Having confirmed from Shiranami that the Magnetic Card was on her, Ryuuen returned to Class C's camp with Hiyori in high spirits.
At the time, Imada was fiddling with the jet ski the teachers had delivered. Though it looked expensive, it only cost 2 Special Exam points to redeem. Entertainment items were generally cheap, while daily necessities like purified water and rice were outrageously expensive.
The camp was still some distance from the beach. Ishizaki and the other boys carried the recreational equipment over, followed by the girls from the class. At times like this, the boys were not stingy with their strength.
Ryuuen and Hiyori followed behind them as well.
The temporary changing rooms they had redeemed earlier finally came in handy. Class C's students could at last take off their tracksuits and change into swimwear in the scorching weather.
"Swimwear suits you," Ryuuen said, only remembering to compliment the girl beside him after they reached the beach.
"But you didn't look at me the whole way here." Hiyori sounded a little upset.
What Hiyori said was true, and Ryuuen had no intention of denying it.
Kaneda had finally taken his jet ski out onto the water. Albert Yamada had set up the sun umbrella, Ishizaki was sunbathing on a lounge chair, and the girls were either swimming in the sea or playing volleyball on the beach.
Ryuuen took a bottle of iced cola from Albert Yamada and walked over to Hiyori.
Hiyori leaned against a coconut tree, admiring the distant scenery and seeming completely out of place amid the noise farther away.
"Why are you sitting here alone? Is there nothing you want to play?"
"It's too hot, and I'm not the kind of girl who likes sports."
That was true enough. Hiyori's skin was exceptionally fair, and her figure looked soft and delicate. She clearly was not an athletic girl, so it made sense that she would not enjoy this situation much.
In reality, however, Hiyori was lying. It was true that she disliked sports, and it was true that the weather was too hot. But the real reason she sat here was because she knew Ryuuen would definitely come keep her company. Compared to playing with the other students, Hiyori preferred sitting beside Ryuuen and talking with him. They could talk about anything. By now, the topics between her and Ryuuen were no longer limited to books.
Yet even that small wish of the girl's was not allowed to come true, because Horikita Suzune unexpectedly approached with Ayanokoji.
Like Ayanokoji, Horikita wore a green tracksuit. Ayanokoji had little expression on his face, while Horikita looked terrible.
Though Ayanokoji had not deliberately looked Hiyori over, his gaze was still noticed by the sensitive girl. Hiyori hid behind Ryuuen.
"Have you missed me that much after only two days, Suzune?" Ryuuen flirted shamelessly with Horikita in front of Ayanokoji.
"Your class's Ibuki has been following behind our class. Don't you need to explain that?" Horikita ignored Ryuuen's teasing.
"She won't listen to my orders. I've already expelled her from Class C's camp, so where she goes has nothing to do with me. Besides, I can't be bothered to manage her." Ryuuen reached out to touch Horikita's head. It was not because he wanted to take advantage of her; he only wanted to check her temperature. In her current state, it was difficult for Ryuuen to tell whether her terrible complexion came from illness or a bad mood.
Ryuuen thought his hand had moved quickly, but Ayanokoji still intercepted it.
Ayanokoji gripped Ryuuen's forearm and held it suspended in midair. Both of them secretly exerted force, yet Ryuuen's raised hand did not budge at all. In the end, Ryuuen had no choice but to relax and lower his hand.
There was no point in continuing the stalemate. Though he had not lost in that brief, subtle exchange with Ayanokoji, he certainly could not call it a win.
"Ayanokoji, you really do love sticking your nose into other people's business. Don't tell me you like Suzune too?" Ryuuen raised an eyebrow.
The school did not permit fights during the Special Exam. Violators would have their class disqualified from the exam. Neither Ayanokoji nor Ryuuen had any intention of resorting to violence now, so Ryuuen decided to probe Ayanokoji verbally.
"So Ryuuen-sensei knows who I am. That's surprising. Well, Horikita and I are merely classmates. There are no feelings like that between us."
