Crossing the stream through the violent tide, we made our way into the woods where Tatsu had run to.

On the way to the entrance, I tossed Kuzan and Rayazaki's belongings to them and issued the order with a loud voice.

"Capture him! Use any means necessary to do so! This is mandatory for the inquisition of our goal!"

"Where did he go?!"

Rayazaki's question and the lack of time to explain my reasoning made me instantly address my rapid conclusive take.

"I will go in this linear direction up ahead! Kuzan, you go east! Rayazaki, take care of the west side! If any of you find him, then let out a shout!"

"Got it!" x2.

With their bags on their backs and with their mini cloths around their waists, they took off.

As for me; I transiently embraced this new atmosphere, which differed from the previous turbulent stream.

Magnificently primeval, tall thick wood trees climb their way up to the sky yet not entirely cover it thus allowing partial sunlight to sneak in.

A petrified atmosphere accompanied the soggy dark silence.

Apparently endless and unchanging, only suited with a dreadful calm to it, the pathless obscure-lighted forest unveiled its welcome.

"Tatsu, really? I'm not complaining but this is oddly more complicated than I had initially thought."

A few stretching exercises just to make sure muscle distensions don't suddenly erupt out of nowhere.

"This is the primary phase. The gathering of these words was utterly intentional and so, whoever comes across with one another should at least have in mind that these words have some sort of importance and that the gathering of them would make the most sense."

Yet...

"Even though this already bares common sense in its marks..."

Contract the shoulder blades...

Unleash the stiffness away...

"The more appropriate approach in this scenario would be to seek others. Firm common sense would say that if you have such an envelope, then why wouldn't you think that others might have it? It must mean something. Right?"

So...

"Why run away, Tatsu? Hm? What? Oh, you don't wanna tell me...? That's fine, I---"

...

"Your situation is different. You firstly ran before we could even make a move on you. If the situation was the reverse; we had made the move on you and then you had run, then... I guess it would've been more comprehensive. Three savages up on your ass in the middle of a deserted island isn't the greatest of scenario. Yet that didn't happen. You initiated. Which means that you have a reason to run away. Otherwise, you would see our membership as something favorable. Despite that being the case, no. You decided that it was the wisest of all choices to run."

Dumbass.

"It would've been a far better move to simply have joined us, even though that would still make you a suspect. In that light, everyone else is too. However, running away, quite literally implies that you have something to hide. And for that sole reason; I will hunt you down."

Done stretching. No howling sounds. A calm setting eternally incorporates itself onto this vast and vacant forest.

The time has come.

Light jumps, toes sticking out elastically. Silence has eaten this forest. Heavy steps would manifest as a spiral of destruction to this harmonic silence. Midst it, lies a running rabbit.

Scattered wood sticks on the plaid light-brown layer.

Why wood sticks anyway? For a fire? For the construction of a mini-house? Most likely the latter. These are not frail nor light. Not to mention, they are not limp whatsoever. Instead, they are large, thick, and colossal. Perfect for the building of a wooden house.

You never demonstrated that sort of capacity of knowledge though.

Ah, I see. I see how it is.

"Time to burst!"

Onwards, with accelerated haste, I took off.

Footsteps so incredibly fast yet almost bare silent gave my eardrums the power to listen to my surroundings with clear reception.

Unbothered without any animals at sight on the linear path that I followed; only birds above soaring could come and intertwine alongside my sight.

Though covered with high-altitude, the trees weren't in my path to the point of causing a quick disruption in my current stance.

Regardless, I was aware that I gave Tatsu some extra time to flee. Intentionally. Initially, the aim would be to essentially capture him and while that option still remains green, something or some idea of brand discovery enclosed my thought process in the last second.

"Pause."

Hitting the breaks, I stopped my forceful momentum rapidly.

Closing my eyes and placing all priority into listening to the sounds around me; nothing but the small hymn of the soaring birds was offered.

"Resume."

As I repeated the same process with a faster tempo, I reflected on something.

The first scenery that I have witnessed was a sandy beach. Fairly typical of a deserted island. A standard starting point.

Deep fresh ocean following that up, which was adjoined to the edge of the beach itself is also a common ground, so to say.

