Choosing a Leader

Class D.

Just after Qiuyue had left Class D.

Yukimura Teruhiko and Shinohara Satsuki began the second phase of their argument, escalating fiercely.

Hirata stepped in once again to quell the anger on both sides, and the two factions sat apart, entering a cold war.

Horikita stood silently to the side the whole time. Ayanokoji sighed, offered some advice, and urged Horikita to step forward.

Ayanokoji understood that for the sake of the upcoming uninhabited island life, the boys and girls couldn't afford to split before they even started—especially over an expense as necessary as the toilet.

When Horikita stepped up, Hirata followed suit in agreement. Horikita's prestige in the class was now no lower than Hirata's.

In the end, the boys led by Yukimura also compromised and decided to arrange for the toilet.

"Then we need to hurry. The other classes have already started moving. We need to choose a base for our camp."

Hirata said this, focusing his gaze on the map.

"Look here, right here. The map shows a river at this spot. If we take this base, we can swim, fish, whatever—solves both entertainment and food problems."

Ike Kanji pointed directly at a base by the river on the map and shouted.

"But... the rulebook says the forest here is very dense. To occupy the base, the leader needs to use the key card. If someone from another class deliberately hides in the forest..."

"We'll only know once we go see. And besides, we can just block the view like this to defend, surround the leader like this."

Ike seemed dead set on choosing the base by the river.

If Qiuyue were here, his inner thoughts would definitely be: You old pervert, do you think I don't know what you're really after? You just want to see the girls in the class get wet, don't you?

After Hirata asked for the class's opinions and found that most agreed, he decided on this base.

"Alright, the base is chosen. Next is the leader. Who does everyone think should be the leader? Let's try to be quick, so another class doesn't take the base."

Everyone was silent.

"Does anyone want to be the leader?"

No one wanting to be the leader was perfectly normal. As the leader, once your identity was leaked and another class found out, they'd target you in the final guess.

The class would lose its reward points and get 50 points deducted. Needless to say, that person would be ostracized by the entire class—except for Hirata.

With such a risky position, no one wanted to touch that bad luck. Everyone avoided Hirata's eyes.

Hirata could see that no one wanted to be the leader. As someone who valued class harmony, he wouldn't allow that kind of situation to fester. So he was about to say he'd take the role himself.

Then Kushida, as if struck by an idea, walked to the center of the group and said, "I think Horikita-san would be very suitable."

The people around immediately voiced their agreement. In truth, they were all troubled themselves—picking someone randomly risked incompetence, but Horikita seemed like the perfect choice in their minds.

After all, Horikita had made a move in the Sudo incident that they considered astonishing. Horikita as leader couldn't be better.

Seeing Horikita silent, Kushida added fuel to the fire: "Think about it—if we chose Hirata-kun, wouldn't the other classes guess easily? He's been leading us all year, and the other classes should have that intel."

"Horikita-san, on the other hand, keeps a low profile. The matter of stopping Sudo's expulsion didn't leak out. She's capable, not too famous, and has a sense of responsibility for the class. So I think Horikita-san is the best choice."

Hirata turned his gaze to Horikita and asked calmly, "Horikita-san, I think you'd be a great fit as leader. So, would you be willing to take the role? No pressure—if you don't want to, that's fine too."

Just as everyone waited for Horikita Suzune's reply, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked in one direction, paused for a moment, and raised his hand.

"Hm? Ayanokoji-kun, please speak."

Hirata Yosuke gestured for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to lower his hand. Everyone's attention gathered on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"I think there's someone very suitable to be the leader."

"Who is Ayanokoji-kun referring to?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka glanced sideways in that same direction, closed his eyes, and spoke.

"I think Qiuyue-kun would be very suitable as the leader."

At that moment, Qiuyue, who had just returned to Class D from Class B, poked his head out of the forest and heard those words.

Qiuyue: (????? Which bastard???)

As soon as the words landed, some people's eyes darted around, searching for the guy who usually had no presence in class, while others immediately started objecting.

The first to object was Yamauchi Haruki, as if he wanted to vent the bad feelings from being lectured by Qiuyue at the pool.

"Ayanokoji, why would you recommend him of all people? He's always alone in class. I'll admit he's not noticeable, and his presence in our class is extremely low.

"But he's always by himself, acting like he's something special. Someone like that definitely has no friends, right? Would he contribute to the class? Does he have any sense of responsibility..."

"Enough."

Hirata Yosuke cut off Yamauchi Haruki loudly. His voice was stern for the first time, so unfamiliar it startled everyone.

Everyone turned to look at this unfamiliar Hirata Yosuke.

All they saw was Hirata Yosuke's extremely dark expression. No one had ever seen Hirata Yosuke like this before.

The students of Class D all knew—Hirata Yosuke was angry because of Yamauchi Haruki's words.

Yet no one spoke up to rebuke Yamauchi Haruki. It wasn't that they didn't want to; it was that the current Hirata Yosuke frightened them, and for a moment, they forgot to scold Yamauchi Haruki's remarks.

Qiuyue: (...Tch... troublesome. Ayanokoji recommended me? Have I caught his eye? As for Yamauchi... even if I leave him alone, he'll end up expelled. But before that, I don't plan to let him get expelled.)

(I've been through plenty of people talking behind my back in my past life. This little squabble isn't enough to make me angry—I'm quite magnanimous.)

(Secret photos handed right to me like that, a fatal weakness delivered on a silver platter? Isn't that just giving me a perfect tool? Even trash has its uses. If they don't want to drop out, they'll do whatever I say.)

The silence didn't last long. Hirata Yosuke returned to his usual demeanor, turned to Qiuyue, and asked for his opinion.

"Qiuyue, would you be willing to take on the role of leader?"

"I might not be the best fit. I still think Horikita is more suitable."

Qiuyue indicated he didn't want to accept this hot potato and quickly declined Hirata Yosuke.

"Is that so? Then, Horikita, are you willing?"

The atmosphere fell silent again. Sudo interpreted Horikita's hesitation as her not wanting the role—and he wasn't entirely wrong. Horikita was wrestling with the decision.

Sudo stepped forward, thinking he looked cool, positioning himself in front of Horikita to block the class's gaze.

"Hey, if she doesn't want to, forget it. If no one else will do it, then I'll just take it myself."

The last part of Sudo's words jabbed at Horikita's ears. The question she had been agonizing over just moments ago suddenly became clear.

"I'll do it. I'll take on the role of leader."

And so, Class D's leader was happily chosen. Class D's leader was—

—Horikita Suzune.