Yet Ayanokoji's face did not show even the slightest surprise. He could not even be bothered to pretend.
"Don't be surprised. I'm very interested in you."
"That really isn't a good thing. I don't recall doing anything that would draw Ryuuen-sensei's attention. Besides, Ryuuen-sensei should focus more on the girls around him, such as Shiina behind you, or Ibuki."
Ayanokoji even took the opportunity to greet Hiyori. They knew each other because, when Ryuuen had been subduing Kushida Kikyo, he had told her to stall Ayanokoji for a while.
"I'm more interested in Suzune right now. Come here and let me touch your head. After tomorrow, I can give all of Class C's supplies to you. How about it?" Ryuuen looked at Horikita.
Since he could not touch her himself, he would make Horikita come to him.
After exchanging a glance with Ayanokoji, Horikita asked, "What do you mean? If you give me the supplies, isn't your class taking the exam?"
"That's right. We're not taking it. Tomorrow, we'll return to the ship."
Horikita clearly did not believe him, and Ayanokoji was also considering whether Ryuuen's words were true. But after observing how Class C was fooling around, he could more or less confirm that Ryuuen was telling the truth. Even so, Ayanokoji remained wary of him.
"I sold all my extra points to Class B. I don't want to live like savages here with you people."
Revealing part of his plan to Suzune could lessen their vigilance toward Ibuki. If Suzune was willing to accept the supplies Ryuuen offered, then at the very least, they would not leave Ibuki without a place to sleep or anything to eat.
Horikita exchanged another glance with Ayanokoji.
Horikita did not really understand whether Ryuuen truly liked her.
Rationally, Horikita believed Ryuuen's feelings toward her were definitely not romantic. Yet his behavior constantly displayed a possessiveness toward her, which was very strange. Horikita knew she was beautiful, but she also knew that boys did not like her personality. It would be easy for Ryuuen to find a girl prettier and gentler than her—there was even one standing behind him now. That made Horikita deeply question what kind of feelings Ryuuen truly had for her.
Every condition Ryuuen offered was so difficult to refuse. In the end, Horikita still walked over to his side.
Ayanokoji did not stop her, as if he truly did not care.
He had only said he wanted to touch Horikita's head, but Ryuuen was not someone who accepted a loss. These were supplies worth 75 Special Exam points. Even if they were secondhand, merely touching her head was far too cheap.
After reaching out and embracing Horikita, Ryuuen rested his forehead against hers. "Am I not as handsome as Ayanokoji? You keep looking at him."
Ryuuen wore Swim Trunks, and the lines of his muscles were clearly visible. His heavy masculine presence, along with his magnetic yet slightly husky voice, made even Horikita unable to handle it. She even forgot to struggle.
Ryuuen was the one who let go first. The abnormally high temperature on Horikita's forehead was definitely not caused by embarrassment. Ryuuen even began to worry whether she could really hold on until the seventh day in this condition.
"Enough. You've already gathered enough information about our class. Now get lost, Ayanokoji."
"Though I don't know where I offended you, I still hope Ryuuen-sensei can be a little more polite to me."
With that, Ayanokoji left with Horikita. Presumably, they were heading to Class B to confirm whether Ryuuen had truly sold his points to them.
Watching the two leave, Ryuuen drained a bottle of cola in one gulp. Then he turned to Hiyori and said, "I'm going to take a look at Class B too. Tonight, take the others back for roll call, then return to the ship with them."
Hiyori actually cared greatly about Ryuuen's relationship with Horikita, and she wanted even more to know where she stood in his heart. But being clever, she also knew that Ryuuen had something to do now. This was not the right time to ask.
At the same time, Hiyori feared that Ryuuen's answer would break her heart. She knew the rumor that Ryuuen was pursuing Horikita. Combined with him lending Horikita points before and embracing her just now, Hiyori truly did not have much confidence at this moment.
Ryuuen, however, did not notice Hiyori's emotions. Carrying the empty bottle, he headed in a direction that was not toward Class B.
Before you continue