Everyone's Absent

The most devastating words were spoken.

Although no one has been found out who said it, there is no doubt that the voice came from the original group that was supposed to endure hardship.

The thoughts ignited by that sentence intensified under the stifling heat of the blazing sun.

"... Right, anyway, even if we try hard, we won't save much, so we might as well enjoy this rare vacation." Yamauchi Haruki muttered in agreement.

As if nothing had happened, Shinohara Satsuki muttered:

"Ultimately, it's because everyone wasted time arguing that all the strongholds Chi found were previously occupied, right?"

Although they usually bicker and argue, it was only at this moment that she began to support Chi.

However, this kind of support is not what Kanji Ike wants at all.

He wants points! He wants Private Points so he won't be so strapped for cash!

Who cares if you fucking argue or not? Who cares if the fucking base has been captured?

Even if we all have to eat grass, just fucking figure out a way to get through these seven days, okay?!

Kanji Ike really wanted to say those words, but he didn't dare.

Only at this moment did he seem to vaguely understand a little bit of Hirata's previous thoughts.

Why did Hirata Yosuke have such high expectations for their performance?

Now, he's starting to have expectations for his classmates.

Why can't these guys just be a little more hardworking and resilient?

Suffering for only seven days in exchange for no more suffering afterward—isn't that an incredibly worthwhile trade?!

"Huh? What are you talking about?!"

"What are you all thinking?!"

But he was powerless to stop anything.

There was only one person who could stop the class from arguing.

"--Shut up." Once again, after a long absence, he tore off his friendly mask in front of everyone, revealing a cold expression.

Hirata Yosuke.

"No more saying things that are detrimental to unity, no more arguing over such trivial matters." Hirata Yosuke spoke with unwavering firmness, "From now on, follow orders."

He felt he had no choice but to do it.

"...Yes." Obediently, Yamauchi Haruki was the first to lower his head.

Then the other students in the class also shut up.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka leaned against a tree, watching the scene unfold before him, but felt little surprise.

This was expected.

This class had long since become a loose collection of people that could only be forcibly bound together by such a rigid style.

... To be precise, they were a disorganized bunch from the very beginning.

Except for the moment when Hirata Yosuke clenched his fist, no one else could bring them together.

If he were to do anything... the first thing he would do is add water.

No matter how hard you try without adding water, all you can achieve is that fleeting moment of forced binding.

But is it really necessary for him to do something?

"..."

He could hear the conversation that Chabashira Sae had with him alone on the cruise ship before they landed on the island, before dawn.

"Your father is demanding that the school expel you."

This was entirely expected; in fact, hearing the news more than three months later felt a bit too late.

"Parents have no right to force students to withdraw from school; it all depends on the student's own wishes." Sighing, Chabashira Sae, leaning against the deck railing, lit a cigarette. "If you want, you can complete the withdrawal procedures after the exams."

"If you don't want to..."

She paused slightly, exhaling a cloud of smoke, before softly speaking amidst the sound of crashing waves:

"Whether you step up and become the class leader to achieve an undeniable victory like Class D over Class A, or continue playing the role of an unknown pig as you are now."

"It's all your freedom," she said.

As if he had only been called up to the deck alone to say something like that, Chabashira Sae casually tossed aside her finished cigarette butt and turned to leave.

"..."

It's certainly carefree, but it seems a bit uncivilized.

Although he didn't care about civilization at all.

Civilization is reserved for the weak; as long as they can become the ultimate winner, they don't care what they do.

There's only one problem.

Did his victory at this school mean anything to him?

In other words, can leading this disorganized Class D to a comeback against Class A and achieving such results change the father's attitude?

--cannot.

Seeing Class D operating again under Hirata Yosuke's control, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was once again certain of his answer.

He doesn't need to do anything; simply staying obediently in Class D would be the greatest desecration of the title 'Supreme Masterpiece'.

Chapter 202: Everyone Absent

"Another wasted trip!" Having regrouped, Kanji Ike kicked a pebble hard. "Are there any outposts on this wretched island that they haven't captured yet?!"

"Calm down, Ike," Hirata Yosuke's voice was slightly hoarse. "Let's try again."

"We can't find it." Squatting to the side, Karuizawa Kei looked aggrieved and on the verge of tears. "We've been searching all afternoon, my legs are about to fall off, but there's no other base at all."

"I don't want to look anymore, Yosuke." She raised her head and cried out the words that echoed everyone's feelings.

Despite being forcibly bound together, Class D ultimately failed to find even a single unoccupied stronghold.

Frequent defeats gradually demoralized them, and Hirata Yosuke's shackles loosened slightly amidst everyone's complaints.

