After Class B's camp activities were all underway, Shimiya Kuki headed straight for the Teacher's Temporary Stronghold, which had already been set up nearby.
He knocked on the open doorframe. Hoshinomiya-sensei was lounging in a comfortable camping chair, leisurely sipping a chilled drink.
"Oh? It's little Shimiya~ Have you finished checking the supplies? Is there anything else you need?" Hoshinomiya-sensei asked with a cheerful smile, as lighthearted as ever.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, I'm here to collect Class B's Leader Keycard," Shimiya Kuki said directly.
"Oh my, you've already decided? I knew it would be you, little Shimiya!" Hoshinomiya-sensei seemed unsurprised. She deftly took a blank card from her pocket, then pulled out a device resembling a portable printer. As she worked, she murmured, "Leader, Class B, Shimiya Kuki... All done!" She handed him the Exclusive Keycard, now printed with Shimiya Kuki's name. "Take good care of it~ Losing it would be a real hassle!"
"Understood." Shimiya Kuki accepted the card. It felt cool to the touch. He gave a brief reply, then turned and left.
He headed for the Silver-Gray Mechanical Stronghold beside the waterfall. The School-Issued Lightweight Tents had been cleverly arranged around it, forming a temporary storage area. Most of the Class B students' luggage was neatly placed inside, protecting the stronghold's equipment while making good use of the space.
Under the watchful eyes of several students, Shimiya Kuki lifted one corner of the tent flap and stepped inside. He pressed the Leader Keycard steadily against the Identification Zone.
A soft beep sounded, and the indicator light changed from yellow, indicating standby, to green, indicating that the stronghold had been claimed. At the same time, a screen lit up and displayed:
[Class B Exclusive Use Time: 07:59:59]
The numbers ticked down second by second.
He glanced calmly at the countdown, his expression unchanged. Then he took a lightweight bamboo basket from the pile of supplies, slung it over his back, and set off without delay into the depths of the woods. His figure soon disappeared among the dense foliage.
Shimiya Kuki didn't move quickly, but his steps were steady and silent. His keen eyes scanned the surroundings: towering broadleaf trees blotted out the sky, letting only dappled spots of light through the gaps; thick leaf litter and tangled roots covered the ground; vines wound among the trees, while unfamiliar birdsong and insect calls echoed through the forest, which teemed with raw, vigorous life.
Every so often, he stopped to crouch and examine the soil's moisture and the distribution of the vegetation. More surprisingly, at regular intervals, he picked a climbable tree with a clear view and nimbly scaled it like a leopard.
From atop the tree crown, he surveyed the distance, taking in the terrain, changes in forest density, and prominent natural landmarks. He pulled out his notebook and pen, swiftly and accurately adding notes to his existing sketch and refining the 3D Map in his mind. Once he had confirmed the directions and details, he slid quietly down the trunk and continued along his planned route. The entire process was calm and efficient.
The three students assigned to the Reconnaissance Mission for Class D were Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Sakura Airi, and Koenji Rokkusu. However, as soon as they entered the woods, Koenji seemed to awaken some kind of Primal Instinct. He leaped nimbly from tree to tree like an ape, quickly leaving Ayanokoji and Sakura far behind.
At first, the two could just about keep up with Koenji, but he kept speeding up, and Sakura's stamina gradually ran low. As a girl, she soon fell completely behind him.
"Um, Ayanokoji-kun, we're about to lose Koenji-kun... W-we should hurry and catch up!" Sakura said between gasps. Though she urged him on, it was clear she was already exhausted.
Ayanokoji calmly glanced ahead, where Koenji had long since vanished, then looked at Sakura, who was breathing hard beside him. "Sorry, I'm already running out of stamina. Let's slow down a little. You don't mind, do you?"
Sakura nodded lightly, looking a little apologetic. The two slowed their pace and continued through the forest, talking quietly as they carried on with their reconnaissance.
As they followed what appeared to be a seldom-used path, Ayanokoji, walking in front, suddenly stopped. His sharp hearing picked up faint voices ahead. Almost instinctively, he reached back, took Sakura Airi by the wrist, and quickly pulled her into the shadows of a nearby tree.
