Advanced Nurturing Yacht, guest cabin.
Sakayanagi Arisu knelt on the bed, tightly hugging Amasawa Reigetsu from behind. She buried her face in his school uniform jacket, greedily breathing in the scent of the one she loved.
"Rei-kun, the Special Exam is about to start. Since it's a survival challenge on an uninhabited island, I..."
Sakayanagi Arisu felt a little embarrassed. She was the leader of Class A, after all, but more than that, she felt as if she were lying on the ground with her limbs in the air, exposing her belly to Rei-kun.
"I know. So what does Little Alice want me to do? It's a knight's duty, after all."
Amasawa Reigetsu understood. If Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't take part in the exam, it would become a test of Class A against the Katsuragi Faction. It would also become a crucial factor in breaking the balance between the Katsuragi Faction and the Sakayanagi Faction.
"Not at all. As long as you're by my side, Rei-kun, victory in this trial can only be mine~"
Sakayanagi Arisu stood up and hugged Amasawa Reigetsu from behind, smiling happily. Her chest was small but soft, and leaning against his back gave it a charm all its own.
"Ah, Rei-kun, you're thinking something rude again!"
( ᗜ ‸ ᗜ )
Ayanokoji Kiyoko: You even stole my signature emoticon?! Just you wait—your Kiyo-nee's gonna get you!
Advanced Nurturing Yacht, deck.
The sunlight bathed the deck in brightness, while salty sea breezes swept through the crowd alongside laughter and chatter. Some people leaned against the railing to take selfies, others gathered in small groups to play cards, and a few boys were tussling over the last slice of watermelon. They were clearly the Black Room Trio from Class D.
"Attention, students. Our yacht is about to reach the artificial island. Anyone who has time can come up to the deck and take in the scenery. I'm sure it'll be quite meaningful."
The ship's announcement came over the speakers in the voice of Class A's homeroom teacher, Mashima Tomoya. As always, he offered the students help through subtle hints, and this time was no different: his message was full of Mashima's trademark style.
But when the announcement sounded, the crowd shifted lazily like the receding tide. No one even glanced at the green outline drawing closer. They treated the announcement as nothing more than a reminder that they'd reached a station. In circumstances like these, most people wouldn't notice the wordplay hidden in the broadcast.
But after two months of learning how this school operated, the leaders of each class immediately understood. As if sharing a moment of synchronicity, their eyes turned toward the artificial island, which was drawing closer and was sure to bring something with it. Horikita Suzune sat in the shade, wearing her school uniform jacket and drinking hot water; Ryuen Kakeru strolled onto the deck from inside the ship; Ichinose Honami was having a tea party on deck with her classmates from Class B; and Katsuragi Kohei stood with his arms crossed, looking stern.
Their gazes all turned toward the approaching artificial island, where something was bound to happen.
Amasawa Reigetsu stepped out of the shadows and stood behind Katsuragi Kohei and Totsuka Yahiko.
"Will Classmate Sakayanagi take part in the exam?"
"She won't."
Katsuragi Kohei was taken aback. The answer was within his expectations, but he was still surprised that Amasawa Reigetsu had actually answered his question.
Was he absolutely confident? Or did he have some other plan?
Katsuragi Kohei couldn't let go of his wariness toward Sakayanagi Arisu. Her faction acted in extreme ways and might even sacrifice the interests of the entire class just to bring him down.
"I didn't expect you to actually answer me. That can't be good news for your Sakayanagi Faction, considering the initiative is in my hands now."
"You should be glad I'm representing the Sakayanagi Faction in this exam. At least you'd prefer to see the outcome if I'm the one handling things."
After leaving him with those cryptic words, Amasawa Reigetsu walked away, leaving Totsuka Yahiko looking baffled and Katsuragi Kohei frowning.
"Amasawa Reigetsu! It's been several chapters—did you miss me, Your Greatness?"
A powerful blow came from behind. Amasawa Reigetsu knew it was Morishita Ran hitting him without even turning around, so he decided to surprise his good seatmate, who hadn't appeared for several chapters.
"Kushida? You've gotten stronger—"
Amasawa Reigetsu didn't turn around. He took Morishita Ran's hand.
"Huh?!"
Morishita Ran's hair practically stood on end. How dare Amasawa Reigetsu mistake her for someone else?! No, he'd mistaken her for someone else and still held her hand so naturally?!
That was cheating! Death! Guilty—death sentence!!!
Morishita Ran lunged at the two-timing Amasawa Reigetsu and bit him! Super effective!
Amasawa Reigetsu: Are you a dog or something!?
Morishita Ran: Grrrwoof!!!
Amasawa Reigetsu used Shake Off on Roadside Stray Dog Ran! Lightning Serpent! Amaterasu! Full Spin!! Super effective!! Morishita Ran was stunned!
Morishita Ran can be caught!
After struggling for quite 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 feeling speechless. People always called Ran a stray, but when she actually bit someone, she got offended.
"You two-timing jerk!!"
Morishita Ran looked like a heartbroken loser. She gazed up at Amasawa Reigetsu with tears in her eyes, and somehow, it made him feel a pang of sympathy...
"I'm sorry, Ran. I shouldn't have teased you like that. You hadn't been on-screen for several chapters, so I was just trying to give you a moment in the spotlight."
"Then what's your relationship with Kushida?"
"Other people's cups: thermos, glass, coffee cup, mug. My cup: Kushida Kikyo, who gave me a cup. It's just..."
Morishita Ran: ?
"You made that up."
"You said the same thing when you found out what happened to A-Zu."
"So it's true?!"
Amasawa Reigetsu wrapped an arm around Morishita Ran's neck from behind, his forearm naturally sinking down.
It felt completely different from hugging Sakayanagi Arisu. This time, Amasawa Reigetsu's forearm didn't hang in midair!!
Sakayanagi Arisu: File-sharpening warning.jpg
Amasawa Reigetsu's forearm settled on the warm cushion of fat beneath it, as if sinking into a perfectly fluffy pillow. He could even feel the slight, springy give beneath the fabric of her uniform.
Morishita Ran's shoulders stiffened noticeably.
She could clearly feel his breath brushing her ear, carrying the faint scent of mint from his bath. What left her the most flustered was the arm wrapped around her neck. Its heavy touch came through the fabric, making her chest tighten and her breathing grow short.
"Amasawa Reigetsu..."
Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's buzz. Her ears visibly flushed red, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes.
Morishita Ran had a lot she wanted to say, but as she faced the one holding her—her boyfriend, the person she loved most—both her voice and her body softened.
"I hate you..."
Morishita Ran's voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was almost a breath. She raised a hand, seeming to want to pull his arm away, but the moment she touched his wrist, she drew back. She only rested her fingertips lightly against it. It was less a refusal than a tacit permission that seemed to say no while meaning yes.
The yacht circled the uninhabited island, giving Amasawa Reigetsu and Morishita Ran plenty of time alone together...