Silent Dialogue

At the end of summer break in the first year at Advanced Nurturing High School, a notice rippled through the students like a stone tossed into a still lake: the school would be taking all first-year students on a several-day sea voyage aboard the Luxury Cruise Ship Speranza, bound for the southern waters.

The moment Kazama In received the notice, a knowing glint passed through his dark eyes. He quickly pulled up the school's recent procurement records through certain unofficial channels, paying particular attention to orders for fresh water, high-calorie emergency rations, basic medical kits, and a large quantity of... compasses, signal flares, and multipurpose survival knives. Paired with the coordinates of several uninhabited islands marked on the cruise route map, a clear answer surfaced in his mind.

"A sea voyage? Just a cover," Kazama In scoffed inwardly. "The real test will be on some deserted island, far from civilization and short on supplies. A survival simulation? Teamwork? A struggle over resources? Or... a harsher elimination?"

He could almost see it already: this brightly lit, music-filled Luxury Cruise Ship would eventually drop them off in some untamed place brimming with unknown challenges. He immediately began preparing, quietly slipping a few essential, inconspicuous pieces of survival gear into his bag.

His communicator rang. It was Sakayanagi Arisu's special ringtone. Kazama In answered.

"Big Brother In~" Sakayanagi's voice came through, sweet as ever, though with less energy than usual and a faint hint of weakness. "I heard you're going on a trip at sea. Sunshine, beaches, the ocean... It sounds so lovely."

"Yeah," Kazama In replied.

"But what a shame," Sakayanagi said, her voice thick with regret and a trace of grievance. "The doctor's given my poor, useless body strict orders: no long trips or drastic changes in environment... So I suppose I'll just have to stay behind at school, pouting and envying everyone's photos." She paused, her voice growing softer. "It really is... a shame I can't look at the sea with you, Big Brother In."

Kazama In fell silent for a few seconds. He could picture Sakayanagi sitting in her wheelchair, gazing out the window with her usual smile on her face, while her eyes might conceal a touch of loneliness. An image flashed through his mind: her as a little girl, her pale face stubbornly set as she insisted on going out to play with him.

"Your health comes first." Kazama In's voice was a little lower than usual, touched by a gentleness he hadn't noticed in himself. "Whether you go or not, take good care of yourself."

There was a moment of silence on the other end. Then Sakayanagi spoke, her voice softer than ever, filled with... nostalgia.

"Big Brother In... The way you just spoke... It really reminds me of how you used to be." Her voice was light, as if she were afraid of disturbing something. "The Big Brother In who used to worry about whether I'd taken my medicine on time, and whether I was staying in a warm room like I was supposed to. You were so... gentle."

Kazama In's fingers tightened slightly around the communicator. Fragments of the past flickered through his mind: the awkward little boy offering medicine under the cherry trees; the way he'd frowned at the coughing girl in her hospital bed and told her, "Don't go out in the wind"... Those soft corners belonging to "Kazama In," deliberately sealed away beneath the cold shell of the "Arbiter," seemed to have been lightly touched by Sakayanagi's words.

"...Yeah." In the end, he only gave a quiet reply. He neither denied it nor said anything more. But that silence was a response in itself.

"Heh..." Sakayanagi gave a soft laugh. There was none of her usual scheming or teasing in it, only a pure, warmly contented happiness. "It'd be nice if you could always be like this, Big Brother In... Even if you're only gentle once in a while." She paused. Just as Kazama In thought the conversation was about to end, her voice came again, as light as a feather yet carrying unmistakable, deeply buried affection.

"They say the sea breeze carries the taste of freedom. Big Brother In, make sure you feel it. Just like... just like that spring breeze beneath the cherry tree in Ueno Park, the one that bloomed later than all the others, and more beautifully. Only the two of us saw it... The wind was fleeting, but it made you want to remember it forever." Her voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was almost a whisper. "...I hope you... never forget how it felt."

When she finished speaking, the call ended with a gentle click, leaving only the busy signal.

Kazama In stood where he was, the communicator still pressed to his ear. Ueno Park... that late-blooming cherry tree... just the two of them beneath it... a breeze carrying the sweet scent of blossoms brushing their cheeks... and the little girl beside him, looking up with her pale face lit by her first truly carefree smile as she said, "Big Brother In, the flowers are so pretty, and the breeze feels so nice..."

The words, an understated confession yet perfectly clear, had smashed open the gates guarding those sealed memories. It wasn't merely an invitation to reminisce. Sakayanagi Arisu was telling him that, in her heart, those pure and fleeting moments of peace they'd shared were precious jewels she hoped he would treasure forever. Her feelings were deep and tender.

A faint but utterly genuine smile slowly bloomed at the corner of Kazama In's stern lips, like the first ray of sunlight quietly melting a frozen lake. He put away the communicator and looked out the window, as though he could see her stubborn figure in her wheelchair, confessing her feelings in the most veiled way possible.

