Landing on the Island

Back in his single cabin on the upper deck of the cruise ship, Kazama In locked the door and pulled the heavy blackout curtains shut, cutting off the outside clamor and the sea view. The room was left with only the faint, cold glow of his laptop screen, illuminating his expressionless face.

He quickly reviewed the encrypted logs on his tablet, integrating the intelligence obtained from Kurosawa, his own reconnaissance results on the ship's structure, and fragments of intercepted communications secured through special means.

"'Skin-Painter' eliminated. Kurosawa handled cleanly."

"Secondary screening of crew and passenger databases complete. No traces of other 'Blood Crow' members in disguise found."

"Ship's internal surveillance network shows no abnormal intrusions or latent signals."

"Supply flow normal. No records of unusual equipment transfers."

One by one, the pieces of information filtered through his mind, analyzed, and corroborated. Finally, a clear conclusion emerged: "Threats on board have been neutralized. The remaining two 'Blood Crow' assassins have most likely infiltrated the target island in advance for environmental reconnaissance and ambush point setup."

His jet-black eyes fixed on the satellite image of the island displayed on the screen—a rugged, undeveloped expanse covered in dense primeval forest, with numerous natural caves and freshwater streams. A perfect hunting ground, and equally perfect... for counter-hunting.

"Target unclear..." Kazama In tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. Was it simply to assassinate scions of prestigious families and create panic? Or was there another motive? The possibility that it was aimed at him personally was not low, but it wasn't the only one. There were plenty of students on board who qualified as "valuable targets"—Sakayanagi and Katsuragi from Class A, Ichinose from Class B, and even Horikita Suzune from Class D (given her brother's identity)... any of them could be targets. "Insufficient information. Actively exposing my position to lure the snake out of its hole carries too high a risk and may involve innocents. I need to observe quietly and wait at ease."

He shut down the computer and rubbed his brow. Uncle Kurosawa had already, through special channels, placed several key "tools" he requested at preset safe points on the island. Once he landed, he could retrieve them.

Only after processing this cold intelligence and planning did Kazama In feel a hint of fatigue. He stood up, walked to the window, and pulled open the heavy curtains.

In an instant, a brilliant sea of stars crashed into his view without reservation!

Free from the pollution of land lights, far from the clamor of civilization, the night sky above the ocean was as pure as the deepest black velvet. Countless stars, like diamonds casually scattered by the gods, densely packed, flickered with varying brightness and hues of cold and warm light, converging into a vast, magnificent Milky Way spanning the sky! The sea surface was calm and waveless, reflecting the myriad stars, making the cruise ship seem to sail along a radiant avenue studded with stars—dreamlike and surreal. The cool sea breeze, carrying the salty, free air, rushed in through the open porthole, stirring the hair on Kazama In's forehead.

This scene of ultimate tranquility and grandeur stirred even the heart of the "Arbiter," accustomed to darkness and scheming. A faint glimmer of the starry river seemed to reflect in his cold eyes.

"Go out for some air." A thought flashed through his mind.

Kazama In changed into simple black sportswear and quietly left his cabin. The deck at night was much quieter than during the day, with only the sound of waves gently lapping against the hull and the distant, faint hum of the engines. The sea breeze was stronger, carrying a refreshing chill.

He walked to a relatively secluded railing at the stern, leaned his back against the cold metal, and tilted his head up to gaze at the boundless starry sky. Starlight spilled onto his stern profile, outlining its deep contours.

Just then, the sound of light footsteps and girls' laughter approached from a distance. Kazama In didn't turn around, but his keen perception fed back the information of the newcomers to his mind—Ichinose Honami and a few of her Class B friends.

"Wow! The night sky is so beautiful! Even more stunning than during the day!" one Class B girl exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah! It feels like my soul is being cleansed!" another chimed in.

"Look over there! That's the Big Dipper!" Ichinose Honami's crisp voice rang out with excitement as she pointed excitedly at the northern sky.

The girls chattered and stopped not far from Kazama In, also leaning against the railing to look up at the stars. Ichinose Honami, while chatting and laughing with her friends, casually turned her head to look around, and her gaze instantly locked onto the familiar figure standing alone by the railing, gazing at the stars.

Under the starlight, Kazama In's upright posture appeared especially aloof. He tilted his head slightly, his profile carved like a sculpture under the starlight's outline, his jet-black eyes reflecting the entire starry river, deep enough to seem to suck in a person's soul. The sea breeze stirred the strands of silver-white and dark red hair on his forehead, carrying a cold detachment from the world and... an indescribable charm.

