The Language Trap

Kazama In leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance. The sea breeze, heavy with salt and dampness, brushed his face as he continued to digest the information Koenji had revealed and the upcoming Uninhabited Island survival test. Just then, Ken Sudō's unmistakably loud voice rang out nearby:

"Hey! Kazama! What are you spacing out for? Let's go eat! I'm starving!"

Kazama In turned and saw Sudō, Kanji Ike, and Yamauchi Haruki walking over with their arms slung around one another, followed by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who wore his usual calm expression.

"Yeah, Kazama! I heard the restaurant on the ship is super fancy! Let's go check it out!" Ike shouted.

"Come on, let's see what they've got!" Yamauchi chimed in.

Kazama In put his thoughts aside and nodded. "Sure." He needed to check out the restaurant, anyway. The five of them headed together to the luxurious main dining room on the middle deck of the cruise ship.

The restaurant's interior was extravagantly decorated. Crystal chandeliers cast dazzling light, and the polished marble floor reflected the elegant tables and chairs, along with the well-dressed waiters. The lilting sound of violins flowed through the air, creating an atmosphere of refined serenity. But it wasn't long before the D Class members' casual manners shattered the peace.

They found an empty table by the window with four seats. Sudō, Ike, and Yamauchi promptly claimed three of them, while Ayanokoji silently pulled over another chair and sat down. Kazama In remained standing beside the table, scanning the room's layout and its occupants.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a crisply pressed black suit and bow tie approached their table with steady steps. His hair was meticulously combed, and a name badge on his chest read "Restaurant Manager." He wore a flawless, professional smile, but his gaze settled precisely on Kazama In.

Their eyes met. For an instant, Kazama In's dark pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. Although the man had disguised himself with remarkable skill—dying his hair darker, wearing rimless glasses, and deliberately adopting the refined manner of a professional manager—the deep, still light in his eyes, like an ancient well, and the nearly invisible, hair-thin old scar on his left earlobe made Kazama In recognize him instantly.

"Good afternoon, honored guests. Welcome to the main dining room of the Speranza. I'm the restaurant manager, Kurosawa." The middle-aged man bowed slightly, his voice warm and polite, though his eyes never broke their silent exchange with Kazama In. He naturally picked up a menu from the table and handed it to Sudō. As he did, he seemed to casually draw closer to Kazama In and spoke quickly in a voice so low only the two of them could hear:

"Kid, the necklace is safe. Just doing my job." (He was referring to how Kurosawa had used his position to help Kazama In bring aboard an important item that couldn't be taken through security.)

Kazama In gave an almost imperceptible nod and replied in an equally low voice, "Thanks, old man."

Kurosawa's professional smile remained unchanged as he continued in a quick whisper, his words as chilling as ice: "There are 'uninvited guests' aboard this 'sightseeing' cruise. 'Cleaners'"—a code word for assassins—"their target is unclear. They might be here for a 'big job' involving you, or for some other 'valuable cargo' aboard"—meaning the heirs of prominent families. "The destination... the 'back garden'"—the Uninhabited Island they were about to reach—"will be their 'worksite.' Better safe than sorry."

With the message delivered, Kurosawa straightened up, as if he had merely completed a routine service gesture. He smiled at Sudō and the others, who were watching them with some confusion. "Please take your time choosing, guests. Just let me know if you need anything." Then he gave Kazama In another meaningful look and walked away, his steps still steady.

Kazama In watched Kurosawa disappear through the restaurant entrance, a cold glint flashing in his dark eyes. Kurosawa, the second-ranked "Night Owl," personally disguised himself to give me a warning... So things are even more troublesome than I expected. The survival test on the island means watching out for fangs in the shadows, too... Interesting.

Kurosawa's departure didn't draw much attention from Sudō and the others. Their focus soon shifted to the elegant menus in their hands, and then... they started complaining.

"Hey, what is all this?" Ike pointed at the menu's dishes, whose names were written in a mix of ornate French and English. He looked completely bewildered. "What's 'pan-seared foie gras with black truffle sauce' or 'Provençal seafood stew'...? There aren't even any pictures! How are we supposed to know what any of this is?"

