Inside the ship, in the temporary rest area for Class D, Karuizawa Kei was sitting on the sofa scrolling through her phone.
Earlier, when she noticed Hachiman going to see Sakayanagi, and then saw him with the Student Council President on the deck, she had tactfully stayed away. However, upon returning to the rest area, she didn't stay idle; she gathered several mbers of her "gal" clique and chatted idly.
After all, having suddenly heard that Ayanokouji was targeting her, she was still a bit terrified. She felt there was safety in numbers, so staying with her team mbers made her feel more secure.
Matsushita Chiaki sat across from her, holding a cup of milk tea, her gaze drifting toward the window from ti to ti. She had just taken a stroll on the deck, hoping for a chance encounter with Hikigaya Hachiman, but had co up empty.
"Matsushita, why do you keep looking out the window?" Sato Maya noticed her odd behavior and asked curiously.
"It's nothing." Matsushita withdrew her gaze, maintaining her usual tone, though she looked thoughtful. "I just heard that Hikigaya-kun was chatting with the Student Council President on the deck for a long ti, and I was curious about what they talked about."
"Hikigaya-kun?" Shinohara Satsuki leaned in, her face full of surprise. "He really chatted with the President alone? I thought it was just a random rumor in the class group."
"I saw it with my own eyes," Matsushita nodded. "The two of them sat at the bar and talked for a while. The President was even looking at Hikigaya-kun's little notebook."
Shinohara Satsuki blinked, her tone carrying a hint of emotion: "Hikigaya-kun is really amazing, even the President is willing to talk to him one-on-one. I feel like a massive chasm has opened up between him and us ordinary students."
Karuizawa listened to their discussion, and while she remained silent, she felt a bit smug. She knew far more information than they did. The fact that the Student Council President specifically ca over showed that Hikigaya's strategic planning was indeed formidable.
Of course, she wouldn't say any of this out loud.
Just then, the ship's broadcast suddenly rang out:
"Announcent: Karuizawa Kei-san of first-year Class D, please proceed to the first-floor rest area. Student Council President Horikita Manabu is waiting for you there. Repeat: Karuizawa Kei-san of first-year Class D, please proceed to the first-floor rest area, Student Council President Horikita Manabu is waiting for you."
The broadcast played twice, the sound echoing through the cabin, every word reaching the ears of everyone present.
Karuizawa completely froze. Her phone nearly slipped from her hand, and her expression shifted from relaxed to stunned in an instant.
"?"
She let out a subconscious exclamation, her eyes wide, completely unable to process what was happening. Sato Maya, Shinohara Satsuki, and Matsushita Chiaki were also stunned, their gazes locking onto Karuizawa.
They had just been discussing the President, and now he was looking for them... or rather, looking for Karuizawa?
"Karuizawa? The President is looking for you? Do you know what it's about?" Sato Maya asked curiously.
Matsushita Chiaki didn't speak; she just watched Karuizawa quietly, a trace of thought flashing in her eyes.
After a few seconds, Matsushita seed to figure it out. "Karuizawa, do you think the President is eting you while he's here to deliver Sakayanagi-san? After all, you said before that your Student Council position was applied for through Kushida-san's help."
"That must be it!" Sato realized. "Then the President must be looking for you to arrange work? Since you just joined, he definitely needs to explain a few things. Normally he'd wait until after the exam, but since he's already here, it seems normal to et his new colleague."
"P-probably..." Karuizawa forced a smile, though she was internally panicked.
She knew exactly where her Student Council position ca from—it was arranged by Hachiman and Horikita-san, she hadn't applied for it at all. Kushida was just a lie she used as an excuse. If she slipped up in front of the President now, it would be over.
"I'll go with you," Matsushita Chiaki suddenly stood up and walked to Karuizawa's side. "It's too nerve-wracking to et the President alone. I'll go with you, at least for moral support."
Karuizawa was stunned, wanting to refuse but unable to find an excuse.
"I'm going too!" Sato Maya imdiately raised her hand. "I want to see what the President looks like up close! Usually, we only see him from a distance at assemblies. This is a rare chance!"
