A Fine Show

The next morning.

At dawn, all of Class D set out for Class C's camp, bringing Shiho Manabe with them.

Honami Ichinose from Class B also arrived with a group. Since Hiyori Shiina was in Class B, the class had to be involved.

Class C's camp was set up in a clearing on the eastern side of the island. When they arrived, the students of Class C were having breakfast.

Ryuen Kakeru sat beside the campfire. He wasn't surprised at all to see them.

"Well, you're up early," he said with a grin. "And you brought me a present?"

"Ryuen," Hirata said, stepping forward, "one of your students infiltrated our camp last night and tried to poison us. How do you explain that?"

"Poison?" Ryuen put on a surprised expression. "Do you have proof?"

Ayanokoji took out the small box. "We found it on him."

Ryuen glanced at the box, then at the bound Manabe, and laughed. "That kid's always getting carried away."

"Getting carried away?" Honami Ichinose's voice was cold. "That's not something you can explain away with a simple 'getting carried away.'"

"Then how should I explain it?" Ryuen shrugged. "It was a student acting on his own. I'm the leader, but I can't control everything they do."

A textbook attempt to shirk responsibility.

But Ayanokoji knew Ryuen would say exactly that.

"Then," Ayanokoji said, "what if we report this to the school? Trying to poison students from another class violates school rules, doesn't it?"

Ryuen's smile faded a little. "Can you prove I ordered him to do it?"

"We don't need to prove you ordered it," Ichinose said. "We only need to prove a Class C student did it. Class C will still be held responsible. Your Class Points and personal points will be deducted."

It was a very real threat.

Ryuen fell silent. A few seconds later, he asked, "What do you want?"

"An apology," Hirata said. "A public one, and a promise that nothing like this will happen again."

"And compensation," Ichinose added. "Class C will provide some of its supplies to make it up to Classes B and D."

The terms were reasonable, but Ryuen wasn't the type to agree so easily.

Sure enough, Ryuen laughed, his voice cold.

"An apology? Compensation? Are you people confused about something?"

He stood up and slowly walked over to Manabe. Then—

He suddenly kicked Manabe in the stomach.

"Ah!" Manabe cried out in pain and curled up on the ground.

Everyone froze.

"This piece of trash," Ryuen said, looking down at Manabe with cold eyes. "He acted on his own and caused trouble for the class. By Class C's rules, he deserves punishment."

He kicked him again. Manabe was in too much pain to speak.

"As for this poisoning business..." Ryuen looked at Ayanokoji. "Did anyone actually get poisoned? No, right? Since nobody was harmed, what's the big deal?"

It was twisted logic, but hard to refute.

Hiyori Shiina hadn't been poisoned, and no one had been harmed. The school might not punish them severely.

"So," Ryuen concluded, "this matter ends here. I'll deal with this piece of trash. You can go back."

Overbearing and shameless, but effective.

The students from Classes D and B looked at one another, unsure what to do.

A direct confrontation? A fight now wouldn't benefit anyone.

Give in? They couldn't stomach that either.

Just then, an unexpected voice rang out.

"I don't agree."

The speaker wasn't from Class D or Class B. Instead, a girl stepped out from the crowd of Class C students.

Mio Ibuki.

Ryuen frowned. "Ibuki, what are you doing?"

"I don't think this is right." Ibuki looked at Ryuen, her expression conflicted. "You sent Manabe. We all know that. Now that something's gone wrong, you're making him take the blame alone."

Infighting?

Everyone froze.

Ryuen's expression turned extremely grim. "Ibuki, do you know what you're saying?"

"I do." Ibuki nodded. "I just think... this is wrong."

She turned to the students from Classes D and B. "I can testify that Ryuen planned last night's operation himself. Manabe was only carrying it out."

A bombshell.

There was a traitor within Class C.

Ryuen stared at Ibuki, murderous intent surging in his eyes. "You... have you thought this through?"

"I have," Ibuki said. "I don't want to follow a leader who can casually abandon his own people."

Silence fell.

Then whispers spread through the crowd of Class C students.

Some agreed with her, some opposed her, and others didn't know what to think.

For the first time, a crack had appeared in Ryuen's rule.

"Fine. Very good." Ryuen smiled, but his expression sent a chill through everyone. "Mio Ibuki, as of today, you're no longer part of Class C."

