Luxurious Trip (6k)

"Whoa~"

"Whoa~"

"Yah-hoo~"

Sudo and two others raised their hands on the deck, letting loose and reveling in the joy of the study trip. Their shouts rang out across the western seas.

On an ordinary day, the three of them would have been scolded with things like "You're so annoying," "What a nuisance," or "Were you reincarnated as monkeys?" But no one said anything like that today. The students had made it through the Midterm Exam and the Final Exam, and at last they could release all the emotions they had kept bottled up at school.

The girls' group, led by Karuizawa, was taking pictures by the railing, while Kushida chatted with Ayanokouji nearby about the scenery.

As for Takahashi, where was he?

He was in the café, drinking coffee and discussing novels with Shiina from Class C. To fit the study trip—and indulge his own peculiar tastes—Takahashi was telling Shiina about Agatha's mystery novel And Then There Were None.

"Agatha's And Then There Were None is a pretty good fit for this trip: a series of murders on a deserted island."

Attention, everyone: if time permits, please gather on the deck. We will soon be arriving at the island, and we're sure you'll soon be able to enjoy a truly meaningful view.

An announcement came over the ship's PA, interrupting Takahashi's story.

"Want to go take a look at the scenery together?" Takahashi stood and held out a hand to Shiina.

Quite a few people gradually gathered on the deck. Sudo was currently getting into an argument with a student from Class A, but Ayanokouji and Hirata were nearby, so it probably wouldn't come to anything.

A few minutes later, the island came into view.

"If we have to survive there, now would be a good time to observe the island."

Shiina's voice sounded beside him.

"Takahashi, can you come over for a second?" Ike called to Takahashi from the side.

"Sorry, excuse me for a moment," Takahashi said apologetically to Shiina.

"What's up, Ike?"

"Takahashi, I've made up my mind. I'm going to confess to Little Kushida," Ike said excitedly. "Little Kushida is as kind and beautiful as an angel. It's hard not to fall for her, right?"

"So what did you need me for? To be your wingman?"

"No, it's just, you're surrounded by so many pretty girls, right? So I wanted you to help me come up with something to say when I confess."

"I see~" Takahashi said thoughtfully. "When you confess, tell her, 'If you're tired, my arms can be your safe haven. You can let it all out in them!'"

"Huh?" Ike stared blankly for a moment, then mulled it over and happily threw an arm around Takahashi. "That's great, Takahashi! You're a genius. I've decided to use that line."

"Don't mention it," Takahashi replied with a smile, thinking, I wonder how Kushida will react when she hears that. Hahaha.

The confession had a double meaning. On the surface, it sounded like a romantic declaration, but Takahashi had put himself into the mix. After all, Kushida had already changed her outlet for venting to Takahashi's arms.

"Hey, hey, Little Kushida, can I talk to you for a moment..."

Ike hurried over to Kushida, who was gazing out at the sea nearby. His behavior was obviously suspicious.

"Actually... How should I put it? We've known each other for almost four months, right? I think it's about time we called each other by our first names. Using surnames all the time feels so formal."

"Come to think of it, you've been calling Yamauchi and the others by their first names for a while now."

"N-no, is that not okay? I-if I call you Little Kikyo..."

Faced with Ike's question, Kushida smiled innocently. "Of course you can! Then it's okay if I call you Kanji, right?"

"Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho! Little Kikyo!"

Ike raised both hands and shouted excitedly like an ape, though he didn't pound his chest.

"Then, Little Kushida," Ike said, gazing at her expectantly.

"What is it, Kanji?"

"Well, we're friends, right? So, if you're tired, my arms can be your safe haven. You can let it all out in them." When he finished, Ike looked at Kushida nervously.

Kushida's smiling expression froze the instant she heard Ike's words.

Ike: Hahaha, it really had to be Takahashi. He managed to leave Little Kushida speechless. She must be thinking I'm a responsible man.

