Ichinose Honami's Approach, Class C Withdraws

Then, as the Neutral Faction and the others from the Katsuragi Faction watched them eat with relish and couldn't resist picking some fruit themselves, the school's loudspeaker blared from the direction of the beach.

"Totsuka Yahiko from Class 1-A and Hashimoto Masayoshi from Class 1-A are each penalized 50 points for 'using a base occupied by another class without permission'."

This news immediately stopped the restless hands of the Neutral Faction and the rest of the Katsuragi Faction. Katsuragi Kohei and Totsuka Yahiko, who were eating crunchy fruit, also stopped chewing in a daze.

Then, citing "overwork, dehydration and heatstroke" as the reason, Sakayanagi Arisu was "forced" to leave the stage, and Class A was eliminated again at 30 o'clock.

The original 300 Exam Points have already been almost halved before even the first day began.

Fearing they would incur the "50-point penalty" again, the students in Class A dared not dawdle any longer. They quickly got up and headed towards the beach where the teachers were.

As for Sakayanagi Arisu, who left the scene, she was taken to the Cruise Ship by Hoshinomiya Chie, the homeroom teacher of Class B and also the school nurse.

However, after resting for a while, Sakayanagi Arisu changed her clothes, then, leaning on her cane, limped off the boat and headed deeper into the Uninhabited Island.

"So, that's the whole story of how your Class A lost points?"

On a secluded beach, Hoshino En lay on a deck chair under a parasol, holding Sakayanagi Arisu in her arms as she recounted the whole ordeal of Class A's humiliation.

"Yes, I didn't expect that even after all this, Katsuragi- kun hasn't given up—he seems to be standing next to a Check-in Device, waiting for the time on it to pass."

Sakayanagi Arisu her head on Hoshino En's shoulder, gently inhaling his pleasant scent.

"It smells like the shower gel that En-kun really likes... I think I guessed your strategy."

She kept her face buried in Hoshino En's neck, not looking up, and said, "With your superior physical abilities and first-mover advantage in intelligence, you captured all the outposts in one fell swoop... You're the 'Leader' of Class D, aren't you?" (Rin)

"Oh, right."

They were chatting casually about topics that shouldn't be discussed with people from other classes.

"Will you tell Kamuro and the others about this?" Jiu

"I've already left the stage."

Sakayanagi Arisu nuzzled against Hoshino En's chest, shifted her position, and slowly narrowed her eyes.

"As a consequence of leaving and then disembarking, I cannot have any contact with the other members of Class A; in order to maintain fairness, I am only allowed to bring one more swimsuit down with me, and I will have to rely on En-kun's charity for the next few days."

"Moreover, there's no foolproof way to counter your move. Even if I told them, they wouldn't dare gamble on that last, tiny possibility."

"Ugh... I'm so tired from walking just now, En-kun, can I sleep here for a while?"

"You've already gone to bed, what can I say?"

Hoshino En adjusted her position to make the little girl in her arms more comfortable.

"However, you can only sleep for a maximum of 6 hours."

"Mmm~"

Not far from the beach, at a base located at the edge of the woods, the students of Class D were observing the situation with binoculars.

Matsushita Chiaki was looking at the beach through binoculars, while Mori Nene was communicating with Karuizawa Kei, who was at the real base of Class D, through a walkie-talkie. Only Horikita Suzune stood aside, staring blankly.

"What are you doing? Weren't we supposed to be scouting the area around the Cruise Ship? Shouldn't we be heading to the outpost further ahead? Why are we staying here?"

Horikita Suzune was confused. She didn't understand why they weren't doing what Hoshino En instructed, but instead were here... spying on others.

"Oh dear, children shouldn't meddle in adult matters. Isn't Yukimura over there? Just leave it to them. This is the task Karuizawa assigned us."

Matsushita Chiaki kept his binoculars pointed at the lone parasol on the beach, while relaying what he saw to Mori Nene beside him.

"They seemed to just cuddle and sleep, and didn't do anything else."

Mori Nene repeated the sentence onto the walkie-talkie.

2 Soon, Karuizawa Kei's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"They were just sleeping together... then nothing should happen for now. You and Horikita should go and meet up with Yukimura, but don't let Hoshino find out."

"By the way, if Horikita doesn't want to do this job, we can have her switch with Wang Meiyu from Yukimura's group."

"Understood." ×

After the conversation ended, the two immediately packed their things, preparing to leave with Horikita Suzune was still completely bewildered.

"Wait a minute, so what exactly is going on? Why are you spying on Hoshino -kun?"