"Yeah! And it's ridiculously expensive!" Yamauchi clicked his tongue at the prices. "A glass of juice costs this many points? Are they robbing us?"

"Tch, why make it so complicated? Just bring me steak! A big one!" Sudō impatiently slapped the menu onto the table. The sound stood out in the quiet restaurant, drawing displeased looks from several nearby tables.

Ayanokoji silently perused the menu, calmly assessing the value for money. Kazama In, meanwhile, discreetly observed his surroundings, comparing Kurosawa's warning with the movement of people in the restaurant.

In the middle of this awkward scene, a voice brimming with provocation rang out:

"Hmph. A bunch of D Class trash who've clearly never been anywhere before. You don't even know basic dining etiquette. What makes you think you belong in a place like this?"

At the table beside them, Yahiko wore an undisguised expression of contempt and superiority. The words had come from him. Katsuragi remained silent, but his stern face showed a hint of disapproval at D Class's "uncouth" behavior.

Yahiko's voice was loud, and the insult "D Class trash" immediately drew everyone's attention! Many eyes focused on Sudō and the others, filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and... open contempt! Ever since the failed pool偷拍 incident had been reported throughout the school, D Class—and especially the trio of Sudō, Ike, and Yamauchi—had become notorious.

Sudō was already in a foul mood. Being insulted by Yahiko in front of everyone, while so many contemptuous gazes fell on him, instantly lit him like a powder keg! He slammed his palm on the table and sprang to his feet. The tremendous bang silenced the entire restaurant for a moment!

"Bastard! Who are you calling trash?!" Sudō roared, glaring furiously as he pointed at Yahiko. "You Class A scum! Say that again if you've got the guts!"

"So what if I did?" Yahiko stood his ground, chest puffed out and face full of disdain. "Everyone in school knows the filthy things your D Class has done! Spying on girls? That's about as sleazy as it gets! And now you can't even eat a meal without acting like starving dogs, making a racket and showing no class. If you're not trash, then what are you?"

"You—!" Sudō trembled with rage, on the verge of charging at him! Ike and Yamauchi were flushed with a mix of shame and anger.

The atmosphere in the restaurant instantly froze! Everyone's eyes were fixed on the two sides, poised to clash. Contempt, disgust, glee... all kinds of negativity seemed to weigh down on the D Class students. Ayanokoji silently calculated the consequences of the conflict escalating. Horikita Suzune, Hirata Yosuke, and the others hurried over at the commotion, and their expressions darkened when they saw what was happening.

Just as Sudō's fist was about to swing, a calm voice with an uncanny carrying power rang out, just before Katsuragi could reprimand Yahiko:

"Sudō, sit down."

At some point, Kazama In had left the spot where he'd been standing. He pulled over a chair and placed it firmly beside the last open spot at the D Class table—right between Sudō and Yahiko. He didn't sit down, but stood beside the chair, his gaze fixed calmly on the furious Sudō.

That composed gaze seemed to exert an invisible pressure. Sudō, on the verge of exploding, froze and instinctively looked at Kazama In. Kazama In gave him a slight shake of his head, a firm warning in his eyes.

Then Kazama In turned to Katsuragi Kohei and Yahiko, nodding slightly. His tone was even, and almost apologetic:

"Katsuragi, Yahiko, and everyone else from Class A, I'm sorry. My companions were a little loud just now, disturbing your meal and making a rather... poor impression." He acknowledged that D Class had behaved inappropriately and took a humble stance.

His apology eased the tension in the restaurant a little, and some of the contemptuous looks softened—at least this calm, polite-looking D Class student was showing the proper attitude.

Katsuragi Kohei looked at Kazama In, his stern face expressionless. He merely nodded slightly to accept the apology. But Yahiko wasn't willing to let it go. He scoffed. "An apology doesn't change anything. The standards in D Class..."

Kazama In didn't wait for him to finish. He abruptly changed tack. His voice remained calm, but now it carried a cold edge:

"Still, Yahiko, there's something I'm curious about." His dark eyes stared straight into Yahiko's. "You specifically brought up 'spying on girls' and said 'everyone in school knows'?"

