---Notice---
Todays a double upload as promised.
Sorry for the later upload honestly I was waiting for the new week and power rankings to start, I want to try to get on the rankings this week.
I hope everyone enjoys the chapter. Powerstones are greatly appreciated, and so are reviews I would really appreciate reviews.
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"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." ~Walter Winchell
The breeze from the nearby ocean added to the anticipation of Ryuen's following words. "I've made myself clear: I don't plan on bothering with this exam," he responded.
These words annoyed Horikita. "I don't believe you. I know you're definitely plotting something, even if I don't know the exact details. Otherwise, why would Yagami even bother with a stunt like that?" Horikita responded.
"I'd actually like to know the answer to that myself. His actions also took me by surprise," Ryuen said, looking at me.
It didn't seem like Horikita truly believed him, even though he was telling the truth. But it didn't matter. "Earlier, you called me incompetent and questioned how I got into the student council, so I thought it fair to give you a firsthand demonstration of my capabilities."
Horikita stood quiet for a moment, then gave a sigh of resignation. "Whatever. I'm not sure what you are plotting, Ryuen, but this situation is out of my control now," she said, giving a slight pause. "Whatever ends up occurring before the end of this exam, just know Class D will come out victorious over you."
"HAHAHA, sure, keep dreaming," Ryuen responded as Ayanokoji and the annoyed Horikita made their exits.
Class D is becoming more hopeless as time passes. Not only that, but I have a foot in the door in terms of control with Karuizawa. I have work left to do, but I've made lots of progress with them. Soon, with control of Hiyori, I won't have to worry much about control over Class C. Unless Ryuen does anything crazy, I can already consider this class conquered.
Class B and A will be more annoying problems. I have to find a way to take advantage of Class B's financial situation. They used points to save two students during the midterms, so the slightest instability can have a huge effect on them. If I can do that, knowing the kind of students in Class B, they'd basically hand over power. But Class A is an entirely different beast. Once someone has felt what it's like to be at the top, they never want to go back down. How many billionaires do you see advocating for equal distribution of wealth and resources?
But I must do whatever is necessary to gain power over them. This school needs me, after all. Right now, it may just be Class C, but soon, Class D and even B will also be relying on me. If they don't have me, how will the students of this school operate properly?
Ryuen's voice cut through my thoughts. "Impressive. In one brief interaction, you accomplished a lot. But I must wonder, what was the point? Ibuki would've taken care of Horikita, and now Class D and likely Class B will be suspicious of us. They'll suspect us of plotting something. So, what was the point?"
"It's fine. Our contract with Class A doesn't demand we give them intel without evidence to back it. But even without focusing on that, think about it. Horikita will now need to explain to her class how she was discovered as the cardholder. Even if she doesn't, she'll let her guard down around Ibuki. After all, a spy would seem useless after we've already discovered Horikita. Additionally, no one knows about our contract with Class A. Even if someone suspected or exposed Ibuki as a spy, they'd see her as useless now. At the same time, Ibuki is smart enough to continue her mission even if she hears we already discovered Class D's leader. Especially once she learns we gave back the card. In a way, Class D and B focusing their suspicion on us and of our spies is a good thing. It will help our espionage mission."
"I assume that's true, but your actions still weren't necessary, which is what I find interesting. So why?" Ryuen asked.
"I explained it to Horikita. I simply acted because I don't like being doubted," I responded.
This wasn't the whole story. I wanted to drag out the one pulling Horikita's strings. When Horikita returns to camp and discusses the class's current situation, the shadow master will be forced to act. If Ibuki simply gets a picture of Class D's keycard with the camera we gave her, there's a chance she goes unnoticed by Class D. And that's quite the boring scenario.
"If that's true, then it seems you can be petty too," Ryuen said, smiling. "Well, whatever. Like you said, it doesn't matter." He looked to the side as the Class C students prepared the food for the upcoming celebration.
"Anyway, that's done, so I suppose I should help everyone," I said, walking towards Shiina as everyone got the grills ready to make meat, cups, and other party necessities.
During the walk, I took in a lot of the scenery. I understood where Ryuen was coming from, opting to take this unique position in the exam. If a class could guess all three other class leaders while gaining more class points through survival on the island, was it worth taking this exam seriously? 150 points from guessing other class leaders alone was enough to put you in equal standings with all other classes if you assume they each use 100 points during this exam.
This scenery by the ocean, the games of volleyball, barbecues, and overall comfort could be argued to be worth the cost of all the points. Especially for a class with students as useless as the majority of those in Class C, we wouldn't have been left with much just focusing on survival.
"Are you feeling better, Yagami?" Shiina asked as I approached her. She seemed to be getting things ready for the fruit sorbet we would be making.
"I'm close enough," I responded, smiling. "Let me help you. It will take a while before everything is ready anyway, right?"