If I take those two scenarios, or rather... Those two elements that can fill a scenario that implements a deserted island, then the island could already be done by itself.

Yet it's not...

"Pause."

Nothing.

Again.

"Resume."

With the momentum once again set on impulse, it was on again.

Simultaneously, my reflection on the previous topic revved up its engine vividly once more.

"..."

Significantly, what gave this island a more tropical atmosphere-like feeling was the intense jungle filled with boundless lianas and savage insects swarming around freely.

Burning hot temperatures taken into the equation only sounds right.

This alone could have also been something that was only normal yet a jungle does give a strange addition into the whole picture. Ecology-wise; it's not a blunder to assume that it's all part of the ecological system.

However, the subsequent scenario raised some doubts.

An oasis, out of nowhere? The origin of the oasis itself has already been undercover and fully instigated; though there could be some additional steps into its further origins.

To find an oasis in the middle of a small dead end inside a massive jungle out of pure coincidence doesn't really add up.

Because the change is too abrupt. 

"Resume...."

I've not been noticing any changes in the background at all. This seemingly endless forest keeps on increasing its reigns more and more; as if I'm indulging inside a labyrinth that doesn't have a conclusive way out.

"What came after was probably the weirdest part yet..."

A rainforest? What?

This change was so out of nowhere. From an oasis to a jungle and then through that jungle into a rainforest?

"!"

A change in the background occurred at long last. Small sounds of steps from the north direction alerted me, which enhanced my necessity to speed up.

Dodging trees and making sure that my feet didn't stumble upon anything unnecessary, I kept on scouting through the dead forest.

Until...

"Oh. Found you."

Up ahead of me, Tatsu was at sight. Naturally, I had taken the right path, as I allowed Rayazaki and Kuzan to follow the one that wasn't the right path.

I also started to slow down upon seeing a well-constructed small house erected on the edge of this forest. By no means was this the end of the forest, yet there was already a clear path indicated to the house in front of me, just a few meters ahead.

Additionally, as I was slowing my walk, I recalled the fact that Rayazaki and Kuzan's phones should have plenty of battery left so I texted them to walk into my direction.

However, as I was doing so, a familiar face that was not the individual that I was chasing after, came in my direction with a huge bright smile, which was arguably his most noticeable trademark.

"Fancy seeing you here, Kawahara! I guess it's natural that you've found this place by yourself? I'm impressed, I'm impressed."

Tatsu was behind Sagasuga looking at me with a cowardly look almost going as far as using Sagasuga as a body-shield. 

I didn't answer Sagasuga and kept on scouting the perimeter only to find an additional figure to this, at the top of the tree that was towering me. Most likely ready to ambush me. However, I didn't direct look in his direction; which meant that I had to use a part of my vision's angle to find his body lying at one of the branches above.

"Hey, you're not gonna say anything? Is this even you, Kawahara?"

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"I heard you, fucktard."

"Oh, that's it, that's it! That's more like it!"

"Hey, you coward, why did you run?"

Act dumb, act dumb.

"I---"

...Tatsu was going to answer for himself but Sagasuga with a simple arm raise canceled his stupid action thus allowing him to take charge of the situation.

"A little rude, don't you think, Kawahara? You scare people away with that attitude and you still expect someone to give you a positive answer in the process? That's not how it works. Ask more kindly, would you? Or rather, why were you chasing him?"

Utilizing his point where he criticized my lack of civility to connect to the reason why I would be chasing Tatsu out of obligation to fulfill my attitude. 

In face of this, someone who doesn't think would blindly just answer in order to justify himself. Yes, that's what an average stupid human being who lacks common sense and acts of impulse would do.

Which for the sake of shaping the reality to my liking; I'll act on.

"Not my fault the pussy ran with all the wood logs in-between his legs. Oh, right, he dropped them all at the forest's entrance, so that doesn't count."

"Alright, we get the point you are trying to make, Kawahara. But don't you think that ----"

"Do you though?"

I had to interrupt him just to give him a stubborn image. Relaxed posture. Arms crossed. Overconfident smile. Lax eyebrows. Fangs showing. Fingers snapping. The arsenal's set.

"Yes, we do---"

"Oh, really? Then what's the point I'm trying to make?"

Multiple interruptions in your speech. Imagine having something important to say but being interrupted every single time.

