The sea breeze blew gently, carrying a faint salty tang.
Early in the morning on July 1, all the students boarded buses to Tokyo Bay, where they boarded the Victoria, Japan's third-largest luxury cruise ship, and set sail to begin enjoying a two-week luxury vacation.
The plan was to spend the first week at a villa on the Uninhabited Island, then the second week aboard the cruise ship.
All the food, drinks, services, and entertainment facilities on the ship were free. For the students of Class D, who were usually plagued by a lack of points, it was practically paradise.
There was everything from top-class restaurants and lively swimming pools to high-end theaters.
[Attention, students. If you have some free time, please gather on the deck. You'll soon be able to see the island, and for a short while, you should be able to enjoy a truly remarkable view.]
An announcement with a rather unclear meaning came over the ship's speakers.
But most of the students continued entertaining themselves, paying no attention to the strange announcement.
Kanji Ike and Haruki Yamauchi were stuffing themselves at the buffet. After all, with their points limited, they hadn't had a meal this good in ages.
"It's so great that I didn't get expelled, Haruki!" Ike said, tears of emotion streaming down his face.
Yamauchi teased him. "You came last in the final exams. You nearly got expelled, so you'd better get serious about studying!"
Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyo, and Tsubaki Yuki sat not far away, watching their foolish classmates with exasperation.
"I can't help feeling the school wouldn't let us enjoy a vacation for nothing. There must be some catch," Horikita said gravely.
Obviously. And then there was that announcement just now. Tsubaki silently grumbled to herself.
"There's no point guessing while we're