Hirata's Leadership and Ichinose's Lap Pillow

Blue skies and white clouds.

On the scorching beach.

More than a hundred people had formed four groups, each spaced a certain distance apart.

They wore clothes in the same color scheme and had gathered into circles without any prompting. In the middle of each circle stood an adult in a suit, apparently explaining something to them.

A passerby who didn't know what was going on might have thought they were holding some sort of celebration, or guessed they were filming a variety show. They would never imagine that an exam was taking place here.

Not that there were any random bystanders around to speculate.

Ayanokoji glanced around. It was obviously an uninhabited island, but not one that had been left entirely untouched by nature. The school had already added its own touches.

The somewhat incongruous "paths into the forest" were proof enough.

A natural uninhabited island wouldn't have green paths that looked as though someone had deliberately carved out an entrance for you. If roads like these existed, the island either had native inhabitants or had already been prepared by someone.

Given how extravagantly the school operated, the latter seemed much more likely.

While Ayanokoji was mulling that over, Chabashira Sae had gone and explained all the rules of the exam without him noticing.

He immediately felt like he'd missed the forest for the trees.

With no other choice, he decided to borrow Hirata's notes.

"Hirata, did the teacher mention anything important just now?" he asked, patting Hirata on the shoulder.

"Huh? Ayanokoji-kun, weren't you listening?"

Hirata asked in surprise.

"You looked like you were paying close attention the whole time."

"Sorry, my mind wandered for a bit."

Ayanokoji delivered his classic apology with a perfectly expressionless face.

"..."

"How about this? I noticed a lot of our classmates didn't understand everything either. Why don't we find a shady spot and go over it again, then discuss what we should do next?"

Hirata glanced up at the blazing sun.

Ayanokoji nodded in agreement.

Hirata went over to brief their classmates one by one, and everyone agreed that it was a good idea.

While Hirata was busy informing the class, Ayanokoji felt a little bored. On a whim, he crouched down and started building a sandcastle.

He'd only just begun piling the sand together when a voice from behind him, oblivious to the mood, spoke up.

"You really do have a lot of time on your hands."

Horikita teased him with a cool expression. Her beautiful eyes were dimmer than usual.

"Since we're here, we might as well leave something behind."

Ayanokoji replied calmly.

Though he'd said that, he felt a little embarrassed inside.

It was like the shame of being caught playing with an Ultraman toy as an adult.

Fortunately, Horikita didn't make fun of him.

"Hirata really does have a way of bringing people together."

She looked up at Hirata as he went around contacting everyone and sighed.

"Yeah. He's been leading the class since the start of the school year."

Ayanokoji took the opportunity to flatten the sandcastle.

Just then, Hirata finished his task and walked over to them.

"Ayanokoji-kun, Horikita-san, I've arranged for everyone to head into the forest and find a place to settle in. We can't stay here forever."

Hirata squinted at the blazing sun, then glanced at Horikita beside Ayanokoji, looking a little surprised.

It was the first time he'd seen Horikita standing so close to anyone else.

"Okay."

Ayanokoji nodded to him, and the two of them followed Hirata toward the main group of their class.

Deep in the forest.

Ryuen and Yamada were standing beneath the shade of a tree.

They seemed to be waiting for someone.

Before long, a flash of light glinted through the dense woods in front of them.

It swept across Ryuen's face, and he raised the corners of his mouth knowingly.

A moment later, a bald man emerged from the woods before them.

He brushed the leaves and weeds off his clothes, then handed Ryuen something that looked like an agreement. "Most of the class has signed. This partnership benefits both of us, so I hope you won't try any tricks."

"Heh."

Ryuen snorted, his expression amused. "Relax. We'll do what we're supposed to."

"But don't be late with the price you owe us each month."

Katsuragi silently nodded and held out a hand to show goodwill, but Ryuen didn't take it.

He stared at Katsuragi in silence for two seconds, then looked at him with pity. "Cut the act, Katsuragi. Everyone knows what kind of situation you're in."

"You didn't get into the Student Council, and your abilities aren't as impressive as Sakayanagi's. I imagine it won't be long before everyone turns against you."

"..."

"Think about it. I was the one who approached you before. Now you're the one begging me to work with you, and you still think we're equals?"

At that, Katsuragi's expression darkened. He withdrew his awkwardly outstretched hand and silently clenched his back teeth. Only after a moment did he speak. "Ryuen, one day you'll regret your attitude."

"Hey, hey. I'd love for you to lead Class A and stand on equal footing with me, but..." Ryuen's grin turned even more mocking. "You know you don't have what it takes."

Katsuragi didn't want to negotiate with him any further. He turned and left the meeting place.

He knew Ryuen was taking advantage of the fact that Katsuragi had to work with him to boost his own standing in Class A. That was why he was putting on airs and trying to avoid getting the short end of the deal.

It was a common tactic between parties bound by a written contract. After all, once the partnership ended, they would still be enemies. There was no need to flatter each other; taking the opportunity to undermine the other man's confidence was the wiser move.

Katsuragi walked on, turning things over in his mind.

Ryuen... would probably be a problem in the future.

At the edge of the forest, along the shimmering shore.

The students of Class B were busy with their assigned tasks.

Some were setting up tents, some were gathering firewood, and others were exploring the forest for a base and picking fruit...

Everything seemed orderly, coordinated, and well organized.

Under the shade of a nearby tree, Ichinose sat with her legs together, letting Hoshinomiya rest her head on her lap.

It wasn't that she liked being used as a pillow, or that she was trying to slack off.

She'd gone over to ask the female teacher about claiming a base and the cost of spending exam points.

So she'd approached Hoshinomiya, who was sprawled out beneath the tree.

But as soon as Ichinose started talking, Hoshinomiya's eyes had fixed on her full, fair thighs. She happened to need a pillow.

After Hoshinomiya pestered her until she gave in, Ichinose agreed to let her rest there for a while, in exchange for information about claiming a base.

But the sun had already shifted noticeably, and Hoshinomiya had still given her only a few scraps of information.

Ichinose could feel her legs starting to go numb.

She looked at the tree's shadow, which had clearly shifted across the ground, then down at Hoshinomiya's blissful expression on her lap. Her brows drew together slightly.

If only our homeroom teacher were more reliable...