The morning of Day Two of the survival exam.
Brilliant sunlight stread through the gaps in the dense jungle canopy.
Birdsong echoed through the forest, accompanied by the gentle murmur of a nearby stream.
The deserted island's mornings were surprisingly refreshing.
Our Class B's first day had ended extrely smoothly.
The area around our base—the well—had firm ground, and the tents weren't uncomfortable at all. Even the heat of the midsumr night had been manageable thanks to the shade of the forest and the cool air from the river. We'd also avoided all penalty deductions.
A perfect start.
"Fwaaah… Man, I slept great! The water this morning is ice-cold and amazing!"
An early-riser, Shibata shouted energetically while washing his face at the well.
Ichinose and the others were already getting ready for the day and working together to prepare breakfast.
(…Yeah, yeah. Everyone looks healthy. Seems like they're slowly getting used to survival life after making it through the first night.)
As I stepped out of my tent and stretched, silver hair suddenly swayed at the edge of my vision.
Our angel, Shiina Hiyori, was quietly admiring the dew-covered leaves.
"Good morning, Sousuke-kun. Did you sleep well?"
"—Ahh. …Even the vulgar buzzing of insects beca a pleasant lullaby, for once."
(Translation: Morning! Even in the tent, no bugs got in, so I slept really well!)
"Hehe, that's good to hear."
Hiyori tilted her head slightly and smiled.
"Sousuke-kun. If you'd like… would you go on a little morning walk with ? I feel like taking a stroll through the forest."
(————YES!! A morning walk invitation from my best friend on a deserted island!? There is literally no reason to refuse!!)
Internally pumping my fist in victory, I responded with utmost elegance.
"—If you desire it, then even this overgrown forest shall beco a scenic garden. …Allow to escort you."
And so, Hiyori and I set out on a light stroll around Class B's base.
The morning forest was cool and refreshing, the scent of earth and greenery filling our lungs.
Walking beneath the dappled sunlight, we exchanged peaceful little conversations like:
"This flower is beautiful."
"Ahh, it really is."
It was calm. Relaxing.
…Until we reached a crossroads in the forest.
Rustle…
Two students in Class D tracksuits erged from the bushes.
A black-haired, sharp-eyed beauty with an intimidating aura—Horikita Suzune.
And silently following behind her, expressionless as always—the boy with vacant eyes, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"Oh my… taking an elegant little stroll through the woods this early in the morning? Class B certainly seems relaxed."
Horikita stopped the mont she saw us, speaking with a thorny tone.
Her face clearly showed traces of exhaustion.
Class D likely still hadn't secured a stable base—or perhaps they simply hadn't adapted to the survival environnt yet.
More importantly…
Horikita Suzune was glaring at with intense hostility, as if I were her mortal enemy.
(Woah… she's glaring HARD. Scary, scary. Why is she this angry? …Ah, right. During that violence incident trial in the student council, I was the one who handed Sudou a two-week suspension and a fifty-point class penalty. …Yeah, okay, fair enough.)
Sweating internally, I tried to gently explain myself with a "I didn't really have a choice back then…"
But what ca out of my mouth was—
"—That damp gaze crawling across the earth…
It resembles a defeated cur howling pointlessly at a moon forever beyond its reach. Truly pitiful.
…The taste of mud suits one like you perfectly."
(WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!! THE WORST POSSIBLE THING CA OUT!!
I was trying to explain myself, but instead I delivered an ultra-condescending villain monologue treating her like bottom-tier trash!!
WHY DOES MY MOUTH AUTOMATICALLY POUR GASOLINE ON THE FIRE WHEN SOONE'S ALREADY MAD!?)
As expected, Horikita's face twitched with fury.
"…What was that supposed to an? As always, your way of talking makes absolutely no sense. Are you mocking ?"
She glared back at , not even trying to hide her irritation.
However—
At that exact mont, the ultimate translation machine standing beside smiled kindly and opened her mouth.
"Ah, Horikita-san. Sousuke-kun is saying this."
