The quiet of the office was broken only by the gentle scratching of a fountain pen.
The principal leaned back in her chair, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she reviewed the neat rows of notes spread across her desk. The faint aroma of tea drifted upward from a porcelain cup, calming her mind as she composed her yearly report on preparations for the school's annual first-year camping trip.
Normally, this was a routine task. A handful of teachers, a few upperclassmen as group leaders, a bus arranged, supplies checked. Nothing extraordinary. But this year, the moment she dipped her pen in ink and began to write, she could only sigh.
"This… might be overkill," she murmured, shaking her head.
The First Point of Concern: Supplies
Her pen glided across the page.
This year's supplies prepared for the camping trip have reached unprecedented levels. The group led by Reina Saeki and her assistants has procured enough resources to last not three days, but closer to three months. Reports from mall staff suggest purchases included no fewer than six full tents, twenty sleeping bags, four stoves, countless boxes of food, and enough bug repellent to fumigate the entire forest.
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I should have known… Arisa wouldn't do things halfway."
Images surfaced in her mind: Sei bouncing like a child as he loaded carts with cookware, Himari carefully stacking snacks, Arisa efficiently listing every necessity, and poor Reina trailing behind with the expression of a condemned prisoner.
The principal chuckled softly. "That girl's expressions… they're so rare, yet so honest when they slip out."
Still, her amusement faded as she looked again at the long list of items. "…I wonder if the storage room will even hold all of this."
The Second Point of Concern: Personnel
The principal dipped her pen again.
In addition to the excessive supply issue, I must also note the absurdity of assigning three highly capable upperclassmen—perhaps among the brightest of their year—as supervisors to a single group of first-years. While Reina Saeki could likely manage on her own, she is joined by Fujimoto Arisa (noted for her expertise in insects and wildlife) and Ishikawa Sei (culinary specialist, with remarkable field knowledge of edible plants and survival cooking). Himari, though not of the same "genius" caliber, provides stability, empathy, and support, which makes the group dynamic all the more formidable.
The principal paused and reread the line.
"…Yes. That's the right word. Formidable."
She imagined the scene to come:
First-year students, still wide-eyed and unprepared, stumbling into the forest with trembling hands and nervous laughter. Then, facing them, an unlikely team—Reina with her cold and unshakable intellect, Arisa with her encyclopedic knowledge of every crawling insect, Sei with his endless energy and skill in turning wild plants into a full-course meal. And Himari, quietly anchoring them all.
The principal sighed deeply. "…Poor first-years. What sort of trial are they walking into?"
The "Monster" She Created
She continued writing.
It is no exaggeration to say that I may have created a monster this year. Individually, each of these students is already far beyond the standard expected of an upperclass leader. Together, they form a unit that may very well overshadow the teachers themselves. I worry less about their ability to guide, and more about the possibility of them intimidating the very students they are meant to nurture.
She set the pen down for a moment, folding her hands.
In her heart, she knew this all started as a bit of harmless mischief. She had teased Reina, nudging her into taking responsibility, secretly hoping it would help the girl open up more to others. She had not expected Arisa and Sei to charge into the arrangement like soldiers volunteering for the front line.
"Ah… I may have underestimated their enthusiasm," she murmured.
Still, as much as she fretted, her lips curved into a gentle smile.
"…But maybe this is exactly what the first-years need. And perhaps… what Reina needs too."
Final Note
She lifted her pen once more, finishing her report.
Final assessment: While the scale of resources and the capability of the chosen leaders far exceeds necessity, the potential for this group to provide both safety and inspiration to the younger students is undeniable. Risks: minor—mostly intimidation. Benefits: substantial—knowledge, survival, and guidance.
She set the pen down and leaned back, exhaling slowly. Outside the window, the late afternoon sun painted the sky orange and gold.
"Three days in the woods," she whispered to herself. "For the first-years, it will feel like an adventure. For Reina and her team…"
Her eyes glinted mischievously.
"…it will be an experiment."
The principal chuckled to herself, raising her cup of tea.
"To survival," she toasted softly, as if to the forest itself. "And to the monster I've unleashed this year."