Two vibrations came from my phone, confirmations have arrived. 

"That you're a rude jerk that no one wants to hang around, Kawahara. You're gonna die alone."

At last, Tsudo descended from the tree and safely landed on the ground.

I could've executed an ax kick during the moment his head kneeled down out of reflex and kill him but that surely didn't cross his mind whatsoever.

"Heh, so?"

"Now, now. That's not a good start. We started from the wrong foot, haven't we? First of all, Tatsu and Tsudo are my companions and we have agreed to establish a relationship with a beneficial goal. That being; the success of the exam."

Not the time to interrupt as Sagasuga was laying out plausible information, thus I kept my mouth shut.

"I'll be direct about this, we three have discovered that inside of the bags, that it was strictly delivered to us a separate envelope containing a hidden word in it. Without a doubt, this is connected to the exam."

I expected no less.

Midst this, through separate directions, Kuzan and Rayazaki started to approach the scene. I quickly traded glances with them, just like Sagasuga, Tsudo, and Tatsu.

"Wow, this is great news!"

Unable to contain his inner thoughts, Tsudo expressed his surprise through a childlike smile while bouncing those words to Sagasuga.

Tatsu simply observed yet Sagasuga went an extra mile to express his agreement with Tsudo.

"Fantastic news indeed! With Kawahara and in addition to Rayazaki and Kuzan, we will be able to progress smoothly!"

?

"Don't get the wrong idea here. If you are thinking of cooperation, it's not gonna happen."

A more humanistic response filled with lack of intelligence. Enjoy the delusion, fools.

"What? Don't you wanna pass the exam too...?"

"Hold on, Tsudo. I'll handle this."

Naturally, the leader doesn't allow the best chances for better decisions to be stolen away by those who attempt to do so. Henceforth, Sagasuga stopped Tsudo swiftly.

"Kawahara, the words are linked to something surely. We three have it, therefore, the chances of you three also having it are quite high. So, why not cooperate? Our aim is to pass the exam and I firmly believe that the key to success here is by gathering as many messages as possible. Plus, the messages are with every single one of us, or at least so I think."

"While I do agree with your logic, I don't see any reason for cooperation. I can just do this on my own and that will be the case."

"But we can put this exam to a quicker end just by sharing the information with each other! Why can't you understand that?!"

Emotionally impulsive. Of course, why wouldn't you be? If your mindset works on the premise that every word unlocks a new meaning, then it makes sense to insist here.

However, having things done this way does seem far too boring and besides...

I don't like it if it's not my way.

"Flawed point. There's no need to make cooperation nor some sort of relationship. Plus, this 'relationship has never been explained in the first place."

"Oh, you're so full of bulls--"

"Wait, hold on. Kawahara does have a point, no matter how you look at it. We haven't gone in-depth about our potential relationship yet. Which is why, I have a proposal to make you, Kawahara. Or rather, to you three. I'm sure you are interested in knowing our words, right? We are willing to share, for the record."

Kuzan and Rayazaki kept their silence exactly as I told them to keep their silence earlier while we were strolling through the rainforest. In the case that we encounter a group of people and not a single individual alone, we will not take action.

"Which is why, for best purposes intended, we six should settle down and discuss terms. Shall we take this inside?"

"You're still not getting our cooperation."

"Is that a yes?"

Eyes on me, cutting all the relaxation down in a single swipe.

"..."

"Erm, do you guys have any food?"

Kuzan interrupting the flow of the conversation with his selfish question is something beyond predictable. To the point where it can become useful. Such as in circumstances like these, where my silence loses relevance.

"Wha---- You damn thief, are you trying to steal from us?!"

"W-What?! N-No! W-Why would you assume that, hahahaha...."

Not the greatest choice of words that you could've made against Tsudo, Kuzan, but your dumb stance is already taken into consideration.

"Well, yes, we do. Want to eat something, Kuzan?"

"Yessss!!! I'm starving here! Rayazaki, Master, let's take this opportunity to eat something too!"

Gladly taking this situation, Sagasuga is just smiling with his eyes closed.

"Wait, no."

In all his wisdom, Rayazaki decided to intervene and make a rational decision.

