A Brand-New Desert Island Stage

"I've always thought that light-colored clothes are perfect for Liang. Since he thought they were a bit difficult to wash, I agreed to wash them for him, which also saved me some laundry credits."

Seemingly sensing what Karuizawa Kei was about to say, Horikita Suzune added:

"Karuizawa and Shiina are from another class, after all. If someone sees them washing clothes for students from Class D, rumors will easily spread. Although Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School doesn't prohibit cross-class relationships, it's really difficult to maintain a relationship under this competitive system."

"Especially Karuizawa... she should still be the class representative of Class B, right?"

Karuizawa Kei glanced at the still-closed fitting room door before turning to Horikita Suzune and saying:

"Horikita, there's no need to beat around the bush. We've known each other for a while now. The so-called competition mechanism of the four classes at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School doesn't really matter to us, does it?"

Even though she has now become the Leader of Class 1-B, and is only one step away from Class A in terms of Class Points, Karuizawa Kei has never really cared about this aspect.

If she had come here unchanged, she might still be looking forward to the future that belonged only to Class A. But Karuizawa Kei has already seen a bigger stage. If Kitagawa Ryo hadn't come here, she would never have chosen to enter Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School.

She has made her meaning very clear.

Horikita Suzune realized this as well. She stared at Karuizawa Kei's face, who was standing in front of her, for a long while before finally shaking her head.

"Nobody will explain things clearly."

You should know this best.

Karuizawa Kei turned her face away. She wanted to glare hatefully at Horikita Suzune, or do something more in line with her current emotions, but in the end, she didn't.

She knew perfectly well that in this competition, no one could truly let loose and unleash a furious outburst, for that would be tantamount to handing him over to someone else.

But what also troubled Karuizawa Kei was that neither of them had any reason to force Kitagawa Ryo to make a choice.

Liking someone isn't like inviting them to dinner, so there's no such thing as first come, first served.

Whether Shiina Hiyori understood or not, her attention was now completely focused on the dazzling array of men's clothing around her. She paced between the shelves, chin in hand, looking quite like a detective investigating a crime scene. However, she wasn't looking for evidence, but rather for what she considered to be the most suitable new clothes for him.

So when Kitagawa Ryo finished changing and came out of the fitting room, he saw Horikita Suzune and Karuizawa Kei facing each other in silence, while Shiina Hiyori and holding it up against herself.

"Megumi, Hiyori, good morning. Are you here to shop too?"

"You can help me think about it."

Kitagawa Ryo's words broke the slightly awkward atmosphere, but he couldn't instinctively reach out to be pulled to the dressing mirror by Horikita Suzune as before, because Karuizawa Kei had already grabbed his right arm first.

Summer casual wear is usually short-sleeved or sleeveless, Karuizawa Kei's outfit is no exception. Her two ivory-like arms are intertwined on Kitagawa Ryo's right arm. There is not a trace of awkwardness or discomfort in making such a gesture if they are not a couple. The temperature of their skin blends together without any obstruction.

"It's been so long since I've seen Liang wearing new clothes, come here, come here."

Before Horikita Suzune could react, Karuizawa Kei dragged Kitagawa Ryo to the dressing mirror and expertly made Kitagawa Ryo raise his arm and Kitagawa Ryo around, offering her opinion with a smile.

Ignoring the increasingly hostile gaze from the salesperson behind him, Kitagawa Ryo turned around and asked with a smile:

"What about Suzune? And Hiyori? What do you guys think?"

Kitagawa Ryo was wearing a men's swimsuit that resembled a trench coat, still in a light color, which contrasted sharply with his dark eyes. His hands were in his pockets, a pose that easily evoked images of summer and the seaside.

The golden talent [Peerless] has almost pushed his charm to the limit. Coupled with the talent [Affinity] that was successfully materialized from the last simulation, there is no need for the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He can easily soothe all the little emotions in the hearts of girls just by standing there and showing a smile.

"Perfect for cooling off."