Shiina gave me an enthusiastic nod. "Yes, but don't rush. We have more than enough time. Thank you for your help. You can relax here and set everything up. I'll go around and ask everyone what flavor sorbet they want," she responded, and I nodded.
As she walked away, I moved towards the chilled container where we had our fruits stored and chilled. Slowly, I took out the fruits until I got to the bottom and saw a bag with berries inside. Mistletoe berries colorless, scentless, and other than a slight bitterness and sweetness that can be found in any fruit, they are basically tasteless. And most importantly, they are poisonous. They aren't considered lethal like most things on this island but can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. A couple of these in someone's dessert would leave them essentially incapacitated.
"We'll do it your way, Ryuen. You forced my hand, leaving me no option but to fulfill your desire and force you out of your position. Remember, you only have yourself to blame for this."
***Shiina Hiyori***
It was quite the scene, one of those moments you just don't forget.
The breeze from the trees, the sun shining down on all of us, the golden glow across the beach, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore played perfectly with the laughter and chatter that filled the air.
Tiki torches surrounded the camp, their flames dancing merrily like my classmates.
Groups of friends lay on colorful blankets and beach chairs, some sipping on tropical drinks or enjoying the leftover sorbets.
While some shared stories and jokes, a bonfire crackled in the center, surrounded by people roasting marshmallows and exchanging heartfelt toasts.
Food tables were filled with an array of delicious treats. The scent of grilled fish and sizzling skewers drifted through the air, making mouths water and adding to the festive atmosphere.
It was a perfect blend of laughter, friendship, and happiness—an unforgettable moment etched in the memories of all who were there.
Yes, this was definitely a night to remember.
Have you ever had one? Have you been with family or friends and just forgotten about everything else going on in your life?
This moment made me realize there was truly nowhere else I'd rather be right now.
I said it to Yagami, and I meant it. As long as my friends are happy and everyone is able to coexist in peace, then I am happy.
There was one thing that bothered me, though.
"Hi, Manabe, would you happen to know where Yagami is right now?" I asked.
"Yagami? He told me he would be dealing with something right now," Manabe responded. I frowned at her words. "Why do you ask?"
"I was just hoping to see him. He played a big part in setting this celebration up, but I haven't seen him enjoy it, and it's coming to an end now."
"Now that I think about it, Ryuen isn't around either. I'm sure they'll pop up soon, but we should start picking stuff up. We're leaving soon, after all, and can't leave the camp dirty," she responded.
And we went on to do exactly that. Even the cleanup was serene, with everyone happily assisting. Only after we were finishing did Yagami finally make an appearance.
"Sorry to bother everyone. I hope you all have enjoyed yourselves, but sadly, it's time to leave the island. So everyone, please prepare to leave in the next couple of minutes," Yagami said loudly so that everyone in camp could hear him.
And, of course, being a respected member of the class, everyone did just as he said.
Seeing him for the first time in a while, I went to approach him. "Where were you?"
"I had to deal with some matter with Ryuen, so I was preoccupied. I was in one of the camp tents," he responded. He seemed tired out. Maybe it was a serious matter pertaining to the exam.
"I see. It's sad. I was hoping to celebrate with you. It was one of the main reasons I was so excited about this whole thing."
Yagami responded, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to disappoint you. I just had a lot on my plate today."
"Well, we are leaving soon, so it's alright," I responded, attempting to comfort him.
"Yes, although I'll be a bit late. I still have to deal with some things with Ryuen. I'd appreciate it if you could ensure everyone gets back safely to the cruise ship."
"I see. Of course, I'll do my best to see everyone arrives at the cruise ship safely."
Shortly after that encounter, the rest of the class and I walked through the forest together, aiming to arrive at the beach where we first docked.
As we walked, a strange feeling tugged at my heart. I couldn't figure out what it was, but something just didn't feel right.
Before I knew it, we had arrived at our destination.
"Oh, what's this?" Hoshinomiya said playfully as we stepped onto the beach.
Manabe was the first to respond, "We aren't feeling well. You know, stomach aches, headaches, stuff like that. We want to go back to the ship."
Hoshinomiya looked confused for a second before asking, "All of you?" and getting a unanimous "Yes."
"Okay, stand by the ship entrance. I'll have to do a little count and mark your names off to make your resignations official," Hoshinomiya replied.
One by one, we got onto the ship. I was one of the last to board, and I could hear some of the teachers talking. Their conversation brought back that chilling feeling in my heart.
"Sakagami, it seems like there's an emergency. One of your students pressed the button on their wristwatch."
That's all I could make out as we were taken to board the cruise ship, leaving me unable to do anything.
***
Ibuki, Kaneda, Ryuen, and Yagami.
Five minutes had passed since I boarded the cruise ship with everyone in Class C. While everyone was enjoying themselves, I couldn't help but worry about those four. They were the only members of Class C left on the island, meaning one of them pressed the button on their watch.
