Uninhabited Island, Here We Come

Advanced Nurturing High School yacht, guest room.

Sakayanagi Arisu knelt on the bed, wrapping her arms tightly around Amasawa Reigetsu from behind. She buried her face in his school uniform jacket, greedily inhaling the scent of her beloved.

"Rei-kun, the special exam will begin in a while. Since the content is survival on an Uninhabited Island, so..."

Sakayanagi Arisu felt a bit embarrassed. Even though she was the leader of Class A, she felt more like a dog lying on the ground with its belly exposed to Rei-kun, a sense of shame washing over her.

"I understand. So, what does Little Alice want me to do? After all, it is the code of a knight."

Amasawa Reigetsu understood her intent. If Sakayanagi Arisu could not participate in the exam, this test would turn into a quality inspection of the Katsuragi Faction by Class A, and it would also become a crucial weight to break the balance between the Katsuragi Faction and the Sakayanagi Faction.

"Not at all. As long as you are by my side, Rei-kun, the victory of this trial will surely be mine~"

Sakayanagi Arisu stood up and hugged Amasawa Reigetsu from behind, wearing a blissful smile. Her chest was flat but soft, and leaning against his back felt uniquely pleasant.

"Ah, Rei-kun is thinking of something rude again!"

( ᗜ ‸ ᗜ )

Ayanokoji Kiyoko: You even stole my signature expression?! Just wait and see if your Ayanokoji-sis doesn't deal with you later!!

Advanced Nurturing High School yacht, deck.

The sunlight illuminated the deck, and the salty sea breeze carried laughter and chatter through the crowd. Some leaned against the railings taking selfies, others gathered in small groups playing card games, and a few boys were bickering over the last piece of watermelon—evidently the Black Room Trio from Class D.

"Attention, students. Our yacht is about to arrive at the artificial island. If you have time, please come to the deck to view the scenery; I believe this sight will be quite meaningful."

The ship's broadcast sounded, carrying the voice of Class A's homeroom teacher, Mashima Tomoya. True to his style of providing subtle hints to students, he had once again offered a tip filled with his signature flair.

However, when the broadcast played, the crowd shifted lazily like a receding tide. No one looked up to take a second glance at the emerald silhouette gradually approaching. Most treated the announcement as nothing more than a train station arrival chime, failing to notice the wordplay hidden within the broadcast.

But based on the leaders' understanding of this school's temperament over the past two months, realization flashed through their minds instantly. As if by synchronicity, Horikita Suzune sat in the shade, drinking hot water in her school uniform jacket; Ryuen Kakeru sauntered onto the deck from inside the ship; Ichinose Honami was holding a tea party with her Class B classmates on the deck; and Katsuragi Kohei stood with his arms crossed, looking solemn.

Their gazes turned simultaneously toward the approaching artificial island, where something was destined to happen.

Amasawa Reigetsu stepped out from the shadows and stood behind Katsuragi Kohei and Totsuka Yahiko.

"Will Sakayanagi-san be participating in the exam?"

"No."

Katsuragi Kohei was taken aback. This answer was within his expectations, yet he was surprised that Amasawa Reigetsu had actually answered the question.

Was he being absolutely confident? Or did he have other plans?

Katsuragi Kohei could not let his guard down against Sakayanagi Arisu. They acted in extremes, even willing to sacrifice the interests of the entire class just to bring him down.

"I didn't expect you to actually answer me. This isn't good news for your Sakayanagi Faction, considering the initiative is in my hands now."

"You should be grateful that I am representing the Sakayanagi Faction for this exam. At the very least, you would prefer to see an outcome orchestrated by me."

After leaving these ambiguous words, Amasawa Reigetsu walked away, leaving behind a bewildered Totsuka Yahiko and a frowning Katsuragi Kohei.

"Amasawa Reigetsu! Did you miss me while I was gone for several chapters!"

A massive force struck his back. Amasawa Reigetsu didn't even need to turn around to know it was Morishita Ran hitting him, so he decided to give his good deskmate, who hadn't appeared in several chapters, a surprise.

"Kushida-san? Your strength has increased, huh—"

Amasawa Reigetsu didn't turn around and took Morishita Ran's hand.

"Ha!!?"

Morishita Ran bristled. Amasawa Reigetsu actually dared to mistake her for someone else!?? No, wait, he mistook her for someone else and still held her hand so naturally!??

This is cheating!! Death penalty! Death sentence!!!

Morishita Ran launched a bite attack at the heartless Amasawa Reigetsu! It was super effective!

Amasawa Reigetsu: Are you a dog!???

Morishita Ran: Grrrrrrr!!!

Amasawa Reigetsu used "Hand Flick" on the roadside stray dog, Ran-sis! Thunder Snake! Amaterasu! Great Whirlwind!! It was super effective!! Morishita Ran is confused!

Morishita Ran is capturable!

After struggling for a while, Amasawa Reigetsu finally managed to shake Morishita Ran off his right hand. Looking at the deep bite marks on his arm, he couldn't help but feel speechless. Everyone usually called Ran-sis a stray, but she wasn't happy when she actually got bitten.

"You heartless jerk!!"

Morishita Ran looked like a defeated dog, her teary eyes looking up at Amasawa Reigetsu. It was surprisingly heartbreaking...

"I'm sorry, Ran. I shouldn't have teased you like that. I just noticed you hadn't been on screen for several chapters, so I wanted to give you a chance to shine."

"Then what is your relationship with Kushida?"

"Other people's cups: thermos, glass, coffee mug, ceramic mug. My cup: Kushida Kikyo (the cup she gave me), it's just..."

Morishita Ran: ?

"You made these words up."

"You said the same thing when you found out about A-Zu's ending."

"Could it be true!??"

Amasawa Reigetsu wrapped his arms around Morishita Ran's neck from behind, his forearms sinking down naturally.

It was a completely different sensation from Sakayanagi Arisu; this time, Amasawa Reigetsu's forearms were not hovering in the air!!

Sakayanagi Arisu: File warning.jpg

Amasawa Reigetsu's forearms rested upon that warm platform of stacked fat, sinking in like they were pressing into a perfectly soft cloud, even feeling the slight, elastic give beneath the fabric of her uniform.

Morishita Ran's shoulders visibly stiffened.

She could clearly feel his breath brushing against her ear, carrying the faint scent of mint from his shower. What left her most flustered were the arms wrapped around her neck; the heavy, solid sensation transmitted through the fabric made her chest tighten, her breathing becoming shallow.

"Amasawa Reigetsu..."

Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's hum, the tips of her ears turning a visible shade of crimson as her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her shirt.

Morishita Ran had many things she wanted to say, but faced with her lover, the person she loved most, who was currently holding her, both her tone and her body softened.

"I hate you..."

Morishita Ran's voice grew quieter and quieter, finally fading into a mere breath. She raised her hands as if to pull his arms away, but the moment her fingers touched his wrists, she pulled back, merely resting her fingertips lightly upon them. That posture was less of a rejection and more of a tacit, coy invitation.

The yacht circled the Uninhabited Island, giving Amasawa Reigetsu and Morishita Ran plenty of time alone...