Exam Rules

After Majima-sensei announced the dismissal, the atmosphere on the beach didn't lighten much. Students from each class gathered around their class advisors with solemn, probing gazes. Over by Class B, Hoshinomiya Chie-sensei had already pulled out a small flag printed with a cute cat pattern from somewhere and was waving it energetically.

"Boys and girls of Class B, over here, over here! Follow teacher~!" Like a tour guide, she led a group of students in sports uniforms with serious expressions toward a corner of the beach. There, several labeled cardboard boxes were stacked.

With a grunt, Hoshinomiya pulled a smaller box from one of the larger ones and set it on a simple table set up by the school. She opened it to reveal sturdy-looking black electronic watches inside.

"Come on, come on, one for each of you!" She began distributing them. "This watch—from now until the exam ends a week later—please don't take it off, and make sure to wear it properly on your wrist!" She picked up a watch, demonstratively fastened it on her own wrist, then raised one finger. Her expression suddenly turned "fierce," and she lowered her voice in a threatening tone: "If you take it off without permission... hehe, you'll face severe punishment! Maybe... it'll even go 'boom' and explode! (｀Д´*)ノ" She made an exaggerated explosion gesture.

Seeing the students' stiff expressions, she immediately switched to a bright smile: "Just kidding~! But the punishment is real, though! This watch is key equipment!" She pointed at the watch face to explain: "It not only lets you check the time but also has sensors that detect body temperature, pulse, and human movement, plus a very important satellite positioning system! So the school always knows where you are and whether you're safe."

Her tone turned serious: "Also, just in case, there's a small red button here on the watch." She pointed at an inconspicuous bump on the side. "If any of you encounter danger or an emergency situation, remember! Absolutely! Absolutely! Absolutely press this button immediately! Although the exam is important, in teacher's heart, each and every one of your safety matters more than anything! Teacher absolutely does not want my little darlings to suffer even the slightest harm! So engrave this button's function into your minds!"

"Speaking of which, Hoshinomiya-sensei," Shibata Kaede raised his wrist, shaking the newly worn watch with a hint of worry, "is it okay to go into the sea with this watch on? Won't it break from water damage? I don't want it to quit on me while I'm swimming happily."

"Don't worry, don't worry!" Hoshinomiya-sensei patted her chest in assurance. "It's completely waterproof! Teacher's own watch was already thrown into water and soaked all last night, and now it's perfectly fine, keeping accurate time!" She shook her own wrist. "And even if it does malfunction, don't be afraid. The exam administrator will immediately bring a spare watch to replace it for you. Go ahead and embrace the sea with confidence! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و"

"Hoshinomiya-sensei," Kanzaki Ryuji, after carefully considering the exam rules, posed a question to her.

"From what Majima-sensei said earlier, combined with the manual's content, can it be understood that aside from the basic supplies the school is issuing now (tents, matches, etc.), all other necessary resources can only be obtained by solving problems ourselves or purchasing them with points?"

"Correct, little Kanzaki understands perfectly!" Hoshinomiya-sensei nodded appreciatively, her expression turning a bit more serious. "The school will not interfere at all with your judgment on utilizing this island's natural resources. Food, drinking water, even more comfortable shelters—it's all up to you to decide: whether to rely on points to buy supplies or try to use the island's existing resources. That includes the issue of insufficient tents—you'll need to figure that out yourselves. How to balance point consumption with living comfort, how to plan and make decisions—that's the main test of this exam! Unfortunately, teacher can't give you any specific advice this time. You'll have to rely on your own brains! However—" She shifted tone, her smile returning, "teacher believes that by pooling your wisdom, you can definitely overcome these difficulties!"

"Alright, little Honami," Hoshinomiya-sensei looked at Ichinose Honami, "please open the guide manual just issued, flip to the last page, and read the penalty clauses aloud for everyone."

Ichinose nodded, quickly flipped to the back of the manual, and read in a clear, crisp voice:

"Those who meet the following conditions will be subject to the stipulated penalties:

1. Significant physical discomfort or serious injury, judged by the school as difficult to continue the exam: deduct 30 points. At the same time, the student will withdraw from the exam.

2. Discovery of behavior that pollutes the environment: deduct 20 points.

3. Absence from the roll call conducted at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM each day: deduct 5 points per person."

