Do You Like Aoyama? / Karuizawa's Panic

The sun disappeared completely below the horizon, and night fell over the entire Uninhabited Island.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and not even the faint moonlight could shine through.

"It seems Class B is determined not to make a deal with us." Ryuen thoughtfully added firewood to the burning fire.

It was already evening, and Class B showed no intention of sending anyone to talk to them.

According to Kaneda, Horikita Suzune has also moved into Class B's camp, which means that Class B and Class D are cooperating more closely than he thought.

Shiina stared at the flickering flames atop the mountain. "No one reported seeing Aoyama today."

After the exam begins, all the students from Class C who go out will have the task of collecting information about Aoyama's whereabouts. If they see him, they must record the time and report it.

Normally, at least one or two students would report, but today there were none at all.

"Are you sure nothing unusual happened that day, Ishizaki -kun?"

"I've thought about it many times, and it's exactly the same as usual. I don't feel unnatural at all."

When Shiina asked him again, Ishizaki answered with a bitter face.

The day Ryuen made the deal with Kushida, everything was calm and nothing happened. The check-in was done in complete accordance with Ryuen's instructions, and it only started when he arrived.

"I hope Kaneda -kun can bring some useful information." Shiina getting impatient. Aoyama's recent performance made her feel that he had already achieved his goal.

Class B has partnered with Class D, which is controlled by Aoyama, so it's unnecessary to explicitly state which class he's going to deal with.

Ryuen suddenly chuckled sinisterly, "If you're so worried, Shiina, just use your charm to go and play with him. I think he quite enjoys being with you."

Shiina shook her head decisively, "No, I don't want Aoyama to dislike me."

Trying to chat with Aoyama as a friend with a tentative mindset—an approach that might annoy Aoyama —was rejected in less than half a second.

Classes are class-specific, and individuals are individual.

She doesn't dislike contributing to the class, but there's a condition: she can't do anything that would annoy her friends.

"So decisive? Do you like Aoyama?" Ryuen narrowed his eyes.

Huh?! Asking me if I like Aoyama?

Shiina's mind went blank for a moment when Ryuen suddenly asked this question.

At the very least, I don't dislike him. After all, Aoyama was my first friend at school, and he was not only good-looking but also eloquent.

Coming to her senses, Shiina first confirmed that she didn't dislike Aoyama.

As for whether her feelings for Aoyama were those of friendship or, as Ryuen had said, the kind of romantic feelings, she couldn't be sure.

"I don't know yet..." Shiina could only answer shyly and with a troubled expression, unable to understand.

"Is that so?" Ryuen calmly withdrew his gaze. "I suggest you don't fall for him. I consider myself ambitious enough, but I feel his ambitions are even greater than mine."

During my junior high school years, I spent a lot of time on the streets and saw all sorts of people.

Having dealt with many adults, Ryuen believes he has some ability to judge people.

Somewhat surprised by Ryuen's reminder, Shiina nodded with wide eyes, "I will remember Ryuen's advice."

Even if Ryuen didn't say it, she knew that falling for Aoyama would likely end badly.

There were way too many girls surrounding Aoyama.

Time passed slowly, and after the firewood had been replaced twice, Kaneda, who had been sent to infiltrate Class B, returned to Class C camp with excitement on his face.

"I've figured out who the leader of Class B is—it's Shiranami Chihiro, who's always clinging to Ichinose."

He found Ryuen and his group by the campfire, and before they even sat down, he immediately reported the good news.

He successfully completed the task assigned to him by Ryuen.

"This is great news," Ryuen said with a smile.

If he can determine the exam leaders of Classes A, B, and D, then Class C might be able to directly advance to Class A, without even needing to stay in Class B.

Class C has about 200 exam points remaining. Adding the 150 points from correctly guessing the leader brings it to 350. Adding the dozens from capturing Base will bring Class C's Class Points to over 1200.

This Special Exam alone has nearly halved the Class Points.

