"Starting with you, Horikita, and Sudo."
As soon as Gu Heng said that, the tension around the campfire, which had only just been suppressed, tightened again.
Hirata lowered his head to check the terminal first.
"I'll take the rear-right line now."
"Yukimura will cover my relay point."
"Horikita will hold the campfire front and the center of the girls' line."
"Yamauchi will keep the public records by the campfire and relay messages for her if necessary."
"Sudo will take over the rear right."
"Ike Kanji will cover the left-front patrol."
At that point, his voice slowed by half a beat on its own.
Ike Kanji was the first to look up.
Yamauchi's grip on the clipboard tightened as well.
Ryuuen had not pointed out just three people.
He had pointed to the circle of people around them who were taking over their positions.
Sudo's expression darkened first.
"How does he know things that precisely?"
"Because he's been watching for the past several rounds," Horikita said.
"Not just watching me."
"He's been watching who fills in after I move, who takes the vacant spot after Hirata switches lines, and who remains guarding the front after you withdraw from the left front to the rear right."
Hearing his name, Ike Kanji instinctively looked up.
"So I count as someone he's noticed now too?"
"Not just you," Gu Heng said.
"From now on, everyone standing next to them counts."
Yamauchi tightened his grip on the clipboard.
Sakura also drew the medicine bag a little closer to her chest.
Karuizawa slowly lowered her arm.
"So?"
"Which side are you going to pull back first?"
Sudo immediately chimed in.
"Pull Horikita back first."
"She's standing out too much."
Hirata frowned.
"But if I pull back now, the relay will get messed up."
"Then suppress Sudo