As Shiina Hiyori spoke, she walked over with the clothes she had her eye on and held them up against Kitagawa Ryo to check their size. Her voice also brought Horikita Suzune and Karuizawa Kei back to their senses. They exchanged complicated glances and each offered their own opinion:

"Light-colored clothes are indeed very suitable for cool weather."

"She's already qualified to be an ambassador for island resorts."

Kitagawa Ryo nodded in agreement. As he had the salesperson wrap up the item and pay for it, he casually patted Shiina Hiyori's head, who was standing close to him and gesturing with the clothes against his chest.

"These two outfits are enough for me. Should I buy you two new swimsuits later?"

"OK."

Hiyori Shiina agreed quickly, as if she had completely forgotten what she had just told Megumi Karuizawa: "I don't like that (swimsuit)."

"... good."

Horikita Suzune was the second to agree. She pursed her lips and had already seen through Kitagawa Ryo's thoughts on the matter. Just like what he had said to Sakayanagi Arisu that day, he was indeed unwilling to give up on anyone's feelings.

"Um."

Karuizawa Kei paused for a moment before finally answering, adding playfully:

"I have complete faith in Liang's judgment."

From the moment she was reborn, the scar had long since disappeared, and beneath the former scar, inch by inch of new skin had grown.

The tender, pinkish flesh is a very thin, crisp layer, seemingly unable to withstand the light of day.

But so much time has passed.

So now, all of this is growth that we can proudly show him.

Ichinose Honami wasn't there.

Karuizawa Kei thought to herself quietly.

Chapter 132: A Brand New Stage on the Uninhabited Island

"There are so many First Year students buying swimsuits lately, and they don't seem to care at all when it comes to spending their Private Points."

In the Student Council meeting room on the top floor of the club building at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, Student Council secretary Tachibana Akane drew the curtains to block out the increasingly intense sunlight. Through the gaps, she saw many students chatting and laughing as they walked out of the Keyaki Mall, carrying shopping bags printed with the logo of a swimsuit and trunk specialty store. She couldn't help but sigh.

On the one hand, as a third-year student, she knew exactly how important Private Points would be in the various Special Exam that followed. At this crucial moment, Class 3-A was so eager to use every single point, and she couldn't help but sigh when she saw the First Year students being so generous.

On the other hand, there was a hint of schadenfreude and a desire to see the show go by. Tachibana Akane knew perfectly well what the First Year students were really looking forward to—a Luxury Cruise Ship to Uninhabited Island by the sea. Just thinking about the expressions on the faces of the smiling freshmen soon made her chuckle.

"Suzune seems to have bought it yesterday too, right? I remember you told me about it this morning."

Immediately afterwards, Tachibana Akane seemed to remember something and turned back to Horikita Suzune, who was concentrating on processing documents at her seat, and teased her. Horikita Manabu had been called out by Miyabi Nagumo five minutes earlier, leaving only the two of them in the conference room, so she spoke more freely.

"Yes, that's right..."

"I know it was Kitagawa Ryo who bought it for you. Just today, Suzune, you've 'casually' mentioned it three times, three times already."

Tachibana Akane walked over and gently tapped Horikita Suzune's forehead with the folder in her hand, looking helpless. She still liked this junior who was two years younger than her, and besides, the other party was Horikita Manabu's biological younger sister.

"This is just a swimsuit. I don't even want to imagine how Suzune would react if he gave you a ring someday."

Tachibana Akane herself found it strange; although Horikita Suzune always acted aloof in the Student Council, she always lost that composure when it came to topics related to Kitagawa Ryo.

However, she herself didn't have the right to comment on Horikita Suzune.

"How could that be? Liang has never given anyone a ring before... probably."

Horikita Suzune initially wanted to retort instinctively, but for some reason, she lost her confidence as she spoke, and her tone became soft and droopy.

She didn't even tell Tachibana Akane that the swimsuit she wore yesterday was a gift from Kitagawa Ryo to three girls at the same time.