Kushida: This is so annoying, so annoying, so annoying. Takahashi must have taught you that line. Takahashi, you're the worst. And Ike, who wants to call you by your first name? You should die too.

That was the end of the inner monologue.

Kushida smiled and said, "Um... But, Kanji, I don't have anything I need to let out."

As expected, he'd been rejected.

"Ayanokouji, Ike mentioning first names reminded me: that Horikita... I mean, what's Horikita's first name?" Sudo, who had been hiding nearby to watch the show just like Takahashi, suddenly asked.

"Um... Suzune. Horikita Suzune," Ayanokouji replied after thinking for a moment.

"Suzune, huh? What a cute name. Just like her."

Yamauchi had wanted to ask Takahashi about Sakura, but, remembering how close Takahashi and Sakura were, he ultimately decided to keep quiet.

The cruise ship moved quickly. Once everyone could see the island clearly and the ship was nearing the pier, the students grew more and more excited, eager to get ashore. They had expected the ship to head straight to the pier, but it passed by and began circling the island instead.

The school had rented the island from the government to manage it. It covered only about 0.5 square kilometers, and its highest point was 230 meters above sea level. Compared with Japan, the island was tiny, but it was spacious enough for the more than one hundred students who had arrived by cruise ship.

It looked as though the cruise ship was going to circle the island so everyone could get a good look at it. The ship maintained a steady, rapid speed, and the spray bursting from its bow looked a little strange.

Attention, students: we will be disembarking on the island belonging to our school. Please change into your tracksuits within 30 minutes, check that you have all required luggage, and gather on the deck with your phones. Leave all other personal belongings in your rooms. Since you may not be able to use the restrooms for a while after going ashore, please make preparations in advance.

Another announcement came over the ship's PA.

After hearing it, Ike and the others hurried back to change, brimming with excitement. Takahashi also headed for his room, but on the way he ran into Horikita, who didn't look well.

"You look pretty pale. Are you sick?"

"No," Horikita replied coldly. She hadn't noticed that her usually neat hair was a little messy today, and that she was rubbing her arms every so often.

"If my guess is right, this study trip might be a Special Exam. If you don't want to drag the class down, come with me." With that, Takahashi walked on without waiting for Horikita.

After thinking it over, Horikita followed him.

"Here." Takahashi handed Horikita a cup of warm water and some cold medicine.

"Um... thank you." Horikita hesitated, then accepted them.

As the island drew closer, the first-year students' excitement reached its peak.

"Class A students, please disembark in order. Also, phones are not permitted on the island. Please hand them to your homeroom teacher before disembarking."

A teacher gave the order through a megaphone, and the students began making their way down the cruise ship's stairs.

"It's so hot. Hurry up... Even wearing such thin clothes, I'm sweating buckets," Ike and the others complained.

The deck of the ship moored by the shore was scorching, so it was only natural for everyone to grumble. Since they were disembarking in the order of Classes A, B, C, and D, Class D had to endure the heat while waiting.

Getting off the ship took even longer than expected. But when they saw two teachers checking the students' luggage one after another, it no longer seemed strange. It looked like this really would be a dreamlike experience.

After all the students had come down the gangway, Teacher Chabashira watched them and said sternly, "We'll take roll now. When I call your name, answer 'Here' loudly, then come over here." She held the attendance clipboard in one hand and checked that the entire class was present.

Teacher Chabashira wore the same tracksuit as the students. It gave the scene the feel of a training camp, but most people didn't look particularly tense.

"Man... I wish the free time would start already. The sea's right there," Ike muttered impatiently. Most of the students clearly wanted to rush to the beach.

Just then, the tall Teacher Mashima stepped onto the white podium in front. He was Class A's homeroom teacher and taught English. Known for being strict, he had the build of a wrestler and a rugged appearance, but was highly intelligent and had taught other subjects as well.

"First, welcome. I'm glad you all arrived safely. Unfortunately, one student is absent due to illness."

Ike muttered under his breath, "I knew someone would get sick and be unable to come. Poor thing."

