By the end of the fifth day, the atmosphere had changed.The laughter that once filled the camp had long since faded, replaced by heavy silence and tired eyes. Every tent seemed smaller, every argument sharper.
The sea wind had turned cold. Clouds gathered low above the trees, heavy with the promise of rain.
Class D morale was hanging by a thread.
When I returned to the central fire pit, the mood was unmistakably tense. Shinohara and Karuizawa sat apart from the boys, whispering among themselves. Ike and Yamauchi were kicking at the sand, pretending not to hear. Hirata stood between them, smiling faintly — but that smile looked like a mask stretched too thin.
Ayanokōji was helping the girls fix a broken tent line. Beside him, Horikita Suzune was kneeling, her movements stiff and deliberate as she tied the rope.
I watched for a moment before walking over. "You two are pretty quiet today."
Horikita didn't look up. "There's nothing to talk about."Ayanokōji glanced my way. "She's right. Everyone's on edge. Talking might make it worse."
I crouched next to them, helping drive a peg into the sand. "You know, silence can be louder than words sometimes."
Horikita's fingers trembled slightly as she tightened the knot. Her face was pale, sweat beading along her temple. I frowned.
"You look exhausted.""I'm fine," she said curtly.Ayanokōji gave me a subtle look — one that said not yet. I understood.
The wind picked up, flapping the canvas of the tent. The storm was getting closer.
By the next morning, the air felt thick and humid. Dark clouds loomed overhead. A storm was brewing, both in the sky and within the class.
Hirata gathered everyone after breakfast, his usual calm voice now strained.
"All right, everyone," he said. "We'll be moving today. The weather might turn bad, so we should secure more food before it hits. Form search groups — three to four people each. Be careful of cliffs and marshes."
The boys nodded half-heartedly. The girls didn't say a word.
As the class dispersed, Horikita approached Ayanokōji and me. "A moment," she said quietly.
We stepped away from the crowd. Her tone was cold as ever."Hirata's leadership is falling apart," she said. "He's trying too hard to keep everyone happy. By avoiding conflict, he's only allowing the girls to grow lazier."
I folded my arms. "So you want to take control?""No. I just want to prevent this class from collapsing before the test ends. We can't afford to lose more points or trust."
Ayanokōji watched her in silence. "You still think the theft is tied to something bigger?"
Horikita nodded. "Yes. If we can expose the culprit, we'll remove the root of this tension. I want you both to work with me. We'll find whoever's behind this — quickly."
I gave a small nod. "Understood. But your health—"
She cut me off sharply. "My health is irrelevant."
As she turned to leave, she swayed slightly. I stepped forward on instinct, catching her arm.
"Hey," I said quietly. "You're burning up."
She tried to pull away, but I pressed my hand against her forehead. The heat was unmistakable.
Ayanokōji's voice came calm and even. "You've been sick since the ship, haven't you?"
Horikita's eyes widened, but she didn't deny it. "It's just a fever. It doesn't matter.""It does," I said. "You've been pushing yourself since day one.""I'll carry on," she insisted. "We're almost done. I won't be the reason we fail."
Her stubbornness reminded me of myself — refusing help even when it was needed most.
Ayanokōji sighed. "Then at least rest after today's search. No one has to know."
Horikita hesitated, then nodded faintly. "Fine. But we find the culprit first."
Meanwhile, in another corner of the island, two shadows stood beneath the trees — Ryūen and Katsuragi.
Their meeting had happened on the first day, far from prying eyes. A simple exchange of resources, wrapped in the guise of strategy.
Ryūen's grin was lazy, but his tone was razor-sharp."Two hundred thousand private points a month," he said. "That's the deal."
Katsuragi folded his arms. "In exchange for two hundred class points and some equipment. You'll also supply us information about other classes."
Ryūen smirked. "Exactly. You get your advantage, I get my amusement. Everyone wins."
The handshake that followed was silent but heavy — a pact between power and manipulation.
