[Ayanokoji Pov]
[7th August, 22.14]
Today evening was quite bothersome. I explained to Horikita what I had done during the exam, on the condition that she would keep quiet about it. However, some surprising things happened during the exam that I never expected. For example, the small piece of paper that was a warning to Ryūen about me.
I wonder if someone has seen through me, or if there is someone who knows about the White Room in the school. It's possible, but I can't simply assume that based on this single phrase. How bothersome.
Then there is also the matter with Chabashira-sensei. I can't imagine that man contacting her, but for now, I'll play along.
After we have achieved our dream of advancing to Class A, I might decide to destroy it by transferring to another class.
I might do this sooner than I anticipated.
Anyways, there's just one other thing bothering me: my behavior during the start of the special exam. Even though I was blackmailed by Chabashira-sensei, I was sure that we would win even without my interference.
There was a certain curiosity that piqued my interest again. I wanted to see how far Kurushima's abilities could reach, to test and evaluate him.
That might also be why I never told him about the vital mistake Class A made at that time. I only mentioned that the spot was occupied by Class A. I never mentioned how long the spot occupation was once I saw Yahiko and Katsuragi in front of the cave.
Regardless, his analytical skills have impressed me. Despite the hindrance I placed on him, he was able to deduce with only the extra information about the spots nearby I provided on day three five people who are the likeliest to be the leader.
Yahiko was also included in that list. If he had my extra information, he should have come to the same conclusion that Yahiko was the leader. That's one thing I can be somehow sure of.
And...
Ironically, our class prevented Kurushima from exploring the area almost every time due to the disputes.
He only went out six times: the first and second times in search of food, the third time alone in search of food for one hour before returning, fourth and fifth one with me and Horikita to Class C's and D's camp, and the sixth time when he searched for Ibuki.
How ironic that Class B's biggest asset was so restricted, yet he was able to analyze the situation so flawlessly, with only an alteration of five percent at most.
He even spared me the trouble of analyzing the situation myself. I only needed to take the context of the additional information in my analysis, which I didn't tell him.
Regarding Class D's sudden appearances nearby Class C's camp, which I heard from Kanzaki, it could naturally be fake information. However, looking at it now, there is no doubt that it's the truth.
Then there's also this piece of paper that I showed no one in the exam. If Kurushima had this information, he would have also figured out the anagram of Ryūen.
And with this, he might have realized Ryūen's strategy of retiring and transferring the leadership to someone else. It's even ironic that even during the three times faster circulation of the cruise ship, my female classmates prevented him from analyzing the situation further.
Despite all those aspects, I can't help but praise his abilities. The most praiseworthy aspect was the case with Ibuki, where he deduced their strategy in an instant.
His only mistake was that he was under the misconception that Ibuki had already taken a picture of the keycard. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have been disqualified. But his decision to destroy the camera was one of the best strategic moves one could do.
Although, he wasn't aware that I destroyed it, already, in advance.
Preventing Ryūen's deal with Class A and preventing the additional loss of 50 S-Points.
And if we were lucky with finding food, we could have 100 S-Points remaining, assuming Horikita and Kurushima didn't retire in the exam. It would have still been an advantageous situation in his view.
We aren't advancing to fast, and would prevent being the target of Class B and A. Now, we have Ryūen, Class C, and Class A, who have us on their radar. Class A wants to protect its position, and Class C wants to take back their position again.
As for Ryūen, he most likely wants to come after me now.
And...
There is also the presence of the unknown person, who warned Ryūen about me.
Haah... how bothersome.
Also...
I never imagined that someone could even slightly injure me with small stones...
I guess this is the first time for me, huh?
Kurushima took into consideration of Ryūen's size, as it was supposed to hit his arm. But since I was slightly crouching, hiding from these two behind the tree, it nearly hit my face.
He seems to know Ryūen at least well-enough, that he wouldn't even think of crouching, so he did this, without any care, since he knew it was supposed to hit his arm.
But there's no indication of me being present there...
He's really good...
Perhaps... he can...?
No, I'll have to assess his abilities further, firstly.
I shouldn't give myself immediately hope...