"Yeah. It'd be one thing if this were an ordinary trip, but with such a luxurious itinerary, they'll regret it after hearing their friends' stories. Even if they feel a little under the weather, they should have gritted their teeth and come," Yamauchi agreed.

As Teacher Mashima silently watched the students, Takahashi, who had been winking at Hasebe in the girls' group, noticed that Ayanokouji beside him was staring at something. Following his gaze, he saw people in work clothes deliberately setting up tents in the distance, with computers and other items on a long table. Confused by the urban sounds, so out of place beside the sound of the waves, the students looked on. Teacher Mashima seemed to wait until the atmosphere had settled, then dropped the bombshell.

"We'll now begin this year's first Special Exam."

"Huh? A Special Exam? What's going on?"

Not only Ike, standing behind Ayanokouji, but almost every class voiced the same obvious question. To the students who had thought this was a trip up until now—even this very moment—it came like a bolt from the blue. The school's "kind" summer vacation on a luxurious cruise ship had indeed been nothing more than a fantasy.

"The exam starts now and will last one week, ending at noon on August 7. The exam will involve group living on this Uninhabited Island. It's a practical exam modeled on real corporate training, designed to feel highly realistic."

"Live on an uninhabited island? So we're leaving the ship and living on the island?"

Someone from Class B or Class C asked the question.

"That's right. During the exam, you may not board the ship without a valid reason. You'll have to provide everything for yourselves, from sleeping arrangements to food. The school will give each class two tents, two flashlights, one box of matches, unlimited sunscreen, and one toothbrush per person. As a special exception, female students may receive an unlimited supply of sanitary products by applying to their homeroom teacher. That's all."

"What?! Are we really going to have to survive on an uninhabited island? This is ridiculous! It's not some anime! Two tents aren't enough for everyone to sleep in! What are we supposed to eat?! I can't believe this!" Ike shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear. Fending for themselves on an uninhabited island meant hunting, bathing in a river, and making beds out of wood—things they'd only ever seen in movies or novels. No one had expected them to become part of a school exam.

Teacher Mashima didn't deny that it was a joke. In fact, he looked genuinely exasperated by Ike's reaction. "You find it hard to believe because you lack experience in life. In reality, well-known companies do conduct training on uninhabited islands."

"N-no... That has to be an exception! An uninhabited island is too extreme. There's no way! It's unrealistic!"

Teacher Chabashira couldn't watch Ike lose control any longer and warned him, "Be quiet. If you keep this up, you'll only make yourself look worse. What Teacher Mashima said is just the tip of the iceberg. There are companies with no chairs in their offices, and companies that set salaries by rolling dice. The world is more complicated and diverse than you think. In other words, you're the one who can't tell reality from fantasy."

Most of the students still looked dissatisfied. Teacher Chabashira continued, "You may think this exam is meaningless, or even doubt whether this training is real. But anyone who remains stuck in that mindset is unlikely to get far in the future. What gives you the right to call something 'impossible' or 'stupid'? You're only students, and you don't yet hold any significant position. What makes you think you can dismiss the practices of leading companies? If you were the president of a company that outperformed those businesses, perhaps you'd have grounds to criticize them. Otherwise, you have no basis for doing so."

The students' dissatisfaction was understandable. After all, they'd been told they were going on a vacation, only for it to suddenly become a Special Exam. It was like your girlfriend had promised to cosplay Changli wearing a black blindfold in her four-layer departure state that evening, then changed her mind at the last minute and decided to cosplay Luocha instead. The loud mark on her brain didn't do much for you.

Teacher Mashima tried to reassure them. "But don't worry. If this exam forced you to endure hardship, you'd have every right to be unhappy. But even though it's a Special Exam, there's no need to overthink it. Over the next week, you can swim at the beach, have barbecues, or occasionally build a fire and chat with your friends. The theme of this Special Exam is 'freedom.'"