Several days later, the Luxury Cruise Ship Ocean Glory cut through the deep-blue sea, sailing toward the vast, boundless ocean. The sky was a clear sapphire blue, with a few lazy clouds drifting overhead. The sea breeze, salty and free, swept across the deck, where the students were buzzing with excitement.

The main members of Class D gathered by the railing at the bow, gazing at the magnificent seascape.

"Whoa! So this is the ocean? It's incredible!" Kanji Ike spread his arms and shouted dramatically, trying to imitate the iconic pose from Titanic, only for Yamauchi Haruki beside him to shove him away with a look of disgust.

"It really is beautiful..." Sakura Airi murmured in amazement, holding the railing as the breeze lifted the hair over her forehead. Her eyes were full of anticipation for the unknown journey and a shy longing. "It feels like... the wind's blowing all your worries away."

"Hmph. It's just water." Horikita Suzune folded her arms, her tone as cool as ever. Even so, her gaze was drawn to the endless blue, and the tension at the corners of her mouth seemed to soften for a moment. "It's vast... It really does open up your mind."

"Yeah. Excellent visibility. Good for observation." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood a little farther back, his gaze calmly sweeping over the sea as he assessed their speed, the wind direction, and possible landing sites. "The probability of a survival test is over ninety percent."

Ken Sudō seemed somewhat distracted. The shadow of the recent pool incident hadn't entirely faded. Looking at the ocean, he muttered, "I wish I could just swim across..." Hirata Yosuke gave him a helpless pat on the shoulder.

Hirata Yosuke smiled warmly. "This is a rare experience. Everyone should enjoy the sea breeze and sunshine." Karuizawa Kei had her arm linked through his and nodded in agreement, enjoying the pleasant breeze against her face.

Kushida Kikyo wasn't with them. Her voice and laughter came from the pool area not far away.

The pool was a different kind of lively. Its clear water sparkled in the sunlight. Kushida Kikyo, wearing a cute pink two-piece swimsuit, was splashing around and playing with several girls. Her bell-like laughter, the splashing water, and her youthful figure shining in the sun made a lovely sight, drawing the attention of many boys nearby, including Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki. They watched with flushed faces and wide, unfocused eyes.

Watching Kushida in the pool, looking like a sprite, Kanji Ike felt his blood surge. With Sudō and Yamauchi pushing him along—urging him on and eager to watch the show—he worked up his courage, his face turning red as he awkwardly shuffled toward the pool.

"K-Kikyo!" Kanji Ike's voice cracked with nerves as he stood at the pool's edge and shouted to Kushida in the water.

Kushida turned at the sound, wearing a sweet, innocent smile. "Hm? Ike, did you need something?"

"I... I..." Kanji Ike looked at her smiling face so close to him, and his mind went completely blank. He forgot every word he'd rehearsed. After a long struggle, all he managed was, "Kikyo! Y-your swimsuit looks really nice today! It suits you so well!" As if he'd used up every last bit of his courage, he turned and ran, leaving Kushida looking stunned before bursting into laughter, along with the classmates around them.

Sudō and Yamauchi made fun of Ike for being such a coward, but soon got excited themselves. They began making meaningless whoops and cheers at the sea and the other girls in the pool, drawing sidelong glances from passersby. Horikita Suzune gave them an especially icy glare.

Kazama In didn't join in the commotion at the bow. Carrying a glass of ice water, he headed for the quiet sunbathing area on the upper deck. Several rows of comfortable loungers were set out there, but only one was occupied.

Koenji Rokusuke lay lazily on a lounger covered with a pristine white towel, like the sun god Apollo descended to earth. He wore nothing but a snug, stylish pair of deep-purple swim trunks, perfectly displaying his astonishingly proportioned muscles, like those of an ancient Greek sculpture, and his smooth, bronze skin. He wore limited-edition sunglasses, and a glass of brightly colored iced juice sat on the small table beside him. He radiated a languid, luxurious air that said, "Mortals, do not disturb." Without a care in the world, he was elegantly applying expensive sunscreen to himself, his movements leisurely, as though performing some sacred ritual.

Kazama In walked over and sat on the empty lounger beside him, setting his ice water on the small table.

"Oh?" Koenji turned his head slightly. His sunglasses slid down, revealing golden eyes as brilliant as gemstones, tinged with annoyance at being disturbed. But when he saw Kazama In, the annoyance turned into an amused smile. "Well, if it isn't the esteemed Arbiter. Why aren't you downstairs enjoying the rabble? What brings you here to disturb me as I absorb the essence of the sunlight?"

"I was looking for somewhere quiet," Kazama In said briefly, his gaze turning to the blue sea.

"Quiet?" Koenji gave a soft laugh, drawing out the word. "To get away from fools, or... to think about how you might 'judge' some more fools who don't know their place on this seemingly tranquil sapphire sea?" His words carried a pointed implication.

