7:30 PM.
After enduring seven days of survival on a deserted island, most of the students had returned to their rooms early to rest.
This left the usually bustling hot spring bathhouse feeling somewhat empty and desolate.
As Natsukawa reached the entrance of the changing room, his terminal vibrated in his pocket.
It was a new message from Kikyo.
"
"I'm already waiting for you, hurry up and come~ (heart)"
Natsukawa tapped on the image. It was a selfie taken in the changing room. Kikyo was wearing a light pink halter bikini. Though the fabric was minimal, it perfectly accentuated her impressive figure. She was slightly turned to the side, holding her phone with one hand and playfully making a V-sign with the other, a sweet, glacier-melting smile on her face.
Her fair, delicate skin shimmered with an ivory glow under the lights, and the heavy swell of her chest was clearly indented by the edge of her swimsuit.
'What a tormenting little temptress.'
He casually replied with "On my way," then entered the men's changing room, put on his swimming trunks, and walked into the bathhouse.
Sure enough, in that secluded hot spring pool, that figure was leaning back in the water.
Hearing footsteps, Kushida Kikyo looked up, "Sōsuke-kun! Over here! Over here!"
She waved her hand like a puppy seeing its owner, and with the movement of her body, the waves beneath the surface surged.
Natsukawa unhurriedly entered the water. The warm spring water enveloped his entire body, and every pore rejoiced. He found a comfortable spot opposite Kushida, leaned back, and let out a long sigh.
"Hoo... that feels good."
"You've worked hard, great hero."
Kushida paddled over and sat close to Natsukawa. Her skin subtly brushed against Natsukawa's arm in the water.
"Hey, Sōsuke-kun, can you tell me?"
She blinked her big eyes, her voice sweet and cloying.
"How did you manage to get so many points in this exam? Was it really Horikita-san's credit alone?"
Natsukawa glanced at her sideways.
Although her face wore an admiring and curious smile, the hint of eagerness and jealousy deep in her eyes couldn't be hidden. Horikita Suzune's moment in the spotlight clearly displeased her.
"What are you talking about, Kushida?"
Natsukawa leaned back lazily, resting his hands on the rocks by the pool, and said with a matter-of-fact expression.
"Of course, it was Horikita's credit. Although that girl has a difficult personality, her mind is sharp. All the plans were formulated by her; I was just an executor."
"Liar~"
Kushida puffed out her cheeks and drew circles on Natsukawa's firm chest with one finger.
"You can fool the other idiots in class with that, but you can't fool me. Sōsuke-kun must have done a lot of work behind the scenes, right? Am I right?"
Her fingertip slowly slid down along the muscle, carrying a hint of provocation and a touch of probing.
"Sigh, I can't do anything with you."
Natsukawa feigned a helpless sigh and grabbed her mischievous hand under the water.
"Actually, it's nothing major. Besides the class's internal frugality, it was just working like an ox every day. To seize those strongholds, I had to run half a circle around the island every day. You saw how much darker my skin got these past few days."
"As for Ryuuen being the leader…" Natsukawa shrugged, "Pure dumb luck."
"On the sixth day, I found traces of a fire deep in the island. I thought, who would be so bored as to really try to survive in the wilderness? Besides the unusually behaving Class C, there's no one else, right?"
"So I just randomly filled in Ryuuen. There's no loss if I was wrong, I'd just consider the days I ran for nothing. If I was right, it's a huge profit."
"Oh—so that's how it was."
Kushida drew out the end of her sentence. On the surface, she seemed to accept the explanation, but inwardly, she sneered.
'Guessing? This guy... not a single truthful word comes out of his mouth.'
However, she didn't expose him. Instead, she took the opportunity to press her body even closer. Her soft, ample curves pressed tightly against Natsukawa's arm.
"Sōsuke-kun is really amazing... running so much every day must be exhausting, right?"
She had Natsukawa turn his back to her, then placed her hands on his shoulders and began to gently massage him.
"See, your muscles are so stiff. Let me help you relax~"
The pressure was moderate, and the technique was professional. Putting aside her ulterior motives, she was a good woman.
"Does it feel good?" Kushida whispered in his ear, her warm breath caressing his neck.
"Mm, not bad." Natsukawa closed his eyes and enjoyed it.
"Hey... Sōsuke-kun."
Feeling that the moment was right, Kushida's voice suddenly deepened, carrying a hint of subtle grievance.
"You did most of the work, but Horikita-san took all the credit. I feel it's unfair to you."
"And... Horikita-san's attitude in class has been getting more and more arrogant lately. Everyone is getting a bit fed up. If you could just slightly... curb her arrogance in front of everyone, or tell the truth, everyone would definitely support you more."
The dagger was revealed.
