Recursive Dreams : COTE Reacts to COTE Alter Self-Test

Prologue: Reflections

[All students, report to the top deck.]

The notification glared back at me—simple, sterile, and somehow ominous.

It had only been three days since the special test on the uninhabited island ended. Another sudden exam would be draining—especially for students unaccustomed to these surprises.

My gaze lingered on the horizon, drawn by a breeze that seemed to whisper something just out of reach. There was a fleeting tenderness in that moment, urging me to hold onto it—as if I might never experience anything quite like it again.

Not long after, I made my way toward the top deck.

Though I had half-expected something like this, the sight still caught me slightly off guard. The students who had already arrived looked visibly surprised too.

The top deck was divided into two sections. One featured a swimming pool where students could relax and enjoy themselves. The other had been closed off, with an announcement claiming that construction work was underway. That explanation had always felt a bit off to me.

Both Horikita and I had speculated that this might be a cover for a new special exam. And now, it seemed our suspicions were right on the mark.

The once-restricted area had been transformed into a full-fledged stage, with a massive screen looming overhead.

From where I stood, I couldn't see clearly, but the faculty seemed busy setting up some kind of equipment—probably a projector, though it didn't look like any I'd seen before. Their quiet urgency, along with teachers quickly pushing away curious students trying to peek, made it feel like something important was about to take place.

"What the hell? Don't tell me we're actually going to have to take a quiz exam for real!" Sudo exclaimed, his usual dissatisfaction evident as he arrived with his regular circle—Ike, Yamauchi, Hondo, and Miyamoto.

"Ha ha! Looks like the great Yamauchi-san called it!" Yamauchi said proudly, puffing out his chest.

"Huh? You were the one who said there'd be a prize-giving ceremony up here for winning the last exam—not another special test," Ike shot back.

That wasn't entirely outside the realm of possibility. But the school had already rewarded us with class points, and going this far just for a simple prize ceremony seemed unlikely.

As Ike and Yamauchi fell into their usual bickering, Yukimura—one of my roommates on this trip—approached, having noticed us.

"Wasn't it obvious?" he said. "We had a physical exam on the deserted island. A study-related special exam doesn't seem out of place."

He directed the comment toward me.

I doubted Ike and the others were even paying attention to their surroundings.

"Maybe," I replied. "We'll see soon enough."

As more students began to fill the deck, the homeroom teachers instructed us to take our seats in an orderly manner.

The seating was divided into four sections. Class D was assigned to the far right, with the boys seated on the outermost side and the girls next to them. To our left sat Class C, followed by Class B, and finally, Class A on the far left.

I took a seat near the back, and surprisingly, Yukimura sat right next to me.

By now, the top deck was nearly full. I noticed Horikita sitting toward the front.

Perhaps she was determined to make up for her shortcomings during the deserted island exam. This one didn't appear to be physically demanding, but that might've only pushed her harder to prove herself.