(HIYORI-SAN!? WAIT!? THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIS YOU DON'T NEED TO TRANSLATE!!)
"'You still seem resentful about the ruling from the previous hearing, but the way you glare at so bitterly makes you look like a pathetic loser. Your current miserable state suits you perfectly.' …is what he said."
"————!!"
Sothing inside Horikita Suzune snapped.
(HIYORIIIIIIIIIIII-SAAAN!!! WHY WOULD YOU TRANSLATE IT PERFECTLY, WORD FOR WORD, WITH A SMILE!?
You could've lied and softened it into 'Good morning' or sothing!! Horikita-san is genuinely furious now!!)
"You…!! You really have a lot of nerve saying whatever you want!!!
Why… WHY is soone like you acknowledged by my brother and allowed to beco vice president of the student council…!?"
Horikita gritted her teeth, glaring at with frustration twisting her expression.
(Eh!? We're talking about the student council president now!?
I'm not even "acknowledged," I just got forcibly dragged into becoming vice president and buried in paperwork!
…Wait. Is Horikita actually a massive brother fanatic!?)
Internally startled, I tried to laugh it off with a "Well, being student council president is tough too…"
But then—
Out ca one of the most famous and brutally devastating lines imaginable.
"—This is a good opportunity, Horikita Suzune. Let teach you one thing."
"…What?"
"—Admiration is the emotion furthest from understanding."
(WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! THERE IT IS!!!
My favorite BLEACH quote from my past life!!
BUT THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST POSSIBLE LINE TO DROP ON SOONE WITH AN ELDER-BROTHER COMPLEX!!!)
As expected, Horikita's eyes widened as though I had stabbed directly into her deepest insecurity.
"'Your admiration for your older brother may be so strong that it prevents you from truly understanding him—or the people around you,' …Sousuke-kun says this because he's worried about you."
Hiyori imdiately added a compassionate-sounding translation, but its core was still ruthlessly precise.
"Ugh…! What could soone like you possibly understand about my brother…!"
Horikita trembled with rage and took a step toward as though she might grab at any mont.
But Ayanokouji silently reached out and stopped her by the shoulder.
"Stop it, Horikita. Violence against another class ans imdiate disqualification. Losing your temper here accomplishes nothing."
"L-Let go, Ayanokouji-kun! I just—!"
"Calm down. He's the vice president of the student council."
Faced with Ayanokouji's calm but undeniable pressure, Horikita bit her lip and barely restrained herself.
(Thank you thank you THANK YOU, Kiyotaka! Amazing save! You seriously saved my life!)
Internally sighing in relief, I turned toward Ayanokouji with a perfectly elegant smile as though nothing had happened.
"—Yo, Kiyotaka. …You still seem just as bored with breathing as ever."
(Translation: Morning, Kiyotaka. Glad you seem healthy!)
"Yeah. Glad to see you're doing well too, Sousuke."
On the surface, it was simply an odd greeting between two male acquaintances.
But internally, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was filled with extre caution.
(…Sousuke. Even back in the White Room, he was unfathomable—but since coming to this school, the way he controls the board is abnormal.
During the violence incident… the one who moved Ichinose in advance and destroyed the fake-cara strategy I intended to use was unquestionably him.)
A cold glint flickered deep within Ayanokouji's eyes.
(He completely read my movents and deliberately crushed both Class D and Class C simultaneously under the guise of "equal punishnt."
And now he instantly saw through Horikita's weak point and destabilized her ntally.
…There's no way he hasn't already laid down so terrifying trap on this island too.)
Completely unaware of the overwhelming caution building inside Ayanokouji's head, I decided to probe him a little.
"—By the way, Kiyotaka. …Did a mud-covered 'viper' slither into your little flower garden as well?"
(Translation: By the way, did a fake injured spy from Class C co to your base too?)
"…?"
Ayanokouji slightly furrowed his brow, unable to imdiately parse the aning.
Naturally, Hiyori instantly assisted.
"'Did a Class C student pretending to be injured infiltrate your Class D base as a spy?' is what he's asking."
