A Rainy Night / Changing Leaders

Then, under Hirata's deliberate guidance, it turned into a big gathering of the Class D students on the ship. All the students who wanted to come were welcomed, and in the end, only a few, such as Koenji, did not participate.

"I can! I can! Let me do it." Snatching the extra microphone from Sudo's hand, Kanji Ike flicked his bangs and looked expectantly at the girl.

However, not a single girl paid any attention to him; they were all focused on Hirata Yosuke, the only popular guy in Class D.

What's so great about being handsome? Kushida is the best; he plays with us too.

After glaring at Hirata, who didn't even have time to glance at him, Kanji Ike began singing a duet with Sudo. At the same time, Yamauchi, who was getting restless, also started looking around erratically.

"I bet that even though Sakura looks a bit rustic, she's the biggest in Class D, even bigger than Hasebe." Yamauchi put his arm Sotoumura Hideo's shoulder. "I'm only telling you this, but she confessed to me in casual clothes before."

The Sotomura guy nicknamed "Professor" immediately showed an envious expression, "That's great, I also want to be confessed to by a girl."

"What's so great about that kind of unremarkable girl? To be honest, I dumped her on the spot."

Laughing triumphantly, Yamauchi patted Sotomura, his gaze turning to Sakura, who had suddenly stood up.

Sakura stood up from a position two body lengths away from the nearest girl and slowly sat down next to Nagase.

The blue-haired beauty Hasebe Haruka.

With a small beauty mark under her left eye, waist-length hair revealing her smooth forehead, Hasebe is one of the top beauties in Class D, and her figure is also exceptionally mature.

However, despite having a very popular figure and appearance, she is one of the lone wolves in Class D who doesn't get along with others, and her only friend is Kushida.

Because Kushida was still on the Uninhabited Island, she had no one to talk to.

"Hasebe, aren't you going to sing karaoke?" Sakura asked hesitantly.

Normally, she would avoid attending class gatherings whenever possible, but considering the task Aoyama had entrusted to her, she gritted her teeth and came.

The Uninhabited Island Exam ends tomorrow at noon, which means Aoyama will be returning to the cruise ship tomorrow.

Sakura was happy to see Aoyama again soon, but she was also afraid of being asked about the lack of progress on the mission.

Hasebe, who was initially bored, was somewhat surprised. "I already requested it, but the boy sang it as if it were his."

She really enjoys singing, which is why she accepted the invitation to participate. However, when it was finally her turn to sing, the shameless Yamauchi sang it instead.

Not wanting to argue with someone as extraordinary as Yamauchi, she was about to retreat when she was suddenly struck up a conversation by a nobody in her class.

That's great, it's a normal response and there was no malice intended.

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, I see. Hasebe, how do you take care of your hair? It looks so smooth and silky."

Learning from how Ichinose struck up a conversation with her, she began her befriending campaign. She had been observing Nagase for a long time and had prepared many topics for conversation.

For her own sake, and also because she didn't want to disappoint Aoyama, Sakura put in a tremendous effort.

"This doesn't sound like something you would say." Nagase was a little puzzled, because Sakura was in the same row as her, so she often saw Sakura and knew that Sakura was shy and timid.

She said whatever came to mind, without responding at all to Sakura's compliment on her well-maintained hair.

"Huh!?"

The irrelevant reply led Sakura Airi to announce the plane crash, and it's unclear how she will respond further.

Hasebe's pale golden eyes showed curiosity. "Why are you suddenly talking to me? Don't you usually dislike people talking to you? Kikyo also looked reluctant when she talked to you."

Because Kushida's eyes look really scary.

In his mind, Sakura answered Hasebe and forcibly suppressed his urge to run away.

Recently, Hasebe is the only girl in the class who's been alone, and besides, Hasebe's gaze isn't scary at all.

"I... I want to be friends with Hasebe."

With her head down, not daring to look at Hasebe's expression, Sakura gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands and mustered her courage to answer Hasebe.

One cannot survive alone.

She had known this for a long time, but she lacked the courage to take action and lived a timid and aimless life.

For someone who shows no growth whatsoever, becoming a friend of Aoyama would only be a stain on his reputation.

Chapter 105 Rainy Night

The rain only stopped occasionally for half an hour or ten minutes, and continued until evening.

"Be careful on the road," Karuizawa said worriedly to Aoyama, who was about to leave shortly after dinner.

Tonight is unlike usual; there's no bright moonlight, and the fine drizzle will obscure visibility, making the roads muddy.

Going out now seems like a very unwise choice.

"I'll be careful, don't worry. Look how strong I am." Wearing only swim trunks, Aoyama flexed his upper body muscles, revealing his well-defined chest and abdominal muscles.

Before disembarking and entering the island, the school recommended that students bring swimsuits, and many students brought them but hardly used them.

Karuizawa's face flushed slightly. "Alright, alright, let's get going."

"Would you like to touch it?"

"Touch you my foot! I'm not a pervert."

Feeling uncomfortable under Aoyama's teasing gaze, Karuizawa muttered something and left Aoyama's side.

She did want to touch it, but she was too shy to do it.

Aoyama pushed open the door and stepped into the rain. "I'm going out."

Be careful on the road.

The moment he closed the door, a Karuizawa.

Meanwhile, at Class B's camp.

Looking somewhat embarrassed, Kaneda accepted the raincoat offered by Ichinose.

He didn't expect that Class B would use some of their exam points to buy several raincoats just for him, even though he was from another class.

Ichinose waved her hand. "Be careful on the road, Kaneda -kun."

"I will, Ichinose."

Feigning gratitude, Kaneda put on his raincoat and set off.

