As dusk approached, Hirata requested assistance in gathering firewood for the evening bonfire. With a curt nod, I began delegating the task, my focus on efficiency.
Sakura noticed my interaction with Hirata and approached me. "May I accompany you?" she inquired, her voice polite.
There was no strategic advantage to be gained by refusing her request. "Very well," I replied, my expression unchanged.
We departed from the camp, the rustling leaves the only sound breaking the silence.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Yamauchi glaring in our direction, his face contorted in a childish display of possessiveness. His emotional outbursts were predictable and ultimately irrelevant.
Our focus remained on the task at hand.
We proceeded with the task of collecting firewood, a period of uninterrupted solitude that I found… tolerable.
Sakura remained quiet, seemingly content with the companionable silence.
As we finished gathering firewood, we settled down beneath the shade of a sprawling tree, Sakura hesitantly broached the topic of the morning's commotion.
"It's a relief there wasn't an actual thief," she remarked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Indeed," I replied, my gaze unwavering.
Sakura, emboldened by my response, continued. "There's something the girls haven't told the boys." She darted a nervous glance around, as if fearing hidden ears. "Even Hirata-san seems to be cooperating."
This piqued my interest. "Do elaborate," I instructed, my voice neutral.
Sakura lowered her voice further. "The girls, particularly Karuizawa-san's group have used points to buy extra supplies for their tents. Pillows, mattresses, even fans."
Disappointment flickered within me, but it was quickly extinguished. The points were spent, irretrievable. However, this revelation offered a valuable glimpse into the internal dynamics of Class D.
A new perspective emerged in my mind.
The girls, it seemed, were divided into factions – Karuizawa's "Empress Team," likely aligned with Shinohara's "Arrogant Team," and then there was Kushida's "Friendship Faction." Only Horikita and Sakura remained unaffiliated.
Intriguingly, Kushida is the one who held the most influence over the boys. This means that in the entire Class D, Kushida is the one holding influence over the greatest number of boys and girls.
This, under normal circumstances, would be advantageous – she was, after all, my tool. However, her personal vendetta against Horikita cast a shadow of doubt in my mind that she could do something stupid to fulfil her vendetta against Horikita and even betray me in the process.
Perhaps, I mused, another tool was needed. Someone malleable, with the potential to sway the boys to my will. Sakura is the one I had chosen as my candidate for this matter.
Of course, she remained blissfully unaware of the role I envisioned for her. But that, for now, was a detail best left concealed.
Now…It was a question of how to use her.
Although in the past days, she has become more confident and comfortable in my presence, but this is still not enough for her to fulfil the role that I envisioned for her.
To cultivate her into a pawn of consequence, a transformation was necessary.
The source of Kushida's power was multifaceted. Her communication skills were undeniable, but it was her physical beauty that held a significant sway over the boys.
Replicating Kushida's level of extroversion in Sakura was likely unrealistic.
However, Sakura possessed a hidden advantage – a natural beauty that eclipsed even Kushida's. Her past as a gravure idol, concealed by her current shyness, hinted at this significant potential.
The logical course of action was clear.
If Sakura sheds her spectacles and embraced her former appearance, the boys currently enthralled by Kushida's looks would undoubtedly be captivated. Furthermore, Sakura's inherent shyness and genuine nature could cultivate a deeper loyalty, creating a dedicated following amongst the boys.
This shift in perception would establish Sakura as a rival influence within the boys' ranks, a necessary counterpoint to Kushida's dominance.
This, of course, would require Sakura's unwitting cooperation. The task at hand was to nudge her, subtly and gradually, towards a transformation that would benefit my ultimate goals.
"It would be interesting," I began, my voice devoid of inflection, "to see you project more confidence. To reveal your true beauty to the class, perhaps."
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing a faint pink. The reaction was as expected. This initial nudge needed to be subtle, a seed planted in fertile ground.
I continued, "As a friend, I would be happy to witness such a transformation."
This additional comment, couched in the guise of friendship, served two purposes. Firstly, it established a baseline of support, a foundation I could leverage in the future. Secondly, it offered a potential escape clause, an assurance that her current state was perfectly acceptable.
Silence descended between us, thick with unspoken implications. Sakura, I observed, was lost in thought, her mind likely swirling with questions and uncertainties.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "Ayanokouji-kun… do you… like confident girls?"
This unexpected question caught me off guard for a fleeting moment because of the emotional implications. However, I quickly recovered. Here was an opportunity, a chance to further manipulate the conversation to my advantage.
"Being around someone with confidence," I replied smoothly, "can be a refreshing experience. It's a quality I wouldn't necessarily take issue with, of course. But the choice, ultimately, is yours."
My response was intentionally vague, offering encouragement without dictating her actions. The seed was sown, the water provided.
The path towards transformation, however, remained for her to choose.
The conversation with Sakura concluded, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. We had both rested sufficiently, and it was time to return to camp. The walk back was uneventful, shrouded in a comfortable quiet.
As dusk settled, marking the end of the fifth day, I remained oblivious to the turmoil brewing within Sakura. My words, a calculated nudge, had evidently resonated far deeper than anticipated.
The next day dawned with a shift in the island's mood. The once pleasant weather had taken a turn for the worse.
Hirata directed everyone in Class D towards foraging for food in the wilderness.
I found myself in a group with the predictable mix – Horikita, Sakura (whose demeanor remained unchanged, for now), Yamauchi, and Kushida. Ibuki, at my suggestion, joined our group as well.
Venturing into the wooded area, Horikita proposed a paired search strategy. Unsurprisingly, she opted to partner with me.
Kushida claimed Sakura as her teammate, leaving Yamauchi with Ibuki.
As we walked a few days ahead, Horikita and I engaged in a brief conversation regarding the elusive key card.
I requested a closer look, mentioning that I saw a card in Katsuragi's possession and wasn't sure whether it was the leader card.
I stared at the card for some time before mentioning that it was a bit different from the one in Katsuragi's card.
Soon, I return to card to Horikita.
While returning the card, my grip inexplicably faltered, causing it to fall to the forest floor. It was quickly picked up and returned to Horikita.
Ibuki's sharp eyes caught the incident. "Something wrong, Ayanokouji?" she inquired.
"Merely an insect," I replied, my expression unchanged. A minor lapse, easily explained.
Approaching him casually, I presented a proposition. "Yamauchi," I began, my voice flat, "I have a deal for you."
He eyed me warily, but curiosity flickered in his gaze. "What do you have in mind, Ayanokouji?"
"I want you to do a small prank," I replied, keeping the details vague. "In exchange, I can arrange for Sakura to provide you with her personal contact information."
The bait was cast. Yamauchi's face broke into a lecherous grin. "Deal!" he exclaimed, completely oblivious to the true value of the information he was bartering.
His eagerness was unsurprising. The prospect of acquiring Sakura's email address was clearly intoxicating to him.
With a satisfied smirk, I outlined the "mischief" – it was a simple act of smearing mud on Horikita's head.
The execution was crude, but effective. Yamauchi, with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop, lunged at Horikita, smearing mud across her head.
Her retaliation was swift and brutal, sending Yamauchi sprawling to the ground with a surprised yelp.
Returning to the base camp, Horikita's mud-caked state demanded immediate attention. The occupied shower offered no solution. And considering the long queue of girls for shover, it didn't seem as if Horikita's turn would come any time soon.
"You have no choice but to wash it off in the river if you want to wash it off quickly," I suggested, my tone neutral. This option, while unconventional, provided the necessary privacy.
Both Ibuki and Sakura opted to remain behind.
Yamauchi, likely nursing his wounds, retreated to the boys tent. The entire situation had unfolded as I wanted.