Ultimately, she couldn't stand Horikita Suzune being in the spotlight. She wanted to use Natsukawa's hand to suppress Horikita, or even destroy her.
Natsukawa knew this perfectly well, but his expression remained calm.
"Is that so? I think Horikita is doing quite well."
His tone was flat, as if he completely missed Kushida's hint.
"As a leader, a little arrogance is normal. As long as she can lead the class to victory, don't fuss over such minor things. You should be more magnanimous, Kushida-san."
"…"
The massaging motion from behind suddenly paused.
Immediately after, those originally gentle hands suddenly increased their force. Her thumbs pressed fiercely into the depths of Natsukawa's trapezius, not massaging at all, but rather trying to dig her nails into his flesh in a fit of anger.
"Magnanimous?"
Kushida's voice changed.
The sweet facade instantly peeled away, replaced by a chilling venom and resentment.
"You want me to be magnanimous towards that bitch?"
She no longer concealed it, directly leaning onto Natsukawa's back, her lips pressed against his ear, and spoke viciously in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Hey, Natsukawa. Have you forgotten our agreement?"
"You said you'd watch over me. You said you'd be on my side. But what are you doing now? Acting like a loyal dog helping that woman? Helping her establish authority?"
"Why are you helping that reclusive girl who knows nothing but studying? What about her is better than me? Huh?!"
Her emotions were somewhat out of control.
These past few days, especially after the exam ended and they returned to the ship, the jealousy and dissatisfaction accumulated from the class's praise of Horikita all burst forth at this moment, fueled by the warmth of the hot spring. Why could she be welcomed unconditionally, without any pretense? Why did someone want to help her even though she was so reclusive? Why?!
Natsukawa didn't turn around, he merely reached out and grabbed the hand that was currently pinching his neck, twisted it slightly, and removed it.
"Because she's useful."
"To graduate from Class A, Horikita Suzune's abilities are indispensable. No matter how much you dislike her, that is an objective fact."
"I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear such bullshit excuses!"
Kushida violently shook off his hand, stood up, and splashed water everywhere.
"Useful? I'm useful too! I can help you too! Why won't you help me destroy her?!"
"Could it be... you've fallen for that woman?"
She looked down at Natsukawa, her adorable face now slightly twisted by jealousy, her chest heaving violently, large expanses of pale skin dazzling under the lights.
"If that's the case... then what am I? Am I just a toy for you to pass the time when you're bored?"
"Since you like helping her so much, then go live with her! Don't come looking for me!"
Natsukawa sighed inwardly, 'As expected of Little Angel.' If Natsukawa had panicked at this moment, started coaxing her, and explained that he had no relationship with Horikita, then he would have lost. He would gradually lose the initiative in this relationship.
But who was Natsukawa?
He slowly rose from the water. The advantage of his height created an immense sense of pressure before Kushida.
He didn't coax Kushida, nor did he offer a single explanation.
He merely stared at her coldly with his unfathomable black eyes.
"Have you made enough of a scene?"
His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Kushida's momentum instantly faltered. She had expected Natsukawa to get angry or try to appease her, but she had never anticipated this kind of look, as if he were looking at trash.
"Kushida Kikyo."
Natsukawa called her full name for the first time. He reached out, not to embrace her, but to pinch her chin with two fingers, forcing her to look up.
"Understand your current position."
"I tolerate your little tantrums because I find them cute. But that doesn't mean you can take this leniency as capital for wanton behavior."
"I said I would watch over you, that's correct. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be a dog."
His fingers tightened slightly, causing Kushida a pang of pain.
"Horikita is useful, so I use her. If you want to prove you're more valuable than her, then use actions to please me, instead of throwing a tantrum like a shrew."
"That... is very ugly. Understand?"
Kushida stared at him blankly, the anger in her eyes gradually replaced by another emotion.
In front of this man, her proud acting, her charm, and even her body, seemed to have lost their invincible magic.
"...Hmph!"
She violently slapped Natsukawa's hand away and stepped back.
"Natsukawa-kun is a big idiot! I hate you the most!"
With that, she turned and left.
This was the final test.
She was gambling, betting that Natsukawa would chase after her and stop her. If he chased after her, it would mean he still cared, and she would have a chance to turn things around.
One step, two steps, three steps... until she climbed out of the pool and entered the changing room passage, there was still no sound of water behind her.
That man hadn't even moved a muscle.
The changing room curtain fell, completely blocking the view.
Kushida Kikyo's expression instantly became incredibly distorted. She furiously kicked the locker, making a loud "clang".
"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!!!"
"Since you value Horikita so much... then I'll destroy her! And I'll destroy you along with her!"
"I'll make you regret it... Natsukawa Sosuke! I'll make you beg on your knees!"
...