Internal Strife

"Hey, why do you keep staring at me? Keep looking and I'll kill you."

After returning to the base, Chang Shui Jing kept staring at Ibuki, lost in his own thoughts.

"Ah, sorry. I suddenly realized something. Thanks, Ibuki."

"That makes no sense."

Ibuki looked confused, having no idea what was going on and feeling completely baffled.

(Two moles? This dead end has finally been brought back to life. Thanks a lot, Ryuen.) Chang Shui Jing felt a sense of gratitude toward Ibuki.

"Ayanokoji, do you have a moment?"

"I'm free. What is it?"

"How should I put this? Horikita is truly pitiful, isn't she? Insisting on participating in the exam even with a cold. Or perhaps, it's precisely because she has a cold that things are easier to manage."

Ayanokoji remained expressionless, as if he had known exactly what to do all along.

"Hmm, I... don't quite follow."

"Apologize later, what do you think, Ayanokoji?"

"You really have a twisted sense of humor."

"Eh, but we're both thinking the same thing, aren't we?" Chang Shui Jing flashed a strained smile.

Ayanokoji didn't answer, instead lying on a rock and focusing intently on the trajectories of the stars. The Big Dipper shone brightly in the night sky as the most conspicuous constellation.

"The stars are truly beautiful," Ayanokoji said.

On the morning of the third day, no one from Class C was seen at roll call; it seemed they had given up on the points and collectively withdrawn.

"Looks like they spent two days living it up and blew all their points? Seems like we've found our bottom-dwellers," Yamauchi said.

"I'm so jealous. Let's use the map Koenji gave us to improve our diet; eating fish all the time isn't a solution. Let's have roasted corn today." The Three Idiots optimistically began to celebrate.

Hirata continued to mediate the conflicts within the class. After surviving the chaos of the first two days and establishing a stable base, everyone had tacitly chosen to lie flat to conserve their energy.

Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction, but no one realized that a crisis was looming.

(If only things could stay this harmonious, what a wonderful thing that would be.)

"Hey! Boys, get up!" A girl's voice rang out early in the morning, filled with dissatisfaction and accompanied by the sound of soft sobbing.

"What's the matter?" Hirata was the first to step out to assess the situation.

"Karuizawa's underwear is missing. It must have been one of the boys who stole it. Let us check your luggage!" Shinohara shouted, afraid the culprit might escape.

"Hey! Hey! Why would it be a boy? What if it was a mole from Class C?" Sudo retorted.

"How could a girl do such a thing? It must have been one of those perverted boys." Shinohara remained as unreasonable as ever.

"What did you say? Watch your attitude." The Three Idiots took the lead, arguing fiercely against the slander.

(Common sense dictates that Ibuki is the prime suspect, but Class D is not a class governed by common sense, so I can't blame the girls for their lack of unity. After all, I know exactly what the boys in Class D are like. Their countless sleazy behaviors—even I, a pervert, find them excessive—like the 'busty' rankings, sneaking photos in the changing rooms, peeking at weird swimming poses, and fantasizing about dating girls with good figures, etc.)

(In other words, the girls' patience for the boys' sleazy behavior has reached a breaking point. This is the trigger.)

(So the question is, does suspecting the Class D boys count as having common sense or not?)

"Catch the culprit quickly, or we won't be able to sleep at night. Who knows what a pervert might do to us in the dark?"

"Exactly, exactly!" Shinohara, Sato, and other girls chimed in.

"I'll handle the search, if you all trust me," Hirata offered as a compromise.

"Agreed!"

"Hirata-kun is definitely a good person." Hirata's proposal was met with approval from most of the girls.

The boys also began to return to their tents to open their bags.

(Holy crap! Why is there a lace bra in my bag?) Chang Shui Jing calmly grabbed the garment and shoved it into his pocket, wondering how to dispose of it.

"Sorry, Ayanokoji." Chang Shui Jing secretly slipped the stolen item into Ayanokoji's pocket with lightning speed.

"Wait, this is..."

Ayanokoji remained expressionless, merely glancing at Chang Shui Jing.

"The luggage is fine. Everyone can rest easy." Hirata explained.

"Clothes can be hidden too. There are still other clothes."

"Don't push your luck!" Shinohara demanded a body search, which was met with protests from the boys.

(Damn you, Shinohara. I've got my eye on you.)

Ayanokoji stood next to Chang Shui Jing, his hand moving in a sudden blur to slip the underwear into Chang Shui Jing's pocket.

(That speed! So fast.)

Instead of worrying about his predicament as a suspected pervert, Chang Shui Jing was stunned by Ayanokoji's precision and speed.

To appease the girls, Hirata compromised and agreed to a body search.

"Sorry, Chang Shui Jing, this will be over quickly."

Hirata reached into his pocket where his clothes were stored, his body stiffening for a moment, but he said nothing. The look he gave Nagami grew complicated.

It was as if he were saying he hadn't expected Nagami to be this kind of person.

"I'm innocent," Nagami said in a low voice, meeting Hirata's gaze with a firm look, showing not a hint of guilt.

"The boys have been searched, and nothing was found. It seems the culprit isn't among the boys," Hirata explained to the girls.

"I see. If Hirata-kun says so, then fine."

"However, from now on, the boys are not allowed to cross the line drawn in the middle."

"But if we do that, it'll be hard for the girls to handle the physically demanding chores."

"We can just pick two boys to have free access," Kushida suggested.

"I nominate Hirata-kun, and also..."

"Ayanokoji." "Nagami."

Horikita and Kushida spoke at the same time.

"Nagami-kun looks like he has more strength. That would be better."

"That's just your preference. Most girls can accept Ayanokoji, but many are afraid of the 'violent maniac' label."

"Hey! I'm a gentle and refined guy, you know. I nominate Ayanokoji. Thanks for the kind offer, Kushida-chan."

"Wait... I..."

"Then it's decided."

Ayanokoji wanted to stay on the sidelines and avoid getting involved, but Hirata suddenly hammered down the decision, cutting off his retreat.

(Some virgins might think this is a great opportunity to get close to soft, fragrant girls, but for Nagami, the number one deep-feeling guy in Tokyo who sees through the human heart, hard labor won't win the favor of the opposite sex; instead, it just makes one a convenient spare tire.

If you want to pursue girls, you first have to figure out how to satisfy what they need deep down, such as the sense of security from grades or points, the primal impulse of physical attraction, a meeting of souls through shared topics, or the worship of the strong.)

(That said, I really miss the yacht. It's such a hassle not being able to wash my jacket here.)

"Hirata-kun, you've really suffered for the sake of the class."

"I believe you, Nagami-kun. Give me the underwear first; we'll find the culprit later." Shortly after Hirata left, "Nagami-kun, you don't think I'm the culprit, do you?" Ibuki walked over, shameless as ever.

"Aren't you just confessing without being asked?"

(In this special exam, Class C, I will make you lose as thoroughly as a circus clown struggling through a performance.)

"Don't talk to me, you know?"

After saying this, Nagami headed toward the cornfield to snatch some roasted corn—first come, first served.