Kazama In didn't answer directly. Instead, he changed the subject, his voice calm and even. "Koenji, this ship's destination might not be a vacation spot."

"Oh?" Koenji's hand paused as he applied sunscreen. A glint of understanding and interest flashed in his golden eyes. "I'd be delighted to hear more, my... 'Brother'." He deliberately emphasized the last word, speaking with a familiarity only the two of them understood, born of their distant childhoods among the nobility.

"Supply lists, special equipment, uninhabited islands along the route." Kazama In pointed out the key details. "The school's 'sea voyage' is probably a carefully planned deserted-island survival test. The goals are likely resource management, teamwork, willpower... or, more directly, elimination."

Koenji didn't seem surprised at all. Instead, he let out a pleased chuckle. "Heh heh heh... So that's what it is? The school's usual, tedious trick. They toss us noble beings into the wilderness to live among mosquitoes and beasts? How... lacking in style." He elegantly lifted his juice and took a sip.

"Style?" Kazama In glanced at him, his dark eyes showing little reaction. "In a survival situation, style is a useless luxury. I didn't come here to discuss style." His voice turned more serious. "I came to warn you, Koenji. This test affects our class points. Class D can't afford any more deductions."

He leaned forward slightly, looking sharply at Koenji's eyes behind the sunglasses.

"I know you're after 'beauty,' after experiences beyond the ordinary. But if you leave the team on that island to chase the 'unusual beauty' you mentioned—exploring dangerous places alone, searching for rare flowers and plants, or admiring the sunset in solitude—and that causes the class to fail its task and lose a large number of points... then, in my eyes, you'll be a liability."

Kazama In paused, then softened his tone, speaking with an oddly persuasive air.

"Besides, true 'beauty' doesn't have to exist only in solitary exploration. Under the extreme pressure of survival, the most genuine aspects of human nature—its brilliance and its ugliness—will bloom side by side. That's a raw, overwhelming kind of 'beauty.' The drama woven from teamwork, sacrifice, even betrayal, as people struggle to survive, is another kind of cruel 'beauty.' And even..." His gaze swept over Koenji's perfect physique. "Struggling forward through the mud, sweat mingling with dirt, yet still holding on to your inner devotion to 'beauty' and maintaining your elegance... Wouldn't that be an even more striking kind of 'beauty'?"

Koenji fell silent for a moment, the golden eyes behind his sunglasses gleaming with thought. Kazama In's words had opened up a new perspective for him. He sought the pinnacle of beauty, but Kazama In had described something more complex, more primal, and more powerful—a different possibility for "beauty."

"...An interesting perspective." Koenji slowly spoke, the corner of his mouth curling into a wicked smile. "A flower on a high peak blooming in the mud? An elegant struggle in the face of despair? That does sound... like a different kind of beauty worth anticipating." He set down his glass of juice and lightly tapped the armrest with his long fingers. "Very well. In light of your... rather aesthetically pleasing analysis, I'll agree. On the island, I'll take part in the team activities 'as appropriate.' However," he added, brimming with confidence, "everything I do will follow the guidance of 'aesthetics.' Any act that ruins 'beauty,' whether it comes from foolish teammates or tedious rules, I'll... crush with elegance."

Kazama In had gotten the promise he wanted. He said no more, only nodded and rose to leave.

Just as he turned, Koenji seemed to remember something. In his languid, grandiloquent voice, he spoke as if to himself.

"Oh, by the way, a 'little butterfly' sent me a message a few days ago—Sakayanagi Arisu. She said she wanted me to help retrieve a 'shard of ice lost in a blizzard'—something from your past, some old state of mind or emotion. She also said it would take a little 'special' stimulation. Heh..." Koenji gave a cryptic little laugh. "In pursuit of that 'lost beauty,' I'd be more than happy to carry out a 'special' operation on the island. I hope it won't leave certain people too... 'surprised.'"

Kazama In's steps paused. A sharp glint flashed in the depths of his dark eyes. He understood Koenji's hint. Sakayanagi... was indeed in contact with Koenji. And it seemed they were planning to do something to him on the island. The "blizzard" and "shard of ice"... Did they intend to use something from his past to provoke him?

He didn't turn around. He simply replied, "Suit yourself. Just don't let it get out of hand." Then he strode away toward the edge of the deck and gazed out over the sea. The wind lifted the silver-white and dark-red strands of hair over his forehead, revealing eyes so deep they seemed to be brewing a storm.

The Luxury Cruise Ship surged through the waves, carrying youth, ambition, scheming, and unknown challenges toward the blue depths that heralded a storm and transformation. Kazama In knew the real test had only just begun. And Sakayanagi and Koenji's "special operation" would undoubtedly add even more unpredictable variables to the deserted-island survival test.