Since they can't find it no matter what, isn't it only natural for them to complain and ask for a reduction in their workload?

Indeed, that makes perfect sense.

But if they don't want to withdraw from the competition, they have to start preparing.

Continuing to waste time searching for an unclaimed stronghold is unrealistic. If they only find a stronghold after dark, it will be too late, and there will be nothing they can do once night falls.

"...Then let's not look for anything." With a sigh, Hirata Yosuke said, "Everyone, get ready, let's start setting up the tents."

Where do we set it up?

"... Where is the most recently captured outpost?"

After much hesitation, Hirata Yosuke decided to take a very risky action.

They waited for the eight-hour occupation period to end at a base occupied by Class A, and then reclaimed the base, which had been restored to an unoccupied state, as their base for Class D.

Before the countdown ended, they could only set up simple things like campfires and makeshift toilets outside the area of their base.

After all, polluting the environment will result in points being deducted.

Actually, using the base that still belongs to Class A in advance might be the best option, since they still have a contractual relationship with Class A, which clearly states that Class A can provide them with assistance in the Special Exam!

Letting them not pursue legal action for unauthorized use of someone else's property is also a form of assistance.

However, after confirming with Chabashira Sae, they received two pieces of bad news.

One is about the occupied strongholds.

Use is permitted, but there will be consequences afterward. In other words, using a stronghold occupied by another class without permission will result in a direct deduction of points.

The other, even more desperate one, concerns the rule of 'roll call.' Even if they were to make another trip to Class A and obtain the right to use the base, it would be difficult to remedy the situation...

--Bad news.

"The school stipulates that instructors must work with each class until the exams are over. Once you've decided on the location of your base camp, report to me. I will then set up a base there, and roll call will be conducted there. Also, once the base camp is decided, it cannot be changed without a valid reason."

These were the words that Chabashira Sae had said to them not long ago, when the exam had just begun.

At first, they didn't think there was anything wrong with it; it was just setting up a checkpoint for roll call, what was so special about that?

Moreover, it seems to be something that cannot be changed without a legitimate reason, and obviously, it is also something that can be changed by paying a small price.

But when they couldn't find any footholds to establish, a disastrous situation ensued.

They had no way of deciding the location of the base camp.

Because they didn't have their own stronghold at all.

"Tea, Chabashira-sensei..." Trembling, Kanji Ike still tried to struggle. "Set up, set up a base... well, it doesn't mean we have to set up a base on the existing one on the island, right? We can set up bases in other places too, can't we?"

"Yes, yes, we don't necessarily have to set up camps at existing strongholds, do we?"

"At worst, we can forgo those few points from capturing the stronghold! As long as we can get roll call, that's enough—"

Led by Kanji Ike, the students in the class began to feel panicked.

They realized almost immediately the despair that lay behind this bad news.

"No." Chabashira Sae gently shook her head, uttering words that filled the students of Class D with utter despair. "The base camp can only be set up on an already occupied stronghold."

Rather, it is precisely because of this that a 'base' is called a 'base'.

However, it is indeed a vulnerability.

From this perspective, there are indeed quite a few loopholes in this Uninhabited Island Exam.

But it's not the school's fault. After all, the school never expected that a class would log in for a full eight hours and still not be able to capture even one stronghold.

Since there are no occupied strongholds, a base camp cannot be set up. And since there is no base camp, the 'roll call' that is required to be conducted at a base camp cannot be carried out.

This means that...

Class 1-D, Year 1: All students absent.

According to the rule that five points are deducted for each absentee, there are 39 people in total excluding Koenji. A single absence during roll call would result in a deduction of 195 points.

Add to that the 30 points from Koenji's departure.

On the first day of the Uninhabited Island Exam, they will lose 225 points. If we also consider the issue of a change in leadership... that's 255 points.

Are you kidding me!

How can I pass the exam with only 45 points left?!

"..."

"How so..."

"... I had clearly resolved to endure for seven days."

"It's all your fault!"

"So much time wasted, that's why it turned out like this!"

This is the umpteenth time the accusations have begun.

Hirata Yosuke, who should have been forcefully stopping the infighting, seemed to have lost all his strength and lowered his head.

"Everyone, please stop arguing." He just sighed weakly and said this symbolically.

They gritted their teeth, and in their rare moments of lucidity, everyone fell silent.

Yeah, what's the point of arguing any longer?

Can we argue our way out of a solution?

"... We probably can't wait until the occupation countdown ends before taking attendance, right?"

Upon hearing this, Horikita Suzune glanced at the timer at the base beside her. Although it was constantly moving and the number was approaching zero, it was still moving.

However, it's clearly impossible to reset to zero before 8 o'clock.