She paused, took a deep breath, and read the heaviest clause:

"4. Acts of violence, looting, damaging equipment, etc., against other classes: the class to which the student belongs will immediately lose exam qualification, and all personal points of the offender will be confiscated."

After she finished, silence fell over the beach. Everyone felt the severity of the rules. Kanzaki Ryuji spoke thoughtfully: "That means, to maintain everyone's health and avoid the serious point deductions from the first clause, some necessary expenses, even extra food guarantees, are unavoidable. Health is the foundation for saving points."

"Suppose," Shimiya Kuki, who had been quietly listening, spoke calmly, raising a key question, "all points are exhausted, down to zero, and then a deduction occurs—for example, someone misses roll call. How would that be calculated? Negative points, or is there another rule?"

This question immediately drew everyone's attention, all eyes focusing on Hoshinomiya-sensei.

"The answer is zero points!" Hoshinomiya-sensei gave a clear reply at once. "The worst result in this exam is zero points; there will be no negative scores. That means, once points hit zero, further deductions won't reduce class points any more, but there will be no points available for use either. All subsequent actions requiring points cannot be performed, and you'll have to rely solely on existing resources and the most basic survival methods to endure the remaining time." This explanation relieved many, at least there would be no "debt."

"Hoshinomiya-sensei," Kanzaki asked again, thinking very thoroughly, "regarding roll call, is it concentrated at a fixed location? Or does the teacher come to each class's camp?"

"Good question!" Hoshinomiya-sensei explained, "The school rules require us advisors to stay with our respective classes until the exam ends. You need to decide on a location as your 'base camp' as soon as possible and report it to me. Then teacher will set up camp there and magically conjure my temporary base! ✧⁺⸜(●˙▾˙●)⸝⁺✧"

"As for roll call, it must be conducted at your chosen base camp location. Remember, once you decide on a base camp, without a valid reason (such as encountering a natural disaster), it cannot be changed. So everyone must carefully consider and weigh the pros and cons when choosing a location! Other classes have the same conditions; there will be no exceptions. Even if you pitifully beg teacher for help this time," she made a "heartless" expression, "if it doesn't meet the rules, teacher can only reluctantly refuse you. Rules are rules!"

"Oh, right! Next, everyone listen carefully—this concerns 'life's big matters'!" Hoshinomiya-sensei suddenly winked playfully, turned, and brought out another slightly smaller cardboard box. Opening it revealed a folded plastic device.

"Ta-da~! A portable toilet!" She held one up like a treasure. "Each class will be issued one of these. Please use it carefully and take good care of public property! (◕‿◕)"

"Pfft!" Shibata was the first to burst out laughing.

"Ah... only one?" Shiratori Chihiro and a few girls blushed slightly, murmuring quietly, clearly imagining the awkward scenario of using it.

"Sensei, this... is it enough?" Hamaguchi Tetsuya also scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Each class has only one toilet unit," Hoshinomiya-sensei understood everyone's concerns and added with a smile, "but, considerately, an additional lightweight tent for changing clothes or using as a privacy screen is also included! So you don't have to worry about being seen! Privacy protection is solid! Next, teacher will teach you how to install and use this portable toilet. Everyone must keep your eyes wide open and remember well! Otherwise, when the time comes, you'll be scrambling, or... well, if you need someone else to help handle 'internal issues,' that would be super awkward!" Her words sparked another round of laughter and a few girls' playful protests.

While Hoshinomiya-sensei began a detailed explanation of the toilet's installation and usage, most students gathered around to learn earnestly—after all, it concerned their "dignity" for the coming week. Meanwhile, Shimiya Kuki walked over to Ichinose and silently extended his hand. Ichinose understood and handed him the thick guide manual. Shimiya took it, flipping through quickly and intently, his eyes scanning the dense text and diagrams as if searching for more critical information.

"Alright, alright, toilet lesson complete! I'm sure everyone has mastered this important survival skill!" Hoshinomiya-sensei clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention back, her expression turning serious again. "Next are the final additional rules, and also the part with the most variables and strategic depth in this exam! Everyone, prick up your ears and listen well!"

