The Closing Ceremony Ends / Setting Sail

With its open view and low light pollution at the seaside, even many dim stars can be seen.

The star-studded night sky now displays a bright, full moon, though it's clearly not the best time for moon viewing.

"When I was a child, whenever I had the chance, I liked to lie in an empty, deserted place and quietly and leisurely watch the moon and stars."

"Occasionally, I'll fall asleep without realizing it, and then my worried parents will find me, wake me up, and scold me. But that's something I really deserve to be scolded for."

Asahina's soft murmur echoed in Aoyama's ears.

Although he couldn't see Asahina's cute face, he could already picture Asahina smiling and happy in his mind.

"When you grow up, remember to have your boyfriend watch you if you do this kind of thing."

"Once, when Mom said that with a mischievous smile, Dad gave her a fierce glare."

As Aoyama listened intently to Asahina's murmurs, Aoyama felt a soft, slightly warm small hand covering his right hand, which was lying face down beside him.

Several slender fingers, accompanied by gentle words, were inserted between his fingers.

My senior is confessing her feelings to me!

At this moment, wouldn't the senior's adorable expression become even more endearing?

After being surprised, Aoyama responded by holding his small hand tightly. Then he tried to sit up and memorize Asahina's adorable appearance under the moonlight.

"No, I'll be embarrassed if my junior sees this."

A small hand, seemingly emitting an unknown fragrance, touched Aoyama's cheek.

He could feel the faint sensation of airflow hitting his ear, and he guessed that Asahina.

"This is the first time I've realized how cunning my senior is; she actually prevented her boyfriend from seeing his girlfriend's face, which must have been even cuter at that moment."

Dissuading himself from getting up, Aoyama spoke in a very gentle tone, while also grabbing the hand that was placed on his face.

He naturally intended to accept the offer from the cheerful and lovely senior who came to him.

"I already told you I'd be shy."

"Hey! What's so great about kissing the back of your hand!"

What's wrong with kissing it? It smells wonderful and feels so smooth.

Hearing the shy voice so close to him, Aoyama felt an overwhelming joy, his hand tightly gripping the small hand that was trying to pull away.

"I not only want to kiss the back of your hand, I also want to kiss here, senpai." Aoyama said with a hint of teasing, tracing Asahina's fingertips across his lips.

"Then close your eyes first."

"Good."

To Asahina's surprise, Aoyama actually agreed, and he closed his eyes in astonishment.

Amidst the rustling sounds, a small hand covered his closed eyes, followed by a few strands of long, fragrant hair brushing against his cheek.

When he felt an unusually soft touch on his lips, he reached out and pressed his hand against the back of Asahina's head.

Chapter 339 Closing Ceremony Ends

"Masumi -senpai is right, you are a big bad guy."

A voice full of coquettishness rang in his ears, and Aoyama, gazing at the starry sky, licked his slightly moist lips.

The girl's flustered and awkward response also had a unique flavor for him.

"If being a bad guy can win Nagi's favor, then being a bad guy is definitely not a bad thing."

"All you do is talk nonsense."

"I'm just stating the facts. As the Student Council President, I don't lie."

"Yeah, right."

Adding two words to the end of Aoyama's words, Asahina chuckled softly, her melodious voice, like the tinkling of silver bells, drifting through the night.

A cool, moist sea breeze caressed the two of them, and in the comfortable and pleasant atmosphere, they lay down holding hands and chatting under the starry sky.

In the occasional silences when the topic of conversation stalled, there was no sign of discomfort.

"Water chestnut?"

Another period of silence ensued. When Aoyama gently brought up the topic again, he waited for a long time but received no answer.

Could he be asleep? That's incredibly careless.

Thinking of a certain possibility, Aoyama slowly sat up, and what came into view was an adorable sleeping face that exuded innocence and seemed to be having a sweet dream.

She really fell asleep. Luckily, I was there with her.

But is it because I'm by your side that you feel safe enough to fall asleep?

Without waking Asahina, Aoyama simply watched her quietly.

It wasn't until 9:30 that he gently poked Asahina's seemingly smiling face, then stood up and carefully carried her on his back.

"You even managed to win over Asahina, you've got some skills, Aoyama -senpai."

On the way Asahina, Aoyama ran into Kiryuin was also heading back to his dormitory.

Her long, flowing white hair, reaching past her waist, was tied into a single ponytail. Her two fair arms, as white as lotus roots, were exposed outside her tight short-sleeved shirt, shimmering with a unique luster under the moonlight.

Judging from the sweat remaining on his refined and handsome face, Kiryuin had probably just finished his night run.

"Thank you for your kind words, Kiryuin. Are you preparing for the Uninhabited Island Exam?"

"Hmm, a noteworthy junior has emerged in the first year," Kiryuin chuckled. "And having collected Twenty Million Personal Points from Class A, they should do something about it."

Thanks to the OAA software, she discovered Amasawa Ichika's existence among the freshmen immediately.

A double A rating wasn't enough to pique her interest; a double A+ would be a different story.

Originally, among all the girls in the school, there was only one other girl besides her who had an A+ grade, and that was something that was easy to achieve, like academic ability.

Only she, who also received an A+ in physical ability, truly understands what that means.

"Did the senior student step forward to lead the class because she was interested in Amasawa Ichika?" Aoyama voiced his speculation.