"Huh? The theme is 'freedom,' so that means... we can still have barbecues? What kind of exam is this? My head's spinning..." Ike said, clutching his hair.

The students were completely bewildered by the contradictory information. It was an exam, yet they could play freely.

"Before the exam, each class will receive 300 Exam Points and one Representative Card. Once you've chosen a campsite on the island, you can report it to a teacher, who will set up a base there. The representative selected by each class must check in at the base every eight hours. Unless special circumstances arise, the class representative cannot be replaced. Now, use your 300 points wisely, and you can spend the week just like you're on vacation. We've prepared a Guide Manual for that purpose."

Teacher Mashima took a booklet dozens of pages thick from another teacher and continued, "The manual lists everything you can purchase with points. Of course, it includes necessities like drinking water and food. If you want to have a barbecue, you can exchange points for the equipment and ingredients, too. There are also all kinds of recreational equipment for the sea."

The students' tense expressions gradually relaxed.

"So we can buy everything we need with 300 points?"

"That's right. If you plan your points wisely, you can get through the week without trouble."

If things were really as he said, this exam seemed more like a special summer event than a trial.

"But if it's an exam, there has to be some kind of difficulty, right?"

"There's no difficulty at all, and it won't affect your second-semester grades. I guarantee it."

"So we can play all week and it'll be fine?"

"You're completely free to do as you like. Of course, group living comes with a few basic rules, but they're easy to follow."

An exam with no risks? I couldn't help wondering what the point of it was. Was it just an excuse to encourage students from different classes to mingle over summer vacation?

Then Teacher Mashima dropped the crucial detail: "At the end of the exam, each class will guess which students are the representatives of the other classes. Each correct guess will earn you 50 points, while each incorrect guess will cost you 50 points. The remaining points after the final tally will be added to your class's total points, and the results will take effect after summer vacation."

The midsummer sea breeze kicked up dust, and his words landed like a heavy blow on everyone's heads.

In previous written exams, Class A had enjoyed the advantage of its academic ability, while Class D was often trapped by the gap in points. But this time was different. The test wasn't about grades, but "self-restraint." As long as they resisted temptation and managed their points wisely, Class D had a chance to turn the tables.

"So if we hold out for a week, our allowance will skyrocket to 30,000 next month?!" Ike sounded thrilled.

"Each class will receive one Guide Manual. If you lose it, you can get a replacement, but points will be deducted, so keep it safe. Also, since one student from Class A is absent, 30 points will be deducted according to the rules, leaving them with 270."

Even Class A wasn't spared the penalty. That really was fair and impartial. The other classes all looked surprised.

After Teacher Mashima announced that they were dismissed, the Class D students gathered around their homeroom teacher, Teacher Chabashira. The four classes formed separate groups, maintaining a subtle distance from one another.

"Thirty thousand points next month! Thirty thousand!" The boys cheered with their arms raised, while the girls excitedly discussed what they wanted to buy. For Class D, this was a great chance to escape poverty.

"Now you'll be given watches. You must wear them during the exam. Removing one without permission will result in a penalty. The watch can tell time, monitor your temperature and pulse, track your location, and send an emergency distress signal." Teacher Chabashira pointed to the box beside her, indicating that they should collect one.

"Are there any dangerous animals on the island, like bears?"

"I can't answer questions related to the exam."

"Teacher, saying that makes it even scarier!"

Hirata chimed in, "I don't think there'll be dangerous animals. The school has to ensure our safety. The watches are probably to monitor our health, since they can't install surveillance cameras on the island."

That was true. It would be difficult to keep track of a hundred students on a deserted island using manpower alone. The watches' tracking and health-monitoring features were both a way to keep them in line and a safeguard.

Every student received a watch, and they put them on their left or right wrists according to their preference.

"Is it okay to wear this watch in the sea?"

"Don't worry, it's waterproof. If it malfunctions, the exam staff will bring a replacement right away."

"Teacher Chabashira, the school says we'll be living on the island for a week. If we don't use points, does that mean we have to get everything for ourselves?"