"On my second day in Class B, I began to suspect Bai..."

Noticing that Ryuen and Shiina were both staring at him, Kaneda adjusted his glasses and began to explain in detail.

He was 100% certain that the leader of Class B was Shiranami Chihiro.

"Investigate the Wooden Cabin where Aoyama lives? No way."

Hashimoto, who had sneaked out of Class A's camp after roll Hashimoto, abruptly shook his head and rejected Sakayanagi's latest instructions.

Communicating and negotiating with just three classes already put him at great risk, especially with Class B, with whom he hadn't reached an agreement.

"If I break down, Class A won't have a better tool than me."

"There's no need to take that risk. Anyway, Aoyama shouldn't be our enemy in this exam."

After being refused, Hashimoto quickly explained, hoping to persuade Sakayanagi to give up the idea.

If he could stay in Class A until graduation, he would still like to stay until graduation.

If you can have both, then you should have both.

After hearing Hashimoto's words, Sakayanagi chuckled, "Aoyama is indeed not our enemy in this exam; on the contrary, he will help us."

After revealing her identity Chairman's daughter to Hashimoto, she also 'accidentally' let those around her, such as Nishikawa Ryoko, know about it.

Thanks to this, her intelligence sources were expanded, and she had more manpower available.

However, dealing with the infamous Aoyama is something we can only ask Hashimoto for Hashimoto.

"However, I suspect there's more than just Aoyama in the Wooden Cabin; I'm incredibly curious about who it is."

On the first day of the exam, she realized that the exam leader could be changed.

The statement that "no replacement is allowed without a valid reason" clearly implies that replacement is permitted as long as there is a reason. She felt that Aoyama had also figured this out.

Katsuragi's ability to buy information about the leader of Class D from Class C was probably a bait deliberately laid out by Aoyama.

Although he had no intention of helping Katsuragi and Ryuen, Sakayanagi was interested in who was in the Wooden Cabin and planned to show off in front of Aoyama during roll call on the morning of the seventh day of the exam.

Imagining Aoyama's discomfiture, Sakayanagi chuckled. "After roll call tomorrow morning, I'll try to hold Aoyama back for at least half an hour. Just make sure you leave at the right time."

"Half an hour should be enough time for you to coax one of the girls into talking."

Hashimoto was somewhat puzzled. "How can you be sure it's a girl inside?"

If it were him, he would definitely keep the more emotionally stable boys from Class D, such as Hirata.

"The answer is simple." Sakayanagi's smile deepened. "Aoyama doesn't have any male friends in Class A, and he doesn't have any male friends throughout his entire first year."

"Aoyama, who only has female friends, lived with a student from Class D for seven days and six nights in Wooden Cabin."

"Forgive me, but the only person I can think of is a girl, and a cute girl at that."

Chapter 102 The Karuizawa

Early morning, the sixth day of the exam.

As usual, Aoyama arrived at Class A's campsite about ten minutes before 8:00 AM.

Even early in the morning, most of the students in Class A looked listless. Six days and five nights of living on the Uninhabited Island had left them quite exhausted.

Perhaps they will regain their energy tomorrow morning, when the exams are about to end.

"Class A students, assemble!"

The clock had just struck eight when Mashima Tomoya, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately began calling out names.

After the roll call, which lasted less than three minutes, he immediately stepped aside and watched the students of Class A like an outsider.

"I have something I'd like to discuss with Aoyama -kun alone. May I borrow him for a moment, Kamuro?" Sakayanagi walked slowly but steadily to Aoyama and the other two, smiling at Kamuro.

Kamuro curled his lip. "Why are you asking me? I can't control his decisions."

"It seems Kamuro doesn't object." Sakayanagi looked up at Aoyama, who was scrutinizing him. "Could you please give me a chance to talk to you alone, Aoyama -kun?"

"This is quite troublesome."