"You will soon be allowed to move freely on this island. Several special 'bases' are set up in various places around the island. Those locations have an 'occupation rights' mechanism. The class that first finds and uses an exclusive keycard to activate a base will be granted exclusive usage rights for that base for eight hours! During those eight hours, how you use the base (for rest, storing supplies, or even as a strategic point) is entirely up to the class that obtained the rights. However," she emphasized, "the occupation rights only last for eight hours! Once the time is up, the rights automatically disappear! The base reverts to 'unclaimed territory,' and other classes get another chance to compete for occupation rights!"

"Then, here's the key point!" Hoshinomiya-sensei raised one finger, eyes sparkling. "Each time a class successfully occupies a base once, that class gains extra points—one point! But!" She shifted tone, "That one point is temporarily frozen and cannot be used during the exam! These occupation points are only calculated at the end of the exam and added to the class's final remaining points! And point usage will be monitored by teachers and technical staff, so there's no room for illegal grabbing or monopolizing bases! Please be sure to note this—don't harbor any illusions!"

At that moment, Shimiya Kuki had just flipped to the detailed page in the manual about the "base occupation" additional rules. He quickly skimmed through, confirmed the core content Hoshinomiya-sensei had mentioned, then calmly handed the manual back to Ichinose.

Ichinose took the manual and smoothly read out the core clauses of the additional rules clearly:

"Additional rules content:

1. An exclusive keycard is required when occupying a base.

2. Each successful occupation of a base yields one extra point.

3. Unauthorized use of another class's occupied base will incur a penalty of 50 points.

4. Only the designated 'leader' of each class may use the keycard to activate a base.

5. Without valid reason, the leader cannot be changed."

"Exactly! Little Honami read it very clearly!" Hoshinomiya-sensei praised, then threw out even more stimulating rules. "Furthermore, during the final roll call before the exam ends on the seventh day, the school will grant each class a right—to guess who the leader of other classes is! At that time, if you can correctly guess another class's leader, the guessing class will receive a massive 50-point reward for each correct guess! Conversely, the class whose leader is guessed must pay 50 points as a penalty!" Her voice carried a hint of gravity. "That means, if you let your leader frequently appear in public to gain base reward points, while you can earn base points, you might also be secretly observed by other classes, exposing the leader's identity and leading to a huge point loss at the final moment! The risks and rewards are both astonishingly high!"

She paused, strengthening her warning tone: "However, this right to guess the leader is not to be used lightly! If you mistakenly report someone who isn't the leader as the leader to the school, it will be considered a misjudgment, and the guessing class will instead be deducted 50 points! To make matters worse, if a class's leader's identity is correctly guessed and reported by another class, that class will not only be deducted 50 points but will also lose all the extra points they've painstakingly saved through base occupations up to that point! So," she looked around at the varied expressions of Class B, "when deciding whether to occupy bases and how to let the leader act, you must be extremely cautious and weigh the pros and cons!"

Finally, Hoshinomiya-sensei pulled a blank small card from her pocket and waved it: "If everyone discusses and decides who will take on this crucial 'leader' role, you can report to me. I will issue an exclusive keycard engraved with the leader's name. The deadline is the first roll call at 8:00 PM tonight! If by then..." She deliberately dragged out her tone, flashing a sly smile, "if the discussion is still heated and you can't decide, then teacher will have no choice but... 'eeny, meeny, miny, moe' to pick the leader! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و"

"Alright!" Hoshinomiya-sensei clapped her hands, her face once again wearing an encouraging smile. "That's all the rules for this special exam! Digest them, and then everyone hurry up and discuss! Once you're ready, you can officially set out and begin your deserted island adventure (survival) journey! When you've decided on the leader and chosen your desired base camp location, you can notify teacher through the watch. Teacher looks forward to your performance! Go for it! (＾▽＾)"

With the rule explanation complete, Class B fell into a brief silence. Everyone's face was filled with thought and deliberation. The starting resource of 300 points, the strict deduction rules, the immense temptation and risk of base capture, the fatal consequences of exposing the leader's identity... Countless pieces of information intertwined. A silent war revolving around "freedom" and "survival," testing wisdom and cooperation, had already begun on this white sandy beach. The sea breeze blew, carrying a salty tang, and also stirred the tense heartstrings of the boys and girls.