And now, six days later, the ripples of that contract were reaching us.
It was late afternoon when I found Ibuki alone near the northern woods. The trees swayed violently under the incoming wind, leaves swirling like restless ghosts.
She stood near the edge of a cliff, her back to me, staring out toward the darkening sea.
"Enjoying the storm?" I asked, stepping closer.
She didn't turn. "I could ask you the same, Miyamoto."
"I came to talk," I said. "About the theft."
She let out a short laugh. "Oh? Still chasing ghosts? Maybe you should look closer to home."
"I already did," I replied calmly. "And the ghost looks a lot like you."
That made her turn. Her eyes were sharp, her smile teasing. "Then show me your proof."
I shrugged. "Proof? You think I need that? You pretended not to know, but I don't really care about the underwear. I care about why you did it."
Her amusement faded. "Why I did it?"
"Yes. You're not the type who acts without reason. Ryūen sent you here, didn't he? His little spy to mess with our morale."
For a heartbeat, she said nothing. The silence was answer enough.
I took a slow step forward. "Tell me something, Ibuki. Are you really satisfied being his pawn?"
Her hand twitched. "Watch your mouth."
"Or what? You'll hit me?" I smiled faintly. "If you're going to attack, at least do it properly."
Her leg moved faster than I expected. A high kick sliced through the air — I barely dodged, the wind from it brushing my cheek. She followed up with a sharp sweep; I jumped back, boots skidding on the damp soil.
"Not bad," I said, steadying my stance. "But not lovely at all — even if you are a beauty spy."
"Shut up!" she snapped, launching forward again. I sidestepped, grabbing her wrist, and she twisted out of my hold with surprising agility. Her eyes burned with frustration.
We circled each other under the whispering trees, both breathing hard.
"Why do you care?" she demanded. "You don't even know me.""Maybe not," I said softly. "But I know people who let others use them. It never ends well."
She hesitated — just a fraction of a second — but I saw it.
I lowered my voice. "Listen. You don't need to keep playing Ryūen's game. Forget the leader card. Just stay close to me until this test ends. No one will suspect you."
Her expression flickered. "You'd make a deal with me? After what I did?"
"Let's just say I prefer dangerous allies to predictable enemies."
The wind howled through the forest. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Then, finally, she looked away.
"…Fine," she said quietly. "But don't think I trust you."
I smiled faintly. "I wouldn't dream of it."
By the time I returned, the sky had gone black with storm clouds. The first drops of rain began to fall, pattering softly on the tents.
Hirata was still organizing supplies, trying desperately to keep order. Ayanokōji was talking with Horikita, who was visibly struggling to stay upright.
"Everything settled?" he asked as I joined him.
"For now," I replied. "Let's just say we won't have any more stolen items."
He glanced at me curiously but didn't press further. "Good to know."
The final day of the special exam.
The storm that had lashed the island through the night had finally broken. In its wake, the air was heavy with salt and humidity, the sand damp underfoot. The sea was calm again, as if pretending that nothing had ever happened.
But everyone knew otherwise.
A week on the island had left the first-years worn down, both in body and spirit. Now, as all four classes gathered at the rest area, the tension was palpable. The teachers stood before them beside a long table covered in data tablets and sealed envelopes.
The results were coming.
I sat on a rock at the edge of the clearing, watching the others gather.
Kiyotaka Ayanokōji was nearby, speaking quietly with Sudō Ken. Both of them looked exhausted, but a strange sense of peace hung between them — like soldiers who had survived the same battlefield.
"Hard to believe it's over," Sudō muttered.Ayanokōji nodded. "Yeah. But it's not finished until we see the scores."
I walked over, brushing the sand from my hands. "You two look like men waiting for execution."
Sudō snorted. "You saying you're not nervous, Miyamoto?""Of course I am," I said. "But nerves don't change results."
Before either could reply, Hirata approached, holding three bottles of water. He offered them with a warm smile."Here. You both worked hard."
