The Struggle

Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka woke everyone up.

"There's important news." He stood in the middle of the camp. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard him clearly. "A special task will be announced today. It's called the Perch Dispute."

He briefly relayed the information Akane Tachibana had shared the night before: occupy the high ground, defend it for twenty-four hours, and alliances were allowed.

"This is our chance to turn things around." Ayanokoji looked at everyone. "The reward points are high. If we can win this, Class D can climb quite a few places in the rankings."

The camp fell silent for a few seconds, then erupted into chatter.

"Seriously? A special task?"

"Defend it for twenty-four hours? How long will we have to fight?"

"The other classes will definitely go for it too..."

There were plenty of doubts. After all, Class D was used to coming last. When they were suddenly told they'd be competing for an important task, many people's first thought was, "Can we really do this?"

"Quiet." Yosuke Hirata stepped forward. He rarely spoke in such a serious tone. "I believe the news Ayanokoji brought us is true. The question now isn't whether to take part, but how we can win."

His words had an effect. Hirata still held a great deal of influence in the class.

"The map." Ayanokoji unfolded the map of the island and pointed to an area slightly north of the center. "The high ground should be around here. We won't know its exact location until the task is announced, but we can prepare in advance."

"How?" Ken Sudō asked. "Just charge over there?"

"We'll do it in three steps." Ayanokoji held up three fingers. "First, reconnaissance. Karuizawa, take a few people to the central area and find out what the terrain is like and what the other classes are doing."

Kei Karuizawa nodded. "Leave it to me."

"Second, the combat team." Ayanokoji looked at Sudō and Horikita. "Take the physically fit students and get ready to occupy the high ground. Remember, don't be the first to charge in. Wait until the others have nearly worn each other out before making your move."

"Picking up the scraps?" Horikita raised an eyebrow.

"Preserving our strength," Ayanokoji corrected her. "Our goal is to win, not to play the hero."

"Third, logistics and support." He turned to Hirata. "We need to leave people behind to guard the camp and manage our supplies. We might also need to move the camp closer to the high ground."

With the duties clearly assigned, everyone got to work.

Hiyori Shiina was still sitting in the corner. The swelling in her ankle had gone down somewhat, but she still couldn't walk.

"Um..." she said softly. "I can help analyze the information. I can't move around, but I can look at the map and help plan."

Ayanokoji thought it over, then nodded. "Then you're with me. We need to predict what the other classes will do."

At eight in the morning, a broadcast sounded from the sky.

"All first-year students, attention. The special task 'Perch Dispute' is now underway."

"Task location: Lookout Hill in the center of the island. Its coordinates have been marked on your maps."

"Task rules: The first class to occupy Lookout Hill and plant its class flag will receive 100 base points. For every subsequent hour it holds the hill, it will earn an additional 50 points. A maximum of two classes may form an alliance and share the points."

"Task duration: from now until eight tomorrow morning."

"To repeat..."

When the broadcast ended, the entire island stirred.

Ayanokoji immediately checked the map. Lookout Hill was farther east than he'd expected, between the camps of Class A and Class C.

"This is a problem." He frowned. "With this location, both Class A and Class C will head there right away."

"What about Class B?" Hirata asked.

"Class B is on the western side, so it'll take them time to get here." Ayanokoji analyzed the situation. "That means Class A and Class C will probably clash first."

"So we wait?" Sudō asked, getting impatient. "What if they don't fight?"

"They will." It was Hiyori Shiina who spoke. She pointed at the map. "Given Ryuen's personality, he'd never let Class A have the high ground. And Katsuragi won't back down if he thinks it would undermine Class A's dignity. The first clash is inevitable."

Her analysis was calm and clear, completely unlike what one might expect from an injured student.

"Then we'll wait," Ayanokoji decided. "Karuizawa, are your people in position?"

"They are." Karuizawa's voice came through the walkie-talkie. "There's no one at the foot of Lookout Hill right now, but people from Classes A and C are heading this way. They'll meet in ten minutes at most."

"Keep watching and report anything that happens."

At the foot of Lookout Hill.

Just as Shiina had predicted, students from Classes A and C arrived at almost the same time.

Class A had brought eight people, led by Kohei Katsuragi himself. They were neatly equipped and disciplined, and lined up in a row.

Class C had also brought eight people, led by Ryuen Kakeru and Daichi Ishizaki. They looked more casual, but their eyes gleamed with menace.

"Katsuragi, what a coincidence." Ryuen grinned. "You've got your eye on this spot too?"

"The task was announced, so of course we came." Katsuragi's expression remained calm. "According to the rules, first come, first served. We arrived thirty seconds before you."

"Thirty seconds?" Ryuen laughed. "There aren't any stopwatches on this island. Who gets to decide?"

The atmosphere grew tense in an instant.

The students from the two classes glared at each other, their hands resting on their weapons. Class A had brought wooden clubs and ropes, while Class C had brought machetes and rocks.

"Are we gonna fight?" Daichi Ishizaki clenched his fists, eager for action.

"Fight?" Katsuragi shook his head. "There's no need. We can follow the rules, take turns guarding the hill, and share the points."

It was the most reasonable suggestion. But Ryuen clearly had no interest in reason.

"Share?" he scoffed. "Why should I share with you? I'm taking this place."

Before he'd even finished speaking, the Class C students suddenly moved.

