Preparing to Investigate Other Classes

Life on the uninhabited island was tougher than imagined. The weather was scorching hot, and sleeping together in one tent with a group of boys made it even more stifling.

Qiuyue unsurprisingly woke up from the heat. Outside, the faint glow of dawn was beginning to appear.

Seeing the others still asleep, Qiuyue carefully stepped out of the tent.

Once outside, Qiuyue was about to head off to wash up when he noticed a figure near the luggage storage area.

The boys and girls had all placed their luggage bags together in front of the tents. To save points, there weren't many tents, which made the interiors more spacious, so no one had brought their bags inside.

Qiuyue approached and saw that the man was rifling through one particular bag—the only one of a different color.

That bag belonged to Ibuki, who had come to this class yesterday. The bag colors varied by class, so it was easy to tell.

The man sensed someone approaching and turned around.

"...Ah..."

Qiuyue and Ayanokoji stared at each other, an awkward silence hanging between them. In this situation, anyone would think Ayanokoji was a pervert.

Qiuyue: (...I know you're not that kind of person. You're probably looking for evidence that Ibuki is a spy. You might have already found a digital camera.)

(But no matter how I look at it, it still seems like you're doing something shady.)

"Ahaha... Ayanokoji, you've got some unique hobbies. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

With that, he turned to bolt, but Ayanokoji was faster.

He quickly zipped up the bag he'd been rummaging through, and in an instant, he was behind Qiuyue, grabbing his shoulder.

"You've got it wrong. I wasn't..."

Ayanokoji seemed unable to finish that sentence, as if he didn't know what to say either.

The atmosphere grew even more awkward.

"Good morning, Ayanokoji, Qiuyue."

Hirata stepped out of the tent and spotted the two of them locked in a standoff.

Qiuyue & Ayanokoji: (Whew, saved. Thank you, Hirata.)

Hirata was baffled by the grateful looks they were both giving him.

After some small talk, Hirata and Qiuyue went to wash up together, since Ayanokoji said he'd already done so.

While washing his face, Qiuyue looked at Hirata, who was still scrubbing, and asked:

"Hirata, what do you think about Kōenji dropping out yesterday?"

"What can I think? I just hope nothing serious happened to Kōenji. As for the points being deducted... we'll just have to work harder and try to save as many as we can."

Hirata gave a wry smile as he said this.

"...I see. Hirata, about that girl from Class C—are you sure you want to let her stay?"

"...She was being bullied in her class and ran away. Everyone feels sorry for her. Just taking her in shouldn't be a big problem, right?"

"...Even knowing she might be a spy? If she was really being bullied in class, she could have just withdrawn from the exam. Hirata, the other students might not get it, but don't you? I've always thought that as the central figure of the class, you should speak your mind more instead of staying neutral and going along with the majority every time."

"...Is... is that so..."

Hirata lowered his head awkwardly.

Qiuyue: (...Sigh. Getting him to change is impossible. Words are empty and powerless. Only experience teaches people—once is enough.)

"Hirata, since another class is sending spies to gather intel, our class needs to strike back too. After roll call this morning, I'm going to look for the other classes' base camps."

"Qiuyue, what if you get lost?"

"Don't worry. I have a good memory. I've memorized the map I saw earlier. I'll be back before evening roll call."

"Is that so... Then I'll leave it to you, Qiuyue. Make sure you come back safely."

"Yeah, I know."

In the early morning, the roll call echoed through the camp, breaking the silence of dawn. After it was done, everyone went off on their own, beginning their point-saving operations.

Qiuyue: (I'm eighty percent sure Ayanokoji has his eye on me. He suspects I'm X. After all, I basically exposed myself with that Sakura incident. But he probably doesn't have proof yet.)

(I didn't go back to retrieve the pinhole camera from that special teaching building. The person who moved that camera was most likely Ayanokoji. He might even be lying in wait there for me.)

(Even if he has proof, as long as he wants to keep living a peaceful school life, he won't expose me. Right now, he's probably still being fooled by Chabashira's threat of expulsion. Let me make use of my foreknowledge—no harm in it.)

(I made a bet with the Chairman. I can't afford any mistakes. I don't want to get expelled. So it's okay if I get a little bolder, right?)

Qiuyue watched Ayanokoji and Horikita talking. Once Horikita left, Qiuyue walked up beside Ayanokoji.

"You'll make a move in this special exam, won't you? Leave the assassin Class C sent to me."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Ayanokoji kept his usual expressionless face, not even glancing at Qiuyue beside him, as if talking to the air.

"Let me tell you something special: school teachers don't have the authority to expel students from their classes. But this time, you'd better step in a little. Because Chabashira, as our homeroom teacher, can still target you specifically if she wants to."

Also, Class D has occupied too few bases—only two or three. Even if the leader isn't guessed, with the bonus points added, the total won't exceed 200 points.

So your only option is to guess the leader. Class B won't guess Class D's leader, and Class D better not guess either.

Qiuyue: (...Alright, I've given him a reason not to have to win this exam, but I've also ensured he'll act. Saying it like this should be fine.)

Qiuyue continued walking forward, speaking these words with his back to Ayanokoji, gradually disappearing into the forest.

Ayanokoji remained silent, saying nothing. After a long pause, he turned and walked toward Horikita.

Qiuyue, meanwhile, was on his way to find the other classes. The first one he found was Class C.

Following the path, ahead lay the beach. Even from a distance, he could hear many people playing and laughing over there.

Qiuyue: (Looks like I can confirm he's really going with the zero-point strategy. Better not alert the enemy—time to leave quickly.)

"Hey, you there. What are you doing near our class?"

Qiuyue: (See? Trouble's here.)

"...Uh... I'm just passing through. I got lost and can't find my way back to my own class."

"You kidding me? Lost all the way here? You—"

A student from Class C jogged over, interrupting the one who was speaking. He whispered something in his ear. The speaker's expression shifted, and he looked at Qiuyue again.

"Hey, you. Brother Ryuen wants to see you. Behave yourself and follow me."