To disagree with Kuzan's gullible stance and ultimately rejecting Sagasuga's offer.

I did notice his side glance as if he was questioning my lack of intervention and surely basically everyone is. However, this is not the time for me to intervene. 

Instead, it's time for dumb decisions to be made. On the surface, that is...

"Why not, Rayazaki? We haven't eaten anything in a fucking while! Let's just go with it!"

"...Are you serious right now? Don't you see that this is obviously a b--"

Ah, don't spell it out like that, you incomprehensive feeble creature...

"This is my final decision, Rayazaki. He's offering us food, what could possibly go wrong?"

Making sure I didn't make that sentence far too sarcastic, the same voice tone was kept.

"I'm not e---"

Having enough with his words, I looked at him with a stronger glare in order to tell him to shut up.

Reason is not necessary right now... And I can't tell you the true meaning behind my actions because your sense of morality is usurping every ounce of common sense that you could possibly offer.

"Are you guys coming or what?"

Tsudo gave us one last call as Sagasuga and Tatsu were making way to the small wooden house.

Distance was set between us three and this gave me an opportunity to talk to Rayazaki who was growing skeptical.

Kuzan was happily jumping around while uttering the word 'Food!' multiple times to the point of being annoying. Nevertheless, I spoke to Rayazaki.

"Do not eat anything that he offers to you."

"So you are aware..."

"Yes, of course, I am. However, we need those words."

"But Kawahara, can't we just take them by force? That's still an option, right?"

Frankly, I do agree with Rayazaki here. It is an option. If we were facing down a single individual. In contrast to this assumption and overall circumstance, he does not understand something. No, perhaps he does? The fact that he has been acting cautiously over this being a potential bait could mean that he has developed the intelligence to notice the flaws in the current circumstance.

If so, this could mean that he has noticed that Tatsu running up as soon as he saw us could also be intentional and that this whole meeting is fabricated at the hands of them. I already know this is the case. It all clicks.

Still, Rayazaki has noticed? If that's the case, then it's alright if he knows a little more.

"It is an option. But as you have already noticed, this is a stage that has been set up..."

The tool that's going to be put onto use is Rayazaki. Kuzan has already done his job despite not knowing it.

Naturally, if Rayazaki's met with a suggestion that he does not like, then he probably won't do it. Enforcing brute methods isn't the most optimal course of action here. Nonetheless, it's a flawed assumption to make that I need to make a suggestion in the first place.

"If we play into their game, then that's fine."

"....What...?! Isn't that totally contradictory?!"

"Not if we do it openly. We will play their game while playing ours. We need to let them think that they have the advantage. Not the other way around."

"...I see... So, what's the plan here?"

He probably didn't understand the essence here, but I'm not going to explain it. He doesn't need to know.

My overall plan holds far too much depth.

"No matter what, we will not cooperate."

"Wait, Kawahara, but.... Shouldn't we cooperate in this case? If you don't want to resort to violence, then isn't cooperation here the optimal route? Or am I missing something?"

"You are. What we will do is to hold an exchange, but not seek cooperation."

"I am confused..."

That's the intention.

"Rayazaki."

Before reaching the entrance of this simple wooden house, I called out to Rayazaki one last time in a low-voice tone.

"Do not trust a single word that they say."

After that, we entered the uncommonly spacious area that served as their house.

Already, with such a little time, they've established this small space for their benefit. Plus, they have a lot of fruit stocked up, which already fell under Kuzan's vision straight up.

In a line of three, Tatsu, Tsudo, and lastly, Sagasuga had a seat on their made-up bamboo chairs. 

So much effort into this has been made which could only entice inactivity.

"Have a seat! We did make extra chairs after all."

With spontaneous enthusiasm coming out from his smile, Sagasuga indicated through his right hand's gesture the bamboo chairs that were in front of him and ultimately in front of us too.

"How fancy. Additional chairs? You sure you don't want to make it more obvious, Sagasuga?"

Despite my words, we three took our seats and felt immediate comfort.

"Obvious? We were expecting some sort of company and by keeping our mentalities up high, the scenario came into life. It was all just a coincidence that it happened to be the three of you. After all, we had no knowledge of your presence somewhere near us. Just like you didn't have about ours. Right?"

"Your sarcasm is sickening."