"Then I'm going as well," Shinohara Satsuki stood up too. "I'm not doing anything anyway, let's go together."
Now she really couldn't refuse. Karuizawa could only agree. The four of them headed toward the first-floor rest area.
Along the way, students cast curious glances, and whispers rose everywhere.
"Isn't that Karuizawa from Class D? What does the President want with her?"
"I heard she joined the Student Council, probably for work assignnts."
"Joined the Student Council? A Class D student can get in?"
"Who knows, maybe she has so special talent."
The discussions reached her ears, making Karuizawa's ears burn, but she didn't stop. Near the middle of the ship, they ran into a few Class D boys. Ike Kanji was in the lead, and his eyes lit up when he saw the girls. In class, his relationship with Karuizawa and the "gals" was terrible—purely hostile, the type to argue the mont they t.
"Yo, Karuizawa! Heard the President is looking for you?" Ike Kanji's tone was mocking. "Did you do sothing wrong? About to get disciplined?"
Shinohara Satsuki imdiately glared at him. "What are you talking about? Karuizawa joined the Student Council, and the President is eting her to assign work! You think everyone is like you, just guessing blindly all day?"
Ike was taken aback, looking embarrassed. "J-joined the Student Council? Her?"
"What about her?" Shinohara Satsuki put her hands on her hips, full of montum. "Got a problem?"
"N-no problem..." Ike shrank back, but couldn't help muttering, "But a Class D student getting into the Student Council, that's just too ridiculous..."
Just as he finished, a deep voice ca from the side.
"There is nothing ridiculous about it."
Everyone froze and turned around. At the corner of the hallway stood a sharp-faced boy in a student uniform. His eyes were piercing, and his powerful aura made people feel an instinctive pressure.
It was the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu.
"P-President!" Ike nearly jumped in fright, quickly backing away.
Horikita Manabu didn't look at him; his gaze landed directly on Karuizawa. Karuizawa felt an invisible pressure hit her, and her whole body went stiff.
"Karuizawa-san," Horikita Manabu spoke, his voice calm but authoritative. "You've arrived at the right ti."
He paused, scanned the people around her, and then looked back.
"Arranging for you to join the Student Council was indeed due to your own luck and courage. You proposed a plan to the Student Council to purchase a position using points. This was a novel suggestion; I agreed and gave you the authority to pay for the position in installnts."
Karuizawa was stunned. Her brain went completely blank in that instant.
'A plan to buy a position? Paying in installnts? I never proposed that!'
She subconsciously wanted to say sothing, but the words died in her throat. Horikita Manabu's eyes told her: Don't speak, just listen.
"Originally, you were only buying a Public Morals Committee position worth 200,000 points," Horikita Manabu continued. "By chance, a general affairs staff mber was punished and needs a replacent, so you will fill that spot directly. Starting from general affairs can be considered your opportunity. The calculation remains at 200,000 points, but congratulations on joining the Student Council. On the 1st of every month, a stipend of 20,000 points will be deposited into your account."
Karuizawa nodded blankly, having no idea how to respond.
Sato Maya and Shinohara Satsuki, however, were already excited.
This ant that Kei's story about asking Kushida to help apply for a position via points was actually reliable and possible. In this school, you really could buy anything.
Matsushita Chiaki, standing aside, watched this scene silently.
As the smartest person in this small group, a trace of doubt flashed in her eyes. Buying a Student Council position for 200,000 points—this price was not expensive at all.
In fact, it was a profit.
While "general affairs" wasn't a high rank, it allowed access to information ordinary students couldn't get; as an investnt, it was entirely worth it. Plus, with a 20,000-point monthly stipend, the 200,000 points would be paid back in a year. Kei would have a stable inco for the next two years.
She hadn't thought about it much before, but now Matsushita couldn't help but wonder. Karuizawa was the head of the "gals," but did she really have that kind of foresight?
'Wait...'
A thought suddenly occurred to her.
Perhaps Karuizawa had soone highly capable guiding her from behind.
Was it Kushida? It felt like even Kushida wouldn't think of this specific plan... so, the person behind Karuizawa couldn't be Horikita, right?