The instant he heard the translation—
Ayanokouji's eyes narrowed slightly.
(…What is this girl?
She's effortlessly translating Sousuke's absurdly abstract taphors instantly and perfectly…?
She isn't just an ordinary classmate. She completely understands and shares the "depth" of his language.
…She's dangerous too.)
Hiyori's innocent kindness had sohow transford, in Ayanokouji's mind, into "perfect code decryption by the Demon King's strategist."
Ayanokouji looked between and Hiyori before answering in a calm voice.
"…Sorry. Even for you, Sousuke, I can't hand over information about my class."
That answer.
The instant I heard it, the gears of my "Aizen Specs" clicked perfectly into place.
(…I see. So there is a spy.)
I nodded internally.
(If there hadn't been a spy from Class C, Kiyotaka would've simply answered "No" to lower unnecessary suspicion.
But instead, he avoided the question by saying he couldn't share information.
That ans there's currently a Class C spy inside Class D.)
And my thoughts imdiately advanced further.
(Ryuuen's extravagant beach party yesterday… the "Zero Point Strategy."
Use up all points, infiltrate other classes with spies, force the majority of your own class to retire, and focus entirely on the 150-point leader-guessing bonus.)
(During the violence incident, Ryuuen relied on Ishizaki as a subordinate to carry out his sches—and I crushed it.
…So in a special exam this important, where class points could swing massively, would he really entrust the core role to a lackey again?)
The answer was no.
(…Ryuuen himself?)
I reached a hypothesis.
(The "Class C leader" who remains hidden on the island after everyone else retires, personally hunting down the leaders of the other classes…
There's a high chance that's Ryuuen himself.)
Just from a single question and the nuance of Ayanokouji's reply—
I had begun to grasp the outline of Class C's leader.
"—Hmph. …That was a aningless exchange. Be cautious if you wish, but watch your footing.
…The fangs of that viper may already be reaching deeper into your heart than you realize."
(Translation: Too bad you won't tell , but be careful of spies! See you around!)
"Let's go, Hiyori."
"Yes, Sousuke-kun."
I turned away with Hiyori.
Then, just before leaving, I looked back over my shoulder and delivered one final strike toward Ayanokouji.
"—Kiyotaka. …No matter how intricately you pull your strings, they are all transparent to .
…So dance beautifully upon my board while you still can."
(Translation: Good luck with survival, Kiyotaka! I'm rooting for you!)
"......"
While Horikita muttered, "What is wrong with that guy…!?" in open fury—
Ayanokouji remained completely motionless until I disappeared into the forest.
(…"Transparent to ," huh.
So he truly has completely grasped that I was behind the dummy-cara plan and the one moving behind the scenes in Class D.
…In this exam, the greatest obstacle is definitely you.)
My supportive encouragent had sohow implanted overwhelming pressure and caution into Ayanokouji's mind instead.
---
Afterward, Hiyori and I returned to Class B's base at the well, where I imdiately gathered Ichinose and Kanzaki for another strategy eting.
"What's wrong, Aizen-kun? Did sothing happen during your walk?"
Ichinose tilted her head curiously.
I shared my hypothesis regarding Class C's leader.
"—The serpent king lurking in the shadows appears to have chosen to sever his own limbs and beco a solitary venomous fang."
(Translation: I think Class C's leader might actually be Ryuuen himself.)
"'He believes there is a strong possibility that Ryuuen-kun himself is Class C's leader,' is what he's saying."
"Ryuuen… the leader!?"
Kanzaki exclaid in shock.
"But yesterday, wasn't he the loudest one partying on the beach?
…The more attention a piece attracts, the easier it is to hunt. Why would he willingly make himself such an obvious target?"
"—That would be true for ordinary fools."
Crossing my arms, I connected everything to the "Zero Point Strategy" I had already deduced.
"—The mud ship has already begun sinking.
They likely burned away their own escape route, cast off the worthless insects intoxicated by sweet illusions, and sent them fleeing back to the white ark."