Ayanokōji accepted his bottle with a quiet "thanks."I took mine and nodded. "You're the one who worked hardest, Hirata. Keeping this class together… wasn't easy."
He chuckled lightly. "Maybe so. But I couldn't have done it without you all — and especially without Horikita-san."
At her name, Ayanokōji's eyes flickered. "How is she?""She's resting on the ship," Hirata said softly. "She retired yesterday, but before that, she left me something important — information about the class leader system. I used it when confirming your absences during roll call."
A faint smile touched Ayanokōji's lips. "I see. Then we owe her."
Hirata nodded. "All of us do."
The peaceful silence shattered when someone started clapping slowly.
The sound came from behind the gathered students, followed by a familiar voice dripping with mockery.
"Well, well. Looks like everyone survived after all."
Ryūen Kakeru — the tyrant of Class C— emerged from the forest, his usual confident smirk plastered across his face. But there was something different this time. His clothes were filthy, his hair matted, his shoes half-caked with mud.
He looked like he had crawled out of a battlefield.
I saw Ibuki tense beside me, her expression unreadable. I leaned toward her and asked quietly, "That your boss?"
She crossed her arms, avoiding my gaze. "…Yeah."
Ryūen's eyes scanned the crowd until they locked onto Sudō. "Oi, Redhead. Where's your queen? Don't tell me she bailed?"
Sudō's fists clenched. "You bastard—!"
Before he could lunge, Hirata stepped between them, his voice calm but firm. "Sudō-kun, please. Don't give him the satisfaction."
Ryūen smirked. "Tch, always the peacekeeper, huh? You must be exhausted cleaning up after these idiots."
"Better than being alone," Hirata replied evenly.
Ryūen laughed, then turned toward me. "You've been quiet, Miyamoto. What, cat got your tongue?"
I smiled. "Just watching the show. You've got dirt on your jacket, by the way. Lose a fight?"
His grin faded for a split second before returning. "You talk too much for someone who's about to lose his class points."
I shrugged. "We'll see about that."
Sudō muttered under his breath, "This guy's still acting tough even after wasting all his points."
Ryūen's smirk widened. "You say that now, but maybe you should've read the fine print, muscle-brain. The leader guessing rule? Yeah, I didn't forget."
The tension in the air thickened instantly. A few of the other students began whispering nervously.
Ayanokōji said nothing, just watching Ryūen with those unreadable eyes.
The sound of footsteps silenced everyone as Mashima-sensei, the calm and composed homeroom teacher of Class A, stepped forward. Behind him, Chabashira-sensei followed, clipboard in hand.
Mashima's voice carried across the clearing, steady and formal."Students, congratulations on completing the first Special Test. You have endured hardship, exhaustion, and uncertainty. But the results are now finalized."
Every class stood in formation, each leader — or supposed leader — standing ahead of their group.
Ryūen leaned lazily on his hip, grinning.Ichinose from Class B stood proud and composed.Katsuragi represented Class A, calm but tense.And at the front of Class D… was Hirata Yōsuke.
At least, that's what everyone believed.
Mashima continued, "Before we reveal the scores, each class leader will step forward and write down their guesses for the leaders of the other classes. These will then be announced."
The leaders moved. Hirata turned briefly toward me before walking to the table. His expression was unreadable, but there was a faint hint of a smile — like he already knew what was coming.
He wrote our answers carefully on the sheet.
When he returned, he gave me a subtle nod.It was time.
Mashima reviewed the sheets, then began.
"Class C has submitted their guesses. Ryūen Kakeru has identified Horikita Suzune as Class D leader."
Ryūen grinned, confident.Sudō laughed under his breath. "You idiot…"
Mashima ignored the snickers. "Class B has guessed Horikita Suzune as well. Class A has listed Hirata Yōsuke."
Then he turned to D-Class's sheet."For D-Class, the guesses are as follows: Yahiko Totsuka for A-Class, Chihiro Shiranami for B-Class, and Ryūen Kakeru for C-Class."