"Whatever." Ibuki turned and walked over to the side where Classes D and B stood. "Can I join you?"

Ichinose and Ayanokoji exchanged a glance.

This turn of events was completely unexpected.

But Ibuki was a strong fighter, and her joining them would be a great help. Her knowledge of Class C was valuable intelligence, too.

"You're welcome," Ichinose said first.

Ayanokoji nodded as well.

Ryuen watched them without a word. But his eyes said everything.

This wasn't over.

At nine that morning, the classes returned to their respective camps.

Mio Ibuki officially joined the alliance between Classes D and B. Her arrival sparked some discussion, but most accepted her. After all, having another capable fighter was always a good thing.

Class C took Shiho Manabe away. No one knew what they would do with him afterward.

"Ryuen won't let this go," Ibuki warned. "He lost face today. He'll definitely find a way to get it back."

"We'll be ready," Ayanokoji said.

The next few days passed relatively peacefully.

Each class worked on its daily tasks and accumulated points. Class A remained steady, while Class C stayed aggressive under Ryuen's leadership, though they were clearly more restrained.

The alliance between Classes D and B grew stronger. Students from the two classes often worked together, sharing resources and information.

Hiyori Shiina's injured foot gradually improved, and she could just about walk again. She said she wanted to return to Class B's camp, but Ichinose told her to rest for a few more days.

"Having you here makes you the link between our two classes," Ichinose said.

Shiina understood.

The seventh day—the last day of the exam.

At three in the afternoon, the announcement came over the loudspeaker.

"Notice: The Uninhabited Island Special Exam is about to end. All classes should pack up their camps and gather at the pier by six this evening."

"Final points will be calculated after you return to school."

"I'll repeat..."

It was finally over.

The students began packing their belongings and taking down the camps. Seven days of living in the wilderness had left everyone exhausted, but they had also grown a lot.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood in front of the camp, watching everyone work.

Hirata was directing the dismantling of the tents. Sudo was carrying supplies. Horikita was checking for anything they might have left behind. Karuizawa was saying goodbye to the girls from Class B.

Mio Ibuki walked over. She had fully settled into Class D by now.

"What are you planning to do after we get back?" she asked.

"Keep going," Ayanokoji said. "The exam's over, but the competition isn't."

"Ryuen won't leave you alone."

"I know."

Ibuki was quiet for a while before speaking. "Thank you. For taking me in that day."

"You don't have to thank me," Ayanokoji said. "You made your choice, and we respect it."

At five in the afternoon, the classes began arriving at the pier.

The transport ship was already waiting there. Sae Chabashira and the other homeroom teachers stood on the pier, waiting for the students.

All four classes gathered together again.

The atmosphere was noticeably different.

Class A was still arrogant, but their eyes held a little more wariness when they looked at Class D.

Led by Ryuen, Class C was silent and gloomy.

Classes B and D stood together, chatting and laughing.

For the first time, the barriers between classes had begun to shift.

Sae Chabashira watched it all, a faint smile flickering in her eyes.

"Board," she ordered simply.

The students boarded one by one.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was the last to board. He stood by the railing, watching the uninhabited island recede into the distance.

The seven days of survival, the twenty-four-hour watch, the poisoning incident, Ibuki's defection...

One scene after another flashed through his mind.

[Ding! Main Quest "Uninhabited Island Trial" completed!]

[Final evaluation: S+ (Exceeded expectations)]

[Rewards: +10,000 personal points, +500 Class Points, "Tactical Deduction" upgraded to Intermediate (accuracy increased to 80%), new skill unlocked: "Situation Insight (Beginner)."]

[Ding! Host successfully destabilized the enemy from within. Hidden achievement unlocked: "Splitter."]

[Reward: One-time skill "Defection" acquired. Can lower a target's loyalty at a critical moment.]

The rewards were substantial, but they also meant greater challenges lay ahead.

The ship headed out to sea, and the uninhabited island slowly disappeared from view.

But Ayanokoji knew the real battle had only just begun.

Once they returned to school, the class rankings would be updated, resources would be redistributed, and new Special Exams would come.

And Class D, the class that had once been at the bottom, was no longer the same.

They had experience, allies, and confidence.

They also had... a time traveler who knew the future, and a system that didn't play by the rules.

"Just wait," Ayanokoji murmured. "The real show is yet to come."