Time passed until half a year later, when the cruise ship exam began.
Many first-year students boarded the luxury cruise ship.
Ryunosuke's first thought was to go eat delicious food. After all, on this luxury cruise ship there were plenty of delicious dishes he rarely encountered.
He separated from his group's line heading to the cafeteria. No other students stopped him because they considered this a sightseeing trip, not an exam.
Haruka, seeing Ryunosuke leave the line, whispered softly in Airi's ear.
"Great opportunity, Airi! This is a rare chance to be alone together, quickly catch up!"
Airi hesitated and looked shy, not daring to go. Haruka felt frustrated and patted her back. "If you don't hurry, he'll be taken by someone else."
Haruka pointed toward Ai who was stealthily following Ryunosuke.
At this moment, Ai was approaching his back intending to surprise him. Ryunosuke had already noticed her presence but didn't give any reaction.
Ai immediately attacked from behind, hanging on his body like an accessory, and asked in a spoiled tone.
"Did you miss me, Darling?"
Ryunosuke sighed resignedly. "I already told you not to be too intimate in public. Didn't I say our relationship must be kept secret?"
"Eeeh~ I don't want to! I want to keep clinging to you." Ai kept rubbing her cheek against Ryunosuke's face without caring about their surroundings.
Ryunosuke could only indulge her because he was truly helpless dealing with this girl.
On the other side, Airi, seeing that scene, felt her heart shatter. She became even less brave to greet them.
Haruka, seeing her friend's courage shrink, sighed resignedly.
"Well then, if you don't dare, I'll go ahead."
"Eh?"
Before Airi could respond, Haruka had already stepped forward.
Airi's brain instantly froze (hung). Was her good friend intending to steal her target?
Actually, Airi misunderstood. Haruka wouldn't do such a thing, at least not for now... After all, she hadn't fallen in love with this man named Akasaka Ryunosuke yet.
She arrived in front of the two of them, sat casually before Ryunosuke, and asked while smiling sweetly.
"What exactly is your relationship? Are you two dating?"
Ai sensed hostile aura. She reflexively tightened her embrace around Ryunosuke's neck and asked back.
"Darling~, who is she? Don't tell me she's your old mistress?"
Ai's question was a critical hit that almost made Haruka in front of her choke. However, she suddenly thought this was a great opportunity to eliminate a rival for Airi's sake.
Without hesitation, Haruka directly acknowledged it bluntly. Anyway, she wouldn't lose anything, at most just be gossiped about, and she didn't care about that. As long as she could eliminate a rival for Airi, she could accept this small consequence.
She slowly brought her face closer to Ai and said in a challenging tone.
"Try to guess who I am~ Maybe my relationship with him is much better than you imagine~"
Ai reflexively tightened her embrace on Ryunosuke's neck.
Ryunosuke, whose neck was being choked, just wanted to deny and say that he wasn't close with Haruka, but Haruka immediately took the lobster beside her and shoved it into Ryunosuke's mouth, silencing him.
"Just eat your lobster!"
"Don't interfere in women's war!!!"
"Mmpff mmpff~" Ryunosuke was forced to be silent.
The gazes of the two women instantly met. As if there were lightning flashes striking each other between them.
Behind Haruka, as if appeared the shadow of a giant blue dragon.
And Ai wasn't willing to lose either. Behind her also appeared a shadow: a purple thunder bird.
The Blue Dragon and Thunder Bird looked up and roared, as if ready to battle. The gazes of both girls were full of ill intent.
Ryunosuke swallowed the lobster in his mouth. He could speak now, but he chose to remain silent. His instinct warned that in situations like this, it was better not to make a sound. If he interfered, these two women might unite to attack him. So, playing dead was the most appropriate choice.
At the meeting point of their gazes, electric sparks continued to clash, pressing against each other with neither willing to yield.
Right at that moment, the leader of Class C from a distance, Hiyori, happened to see this scene. Her eyes sparkled and she immediately walked over.
Behind her followed two familiar figures, namely the two transfer students, Fumino and Rizu.
Because of their extraordinary talents, both had become Hiyori's right hands. Albert and Ibuki also followed from behind.
The group of five walked toward Ryunosuke's direction.
However, Hiyori as if didn't see the two girls who were in a standoff. She walked straight past them, sat next to Ryunosuke, and said while smiling sweetly:
"Akasaka-kun, have you written a new book lately? The part you gave me before I've finished reading. Is there more?"
The hopeful gaze from Hiyori's eyes couldn't be hidden.
"Hmm?"
Haruka and Ai simultaneously stopped their actions. Both looked at Hiyori who was busy chatting with Ryunosuke, and thought in unison: (Who is this person now?)
Ibuki standing beside them folded her arms across her chest and whistled softly.
"Shuu~ there's going to be an interesting show."
The honest Albert also nodded in agreement.
Fumino looked very excited. A scene like this she had only read in novels, this was really interesting! Her hara-guro attribute and "entertainment seeker" soul within her truly awakened.
Rizu didn't show a big reaction; she just stood obediently carrying out her duties.
Hiyori just realized there were two unfriendly gazes directed at her, but she didn't care. Compared to that, she wanted a book more!
(Akasaka-kun's books are too good! Today I must get the continuation of the story.)
Ryunosuke really wanted to answer Hiyori, but seeing this situation, somehow his voice wouldn't come out.
Even though he hadn't done anything wrong. Ai was his official girlfriend, so acting a bit spoiled wasn't a problem.
But what was with Haruka? He shouldn't be close with her, right? They only knew each other, so why was she talking as if there was a relationship that could cause misunderstandings?
Airi, watching all this from afar, felt extremely panicked.
"What should I do! What should I do! Haruka really went there. Should I follow too?"
Airi looked at the situation on the field, and still she didn't dare to go forward...