A Shallow Kiss

Karuizawa Kei had finally arrived at the scene, immediately confronted the students from Class D after hearing their brief presentations:

"At first, the school said that classes would be divided according to overall academic performance, but now it seems that this is not the case. Take Totsuka Yahiko for example. In every aspect, he is not only not as good as the students in Class B, but he also has no advantage over the top students in Class C."

Totsuka Yahiko's face turned pale and then red after Karuizawa Kei's words. He knew that he was indeed the weakest in Class A, but he was still in Class A. As long as he could stay in Class A peacefully until graduation, he could enjoy the benefits provided by the school. But being called out in public was really embarrassing.

"Karuizawa Kei from Class D?"

Katsuragi Kohei, however, didn't seem to care about her sarcasm and said very seriously:

"I heard earlier that Karuizawa got the better end of the deal with Class B. For a student from Class D, that's really quite impressive."

It was clearly a sincere compliment, but saying it like that always had a sarcastic tone. Karuizawa Kei accepted the compliment without batting an eye and retorted with a question:

"I heard there's another student from Class A, Classmate Sakayanagi, who didn't come with you?"

"Classmate Sakayanagi has to miss this trip due to health reasons."

Katsuragi Kohei seemed to intend to talk to Karuizawa Kei, but since the Uninhabited Island was getting closer and closer, he apologized and ended the conversation. Surrounded by the students of Class A, he found another deck and began to observe the terrain of the entire Uninhabited Island.

After approaching the Uninhabited Island, the cruise ship deliberately circled the entire island again. Kitagawa Ryo and Ryuen Kakeru had a clear division of labor, quickly identifying the targets that marked their respective areas, each memorizing one side, trying to retain as much information as possible in their minds:

"The area is approximately 0.5 square kilometers, and the highest point is about 200 to 250 meters."

Compared to the Uninhabited Island that Kitagawa Ryo had previously envisioned, this island showed too much artificiality. It seems that the school was not comfortable actually leaving students to survive in the wilderness. After all, this was just Special Exam for a high school, not training mercenaries.

"We are about to disembark on the island owned by our school. Students, please change into your sportswear in thirty minutes and, after confirming that you have all your bags and luggage, please bring your mobile phones and assemble on the deck. Please leave all other personal belongings in your rooms. Since you can still use the restrooms for now, please take care of your needs first."

After completing its circumnavigation, the cruise ship slowly docked, and this announcement was broadcast from the ship.

Although Ishizaki Daichi and the others had heard a bit of the news, when the truth was finally in front of them, they sighed and helplessly put the prepared beach shorts and sun hats back into their rooms.

"Now, please disembark starting with the students from Class A. Also, mobile phones are prohibited on the island. Please hand them over to your class teacher and then disembark."

After the First Year students had all changed into their sportswear, the loudspeaker continued to issue commands.

So the students from each class handed their phones to their respective class teachers one by one, and after another strict body search, they finally stepped onto land and stood on a barren piece of land by the sea that could hardly be called a resort beach.

After Class D had completed body searches and handed in their cell phones, they lined up in a square formation under the guidance of their class teachers, somewhat resembling Matoba an entrance ceremony.

After everyone had taken their places, the class teacher of Class A, holding a megaphone, began to speak:

"First of all, I'm very glad that everyone has arrived here safely today. However, on the other hand, although there is only one student here, it is still very regrettable that someone is unable to attend due to illness."

As Kitagawa Ryo listened to the Class A teacher's speech, he glanced at a spot a little further away where several adult men in work clothes were setting up tents. He could also see computers and other items on a long table.

"Now, we will have our first Special Exam of the year."

These words immediately reversed the relatively relaxed atmosphere on the field. Apart from Class C, which was prepared, Class D were thrown into turmoil to varying degrees. However, the classes quickly quieted down after their Leader spoke up.