Yahiko was taken aback by the question, then immediately grew even more self-righteous. "So what? Isn't it true? Your D Class scandal..."

"It's true." Kazama In admitted it bluntly, cutting him off. The admission made the atmosphere, which had only just begun to ease, turn strange again. But what Kazama In said next was as precise as a scalpel:

"That's exactly why I'm even more puzzled. This is a shameful incident everyone in school knows about. As you're aware, these classmates of mine have suffered damage to their reputations over it, and they're sensitive and quick to anger. So, in a public place like this, you deliberately used deeply insulting words like 'trash' and 'sleazy' to provoke them in front of everyone. You even steered the conversation back to their 'scandal'..."

Kazama In paused, a faint, almost mocking curve appearing at the corner of his mouth:

"So was that just you 'speaking without thinking,' or were you... deliberately trying to provoke them and start a fight, so D Class would embarrass themselves in front of everyone again and the whole class would look even worse?" His gaze swept across the diners who were straining to listen, then settled on Yahiko, whose expression had changed. His voice was clear and cold:

"If it's the latter, then Yahiko, your intentions... seem even more 'questionable' than our companion's noisy behavior just now. Is this how Class A 'protects' its sense of superiority?"

When Kazama In finished speaking, the entire restaurant fell into a brief, deathly silence!

His argument was clear and hit the mark! In an instant, he turned D Class's image from a group of "uncouth troublemakers" into victims of Class A's deliberate provocation and manipulation! His words, "questionable intentions," landed like a hammer on Yahiko and Class A!

The murmurs in the restaurant immediately shifted:

"Yeah... That Yahiko from Class A was way out of line. He knew they'd just been in trouble and still deliberately rubbed salt in the wound..."

"Exactly. Calling them 'trash' and 'sleazy'—is that what Class A considers good manners?"

"I think Kazama's right. Yahiko was deliberately picking a fight, trying to provoke D Class into embarrassing themselves again, wasn't he?"

"Good grief, I didn't think Class A would stoop to such dirty tricks..."

The contemptuous looks shifted from D Class to Yahiko and the other Class A students! Katsuragi Kohei's expression turned extremely grim, and he glared sternly at Yahiko. Kazama In's words had left Yahiko red-faced and speechless. He wanted to argue, but couldn't find a way to refute him! Under Kazama In's analysis, his actions really did seem malicious and calculated!

Just then, "Manager" Kurosawa reappeared, still wearing his warm, professional smile, as though he hadn't noticed the earlier conflict at all.

"Honored guests," he said in a clear voice, breaking the deadlock at just the right moment, "it seems this area may be a little 'crowded.' We've prepared a more spacious and comfortable VIP room for you. The chef has also specially recommended a selection of dishes, and I'm sure you'll be pleased. Please follow me." He made an elegant gesture of invitation, looking toward Kazama In and the D Class students, then glancing at the ashen-faced Class A group.

He had offered them the perfect way out. Under the complicated gazes of the onlookers—some impressed by Kazama In's eloquence, some contemptuous of Class A, and others reassessing D Class after the reversal—Kazama In calmly nodded to Kurosawa. "Thank you, Manager." He took the lead, signaling for Sudō and the others to follow.

Sudō, Ike, and Yamauchi were still fuming, but after Kazama In's remarks and under the pressure of the surrounding stares, they could only glare angrily at Yahiko before following Kurosawa out. Ayanokoji silently followed them. Turning public opinion against them. A precise language trap. Kazama In's grasp of human weaknesses... has grown even sharper.

Katsuragi Kohei watched the D Class students leave, then glanced at the strange looks around him. His expression was dark enough to drip water. He snapped at Yahiko, "Yahiko, that was completely out of line..."

A conflict that had nearly erupted was defused by Kazama In's cool head and sharp words, along with Kurosawa's perfectly timed intervention. But Kazama In knew this was only the calm before the storm. Kurosawa's warning, Koenji's hints, and the upcoming Uninhabited Island survival test... The real storm was brewing beyond the horizon.