The Exam Called 'Freedom'

Majima-sensei's words "Special Exam" crashed like a boulder into a calm lake, stirring a thousand waves across the bustling beach. The air, once brimming with vacation-like excitement, seemed instantly drained, replaced by silent shock and rapidly spreading panic. Whispers surged like a tide, drowning out the gentle murmur of the waves.

"Huh? A special exam? What's going on? Did I hear that wrong?"

"Here? Now? You've got to be kidding!"

"Aren't we here for a beach trip? How did it suddenly turn into an exam?"

"Majima-sensei... is he serious? That doesn't sound funny at all..."

Majima-sensei's steady, commanding voice rang out again through the megaphone, easily quelling all the commotion: "The exam period is one week from now, ending precisely at noon on August seventh. For the entire week ahead, you will live in groups on this deserted island beneath your feet—that itself is the entirety of the exam." His sharp gaze slowly swept across the faces below, filled with bewilderment, tension, and even helplessness. "Furthermore, I will state this clearly in advance: the framework of this exam is modeled after real corporate wilderness survival and team-building training programs. It is no game; it carries a high degree of practicality and realism."

"Realism...?" A boy from Class C couldn't help but shout, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Does that mean... we really have to survive here on our own for a week, like in the wild?"

"Exactly that, no more, no less." Majima-sensei's confirmation was cold and blunt, leaving no room for negotiation.

"B-But... we have nothing! How are we supposed to survive?" Another voice rose, tinged with obvious panic, drawing uneasy murmurs of agreement around it.

"The school will provide each class with basic supplies at the start: two tents, two flashlights, and one box of matches," Majima-sensei listed in a matter-of-fact tone. "Additionally, sunscreen is unlimited and can be used freely. For personal hygiene, each of you will be given one toothbrush. As a special exception, female students may request sanitary products without limit. Please submit specific needs to your respective class advisors. That is the minimum survival support the school offers."

This list hit like cold water, plunging even the usually optimistic and united Class B into an icy low. Ichinose Honami unconsciously bit her lower lip, her delicate brows deeply furrowed, her blue eyes filled with unprecedented worry. She instinctively glanced at her classmates—Shiratori Chihiro nervously twisting her fingers, their tips turning pale; the usually sunny Shibata Kaede, for once, had shed all smiles, his lips tight and gaze heavy as he stared into the distant forest; even the ever-composed Kanzaki Ryuji pushed up his glasses, his eyes sharp and calculating behind the lenses, clearly already racing through possibilities. This heavy pressure made Ichinose's heart flutter. She opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to reassure everyone.

Just then, her gaze inadvertently landed on Shimiya Kuki beside her. The boy stood tall and straight, his profile cold and hard, his expression unshakably calm. His deep eyes were like an ancient well, utterly still, as if he had just heard a routine weather forecast. This detached, absolute composure, set against the surrounding chaos, stood out starkly yet felt like a solid stone sinking into water, oddly bringing a strange sense of stability. Watching his unreadable eyes, Ichinose felt her own racing heart calm somewhat, the heavy worry pressing on her chest seemingly shared and lightened by his silent presence.

"Alright, alright~ Don't all make such scary faces!" A lively voice, completely out of sync with the tense atmosphere, suddenly broke the silence. Hoshinomiya Chie-sensei bounced like a light butterfly to the front of Class B's formation, her face still wearing that signature, sweet, cloudless smile, trying to dispel the gloom hanging over the students. "Don't worry! Teacher will be staying on the island with you too! Though, according to the rules, I can't directly help out~ But! Teacher will support you with all my spirit, one hundred percent! Full energy! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧" She clenched her fists in an extremely encouraging gesture, trying to ignite their fighting spirit. "And! Teacher absolutely believes in every child in Class B! If we unite as one and help each other, this little adventure will definitely turn into super fun memories! We've got this! Have faith!"

Hoshinomiya-sensei's infectious encouragement had some effect. The frozen expressions on Class B's faces softened slightly, and as they exchanged glances, a faint light rekindled in their eyes, along with a stronger resolve to face the challenge together.

Majima-sensei took the opportunity to interject, his tone slightly softer than before, almost imperceptibly: "However, there's no need for excessive pessimism. If this were a forced, harsh survival test, external criticism would be justified. But its core isn't pure wilderness survival." He shifted the topic, trying to guide their thinking. "Even as a special exam, you don't need to imagine it as overly difficult or profound. As long as you follow the established rules, for this week starting now, you are, in principle, allowed to go swimming at the beach or try barbecue. Occasionally lighting a campfire, sitting around with friends to chat, and deepening bonds—these are also encouraged by the exam."