After all, during the uninhabited island exam, they cooperated with Horikita and everyone earned extra inco. And Horikita... wait, the Student Council President is also a Horikita...
and the President does look like Horikita-san, both having black hair and reddish eyes... Could it be...
Matsushita quickly shook her head. Even if she knew, she couldn't let this news out. Or rather, did Horikita-san have such a massive background? And Karuizawa had sohow established such a connection.
At this thought, she imdiately beca well-behaved.
Being in Karuizawa's team was good; staying like this seed fine. She should focus more on how to get closer to Hikigaya-kun of Class B.
But Hikigaya-kun had just been chatting privately with the President, so the President clearly valued him even more.
If she tried to get close to him in this environnt, would she look too opportunistic?
She felt she shouldn't rush it.
-
-
-
anwhile, Horikita Suzune was sitting by a window in the ship, holding a thick reference book. She had been in this position for nearly an hour, yet she had only turned three pages.
It wasn't because the content was too difficult, but because she couldn't concentrate. She had heard the broadcast clearly: "Karuizawa Kei-san of first-year Class D, please proceed to the first-floor rest area, Student Council President Horikita Manabu is waiting for you there."
'Brother.'
Her brother was here. He was on the ship.
Horikita's fingers unconsciously gripped the pages. She knew why her brother was looking for Karuizawa—that general affairs position was sothing Hachiman had arranged. Her brother going there now was likely just a formality to give Karuizawa so status and solidify the arrangent.
But even knowing that, an indescribable emotion kept surging up.
"Achoo!"
Horikita suddenly sneezed, her body shivering slightly, and the book almost fell.
"What's wrong?" Kushida, who had received a ssage from Karuizawa saying Hikigaya warned her Ayanokouji might be targeting her, had been asked to check Ayanokouji's GPS to see if he was following. As soone who had also been followed by Ayanokouji, Kushida naturally had a lot to say on the matter and agreed imdiately.
However, checking GPS wasn't sothing to be done in public, so she went back to her room and decided to inform Horikita of the situation. Just as she was about to leave, she saw Horikita sneeze. "Did you catch a cold?"
"No," Horikita rubbed her nose, her brows furrowing slightly. "Soone is probably talking about ."
'Heh.'
Kushida was naturally happy to see Horikita suffer. She knew many people said bad things about her.
"Speaking of which, the Class D group chat is exploding," Kushida said. "They say Karuizawa was personally received by the President and is now a celebrity. Everyone is guessing what kind of ability she has to make the President co out in person."
She paused, watched Horikita's expression, and added: "Karuizawa is really in the spotlight right now."
Horikita looked up, her gaze calm. "She deserves it."
But her tone was flat, appearing neither happy nor sad. Kushida was slightly startled; she thought Horikita would be annoyed.
After all, Karuizawa was being t by the President just for a position, while Horikita Suzune, his actual sister, hadn't even seen him once.
But Horikita's reaction was completely unexpected.
"You're quite open-minded," Kushida said with a complex tone. "But then again, the President is apparently leaving soon. Aren't you going to see him?"
At those words, Horikita's hand paused. She was silent for a few seconds, her gaze falling on the sea outside. The sunset dyed the water a warm orange, looking exceptionally peaceful.
"No." Horikita finally shook her head.
Kushida raised an eyebrow. "Why? He's your brother."
"Exactly because he's my brother," Horikita looked out the window, her voice soft but clear. "Hikigaya already t with him, and if my brother really wanted to see , Hikigaya would have notified . He didn't, which ans my brother isn't prepared to see right now."
Then, as if reaching a conclusion: "It ans the current is not enough. Not strong enough. So, my brother thinks there is no need to et."
Kushida fell silent. She looked at Horikita's profile; that usually cold face now showed a rare stubbornness. It wasn't out of spite or resentnt, but a genuine process of thinking, asuring, and deciding.
In other words, this woman truly believed she wasn't qualified.
'Isn't it because your brother wants to protect you?'