(Translation: Normally yes, but after spending all their points, they've probably already forced most of their class to retire and return to the ship by now.)
"—And what remains behind is only a solitary throne.
A lone viper abandoned by its swarm, hiding in darkness beyond all eyes, devouring the offerings brought by fools.
…A terribly cowardly and rational blind spot."
(Translation: That ans only a few people remain on the island—probably just Ryuuen and his spies. He's hiding alone in the forest and planning to identify the other leaders using only the information his spies gather.)
Beside , our angel imdiately converted my dangerously abstract logic into perfect Japanese.
"'Normally that would be true, but combined with the Zero Point Strategy, the situation changes. After spending all their points, they likely forced the majority of their class to retire before the final day. At that point, only a handful remain—most likely Ryuuen-kun and his spies. By hiding alone in the forest and operating entirely through gathered information, he can drastically reduce the risk of exposing himself as leader,' is what he ans."
"I see…! If most of them already retired, the other classes would assu Class C has completely dropped out… and then Ryuuen could steal all the points while everyone lowers their guard!"
Ichinose gasped.
"A devilish strategy… but logical."
Even Kanzaki wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
(It's still just a hypothesis. But the odds are extrely high.)
"—To clear the fog from this board, I require your eyes. Ichinose. Kanzaki. Give instructions to the exploration teams."
"What do you want us to do, Aizen?"
"—Search the depths of the forest for the footprints of a stray beast.
…If you find evidence of soone camping alone, do not engage. Report it to imdiately."
(Translation: While exploring the forest, if anyone finds signs of sobody camping alone, tell them to report it to us imdiately.)
"'Please instruct the exploration teams that if they discover evidence of soone camping alone in the forest, they must not approach and should report it imdiately,' is what he said."
"Got it! I'll tell Shibata and the others!"
"Yeah. If Ryuuen really is hiding alone sowhere, there will definitely be traces. We'll thoroughly search for them."
And so, rather than simply surviving, Class B successfully established a search network specifically designed to counter Ryuuen's "Zero Point Strategy."
That afternoon—
Class B's base remained as peaceful and lively as ever.
"Hey, Aizen! Check it out! We caught fish downstream! And we found mushrooms and edible wild plants too!"
Covered in mud, Shibata returned proudly carrying several fish speared on a handmade harpoon and bundles of mountain vegetables wrapped in leaves.
"That's amazing! Great job, Shibata-kun!"
Ichinose welcod him with applause.
"Heh! But how do we eat this? Just roast 'em?"
"—To rely burn them over fire would be an insult to the blessings of nature.
…Allow to bestow supre magic upon these crude chunks of flesh."
(Translation: Leave it to ! I'll cook sothing delicious!)
Rolling up my sleeves, I began working as Class B's exclusive chef.
Using small amounts of salt and oil purchased with points, along with herbs gathered from the forest, I utilized my flawless Aizen-spec cooking skills to prepare herb-grilled fish and mushroom-and-vegetable soup.
"WHOOOOA!! What the heck!? This is insanely good!!"
"It really is…! It tastes like restaurant food! Aizen-kun, you're perfect even at survival!"
"Sousuke-kun's cooking is always the greatest in the world."
Gathered around the campfire, Kanzaki, Shiranami, and the others smiled happily while enjoying the al.
Above us, the night sky sparkled with countless stars while glowing embers crackled gently in the fire.
While the other classes struggled through muddy water, suspicion, frustration, and tension—
Our Class B alone felt like a cheerful sumr camp shared among close friends.
(…These smiles. Ichinose, Hiyori, Kanzaki, Shibata… everyone's genuinely smiling and working together.
I want to protect this happy place.)
Slowly sipping the black tea I had brewed after dinner, I looked up at the night sky.
(A-Class's leader is Totsuka.
Class C's leader is most likely Ryuuen.
…I already hold the weak points of two enemy classes in my hands. Now all that remains is to preserve Class B's peace until the final day.)
With quiet determination burning inside , I passed the second night of the survival exam surrounded by the peaceful breathing of my sleeping companions.
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