An indirect challenge

"Yo~ Who have we got here~ And what's with that purple hair?"

A rustling came from the woods behind Hoshinomiya.

He turned to look.

Ryuuen Kakeru emerged from within.

The same devil-may-care look still lingered at the corners of his mouth.

The same devil-may-care sneer still lingered at the corners of his mouth, his hands tucked casually into his pockets as his gaze swept indifferently over Hoshinomiya's eye-catching purple hair.

He had lost the polished appearance he had arrived on the island with. Bits of grass clung to his long red hair, and a thin sheen of sweat coated his temples.

He stopped a short distance from Hoshinomiya.

"Ibuki told me you wanted to see me. Honestly, I was pretty surprised."

Ryuuen Kakeru lightly scraped his fingertips against grains of sand, the mocking smile remaining on his lips. His reddish-brown eyes stayed fixed on Hoshinomiya, missing not the slightest change in his expression.

"Instead of going to Horikita or Ichinose Honami, you came to someone from Class C like me. What's that about?"

He took a small step forward. A breeze swept through the woods, sending the bits of grass caught in his red hair fluttering down. An oppressive presence slowly spread around him.

"Then I'll get straight to the point."

A sly smile curled Hoshinomiya's lips.

"I propose changing some details of your deal with Katsuragi."

"Huh~? Have you lost your mind? Why would I agree to change a deal that's already been finalized?"

Ryuuen Kakeru scoffed, his hands tightening slightly in his pockets as his sharp gaze locked onto Hoshinomiya.

He did not move immediately, merely tilting his head slightly and studying the other boy with an appraising gaze.

"Katsuragi has already accepted the terms. If an outsider suddenly wants to change the deal, you'll have to offer something that can convince me, Hoshinomiya."

The wind passed through the trees, making the shadowy shore rustle.

"Oh~ What terms would you like?"

Hoshinomiya kept smiling, his purple hair swaying gently in the woodland breeze, his tone unhurried.

"Simple. One million points, and I can agree to your terms."

"Hahaha, hahahahaha!"

At those words, Hoshinomiya burst into laughter without warning.

Though somewhat puzzled as he watched Hoshinomiya, Ryuuen Kakeru also began to chuckle.

He still clung to a sliver of hope, but the words that followed made him shudder slightly and instantly come to his senses.

"Enough of that nonsense. As Class C's leader, you aren't really in a position to negotiate with me, are you? Didn't Ibuki Mio tell you?"

The smile had vanished from Hoshinomiya Rinyu's face. The coldness in his voice was impossible to hide, and his eyes resembled a still lake.

At this, Ryuuen Kakeru also dropped his playful attitude. Looking at the boy before him with a measure of seriousness, he said bluntly, "Go on. What do you want?"

"What I want hasn't changed. To revise some details of your deal with Katsuragi," Hoshinomiya Rinyu said evenly.

"I'll specify the details. Of course, I won't ask for too many changes."

After settling the details with Ryuuen Kakeru, Hoshinomiya left the shore first.

He passed through the trees and headed straight for Class A's camp, arriving before long.

Inside the camp, quite a few Class A students were sorting supplies, scattered in twos and threes around the tents.

When they noticed him, they stopped what they were doing and turned their eyes toward him.

Katsuragi had just returned from outside. He set the basket he had been carrying on his back on the ground and looked up at Hoshinomiya at the sound.

Katsuragi straightened, his gaze resting on Hoshinomiya, and asked in a lowered voice, "Hoshinomiya, where did you just go?"

Hoshinomiya shook his head and said evenly, "To scout out the other classes."

Having failed to get the answer he wanted, Katsuragi furrowed his brow slightly, his gaze fixed firmly on Hoshinomiya.

Vaguely sensing that something was wrong, he slowly asked, "What's the situation with Class B and Class D?"

"Class B is as united as ever. I only saw Kanzaki leading some people out to gather wild fruit. I didn't pay much attention to anything else. I know nothing about Class D. They might not be up yet."

Katsuragi was somewhat surprised by this.

"None of them have headed out yet?"

He lowered his voice, sounding as though he was both talking to himself and seeking confirmation from Hoshinomiya.

"I only watched from the edge of the forest path. I didn't go close. There weren't many people around the tents, and I couldn't hear any conversation... Someone seemed to be leaning against a tree. That's all."

There was no inflection in Hoshinomiya's voice, and Katsuragi could not tell what he was thinking.

Katsuragi fell silent for a moment. His gaze swept over the Class A students sorting baskets nearby before he lowered his head in thought again.

"By the way, Katsuragi, how many points did you spend buying these supplies?"

At those words, Katsuragi's shoulders paused slightly.

He looked up at Hoshinomiya. His face remained calm, but the surprise in his eyes was truly difficult to hide.

"Why are you suddenly asking that?"

Katsuragi kept his voice very low to prevent those nearby who knew nothing about it from overhearing.

Spending Class Points was already information that required careful discussion within Class A, not to mention that this batch of supplies had not come from Class A's own points at all.

If others found out, they would inevitably have doubts about his private dealings.

Hoshinomiya's expression did not change in the slightest, and his tone remained flat.

"I'm simply curious. Prices at the Uninhabited Island's shop aren't cheap. Continually buying food and drinking water will consume a lot of points. Besides, the supplies we've gathered aren't exactly scarce."

He paused, his gaze settling lightly on the basket at Katsuragi's feet.

It contained some compressed food.

"After all, preserving our points is our primary objective. Spending too many will only create unnecessary trouble. Those were Sakayanagi Arisu's exact words, too."

Yet Hoshinomiya's calm words carried a note of warning.

Katsuragi stared intently at Hoshinomiya's face, trying to catch the intentions hidden in his expression, but still found nothing.

"Class A still has sufficient points. I'm afraid I can't disclose the source of these supplies. I'll manage these points appropriately, so there's no need for you to concern yourself, Hoshinomiya."

With that, he strode toward the tents.

Hashimoto, who had been eavesdropping nearby for some time, immediately approached Hoshinomiya when he saw Katsuragi leave. He said nothing, his eyes holding a question.

Hoshinomiya shook his head and walked toward his own tent.

Hashimoto remained where he was, watching Hoshinomiya walk away as the fragments of conversation he had just overheard played over and over in his mind.

Katsuragi had been far too deliberate in avoiding the issue of the supplies and points. Hashimoto's doubts had not faded, but he had no opportunity to approach him and press for answers just then.

The sea breeze swept across Class A's camp.

The "clash" between Katsuragi and Hoshinomiya seemed to be no more than a fleeting incident, and evening quietly arrived.

Having just returned to camp with Sanada and Machida, Hoshinomiya Rinyu looked toward a figure lying on the ground beside the path in a strange position.

"Hey, Morishita, what are you doing?"

P.S. Dear readers, I, Yu Hansan, am back again. I've recently been cramming some Classroom of the Elite material (off reading the novels and watching the anime), paying some attention to certain characters' personalities. I'll bring that out in my writing later.

Thank you all for sticking with me. This is about to get a recommendation spot, and I won't run off again.