Arrival at the Island

The summer vacation had finally arrived, yet the sight before Onizuka's eyes left him somewhat surprised.

Docked at the pier was a massive luxury cruise ship, appearing like a castle floating upon the water, shimmering with an aura of opulence.

The white hull gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.

Rows of sparkling windows and wide terraces across the decks looked incredibly high-end, and the top of the ship even featured a swimming pool and a deck bar.

Gazing up at this "floating resort," he couldn't help but mutter, "Isn't this a bit over the top?"

Onizuka stood casually by the side of the line, his eyes sweeping rapidly over the students waiting to board.

Sure enough, quite a few familiar faces were present.

The representatives of each first-year class were nearly all gathered—Katsuragi of Class A, wearing his usual serious expression, stood in the front row, speaking in low tones with his classmates.

Ichinose of Class B wore a bright smile, joking with the students beside her; the atmosphere around them was very harmonious and pleasant.

Meanwhile, Ryuen of Class C stood off to the side with a rebellious expression, his gaze sharp and cold, as if he were sizing up everyone around him.

By chance, his gaze collided with Onizuka's.

The moment their eyes met, Ryuen curled his lips slightly and drew a finger across his throat, making a gesture full of provocation.

Onizuka merely gave a faint glance, completely unmoved, a nonchalant smile still lingering on his face.

Such pointless threats were nothing new to him; since he was a child, there had been very few opponents who could truly make him pay a price.

Ryuen was nothing more than a trifle.

"Still, it's quite lively..."

Onizuka chuckled inwardly, his gaze slowly scanning the crowd, but he did not see Sakayanagi.

Just as expected, the "key figures" of every class were present, with only Sakayanagi of Class A absent due to leave.

Onizuka recalled how Sakayanagi had pretended to be indifferent that day, claiming she "knew nothing about the exam content," and he sneered in his heart.

He didn't believe for a second that Sakayanagi was ignorant of this special exam.

Even if the School Chairman hadn't explicitly told her, she would definitely have been able to pry out enough information through channels unknown to ordinary people; she was simply choosing not to say anything.

If she had only used seasickness as an excuse, Onizuka believed the school would never have allowed a student to take leave; the only reason Sakayanagi could use as a "get-out-of-jail-free card" was obvious—her legs.

The various facilities and the grandeur of the luxury cruise ship made it impossible to guess the school's intentions for the moment.

However, since Sakayanagi had taken leave and successfully avoided this activity using "health reasons," she certainly wasn't acting without purpose.

Conversely, this exam would definitely not end in such a comfortable environment as a cruise ship.

This "ostentatious" facade seemed to imply that a more rigorous trial was waiting for them in some corner.

In any case, one part—or perhaps the only part—of this special vacation exam would absolutely not take place on such a luxurious cruise ship.

"Physical assessment..." Onizuka smiled slightly, a speculation surfacing in his mind.

If that were the case, this special exam would likely be a test of their physical limits—rather than a simple intellectual competition or psychological game.

Regardless, the luxury cruise ship was real, and since they could enjoy it legitimately for now, hesitating for even a second would be a disrespect to it.

Hadn't Ike Kanji nearby already started dancing and shouting with excitement?

Onizuka, who had never mistreated himself in his daily life, felt a bit excited seeing the cruise ship, let alone the students of Class D who had been "eating bran and vegetables" for the entire semester.

"Woo—"

A low whistle sounded, and the cruise ship slowly pulled away from the port amidst a roar.

The massive propellers began to rotate, the seawater churning into foam and rolling outward, stirring up layers of ripples.

The hull vibrated slightly as it slowly headed into the depths of the sea.

Onizuka stood on the deck terrace, stretched his back, and felt his mood relax.

Beside him, Sakura stood somewhat timidly, her hands gently gripping the railing as she gazed cautiously into the distance.

"Yo, the weather is really great!" Onizuka remarked with emotion, looking around before winking at Sakura.

"Look, this is what you call a real vacation."

A shy smile appeared on Sakura's face, and she nodded gently, seemingly infected by his words and relaxing a little.

Hirata also chimed in, "It's a rare vacation; it wouldn't be bad for everyone to let down their guard and enjoy it."

Horikita didn't speak, but she didn't show any signs of opposition either, while Ayanokoji looked calmly at the distant horizon, seemingly indifferent to the idle chatter around him.

For some reason, they had all started gathering near Onizuka.

They leaned against the railing or stood casually, looking out together at the pure seascape; a light breeze brushed through their hair, and the air carried a faint, salty fragrance.

Each was immersed in their own thoughts, temporarily forgetting the turmoil of the campus.

Before long, Hirata was called away by Karuizawa and the others.

Onizuka caught a glimpse of him leaving with a helpless smile, playing the role of the considerate boyfriend; after all, among this group, it was only natural for him to be with his girlfriend.

Onizuka watched Hirata's back as he left, then scanned the remaining classmates around him and smiled.

Although this tranquility might just be the brief calm before the storm, for this moment, he chose to enjoy it.

Before they could fully enjoy the azure seascape, the ship's broadcast suddenly chimed, the voice steady and clear:

"Attention, students! We are about to arrive at a private resort island. Please make your way to the deck; the scenery is not to be missed. You are about to see a view you will remember for the rest of your lives."

Immediately, the cruise ship began to circle the entire island, giving the students plenty of opportunity to admire—or perhaps... scout—the island.

The students on the deck instantly grew restless, whispers rising one after another. Everyone, filled with curiosity and excitement, crowded toward the deck railings to get a better look at the mysterious island.

Standing beside Onizuka, Sakura had a glimmer of excitement in her eyes and couldn't help but whisper in admiration: "Wow, is this our destination? It's so beautiful..."

Kushida also nodded from the side, sighing with a longing smile: "Vacationing in a place like this is just like a dream!"

Onizuka stood by the railing, squinting through the bright sunlight as he gazed at the approaching island.

White sandy beaches circled the island, extending into a lush green forest where layers of foliage seemed to weave a natural green carpet covering the land.

The coastline appeared soft and graceful under the sun, unfolding before their eyes like a painting, making anyone who looked at it yearn to be there.

However... it was missing the most important thing. He didn't see a single house on this seemingly pristine island that could accommodate people.

"Heh, survival on a deserted island, is it? Pulling a stunt like this."

Sakura, standing nearby, seemed to have overheard Onizuka's muttering and looked over curiously, but she was quickly turned back around by Onizuka pinching her cheeks.

"Little kids shouldn't listen to things like this~"

Sakura froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly, before she puffed out her cheeks and glared at the island ahead like an angry pufferfish, looking thoroughly indignant.

Seeing her adorable reaction, Onizuka couldn't help but laugh, taking the opportunity to poke her cheek again.

Sakura raised her hand to gently swat his fingers away, huffing in dissatisfaction as she whispered a protest: "I'm not a little kid..."