The fact that he used the ship's broadcast to call Karuizawa instead of going to the Class D area was likely because he feared appearing on stage with Horikita Suzune, as people might link the two and potentially cause her harm.
Kushida suddenly didn't know what to say.
"So?" she finally asked.
Horikita looked back at her book. Her fingers lightly stroked the edge of the page, her tone becoming firm. "So, I must continue to work hard. I must do better in this exam. I'll let my brother know that even if he isn't here, I can manage."
Horikita paused and looked up, a spark of heat in her eyes.
"Three million points is just the start. When I save twenty million, transfer to a better class, and achieve real results, only then will eting him have aning."
Kushida was stunned, then sighed helplessly.
'Great, she's fired up again.'
Kushida certainly wouldn't use 20 million points to transfer; she'd rather use it to get out via expulsion. But Horikita Suzune would likely choose to transfer, and to Class B at that.
She must have been fed so sort of potion by that Hikigaya guy. It seems that guy who says he doesn't know how to deal with girls is actually oblivious—to a certain extent, he's quite good at attracting the attention of the girls around him.
Kushida watched Horikita lower her head again, focusing on her reference book. A strange feeling bubbled up in her heart.
This woman, while stubborn enough to cause a headache, had a bit of... sothing admirable in that stubbornness.
But admire or not, she still had to snark.
"Twenty million points?" Kushida laughed lightly, her tone teasing. "You only have three million; you're far from twenty. And even if you save enough and transfer to Class B, are you sure that Hikigaya guy will take you?"
Horikita didn't look up, her tone still calm. "He will."
"So confident?"
"Because it's a transaction," Horikita turned a page. "He needs help, I need a goal. We each get what we need."
Kushida looked at her and suddenly felt a bit envious.
Not envious of the three million points or the collaborator like Hikigaya, but envious of her state—knowing what she wants and charging forward with single-mindedness.
Kushida Kikyo had lived for the expectations of others since elentary school, playing the "little angel." She knew that feeling too well—not knowing what she wanted but pretending to be passionate about everything.
Horikita, however, never needed to pretend. She reads when she wants, studies when she wants, and doesn't see her brother when she doesn't want to. Even if people say she's antisocial or lacks social graces, she doesn't care. That kind of freedom was sothing Kushida never had.
And thinking about it, feeling it, made Kushida very unhappy.
"Fine, I won't disturb your studying," Kushida stood up and brushed non-existent dust from her skirt. "I'm going back to my dorm."
Horikita gave a soft "Mm," her eyes still on the book. Kushida reached the door, stopped, and looked back. She decided to be charitable today.
"By the way, Horikita," Kushida said.
Horikita looked up.
"Your brother not coming to see you... maybe it isn't because he thinks you aren't strong enough," Kushida smiled slightly. "Maybe he just thinks you should have your own path to walk. So, he isn't interfering."
After saying that, she pushed the door and walked out.
Horikita was stunned for a few seconds, but by the ti she looked back, Kushida was gone.
-
-
-
anwhile, Hachiman was leaning by a window, his phone screen showing a ssage from Kushida.
[Are you free? I'm in a bad mood.] by Kushida.
'Wait. Sister, if you're in a bad mood, why look for ?'
However, Hachiman felt she was different from other girls; she wasn't here to eavesdrop on his heart. After a bit of thought, he replied: "Want to go to the library to read books together?"
[...]
Kushida only replied with that symbol and didn't move for several minutes.
Sigh. Even he could tell that Kushida's favorability toward him had dropped by 1.
Hachiman sighed lightly, but then his phone vibrated again. It was a ssage from Ichinose.
[Hikigaya-kun, I heard the President looked for you earlier? Did he say anything important? Our Class B mbers are asking, and I'm not sure how to answer.]
Hachiman finished reading and replied: "It's fine, he just escorted Sakayanagi here and wanted to understand the details of the island exam."
But the mont the ssage was sent, Ichinose's reply ca: [Is that all? I feel like the President values you particularly highly, as if he's training you.]
Hachiman looked at the ssage, his fingers pausing.
'Training?'
He frowned slightly, thinking back to the conversation with Horikita Manabu.