Ichinose Honami's heart skipped a beat! Her cheeks uncontrollably flushed with two rosy clouds, her blue eyes staring blankly at Kazama In's silhouette, forgetting to speak, forgetting her companions beside her. In that moment, the noisy world seemed to fade away, leaving only the stars, the waves, and that figure bathed in starlight.

"Honami? Honami! What are you staring at so intently?" The girl next to her noticed her odd behavior, followed her gaze, and also saw Kazama In. She immediately showed a knowing smile and nudged her teasingly with an elbow.

"Ah?!" Ichinose Honami snapped back to reality, like a thief caught red-handed, her cheeks instantly burning red. She frantically averted her gaze, her voice stammering, "N-nothing! Let's... let's go check over there!" She lowered her head, pulling her friend quickly toward another direction, as if fleeing from some monster, leaving behind a trail of suppressed laughter and the girls' teasing whispers.

Kazama In's perception clearly captured it all: the momentarily halted heartbeat, the burning gaze, the panicked escape and suppressed laughter... he could even "hear" Ichinose's heart pounding like a startled deer.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the retreating backs of Ichinose and her friends, then landing on a few couples nearby on the deck, huddled together, whispering softly, sharing the starlight and sea breeze.

A trace of barely perceptible confusion flickered in his jet-black eyes.

"So this is... a student's daily life?"

"Heart racing, face flushing, eyes dodging... because of seeing someone?"

"Like in books... 'a racing heart'?"

"Then..." His gaze fell back on the couples, with a scrutiny almost academic, "Two people together, sharing time, producing a physiological reaction (accelerated heartbeat)—does that count as 'love'? What exactly... is the definition of 'love'?"

The stars still shone brilliantly, the sea breeze remained gentle, but Kazama In's thoughts drifted toward another unknown territory he had yet to fully understand—the realm called "emotion."

The next morning, when the first golden rays of sunlight pierced the sea horizon, dyeing the blue waters with shimmering gold, a clear and energetic broadcast woke the entire cruise ship:

"Good morning, everyone! This is the bridge broadcasting. Here's some good news—we are about to arrive at the destination of this school trip! Please look toward the bow; you should soon see that meaningful, pristine, and beautiful scenery!"

The broadcast, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly ignited the ship's energy! Students surged onto the decks, crowding by the railings, eagerly peering toward the bow.

Kazama In also arrived at the best vantage point on the upper deck's front. There, on the distant horizon, the outline of an island covered in lush primeval forest, edged with golden sandy beaches, gradually sharpened and grew larger in the morning mist! The central part of the island showed faint, undulating mountain ranges, like a sleeping giant.

"Wow! We're really here!"

"It's a huge island! All trees!"

"The beach! I see the beach! So beautiful!"

"Is this where we're going? Awesome!"

The deck was filled with exclamations and voices of anticipation. Class D's group also gathered together. Sudo, Ike, and Yamauchi temporarily forgot last night's unpleasantness, pointing and commenting on the island; Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yosuke carefully observed the terrain; Ayanokoji Kiyotaka silently assessed the difficulty of landing; Sakura Airi looked at the dense forest with both anticipation and a hint of unease; Kushida Kikyo chatted excitedly with a few girls.

Ichinose Honami and her Class B classmates were nearby. Seeing Kazama In standing alone at the front, she recalled her embarrassment from the night before, and her cheeks flushed slightly again, but she mustered the courage to give him a bright smile and wave. Kazama In nodded slightly in return.

As the cruise ship slowly approached the island, it eventually dropped anchor in deeper waters some distance from the shore. Several large lifeboats were lowered, ready to transport the students to the island in batches.

The homeroom teachers began organizing their classes to assemble, take roll, and distribute supplies.

At Class D's assembly point, Chabashira Sae was as stern and efficient as ever. She adjusted her glasses and issued instructions in a clear voice: "Everyone, line up by student number! Count off! Hirata, maintain order! Each person receives one supply pack and one special watch! The pack contains basic survival supplies: drinking water, compressed biscuits, a simple first-aid kit, waterproof matches, a multi-tool, a simple tent tarp, and insect repellent! The watch is a positioning and emergency communication device. It must be worn at all times and must not be damaged or lost! Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences! Understood?!"

"Understood!" Class D responded in unison, but their voices carried different emotions—excitement, nervousness, and some, like Sudo, nonchalance.