"Hm? But it's not sarcasm. Oh, Kuzan, go ahead and feast. Eat as much as you'd like. You guys too. Don't hold back."

Rayazaki and I held back naturally. It had only been a few hours. It is not that alerting to me and neither is it to Rayazaki.

The same can't be said for Kuzan who is happily chomping onto the red-scarlet apples that Sagasuga gladly suggested to him to eat.

"Kawahara, why not cooperate with us?"

"That again? I already told you that we will do it our way."

"So is this about independence or just because you despise being dependant on others?"

Typical psychological tactic. The moment a million questions start to get thrown at you, you are therefore being exploited. However, the majority of human beings are such attention whores that they don't notice that they are just being exploited and instead they enjoy the fact that they are bathing in attention.

Even if it's the wrong type of attention.

Questions about your interest; they stir you up. They fascinate your entirety. Someone cared for you? Your happiness peaks. 

Fragile weakness like that is beyond invalid.

By contrast, there are two options to counter this tactic. 

Option number 1: be a coward and avoid the topic.

Or...

"It is about independence. I do like to keep my group under my control and being under your control is not an option."

You go with option number 2 which is: tell what he/she wants you to tell while that's not entirely true yet maintaining a degree of coherence and logic at the same time. Furthermore, back it up with irrefutable evidence that they can't possibly argue back against.

Reality is the canvas where I paint freely.

"Which is why I refuse your cooperation regardless. You should've known already how I roll!"

"I see... This is extremely disappointing then, Kawahara. It's not as if I haven't noticed how you can't put things to work whenever you want to, but to choose pride over cooperation which would significantly fasten the whole process? Truly disappointing."

This is the turning point.

"Well, I'm not exactly against cooperation, totally."

Upon hearing this, surprised faces resurfaced.

"Wait, what the hell? If you are not against cooperation, then why did you object it earlier?!"

Not Sagasuga but Tsudo spoke.

No exceptional comments about this dumb question. There's a clear difference here that's visible to anyone and most surely, Sagasuga has already arrived at the conclusion of my saying.

Still, he'll always go an extra mile for those around him.

Yes.

This is common of him and I've known about this pattern of his ever since I stalked him back in the previous exam.

"I think what Kawahara is trying to insinuate is that he has his own version of cooperation that differs from ours. But, Kawahara, I haven't explained to you the terms. Isn't your judgment way too flashy?"

Such a narcissist. 

He purposely didn't explain his terms just to create this situation. The more one thinks about it, the more evident it becomes yet to this guy, his surroundings are supposed to idolize him for his justice-alike actions. Just like now, Tsudo and Tatsu are looking at him with eyes of admiration.

Though, you really think I'll just not fight back?

"You don't need to explain your terms because I'm not interested in hearing it. My own version of cooperation will surely be far faster than whatever you can possibly offer."

Not true.

Why would I say this when he hasn't even said his part? How naive of me! How foolish! Oh, look how dumb this guy is! Making assumptions left and right! What a retard.

Average minds; so easy to fiddle with.

"I see! Such confidence! Marvelous stance, Kawahara. So, would you enlighten us and tell us your breath-taking version, or are we simply not worth it? Or--- are you going to force cooperation like a tyrant?"

Another round of sarcasm. 

"For the record, I wouldn't mind listening to your version of 'cooperation', Sagasuga."

Switching up the gears, implying the necessity for trades to be made.

"Listening?"

"Yes, listening."

Words are used to live up to their meaning, after all.

"Mhm... What if I want to listen to yours instead?"

"Sure, that can happen."

It can indeed happen. 

"Well then, will you tell us your version of cooperation, Kawahara?"

"Is that what you wish for?"

Just making sure he knows what's he's about to walk into.

"On behalf of my interest, Tatsu's and Tsudo's, yes, it is."

"Alright, alright."

Now then... 

"There is a simple condition for this. A simple term, so to say. Nothing special. You understand, right, Sagasuga? You did speak about terms, after all, right?"

"That is absolutely correct! I would not go back on my own words ever."

"I see. Then, with that mindset, this shouldn't be a problem for you."

I've dragged this for too long. Just to keep the thread rolling. It's at its wit's end.

"Show me all of your words."