True Teachings: Welcome to the Paradise of Freedom

In this kind of weather, Class D's mood was also restless and uneasy.

"Ugh, I thought it was going to rain heavily, but it looks like the rain's coming earlier than expected."

Ike, holding a fishing net, said as he watched the dark clouds slowly approaching the horizon.

"Ah... we'd better take care of the food quickly, otherwise once the heavy rain starts, we won't be able to come out and get food."

Kiyotaka said, looking at the empty bucket.

"So you need to hurry up and get to work. What are you standing there spacing out for? Ike's already in the water."

Horikita replied indifferently, as if it had nothing to do with her.

"Don't forget, all three of us have work to do."

Kiyotaka couldn't help but respond irritably, looking at Horikita, who acted like it wasn't her concern.

"Of course I know."

Even as she said this, Horikita didn't move a step.

Kiyotaka shook his head, then got into the water with Ike and began laying out the net.

Meanwhile, Yamauchi had been assigned to the fruit-picking side. Watching Horikita and Kiyotaka chatting and laughing, his expression turned meaningful.

"Those two definitely have something going on, hehe."

Yamauchi, whose brain seemed to be missing a screw, walked toward Horikita, muttering to himself.

"Hey, Horikita, when did you and Kiyotaka get together? You didn't tell us, huh?"

As he spoke, Yamauchi picked up a clump of mud from the ground and smeared it on Horikita's head.

"Haha, isn't this the time for the boyfriend to step in?"

Everyone present watched Yamauchi's unexpected move, and the whole place fell into dead silence.

"Ow, that hurts."

Suddenly, Horikita spun around, grabbed Yamauchi's wrist hard, and with a clean, crisp motion, threw him over her shoulder straight toward the rocks by the stream.

Seeing the danger, Kiyotaka subtly used himself as a cushion to catch Yamauchi.

"Ow, ow, ow."

Yamauchi was flipped completely upside down, shouting loudly.

Just then, Kikyo walked over and said to Horikita.

"Suzune, your hair... go wash it, quick?"

"Yeah, it's sticky. I should wash it."

With that, she headed toward the deeper part of the stream.

As she passed Kiyotaka, he said quietly.

"You really wanted him dead, didn't you? If I hadn't cushioned him, he'd at least have a fractured skull."

But Horikita only gave him a cold look and walked away without a word.

A moment later, Ike and Kiyotaka pulled up the net.

"Man, only two fish. What are we supposed to do now?"

After Ike spoke, he noticed Yamauchi walking by and said in surprise.

"Hey, Yamauchi, you're still alive?"

"Don't say such scary things, okay?"

Yamauchi shivered as he replied.

"That's me praising your bravery. Why would you go out of your way to provoke Horikita for no reason?"

At this point, Ike thought Yamauchi was too stupid to be saved. Who in their right mind would just randomly smear mud on someone?

Kiyotaka noticed Ibuki appearing in the fruit-picking group. Silently listening to Ike and Yamauchi's conversation, he packed up the fishing gear on his own.

After tidying up, Kiyotaka walked to the campsite and started a fire. Before long, Horikita approached him with a strange expression.

"Kiyotaka, can you come with me for a moment? I have something to tell you."

Though puzzled, Kiyotaka silently followed Horikita out.

After leaving the campsite for quite a while, Horikita finally stopped. She shivered slightly as she spoke to Kiyotaka.

"I know this was my carelessness. That's why I called you out. I hope you can help me."

"What's the matter?"

"I lost something."

Kiyotaka was taken aback and asked.

"What? Did you lose your underwear too?"

But Horikita was in no mood for jokes. She shook her head and said.

"No, it's something ten thousand times more important than that—I lost the key..."

Kiyotaka's pupils unconsciously dilated slightly, then he calmed himself.

"Any idea who took it?"

"I have two suspects: one is Karuizawa, the other is Ibuki."

"Have your conflicts with Karuizawa gotten that deep?"

"Just things you don't see."

"Fair enough, but I don't think Karuizawa is that suspicious. She was in my sight the whole time you were in the bath."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Then the only one left is Ibuki."

"Find a chance to ask her directly. If she took the card, that's the worst-case scenario."

Hearing this, Horikita's expression showed boundless self-reproach.