"The exam period will last for one week, ending at noon on August 7th. You will spend the next week living as a group on this Uninhabited Island, and that's what the exam will cover. Also, let me make this clear upfront: this is Special Exam designed with reference to real-world corporate training programs. It's highly practical and realistic."

"Living on Uninhabited Island?... So, we're not going to be on a ship, but living on this island?"

In Class B's formation, a student was the first to ask the teacher a perfectly reasonable question.

"Yes. You are not allowed to board the ship without a valid reason during the exam. You will need to figure out everything for yourselves, from where you sleep to preparing your own food. At the beginning, the school will provide each class with two tents, two flashlights, and a box of matches."

Then, there is no limit to the amount of sunscreen you can use. You will each be provided with one toothbrush. As an exception, we allow girls to use feminine hygiene products without restriction. Please make your requests to your class advisor. That's all."

The class teacher for Class A continued explaining the rules of this Special Exam:

"As a prerequisite for this Special Exam on this Uninhabited Island, we will first distribute 300 exam points to each class. By making good use of these points, you may be able to spend a week of Special Exam as if you were enjoying a trip. We have also prepared a guidebook for this purpose."

The teacher collected a thick booklet, dozens of pages long, from other teachers.

"This guidebook lists all the items you can get with points. Needless to say, it includes necessities like water and food. If you want to barbecue, we'll also provide the equipment and food. We've also prepared countless game items to let you fully enjoy the ocean."

Upon hearing that they weren't really being asked to fend for themselves empty-handed, the First Year students' serious expressions gradually turned calm.

"In other words, can we get anything we want using those three hundred points?"

A student raised their hand and asked a question.

"Yes. As long as you use points, it's possible to collect all the items. Of course, you need to plan ahead before using them. As long as you have a solid plan and stick to it, you can get through a week without any problems."

Just when everyone thought the school's Special Exam was nothing special, the next sentence from Class A's homeroom teacher shattered their illusions:

"When this Special Exam ends, all remaining points from each class will be added to the Class Points, and the results will be reflected at the end of summer vacation."

A gust of wind carried these words across the summer beach, stirring up dust and instantly igniting a passion in the hearts of every student.

[Here it comes.]

Kitagawa Ryo and Ryuen Kakeru exchanged a glance. This was the real purpose of the school's Special Exam: to accelerate competition between classes and determine promotion and demotion. In fact, throughout the first semester, all four First Year classes progressed based on the Class Points announced on May 1st. The only opportunity to increase or decrease Class Points was Midterm Exam, and even then, everyone (except Class D) would receive an increase, which was only one hundred points. There was simply no way to reverse the class rankings.

In exams like the Written Exam, which currently only assess academic ability, top-performing classes like Class A, which gather students with high basic academic skills, will inevitably have a significant advantage. If academic competition continues, the gap between Class A and the other three classes will only widen. However, this Uninhabited Island Special Exam is completely different. From the outset, all four classes (A, B, C, and D) are on the same starting line, even—

"Each class will be assigned a guidebook. Although replacements can be issued in case of loss, they will cost points, so please keep them safe. Also, the absent travelers this time are students from Class A. According to the Special Exam rules, those who withdraw due to illness or other reasons will have 30 points deducted from their class. Therefore, the Class A exam will begin at 270 points."

Class A was already 30 points behind at the start.

Kitagawa Ryo opened the booklet handed to him by his homeroom teacher. At the same time, each student was also given a watch. According to Sakagami Kazuma, the watch has the function of detecting students' physical condition such as body temperature and pulse. It is also equipped with a satellite positioning system, so students can use it to call for school assistance in case of emergency.

The last page of the booklet lists four additional rules:

[Any student who is clearly unwell or seriously injured and is deemed by the school to be unable to continue the exam will have 30 points deducted. Furthermore, the student will be withdrawn from the exam.]

[Deduct 20 points for each instance of environmental pollution]

[Five points will be deducted from each person for absence from the daily roll call at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM.]