The Class Transfer Ticket awarded as the top prize to the girls at the Forest School was used by Kiryuin on the last day of their second year to transfer them to Third-Year Class A.

However, after transferring classes, she remained the same as in her original class, slacking off all her time.

"The 20 million yuan salary was also taken into consideration, so I wouldn't have to work part-time after graduation."

Kiryuin, from a wealthy family, did not want to follow the path arranged by his family, so he entered this special school and did not plan to use his family's money to go to university after graduation.

Faced with the continued failure of the encirclement and suppression by Classes B, C, and Third-Year Class A, in desperation, pooled their money to invite Kiryuin to the stage.

"I heard you're not planning to take first place this time," Kiryuin continued.

"Perhaps, but the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease."

Even with the Special Exam, Aoyama couldn't be sure he hadn't changed his mind.

"Then let me have a little hope, junior."

With a slight smile, Kiryuin parted ways with Aoyama on her floor, her single ponytail swaying as she slowly disappeared from Aoyama's sight.

What's there to expect?

After internally complaining for a moment, Aoyama quickly arrived at Asahina's door, slowly squatting down as he spoke.

"He came down to the dorm and opened the door. You naughty kid, pretending to be asleep."

"Hey, Shiki, when did you find out?"

As his feet touched the ground and left Aoyama's broad back, Asahina spoke with some surprise.

After waking up, she didn't move at all, quietly enjoying the warmth emanating from her boyfriend's body.

"Your heart raced when you met Kiryuin- senpai."

"You can hear that?! Is it really that quiet?!"

Holding the soft spot on her heart in one hand, Asahina looked somewhat dumbfounded.

"Are you stupid? This isn't the dorm." Aoyama gave Asahina a chop to the neck, sounding annoyed.

Fortunately, there were no outsiders in the corridor. If there were, who knows what they would think if they saw Asahina's actions.

"Hehe."

"Stop chuckling, go back to your dorm and get some sleep."

He pinched Asahina's cheek, who was acting cute, Aoyama put his hand on her head and ruffled it.

It's getting late; in less than half an hour, it will be the school's curfew.

Goodnight, Shiki.

Goodnight, Qi.

Aoyama gently removed his hand from Asahina's head as she bid her farewell.

The next day.

The graduation ceremony, which should have ended amidst cheers from the students, instead concluded in a somber atmosphere.

For the Uninhabited Island survival test, whose rules have not been fully announced, most students, except for those who are very confident in their abilities, are feeling uneasy about tomorrow's Special Exam.

Summer vacation with Special Exam is not appealing at all.

"Please take care of me tomorrow, Aoyama -kun."

On their way out of the school after the graduation ceremony, Nishikawa and Shiraishi went to Aoyama's side, intending to return to the dormitory building together.

Under Morishita's arrangement, the two of them were paired with Aoyama.

"It's normal that Shiraishi was assigned to me, but what's wrong with you, Nishikawa?" Aoyama, somewhat puzzled.

Shiraishi, with a physical ability rating of D, is indeed someone who needs protection, but Nishikawa, whose rating is C+, is not.

A girl with a B in academic ability and a C+ in physical ability is already considered an excellent fighter. He remembered that there was also a girl in the class with a D in physical ability.

"Because I will never be separated from Asuka, and Asuka thinks the same way, right?" Nishikawa said with a bright smile, linking her arm intimately with Shiraishi's.

She had to ask Morishita for a lot of favors to be in the same group as Shiraishi and gain his approval.

Looking up at Aoyama, Shiraishi smiled gently, "Yes, but I not only want to be in a group with Ryoko, I also want to be in a group with Aoyama."

"Hey, Asuka, you're so cunning! Actually, I wanted to be in the same group as Aoyama too."

"It's too late to fix it now, Ryoko."

Like a two-person comedy act, the two started playfully fighting intimately. Shiraishi, who was originally standing next to Aoyama, was gradually pulled away from Aoyama, and the person walking in the middle of the three slowly changed to Nishikawa.

Is Nishikawa going to end up like Chihiro was in first grade?

Watching the two people enjoying a harmonious atmosphere, a thought suddenly flashed through Aoyama's mind.

Chapter 340 Boarding the Ship

"Get ready to get off the train, Arisu."

The bus, which had departed from the school shortly after dawn, slowly came to a stop at a port.

At that moment, Aoyama woke up Sakayanagi, who was sleeping on his chest.

This time, Sakayanagi finally remembered to bring motion sickness medicine. She took the medicine as soon as she got on the bus and then sat in his lap, facing him.

Seeing Mashima's hesitant gaze, Aoyama smiled helplessly, then wrapped his arms around Sakayanagi's waist, using them as a seatbelt to hold her Sakayanagi.

"Have we arrived?" Sakayanagi murmured sweetly, opening her sleepy eyes.

After reluctantly nuzzling her head against Aoyama's chest, she slowly got off Aoyama and yawned.

She still felt a little drowsy due to the side effects of the motion sickness medication.

"They're gone."

He ruffled Sakayanagi's hair, Aoyama took her hand and led her out of the car.

After gathering and counting the number of students by class, the hundreds of students boarded the Luxury Cruise Ship one by one, in class order.

"Saint Venus"