The next morning, on the open-air lounge area of the cruise ship's top deck.
Natsukawa Sosuke leisurely walked to the railing, where Horikita Suzune had been waiting for a long time.
She still had her usual 'keep-away' demeanor today, arms crossed, staring at the distant horizon. But the moment she saw Natsukawa appear, her tense shoulders noticeably relaxed a bit.
"You're too slow," she complained coldly, handing him an unopened bottle of mineral water.
"There are still two minutes until the agreed time. I'd say you arrived too early."
Natsukawa didn't stand on ceremony. He twisted open the bottle, took a sip, then leaned against the railing and turned his head to look at her.
"So, Horikita-san, why did you call me to a place that looks like a confession spot so early in the morning? Do you have any instructions for me?"
"...Don't make such boring jokes."
Horikita Suzune glared at him, then, with a serious expression, said, "I wanted to ask you what you think about this'Special Treatment' exam?"
Compared to Horikita's battle-ready stance, Natsukawa's attitude was overly relaxed.
"How do I see it? With my eyes, of course."
He shrugged, his tone casual: "It's just a welfare program. As long as you don't do anything stupid, even if you do nothing at all, it's an exam that can be passed smoothly."
"Welfare program?"
Horikita's brows furrowed, clearly unable to comprehend such optimism. "How can an exam involving millions of points flowing around be welfare? Are you... already certain of victory?"
Her sharp eyes fixed on Natsukawa, trying to find some clue on his face.
"I just have a bit of an idea."
No sooner had he spoken than the terminals in both their pockets vibrated almost simultaneously.
Eight o'clock sharp. The school's notification email arrived on time.
Natsukawa pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.
"[Unfortunately, you have not been selected as a'Special Treatment' student for this exam. The exam begins at 1 PM. Please gather in the Rabbit Room on the 5th floor in time.]"
'As expected.'
He turned his phone screen towards Horikita.
"Looks like luck didn't fall on me."
Horikita Suzune also glanced at her phone, then showed it to Natsukawa, her expression somewhat solemn.
"Me neither."
"Since neither of us is, we can only wait and see."
Horikita Suzune bit her lip, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of her phone, appearing somewhat anxious.
"Wait and see... If we don't take the initiative, then people from other classes might figure out a strategy to clear the exam, and then the gap we worked so hard to narrow will widen again..."
Just as Horikita was lost in thought, a presumptuous greeting suddenly came from the entrance of the lounge area.
"Isn't this our great genius Suzune? Meeting a man so early in the morning, how leisurely you are."
Ryuuen Kakeru walked over, hands in his pockets, smiling. Behind him were Albert and Ibuki Mio, like bodyguards.
Although he scored zero points in the deserted island exam, this did not diminish Ryuuen's arrogant attitude in the slightest. On the contrary, his eyes were now even more sinister, like a venomous snake that had locked onto its prey.
"Ryuuen."
Horikita Suzune's face instantly darkened. "You're not welcome here, and don't call me by my first name."
"Don't be so cold, Suzune."
Ryuuen Kakeru ignored her warning and walked straight up to her.
He leaned in slightly, his gaze lewd and teasing, openly scanning Horikita's body up and down.
"Although you played a trick on me in the exam, I'm a very generous person."
"Ibuki told me that you lost a 'very important' personal item on the deserted island. The dignified leader of Class D couldn't even keep track of her own underwear and had to retrieve it from a boy's bag. How does that feel, Suzune?"
"You—!!"
Horikita Suzune's originally cold and beautiful face instantly flushed crimson with shame and anger. Her black eyes seemed to be spitting fire.
Just as she was about to lose control and retort, her peripheral vision caught Natsukawa's gaze from the side.
This glance brought Horikita's rationality back to the forefront, and she instantly calmed down.
Ryuuen's current behavior was clearly meant to provoke her, to find a weakness in her reaction.
Horikita took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in her heart, and returned Ryuuen's gaze with a cold stare.
"Is this the method of a Class C leader? Only resorting to such low-class tactics to gain a verbal advantage." She said coldly, "If you think this can provoke me, then you're too naive."
"Hoh?"
"Not a bad reaction."
"However, this also confirms my conjecture."
"According to Ibuki's observations during those few days, besides setting up that childish points incentive system in the camp, you were completely like a headless fly, not only getting sick but also being isolated. Aside from hiding well, there was no sign of you strategizing."
Ryuuen Kakeru lowered his voice, his tone filled with a chilling certainty.
"But the final result was a complete victory for Class D. Someone who only hides like a turtle cannot be the ultimate winner."
"Since the Horikita Suzune on the surface is useless, that can only prove one thing—"
His gaze passed over Horikita's shoulder, looking at the boundless sea behind her.