"That's right. The school won't interfere at all. You'll have to provide your own food and water, and if you don't have enough tents, that's your problem. Coming up with solutions is part of the exam. It has nothing to do with me."

The girls looked considerably more troubled than the boys. They were probably feeling uneasy about the upcoming life on a deserted island.

"It'll be fine! We can catch some fish and pick some wild fruit. We can make tents out of leaves and wood. Even if I get sick from overdoing it, I can handle it!" Ike said confidently, thinking only about saving the 300 points. He didn't take the difficulties seriously at all.

But the class had more than thirty students. There was no way it would be easy to provide for themselves.

"Ike, don't rush into anything. Look at the last page of the manual." At Teacher Chabashira's direction, Hirata opened the Guide Manual and pointed to the final page. "It lists the Deduction Rules. They're important."

The last page listed four penalties:

1. Unable to take the exam due to illness or serious injury: 30 points deducted, and the student withdraws from the exam;

2. Polluting the environment: 20 points deducted;

3. Missing morning or evening roll call (8:00 and 20:00 every day): 5 points deducted per person, per occurrence;

4. Violence, theft, or damaging another person's belongings: the class is immediately disqualified, and all the offender's personal points are confiscated.

Class A had lost 30 points because one student was absent, in accordance with the first rule. The fourth rule targeted malicious interference with others, while the other three were meant to keep the students in line. Morning and evening roll call prevented them from staying up all night partying or wandering off, environmental penalties discouraged them from damaging the surroundings, and the health rule stopped them from pushing themselves too hard.

Put simply, the school wanted to test the students' "endurance" while also making sure everyone "followed the rules" within safe limits. After all, the school couldn't let more than thirty students run wild on a deserted island. Necessary restrictions were both a boundary and a form of protection.

"You're free to push yourselves, but if ten students fall ill, all your patience and effort will have been for nothing. Once the school rules that you've forfeited, you can't continue the exam. Ike, you'd better keep that in mind before you decide to tough it out."

Teacher Chabashira's words put an end to the fantasy of relying on "endurance alone," and quite a few students who had planned to test their limits looked confused. This meant that a strategy of avoiding points altogether was practically unworkable, and the other classes had almost no chance of passing through wilderness survival alone. This exam wasn't a game of luck, nor was it simply about recklessly testing one's stamina. The shape of its rules was gradually becoming clear.

"So we'll have to use some of our points, then?"

A girl named Shinohara spoke after listening.

"I'm against giving in right from the start. We should endure as much as we can, for as long as we can," Ike said, trying to get his point across.

"I understand how you feel, but it'll only be more trouble if you wear yourself out," Hirata advised.

As they learned more about the rules, their opinions gradually began to diverge. After all, the list of items available in the Guide Manual was incredibly broad: everything from survival essentials like tents and cooking equipment, to electronics like digital cameras and walkie-talkies, to recreational items like parasols, lifebuoys, barbecue sets, and even fireworks. Even essential supplies like food and drinking water could be purchased. According to the rules, anyone could exchange points for items by applying to their homeroom teacher.

"Teacher Chabashira, if you're able to answer..." Horikita raised her hand after listening to most of the explanation. "If someone withdraws from the exam after we've used all 300 points, how will the class points be calculated?"

"The number of students who withdraw will increase, but your points will remain at zero. They won't go into the negatives."

"So there's no 'negative-point penalty' for the exam?"

Teacher Chabashira nodded. Remembering Teacher Mashima's earlier assurance that it "wouldn't affect the second semester," that part seemed trustworthy. Teacher Chabashira glanced at her watch and continued:

"The school is providing Eight-Person Tents. Each one weighs nearly fifteen kilograms, so be careful when carrying them. Also, damaged or lost supplies won't be replaced for free. If you need a new tent, you'll have to exchange points for one."

At the edge of the crowd, Takahashi held the slender fingers of Sakura beside him as he thought over the exam rules, doing his best to remember the points he considered important.