"Children shouldn't meddle in adult matters."

Matsushita Chiaki once again silenced Horikita Suzune's question with the same words.

But the next second, Mori Nene's walkie-talkie rang again.

As soon as she answered the call, Hoshino Enishi's deliberately lowered voice came from the other Hoshino En walkie-talkie.

"When you're monitoring, don't keep the binoculars pointed at the person you're monitoring. The lens will reflect sunlight, which will be even more noticeable at night. Please be aware of this."

Well, they've already found out.

Mori Nene immediately reported the matter to Karuizawa Kei.

"Huh? We've been discovered? That was expected, don't worry about it. Go and keep an eye on the beach with Yukimura."

It seems that being discovered hasn't had any significant impact.

On the other side, the "Guerrilla Group".

"What are Class C doing?"

Hiding in the woods some distance from the beach, Ken Sudō used binoculars to observe Class C playing on the beach, a sense of unease creeping into his mind.

"I have a feeling they've implemented the same strategy as us."

They took turns observing through the binoculars, Miyake Akito Ken Sudō saw things more deeply than Takeru Sudo, who wasn't very good at thinking.

"They probably sold their Exam Points to other classes, just like we did... probably to Class A."

"And did you see that? There's a walkie-talkie on the table next to the recliner where Ryuen Kakeru is lying. Their strategy is very likely the same as ours."

He relayed the message to headquarters via walkie-talkie.

Then, he took out a map that Hoshino En had drawn in advance. It was a very clear topographic map with contour lines, and it also marked the 35 outposts that Hoshino En had discovered and some locations that were suitable for observation.

"Let's go, Sudo, let's go check on the situation in Class A and Class B — Hoshino -kun worked so hard to prepare the information and this map, we can't let him down."

"We must bring him victory!" ×

First Semester of First Year:

Chapters 156 and 147: Ichinose Honami's Method, Class C's Departure

"That guy really did set us up!!"

After passing several strongholds marked "Class D Occupied," Kanzaki Ryuji stepped out from the resting Class B troops, kicked a tree trunk, and said indignantly.

He knew it! No one would propose an agreement that would put them at a disadvantage... That agreement was clearly bait set up by that bastard; he just wanted to take advantage of their momentary lapse in attention and seize the nearest stronghold!!

He even used those ambiguous statements to sway Ichinose of Class B! That guy went too far!!

"Kanzaki, you can't say that about Hoshino-kun, can you? It's true that thinking about what to exchange took us a lot of time, but this agreement did allow us to keep our 300 Exam Points, didn't it?"

Ichinose Honami, takes it all in stride.

Upon discovering the first occupied stronghold, she immediately consulted her homeroom teacher to understand the specific behaviors that would lead to violations, thus preventing a tragic situation similar to that of Class A.

She walked over to Kanzaki Ryuji and offered words of comfort to her deputy.

"Moreover, as long as we move back and forth between these strongholds like this, without staying too long or touching anything inside, we can wait until the countdown at each stronghold ends while preserving our full strength."

"But ≈/ bell qi▲￡■"shirtthorn[<Hedgehog folding generation ★ purchase:--"

"In the end, we've all made a profit, and we've already achieved our initial goal, Kanzaki, please stop being so petty."

Is this such a trivial matter that he cares?

Kanzaki Ryuji felt a little tired watching Ichinose Honami, who insisted on siding with Hoshino En no matter what.

He was just worried that Ichinose Honami would be scammed by that guy and end up counting money for him.

When he first met Hoshino En at the library, he immediately sensed that this guy wasn't a good person. He was definitely the kind of scumbag who was very good at dealing with women and manipulating their hearts—after all, what good guy would have one girl in his arms and then flirt with another?!

He just didn't want his innocent class monitor to become that pitiful person who was Hoshino En cheated on by Hoshino Enishi and was still happy about it.

After a short rest, the two of them led Class B to set off again, heading towards the stronghold they had just come from, which was still occupied by Class D.

After they walked away, Ken Sudō and Miyake Akito emerged from behind the tree trunk that Kanzaki Ryuji had kicked earlier.

"Sudo, did you hear that? It seems Class B is planning to just move between these two bases and stop exploring further out."

"That's right, but what should we do with these strongholds that originally belonged to us?"

Ken Sudō looked somewhat angry, not only because he felt aggrieved that Class B had taken over their base without being punished, but also because of the kick that Kanzaki Ryuji had just given him.

"That guy's name is Kanzaki, right? Hoshino specifically asked that the four supplies he redeemed with points be given to Class B 3B, so why does Liu hold such a grudge against Hoshino?!"

