The First Night

At dusk, the atmosphere in Class D's camp was far more tense than during the day. Sudo Ken, along with a few boys, was setting up simple defenses around the camp—stringing tripwires with branches and vines, and hanging empty cans as alarms.

"Is this enough?" Sudo wiped the sweat from his forehead. "If Class C really attacks, this stuff won't stop them."

"It's enough for early warning." Hanyu Xiuyi checked the tripwire setup. "We don't need to stop them, just know when they're coming and from which direction."

At the camp center, the two newly acquired tents had been set up. The girls were dividing sleeping spots—the tents could only hold four people, and Class D had twenty girls. They finally decided to rotate, so each person could sleep in a tent for at least two nights.

"Who's sleeping in the tent first tonight?" Karuizawa Kei asked, her blonde hair glowing warmly in the firelight.

"Let's draw lots." Kushida Kikyo suggested, her sweet smile reassuring. "That's the fairest way."

The girls began drawing lots. Hanyu Xiuyi noticed that Sakura Airi—the girl who always kept her head down and spoke quietly—turned bright red when she drew a winning lot, shyly lowering her head, her long brown hair almost completely covering her face. She whispered a "thank you," her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

On the boys' side, it was simpler: the physically strong slept outside, while the weak and those on night watch had priority for the tents. Hirata Yousuke volunteered for the first night watch, his blonde hair looking especially warm in the firelight; Yukimura Teruhiko, due to his strong glasses prescription and poor night vision, was assigned to a tent.

"Hanyu, do you think Class C will come?" Hirata asked while organizing his night watch gear, his tone laced with worry.

"Not sure." Hanyu Xiuyi gazed at the darkening forest. "But Ryuen isn't the type to sit still. If he really wants to target us, tonight is the best time—everyone's most tired on the first day, and vigilance is at its lowest."

Dinner was a bit more plentiful than lunch—Sotomura Hideo had caught a few small fish with the fishing gear, and Hasebe Haruka made a soup with wild vegetables and the fish. Hasebe's short brown hair was a bit messy from the cooking smoke, but her focused expression as she stirred the pot was earnest.

"Hasebe is amazing!" Karuizawa Kei exclaimed, sipping the soup with sparkling eyes. "This is even better than the school cafeteria's!"

Hasebe blushed and said quietly, "It's just simple cooking..."

"Simple but effective." Hanyu Xiuyi took a taste. "It tastes great and is nutritious. Tomorrow we can try to find more food sources."

After the meal, the sky was completely dark. The students sat around the campfire, flames dancing on each face. This was the first night on the island, and the air was thick with complex emotions—fatigue, tension, unease, but also a strange sense of unity.

"Everyone," Hirata Yousuke suddenly stood up, "I'd like to say a few words."

Everyone looked at him. Hirata's smile was sincere and firm: "Today is the first time we've lived together in this environment. Even though we're tired, even though there are many difficulties, we've overcome them all. We set up the camp, found food and water, and obtained supplies from the supply point. All of this is because we worked together."

He looked around at each face: "There are still four days left in the special exam, and there will definitely be more challenges. But I believe that as long as we maintain the unity we have today, we will definitely succeed. Class D is not the worst class; we'll prove it to everyone."

His words were infectious. Several students who had been downcast lifted their heads, their eyes regaining their spark.

"Hirata is right!" Karuizawa Kei also stood up, her ponytail swaying with the movement. "We can definitely do it!"

"That's right!" Sudo Ken said gruffly, his red hair like a flame in the firelight. "Let those who look down on us see what we're made of!"

Morale had clearly improved. Hanyu Xiuyi watched this scene, his estimation of Hirata rising another notch. He noticed Horikita Suzune sitting at the edge of the crowd. Though she didn't speak, her eyes were softer than usual, her long black hair gleaming on her shoulders. Ayanokoji Kiyonaga sat quietly in the shadows, his ordinary face even more inscrutable in the firelight.

The campfire gathering lasted an hour. When the fire began to die down and it was time to rest, Hanyu Xiuyi announced the night watch schedule: "First half: Hirata Yousuke, Sudo Ken, Matsushita Chiaki. Second half: Me, Horikita Suzune, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga. Three per shift, two-hour rotations. Everyone else, rest well and conserve your energy for tomorrow."

