Natsukawa returned to the Class D camp and walked straight to the cave with the curtain.
Pushing aside the curtain, the light inside the cave was dim, with only a faint fire emitting a soft glow. Horikita Suzune was leaning against the rock wall, resting with her eyes closed. Even while resting, her back remained perfectly straight.
Hearing footsteps, she opened her eyes.
Compared to how she looked two days ago, her complexion was noticeably rosier now.
'It seems the ginger tea and wild mint worked well, or maybe it's just the advantage of a young body.'
"How do you feel?"
"Much better, thanks to your strange herbs."
"That's the wisdom of wilderness survival."
Natsukawa Sosuke didn't dwell on the topic and cut straight to the chase.
"Class C has already all withdrawn to the cruise ship."
"...What?"
"It must have happened today."
Horikita Suzune lowered her head, lost in thought.
"Since Class C has withdrawn, our 'guest' from Class C in our camp is in a very delicate situation."
"Are you referring to Ibuki Mio?"
"Exactly. If she was truly kicked out by Class C, and now Class C has all withdrawn, even abandoning the exam to enjoy life, then there's no reason for her to continue suffering on this deserted island."
"When we have dinner later, you should bring this up in class," Natsukawa Sosuke suggested. "Say that Class C's base is empty and propose that Ibuki also return to the ship."
"If she has nothing to hide, she will naturally leave for a comfortable environment. But if she makes excuses to stay..."
"Then it proves she has a mission that she must complete by staying."
"I understand. This is a good opportunity to prove her motive."
...Dinner time.
Horikita Suzune, who had been hiding in the cave eating alone, came out for the first time in a while.
Her appearance surprised the Class D students, as this high-and-mighty girl had rarely shown her face these past few days.
Horikita Suzune walked straight to Hirata Yosuke and cleared her throat, making sure her voice could be heard by those around her.
"Hirata, I have something to announce."
The noisy chatter gradually quieted down, and everyone's gaze focused on her.
"According to the information our reconnaissance team brought back, Class C's camp is completely empty... They most likely all applied to withdraw and have returned to the cruise ship."
"Eh?!"
"Really? All of them withdrew?"
"Then they've given up on the exam, haven't they?"
A commotion immediately broke out among the crowd. Everyone was shocked by Class C's actions.
Just then, an untimely voice suddenly rang out.
"In that case, can't Ibuki also go back to the ship?"
Yamauchi Haruki said enviously, chewing on roasted fish, "Anyway, all the Class C people are gone, and all their points have been deducted. Even if she goes back, she won't cause any more losses to the class. Tsk tsk, that's great, I also want to go back and enjoy air conditioning and a big bed..."
These words were originally just Yamauchi Haruki's thoughtless casual complaint.
However, Ibuki Mio, who was sitting at the edge of the camp, eating silently with her head down, suddenly stiffened the moment she heard those words.
Ibuki Mio suddenly stood up, transforming into a raging beast in an instant, like a centenarian.
"I'm truly sorry for staying in your class!"
She stared directly at Yamauchi Haruki, "I'm leaving right now! So you don't have to keep being sarcastic, talking as if I'm staying here as a spy!"
"Whoever wants to stay in this cursed place can stay! I don't care for it!"
After saying that, she didn't even look at anyone, turned around, and rushed towards the tent area where the luggage was kept, as if to pack her things and leave immediately.
"Hey... Ibuki-san!"
Kushida Kikyo, who had been watching, quickly rushed over and grabbed Ibuki's arm.
"Calm down! Yamauchi-kun didn't mean it!" Kushida Kikyo said with an apologetic look. "He's just outspoken; he didn't actually mean to drive you away!"
"That's right, Ibuki-san." Hirata Yosuke also quickly stood up and blocked Ibuki's path. "It's already dark, and the forest is dangerous. Even if you want to leave, wait until tomorrow morning. It's too unsafe to walk at night so late."
Under their combined persuasion, she stopped, turned her head, and glared fiercely at Yamauchi Haruki with an expression that seemed ready to devour him.
"Hmph!"
She let out an angry snort and shook off Kushida's hand.
"I'm not eating!"
After throwing out that remark, she didn't return to the crowd but angrily stormed into the girls' tent and zipped it up.
The dinner commotion thus ended in an awkward atmosphere.
Natsukawa Sosuke felt the card tucked into the inner pocket of his tracksuit.
'Looks like I can't sleep too soundly tonight.'
...The next morning.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced through the trees and shone into the camp, Ibuki Mio was already gone; she must have left.
Natsukawa Sosuke slowly walked out of the camp, preparing to take Ayanokoji for today's "morning exercise."
Just then, an unexpected person approached him.
Horikita Suzune.
Her expression today was a bit off.
Her usually icy face was now tinged with a very unnatural blush.
She pulled Natsukawa aside, looked left and right, and after confirming that no one was paying attention to them, she leaned in closer.
"My... that thing is missing."
"Which one?"
Horikita Suzune's face instantly turned crimson. She gritted her teeth, as if making a huge decision, and squeezed out a few words.
"My spare... panties."
After saying these words, she immediately stepped back half a pace, her usually sharp eyes now filled with a mix of shame and suspicion, staring intently at Natsukawa.
"Was it you... who took them in the middle of the night yesterday when I wasn't paying attention?"
