I'm Not Asleep Yet!

Uesugi Gen suddenly stood up and reached out to touch Horikita Suzune's smooth forehead.

"I keep forgetting to ask if you've recovered. Looks like you're almost better now."

"Uesugi, would you rather regret it while you're in pain, or while you're in despair?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Horikita Suzune's mouth.

"Hey, hey, you're trying to hit me again, aren't you? You still won't admit you're a tomboy..."

"Drop dead!"

--

After returning to Class B's camp, Uesugi Gen went over to Kanzaki Ryuji, who was taking stock of their supplies.

"Uesugi, if you're bored, you can go find Ichinose. She asked you to help her gather food earlier."

Kanzaki Ryuji spoke without even looking up.

"Hey, Kanzaki, I heard you want to be Class B's leader?"

Kanzaki Ryuji's expression changed at once.

"Don't talk nonsense. I don't."

"Don't lie. The look on your face in the woods just now told me everything. You, Kanzaki Ryuji, want to usurp power, don't you?"

Uesugi Gen struck the pose of a little detective from a crime anime and pushed up a pair of imaginary glasses.

"No, I—"

"Don't explain. I get it. I understand everything..."

Uesugi Gen looked at him as if he understood exactly how he felt.

"I've got a real treasure to show you."

Uesugi Gen dragged Kanzaki into a corner and shoved the key card into Kanzaki Ryuji's hand.

"This is... Hm?"

Kanzaki Ryuji stared at the key card bearing his name in horror.

"Well? For this whole week, you'll be the undisputed leader of Class B. Excited?"

"You... You..."

Kanzaki Ryuji shakily pointed at Uesugi Gen.

Other people might not have realized it, but as the son of a prominent family, Kanzaki Ryuji knew full well that this so-called leadership position was just a worthless plum job.

And he knew Uesugi Gen all too well. Skipping the class discussion and appointing him leader outright could only mean that Uesugi Gen was up to something.

Was this guy going to use him as a sacrificial offering...?

"This is revenge. It has to be revenge!"

Kanzaki Ryuji picked up the key card and turned to leave, muttering to himself.

"I'm going to see Ichinose. I'm reporting you!!!"

I haven't even gone to sleep yet!

[This is Uesugi Gen,]

[I'm going to show you how to survive on one of the safest uninhabited islands on Earth.]

[I have to face a week-long challenge.]

[In a place like this, without the right skills to pass the time, you wouldn't even last a day...]

I can't take this anymore!

Uesugi Gen suddenly opened his bloodshot eyes and sprang upright from the ground.

He, Uesugi Gen, had insomnia.

On an uninhabited island with no lights, no air conditioning, no big bed, and certainly no computer, phone, or game console, Uesugi Gen was miserable to discover that he couldn't fall asleep.

Besides...

What time was it, anyway? It wasn't even eleven yet.

This was usually when he was at his most energetic, ready to battle until dawn.

So after lying down, Uesugi Gen couldn't sleep at all.

So what am I supposed to do now?

Uesugi Gen sank into thought.

Then he turned to look at Shibata Hayate, sprawled out in his sleep, and at Kanzaki Ryuji, who somehow looked serious even while sleeping. Finally, he glanced at the other boys around them.

He had a feeling that if he woke them up now, they'd pin him down and beat him senseless.

Uesugi Gen had no choice but to rein in his restless urge to do something stupid.

Never mind. They'd been busy all day, too. He'd let them get some proper rest.

Uesugi Gen got up, stepped over the other boys, and left the tent.

Since the island was entirely artificial, there was no need to worry about large wild animals showing up, so Class B hadn't assigned anyone to keep watch.

The camp was completely quiet. Only the distant sound of the waterfall and the crickets in the grass broke the silence.

This place was nothing like home—or Kōiku!

Uesugi Gen found a random rock to sit on and sighed.

"I knew you wouldn't be able to sleep."

A sweet voice came from behind him.

"You're not asleep either. You've been helping everyone set up camp all day, so you must be exhausted. You should hurry up and get some rest."

Uesugi Gen knew who it was just from the sound of her voice; he didn't even need to turn around.

"Mm~ I don't feel tired at all. I used to wait for Mom to come home before going to bed, so I'm not sleepy at all right now."