Kazama In calmly accepted his pack and watch. The moment they touched his hand, he noticed something off about the watch—it was slightly heavier than the standard model, and there were extremely subtle traces of modification on the inside of the casing. "Kurosawa's handiwork," he understood, putting it on without any change in expression. The dial looked the same as everyone else's, but he knew it had been fitted with a micro-dart launcher, a signal-jamming countermeasure module, and an encrypted micro-communicator. This was one of his trump cards for countering the shadows on the island.

Other classes were going through similar procedures. Class A, under Sakagami Kazuma's command, was orderly, like a military unit; Class B, with Ichinose Honami's gentle yet firm voice, had a harmonious atmosphere; Class C, under Ryuen Kakeru's sinister gaze, carried a suppressed restlessness.

By the time all the students had boarded the lifeboats and set off toward that golden beach, it was nearly noon.

Stepping onto the soft sand, feeling solid ground beneath their feet and the humid, plant-scented air washing over them, the students erupted into cheers! Before them stretched a dense, almost primeval jungle; unfamiliar bird calls and the sound of waves filled their ears—an exhilarating sense of breaking away from civilization and returning to nature spread through the crowd.

Just as everyone was curiously surveying this unknown territory, Class A's homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, walked to the front of the student formation and stood on a slightly elevated rock. He adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting the harsh sunlight, and his voice carried across the entire beach through a megaphone:

"All first-year students of Advanced Nurturing High School! I now officially announce—" He paused deliberately, drawing everyone's attention, and the beach fell silent in an instant.

"The core segment of this marine school trip, the first special field test—the 'Uninhabited Island Survival Special Exam'—begins now!"

"Whoa—!" Though many had suspected it, when the test was officially declared, a huge uproar swept across the beach! Excitement, tension, worry, eagerness to try... all kinds of emotions intermingled.

Sakagami Kazuma ignored the commotion below and continued reading the rules in his monotonous voice, the content identical to the original scenario:

1. Test duration: From now, for one week (168 hours).

2. Test location: A designated area with a radius of approximately one kilometer centered on this landing point (specific boundaries have been sent to each person's watch).

3. Objective: Survive, and earn as many "points" as possible. Point sources: Exploring designated locations to check in, completing specific tasks, collecting rare resources, and... eliminating members of other classes (requires a "legal" declaration and judgment using the watch).

4. Rules: Do not leave the designated area; do not use personal electronic devices (except the watch); do not maliciously harm others; do not damage the ecosystem (within limits); free formation of teams, trading, alliances, or confrontations within and between classes is permitted.

5. Rewards and penalties: Final class total points will be significantly increased or decreased based on the class's average points per person and ranking! Individuals with outstanding performance will receive additional personal point rewards! Those who break rules or perform poorly will face severe penalties, including deduction of large personal points or even expulsion!

Once the rules were read, the beach fell into a brief dead silence, then erupted into even more heated discussion!

"Just as I thought! A survival test!"

"And we have to eliminate others? This..."

"A week! On a deserted island! How are we supposed to get by!"

"Points! How do we get high scores?"

"Alliances? Who do we ally with?"

Over in Class D, Sudo Ken cracked his knuckles: "Ha! Interesting! Fighting and stealing points is what I'm best at!"

Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki looked a bit daunted: "We... we have to sleep in the woods? What if there are snakes?"

Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yosuke had already begun discussing tactics in low voices.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka silently checked his backpack and watch.

Kushida Kikyo wore a sweet smile on her face, but her eyes quickly swept over the other classes, assessing potential allies.

Kazama In calmly adjusted his watch strap, his gaze seemingly casual as it swept over the dense jungle depths, a glacial chill in his jet-black eyes. "The survival game... begins. Assassins... where are you?"

At the island's highest peak, on the edge of a natural rock cave hidden by thick canopy, a figure clad in ghillie suit perfectly blending with the environment quietly overlooked the students gathered on the beach like a swarm of ants through a high-powered telescope. His gaze precisely locked onto the cold, sharp figure in the Class D formation wearing a special watch.

Uncle Kurosawa lowered the telescope, a cold, hard smile curling at the corner of his mouth, and murmured into the air as if Kazama In could hear him:

"Kid, the stage is set for you. The props are hidden too. Next... it's up to you. Survive, win, and then drag those bugs hiding in the shadows... out one by one and crush them!" His figure flickered, vanishing into the vast green sea like a ghost merging with the forest. The survival and hunt on the uninhabited island had officially begun its bloody prologue.