--
[Kurushima Pov]
Ryūen, I helped you in this exam for three reasons. Firstly, because you have some use for me sooner or later.
Secondly, I want to destroy Sakayanagi and Kanzaki, which includes the destruction of their whole class. I want them to be at Class C and D, the bottom.
And once I have done that, I'll crush their remaining spirit completely and expel both of them from the school. After I got the information from Chairman Sakayanagi, that is.
Once that is over, I don't care about their classes anymore. Whether their classes advance up again or not, it doesn't involve me after that.
The third reason is because of Hiyori. During the time I was presumably "sick," she visited me every day. She brought me her home-made food and checked after me every day.
I'm not sure why... but she did something, no one ever did for me before.
Let's say... I probably did it... because I... wanted to pay a debt back, I believe...
Although during that time, also a very unexpected visitor one time came into my room.
It was Horikita Manabu, the student council president. Now that I am reminiscing myself, it was quite the kind act of him on that day.
--
[Flashback]
[3rd July]
The doorbell rang.
I opened it. But the person who was in the front of the door was someone whom I had not expected; Horikita Manabu.
I thought it would be one of the many girls who have visited me since Monday.
I guess not. But I am thankful to Hiyori and Matsushita, who visited me until now everyday. Even more, when both of them cooked their homemade food for me.
I am also thankful to the other girls who cooked food for me.
Ahem, I shouldn't let Manabu-senpai stand in front of the door too long. "Please enter, Manabu-senpai."
"Please excuse me," Manabu-senpai said, taking his shoes off.
"Manabu-senpai, do you need anything? A tee or coffee, perhaps?" I asked.
"Kurushima, don't worry, everything is fine. You shouldn't exert yourself too much," Manabu-senpai said. "Also, here."
He took from his bag a Bento out.
"Manabu-senpai?" I asked confusingly. "I can't accept this."
"Don't worry, it's just a small Bento. You can accept it."
"I see. Then I thank you for your kindness," I said, doing a graceful bow.
"Manabu-senpai, do you know it? Which day yesterday and the day before yesterday were? Is that perhaps the reason for your visit?"
"Good deduction. Yes, I do. It's the death anniversary of your family, right? That's the reason why you stayed in your room."
"Seems like I can't hide it from you, Manabu-senpai. Yes, it's the truth. My family died on the 1st and 2nd of July seven years ago. It's the precise reason I chose to stay in my room. During this week, I feel the most vulnerable. Since their deaths, I have always stayed at home during the 1st of July until the 7th of July. I am relieving my memories the most during this period of time."
"I also contacted Chabashira-sensei about this already. And before enrollment in this school, I also requested if it could be possible to block this information about my family. I didn't expect the request to be accepted, in all honesty. But how do you know it?"
"At that time, it was all over the news. The second biggest conglomerate in Japan has lost its CEO and all family members of the CEO except one. I heard it on the news when I was ten years old. It must have been hard trying to prevail your family's legacy. And if you worry about whether Suzune knows it, don't worry, she doesn't know it. During that time, she was training in the dojo, trying to follow my lead of learning martial arts."
"Ah, that was a stupid question of mine," I murmured.
"It wasn't, so don't worry about anything, Kurushima."
"Thank you, Manabu-senpai, I appreciate it."
"No worries."
"Manabu-senpai, can I ask you something? It's something I am curious about."
"Go ahead."
"Did my past have any relation to my acceptance in the student council? I can't otherwise explain your reason for accepting me without doing a proper interview or my qualification for the work of the student council."
"I would be lying if I said I didn't. The moment I heard of your enrollment, I wanted to recruit you in the student council. Out of the solemn reason because I think you are the least naïve person in this school, Kurushima. Unlike me and the other students, you have plenty of experience about how the adult world works. You needed to deal with far more tougher problems, such as the preservation of your family's conglomerate."
"It's one of the reasons why I deemed it as unnecessarily testing your aptitude for the work of the student council. But we can talk about this some other time. For now, you should think of resting yourself."
"Okay, Senpai. And thank you."
"No worries."
"Ah, before you go Manabu-senpai, has something happened during my absence? I turned off my phone, so I can't see whether something is going on or not."