The students gradually entered the tents or their open-air sleeping spots. Hanyu Xiuyi made a round of the camp, confirming all the alarm devices were intact, then returned to his spot and lay down, but didn't fall asleep immediately.

At midnight, he got up for the shift change. The campfire had gone out, leaving only the faint glow of embers. Hirata Yousuke and Sudo Ken both looked exhausted.

"Hanyu, be careful." Hirata said in a low voice. "I think I heard some noise earlier, from the south side."

"I'll go check it out."

Hanyu called Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji Kiyonaga, and the three left the camp silently, moving south. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows; the forest was very dark.

After walking about two hundred meters, Ayanokoji suddenly stopped and made a "quiet" gesture. Hanyu and Horikita immediately held their breath.

Faint voices came from ahead.

"...Are you sure this is the place?"

"The map marks it around here."

"Keep looking. We have to find it before dawn."

It was Class C! There were at least three people by the sound of it. Hanyu Xiuyi peered through a gap in the bushes and could vaguely see several figures moving in the beams of flashlights.

Horikita Suzune touched his arm, asking with her eyes if they should act. Hanyu shook his head—now was not the time for a direct confrontation.

The three quietly retreated to the camp. Once back, Hanyu Xiuyi immediately gathered the core members who were still awake: Horikita, Ayanokoji, Hirata, Yukimura.

"Class C is about three hundred meters to the south, at least three people. They seem to be looking for something." Hanyu said in a low voice.

"Looking for what?" Yukimura frowned, adjusting his glasses. "We explored that direction during the day and didn't find any supply point markers."

"Maybe there's a hidden supply point." Ayanokoji said, his voice as flat as ever. "Or they're looking for something else—like a good spot to ambush us."

This speculation was unsettling.

"Then what should we do?" Hirata asked.

Hanyu Xiuyi thought for a moment: "Change tomorrow's plan. Instead of exploring south, we'll go north. Avoid their area of activity."

"But if they're looking for a supply point, giving up exploration might make us miss an opportunity." Horikita said.

"Safety first." Hanyu insisted. "And if they really are looking for a supply point, once they find it, we can decide our next move based on the situation."

This decision was cautious. No one else objected.

The second half of the night was relatively calm. Hanyu Xiuyi remained highly alert, knowing that Ryuen wouldn't give up easily.

At dawn, when the first rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves into the camp, the students gradually woke up.

After breakfast, Hanyu Xiuyi announced the new plan: "Today we'll split into three groups. Group 1: Reconnaissance Team, led by Sudo Ken, will explore north to find supply points and food sources. Group 2: Resource Team, led by Hasebe, will collect edible plants and firewood near the camp. Group 3: Construction Team, led by Hirata, will reinforce the camp facilities."

He paused: "Horikita, Ayanokoji, and I will act as the Mobile Team, keeping watch around the camp and analyzing the intelligence we gather."

The group split into action. Sudo Ken led several physically strong boys out, while Hasebe Haruka took the girls to gather resources around the camp. Hanyu Xiuyi, Horikita Suzune, and Ayanokoji Kiyonaga stayed at the camp center, spreading out the map to analyze the situation.

"If Ryuen really wants to target us, his goal might not just be winning the exam," Horikita said, her black hair glistening in the morning light. "He might also want to use this chance to suppress Class D."

"Why target us specifically?" Ayanokoji asked.

"Because Hanyu's performance is too conspicuous." Horikita glanced at Hanyu. "Five Million Points, a legend won from a club overnight. That invites both envy and fear. Someone like Ryuen can't stand others stealing the spotlight."

Hanyu admitted the analysis made sense. "So What to Do? Avoiding battle forever isn't a solution."

"We don't need to avoid it forever," Ayanokoji said. "Just dodge his edge and wait for the right moment. The Special Exam lasts five days; this is only the second. The longer it goes, the more variables arise."

"Any concrete suggestions?"

"Show weakness." Ayanokoji said flatly. "Make Ryuen think we're helpless and let his guard down. Then counterattack when he least expects it."

