Uninhabited island exam (5) Class cohesion?

Katsuragi's expression grew increasingly grim at the sight, and the few people behind him quickly stepped forward.

They formed a semi-circle to surround Yi Chen, and the atmosphere instantly became tense and ready to snap.

Yi Chen gripped the tree branch tightly, his gaze sweeping vigilantly over the group as he crouched slightly, assuming a combat stance.

They were on a small slope.

Katsuragi and his group were higher up, while Yi Chen was lower down.

"Hmph, Yi Chen, you really are confident enough."

Katsuragi let out a cold snort, and one of the men behind him was the first to strike.

He was agile, lunging toward Yi Chen with a swift stride, his right fist whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Yi Chen's face.

Yi Chen smiled with disdain.

Yi Chen dodged to the side, swinging the tree branch in his hand hard against the man's left hand.

The man clutched his hands in agony.

Katsuragi and the other two shielded the first man behind them.

Katsuragi said resentfully:

"You petty person, all you know how to do is use a weapon."

Yi Chen curled his lips helplessly:

"Isn't it? You're the one who wanted to fight, and you're the one with four people ganging up on one."

"I don't consider my self-defense to be a petty act."

After saying this, Yi Chen smiled and tossed the tree branch aside.

Katsuragi remained silent as the three of them surrounded Yi Chen.

The person behind tried to grab Yi Chen.

Yi Chen unleashed a whirlwind kick, sending two people flying.

The two crashed heavily into a tree behind them.

Seeing this, Katsuragi raised his fists into a stance.

He threw a punch, but Yi Chen easily caught his wrist.

Katsuragi tried to shake him off with force, but it had no effect.

Katsuragi immediately countered with a horizontal elbow strike, which Yi Chen parried.

Katsuragi took the opportunity to push Yi Chen away.

The man who had been hit in the hand earlier threw another punch at Yi Chen.

Yi Chen performed a simple wrist lock and arm twist.

This man did not possess Katsuragi's strength.

He was immediately controlled and turned around by Yi Chen.

Yi Chen raised his knee and delivered a front kick, sending him flying.

The man fell uncontrollably toward Katsuragi.

Katsuragi steadied him, brushed off his own shoulders, and said loudly:

"You guys can't beat him, go to the side and regroup first."

"Angela's Yi Chen, you truly live up to the name of someone who can make Ryuen suffer."

"You do have some real skill."

After saying this, the man who had just been kicked away helped up the two who had fallen under the tree, and they left.

Yi Chen didn't care.

Katsuragi raised his knees into a defensive guard.

Yi Chen assumed the San Ti stance.

Katsuragi threw a straight right punch, feinting with a left jab.

Yi Chen watched him closely.

Katsuragi unleashed a whirlwind kick.

Yi Chen dodged backward.

Katsuragi threw a right hook.

Yi Chen parried it.

Katsuragi stepped forward with a knee strike.

Yi Chen pressed down hard with both hands.

He countered with a palm strike, pushing Katsuragi away.

Katsuragi was overcome with rage.

A right straight, then a left straight.

Yi Chen dodged them all with a slight shift of his body.

Yi Chen looked at Katsuragi with a smile.

Katsuragi clenched his fists and swayed from side to side.

At this moment, the sound of noisy footsteps approached from nearby.

Yi Chen kept his eyes on Katsuragi while carefully assessing the newcomers.

Katsuragi spun around and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick.

Yi Chen couldn't dodge in time and blocked with his bent arms.

"Stop it! Katsuragi!"

"What on earth are you doing?"

A woman's voice rang out.

Kamuro Masumi arrived with most of Class A and looked at the brawling Katsuragi with an expression of fury.

Kamuro Masumi said irritably:

"Katsuragi, what is wrong with you? If you keep doing things like this, you'll squander all our class points."

"Aren't you supposed to be the conservative one?"

"I'm done with you; handle this yourself."

"You will bear the negative consequences you've brought upon Class A all by yourself."

"After the exam is over, I will tell Sakayanagi everything I saw today."

Katsuragi said nothing upon hearing this and glanced at Yi Chen.

After whispering an apology, he turned and walked away.

Yi Chen was speechless:

"Wait, that's it? Whatever, Class A has too many people; there's nothing I can do."

A man with wavy black hair walked curiously to Yi Chen's side.

He said indifferently:

"Hello, I am Kito Hayato from Class A."

"We met last time."

"Katsuragi gave you a bad experience this time, and I apologize on his behalf."

"Rest assured, if you want revenge, we won't interfere."

After Yi Chen gave a perfunctory response to the gloomy Kito Hayato.

Seeing the large number of people from Class A, he decided to leave.