"No, nothing happened, Kurushima," Manabu-senpai said.
"And also, it seems like my worries weren't needed. You have plenty of bento's and soups in your room. It's good to see that during this time, people take care of you."
"Yes, it truly is."
"Well then, I am parting here."
"Goodbye, Manabu-senpai."
"Goodbye, Kurushima."
[Flashback End]
Manabu-senpai, you're truly a kind person, even if you want to show the opposite to everyone. A strict person, trying to be the example of the perfect student.
I am the opposite. I cannot be considered kind anymore, after all the things I have done during these five years.
That kind-hearted boy from the past is already completely gone.
Nevermind...
I should sleep, it's late already. And just in case, I also hid the four water bottles somewhere else, with the fluidity of the three poisonous berries, alongside the snake venom from my body.
[3 Days Later]
[10th August]
It's the second day now, after having the allowance of the doctor from heading out again.
Although, I didn't really oblige, and headed out pretty frequently, alongside yesterday, when I meet Hiyori...
We were in quite the predicament...
Anyhow, since it's the second day, I'd like to enjoy the cruise ship a bit more. My arm is also fine, from yesterday. I didn't head in the end towards a doctor...
These two days were surprisingly not that bad. Especially... my time with her, if I had to say...
We almost... kissed us...I believe.
No, it's a misunderstanding, of course...
"Kurushima-kun, good morning," Matsushita-san and the people in her group said, approaching my table where I was sitting alone eating my breakfast.
"Ah, good morning, Matsushita-san, Mori-san, Sato-san..." I greeted them back.
"I didn't think that you would be already awake. It's quite early."
"Yeah, I didn't expect that too. But anyways, now that we're awake, what are we going to do Kurushima-kun? Do you want to come with us swimming? We bought some new bikinis yesterday, so we want to go today. Are you coming with us?" Matsushita-san asked, her eyes looking at me expectantly.
"Swimming doesn't sound bad, so I think I tag along."
Besides... it might become clearer whether I feel something regarding her or not. I'm not sure why, but even if I'm seeing girls in bikini's, I don't feel any attraction at all.
But when I look at her, I noticed and observed things I'd usually not observe from any girls. Her beautiful silver hair, her violet eyes, her kind gaze, her bright smile, her embarrassed face.
Why do I do these things around her presence?
Perhaps... it might become clearer with today, after all.
"Really? Then let's eat fast," Matsushita-san exclaimed happily, a small smile forming her face alongside that of the other girls.
After eating, the rest of the day I was swimming with them until 18 o'clock when I heard phones from everywhere simultaneously vibrating in a loud noise.
Alongside me, all the other people present in the pool began to get up and look at their phones, only to see a mail from the school arriving.
"I wonder what it is," Mori-san muttered, water droplets dropping from her skin.
Despite the various instructions we've received after starting school, this is the first time we were contacted in such a manner. This summer vacation is the first time receiving instructions like this. At the same time, an announcement started over the ship's speakers.
"This is an announcement to all students, you will have received a mail to your phones earlier. Check the contents of the mail and follow those instructions closely. If you have not received the mail, please contact your nearest available faculty member. This is a very important announcement so please make sure to not miss it. I repeat---" the voice repeated the message.
"...it's the mail we received just now right?" Sato asked.
"Probably," Mori-san answered.
"A special examination will be starting soon. Gather at the designated time in the designated rooms. Students who are more than 10 minutes late for the meeting will receive a penalty. Go to room 204 on the second floor by 20:40 today. Since there are 2 hours 40 minutes left until then, please wash your hands and keep your phone in silent mode or turn it off entirely when you are ready."
Room 204, huh?
And why is it at 20:40?
Couldn't it be a little bit sooner?
Uh, how bothersome.
[2 Hours and 40 Minutes Later]
[Room 204, 20:40]
Arriving in front of the door of Room 204, I held the doorknob and entered the room. Everyone else aside from me has arrived.
"Kurushima-kun," Hirata exclaimed, who sat next to Horikita.
"Ah, Hirata, it seems like you're also in this group."
"Yes, you too. Good to have you here," Hirata said.
"Good evening, Kushida-san, Horikita-san, how has your day been?"
