Choosing a Leader

Class D.

Just as Qiuyue had left Class D.

Yukimura Teruhiko and Shinohara Satsuki began arguing over the second phase, and things quickly grew more heated.

Hirata stepped in once again to calm both sides down. They each sat on opposite sides of the room and began giving each other the cold shoulder.

Horikita had been standing quietly off to the side the whole time. Ayanokoji sighed, tried to reason with her, and urged her to step forward.

Ayanokoji understood that, for the upcoming life on the Uninhabited Island, the boys and girls couldn't split apart before they'd even begun—not over a necessary expense like a toilet, no less.

Once Horikita stepped forward, Hirata backed her up. Her standing in the class was already no lower than his.

In the end, the boys, led by Yukimura, also gave in and agreed to set up a toilet.

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

Hirata said this as he turned everyone's attention to the map.

"Hey, look at this! Here—see? The map shows a river. If we take this spot, we can swim and fish and stuff. That'd solve both our entertainment and food problems!"

Kanji Ike pointed straight at a spot by the river and shouted.

"But... the rule guide says the forest here is very dense. To claim a spot, the leader has to use the Key Card. If students from another class deliberately hide in the forest..."

"We'll know once we go and check. Besides, we can just defend it by covering the leader like this—surround them like this."

Ike seemed determined to choose the spot beside the river.

If Qiuyue had been here, he would have thought: You lecher. I know exactly what you're like. You just want to watch the girls in our class get wet, don't you?

After Hirata asked the class for their opinions, he found that most of them agreed, so he decided they would use that spot as their camp.

"Okay, we've chosen our location. Now we need a leader. Who do you think would be a good choice? Let's decide quickly, before another class claims the spot."

Everyone fell silent.

"Does anyone want to volunteer?"

It was only natural that no one wanted the job. If the leader's identity was leaked and the other classes found out, they could guess who it was at the end of the exam.

The class would lose its bonus points, and the leader would also lose 50 points. There was no need to say it: that person would become the enemy of everyone in the class, except Hirata.

No one wanted to take such a risk. Everyone avoided Hirata's gaze.

Hirata realized no one wanted to be the leader. As the class peacemaker, he wouldn't let things come to that, so he was just about to volunteer himself when—

Kushida seemed to come up with an idea. She walked to the middle of the group and said, "I think Horikita would be a good fit."

The people around her immediately agreed. They had been troubled too. If they chose someone at random, they worried that person might not be capable, while Horikita seemed like the perfect choice.

After all, Horikita had done something they found astonishing during the incident with Sudo. She would make an excellent leader.

When Horikita didn't respond, Kushida pressed the point. "Think about it. If we choose Hirata, wouldn't the other classes guess who our leader is right away? Hirata's been leading us all year, so the other classes probably know that."

"Horikita, on the other hand, usually keeps a low profile, and the fact that she stopped Sudo from being expelled hasn't gotten out. She's capable without being too well-known, and she feels responsible for the class. So I think Horikita is the best choice."

Hirata turned to Horikita and asked calmly, "Horikita, I think you'd be a good leader. Are you willing to take the role? Don't feel pressured. It's fine if you don't want to."

While everyone waited for Horikita Suzune to answer, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji looked in a certain direction. After a moment's silence, he raised his hand.

"Hmm? Ayanokoji, go ahead."

Hirata Yosuke gestured for Kiyotaka Ayanokoji to lower his hand, and everyone turned to look at him.

"I think there's someone who'd be a good fit for the role."

"Who do you mean, Ayanokoji?"

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji glanced sideways toward the direction he'd been looking, then closed his eyes and spoke.

"I think Qiuyue would be a good leader."

Just then, Qiuyue had returned from Class B to Class D. He had only just poked his head out from the forest when he heard those words.

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

As soon as the words left his mouth, some people looked around, searching for the guy who usually went unnoticed in class, while others immediately began objecting.

The first to object was Yamauchi Haruki. It was as if he wanted to vent the frustration he'd felt when Qiuyue had lectured him at the pool.

"Ayanokoji, why'd you have to recommend him? He's always by himself in class. I admit he doesn't attract attention, and he barely has any presence here.

"But he's always alone, acting like he's better than everyone else. Someone like that must not have any friends. Would he contribute to the class? Does he even feel responsible for it...?"

"That's enough."

Hirata Yosuke cut Yamauchi Haruki off loudly. His voice was stern in a way no one had ever heard before.

Everyone turned to look at the unfamiliar Hirata Yosuke.

All they saw was Hirata Yosuke's deeply grim expression. No one had ever seen him like that before.

The students of Class D knew that Hirata Yosuke was angry because of Yamauchi Haruki's remarks.

Yet no one reprimanded Yamauchi Haruki. It wasn't that they didn't want to; Hirata Yosuke was frightening them, and for a moment they forgot to scold Yamauchi Haruki for what he'd said.

Qiuyue: (...Ugh, what a pain. Ayanokoji's recommending me? Has he got his eye on me? As for Yamauchi... even if I leave him alone, he'll get expelled eventually. But I'm not planning to let him get expelled before then.)

(He's talking behind my back. I've been through that plenty of times in my previous life. This petty stuff isn't enough to make me angry. I'm very magnanimous.)

(And a blackmail-worthy photo, handed to me on a silver platter? Isn't he the perfect tool? Even useless people have their uses. If he doesn't want to be expelled, he'll have to do whatever I say.)

The tense silence didn't last long. Hirata Yosuke soon returned to normal and looked toward Qiuyue, asking what he thought.

"Qiuyue, are you willing to be the leader?"

"I might not be the right person for it. I still think Horikita would be a better fit."

Qiuyue had no intention of accepting this hot potato, so he quickly turned Hirata Yosuke down.

"I see. Then, Horikita, are you willing?"

The room fell silent again. Sudo took it to mean that Horikita didn't want the job. He wasn't entirely wrong; Horikita was still debating whether to accept.

Thinking he looked cool, Sudo stepped forward and stood in front of Horikita, blocking the class's view of her.

"Well, if she doesn't want to do it, then never mind. If no one else will, I guess I'll do it."

The last part of Sudo's statement struck a nerve with Horikita. Her uncertainty vanished in an instant.

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

And so, Class D happily finished choosing its leader. Class D's leader was—

Horikita Suzune.