Due to rain and other factors, he returned to Class C's camp just over ten minutes before eight o'clock.

"Is there anything unusual?" Hearing the noise, Ryuen, who was resting with his eyes closed in the tent, opened his eyes.

"I don't know if this counts as unusual. Horikita Suzune and Shiranami Chihiro often stay in the tent, and you can hardly see them except when they go to the toilet." Taking off his raincoat and shoes, Kaneda walked around the other boys from Class C and sat down in front of Ryuen.

After confirming that Horikita and Shiranami were the leaders of the exam, he was naturally entrusted with the task of monitoring their movements.

On rare days when it wasn't raining, Horikita and Shiranami stayed inside their tents and didn't go out.

Ryuen stroked his chin. "Perhaps he's tired. As long as he's still here, that's fine. Keep monitoring him. If there's any emergency tomorrow, remember to come back quickly."

"Understood, I will keep track of their movements."

Kaneda nodded firmly. Although Ichinose had treated him very well, he would not forget his place.

In schools that prioritize meritocracy, even resorting to underhanded tactics is considered a form of strength.

"Everyone's up now, let's start taking attendance."

Appearing at the tent entrance with an umbrella, Sakagami revealed a sinister smile identical to that of Ryuen.

His Class C students did well on this Uninhabited Island Exam.

After the exam, Class C will be promoted to Class B, and his benefits will increase accordingly.

Class A camp.

Because of the rain, Aoyama's arrival, shirtless, did not cause a stir.

It's still raining, so no one will venture out in the rain.

Chao Mingxian waved to the Yamamura who was waiting for him at the cave entrance, and Aoyama walked into the tent where the boys lived.

"Have some hot water to get rid of the chill." Getting up from his bunk, Katsuragi took out a thermos and a disposable cup.

Aoyama wiped his hair, flicking the rainwater out of the tent. "Thanks, I was just thinking of getting something hot to drink."

As the rain started, the temperature on the island dropped considerably.

Although it's still not very cold, it's still sweltering even with all the rain, which is why he dares to go out without an umbrella.

Seeing Aoyama sipping hot water, Katsuragi spoke again, "The rain won't stop anytime soon, so you can sleep here tonight."

"It's nothing, what can a little rain do to me?"

Standing at the tent entrance, Aoyama calmly awaited Mashima- sensei's call of attendance.

He still had a lot to do tonight, and he could only appreciate Katsuragi's kindness.

"Roll call."

Not long after the girls' roll call, Mashima came to the boys' tent and spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over everyone except for a moment on Aoyama.

He finished calling out each number and left without saying another word.

"I should go now that roll call is over."

Leaving Katsuragi with a message, Aoyama followed Mashima's retreating figure into the teacher's living quarters tent.

With bright chandeliers, thick sleeping mats, and powerful fans, the teachers' accommodations are quite comfortable.

Upon noticing Aoyama following him in and looking around, Mashima's face darkened. "Students are not allowed to borrow teachers' tents."

"I didn't borrow anything. There's no rule saying you can't buy supplies from a teacher at night, is there?"

Using an excuse that made Mashima's face darken even more, Aoyama found a chair to sit down and rest, and also turned on the fan.

The unified lights-out and rest time for Class B camp is 9 PM, and it's too early to go there now. Staying in Katsuragi's tent would also be inconsistent with his previous actions.

Seeing that Aoyama wasn't really trying to cause trouble, Mashima breathed a sigh of relief. "So, what do you want to buy?"

"Let me think about it."

As he spoke, Aoyama closed his eyes to rest, since there were no stools for him to sit on in the Katsuragi tent.

He was a bit tired after traveling and making so many stops.

"Don't stay too long." Since he couldn't do anything about Aoyama, Mashima could only turn a blind eye.

"Learn."

With a calm reply, Aoyama stayed until nine o'clock before leisurely heading to the Class B campsite.

At exactly 9:30, he met his contact, Kanzaki, near the Class B camp.

"No surprises, right?"

"No, I'll inform Shiranami and the others to come out right away."

With a cold nod to Aoyama, Kanzaki quickly returned to Class B's camp and soon brought out the two people wearing raincoats.

"Xiao Fanbo also prepared some for you and Karuizawa." Shiranami, who had looked exhausted, perked up a bit when she saw Aoyama shirtless and handed Aoyama a raincoat with a slightly flushed face.

Well, that's fine too.

After quickly putting on his own raincoat, Aoyama led Shiranami and the other two to set off. When they arrived near the Wooden Cabin, he told them to wait there.

Shining a flashlight in the dark, he slowly climbed down the iron ladder and called out Karuizawa, who was already prepared.

"Ichinose prepared raincoats for us."

"As expected of Ichinose, she's so thoughtful."

Standing in front of the open Wooden Cabin, Karuizawa suddenly wanted Aoyama to help her put on the clothes, so she raised her hand high and stared intently at Aoyama.

"Are you a child who needs help?" Aoyama teased as he helped Karuizawa put on her raincoat and carefully adjusted the hood so the brim wouldn't block her vision.

Karuizawa's lips unconsciously curled into a smile. "Girls are all like that."

She's just an ordinary girl; it's normal for her to act cute and affectionate with her gentle and pretty companion.

Chapter 106 Changing Leaders

"What if someone is hiding and spying?"

After leaving the Wooden Cabin, Karuizawa kept clutching the corner of Aoyama's raincoat, looking around nervously.

If I'm discovered at the last minute after hiding for so many days, all my previous efforts will have been in vain.

"Don't worry, Karuizawa." Aoyama pushed up his glasses. "All darkness will be exposed before my eyes."