Arriving at Class B

"Hey, it's Qiuyue! Welcome."

"But you picked a bad time to come, Qiuyue. Ayanokoji and Horikita just left a little while ago."

Ichinose Honami was wearing her gym clothes, which gave her a lively air.

Her smile was as warm as the spring sunshine, radiating endless gentleness and friendliness.

Ryuji Kanzaki was also standing a little farther away.

"What were those two here for? Ichinose, won't the other Class B students mind you welcoming someone from Class D?"

Qiuyue asked Ichinose Honami something he already knew the answer to.

"It's okay. Class B and Class D are cooperating, so there's no problem. Ayanokoji and Horikita came to exchange information with us, too."

After answering, Ichinose smiled and took some rope from her bag, then tied it to a tree.

"Did someone from Class C join your class?"

"Huh? How did you know, Qiuyue? Ah... did you happen to run into Ayanokoji and Horikita on your way here?"

"I didn't run into them. A student from Class C joined Class D, too. To be blunt, Ichinose, that student came to spy on your class leader."

"I know, but... I can't just leave Kaneda alone. That would be too cruel. Besides, your Class D took in a student from Class C, too. The students in Class D are so kind."

"Then what if I told you I came to gather information about Class B's leader? What would you do, Ichinose?"

"I wouldn't believe that. I trust you, Qiuyue."

Ichinose Honami gave Qiuyue a radiant smile as she said this.

Qiuyue: (...It really makes me happy—and honestly, touches my heart—to have you trust me this much. But no matter how brightly you smile, it won't change anything. Kind people are kind to everyone. I've never believed I'm the one who's special.)

"You really are completely off guard..."

Qiuyue shook his head helplessly. Sensing someone's hostility, he looked around and spotted Chihiro Shiranami glaring at him from beside Ryuji Kanzaki.

Qiuyue: (...Seriously, this girl...)

"Um... Ichinose, did you tell Shiranami about what happened last time? You know, that..."

Ichinose Honami recalled what had happened that day, her cheeks turning a little red as she explained.

"I did. I told Chihiro-chan that Qiuyue helped me because...

"Anyway, I asked Chihiro not to tell anyone, even if what you said that day was a lie. What's wrong, Qiuyue? Why bring it up all of a sudden?"

"...Um... Ichinose, Shiranami is staring right at me. I'm feeling a little pressured..."

Hearing this, Ichinose Honami looked toward Chihiro Shiranami. Shiranami gave her a very friendly smile and waved.

"Um, no, she isn't. You must be imagining it, Qiuyue."

Ichinose Honami said this, then looked away and went back to what she was doing.

But from Qiuyue's perspective, Chihiro Shiranami had only put on that smile after Ichinose looked over.

As soon as Ichinose turned away, Shiranami instantly returned to her earlier hostile expression. Her gaze looked as if she wanted to chop Qiuyue into a thousand pieces.

Qiuyue: (...Looks like she really sees me as a rival. She thinks I'm into Ichinose.)

(She probably thinks that even though what I said that day was to help Ichinose, it might also have been a rehearsal for confessing to her later.)

(...Get a grip. You're a girl. It's obviously more likely Ichinose would choose me than you.)

Qiuyue glared back at Chihiro Shiranami, then ignored her and turned to Ichinose Honami.

"Ichinose, is Shiranami dating the guy standing next to her?"

"Huh... Um... Well... I... I don't know."

Ichinose Honami was clearly flustered.

Qiuyue: (...You really can't lie. You look pretty cute when you're flustered, so I'll let you off.)

"You don't have to be so nervous. I won't ask about that. I was just curious earlier: why is that girl over there sitting by herself?"

"That's Himeno. She's not very good at handling people, so she asked me if I could give her a job she could do on her own."

"I see. No wonder your class has such a clear division of labor. You arranged it, Ichinose."

"Well... I did organize things, but this is all thanks to everyone working together."

"That's not true. I know how capable you are, Ichinose."

"Ahaha, you're making me blush, Qiuyue."

Ichinose Honami bashfully rubbed the back of her head.

"Sorry for taking up so much of your time. Is there anything I can help with? I'm free right now, anyway."

"No, you don't have to. I couldn't ask you to help me, Qiuyue. I'm already happy just knowing you're willing to."

"...All right, then where's Hoshinomiya-sensei?"

"She's over there. Come to think of it, why is Hoshinomiya-sensei with our class? Aren't the teachers supposed to supervise us at the island entrance?"

"...Maybe she had nothing better to do."

"Ichinose, I want to check on Class A's situation. Have you learned anything about their camp?

"Just tell me where Class A's camp is. I'll check on the rest myself.

"You should keep some of Class B's information to yourself, too. I'm from another class, after all. It's better not to trust people so easily."

"I only know roughly where it is. I'm not that easy to fool, either. I trust you because you're Qiuyue."

Ichinose Honami gave him an unwavering smile, her eyes filled with deep trust.

Qiuyue felt the weight of that trust.

Qiuyue: (Why, though? All I did was help with that confession situation once, and now she trusts me this much... I think I finally understand how she's managed to unite Class B.)

"...I know. I'll do my best not to betray your trust. So, can you tell me which way Class A is?"

Ichinose didn't seem reluctant. She pointed out a direction and told Qiuyue what she knew about the camp's location.

"Go out this way, turn right, and keep going straight. You'll see a cave. That should be Class A's camp, though I don't know anything more specific. It might not even be their camp."

"Why?"

Qiuyue: (What else could it be? According to the original story, it's inside the cave.)

"How should I put it? I don't know how to describe it, but basically, their defenses are really solid."

"...I see. Got it. I'll get going, Ichinose. Bye."

"Take care, Qiuyue."

Qiuyue headed in the direction Ichinose had indicated, turned right, and continued straight. Before long, he saw a cave.

Qiuyue: (Is this Class A's camp? They really are living like cavemen.)