They didn't charge at Class A. Instead, they split into two groups—one moved in from the front to keep Class A occupied while the other circled around the flank, preparing to charge straight up the hill.

"Stop them!" Katsuragi immediately ordered.

The Class A students reacted quickly, blocking Class C's path. The two sides grappled at the foot of Lookout Hill.

The clash of wooden clubs and machetes, the shouts and cries of pain... The fight turned vicious almost as soon as it began.

"They're fighting!" Karuizawa reported over the walkie-talkie. "They're going at it hard. Two Class C students are injured, and one from Class A is too."

"Keep watching," Ayanokoji said calmly. "We'll make our move once they've worn each other out."

"How long do we wait?" Sudō was already itching to go.

"At least half an hour." Ayanokoji glanced at the sky. "Let them bleed a little more."

Half an hour later.

The fight at the foot of Lookout Hill had temporarily subsided. Both sides had paid a price: three Class C students had minor injuries, and one had sprained an ankle; two Class A students were injured, one of them bleeding from the forehead and needing a bandage.

The two sides had separated for the moment, facing each other from twenty meters away as they caught their breath.

"Now." Ayanokoji stood up. "Sudō, Horikita, take your people up. Remember, don't get tangled up with either side. Go straight for the top and plant our flag."

"Got it!"

The Class D combat team had six people in all. They burst out of the bushes where they'd been hiding and headed straight for Lookout Hill.

"Someone's coming!" A Class A student spotted them.

"It's Class D!" The Class C students saw them too.

But both sides had fought too hard, and their strength was depleted. They reacted a beat too slowly.

In that single beat, Ken Sudō had already reached halfway up the hill.

"Stop them!" Ryuen roared.

Daichi Ishizaki of Class C tried to chase after him, but his injured companion slowed him down.

Katsuragi ordered Class A to intercept them too, but they were farther away.

Thirty seconds later, Ken Sudō reached the top of Lookout Hill. There was a flagpole there, with four class flags of different colors beside it: red for Class A, blue for Class B, green for Class C, and yellow for Class D.

He grabbed the yellow flag and forcefully jammed it into the slot on the flagpole.

"Class D has occupied Lookout Hill!" Sudō shouted down the slope.

The broadcast sounded immediately. "Notice: Class D has completed the first occupation of Lookout Hill and earned 100 base points. The timer has begun."

They'd done it.

Below, the students from Classes A and C were stunned.

They'd fought for ages, only for Class D to swoop in and steal the prize?

"Damn it..." Ryuen's expression turned frighteningly dark. "Class D... Fine. Very good."

Katsuragi's expression was complicated too. He hadn't expected Class D to step in at that moment, much less act so decisively.

"What now?" a Class A student asked.

"Wait." Katsuragi made his decision. "They won't be able to hold the hill for twenty-four hours. We'll recover our strength and wait for them to show a weakness."

Ryuen had a different idea.

"Ishizaki, go get the others." He lowered his voice. "Bring everyone who can move. We have to take the hill back today."

"Got it!"

On the hilltop, the Class D students quickly set up their defenses.

The top of Lookout Hill wasn't large—about half the size of a basketball court. The eastern side was a steep slope, while the western slope was gentler. Woods lined the northern and southern sides.

"The western side is our main line of defense." Ayanokoji studied the terrain. "Sudō, take two people and guard it. Horikita, take one person and guard the woods to the north. I'll take the south."

"What about the east?" Horikita asked.

"It's too steep to climb easily. We only need one person keeping watch there."

Once they'd divided up the work, everyone took their positions.

Ayanokoji stood at the edge of the southern woods and watched the area below. Neither Class A nor Class C attacked right away. They were resting where they were.

"They won't wait long." Hiyori Shiina's voice came through the walkie-talkie. She was with the logistics team, analyzing the situation. "Given Ryuen's personality, he won't be able to hold back for an hour."

"What about Class A?"

"Katsuragi will wait, but his classmates might not." Shiina analyzed. "Class A students are used to feeling superior. Many of them won't be able to stomach Class D taking the high ground. The pressure within the class will force Katsuragi to act."

Just then, there was movement below.

Four or five more people had arrived from Class C. They now had a total of twelve people there, giving them a clear numerical advantage.

"They're coming." Ayanokoji tightened his grip on the wooden club.

Sure enough, Class C made their move a few minutes later.

But they didn't launch a direct assault. Instead, they spread out and slowly approached from three directions.

"They're trying to surround us," Horikita said over the walkie-talkie.

"Hold your positions," Ayanokoji ordered. "Don't make a move until they're in range."

The tension grew.

The Class C students kept closing in. The nearest were only twenty meters from the hill.

Then, something unexpected happened.

A scream suddenly rang out from the western side.

It wasn't one of the Class D students. A Class C student had stepped on something, and now he lay on the ground clutching his foot.

"A trap?!" Daichi Ishizaki froze.

Ayanokoji was stunned too. They hadn't set any traps.

Then a shout came from the northern side. Another Class C student had gotten his ankle caught in a rope and was now dangling in the air.

"It's an ambush!" Ryuen realized. "Retreat! Pull back for now!"

The Class C students hastily retreated, dragging their injured companions to a safe distance.

The hill was safe for the moment, but the Class D students exchanged bewildered looks.

"Who did that?" Sudō asked.