us were frozen in place, Maya had walked ahead of us and approached the desk, waving at us to go look at the decoration with her.

“M… These candles are very well made indeed, I wonder where they’re from...” Toshiro had also left our group without us noticing and was carefully observing the candle on the wall on the other side of Maya.

Those two… they always manage to escape the group in their own unique way. The only thing I can imagine upsetting Toshiro is if his books were confiscated. Meanwhile Maya was too interested in everything to be scared. I should test this second hypothesis.

“Maya? Are you not scared? She has red splotches on her cloak, and looks just like a ghost.”

“Red splotches? Oooooooh! I wonder what they’re made of! I’m going to get a closer look!”

“Wait don’t-” In a way, that proved my hypothesis. We couldn’t stop her as she playfully jumped over the desk and examined the woman’s clothing.

“It smells like ketchup!”

Huh.

“My my, are you kids looking for a room or what? Don’t just stand there, your friend’s going to start eating my clothes if you don’t come over soon. Ah… I knew I put too much ketchup on that hot dog…”

“Yes ma’am! We were wondering if we could use one of the rooms up here?” Tomoko recovered first.

“Here’s the key to the third room down the hall, just remember to leave the room how you found it, and don’t forget the keys in the room.”

With thanks and apologies, we took the key and headed down the dark hallway. You’d think that the school would be able to afford better lighting up here, but it felt like we were walking through a haunted house. The candles flickered as we passed by, sending shivers down our spines. Each step we took left behind a creaking sound, making us uneasy since we know we’re on the second floor.

At this point I don’t care who designs this place anymore, I’m just praying that it’s at least safe.

We reach the third door and unlock it with the key. Inside the door was an immaculate room with tiles, two tables, and chairs folded neatly, resting on the wall. It was the complete opposite to the dreadful hallway we entered the room from.

Without a second thought, Maya lied down on the floor and started moving her arms and legs up and down like she was making a snow angel. The rest of us laughed along with her, and set up the chairs around a table. When Maya climbed her way up to her seat, our long-awaited planning meeting finally began.

Choosing a leader is crucial to having an efficient meeting, like how every sports team has a coach and every company has a boss. There really wasn’t a better choice in our group than…

“Tomoko, do you mind leading our discussions?”

“Not a problem Katsu, I appreciate you volunteering me for that.”

“Any complaints from anyone that’s not Jisen?” I asked just as Jisen was about to retaliate. “Good!”

“Thanks Katsu. I was thinking we could all take a few minutes to carefully look over the map first. There’s a projector in this room, so I’ll get that setup so we can all see an enlarged version of the labyrinth.”

Our first exam for placement at this school is to escape a labyrinth. The labyrinth will have wormholes, rivers, and treasure chests with gold coins that we collect. The goal of the exam? To escape the labyrinth as fast as we can with as many gold coins as we can get.

The map of the labyrinth was so large that we couldn’t get a clear view of it on our phones, so now that it’s projected onto a big screen, everyone could get a good view of it.

Wormholes are essentially pairs of teleportation pads that teleport you between each other. Rivers start somewhere, and take you somewhere else. If you walk into a square with a wormhole or a river, you’re forced somewhere else. Therefore, carelessly moving forward could cause you to lose a lot of time to find the way back.

We’re all going to start somewhere random, and according to a detailed follow-up email we received after class that contained everything Hachiroka-sensei informed us, we can see each other in the labyrinth, not as our actual selves, but as anonymous profiles. There is no way to communicate with each other, and we will be able to pass through each other like holograms.

The tricky bit is that we’ll be starting somewhere random. I’m imagining the labyrinth to be ginormous, so determining where we are to start off with is a tall task in itself. Memorizing the map itself would’ve been enough, but there are so many similar corners and areas in the map that it’ll be difficult to pinpoint your exact location on the map just from your surroundings.

I’m starting to consider if I should just collect gold coins and give up on escaping the labyrinth completely. However, we’re given 4 whole hours to collect 70 gold coins from 7 treasure chests scattered across the labyrinth. If we use the last half an hour to find an exit, we should be able to make it out through trial and error.

Now we just have to find a path to navigate through the 7 treasure chests, and memorize that. How many gold coins we’ll be able to extract from the treasure chests will depend on our academic abilities, so there’s nothing we can do about that.

“Let’s all put our heads together and find the optimal paths!”

“Alright!”

I smiled. This was so much fun. It takes deductive skills and logic to win games, and useless academic knowledge won’t help you escape. I’m so glad the test was more than just a boring test.

Now then…

“Let’s map out our victory!”