Bullies

"Judging by this Special Exam, you're a lot better than Katsuragi," Hashimoto said with feeling.

"Thanks for the compliment." Lezheng smiled in thanks.

"I'm even tempted to join you."

"Is Sakayanagi on the cruise ship?"

"Her Highness should be at school."

As the two kept chatting, their conversation drifted off topic, and they began discussing which girl in the four classes was the prettiest. Although Ichinose had been voted the most popular girl on the school forum, neither of them agreed.

Hashimoto thought Sakayanagi deserved first place, while Lezheng thought it was Kamuro. As for which of them was telling the truth, that remained unknown.

While the other classes celebrated, Class B was looking for its mistakes.

"Judging by the exam results, all three classes correctly identified our leader," Kanzaki concluded.

"It's understandable that Class C knew who our leader was, but how did Classes A and D find out? Was it really just from that brief interaction back then?" Shibata scratched his head.

"I'm sorry, everyone. My personal shortcomings led to a very unsatisfactory result in this exam." Kanzaki took the blame himself.

"You can't be blamed for this, Kanzaki. I made a mistake this time too; I shouldn't have underestimated our opponents," Hamaguchi also apologized.

Ichinose stared blankly at her classmates as they comforted one another, struggling inside. On one side was the shadow of her past, and on the other were her dejected classmates. She didn't know whether someone as "dirty" as her deserved to lead Class B. While they were discussing things, she left the room alone.

Still torn, Ichinose wandered aimlessly across the deck.

Ichinose walked without a destination, still feeling lost. Then she saw two people sitting side by side in the sunset.

Lezheng sat on the left, with Shiina close beside him on the right. Each held a book, and from time to time, they exchanged a few quiet words.

"Hey, Ichinose," Lezheng greeted her.

"H-hello, you two," Ichinose replied.

"Feeling lost, young one?"

"Mm-hmm." Ichinose nodded emphatically.

"Talk about your troubles, and there'll always be a way," Shiina said with a smile.

"Well... when I was in middle school..." Ichinose began haltingly.

"Wait, wait, wait. I didn't mean tell us. Think through your own situation," Lezheng hurriedly interrupted.

"Then... I understand." Ichinose turned and walked away. After a few steps, she seemed to remember something. "Thank you," she said with a smile.

Lezheng and Shiina remained just as they had been before, like two NPCs waiting for the protagonist to approach and talk to them.

The theatre.

A movie titled "Wings of Icarus" was playing on the screen, with only one person in the audience.

A student walked from the entrance and stood beside that lone viewer.

"Ayanokoji, have you seen this movie?" Chasuke didn't look up.

"What are you trying to say?" Ayanokoji sounded indifferent.

"Icarus flew too high, so the sun burned his wings." Chasuke looked up and met Ayanokoji's eyes.

Nothing changed in Ayanokoji; he still wore the same indifferent expression.

"I want you to stop holding back in the exams from now on."

"I already did my best this time."

"Why didn't you come first?"

"That, I don't know." Ayanokoji shrugged.

"Your father has already contacted me. He said he could get you expelled. If you can lead Class D up to Class A, I'll help you stop him." Chasuke took a deep breath.

"...I agree. I hope you keep your word."

Most of Class C's members had only spent two days on the deserted island, so they had enjoyed the cruise ship all to themselves for quite some time. When people lived too comfortably and their needs were met, they would start finding fault within their own ranks.

That was exactly what happened with Manabe and her group.

"Rika, can't you show a little backbone?"

Manabe demanded angrily.

"I... I don't dare." Morofushi lowered her head.

"You're hopeless. Yamashita." Manabe signaled to Yamashita.

The three girls in Manabe's group couldn't swallow the humiliation of Rika being bullied, so they approached Hirata, falsely claimed to be very good friends with Karuizawa, and asked him to invite her to the deck to catch up.

Troubled over having "sacrificed" Horikita on the deserted island, Hirata did as they asked without giving it much thought. Then Manabe persuaded him to leave on the pretext that the girls wanted to have a private chat, leaving Karuizawa in danger.

As for how Manabe had suddenly become clever? All one could say was that people were very patient when doing bad things.

"Hirata? Hirata, where are you?" Karuizawa called for Hirata on the deck.

"We meet again, you bitch." Manabe and Yamashita rushed forward and restrained Karuizawa.

"L-let go of me. Why is it you? Where's Hirata?" Karuizawa's voice trembled a little.

"Him? That idiot actually took my word for everything," Manabe said mockingly.

"Weren't you acting all high and mighty at the cake shop?!" Yamashita grabbed Karuizawa by the hair.

"Rika, come slap her," Manabe continued urging.

"No... don't..." Tears of terror streamed down Karuizawa's face.

"Rika, slap her." "Slap her!" "Hurry up, Rika."

The three girls' words kept goading Morofushi Rika. She felt deeply tormented, but in the end, she slowly reached out and lightly touched Karuizawa's face.

"Harder, Rika. Think about that arrogant look on her face after she knocked you down." Seeing Rika like that only made Manabe angrier.

"I... I..."

Morofushi had no choice but to strike her again, a tiny bit harder than before.

"Sukai, show her how it's done." Manabe couldn't stand it anymore.

"I think you'd better let her go."

Lezheng had just walked Shiina back to her room and planned to come out for some fresh air, only to run into something this outrageous the moment he arrived.

"You're from Class A. I'd advise you to mind your own business." Manabe's gaze sharpened.

"Do you know who you're talking to?" Lezheng asked sternly.

"I think he's on the Student Council," Yamashita whispered in Manabe's ear.

"You know I'm on the Student Council, and you still won't let go?"

Yamashita let go first. After considerable hesitation, Manabe released her too. The instant they let go, Karuizawa threw herself into Lezheng's arms and burst into loud sobs.

"This hearing is now in session." Lezheng took out his phone, started recording, and set it beside him.

In fact, Lezheng knew what had led up to this, but for the sake of fairness, he needed those involved to tell him themselves. He could also use the time while they spoke to work out what responsibility each person should bear.

"...That's what happened." Yamashita finished explaining the circumstances.

"Manabe Shiho, you're the principal offender, the main person who planned this bullying. Yamashita and Sukai, you're accomplices. Karuizawa and Morofushi, you're both victims and perpetrators. I can't decide the punishment for this unilaterally. I'll report everything to the school as it happened."

"What makes her a victim? Are you saying she did nothing wrong?" Manabe protested loudly.

"Karuizawa will receive the punishment she deserves too. Every one of you is at fault. I'm very fair," Lezheng corrected Manabe.

"As long as you don't favor her because of her pretty face."

There wasn't a trace of fear in Manabe's voice.

Lezheng stopped the recording on his phone and looked calmly at Manabe.

"Now let's talk about personal matters."