"Is this what the qualities of a 'top student' are?"

Earlier on the Cruise Ship deck, when he and the other boys from Class D were verbally abused and provoked by Totsuka Yahiko from Class A, the rest of Class A just watched them with amusement, and not one of them stood up to condemn that guy's rudeness.

First, there was Class A's blatant contempt for Class D, and then there was Class B's ingratitude. Suddenly, Ken Sudō changed his opinion of the so-called "top students".

He used to dislike people who were good at studying simply because he himself was not good at studying; but now, he was actually quite glad that he had disliked them before—these people seemed to have no merits other than being good at studying, and in terms of character alone, they were not even as good as Hoshino, who was assigned to Class D.

Faced with Ken Sudō's rage, Miyake Akito showed no displeasure. He understood the other's anger, but the most urgent task was to figure out what to do.

He briefed headquarters on the situation.

"As for Class A, Katsuragi Kohei has been holding that position the whole time, so we have no chance of taking it back. As for Class B, they've been moving back and forth between the two bases that Hoshino -kun occupied a long time ago. My personal suggestion is to give up one base to them and hold onto the second one."

After listening to his explanation and suggestions, Karuizawa Kei quickly gave instructions.

"Sudo, you're in better physical condition. Take your binoculars, walkie-talkies, and maps and remotely monitor Class B's movements. Report their main force's location to me every 10 minutes in real time. I'll also relay that to Hoshino -kun so he can avoid them."

"As for Miyake, you immediately head to the Observation Post by the beach. I've prepared an extra set of binoculars and a walkie-talkie, which are with Matsushita and Mori. They've met up with the observation team. Go get their map and equipment, then remotely monitor Class A and report their movements in real time."

"Understood!" / "Got it!"

After giving instructions to the "Guerrilla Group," Karuizawa Kei received another message from the "Observation Post."

"It seems the students in Class C are leaving and heading back to the Cruise Ship."

"Kanji Ike, who is part of the observation group, explained over the walkie-talkie."

"Then have the surveillance team keep a close eye on things and count exactly how many people boarded the ship; especially key figures like Ryuen Kakeru, Yamada Albert, Ibuki Mio Shiina Hiyori, Ibuki Mio, Kaneda Satoru, and Ishizaki Daichi. Make sure they've boarded the ship."

Karuizawa Kei had instructed everyone who stayed behind beforehand to identify the key individuals to be observed in each class, so there were no instances of them not recognizing them.

"Learn."

After a while, the communication was restored, and a message came from the "Observation Post." It seemed...

"I've counted them all. A total of 36 people from Class C boarded the ship. I didn't see Ryuen Kakeru, Kaneda Satoru, or Ibuki Mio Shiina Hiyori originally wanted to board, but she seemed to hesitate for a moment and then came back."

"Is that so...? Then you all continue to take turns monitoring, making sure you don't miss even a single mosquito, understand?"

"Clear!":

Shiina Hiyori stayed; it must have been because of what Classmate Sakayanagi, right?

Karuizawa Kei suddenly wore an unnatural smile, giving the impression of an evil villain who had successfully pulled off a scheme.

"Hmph~ Hmph hmph hmph hmph... Ah~ Hahahahaha--!!!!"

"Uh... Karuizawa?"

Her undisguised laughter startled Kushida Kikyo, who had just entered Class D's headquarters—a Small Wooden Cabin located beside a stream.

Good heavens, this guy is getting so close to Hoshino En Yuuki, he really is a bit of a freak!

"Cough cough... What's wrong?"

Upon hearing the sound, Karuizawa Kei quickly suppressed her smile and coughed, feigning composure.

Good heavens, Kushida walks so quietly! It's terrifying!

"Oh, dinner's almost ready. When are you all coming to eat?"

Kushida Kikyo was also quite helpless. She originally stayed on the island to improve her reputation and goodwill, but after Hoshino Enishi finished her Hoshino En, she arranged everything for everyone but didn't assign her to any place. Suddenly, she became the most idle person.

She had also asked Hoshino En privately, but he said, "This is a real class competition. Someone like you who has friends everywhere is not suitable to show your face in public. Besides, wouldn't that put a lot of pressure on you?" He seemed to be thinking about her best interests.

When Dad first heard it, she was deeply moved and almost believed his nonsense. But then he said, "Oh, by the way, we seem to be short one for housekeeping. Can you cook?" which left her speechless.

With nothing else to do, what choice did she have but to accept it?