Too Hot

Hirata Yosuke realized something was wrong and was about to step in—

BZZZZT—!!!

A piercing alarm suddenly blared over the loudspeakers, dousing the deck in cold water and instantly freezing the conflict that was about to erupt.

A woman's voice, so calm it was almost mechanical, rang clearly through the ship's speaker system:

"Notice: Attention, students. This ship will dock at the uninhabited island owned by our school in thirty minutes. Before then, all students must change into the designated athletic wear. After carefully checking the list of permitted items, bring only the designated backpack, your luggage, and your phone to the deck to assemble. Be sure to check everything again before disembarking! All other personal belongings must be left in your rooms. A special reminder: you have limited time to prepare before disembarking. The restrooms will remain available during this time, so we recommend taking care of your personal needs in advance."

The announcement was clear and concise, delivered in a strictly businesslike tone without a trace of emotion. Yet words like "uninhabited island," "change into athletic wear," "bring only the designated backpack, luggage, and phone," "check the list of permitted items," and "leave all other belongings in your rooms"... Those strange requirements were like several cold, sharp needles, piercing the anger that had just spread across the deck, the brief satisfaction of Yamauchi's retort, and the B Class students' surging violent impulses.

The spiky-haired boy spat viciously and glared at Yamauchi. "Tch, you're lucky, you piece of trash!" Forced to stop by the announcement, he and his companions could only suppress their barely contained humiliation and turn away in frustration to find somewhere to change.

But the resentment of being exposed in front of everyone, with nowhere to vent, was still plainly etched on their departing backs.

The commotion on the deck subsided for the moment, but the mood had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

The D Class students wore a jumble of emotions: anger and indignation at B Class's blatant bullying, a sense of urgency brought on by the announcement, and deep unease and suspicion about the implications behind words like "no personal belongings," "strict requirements," and "uninhabited island." Was this really just a vacation?

"What the hell..." Kanji Ike broke the silence with a mutter. "They won't even let us bring personal items? Weren't we supposed to be on vacation? And we have to change into athletic wear... What are they planning?"

Hirata Yosuke took a deep breath, suppressing his doubts, then stepped forward to steady everyone. He tried to keep his voice calm and encouraging. "All right, everyone, we're short on time! Follow the announcement's instructions right away! Whatever lies ahead, D Class will face it together! Go change, then get ready to assemble!" The D Class students quickly scattered, their minds in turmoil.

B Class's provocation was no longer the focus. Instead, a vast shadow cast by the announcement's instructions—one that seemed to concern how they would survive over the next few days—hung heavily over everyone.

Yamauchi rubbed his aching shoulder. He glanced toward where the B Class students had gone, then turned his gaze to the tranquil island, which somehow seemed oppressive.

The brief thrill of their verbal sparring had long since vanished, leaving only growing doubts about the island vacation that was about to begin.

He gritted his teeth, stopped dwelling on it, and hurried toward his cabin with the others.

When the lush island finally filled the portholes and the sea's distinct salty freshness mingled with the increasingly scorching sunlight, the first-year students on deck were swept up in excitement.

Swaying palm trees, pristine white sand, and crystal-clear blue waves—the paradise-like scenery was right before them, instantly washing away their irritation at the announcement's rules and the unpleasantness of the clash with B Class.

Yet the opening act of their arrival on the island once again offered a cold reminder of the academy's rigid hierarchy.

"Disembarkation order: Class A students go first, in order! Reminder: Phones are strictly prohibited on the island! Hand your phones over to your homeroom teachers immediately! Then follow the instructions and disembark in an orderly fashion!" A teacher spoke through a megaphone, his voice cold and formal, without a trace of the ease one might expect on a holiday.

Urged on by the stern orders, the students filed down the enormous gangway connecting the cruise ship to the pier.

Led by Ichinose, the Class A students proceeded in an orderly fashion, stepping onto the pier first.

B Class followed close behind. The arrogant spiky-haired boy even made a point of lifting his chin provocatively in D Class's direction.

C Class moved along slowly under Ryuen's casual supervision.

As expected, D Class was assigned to the very end of the line.

The deliberate order was like an invisible shackle, a heavy reminder of the absolute importance of "meritocracy."

The blazing sun beat down mercilessly, and the moisture in the air was thick and sticky.

Sweat quickly soaked through the thin athletic wear.

"Hot... I'm gonna die of heat! Can't the people up front move faster?" Kanji Ike wailed, tugging in vain at the collar sticking to his neck.

"Even with clothes this thin, we'll be dehydrated if we stand here any longer..." Shinohara Satsuki said, her cheeks flushed as she futilely fanned herself.

Yamauchi Haruki paced back and forth in even greater irritation. "This weather is hell!"

The line was moving at a suffocatingly slow pace.

It turned out that at the end of the pier, in addition to the teacher recording everyone's names, several other instructors were inspecting each student about to disembark, one by one, with near-punishing thoroughness. They weren't just collecting phones; they were also repeatedly checking that each student carried only the one small designated backpack and had no concealed items.

Their inspections were as meticulous as customs screening.

The bizarre level of control set off alarm bells for an increasing number of wary students: this trip was definitely no ordinary vacation!

At the very end of the line, Hoshino Kanade was also bearing the heat. Sweat trickled down his sharply defined jaw.

His gaze swept over the long line ahead before unconsciously settling on Kiyona, standing beside him.

A faint flush had risen on her fair cheeks, and a few damp strands of hair clung to her delicate ears.

Yet her expression remained cool, as if the heat could not melt her natural composure.

Almost on instinct, hidden by the loose sleeve of his athletic wear, Hoshino Kanade let his hand fall naturally at his side, close to Kiyona.

Then, with the casual familiarity of someone who had every right, the tips of his warm fingers brushed the back of Kiyona's hand, so lightly it was almost imperceptible.

Kiyona's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. She turned her head to look at him.

Her hand was cool and smooth, like fine uncarved jade, a stark contrast to Hoshino Kanade's warm fingertips.

Her cool gaze fell on his face, silently asking what he was doing.

"Hot," Hoshino Kanade explained quietly, his tone as calm as if stating a simple fact.

His gaze remained on the line inching forward, as if holding hands were the most ordinary thing in the world.

But his fingers curled in, quietly enclosing her entire cool hand in his warm palm.

The refreshing chill flowed from her fingertips through his body, strangely easing the heat within him.

The warmth of his palm made Kiyona frown slightly. She almost immediately objected in a quiet voice, with a faint tremor that was nearly impossible to detect. "...Holding my hand will only make you hotter." It sounded like a statement of physical fact, or perhaps a reminder that the gesture was hardly appropriate.

Yet she did not pull away.

The hand in his rested quietly and obediently in his palm. And after the initial stiffness, her fingertips even curled ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly, fitting more closely against his fingers.