The White Room's Finest Masterpiece

The fourth day of life on the Uninhabited Island had arrived.

Everyone was gradually getting used to life on the Uninhabited Island, and Class D was running things in an orderly fashion.

Everyone had been assigned a job. At that moment, Qiuyue was fishing with Ike and the others. Yep, that was his job. He was living the easy life.

"Qiuyue, have you learned anything over the past two days?"

Hirata Yosuke sought Qiuyue out and tentatively asked him.

That's right, you read that correctly: two days. Qiuyue had obtained the Class A leader's identity on his second day on the Uninhabited Island.

So what had Qiuyue been doing on the third day? To avoid working, he'd gone over to Class B to slack off, wasting the whole day there.

"Nothing. I've been to Classes C, B, and A, so I know where they're all located. It looks like everyone in Class C has forfeited. As for Classes B and A, I haven't figured out who has the leader card yet."

Qiuyue: (I'm waiting for Class C's camp to be empty so I can check whether Ryuen is there. I also need to check on Kaneda, who's hiding in Class B, and Ibuki from our class.)

(We probably don't need to worry about Class B. I've set up so many safeguards. I need to make sure Horikita is in such bad shape that she has to withdraw; otherwise, don't expect me to sell out Class D myself.)

"I see... That's all right, Qiuyue. Just do your best. Don't push yourself."

Hirata Yosuke encouraged Qiuyue.

Qiuyue: (...You... What's that supposed to mean? Go mess with Ayanokoji a little.)

"Hirata, actually, there's someone who might know something: Ayanokoji. You could ask him."

"Really? Thanks, Qiuyue. I'll go ask Ayanokoji."

Having gotten nowhere, Hirata Yosuke didn't linger. He headed back to camp.

"Whoa—! A fish is on the line! Reel it in! Qiuyue! Reel it in!"

At Ike's excited shout, Qiuyue's spirits lifted. He fixed his eyes on the surface of the water.

Qiuyue quickly grabbed the fishing rod and pulled back as he reeled in the line. It went taut in an instant.

"You can't do it like that! The line will snap! Qiuyue, move aside! I'll take over."

Unable to watch Qiuyue fumble around like an amateur, Ike hurried over to take the rod, afraid the fish would get away.

Qiuyue didn't question it. Apparently recognizing that he was an amateur, he simply handed the fishing rod to Ike.

The moment Ike took it, the fishing rod seemed to come alive in his hands.

He sprang up from his crouch, gripping the rod firmly with both hands. Putting a little strength into his waist, he swung the rod back.

At the same time, he swiftly turned his wrist and reeled in the line, his movements flowing together seamlessly.

The fish in the water seemed to sense Ike's strength and determination and struggled desperately, but it was already too late.

Ike caught the fish and put it in the bucket.

Qiuyue: (...Good grief, what a master. This is great. Fishing lets me slack off, and I've got a master to carry me. I'm already kicking back. Good fortune today—we're having fish.)

"You're... really good, Ike. Nice work. We'll have fish for lunch."

Qiuyue said this as Ike cast his line back into the river.

"Of course. You can call me the Little Prince of Fishing."

Ike stood proudly, head held high, looking ready to float up into the sky.

"Sure, sure, Little Prince of Fishing. I'll take the fish over to Kushida and the others to cook."

"Okay. I'll take care of things here."

Qiuyue picked up the bucket of fish and slowly made his way toward camp, glancing around as if looking for someone.

Qiuyue: (...Where's Horikita?... Ah... There she is. Sorry, Horikita. For the sake of the class, you'll have to make a little sacrifice.)

Carrying the bucket, Qiuyue took a small detour without attracting anyone's attention.

Qiuyue came up behind Horikita and pretended to stumble, splashing the water and fish from the bucket at her.

Most of the water splashed onto Horikita. A fish was still flopping on her head.

Qiuyue hurriedly got back up and apologized to Horikita.

"Horikita, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that. I'm really sorry—I didn't have a good grip."

Horikita didn't say anything. She only shut her eyes and furrowed her brow.

Qiuyue: (...She looks pretty angry...)

The people nearby all reacted and gathered around. Kushida in particular hurried over at a jog.

"Horikita, are you okay? What happened? You'll catch a chill like this. Come on, everyone, get a fire going! Horikita, let's go change your clothes first."

Horikita still didn't say a word. She just stood there, the cold air around her growing heavier by the second.

"Horikita, I'm really sorry. This is all my fault. Go warm yourself up."

Qiuyue: (I really am sorry... but if you don't warm up soon, I'm afraid you won't be able to hold out much longer.)

"What's going on? Why's everyone gathered here?"

Sudo made his grand entrance.

"You! Horikita, how did you end up like this? Which bastard did this? Show yourself!"

Sudo swept his fierce gaze over everyone present.

Qiuyue: (...Wow. What a loyal dog.)

"Enough. I'm fine."

Horikita finally spoke after a long silence, then headed straight toward the tents without paying anyone else any mind.

Everyone knew Horikita was going to change, but Sudo still followed after her, fussing over her nonstop.

Qiuyue: (...Sudo, you're... hopelessly lacking in both intelligence and social skills...)

Qiuyue silently picked up his fish and put it back in the bucket.

"Why?"

Qiuyue turned around.

Qiuyue: (...Ayanokoji...)

Qiuyue casually wiped the water from his hands on his pants.

"She's been found out by Class A. Class C will act soon, too. We need a replacement. You handle the rest."

"...I understand."

Ayanokoji gave Qiuyue a meaningful look before answering.

"If there's nothing else, I'll get going. If I don't, my fish will croak."

After Qiuyue had taken two steps, Ayanokoji spoke again.

"I'll guess who the leader of Class B is, and I won't use the exam as my basis."

Qiuyue stopped and looked back at Ayanokoji, tightening his grip on the bucket.

"...Is that so? Fine. I'll guess the leader of Class D, too. The winner gets to ask the other person for one favor. How does that sound?"

"Sure. Even if you don't record this, I'll keep my promise."

Ignoring Ayanokoji's last remark, Qiuyue turned around and kept walking. After a little while, his face filled with disbelief.

Qiuyue: (...I'm so screwed... When I wiped my hands on my pants, I was actually pressing the button on my recorder to start recording. He noticed even that.)

(He saw through a movement I'd trained with my Pickpocket Talent. Damn...)

(But I've set up a plan to identify the leader of Class B. Can you really see through it? Let's see just how formidable the White Room's finest masterpiece is. How far ahead can you see?)