Yi Chen felt the lingering impact of Katsuragi's final kick; it was indeed very powerful.

Yi Chen brushed the dirt and dust off his sleeves.

He sighed helplessly.

"Is it really impossible to do this alone?"

"Just like how Kushida relies on her own group to easily lead the class."

"When there are too many people, relying solely on force is useless."

"I should try to look into their methods."

On the way back, Yi Chen gathered some wild fruits.

Returning to his cave, he redecorated it once more.

Yi Chen calmed his mind and began to re-examine his situation in Class D.

He realized with precision that relying solely on individual mediocrity and strength.

It would be extremely difficult to stand out in the class exams.

"Ayanokoji, that's right."

"Even the genius from the White Room is better at using people than I am; he was never alone from the very beginning."

Yi Chen couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"With the script in my hands, how should I utilize the class?"

"Kushida? Or should I just have her expelled? She's a traitor to the class."

"Karuizawa? This one... although I don't like her, she should be easier to recruit."

"Hirata, although he is kind to everyone and handles matters fairly."

"But... it just feels strange."

"In order to reach Class A, this is the only way."

Yi Chen lay on the makeshift bed, staring at the pitch-black cave walls.

"Decided."

In the time that followed, Yi Chen quickly gathered some food.

Time soon arrived at dusk.

Ichinose brought a few of her trusted aides along.

They found the territory of Class D, and Ichinose excitedly searched for Yi Chen.

Hirata told Ichinose that Yi Chen had gone out alone to experience life on the deserted island.

Ichinose asked about Yi Chen's location, feeling very confused.

Hirata indicated that he did not know.

Ichinose said angrily:

"What is wrong with you people in Class D? How could you let a classmate go out on his own?"

Hirata thought back to Yi Chen, whom he truly couldn't persuade, and wondered why he had agreed to Yi Chen's idea at the time.

I suppose I also want to reach Class A, after all.

Hirata thought to himself.

Hirata tried his best to explain things to Ichinose.

Ichinose wouldn't listen.

Ichinose said anxiously:

"Based on what I know of Yi Chen, he would never have proposed acting alone on his own initiative."

"Yi Chen is a very shy person; it's impossible for him to have suggested such a thing to you all."

"It's even more impossible for him to have just walked off by himself."

Ichinose thought for a moment:

"It must have been you all."

"What did you do to Yi Chen?"

Aside from Sudo Ken and a few others, the members of Class D who had criticized Yi Chen lowered their heads one after another.

Seeing this, Ichinose understood something.

Ichinose asked Hirata:

"Tell me, what happened!"

Hirata remained silent.

Ichinose asked Horikita next.

Horikita had nothing to say either.

Ichinose glared fiercely at Kushida.

Kushida feigned awkwardness.

Seeing this, Ichinose understood.

A woman's intuition.

Ichinose said angrily:

"If anything happens to Yi Chen, every single one of you here will be..."

Ayanokoji watched Ichinose, who was full of indignation.

He leaned in close to Horikita and whispered something to her.

Horikita sighed helplessly:

"Ichinose, I have a proposal."

Ichinose:

"What is it?"

Horikita pointed calmly at the watch on her wrist:

"The school gave us these watches."

"If Yi Chen were in trouble, he could also ask the school for help."

"Furthermore, these wristbands have heart rate and GPS tracking functions."

"We can just go find the teachers now and ask if Yi Chen is still on the island."

Upon hearing this, Ichinose nodded and took her group toward the Cruise Ship.

Hoshinomiya saw Ichinose and asked her with a look of concern on her face.

Chabashira, meanwhile, sat under a parasol to the side, watching the group quietly.

Ignoring Hoshinomiya, Ichinose walked over to Chabashira to ask for help:

"Chabashira-sensei, is Yi Chen still on the island?"

Chabashira looked at Ichinose indifferently:

"He hasn't left the island yet. Why do you ask?"

Upon hearing this, Ichinose continued to ask:

"Is it possible to check Yi Chen's location?"

Chabashira shook her head.

Ichinose:

"Then can we check Yi Chen's current status?"

Although Chabashira was puzzled, this did not violate school rules.

Chabashira checked Yi Chen's wristband.

All physical data was normal.

Only then did Ichinose breathe a sigh of relief.

Chabashira asked:

"What's wrong? Did something happen, Ichinose?"

Ichinose thought for a moment, then simply thanked the two of them and left.

Hoshinomiya looked at Chabashira with dissatisfaction and said:

"My Ichinose actually ignored me just now because of that Yi Chen from your class."

Chabashira looked toward the Uninhabited Island with a gloomy expression.

She slowly lit a cigarette.