[If a student commits acts of violence, looting, vandalism, or theft of equipment against other classes, the class to which the student belongs will be immediately disqualified, and all Private Points of the individual will be confiscated.]

Finally, Sakagami Kazuma took out another magnetic card and handed it to Kitagawa Ryo:

"Each class needs to elect a Leader for this exam. The Leader can use this magnetic card to occupy a base on the island. Bases are randomly distributed and can be used once every eight hours, earning one Special Exam Points each time. However, these points cannot be redeemed; they can only be accumulated as points after the exam ends. Using a base occupied by another class without permission will deduct fifty points. Furthermore, the Leader cannot be changed without a valid reason."

"Are there any other things Leader should pay attention to?"

Kitagawa Ryo fiddled with the magnetic card and asked Sakagami Kazuma.

"Yes, on the seventh day after the exam, each class will have one chance to guess the Leader of another class. If they guess correctly, they will gain fifty Special Exam Points; if they guess incorrectly, their class will lose fifty points. Furthermore, if their class's Leader is correctly guessed, all points earned from the strongholds they occupied during the entire exam period will be invalidated."

"The deadline for selecting Leader is today's roll call. After you report to me, I will issue key cards engraved with your name. If you don't have one, the system will select one randomly."

After Sakagami Kazuma finished explaining all the rules, Kitagawa Ryo didn't act immediately. Instead, he stood there quietly thinking. The students in Class D seemed to be arguing because they weren't used to the makeshift toilets. Although Karuizawa Kei was quite respected, the opposition from the girls was too strong, and it was difficult to suppress their demands. Hirata Yosuke could only keep trying to persuade them, looking rather overwhelmed.

After a brief discussion, Class A and Class B seemed to have decided on their respective destinations. The entire class moved neatly towards the center of the island. After realizing that Classes A and B had taken the lead, Class D also temporarily stopped arguing and hurriedly followed. After all, a good spot was not easy to find, and it would be troublesome if another class took it.

So only Class C remained standing. Fortunately, due to Kitagawa Ryo's reputation and his achievements over the past six months, Class C had no objections and simply waited quietly for Kitagawa Ryo's plan. Based on their understanding, their leader had guessed that the Special Exam would be held on Uninhabited Island about two months ago, which meant that he must have already prepared a plan.

It can only be said that Kitagawa Ryo's image of being in complete control gave the students of Class C too much confidence. Even their homeroom teacher Sakagami Kazuma, did not urge them and waited for Kitagawa Ryo to finish thinking.

Various fragments were embedded into the main body like parts, making a clicking sound before they were tightly joined together in an absolute manner that could not be otherwise possible.

Thoroughly understand all the rules of this exam, find any loopholes that can be exploited, and combine them with the cards you have in hand.

Kitagawa Ryo's thoughts gradually became clearer, and numerous clues gradually converged into a fairly good plan in his mind.

"Teacher, I need to go to the toilet."

Seemingly because the wait was too long, a boy from Class C raised his hand. Just as Sakagami Kazuma began skillfully assembling the absorbent cloth, plastic bag, and cardboard box, Kitagawa Ryo grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Teacher Sakagami, I remember the exchange booklet included a temporary toilet with flushing, right?"

"Indeed, but it requires twenty Special Exam Points."

Sakagami Kazuma nodded in reply.

"I have one last question. When the Special Exam Points reach zero, and a member of the class withdraws from the exam, the Special Exam Points shouldn't become negative, right?"

"Yes, the lowest possible Special Exam Points is zero points."

Sakagami Kazuma looked at Kitagawa Ryo with some confusion, but he didn't intend to interfere; he simply explained the rules.

"OK."

Kitagawa Ryo got the answer he wanted, and as he turned around, he bumped into Ryuen Kakeru, whose eyes were also sparkling with excitement:

"Hey, you're not thinking of...?"

You got it right.

