You Need a Bigger Boat / Uesugi's Tea-Drinking Discourse on Heroes

Ichinose announced firmly.

What incredible drive.

Watching the fired-up students of Class B, Uesugi Gen sighed.

You're all working so hard. I have no reason to hold the class back now.

Uesugi Gen rallied himself and added,

"Surviving on an uninhabited island is dangerous enough that even professional survival experts could lose their lives if they let their guard down. The school can't make things too difficult for us when it comes to survival. They'll definitely provide the basic necessities to keep the students alive."

"But during the exam, the school can't precisely monitor every student's physical condition while also assigning a series of quantitative scores. Kanzaki, how do you think they'll manage that?"

Before Kanzaki Ryuji could answer, Uesugi Gen was already explaining.

"They'll ensure the students' safety by providing plenty of supplies at the start. Then the students will have to judge for themselves how much they can handle, based on their own condition."

"Finally, they'll score each class according to how much of its supplies it uses."

"As for the competitive mechanism that'll get the four classes fighting each other, there's still too little information to make a judgment."

"But!"

Uesugi Gen paused, then stood and faced the entire class.

"I can guarantee that Class B will be the winner this time!"

Uesugi Gen declared with absolute confidence...

Author's Note

This book will be going on sale tomorrow.

Hmm~ It's my first time writing a book, so I don't know what I should say.

To be honest,

I'm not really satisfied with how this book has turned out, either.

I often look back at it and think some chapters are just terrible, but I don't know how to fix them.

I'll have to leave them as they are for now and revise them when I've improved a little.

Lastly,

My book goes on sale tomorrow,

but,

I don't have any chapters saved up!!!

Still,

I took a day off, so I'll consider it a success if I can write 6,000 words.

You Need a Bigger Boat.

"Yare yare daze!"

Amid the sunshine and the sound of the waves, a boy stood by the shore with his arms spread wide, shouting toward the horizon with a Dio-like expression.

"..."

Kanzaki and Shibata covered their eyes, looking as if they couldn't bear to watch.

How embarrassing!

The thought that this guy was their class's vice class representative—and that he'd been chosen at his own suggestion—made Kanzaki want to find a time machine and go back to strangle his past self for proposing it.

"Uesugi-kun, it's almost time to gather. We need to line up and get ready to board."

Ichinose jogged over, grabbed Uesugi Gen's hand, and pulled him back.

"Let go! We've been stuck in class for so long, and this is our first chance to get out. Can't I enjoy myself? Keep the music playing and the dancing going!"

"Yes, yes. How about we sing together once we're on board?"

"...Never mind. I'll find somewhere to play games instead."

Students from the other classes watched the two of them walk away, their expressions varied.

Ryuen Kakeru sneered.

"Still as underhanded as ever, you bastard Uesugi. Did you come out here at this exact moment to put on an act and lull the entire grade into a false sense of security?"

Ever since Uesugi Gen had tricked him last time, Ryuen Kakeru had come to see him as a shameless, evil schemer with even fewer scruples than himself.

"He... is that the rumored Class B vice class representative and the Student Council vice president?"

Katsuragi Kohei watched Uesugi Gen's retreating figure, folded his arms, and frowned in thought.

Among the first-years, unless someone made a point of keeping an eye on him like Kamuro Masumi did, it was difficult for anyone outside Class B to even see Uesugi Gen, let alone investigate him.

"That guy looks like he only got to be Class B's vice class representative through luck. He can't compare to you, Katsuragi."

Seeing his chance, Katsuragi Kohei's lackey Totsuka Yahiko hastily tried to flatter him.

Katsuragi Kohei didn't reply. Having been rejected by the Student Council, he knew how difficult it was to join.

This guy... I can't figure him out.

Class D's position.

"Hey, Ayanokoji, is that guy gone?"

The Heaven-Defying Trio crouched behind Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, keeping their heads down as they asked.

"He's gone."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka replied expressionlessly.

"Why are you so scared of him? No matter how scary he is, it's not like he'll eat you in front of everyone."

"Shut up, Ayanokoji. You've never dealt with him, so you don't understand. He's just... just... Anyway, he's terrifying."

Ken Sudō shouted back defensively.

"Hey, you guys. Stop wasting time here. We need to get ready to board."

Horikita Suzune walked over, rubbing her arms awkwardly as she spoke with a cold expression.

"Horikita, what does it have to do with you what we do here? Just mind your own business."

The moment Uesugi Gen was gone, the trio immediately got cocky.

