The Island

A cool, briny sea breeze swept across the deck. Class D students gathered in groups of two and three along the rail, excitedly pointing at the outline of an island growing clearer in the distance.

Shiina Hiyori's silver-gray hair fluttered in the wind as she made her way lightly through the somewhat noisy crowd, heading straight for Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona, who were gazing out over the water by themselves.

Her ease in crossing class boundaries drew the eyes of the surrounding Class D students to her. Everyone knew that this beautiful girl from Class C had some kind of personal connection with Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona, but seeing her stride so naturally into "enemy territory" still stirred up a little commotion and curious whispering.

Shiina Hiyori seemed completely oblivious to the looks around her—or perhaps she was simply used to them by now.

She approached Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona with light steps, wearing a brighter smile than usual, touched with a hint of anticipation. She asked outright, "Kanade, Kiyona, would you like to hang out together during our 'vacation' later?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear, with her usual soft, gentle quality.

Kiyona turned away from the sea and looked at Shiina.

Her face was expressionless. She simply nodded calmly. "Sure." She had no reason to refuse—not when she trusted Shiina personally, and was looking forward to the chance to relax on "vacation."

At the moment, despite having their suspicions, they believed, just like the other students caught up in the illusion of a "dream trip," that only sunshine and beaches awaited them.

Hoshino Kanade slowly drew his gaze back from the vast horizon, finally settling it on Shiina Hiyori.

He keenly picked up on the greater anticipation in her expression. Her taking the initiative to invite them was undoubtedly a glimpse of her true feelings.

Shiina Hiyori was usually a girl who preferred to keep to herself. For her to take this step and ask to spend time with the three of them was no small thing.

Besides, Hoshino Kanade knew full well that this trip was no simple vacation.

Two Special Exams awaited them in succession, and the brief vacation afterward seemed more like a reward for enduring the arduous journey.

Shiina's invitation had undoubtedly given him an excellent opportunity.

Going around with Shiina... Hoshino Kanade quickly weighed it up. That way, I can leave Class D's main group without raising any unnecessary trouble. Once they learn the rules of this Special Exam, they'll naturally assume I'm doing it as a strategic move to keep Class C from figuring out who's leading Class D. Everything can be neatly presented as a necessary arrangement "for Class D's ultimate victory."

Even setting aside those deeper considerations, spending this rare time together with Kiyona and Shiina was something Hoshino Kanade had long dreamed of.

A warm, genuine smile lifted his lips. His voice was gentler than usual as he replied, "Of course, Shiina. I'm looking forward to spending the time with you two."

"Then it's a promise!" Shiina Hiyori's smile grew even brighter at his answer, as if a small burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

She gave a light wave and didn't linger. Turning around, she left the Class D area just as lightly as she had arrived, her silver hair swaying with her movements.

Watching Shiina Hiyori walk away, and thinking of Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona, who was one of the more attractive students in Class D—with Kiyona's cool demeanor complementing Shiina Hiyori's quiet beauty—a thought involuntarily surfaced in the minds of many Class D boys: Spending time on a picturesque island with two beautiful girls of completely different styles... That's the kind of thing you only see in novels!

"Damn it!" Not far away, Yamauchi Haruki had watched the whole thing. His envy and jealousy were almost bursting out of him.

He raked a hand through his hair, his mouth sour as if he'd just bitten into a lemon. "What's with Hoshino? How does that guy get so lucky?"

Kanji Ike, standing beside him, was just as frustrated. "I know, right! Shiina's one of the few quiet beauties in Class C! And Kiyona's beautiful too! I'm so jealous!"

The sharp pang of jealousy spurred Yamauchi Haruki on. The plan he'd been wavering over suddenly became clear and urgent.

He whipped around to face his close friend, lowering his voice with a desperate resolve. "That's it, I can't wait any longer! I have to move up my plan to confess to Kushida! I'll do it right here on the island! I can't keep watching other people enjoy their youth!" He was afraid that if he waited any longer, he'd be torn apart by jealousy.

"Attention, students." A sudden announcement from the ship broke up Class D's strange mood. "If you have the time, please gather on deck. We will soon have a view of the island. You will likely see a very meaningful sight in the near future."

The voice was flat and mechanical, but the message carried a deliberate, almost coaxing tone. "Please gather" and "meaningful sight"—those words felt odd and subtly loaded in an everyday announcement to students.

The Class D students exchanged puzzled or indifferent glances. Still, the sudden summons and promise of a "meaningful sight" prompted most of them to head toward the railing without thinking.

Curiosity and a little anticipation of the unknown outweighed their doubts.

They leaned against the cold metal railing, their eyes fixed on the direction indicated by the announcement—the deep, dark-blue horizon.

They didn't have to wait long. At the far edge of their view, a blue-gray outline quietly pierced the monotonous horizon.

At first, it was just a blurry bump, like a mirage.

But as the ship pressed steadily onward, the outline quickly grew clearer and more distinct. It was a chain of ridges covered in thick, almost dark-green vegetation. The coastline was steep and rugged, and enormous black reefs jutted into the waves like jagged teeth.

Beneath the blazing white sun, the island revealed itself in full: wild and rugged, far from the "vacation island" of sandy beaches and palm trees many had imagined. It gave off an oppressive air that seemed to warn strangers away.

"Uh... this is the 'meaningful' sight?" Kanji Ike grimaced, pointing at the sheer cliff face. "Looks like somewhere you'd see on a survival show."

"It feels so desolate..." Karuizawa Kei's voice fell quiet, her earlier anticipation giving way to a faint unease.

Kiyona pointed a slender finger at the island coming into focus outside the window. Her voice dropped to a whisper, almost brushing Hoshino Kanade's ear. "The vegetation's been deliberately kept wild, but the rock cuts and adjusted slopes exceed natural tolerances." Her sharp gaze swept over several sections where human alterations were obvious. "This doesn't look like a vacation spot at all. It must be another exam." Her certainty was grounded in her analysis of the details, and she didn't sound the least bit doubtful.

Hoshino Kanade wasn't surprised. He took in the island, committed its features to memory, and gave a slight nod before replying, "Yeah, I think so too." His voice was just as low and clear. "The 'meaningful sight' the announcement mentioned probably means showing us the island's geography during the voyage. This initial survey of the terrain from the ship is preparation for the exam ahead."

The two exchanged a knowing glance and instantly reached the same conclusion.

Without drawing attention, they moved a little farther from the still-excited students around them and stood in a relatively secluded corner of the deck, where the railing shielded them as they began to confer quietly.