Kitagawa Ryo snapped his fingers and turned to look at Shiina Hiyori, who was already somewhat exhausted from standing in the sunlight for too long:

"How about it?"

"I can still hold on, don't worry about Liang."

Shiina Hiyori's physical strength was indeed very poor, but she still managed to answer with a forced smile. After all, withdrawing from the exam would deduct a full thirty Special Exam Points, and Kitagawa Ryo seemed determined to surpass Class B in one fell swoop with this exam, so she naturally didn't want to hold them back.

That's not what I was asking.

Kitagawa Ryo's lips curled into a smile as he unfolded the exchange booklet and placed it in front of the students in Class C:

"Jet Ski, Water Flying Dragon, snorkeling, flyboarding, and Seabed Walk —which ones would you like to try?"

"Well, speaking of which, if it's a beach vacation, we should also prepare deck chairs, parasols, and chilled drinks. How about a bonfire and barbecue in the evening?"

"The shower room and toilet aren't expensive, so I'll buy them."

Seeing Kitagawa Ryo's carefree expression, as if he were on vacation, the students of Class C, including their homeroom teacher Sakagami Kazuma, were all a bit confused and no one responded for a moment.

"Boss, I mean... shouldn't we be more careful with our money?"

Ishizaki Daichi weakly tried to dissuade him.

"Save some money? Why should we save some money?"

Kitagawa Ryo, on the other hand, looked completely bewildered.

"Weren't we on vacation?"

"Or do you not believe I can lead Class C to victory?"

[Katsuragi Kohei of Class A's strong desire to consolidate his position while Sakayanagi Arisu]

[Kamuro Masumi, a pawn assigned to me to undermine Katsuragi Kohei's prestige]

[Shiranami Chihiro infiltrator of Class B]

[Class C, who are completely at my disposal, and Class D, Leader by Karuizawa Kei]

[Horikita Suzune is not feeling well]

[The Leader mechanism and the rules of this exam]

[As well as...]

Kitagawa Ryo raised his hand with a broad smile and made a declaration:

"Class C only has one task now—"

"Keep the music playing, keep dancing!"

Chapter Twenty-Six: A Light Kiss

Let's go!

"Speed up, speed up!"

"Faster!"

A staff member from Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, dressed in uniform, stepped on the gas of a speedboat, listening speechlessly to the wailing and howling coming from high above Uninhabited Island Survival Special Exam was a regular exam for First Year students at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School. Having worked there for almost ten years, he was quite experienced, having rescued boys who had accidentally fallen off cliffs and comforted girls who had secretly run away crying in the middle of the night to go back to the boat. But this was truly the first time he had seen students turn Uninhabited Island survival into a beach vacation.

"Fly, fly, fly!"

Pulled into the air by the yacht on a parasail, Ishizaki Daichi, strapped with a landing belt, stretched out his hands, feeling the oncoming wind pressure, and shouted excitedly:

"We've reached C! Speed up! We'll be at D soon!"

Lying under the parasol, Kitagawa Ryo almost choked on his ice-cold cola when he heard the kid shout.

"Liang, what did he mean?"

Shiina Hiyori and play in the sea like the other girls in Class C. Instead, she sat quietly next to Kitagawa Ryo and, hearing the roar of the Ishizaki Daichi echoing across the entire beach, asked a question out of curiosity.

"Ahem... I guess it means, I'm not quite sure either."

Kitagawa Ryo quickly stopped talking and placed the cold drink in his hand on the table next to him. There was a small refrigerator there, which was filled with various kinds of drinking water and beverages. Every now and then, the Class C students who had finished playing could be seen taking out water from it, chatting and laughing, and chugging it down in the scorching sun. The water droplets slid down their chests, creating a carefree atmosphere of summer vacation.

"Whispering sound."

Ryuen Kakeru, lying on another chair not far away, clicked his tongue in disdain:

"It's just a virgin's pointless fantasy about girls."