Aoyama sighed and, under the expectant gaze of the Yamamura, grasped the hand that Sakayanagi had extended.

Both Kamuro and Yamamura harbored some hope that he would integrate into Class A and get along well with his classmates.

"I feel like it would be faster to put you on my shoulders."

"Then I'll hit you on the head with my cane."

With a light laugh, Sakayanagi leisurely led Aoyama toward a small hill, at a very slow pace.

It took them more than ten minutes to walk such a short distance, and by the time they reached the top of the hill, sweat was already trickling down her delicate face.

A sea breeze blew by, Sakayanagi closed his eyes with a look of enjoyment. "I'm curious, Aoyama- kun, that a genius like you would also care about the feelings of ordinary people in Yamamura and act accordingly."

Losing to Aoyama in Midterm Exam, the kind of exam where there are shortcuts and you can get away with it, is one thing.

She studied diligently for the exam, but even without any special achievements, she could only rank second in the final exam, which also acknowledged Aoyama's abilities.

"I don't see the arrogance of a genius in you." Before Aoyama could answer, Sakayanagi opened his eyes again and said, "Don't you think they're not the same kind of people as you?"

Aoyama clicked his tongue. "I don't think you and I are the same kind of people."

Before enrolling in Kouiku, he devoted most of his day to studying in order to secure scholarships and maintain his position among the top three in the school.

If he hadn't been given the ability to remember everything he saw, he would probably be at the same level as Horikita Suzune, and he wouldn't have had time to train or participate in Student Council.

"We all have two shoulders and one head, are you some kind of alien? The thing I hate most about you is that you take yourself too seriously."

"Simply put, they're a menace, only thinking of themselves, and good for nothing except their appearance."

When it comes to the point of being inhuman, Aoyama felt that Sakayanagi was far more abstract than him.

At least he would consider Kamuro and Yamamura's position to some extent, and wouldn't let them become enemies with Class A. He also wouldn't threaten Katsuragi with three million yen as soon as the Uninhabited Island Exam started, or he would spend all his exam points.

If he only thinks of himself, he could be even more outrageous.

"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Aoyama." Sakayanagi squinted and smiled happily. "I know I'm very cute."

Aoyama gave a disgusted look. "It's a pity he's not mute."

"If he were mute, he wouldn't be able to tell me that he wants to see Aoyama -kun."

Ignoring Aoyama's disdain, Sakayanagi maintained a smile throughout, seemingly enjoying her conversation with Aoyama.

The sea breeze constantly tousled her textured silver hair, and her unhealthy, snow-white skin gave her an ethereal, fleeting aura.

"Then let's cut to the chase," Aoyama urged.

Early in the morning, the weather was not good; dark clouds filled half the sky, looking like it was about to rain at any moment.

He preferred to avoid traveling in the rain if possible.

"Your idea of controlling Class D through Horikita Suzune is quite good." Sakayanagi turned to look at Aoyama, "However, you'll soon face a blow from an artificial genius."

"He won't let you gain more control over Class D; after all, that person won't put himself in danger."

Artificial genius? That undoubtedly refers to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

Aoyama thought Sakayanagi was going to say something, but that was it.

If Ayanokoji Kiyotaka dares to show his true colors, the day he discovers him, Ayanokoji's background and past will be exposed at school, and he will no longer have the ability to operate in the shadows.

All the first-grade students, driven by curiosity, become mobile cameras, watching and controlling Ayanokoji's every move.

He's not like Sakayanagi; he wouldn't keep Ayanokoji's past a secret.

Once the rats in the sewers are exposed, their lethality is greatly reduced.

Aoyama reached out his hand to Sakayanagi, "If he dares to jump out, I'll crush him, just like I crushed you."

"Aren't you curious about who the artificial genius is, Aoyama -kun?"

Sakayanagi was somewhat puzzled by Aoyama's request to end the conversation.

Logically, shouldn't Aoyama have asked who that person was, and then deliberately created confusion by talking about other things?