"Good," Horikita-san replied shortly.
"Mine too," Kushida responded, clapping her hands together.
I approached the seat next to Kushida and sat down. Now all four of us were here, and Mashima-sensei could start with his explanation about the special examination.
"In this special exam, all the 1st year students will be divided up into groups based on their zodiac signs and the entirety of the examination will be conducted in groups of students sharing the same zodiac sign like the four of you here. The purpose of the test is to assess your 'thinking ability'."
"There are three required attributes that people who function well in society are required to master: Action, Thinking and Teamwork. These skills are necessary for you all to become successful adults. The last test on the island emphasized teamwork quite heavily, however, this one will emphasize your thinking. The ability to critically think, analyze the situation at hand and resolve the problem given will be tested in this exam. The ability to work creatively with imagination and work determinedly towards resolving the problem, such traits will become vital for this task."
"Therefore this exam will be conducted with 12 groups split up according to their zodiac signs and the exam will occur under those conditions."
"The group you are assigned to is the zodiac sign Dragon. Here's the list of all the members assigned to this zodiac. You will be required to return the list when you leave the room so feel free to memorize the list if you wish," Mashima-sensei explained further.
The postcard sized piece of paper was passed around between the four of us. The name of the group (Dragon) was written as well as the names of all 14 students assigned to this zodiac. And just like Mashima-sensei said, aside from the four of us, the remaining students of this zodiac group belonged to classes A, C, and D. The list was as follows:
Class A: Katsuragi Kohei, Shita Shinji, Koharu Yano,
Class B: Kushida Kikyo, Hirata Yousuke, Horikita Suzune, Kurushima Kaoru
Class C: Ando Sayo, Kanzaki Ryūji, Tsukabe Hitomi
Class D: Oda Takumi, Suzuki Hidetoshi, Sonoda Masashi, Ryūen Kakeru
(A/N: I took Nishikawa Ryouko from Class A out.)
"Ryūen, Kanzaki, and Katsuragi, huh. Seems like our group will be quite troublesome," I murmured, whereas Hirata also sighed.
Kushida just giggled, and as for Horikita, she immediately left once Mashima-sensei was finished with his explanation.
Well, it seems like her superiority complex is still intact.
"Kurushima-kun, Hirata-kun, I am going back to my room. Good night to the two of you."
"Good night, Kushida-san," both Hirata and I exclaimed in the same moment.
"Again, huh?" I murmured.
"Seems so," Hirata said.
"Hirata, are you also going back to our room?" I asked, shifting the attention to somewhere else.
"I planned to return, but Karuizawa just sent me a message now. And she's asking if you could also come."
"Well, I guess I can tag along," I replied. "Ah, before I forget it, have you already told Karuizawa-san about our conversation on the Island?" I asked.
"Yes, I informed her a few hours ago already."
"I see, that's good to know."
Once at our arrival at a chosen empty location, I saw Karuizawa-san standing there alone, looking at the pitch dark oceanfront. "Karuizawa-san," I greeted, causing her to turn around.
"Kurushima-kun, Yosuke, thank you for coming here so late. I think Yosuke already mentioned it, but I wanted to talk with you, Kurushima-kun. Do you mind leaving us alone for a bit?"
Hirata nodded, walking away to a proper distance, leaving Karuizawa-san and me alone.
"I want to apologize, Karuizawa-san. I should have stopped Hirata speaking further when I heard him saying that the two of you weren't a real couple. I am sorry for overstepping my boundaries," I exclaimed, doing a small bow in front of her.
"No, no, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known that I was bullied," she said, her eyes showcasing her sadness due to the experience of bullying she experienced.
"And besides, I think I can entrust you with this secret. You are one of the few friends here in this school who I trust."
"Don't worry, I'll be as quiet as an ant, Karuizawa-san," I said, causing her to form a small smile.
"And don't worry, I, too, understand your pain," I murmured.
"Kurushima-kun, have you said anything more?" she asked.
"Nope, must be your imagination, Karuizawa-san. Good night," I expressed, walking over to Hirata with whom I walked back to our room.
--
A/N: And this concludes the chapter.
I hope you liked it. If you did, please leave a comment and vote there.