The class parted on bad terms.
Some went after Yi Chen to talk him down, while others stayed behind to comfort Kushida.
Kushida's thoughts:
"Yi Chen, you really think you can take me on? Though I don't know how you found out..."
"But who would believe you? And how many people would take your side?"
"I've worked so hard every day to put up with everything and win these people over."
"I'll do whatever it takes to get what I want."
"I'll get you expelled, Angela Yi Chen."
In the end, Hirata had to deal with the urgent matter, so he gave the green card to Ayanokoji.
Kushida kept a calm expression, but watched Ayanokoji with a dark look in her eyes.
She clicked her tongue under her breath.
"Tch."
Ayanokoji took Horikita, Hasebe, and Sato to Chabashira to register their green cards.
Ayanokoji quietly asked Horikita what she thought of the matter.
Horikita said,
"I don't know him. I have no idea what disputes or personal feelings are going on in the class."
"It's just kids arguing."
Ayanokoji said,
"Horikita, I don't see it that way."
"If you want to get into Class A, shouldn't you be careful around Kushida?"
Horikita said,
"Ayanokoji, you think so too?"
"Why?"
Ayanokoji fell silent.
Since this had happened, Kushida couldn't very well go along to check on them.
Chabashira saw the students approaching and guessed that something must have gone wrong.
Still, she registered their green cards as required.
Over with Yi Chen were Ken Sudō, Yamauchi, Osamu, Hirata, Yukimura, and Airi.
Ken Sudō said,
"Those damn women. Yi Chen, I've got your back."
Yamauchi said,
"We trust Yi Chen's character, but Kushida's always been pretty nice to everyone, too."
Osamu said,
"Yeah, Yi Chen. What did Kushida do to make you act like this?"
Hirata said,
"Yi Chen, I don't know why you're acting this way."
"But you must have your reasons. You've helped the class before."
"This time must be no different, right? Can you tell me why?"
Yi Chen said flatly,
"I don't think there's anything to say. Everyone has two sides."
"Me included. You should head back first."
"I know how to survive out here."
Airi had been quiet ever since the incident. She knew about Kushida's other side.
Hirata said,
"If you don't want to tell us, that's fine. But come back with us anyway."
"Maybe everyone... But we can work through any problems."
"Come back with us. This is a class exam, after all. We should stick together."
"There's safety in numbers."
"And you don't have a tent. What are you going to do?"
Ken Sudō replied,
"Yeah, Yi Chen. They might not be great people, but you've still got us."
"What if something happens to you alone on the island?"
Airi said timidly,
"Yi Chen, you're a good person. Come back."
"I'll be on your side."
Yi Chen said flatly,
"Don't worry. I can manage on my own. Besides, this watch has an emergency function."
The others continued trying to persuade Yi Chen.
Yi Chen said flatly,
"Don't worry. I'm not petty enough to hold a grudge against a bunch of kids."
"Someone should go check on the leaders of the other classes, right?"
"I'll do it. I'm not comfortable around them anyway."
"Just let me go on my own."
The others tried to talk him out of it again, and Yi Chen traded arguments with them.
In the end, though they were worried, they agreed.
Ken Sudō and the others said,
"Be careful out there, buddy."
Hirata said,
"If you need anything, come find us. We'll help you."
Airi said,
"Yi Chen, let me come with you."
Yi Chen turned Airi down.
After talking things over with Yi Chen, the others headed back.
Airi kept glancing over her shoulder at Yi Chen, worry written all over her face.
Yi Chen liked being alone anyway.
Besides, surviving on a deserted island was practically every man's dream.
Yi Chen hurried through the dense forest of the Uninhabited Island by himself.
By the time the sun was about to set, Yi Chen had explored roughly half the island.
Drawing on the wilderness survival knowledge in his head,
he found a cave and decided to stay there for the time being.
The route to the cave was winding, and there were no capture points nearby.
The cave lay roughly in the central, lower part of the Uninhabited Island.
It was also some distance from the cruise ship.
Yi Chen felt perfectly comfortable with the decision to stay there for now.
Then he went around gathering branches and sticks.
He also collected some banana leaves and made a simple bed.
It would help keep the temperature changes from making him sick.
Yi Chen found a sturdy branch and stripped it from a tree.
He peeled off the bark and twisted the inner wood fibers into cord.
Soon, Yi Chen had gathered more wood.
He tied the cord he'd just made around the wood and started rubbing the sticks together to make a fire.
But even after a long time, he had no luck.
Yi Chen opened the backpack he was carrying to take a look inside.
Everyone had received this backpack when they got off the ship. It contained toiletries and other necessities.
Yi Chen opened it and, sure enough, found tissues inside.
Tissues caught fire more easily than wood.
After a while, he managed to start a fire.
It was getting dark, too.
Yi Chen went out to look for food. Using Bear Grylls' survival tips, he picked some wild fruit.
He also set a few simple traps to catch small animals.
Yi Chen took some things out of his bag and fashioned them into a tube.
Then he found a banana tree and used the tube to draw water from it.
There was only one cup in his bag, and he had no way to store water.
Yi Chen didn't mind. He decided to treat it as a true survival challenge, starting from scratch on a deserted island.
After drinking his fill, Yi Chen took some fruit back and set it on a spare banana leaf.
Once he was done, Yi Chen decided it wasn't enough.
He ran to the beach, picked up a rock, climbed a tree, and knocked down two coconuts.
He returned to the cave.
That night, he took shelter in the cave, sat by the campfire, and admired his handiwork with satisfaction.
The blazing fire helped him briefly forget the troubles he'd encountered that day.
Over with Airi, the atmosphere gave her a distinct impression of a palace-intrigue drama.
There was Sudō's group.
Oda's group.
Karuizawa's group.
And some others who didn't care either way.
Everyone was cooperating, but Yi Chen's departure had made the atmosphere awkward.
A man was still sprinting through the forest.
Soon, he made his way along the winding mountain path and reached Yi Chen.
Seeing the campfire burning inside the cave, the newcomer approached with eager anticipation.
Yi Chen was enjoying the warmth of the fire. He heard a sound and opened his eyes.
"Koenji?"
Yi Chen asked in confusion.
Koenji greeted him enthusiastically:
"Hello, funny boy."
(Hello, interesting boy.)
After speaking, Koenji sat down on Yi Chen's simple bed and warmed himself by the fire.
Yi Chen looked at Koenji with an expression of distaste.
Yi Chen said flatly,
"Koenji, what brings you here?"
Koenji brushed back his bangs.
Koenji laughed carelessly and said,
"Funny boy, this island has nothing new to offer me."
"But you're quite interesting, boy."
"I'm heading back to the ship, boy. Want to come with me? We could keep each other company."
Yi Chen looked at Koenji, who seemed perfectly serious.
He said flatly,
"If you want to go back, go ahead. I still have things to do."
Then Koenji stood up and reached out to shake Yi Chen's hand.
Yi Chen didn't know what he was up to, but didn't particularly care.
Koenji gripped Yi Chen's hand tightly, testing his strength.
Yi Chen didn't back down.
He practiced the Primordial Flower Hand every day, and he'd also completed his summer vacation rehabilitation training.
Most importantly, he was a transmigrator with a system.
Koenji strained against him, then said slowly, sounding a little disappointed,
"Fine, funny boy. You're quite impressive."
"I don't know why you argued today,"
"But I'll stand with the impressive one."
With that, Koenji released his hand. Neither of them had won.
"Goodbye, funny boy."
Then Koenji left.
Yi Chen felt the strength of Koenji's grip lingering in his hand.
"So this is Koenji?"
"Truly a genius!"
Before you continue