"But I wasn't expecting to get to wear a new swimsuit on some beach vacation anyway... It's obviously a Special Exam arranged by the school."

However, Horikita Suzune quickly found a reason for herself. Having worked in the Student Council for more than two months, she had a thorough understanding of the style of Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School and never thought that the school would be so kind as to take them, the First Year students, on some Uninhabited Island beach vacation.

Tachibana Akane smiled but didn't choose to elaborate, which could be considered a form of affirmation.

Just as the two continued their casual conversation, Horikita Manabu, who had just left the meeting room, returned to the room with a slightly serious expression. After glancing at Horikita Suzune and Tachibana Akane who were still chatting, he spoke in a deep voice:

"Ju, go and inform all the Student Council members to gather in the meeting room in ten minutes."

"As for Suzune, you will be responsible for taking and organizing the minutes of this meeting."

Horikita Suzune was slightly surprised by Horikita Manabu's words. She had attended Student Council meetings several times, but the task of taking and organizing the minutes had always been the responsibility of the secretary, Tachibana Akane. This time, she was specifically asked to do it.

However, Horikita Suzune quickly realized what was happening and immediately stood up and agreed:

"Good."

Horikita Manabu wouldn't harm her, so there's only one reason for doing so: the content of this meeting must be related to her, or rather, to the First Year.

The Student Council was incredibly efficient, or rather, it was as if they had been prepared in advance. Just three minutes later, after Horikita Suzune and Tachibana Akane had finished tidying up the meeting room table, the Student Council vice president Miyabi Nagumo, walked in with several other Student Council members behind her.

Even Kiriyama held the same position as Miyabi Nagumo as the vice president, followed behind him, appearing to follow his lead without question.

"What's Horikita doing here?"

Upon seeing Horikita Suzune standing to the side holding the meeting minutes book, Miyabi Nagumo frowned, pulled out a chair, and casually asked as she sat down.

"According to the Student Council's rules, Horikita Suzune, as a member of the Student Council, has the right to attend and offer suggestions at this meeting, but she does not have the right to vote and cannot participate in the final decision."

Sitting at the head of the table, Horikita Manabu answered fluently, but Miyabi Nagumo didn't seem to care much about it, shifting her gaze back to continue speaking:

"Everyone is here, so please, Chairman Horikita, announce the start of the meeting as soon as possible."

Tachibana Akane frowned slightly at this somewhat presumptuous remark, but seeing that Horikita Manabu didn't react, she held back, though her slightly pouting lips still revealed her dissatisfaction.

In a few months, Horikita Manabu will step down as Student Council president, and Miyabi Nagumo's rise to power is a foregone conclusion.

This is why most Student Council members are willing to befriend Miyabi Nagumo.

However, Horikita Manabu seemed unfazed by Miyabi Nagumo's somewhat presumptuous behavior, and calmly spoke:

"According to the bylaws of the Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School Student Council, the Student Council is granted the right to consider and decide on certain Special Exam. All members of the Student Council are present for this meeting, which is chaired by the current Student Council, Horikita Manabu. All topics and discussions will be recorded in their entirety by several full-view surveillance cameras in the meeting room and sent back to the archives for filing."

"Above--"

After a brief explanation as is customary, Horikita Manabu looked around:

Does anyone have any objections?

Everyone shook their heads slightly in unison.

"Then the meeting begins."

After a brief opening statement, Horikita Manabu opened the document in his hand. He had just received several copies from Miyabi Nagumo, and now he was placing them one by one in front of each Student Council member.

"Please turn to page two of the documents on your desks and review the changes made to the special summer exam for First Year Uninhabited Island Special Exam, which were proposed and approved by Vice President Nagumo."