"You're right. Go back first. I need some time alone before I return."

Kiyotaka understood that after causing such a big mess, wanting some time alone was only natural, so he said nothing more and returned to the camp alone.

Back at the camp, Kiyotaka saw Ibuki quietly huddled in a corner eating something.

Kiyotaka said nothing and silently slipped away.

A moment later, even Horikita, who was far away, could smell a thick burning odor.

Horikita stood up in disbelief and immediately ran back.

By then, the camp was already blazing with flames, and Sudo and Hirata were desperately trying to put out the fire.

"It must be her!"

Seeing this, Horikita immediately thought Ibuki was the culprit, but she noticed Ibuki staring at the slowly extinguishing fire with a shocked expression.

This made Horikita hesitate again.

The fire was eventually put out by the group. As the smoke rose from the dying flames, Shinohara Satsuki exploded.

"First stealing panties, now setting fires—who the hell is doing this? Do we have a traitor in our class?"

"What do you mean? Stealing panties and setting the camp on fire are two completely different things! Why are you lumping them together?"

"A pervert who steals panties is capable of anything! Maybe it's the same person!"

"Everyone, stop arguing, okay?"

Seeing the escalating quarrel, Hirata stepped in to mediate, but this time no one listened to him, and the argument continued.

Hirata unconsciously lowered his head and fell silent.

"Wait, where's Ibuki?"

Sudo, who had always suspected Ibuki was the traitor, was the first to notice her disappearance.

Karuizawa covered her mouth in surprise.

"Ibuki was just here... Could she really be the traitor?"

"Damn it, that bastard got away!"

Sudo punched a tree in frustration, cursing bitterly.

At that moment, rain began to fall, growing heavier, and the argument between the boys and girls ceased with Ibuki's disappearance.

"It's raining. What do we do, Hirata? Hirata...?"

Karuizawa called out to Hirata, but he was muttering to himself as if lost.

"Why is this happening? I didn't do anything wrong, so why are so many things going wrong..."

Kiyotaka had been watching coldly from the sidelines. He patted Hirata on the shoulder.

"Hirata, it's raining. You should go help. Our stuff is still outside."

Snapped out of it by Kiyotaka's touch, Hirata finally spoke.

"Right, we still have things to pack up. Girls, go collect the clothes. Boys, cover the firewood. Let's move quickly!"

With Hirata's orders, everyone sprang into action.

Kiyotaka looked up at the pouring rain and murmured to himself.

"Now, time to wrap things up."

With that, he slowly disappeared into the dense forest.

Meanwhile, Horikita was sprinting through the woods.

"She can't have gotten far. She's nearby. Damn, my head is so heavy... I feel like I have no strength left!"

Sure enough, before long, Ibuki's figure appeared before Horikita.

"So you've finally arrived. A bit slow, aren't you?"

Ibuki let out a light laugh, speaking to Horikita.

"First the panty theft, then the fire—Class D really is plagued with misfortune."

Horikita stepped forward, her gaze fixed sternly on Ibuki's back.

"So what?"

"You should know that a lot of people in the class suspect you, right?"

"So you're saying I did it? Got any proof?"

Seeing that Ibuki showed no sign of admitting anything, Horikita cut straight to the point.

"I'll be blunt. Give back what you stole from me."

Ibuki just shrugged indifferently.

"I said I didn't steal it, and you definitely won't believe me. How about you check for yourself?"

With a snap, Ibuki dropped the bag she was carrying onto the ground, signaling Horikita to inspect it.

Horikita, without hesitation, stepped forward and reached for the bag.

Suddenly, Ibuki swung her leg straight at Horikita's face. Horikita, already on guard, raised her arm to block and took two steps back.

"Oh? Not bad."

"Using violence during the exam gets you eliminated immediately. Don't you know that?"

Ibuki looked at Horikita with a mocking, naive expression.

"Who would find out here? And besides, don't tell me you weren't planning to fight?"

Under the heavy rain, Horikita's body trembled more and more. She felt her internal temperature rising while also sensing a chill—she knew her body was nearing its limit, but at this moment, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and push through.

"So, my [Ghost Card] was stolen by you, wasn't it? You even went so far as to set a fire to draw attention and make your escape easier. You're truly ruthless."