"It seems Suzune can actually learn things while she's with you."
"I'll leave Suzune to you."
"That small notebook—next ti you can let Suzune prepare one herself... the effect will be better."
Those words indeed sounded like an entrustnt. But would soone casually entrust their sister's growth to another person?
Hachiman suddenly realized a terrifying fact. It seed he really was being treated as a junior by Horikita Manabu. This thought made him instinctively resistant. He was a man who wanted to be a house husband; how did he end up on the path of being trained by the Student Council President?
But thinking carefully, in the island exam, his choice to get points for Class B first rather than purely chasing a score—wasn't that imitating Horikita Manabu's logic? Steady, pragmatic, prioritizing class interests... with the goal of minimizing expulsions.
Thinking of this, Hachiman's expression beca subtle.
'No way?'
Was he unknowingly moving in the direction of Horikita Manabu?
While serving as the Student Council President would benefit the class, Hachiman was not soone who wanted to be President; just like at Sobu High, he only assisted Isshiki. But now, after Horikita Manabu's actions, he was feeling a bit...
'No, no, that absolutely won't do.'
So now, not just Matsushita, but Horikita, Kushida, and even Hachiman had beco sowhat lancholy.
-
-
-
Two and a half days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the afternoon of the day Sakayanagi arrived, Horikita Manabu left by helicopter. Life on the ship returned to its usual rhythm, but everyone knew the true test was coming.
On the evening of the third day, the sunset dyed the sea a golden yellow. Karuizawa Kei sat on a sofa in the rest area, her finger sliding quickly across her phone screen, sending screenshots to Hachiman.
These screenshots were GPS tracks she had asked Kushida to monitor while she and her companions moved around the ship over the past two days. In every screenshot, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's location marker overlapped with her own path. Four tis out of ten.
Looking at these screenshots, Karuizawa's unease grew stronger. That harmless-looking Ayanokouji was indeed watching her.
[Hikigaya-kun, look at these screenshots... he really is following .]
After sending the ssage, her fingers trembled slightly. Not long after, Hachiman's reply ca: "I see it. Don't panic, I've got this."
Just a few words, but they cald Karuizawa's hanging heart.
Just then, the broadcast rang out:
"This is an announcent to all students. The school has just sent an email to all students containing contact matters. Please check your phones individually and follow the instructions. Additionally, if anyone has not received an email, please apply to nearby faculty mbers. As the content is extrely important, please do not overlook anything during confirmation. Repeating once more—"
The broadcast played twice. Karuizawa quickly tapped her phone and saw a new ssage.
[The special exam is about to begin. Students are requested to gather in their designated rooms at the designated tis. Those more than ten minutes late will be penalized. Please gather in Room 204 on the second floor by 6:20 PM tonight. The required ti is approximately twenty minutes. Please proceed to the gathering point after using the restroom and setting your phone to vibrate or turning it off.]
6:20 PM, Room 204.
She was about to screenshot it for Hachiman when several more ssages popped up. They were screenshots from Horikita, Kushida, and Sakura. Horikita was also 6:20 PM, also Room 204. Kushida was also 6:00 PM, but Sakura was 9:00 PM.
And from Hachiman's side, he also sent a screenshot of his ssage. He was scheduled for 6:00 PM sharp, Room 201. His ssage followed:
"I'm in the first batch of examinees, and the ti is short, only 20 minutes. This isn't the exam itself; it should just be notifying the exam details in batches. Don't panic, go to the gathering at the notified ti. We'll talk about everything else after the exam starts."
Karuizawa looked at the ssage and nodded lightly. As long as Hachiman was there, she had nothing to fear.
Hachiman looked out the window as the sun sank below the horizon and night approached. This ant the exam was about to begin. He was in the 6:00 PM batch; at the sa ti, Ichinose and Kanzaki were at the sa ti and in the sa room.
It seed they were being split into groups for the exam just like in the original work, but he didn't know how the questions had been modified.
Thus, he sent ssages to Kanzaki and Ichinose respectively. Soon, both sent replies.
Well then. Let's begin.
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