One Step Ahead, and You Stay Ahead

On the Sakayanagi Family's Luxury Cruise Ship, none of the Class C students went up to the deck. Instead, they had all gathered in several rooms to assemble drones.

"How's the signal over there?"

"Not looking too good. It keeps cutting in and out."

These were the drones I'd paid Ryuen to prepare earlier. They'd play a major role in our operation on the Uninhabited Island—assuming they had a signal once we got there.

"I don't think it'll be a problem. There's bound to be a signal tower on the island we're heading to. The school couldn't afford to take responsibility if anything happened to a student."

If I remembered correctly, there was a tower on the island, along with plenty of man-made structures we could make use of.

"Hm? The signal's getting stronger. Are we getting close to the island where we'll be taking the exam?"

I watched the number of signal bars on the app go up, then told the people around me to go check the deck.

"This is a notice to all students. If you have time, please gather on the deck.

"We'll soon be able to see the island. I'm sure you'll witness a truly meaningful sight in just a short while."

While I waited for the people I'd sent out to come back with news, an announcement came over the ship's speakers.

"Just take one drone to the deck. Ryuen, you can go find Katsuragi."

I had Manabe carry a drone. Then we left the room with the rest of Class C and headed for the deck.

A week-long exam on the Uninhabited Island, followed by several days of the VIP test... We'd have fewer than four days of this break left by the end, wouldn't we?

The longer the vacation, the more exhausting it gets. That saying was certainly true.

As the students on deck cheered, the outline of the island appeared on the horizon.

As I'd asked, Manabe went to the stern to launch the drone. Ryuen was currently talking with Katsuragi about selling points.

The cruise ship rounded the pier and began circling the island. At this distance, the drone could film the entire island in detail.

The tiny island covered only 0.5 square kilometers—about the size of 1,200 basketball courts, or roughly the area of the urban district in the smallest county in my country.

Its highest point was 230 meters above sea level. There were expected to be 159 students on the island, which meant fewer than eight basketball courts per person on average. If everyone spread out, there'd be nowhere to hide a secret within sight.

It was a shame that Classes A, B, and D had all chosen a cautious strategy. Class C had withdrawn too quickly after selling its points, so each class would end up operating within just a few basketball courts of its starting point. What a waste of an island that was neither too big nor too small.

"Good news. There really is a tower. I can see it."

I pointed to the utility building commonly found beside signal towers. The beach nearby would be our Class C campsite for the first day.

"This island really doesn't look like a place where you could go on vacation."

Hiyori leaned against me, looking completely relaxed. She wasn't happy that the special exam was about to replace the vacation she'd finally gotten.

"I can't even believe I'll last seven whole days on the island, so we can still enjoy a few more days off on the cruise ship."

Let Ryuen and the others handle the task of lasting the full seven days. With my short arms and legs, I'd just do my best.

"Then it's a promise."

I held out my hand to Hiyori, but she didn't shake it. Instead, she pulled my hand toward her and caught me as I lost my balance a little.

"All students will soon disembark on the school's private island. Please change into your sportswear within thirty minutes. After making sure that your bags and luggage have been placed somewhere safe, bring your phones and gather on the deck.

"Please leave all other personal belongings in your rooms. Since you can still use the restrooms for now, please take care of your personal needs before disembarking."

The announcement came again, right in the middle of this intimate moment.

"Let's go change first. I keep feeling like someone on this cruise ship has been watching me."

I looked up at the surveillance camera on the deck. Ever since I boarded, I'd had this strange feeling that I was being watched, and it made me uneasy.

"I think I can guess what kind of person's watching you."

Hiyori followed my gaze to the camera.

Thirty minutes later, the students had changed into sportswear and lined up on the deck in four groups. The ship had finished circling the island and returned to the pier, where it docked.

"Now, students will disembark by class ranking, starting with Class A. And let me emphasize once again: phones are not allowed on the island. Please hand yours over to your homeroom teacher before getting off the ship."

I covered my ears, trying to spare myself the ordeal.

The teacher with the megaphone seemed to be doing it on purpose, loudly repeating the announcement as he circled our four groups.

The price of covering my ears was that I couldn't shield myself from the sun. Standing under the summer sun was a kind of torture in its own right.

"Come over here and line up! I'm taking attendance!"

After we got off the ship, our homeroom teacher, Sakagami, called out to us from the shade of the trees.

As expected of Sakagami, he'd easily managed to do what Hoshinomiya and Mashima hadn't.

After learning about our plan, this was one of the few things he could do for us. At least he'd help us conserve some energy.

Those of us taking attendance in the shade had it far better than Classes A and B, who were all still standing on the beach under the blazing sun.

"When I call your name, please raise your hand."

Sakagami wasn't wearing sportswear. He had on something closer to a combat uniform, so it looked like he was already prepared to step in and help ahead of time.

After all of Class D had disembarked, Mashima, the Class A homeroom teacher and English teacher, stepped onto a white podium that had just been set up on the beach. Using a megaphone, he began addressing the four first-year classes.

"First of all, I'm glad that everyone was able to arrive safely today. Unfortunately, one student was unable to join us due to illness. That's a shame."

While Mashima paused, school staff in work clothes had already put up a tent not far from the pier. It looked like they were turning the spot into a temporary communications station.

"Now then—we'll begin this year's second Special Exam."

After Mashima made the announcement, the students on the beach erupted into an uproar.

The students from the three classes who hadn't prepared in advance were caught completely off guard. Even some of the students in Class C gasped, though they didn't sound particularly sincere.

For the students in the other classes, this school trip—billed as a vacation but actually a Special Exam—was indeed a Special Exam. But for most of Class C, it was just a vacation.