Once they had chosen a leader, the campsite immediately grew lively. Everyone split up to take on different tasks, busying themselves with great enthusiasm.
The boys rolled up their sleeves and worked up a sweat setting up tents, driving the stakes firmly into the ground. Some cleared and leveled the ground, moving away rocks and branches before laying down a thick layer of leaves to keep out the damp.
Meanwhile, the girls scattered around the area to look for usable firewood and branches. They carried them back in bundles to use for the campfire or to build simple windbreaks.
Hirata coordinated things nearby, arranging the various tasks in an orderly fashion.
Sudo hefted a long wooden pole to use as a frame for the campfire, prompting Ike to tease him, saying he looked like a primitive man who had returned to the forest.
It had to be said that Sudo had changed quite a bit over the course of the first semester since the start of school.
But in Onizuka's eyes, he had merely gone from being an idiot to an idiot who could understand human speech. He was still just as brainless.
Meanwhile, Kushida silently checked the supplies nearby, making sure everyone had all the equipment they needed.
Everyone busied themselves with their own tasks, gradually turning a disorderly patch of woodland into a cozy little campsite.
All in all, in the early days of the exam, the atmosphere of cooperation among the members of Class D was... pleasant enough?
Although there were a few minor disagreements, everyone could still sit down and discuss their basic supply needs seriously.
In the end, they unanimously decided that, in addition to necessities, they would also buy some daily supplies and food to ensure they had enough provisions and comfort on this unfamiliar Uninhabited Island.
After weighing their options, Class D set its spending plan at 180 points, including food, camping equipment, and basic first-aid supplies.
If they added the bonus points they would receive for occupying a base, the class would still have nearly 150 points left.
Under normal circumstances, a haul like this was already close to the maximum any class could gain in this exam.
Everyone seemed reasonably satisfied with the result.
But Onizuka and the other ambitious students clearly wouldn't be satisfied with that.
Most of Class D still seemed unaware of one cruel fact: at this school, if you didn't eat others, you would be eaten.
Was it kindness or stupidity? Even after suffering the shock of having zero Class Points in their first month at school, they were still completely unaware of the school's true nature.
At this school, you had to be stronger than others and react faster. You even had to be prepared to do whatever it took at a crucial moment. Otherwise, all that awaited you was failure and expulsion.
And what Class D lacked right now was precisely that cruel awareness.
The next day...
"Onizuka, do you want to come with us and check out where the other classes are?"
Horikita stood beside Onizuka with her arms crossed. Her tone left no room for hesitation, as if she were inviting him to join them.
She was as direct as ever, seemingly certain he would agree.
Onizuka smiled faintly and followed her gaze to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, standing not far away.
The other boy was leaning lazily against a tree, arms folded, his gaze resting casually on them.
He looked unconcerned, as if he were waiting quietly, yet also as if he were completely uninvolved.
Onizuka's thoughts stirred slightly, and the corner of his mouth curled into an amused smile. It seemed Horikita wasn't the one who wanted to invite him; it was the guy behind her.
But that was fine. The more people, the better. Although Onizuka didn't know why Ayanokoji had reacted so strongly on the ship, they weren't actually at odds in some respects.
"In that case, let's go. I'm curious what the other classes have been up to on this island, too," he said to Horikita, unhurriedly.
As he stepped forward to join them, a barely perceptible glint flashed through Ayanokoji's eyes. Then his expression settled, and he continued silently behind them.
Seeing the two of them like that, Horikita was momentarily at a loss. Something felt off, but she couldn't say what.
She quickened her pace, tightened her clothes around herself, and silently caught up with Onizuka, trying to walk beside him.
Onizuka kept his eyes fixed straight ahead. Relying on the map of the terrain he had observed on the ship and committed to memory, he led Horikita and Ayanokoji in the direction where they were most likely to encounter another class.
Just then, Ayanokoji's voice came from behind them, calm and unhurried.
"Onizuka, sorry to interrupt," he said evenly.
"Before Koenji left, he mentioned a place that I think is worth checking out."
Onizuka was slightly taken aback, and a hint of curiosity showed on his face.
Koenji was always so unconventional. What could he have left for them?
A picture suddenly appeared in Onizuka's mind: a man with a handlebar mustache kneeling on the ground and shouting:
"Do you want my treasure? If you do, you can have it all. Go find it! I left all my treasure there!"
Horikita glanced thoughtfully at Onizuka. She didn't comment, but her expression showed that she was also doubtful about Koenji's actions.
She spoke with a hint of skepticism. "In that case, we might as well go take a look. Koenji is rather... unusual, but he generally doesn't do things without a reason."
Unusual? That was certainly a tactful way of putting it.
Onizuka smiled faintly and spread his hands. "Since everyone's curious, let's go take a look. It shouldn't take too much time anyway."
The winding path gradually began to feel familiar to Onizuka.
He looked over the trees and terrain around them, feeling that he had seen the landscape before.
At last, the three of them stopped in a clearing in the woods. An unexpected sight met their eyes: a vast field of lush corn.
Standing at its edge, the three of them stared at the crops, their green leaves framing plump golden ears, momentarily at a loss for words.
None of them had expected to see such a large field of crops in this wilderness.
Onizuka's mouth twitched. A moment later, he let out a soft sigh that seemed tinged with helplessness.
A large crop like this grew tall and was very conspicuous. With even a little attention, it wouldn't be hard to spot, even in dense woods.
He had originally planned to quietly take advantage of this resource and sell it at a good price when the time was right, earning some extra points.
Onizuka gazed at the golden cornfield before him. In his mind, he could almost see Koenji's mocking grin and hear his jeering laughter...
How infuriating.