Ichinose found a spot beside Uesugi Gen and sat down as she explained.

Uesugi Gen didn't reply. He simply gazed at the distant waterfall.

Ichinose didn't say anything else either. She sat beside him on the rock.

The night fell quiet.

"Hey, Uesugi, you skipped the class discussion and made Kanzaki the leader. You must have had a reason why it had to be him, right?"

After a long pause, Ichinose softly asked what she wanted to know.

Uesugi Gen glanced at Ichinose's fair cheeks, then answered calmly.

"That's right. This plan has to involve Kanzaki."

"So... can you tell me what your plan is, Uesugi?"

Uesugi Gen was silent for a while, then firmly refused.

"No. This plan isn't right for you."

Seeing how resolute Uesugi Gen was, Ichinose gave a bitter smile.

"I thought so..."

If it were an honest, aboveboard plan, Uesugi Gen wouldn't hide it from Ichinose if she wanted to know. So...

It really was a plan that went against her wishes.

Should she beg him not to do it?

No!

She couldn't bring herself to say it. She'd already pushed herself to the limit doing that last time.

She didn't want to see him running around, working himself to the bone for the class anymore. He should have been able to enjoy himself at school every day. And this was all happening because of her...

Slowly, pain surfaced in Ichinose's eyes.

Just then, Uesugi Gen put both hands on Ichinose's shoulders, looked straight into her blue-violet eyes, and spoke earnestly.

"Ichinose, listen. I'm not asking you to change your kind nature. Helping others and wanting your classmates to stay safe aren't wrong in themselves."

"But we can't expect everything to turn out perfectly. Whenever you gain something, you're bound to lose something else."

"It's like chess. No one can win a match without losing a single piece, not even God. The only thing a player can do is use every means at their disposal to minimize their losses and win the match beautifully."

Uesugi Gen paused, then continued.

"From the start, they'd already accepted that they might have to sacrifice themselves for their leader. The students in Class B chose you as class leader because they hoped you could lead them to a decisive victory over the other classes."

"Ichinose, I know you're smart. Put that intelligence to use here. Only those willing to give up everything can win everything!"

In this place, where no one else could hear them, Uesugi Gen laid bare the harsh truth Ichinose had been avoiding and forced her to face it.

"I know... I know..."

Ichinose clutched Uesugi Gen's hand, her eyes glistening with tears as she spoke through her pain.

"But, Uesugi, I can't do it. I really can't. Just thinking about having to sacrifice you one day to win makes my heart ache."

Looking at the girl crying in front of him, Uesugi Gen's eyes showed a flicker of reluctance.

Had he pushed her too hard?

Uesugi Gen sighed.

Never mind. Another time...

Uesugi Gen gently let go of Ichinose's shoulders.

He drew Ichinose into his arms, softly rubbed her back, and comforted her.

"Then don't change for now. If you can't change, that's fine. This time, just keep looking after the class like you always do."

"Leave the rest to me. I promise I'll minimize Class B's losses this time, and I won't let a single person get expelled. All right?"

Ichinose's sobs gradually faded in Uesugi Gen's arms, until only the faintest sniffles remained.

At last, a slightly plaintive voice sounded by Uesugi Gen's ear.

"Really, Uesugi?"

"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"

"You're lying. You lie to me all the time."

"Not really. Just once or twice."

"Then why do you always say you've already eaten whenever I ask you to come have a meal with me? Kanzaki told me you play games in the activity room every day until seven or eight in the evening before heading home."

Damn it, Kanzaki! Just you wait. I thought you were the only one in the Uesugi-gumi who wouldn't stab me in the back, but you even let my little hideout slip. Even Shibata wouldn't have done something like that, and you went and did it without a second thought.

"Ahem. That was an exception. Let's try another one. I've definitely never lied to you."

"No. You just lie to me, anyway."

"Then what do you want me to do?"

"From now on, when I... ask you to come eat with me, you... aren't allowed to say you're busy..."

"But what if I've already eaten?"

"I... don't care. Otherwise, you're lying to me..."

"Fine. Then how about we eat together every few days? Hmm? Ichinose? Ichinose?"

Uesugi Gen stared blankly at Ichinose, fast asleep in his arms.