Cooperation? A test?

Putting his inner monologue aside, Ayanokoji looked toward Ibuki Mio, who had just returned.

She was panting slightly, unable to hide the anger on her face.

"Hey, Ibuki, got an upset stomach?"

Hoshinomiya asked with a mischievous grin.

Ibuki did not answer him. She glanced at him, then gave Horikita and Ayanokoji a slight nod before returning to her corner.

"So you want Class D to cooperate with Class A?"

Horikita lowered her voice further, afraid someone might overhear what followed.

"I wouldn't call it cooperation. When Class A gets into a dispute with Class C or Class B, all Class D needs to do is stay out of it."

Hoshinomiya spoke slowly.

"I won't say much else. As for Class C..."

"You can verify it yourselves later. I'll send someone tomorrow to confirm whether we'll continue cooperating."

Hoshinomiya did not stay long. After sharing some of his information, he hurried away.

Watching Hoshinomiya leave, Horikita Suzune felt a weight settle over her heart.

She turned her head slightly to look at Ayanokoji beside her.

"Do you think he was telling the truth?"

She clenched her fists, too preoccupied to notice her fingertips digging into her palms.

Ayanokoji gazed calmly in the direction Hoshinomiya had gone. His tone never wavered, and his voice was soft, as though he were making idle conversation.

"Half true, half false. His terms do seem to place no burden on Class D. We'd profit simply by watching from the sidelines. But no deal in this world is that good."

He turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Horikita's clenched hands.

"Hoshinomiya isn't simply trying to form an alliance with us. By offering this information, he's essentially testing which choice Class D will make. Once we choose to believe him, we're willingly stepping onto the board he's already set up. Staying silent and watching is itself a way of taking sides."

"As for what's happening inside Class C, we'd be better off confirming it ourselves than waiting for him to send someone with news."

Ayanokoji looked away and slipped both hands into his pockets, his tone as even as ever.

"Don't rush to a conclusion, Horikita. For now, just watch how things develop."

Horikita had wanted to say more, but after hearing that, she fell silent.

She unclenched her hands, her fingertips still trembling slightly.

The weight in her heart had yet to lift.

"I understand. I'll hold off on taking action for now and keep watching the situation."

She turned to Ayanokoji. There was a trace of reluctance in her voice, but she accepted his judgment.

"But if Hoshinomiya's plan threatens Class D, we can't keep waiting passively."

Ayanokoji merely nodded, saying nothing more. The corridor fell quiet, with the faint sound of students from other classes talking in the distance. This "performance" had only just begun.

Night had fallen, leaving the surroundings dim. The Class A student guarding the camp could not immediately make out the approaching figure. He abruptly tensed, instinctively tightening his grip on his emergency flashlight.

A lone figure quietly approached Class A's camp.

"Who's there!"

The hushed shout carried clear wariness and a hint of a tremor.

Only when Hoshinomiya drew close enough for his face to be visible did the guard breathe a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders slowly relaxing.

"Oh, it's you, Hoshinomiya... Sorry, I couldn't see in the dark. I thought someone from another class had come to spy on us."

Hoshinomiya raised a hand to shield his eyes from the bright light, then waved dismissively, his voice calm.

"Yoshida, it's just me. How's everyone doing?"

"Hmm... Pretty well," Yoshida Kenta said excitedly. "Everyone split up during the day. We picked plenty of corn and managed to find a reliable water source."

He scratched the back of his head, his tone relaxing, though his expression remained slightly cautious.

"There is one small problem, though. Class B's camp isn't far from ours. If both sides compete to claim spots, it'll make moving around inconvenient."

Hoshinomiya remained calm. Rubbing his eyes, he said slowly, "There's no need to rush into competing for spots. Class B is focused on defense, so they'll probably only occupy that one spot. That isn't necessarily bad for us. We'll stick to the plan."

He paused, then continued.

"Tell Katsuragi to keep assigning people to monitor their movements, but don't provoke a conflict. We stand to gain the most if they wear each other down."

Yoshida listened attentively, then gave a firm nod.

"Understood, Hoshinomiya. I'll remind the night watch to observe from a distance and never approach recklessly."

He was about to turn and enter the camp when he remembered something else. Stopping, he said, "Oh, Hoshinomiya, you haven't eaten since you went out. I'll get you some of the corn we saved."

Hoshinomiya shook his head slightly, replying abruptly, "No need. I ate a few wild fruits while I was out, so I'm not hungry yet."

He walked into the camp, drawing everyone's eyes.

Hoshinomiya swept his gaze over them one by one.

Most of Class A looked exhausted by now.

"Hey, you're back."

Hashimoto Masayoshi had a twig between his lips and was leaning casually against a tree trunk. He looked carefree and relaxed, but the fatigue in his eyes was impossible to hide.

He looked up at Hoshinomiya without standing, merely tilting his head slightly. "Did it go smoothly?"

"Yeah, I've learned most of what I needed to know." Hoshinomiya nodded to Hashimoto.

Kamuro Masumi quietly approached as well.

She kept her footsteps light, making no sound to interrupt their conversation. She simply stood nearby, her eyes on Hoshinomiya.

Hashimoto glanced at her and smiled without saying anything.

"What's wrong, Kamuro?" Hoshinomiya asked, looking at her in puzzlement.

"I just wanted to hear what you found out," Kamuro Masumi said softly, discreetly scanning the camp.

A short distance away, several Class A students who did not belong to the Sakayanagi Faction were listening in.

She deliberately lowered her voice. "Did you notice any movements from the other classes out there?"

Hashimoto watched in silence.

He knew where Kamuro stood, and he also understood that the people in the camp were not united.

"I only got a rough idea of where the other classes' camps are."

With that, he shook his head and said no more.

Hoshinomiya did not want to talk, and the other two took the hint and stopped asking.

Kamuro nodded lightly, glanced out of the corner of her eye at the people on the edge of the camp, then turned back toward her tent.

Hashimoto watched Kamuro walk away.

He took the twig from his mouth and casually tossed it into the nearby grass. "In that case, let's get some rest."

Hoshinomiya and Hashimoto returned to the tent together.

Before dawn, Hoshinomiya set out for the beach.

Morning mist still blanketed the woods, and the sky remained dark.

He stepped lightly, slipping past the drowsy student on night watch who was leaning against a tree, and soon left the camp.

Whoosh...

Waves washed over the beach again and again, and a fresh sea breeze blew into his face.

Hoshinomiya walked to the shore and quietly gazed at the rolling sea.

No light had yet appeared on the horizon, and the entire beach was shrouded in a thin veil of mist.

"Whoa... What's with that purple hair?"

P.S. I meant to post this yesterday, but I fell asleep while writing. Seriously, who could keep it together after that?