"Horikita," Natsukawa Sosuke sighed, lowering his voice, "You know me. If I wanted to, I'd go for the real thing."
Horikita Suzune's face flushed even more at his words. "Then... then I don't care. Anyway, you have to find them for me."
Natsukawa felt that she was somewhat delirious from her fever, starting to act unreasonably with him.
However, Natsukawa had anticipated this. He had Horikita take the lead yesterday precisely to anchor Ibuki's anger towards Horikita, who had asked her to leave.
If Ibuki had made a last-ditch effort, rummaging through people's bags in the middle of the night for the leader card, and incidentally put Karuizawa Kei's or Shinohara Satsuki's panties in the boys' area, the camp would have exploded by now. Only someone with Horikita's personality would choose to endure silently and investigate privately first.
"Wait here. I'll go get them back for you."
"You... you know where they are?"
"I can probably guess."
Natsukawa Sosuke gave her a reassuring look, then turned and walked towards the area where the boys were gathered.
He first approached Ike Kanji.
"Yo, Ike." Natsukawa Sosuke patted his shoulder. "I can't seem to find my flashlight. Did I accidentally put it in your bag last night? Could you please check for me?"
"Huh? Flashlight?" Ike Kanji didn't think much of it. He went back to his tent, casually unzipped his backpack, and rummaged through it. "No, there's only my own stuff. Natsukawa, are you mistaken?"
"Is that so? Then I might have misremembered."
Natsukawa Sosuke didn't dwell on it, his gaze naturally shifting to Yamauchi Haruki, who looked quite content nearby.
"Yamauchi, then it might be with you. Yesterday, I might have mistaken your bag and put the flashlight in it. Could you get it for me?"
"Eh? My bag?"
Yamauchi Haruki was startled. Although he found it a bit strange, he didn't suspect anything.
"Really, how could you be so careless?"
He grumbled as he unzipped his backpack.
"Where is it... the flashlight... the flashlight..."
Yamauchi Haruki's hand fumbled in the bag. Suddenly, his fingers touched a soft, silky piece of fabric that clearly didn't belong to outdoor survival gear.
(Hmm? What's this texture?)
He lowered his head in confusion and pulled out a bit of the item.
In the morning light, a pure white piece of fabric came into view.
"!!!"
Yamauchi Haruki's eyes almost popped out.
Th-these are... girl's panties?!
Just a second before he was about to exclaim, a hand suddenly pressed on his shoulder.
"Shhh—don't make a sound."
Yamauchi Haruki shivered and stiffly turned his head to look at Natsukawa.
After a few seconds of short-circuiting in his brain, Yamauchi Haruki suddenly understood.
Yamauchi Haruki looked at Natsukawa's face, which now seemed somewhat familiar to him, and a lewd smile gradually appeared on his face.
He nudged Natsukawa's ribs with his elbow, lowering his voice, speaking like a fellow conspirator. "Hehehe... Natsukawa, I didn't realize it." He winked, "You, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, are playing such dirty tricks? This is a serious crime, a serious crime!"
"But..." He changed his tone, showing an expression that all men understood, "I'm not the kind of person who lacks loyalty. This thing... hehe, whose is it?"
"Stop talking nonsense. Now, give me back that white 'flashlight.' It's not safe to keep it with you."
"Understood! I understand everything!"
Yamauchi Haruki immediately caught on. He quickly looked left and right, confirmed no one was paying attention, then swiftly pulled the white fabric out of his bag and slipped it into Natsukawa's hand.
"Here, take it, don't lose it again. Hehehe..."
"Thanks."
He patted Yamauchi's shoulder and calmly turned to leave under the guy's meaningful gaze.
'What an incorrigible idiot. But thanks to that, it saved me a lot of explaining.'
Natsukawa Sosuke walked out of the boys' camp area. Horikita Suzune was anxiously pacing in place. Seeing Natsukawa approach, she immediately went to meet him.
"H-how was it?" she asked nervously.
Although she had asked Natsukawa for help, her rational mind told her that finding something deliberately hidden, in such a short time and without any clues, was almost impossible.
However, Natsukawa Sosuke simply calmly reached into his pocket, pulled out the white item, and handed it to her.
"Here. Returned to its rightful owner."
Horikita Suzune stared at the item, which was indeed hers, completely stunned.
(Only a few minutes have passed? Not even ten minutes!)
(How did he find it so quickly? Could it be... he really took it?)
She looked up, her gaze at Natsukawa extremely complex, filled with scrutiny and a hint of disgust.
"Where... where did you find it?" she asked, reaching out to take it.
"In Yamauchi's bag."
"Yamauchi?!"
She looked at the fabric in her hand, as if it no longer belonged to her.
"Don't worry, he didn't know. I made him take it out," Natsukawa explained. "Ibuki probably put it in there deliberately because she was annoyed with Yamauchi."
Hearing this, Horikita Suzune's expression improved slightly.
She had originally intended to retrieve it, as she hadn't brought many clothes to the island, but the thought of what this piece of fabric had been through made her feel uncomfortable all over.
"...Understood."
She replied coldly, then, like throwing trash, shoved it deep into her pants pocket.
"Don't tell anyone about this."
Leaving this warning, Horikita Suzune turned and walked away without looking back.
......
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