He paused deliberately, letting the words sink in, then clearly and forcefully stated the exam's core theme: "The true theme of this special exam is—'freedom.'"

"Freedom?" A murmur of confusion and doubt immediately rose from the crowd. The word seemed so contradictory in this context.

"That's right, freedom," Majima-sensei affirmed. "And to support this 'freedom,' as a prerequisite for this special exam on the deserted island, we will first distribute three hundred 'Exam Specific Points' to each class."

"Points?" This term, directly tied to everyone's personal interests, instantly drew all students' attention like a magnet, injecting a dose of practical consideration into the tense atmosphere.

"Yes," Majima-sensei said with an instructive emphasis. "If you plan and use these initial points wisely," he scanned the crowd, "you might be able to spend these seven days of the special exam like a true vacation. To that end, the school has prepared a very detailed guide manual."

He then took a thick booklet, seemingly dozens of pages, from another teacher beside him, holding it high for all to see. "This guide manual lists every item you can exchange for points. Drinking water and various foods are naturally included; if you want to hold a barbecue party, the school provides full service from grills and charcoal to ingredients; we've also fully prepared various game items for enjoying the ocean, like swim rings, snorkeling masks, breathing tubes, and even beach volleyballs and nets."

"In other words—" a calm, analytical male student from Class A spoke up, his voice steady, "—as long as we use those three hundred initial points wisely, we can exchange for any item listed in the manual that we need, right?" The speaker was Katsuragi Kohei.

"Theoretically, yes," Majima-sensei gave a clear answer. "With good use of points, all listed items are obtainable. Of course," he added with a necessary caution, "this requires careful planning and meticulous use of every resource. But overall, the exam is set so that any class with a sound, reasonable plan can get through the week without excessive difficulty. Points are your only currency here to buy 'freedom' and sustain life."

Then, Majima-sensei's voice grew more serious, delivering the key information: "Now, at the end of this special exam, the remaining points for each class," he slowed his speech, ensuring every word struck the students heavily, "will be converted to Class Points at a one-to-one ratio, directly added to your semester's total. The final results will be tallied and reflected after summer vacation."

This sentence, like cold water into hot oil, triggered an explosive reaction! Class Points! This directly and fundamentally affected the Personal Points distributed monthly to each student for survival! The vague images of "freedom" and "enjoying a trip" shattered instantly. Everyone now clearly realized—this was a brutal resource allocation competition! Careful calculation and saving as many points as possible instantly became the core strategy affecting everyone's quality of life and class ranking! The tension in the air sharply escalated, carrying the raw smell of competitive conflict.

"Additionally," Majima-sensei's voice rose again, overpowering the boiling murmurs, "regarding the traveler absent due to circumstances—Class A student Sakayanagi Arisu. According to special exam rules, those who withdraw for valid reasons like illness will incur a penalty of thirty basic points deducted from their class. Therefore, Class A's starting points for this special exam are two hundred seventy."

"Each class will receive only one guide manual. If it's lost later, a replacement can be requested, but it will cost extra points, so please keep it safe." His gaze specifically swept over Class A's formation. "Even for Class A, there are no exceptions to the rules."

Among Class A's students, behind Katsuragi Kohei's steady figure, though they maintained overall composure, many eyes betrayed a flicker of gloom and gravity. Starting with a direct thirty-point deduction meant they were already behind all other classes before even beginning, at a natural disadvantage. Students from other classes, especially Class B and Class D, showed expressions of surprise and complexity upon hearing this sudden "unexpected boon"—a hint of relief, subtle sympathy for Class A's plight, but mostly a rapid reassessment and planning of their own class strategies.

"My remarks end here," Majima-sensei finally announced. "Next, your class advisors will explain the detailed exam rules, internal group divisions, and specific point management. Now, dismissed by class!"

With the word "dismissed," the taut string on the beach didn't loosen but was replaced by a more intense, pragmatic buzz of calculation and discussion. Students immediately swarmed around their respective advisors, their faces no longer carrying the ease and anticipation from landing, but instead showing caution, anxiety, deep thought, and eager planning for those three hundred (or two hundred seventy) survival points.

The setting sun spilled its last rays onto the white sand, painting a gorgeous gold-red. The sea breeze still gently rustled the palm leaves. Yet, the air on this deserted island had completely changed its flavor. Freedom was never a gift without cost. This special exam, named "freedom," had only just revealed the tip of its iceberg—the cruel competitive nature and survival pressure hidden beneath its calm surface—to these young boys and girls.