"Oh? Then I'll call him back. He doesn't have much to do lately, so I'll ask him to come and play with you."

Horikita Suzune sneered as she took out her phone.

"Don't! I get it... We'll do it. We'll do whatever you want. Please don't call him over."

The trio jumped in alarm and immediately surrendered.

Horikita Suzune put her phone away, a faint smile barely visible on her face.

His tricks really do come in handy.

Ever since she'd learned that the Heaven-Defying Trio were afraid of Uesugi Gen, Horikita Suzune had stolen the same trick he used against her. Whenever the trio wouldn't listen, she threatened them with Uesugi Gen—and the results spoke for themselves.

Before long, it was time to board.

"But seriously, this ship is huge."

Shibata raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun and gazed up at the Luxury Cruise Ship.

The enormous cruise ship blocked out the sun as it sat by the shore, its sheer size imposing an overwhelming presence.

The cruise ship had nine levels in total, with four below deck and five above.

It had everything, from world-class restaurants and theaters to high-end spas.

The trip didn't cost them a thing, and all the facilities on board were completely free to use.

"Indeed. You can really tell this school has the backing of the government. They managed to charter an entire Luxury Cruise Ship of this caliber for us."

Even Kanzaki Ryuji, who came from a prominent family, was amazed by the school's generosity. With a backpack on his back, he chimed in.

"Hehe, right? Your teacher didn't lie to you, did she? It really is a luxurious trip!"

Hoshinomiya gave the whole class a thumbs-up. Ever since they'd learned that the reward she'd promised them was actually a Special Exam, they'd complained to her for quite some time.

"This trip will last two whole weeks. For the first week, you'll get to enjoy summer to the fullest at the lodgings built on the Uninhabited Island. Then, for the following week, you'll stay on the cruise ship and enjoy all its luxurious services. Anyway, just make the most of it while you're here."

"That's true. We'll be better prepared for the challenges if we relax, and a ship this big will take quite a while to enjoy all the services it has to offer."

Kanzaki Ryuji's nerves, which had been taut because of the Special Exam, finally relaxed. He was ready to enjoy himself.

However, someone soon objected.

"Hey!"

Uesugi Gen walked straight over to a staff member, pulled him aside, and covered his mouth with one hand.

"Is the Sakayanagi Family going bankrupt or something? You call this tiny thing a vacation ship? Call Sakayanagi Narimori and ask him whether he'll accept an investment from the Uesugi Family. I can get him a bigger boat."

"Uh, sir..."

The staff member was at a loss for words.

"..."

Uesugi Gen's stunt left the students of Class B speechless.

"Uesugi, forget about all that and get on board first."

The students of Class B hurriedly hauled him onto the cruise ship. If they let Uesugi Gen keep delaying them, the ship might leave without them.

The third floor of the cruise ship was the boys' dormitory, and the fourth floor was the girls' dormitory. There were four people to a room.

Uesugi Gen's roommates were naturally Shibata, Kanzaki, and Hamaguchi, the members of the Uesugi-gumi.

"Kanzaki, Hamaguchi, isn't it about time we got down to business?"

After the four of them had finished tidying up the room, Uesugi Gen gazed out at the sea and spoke casually.

"Just as I thought... Hamaguchi, you noticed it too, right? The one-week stay on the Uninhabited Island is a Special Exam, but... what about the other week?"

Kanzaki Ryuji wasn't surprised by Uesugi Gen's point. Instead, he turned to Hamaguchi Tetsuya.

"Yeah. Hoshinomiya-sensei made the hint pretty obvious."

Hamaguchi Tetsuya lay on the bed, looking at the cruise ship's map.

"So there should be another Special Exam, and it'll take place on the cruise ship we're on, right?"

Shibata Hayate finally caught on as well and figured out Hoshinomiya-sensei's hint.

"In any case, let's call the members of the Uesugi-gumi over and gather information about the ship."

Uesugi and Ichinose Talk Tea and Heroes.

Once, on a certain day, a great ship glided across the blue waves. Ichinose and Uesugi Gen sat facing each other in the Western Dining Room, enjoying the sea breeze and a fine meal.

Uesugi Gen said, "Do you know how the classes are doing?"

Ichinose smiled and replied, "I don't know the details."

Uesugi Gen sneered and asked again, "I've heard that Ichinose has many friends and must know the heroes of this year. Tell me about them one by one."

Ichinose waved her hands and humbly replied, "My eyes are too ordinary. How could I recognize a hero?"

Uesugi Gen said, "Don't be so modest!"