The luxury cruise ship, like a moving castle, sailed steadily across the azure sea toward home.
Three days had passed since the uninhabited island exam ended.
Students relaxing and playing could be seen everywhere—on the deck, by the pool, in the recreation rooms. The true summer vacation atmosphere had finally permeated the ship. Laughter and chatter filled the air, mingling with the salt breeze.
Yet amidst this leisure, one figure had almost vanished.
Sakamoto of Class A.
Since boarding the ship, he seemed to have disappeared into thin air, rarely appearing in public. No one knew where he had gone—whether studying obscure ancient texts in his cabin, or performing some unique form of "training" in an unknown corner. This sense of mystery, however, only reinforced his image in everyone's minds.
At lunchtime, in the cruise ship's main dining hall.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Horikita Suzune, Hirata Yousuke, and Karuizawa Kei sat together at a table, eating. After the uninhabited island exam, Horikita's standing in Class D had significantly increased. Communication among these core members had become more natural, the atmosphere quite harmonious.
Without realizing it, their conversation drifted back to the previous incident on the island.
"Speaking of which, I still need to thank you, Ayanokoji-kun." Hirata Yousuke smiled gently, looking at him. "Thanks to you, Kei's... belongings were found."
Karuizawa Kei blushed slightly at the mention, lowering her head awkwardly and poking at her food with her fork. "Yeah... thanks," she muttered softly.
Ayanokoji swallowed his food and replied calmly, "Don't thank me. I wasn't the one who found them. It was Sakamoto-kun from Class A."
"Sakamoto?" Hirata and Karuizawa exchanged surprised glances.
Ayanokoji nodded. He briefly recounted how Kouenji had handed over the items, omitting any suggestion that Sakamoto might have known more. He simply said, "He reportedly found them by chance during a patrol."
Horikita listened quietly, offering no comment.
"Then... who was the culprit? Was it Ibuki?" Hirata pressed, his tone concerned. He still hoped to resolve the matter completely, to prevent cracks from reappearing within the class.
Ayanokoji replied based on his observations and deductions. "From the perspective of motive and opportunity, Ibuki Mio is the most suspicious. As a spy sent by Class B, she had ample reason to create chaos."
Karuizawa clenched her fists in renewed anger. "It really was her! I knew from the start she wasn't a good person!"
But both Ayanokoji and Horikita understood that the true mastermind might be someone else entirely.
Now, however, was not the time to expose them.
Koudo Ikusei High School, Student Council Office.
Student Council Secretary Tachibana Akane placed a freshly printed document gently on Student Council President Horikita Manabu's desk.
"President, this is the final grade report for the first-year students' recently concluded uninhabited island wilderness survival special exam."
Horikita Manabu picked up the report, his gaze quickly scanning the key data.
Class D: 150 points. Class C: 150 points. Class B: 150 points... Tied for last place.
Class A: 780 points.
When he saw this number, his fingertip paused on the paper for half a second. His gaze swept back and forth between "Class A" and "780" once.
Initial points: 300. Thirty points deducted due to Sakayanagi Arisu's absence. Actual starting points: 270.
No private points used... almost all strongholds occupied...
Horikita Manabu set down the report and leaned back in the spacious chair. He touched his fingertips together, resting them against his chin.
"Sakamoto."
No need to think further. Only that man—who had continuously broken conventions since enrollment—could achieve such a feat. By his own strength, he had transformed wilderness survival into something akin to "civilization building." Not only had he secured Class A's victory by an overwhelming margin, but he had also set an unprecedented record in the school's history.
This guy has once again raised the school's cognitive limits, Horikita Manabu mused.
His eyes sharpened once more, full of anticipation.
The uninhabited island exam had primarily tested individual survival skills, leadership, and resource integration in a confined environment. Sakamoto had displayed overwhelming talent in these areas.
But the upcoming exams—particularly those involving more complex interpersonal dynamics and class confrontations—would pose different challenges. When facing not just a natural environment but rivals with competing intentions... when coordination required not only one's own classmates but potentially students from other classes as well... Would Sakamoto's unconventional, almost "dimension-crushing" approach remain as effective?
Would he still maintain that absolute leadership posture and guide Class A to continued success?
Horikita Manabu wanted to know the answer.
"I'll be watching intently." He gazed at the lush campus visible through the window and spoke softly.
Revealing the truth recklessly would only invite greater chaos. For Class D, which had just begun to stabilize, the disadvantages far outweighed any potential benefits. Some abscesses required the right moment to be lanced—acting prematurely would only spread the infection.
Just then—
[Buzz—]
A clear broadcast sound resonated throughout the restaurant, cutting through every conversation like a blade.
"This is another announcement to all students: a special exam is about to commence. The school has sent an email to all students; please check your messages and follow the instructions accordingly."
The noisy restaurant fell silent for a heartbeat—then erupted into even louder discussions.
"No way? Again?!" Karuizawa Kei groaned, the relaxed expression on her face vanishing instantly. She slumped back in her chair, fork clattering against her plate.
Hirata Yousuke offered a helpless smile, though his composure remained intact. "Well, it seems our leisurely vacation has ended early. Everyone, let's not panic just yet. Shouldn't we plan first?"
Ayanokoji silently withdrew his phone from his pocket and unlocked the screen. A new email notification glowed prominently.
He opened it. Concise, clear content met his eyes:
[Special Exam Notification]
Gathering Time: Before 18:00 tonight
Gathering Location: Second Floor, Room 204
Estimated Duration: Approximately 20 minutes
Important Notes: Please handle personal matters in advance. Set phones to vibrate or turn them off. Being more than 10 minutes late will result in a penalty.
Ayanokoji set down his phone, his gaze sweeping across the three companions at the table. Each wore a different expression.
Hirata's thoughtful frown suggested he was already calculating possibilities. Karuizawa's visible dread spoke of someone who had just begun to relax and now faced the abrupt end of that peace. Horikita's face remained unreadable, but her eyes held the familiar gleam of readiness—anticipation, even.
Another special exam. Ayanokoji turned the information over in his mind. Twenty minutes estimated duration. Second floor, Room 204. The location suggested something contained, perhaps indoors—a stark contrast to the week-long wilderness survival they had just endured.
The timing was also notable. Three days after the island exam's conclusion, while still aboard the cruise ship. The school clearly intended to keep them off-balance, to prevent complacency from settling in.
He glanced toward the restaurant's entrance, where other students were already rising from their tables, phones in hand, faces a mixture of confusion and resignation. The vacation atmosphere that had permeated the ship moments ago was rapidly dissipating, replaced by the familiar tension of the unknown.
Twenty minutes, he repeated silently. What kind of exam can be conducted in twenty minutes?
He had his suspicions. But speculation without data was useless. For now, he would follow the instructions and see what the school had prepared.
"Come on," Horikita said, rising from her seat. Her tone brooked no argument. "We should head to our rooms and prepare. Whatever this exam is, we'll face it like we've faced everything else."
Ayanokoji stood as well, falling into step beside her.
Behind them, the restaurant buzzed with anxious energy—students checking phones, calling out to friends, scrambling to finish meals. The summer vacation fantasy had shattered, replaced by the relentless rhythm of the special exams.
Somewhere on the ship, in some hidden corner, Sakamoto would also be receiving this notification. Ayanokoji wondered what calculations were already running through that extraordinary mind.
The game, it seemed, was far from over.