They held their breath and peered through the leaves. Katsuragi Kohei and Tozuka Yahiko from Class A were emerging from a cave. Katsuragi wore a stern expression, and in his hand was a conspicuous Key Card—the one that signified a class leader.
Looking back at the cave, Tozuka Yahiko said with a hint of relief, "A cave this size is more than big enough for two tents, Katsuragi. We're really lucky, too. We managed to claim a stronghold so quickly."
"Lucky? What have you been paying attention to all this time?" Katsuragi Kohei retorted coolly. "I'd already deduced there was a cave here before we landed. Finding it was inevitable." His tone left no room for doubt. Then he added sternly, "And watch what you say. Someone could be listening anywhere. As the leader, it's my responsibility to keep an eye on things. Don't make even the slightest mistake."
"...S-sorry." Katsuragi's sternness seemed to intimidate Tozuka Yahiko. After a pause, he couldn't help asking curiously, "But, if you don't mind me asking, what did you mean when you said you had a lead before we landed...?"
Katsuragi explained, "Before the ship reached the dock, for some reason it sailed in a wide circle around the island, as if taking a detour. The School Administration must have done that to give us a hint. From the deck, we could clearly see the path that had been cleared through the forest. After that, all we had to do was take the shortest route from the landing dock to that path."
"Enough chatting. We should get going, Yahiko."
With that, Katsuragi briskly left with Tozuka Yahiko, putting away the Leader Keycard in his hand as he went.
Only after the footsteps of the two Class A students had completely faded did Sakura Airi let out a long breath and relax. "Phew... Th-that scared me... I'm glad they didn't spot us... The card Katsuragi was holding was the Leader Keycard, right? So he's Class A's leader! We should hurry and tell everyone."
Just then, a calm voice came from directly above them without warning:
"Not necessarily!"
"Eek—!" The sudden voice made Sakura Airi jolt. She leaped like a startled rabbit, then hurriedly stumbled backward two steps and clapped both hands over her mouth. Her wide eyes were filled with fear, and her heart pounded. She looked up, trembling, her face a picture of panic.
Shimiya Kuki stood on a thick branch of the tree where they were hiding, looking down at them. His expression was calm, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny. He had clearly been there for some time, yet had remained as silent as the leaves, unnoticed by anyone.
Even Ayanokoji Kiyotaka seemed not to have noticed anyone in the tree beforehand. His expression remained as calm as still water, though his pupils had contracted almost imperceptibly before returning to their usual blankness.
Shimiya Kuki lightly leaped down from the tree and landed in front of them without making a sound. He glanced at Ayanokoji, his gaze tinged with curiosity, then turned to Sakura Airi, who was still shaken. Seeing her pale and flustered, he added in an even tone:
"Sorry for startling you. Are you two here to scout, too?"
Ayanokoji nodded expressionlessly and replied in an even voice, "Yeah. We're observing the area and, if possible, looking for supplies. After all, if Class D wants to hold on to as many Points as possible, we have to save wherever we can." His voice was as flat as ever, but his gaze remained fixed calmly on Shimiya.
After hearing Ayanokoji's explanation, Shimiya gave a slight nod and looked toward the cave the Class A students had just emerged from. "Since we've run into each other, let's go check out the stronghold." It sounded like a perfectly natural suggestion. If they confirmed the stronghold's status, they could narrow down the candidates for Class A's leader to those two.
Ayanokoji's expression didn't change. He simply nodded. "Yeah." His response was brief and direct, revealing no unnecessary emotion.
With Shimiya Kuki leading the way, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Sakura Airi, who had mostly recovered her composure, followed behind. The three entered the cave together. It was more spacious and dry than they had expected, and deep inside stood the Silver-Gray Mechanical Stronghold. Its screen glowed green, showing a clear countdown for [Class A Exclusive Use Time].
"So this stronghold has been activated," Sakura said softly.
"So Katsuragi really is Class A's leader, right? Then we can get the reward for guessing correctly." Her face brightened with anticipation. After all, 50 Class Points already amounted to half of Class D's current assets.
"No," Shimiya interrupted calmly, his sharp gaze sweeping over the stronghold. "Don't be misled by appearances. Seeing—" He paused, his tone still even. "—isn't always believing."
Ayanokoji nodded as well.
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