Upon hearing the words "[First Year][Summer Uninhabited Island Special Exam]", Horikita Suzune tensed up immediately, glancing down at the somewhat glaring, deliberately enlarged title of the document in front of Horikita Manabu:

"Proposal for Changes to the Special Summer Exam for First Year Uninhabited Island Special Exam This Year"

At the same time, Horikita Manabu's voice rang out again, devoid of any emotion:

"Vice President Nagumo raised objections to the participation and conduct methods of this year's Uninhabited Island Special Exam for First Year students on an uninhabited island, and requested changes to some of the relevant rules."

"The proposed changes are: to cancel the school's suggestion to hold a survival competition among the four classes (A, B, C, and D) as a collective unit, and instead focus more on assessing the overall strength of each class, increasing the diversity of events, and while emphasizing collective performance, also providing more opportunities for individual expression, thus highlighting Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School's motto of 'Classroom of the Elite Studio'."

"Based on the above principles, and taking into full consideration the past Special Exam of Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, Vice President Nagumo proposed new rules for the First Year summer Uninhabited Island Special Exam."

"The relevant rules for this preliminary selection's Uninhabited Island Special Exam First Year students are attached at the bottom of the document, while the supporting materials prepared by Vice President Nagumo are located on pages three through eight, and the new rules are on pages nine through eighteen. You may now read and review the specific terms and explanations."

"Also, if there's anything else you'd like to explain, you can do so now, Nagumo."

After Horikita Manabu finished speaking, Miyabi Nagumo followed suit. However, compared to Horikita Manabu's emotionless tone, his tone was much more relaxed, even carrying a hint of teasing:

"I'm sure you've all noticed that the First Year students have been buying new swimsuits these past few days. Speaking of which, we were the same way last year, naively believing that the school would take us to some Uninhabited Island for a vacation."

Apart from Horikita Manabu, Horikita Suzune, and Tachibana Akane, everyone present was basically a second-year student, and naturally, they all politely echoed:

"Of course! I bought a new swimsuit too, but in the end I only wore it twice in the swimming pool on the cruise ship."

"Forget the beach, even the swimming pool on the cruise ship doesn't feel as big as the one at school."

"Hey, the main problem was that everyone in our grade was on the boat, it was so crowded, wearing a swimsuit could be really uncomfortable sometimes."

Miyabi Nagumo listened to everyone's words with a smile, then clapped her hands, and the discussion immediately ceased:

"So, thinking that at least the First Year's swimsuits would be useful, I proposed some changes to the rules."

"Furthermore, I believe many people, like me, feel that this Uninhabited Island Special Exam designed by the school was really meaningless, right?"

"Although I think the rules used in our year's Uninhabited Island Exam were so-so, at least they divided the four classes into twelve groups to compete. This time, the exam is going to make the four classes act as a group. Although I can understand that the school hopes to strengthen the cohesion of the group through this Special Exam, I think it will only backfire."

The Special Exam topics at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School are different for each year. Although the Summer Special Exam for First Year every summer is about survival on Uninhabited Island, the details are completely different. This is to prevent upperclassmen from leaking the questions to lowerclassmen.

Miyabi Nagumo continued to explain his ideas:

"Moreover, the content of this test is also very monotonous. In the end, it's just about endurance, willpower, and teamwork. Ultimately, students with excellent physical fitness or relevant knowledge can play an excessively large role in this Special Exam."

"By this summer, the highest-ranking students in the class among the First Year students must be either academically excellent or popular. Although I understand that the school wants to prove through this Special Exam that every student has their own uses, the contrast created is just too great."

"It's like the sky suddenly falling to the ground; you can foresee the potential conflicts within the group without even thinking about it."

Miyabi Nagumo crossed her arms in front of her chest and smiled:

"Therefore, I hope that this Special Exam will test the students' comprehensive abilities and small-scale teamwork skills more. After all, they are only First Year students, so it's best to take it one step at a time."

Judging from the speech alone, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. As Horikita Manabu flipped through the specific rules and explanations proposed by Miyabi Nagumo, he nodded to himself inwardly.

If he is considered the most perfect Student Council in the history of Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, then Miyabi Nagumo's abilities are undoubtedly second only to him.