"Behind you, there's another mysterious person hidden."
The air seemed to freeze at this moment.
Horikita Suzune's heart skipped a beat. She instinctively wanted to look at Natsukawa, but rationality told her that doing so would only expose more.
He reached out and patted Horikita's stiff shoulder, his tone like he was praising a well-behaved child.
"Hide well, Suzune. Don't let me find you too quickly. If I catch that rat hiding in the gutter, he's definitely not going to have a good time."
With that, he burst into laughter and turned to leave with his two followers... At 1 PM, Natsukawa Sosuke and Kiyotaka Ayanokoji arrived at the Rabbit Room on the 5th floor right on time.
Pushing open the door, a cool blast of air greeted them.
A circular long table stood in the center of the room, already occupied by quite a few people.
"Ah! Natsukawa-kun! Kiyotaka Ayanokoji!"
As soon as they entered, an energetic voice rang out. Ichinose, sitting in the middle, was waving at them.
Natsukawa walked straight to the empty seat beside Ichinose and sat down.
"What a coincidence, Honami. It seems we're destined."
"Hehe, yeah. Seeing Natsukawa-kun here makes me feel much more at ease." Ichinose scratched her cheek a little shyly, that naturally expressed intimacy drawing envious and jealous glances from several boys around them.
Ayanokoji, like an invisible person, silently sat down on Natsukawa's other side.
Soon, students from all four classes arrived one after another.
Besides the four from Class D, Class B consisted of Ichinose and her two followers, Class C had four girls, one of whom was their old friend Ibuki Mio. Class A was a trio of three boys.
With everyone present, Ichinose was the first to speak.
"Um, everyone, since we'll be spending the next four days together, why don't we get to know each other first?"
She proactively took on the role of moderator. "If you don't mind, I'll host this discussion. What do you all think? If anyone feels it's not suitable, please speak up."
Her response was silence.
"Since everyone agrees, shall we start with self-introductions?" Ichinose suggested with a smile. "I'll go first. I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B..."
"Wait a minute."
A harsh voice interrupted her. Machida Koji from Class A, arms crossed, said, "Self-introductions aren't necessary, are they? It's a complete waste of time. We just need to sit here for an hour, right?"
"But..." Ichinose wasn't angry; instead, she spoke calmly, "Machida-kun, the rules clearly state that group members need to introduce themselves during the first discussion."
"If we don't do it at all, and the school judges it as a passive participation in the exam, we might be penalized, you know? For everyone's safety, even if it's just a formality, I suggest we all cooperate."
Machida Koji was left speechless by this explanation.
With Class A's compromise, the remaining self-introduction segment proceeded smoothly. Even the cold-faced Ibuki stated her name under everyone's gaze.
The first round of ice-breaking ended, and Ichinose immediately struck while the iron was hot.
"Everyone, now that we all know each other, I'd like to make a suggestion."
Her eyes became serious as she scanned everyone.
"I think everyone has read the rules. For all of us, the most ideal outcome is undoubtedly 'Result One.'"
"That means everyone answers correctly, and by the end of the exam, all of us will receive an additional 500,000 points. This is not just a win-win, but a multi-win. As long as we work together..."
"I refuse."
Machida Koji interrupted her again. "Our Class A's policy has been decided. That is—absolute silence."
"As long as none of us speak, communicate, or reveal any information to anyone, the identity of the Special Treatment student will absolutely not be exposed. This is the optimal solution for this exam."
At this point, he waved his hand, signaling to the two Class A students beside him.
"Let's go."
The three of them went directly to the sofas on the other side of the room, adopting an attitude of "refusing to communicate."
Ichinose tried to persuade them further, but no matter how she appealed to their emotions or logic, the three Class A students remained unmoved.
The situation reached a stalemate.
In the time that followed, although Ichinose still attempted to initiate dialogue by uniting Class C and Class D, the discussion became meaningless due to Class A's refusal to cooperate.
Soon, the one-hour discussion time ended.
Everyone gradually began to leave on their own.
Karuizawa planned to return to her cabin dormitory and continue chatting online with her classmates.
"Ah—it's finally over!"
However, just as she hurriedly walked out the door, preparing to leave.
Three figures silently blocked her path.
"Hey, are you Karuizawa?"
The leading Class C girl, Manabe Shiho, stood with her arms crossed, staring at Karuizawa.
"Just a moment of your time. Let's chat."
Karuizawa was forced to stop, her body stiffening slightly as she looked at the three ill-intentioned Class C girls in front of her.
"Huh? Who are you guys?"
She maintained her arrogant facade, chin raised. "I have things to do, no time to waste with you. Move aside!"
"We have something to ask you. We'll leave once we've cleared it up."
"Back at school, was it you... who bullied Rika from our class?"