As the minutes ticked by, my anxiety only grew. Ten minutes passed, then twenty. Each minute felt like an eternity, filled with thoughts of Yagami's ominous words about returning to the ship. By the time thirty minutes had passed, I was on edge, my heart pounding.
Then, we saw someone new boarding the ship. It was Ryuen, supported by two doctors.
"Let go of me. I'm fully awake, and we're on the ship; there's no point in this," Ryuen said, shoving both doctors aside.
"But sir, your classmate reported that you had eaten some poisonous berries. We can't—"
"I told you to fuck off," Ryuen growled menacingly. "If I deem it necessary, I'll go to the medical ward myself. There's no point in this." He sat down nearby, his voice weaker and more drowsy than usual. "Plus, there's nothing lethal on that island anyway, right?"
"But still, you could faint or—"
"I already told you to fuck off, didn't I? Do so while I'm being nice." With those final words, the doctors retreated.
This left me and Class C staring at him curiously. Poison? What had happened?
"What are you guys staring at?" Ryuen snapped, and I couldn't help but ask.
"That doctor said you ate some poisonous berries. What happened?" I asked.
"Do you think I'd be so stupid? Anything I ate on that island, you guys would've eaten too. We were both eating from the same camp." Ryuen's voice was weak, greatly contrasting his usual demeanor. "I didn't purposely eat anything poisoned. No, that bastard Yagami must have poisoned me because I wouldn't listen to him when he implied we might fail this exam if I didn't step down as cardholder. Then, while I was weakened and unconscious, he pressed the emergency button on my wristwatch."
As Ryuen spoke, everything started to make sense. The reasons why Yagami had been acting strange all day, why he seemed so tired, and the true meaning of his apology to me.
I couldn't help the gut-wrenching feelings that soon came.
Suddenly, memories of similar moments flooded my mind. Times when I had relied heavily on someone else's strength and sacrifices without truly recognizing their struggles. Moments when I was so focused on my own worries that I overlooked the silent battles others were fighting.
I say I value friendship, but I let others struggle alone.
I say I'm against competition, but I happily benefited from Yagami's competitive efforts.
I say I want to help others, but I turned a blind eye to friends' pain.
I remembered my parents coming home from work and staying up all night helping me study for exams while I barely noticed how tired they were. Or when my siblings took on extra chores so I could go to the library, and I didn't even thank them properly.
Those moments seemed insignificant then, but now they echoed loudly in my mind.
I say I dislike relying on others, but I leaned on Yagami without a second thought.
I say I'm supportive, but I failed to support my friend when he needed it most.
I say I cherish honesty, but I ignored the silent cries for help from my so-called friend.
I've always wanted friends, and for the first time, I've had some success. I dislike how the classes compete and how it's bred hostility, but I thought it was good that most of our class managed to avoid that and see some success.
But I never thought about the cost of that success.
Since the beginning, Yagami has been struggling to maintain peace in our class and give us a good school life. He's been fighting for us to reach Class A while we benefited from his actions. He's been exhausting himself to keep us happy.
If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have made friends with those in Class C. No, the atmosphere would be completely different.
It's been because of him—whether in the student council, defending our class, during exams, midterms, even small things like quizzes, and now these special exams. Without Yagami and his constant support, along with the safety net from the points he taxed, the class would have a lot more to worry about.
I would still be the same girl in the library, reading books alone.
I'm against competition, but I also want to make friends, and ironically, it's been through hard work and competition that Yagami has made my dream of making friends possible.
What kind of friend does that make me? Letting my so-called friend struggle for my benefit while I just reap the rewards?
And today… today, Yagami was pushed to the point where he felt he had to poison Ryuen to keep the class happy.
Maybe things would've been different if I had offered Yagami my full support. If I had helped him, things would've been different, he wouldn't have done something so drastic.
I say I want friends, but all students in Class C, all my friends want to reach Class A. They want to compete. What kind of friend denies the goals of others and benefits while pushing the responsibility of those goals onto another so-called friend and just watches as they struggle?
Acting like this, can I really call Yagami my friend?
I thought about my own selfish moments, how I've let others take the burden while I stood by, oblivious or unwilling to help. The countless times I've let others handle the tough situations while I benefited from their sacrifices.
It was easy to take it all for granted, to ignore the silent pleas for help, the weariness in their eyes.
All I can do is think about the mental anguish Yagami must have been going through since this morning, contemplating his future actions. The anguish I did absolutely nothing to help resolve as he went about his day suffering. The anguish he will be suffering for the next three days on the island alone.
Now, I say I want to make things right, but I don't know how.
I guess that is my punishment for being greedy and selfish, but it's well deserved. I just wish that I could suffer in Yagami's place.
He apologized to me, but truly, I should be the one apologizing to him.
Because…
I've failed as a friend.
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I didn't really like this chapter. I was really tempted to scrap it, but give me your thoughts.