The strategy was bold. Horikita Suzune frowned. "Too risky. If we overdo the weakness, it could hurt class morale and let Ryuen push further."

"So we need to find the right balance," Ayanokoji said. "Not strong enough to provoke fear, not weak enough to be slaughtered."

As the three discussed, sudden shouts came from the Camp Edge. They hurried over to see Karuizawa Kei and several girls gathered around something.

"What's wrong?"

"A snake!" A girl pointed trembling at a tree. "A snake just fell from the tree and almost bit Karuizawa!"

Hanyu Xiuyi looked at the tree and indeed saw a wrist-thick snake coiled on the Branches. A venomous one.

"Everyone, Step Back." He said calmly. "Matsushita, hand me that long stick."

Matsushita Chiaki—the always-calm Short-haired Girl—quickly passed him a long branch. Hanyu Xiuyi approached slowly, gently nudging the snake's body with the stick to guide it down from the tree. After the snake landed, it slithered quickly into the grass.

"There, it's gone." Hanyu put down the stick. "Everyone be careful. You might encounter wild animals anytime in the jungle. Don't act alone; report anything unusual immediately."

Karuizawa Kei's face was pale, but she forced composure. "I'm fine... Thanks." Her blonde hair was a bit messy, but her eyes were still strong.

"Go rest for a bit," Hanyu said. "Kushida, stay with her."

Kushida Kikyo immediately stepped forward, gently taking Karuizawa's arm. "It's okay, let's sit over there."

By noon, the groups returned one by one. Sudo Ken's Reconnaissance Team had a major discovery—Three Kilometers North, they found two supply points, obtaining a Waterproof Cloth, more rope and tools, and a new Map fragment.

"This fragment marks the location of a 'Special Supply Point,'" Sudo said excitedly, his Red Hair plastered to his forehead with sweat. "It's in the Cave in Island Center!"

"Special Supply Point?" Hanyu Xiuyi took the map fragment and examined it closely. The fragment was small, only showing the island's central area, with a cave marked by a star.

"Looks like this is one of the 'three Special Rewards' mentioned in the rules," Horikita said.

"Should we go?" Hirata asked, his blonde hair shining in the sunlight. "That spot is in the Island Center. We'd have to cross a large forest to get there—there could be danger."

Hanyu Xiuyi thought it over. The Special Reward was certainly valuable, but the risk was high. And if Class C had obtained similar intel, they might set an ambush there.

"Let's not rush," he decided. "Wait until we gather more intel. This afternoon, continue with the original plan, but strengthen vigilance, especially in the South Direction."

After Lunch, Hanyu Xiuyi left the camp alone and climbed to a high point overlooking the southern area. From here, he could see the faint outline of Class C's camp—they had chosen the southern beach, and their camp was larger than Class D's.

As he observed, he heard light Footsteps behind him. It was Ayanokoji Kiyonaga.

"You came too."

"Yeah." Ayanokoji sat down beside him, his ordinary face expressionless. "Looking at Class C's camp?"

"What Do You Think they're planning?"

"Don't know," Ayanokoji said. "But Ryuen doesn't waste time. He's definitely planning something."

The two sat in silence, watching the distant camp. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, making the sea surface glitter.

"Ayanokoji," Hanyu suddenly asked. "Why are you helping me?"

Ayanokoji didn't answer immediately. After a long pause, he said, "Because I think your way is better than Ryuen's."

"My way?"

"You want to win by elevating your class, not by crushing others," Ayanokoji said. "It might not be more effective, but... it's more correct."

The answer caught Hanyu off guard. He looked at Ayanokoji's ordinary face and felt for the first time that this person might be more complex than he imagined.

"Thanks," he said.

"You're Welcome." Ayanokoji Stood Up. "Time to head back. There's work this afternoon."

As they descended the mountain, Hanyu Xiuyi reassessed the situation in his mind. There were many difficulties, powerful opponents, but at least he wasn't fighting alone.

There was a class gradually growing stronger, reliable Allies, and now, seemingly, a mysterious but trustworthy companion.

This Special Exam had only just begun.

And the real battle was still ahead.