Ryūen blinked. "Huh?"
Katsuragi turned sharply toward Yahiko, who went pale. "W-Wait! Me!?"
B-Class murmured among themselves, Chihiro covering her mouth in surprise. Ryūen just stared, confused.
Mashima nodded once. "Now, the results."
He pressed a button on the tablet, and the digital scoreboard appeared on the portable monitor beside him.
C-Class – 0 PointsA-Class – 120 PointsB-Class – 140 PointsD-Class – 250 Points
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Then —
"Wha—WHAT!?" Ryūen shouted, eyes wide.
Katsuragi's head snapped toward his class, his normally calm face contorted with shock. "Who submitted those names!?"
Yahiko stammered, "I-I don't know anything! I swear!"
Ichinose blinked in surprise, then smiled faintly, shaking her head. "So they saw through us…"
The air buzzed with disbelief. D-Class students turned to each other, murmuring in confusion.
Sudō blinked. "Wait, how the hell do we have 250 points!? I thought we—"Ike interrupted, "Did we—did we win!?"Shinohara gasped. "No way! Are we first!?"
Hirata turned to face them all, his smile calm and genuine. "Yes. We're first place."
The camp erupted into cheers — laughter, disbelief, joy all mixing into one chaotic explosion of relief. Some students even jumped into the air.
But then Sudō turned toward me, blinking. "Wait a sec… if we guessed right about their leaders, then that means…"
Hirata nodded slowly. "That's right."
A dozen heads turned toward me.
"...You?" Airi whispered.
I gave a small grin, scratching the back of my neck. "Surprise."
Karuizawa's mouth fell open. "You mean you were the leader this whole time!?"
I shrugged. "A smart choice, wasn't it?"
Ayanokōji looked down at the device on his wrist, where my name had been registered days ago — hidden in plain sight. "Yeah," he said softly. "Perfectly invisible."
Ryūen's grin had vanished. He glared at me, eyes burning with fury. "You little bastard… so you were the leader? All this time?"
I met his gaze calmly. "You were too busy playing king to notice the pawn moving behind your back."
He took a step forward, but Mashima's voice cut through the air."That's enough, Ryūen. The results are final."
Katsuragi stood surrounded by his class, who were demanding answers. His usually stoic face was tight with frustration. "...We underestimated them."
Ichinose approached and offered me her hand with a friendly smile. "Congratulations, Miyamoto-kun. You played brilliantly."
I shook her hand. "Thank you, Ichinose-san. You made it fun."
She laughed lightly. "Let's see if you can keep up next time."
As the teachers dismissed us to prepare for return to the ship, D-Class lingered in celebration.
Ike was dancing like a maniac. "We did it! We freaking did it!"Shinohara rolled her eyes but smiled. "You're such a kid."Even Karuizawa was laughing, though she kept glancing toward Hirata shyly.
Hirata stood beside me, hands in his pockets. "You really outdid yourself, Miyamoto."
I shrugged. "Just strategy. I used all our points early to stabilize us. No one suspected the one who spent everything."
He smiled. "You trusted the class even when they didn't trust each other. That's what made the difference."
Ayanokōji walked past us, eyes on the sea. "And that's why you won."
I turned to him. "You sound like you expected it."
He glanced back, that unreadable smile playing at his lips. "Maybe I did."
That evening, the ship's horn echoed across the water as the students boarded. The island grew smaller behind us, bathed in golden light.
Ibuki stood near the railing beside me, wind blowing through her hair.
"So… you actually did it," she said softly. "Your class won."
I smirked. "Guess you backed the right person."
She looked away. "Don't get cocky."
I chuckled. "You're still my dangerous ally."
She gave a faint smile, almost hidden. "Just don't forget our deal."
"I won't," I said. "But next time, we'll be enemies again."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
Result
Class A: 1004 -->1124
Class B: 663 -->803
Class C: 492 -->492
Class D:87 -->337