Narrator: Shikakoi Souta
The announcement came suddenly over the ship's intercom. "Everyone, please change into your tracksuits and appear on the deck within 30 minutes for an important briefing. Please be sure to bring your luggage as well."
Murmurs spread throughout the ship. I got ready quickly and reached the deck five minutes after the announcement.
The ship was approaching an island. Uncivilized, or so it appeared.
I spotted Katsuragi staring intently at the island. Despite Totsuka bothering him, he asked for silence so he could observe properly.
Katsuragi seems pretty lenient with Totsuka...
As everyone slowly gathered on deck and caught sight of the island, surprise rippled through the crowd.
"This island is beautiful!"
"Is this what they meant when they talked about fun?"
"This is amazing! I'll be able to play on the beach!"
"The girls in swimsuits will be epic."
"Hey! Don't jinx it!"
"Would we be able to go fishing here?"
"If it's allowed, I'll join you too."
"Tree climbing, huh? It's been so long since I last did that..."
The chatter continued, but I was studying the island carefully, committing its layout to memory. Navigation would be difficult otherwise.
Phones might be allowed, but it's better not to count on it...
With that thought, I began paying closer attention to the island's features. I wasn't the only one—Ayanokoji was doing the same, as was Sakayanagi. Most others were simply staring in awe and amazement.
As the ship reached the island, we were told to line up for luggage inspection.
The strange part was that many items, including most digital equipment, were confiscated. Phones were strictly forbidden. I paid 10,000 private points silently just to keep my camera. When I asked about keeping my phone, they quoted 10 million points.
I thought about it and decided that keeping the phone wasn't worth 10,000 points, let alone 10 million, and headed onto the island without it.
After some time, Mashima-sensei spoke again. "From this moment onwards, the Island Exam will commence."
x-x-x
After the rules explanation, our class scouted the area and found a good spot to set up camp.
Ichinose suddenly pulled me aside. "Do you think we should try to save more class points?"
"Our class's strength is unity," I said. "I don't think we should damage that for one opportunity. We have three years ahead of us, after all."
"Yeah... You're right." Ichinose nodded, making up her mind.
Then she asked, "What should we do about the leader?"
"Have the class choose four people as a leader group. Those four will decide the actual leader amongst themselves."
"Should we keep the leader's identity hidden from the class?"
"Yes. Otherwise everyone's reactions will make the leader obvious. Also, make one of the other three members the vice leader—someone who'll be introduced to the class as the actual leader and will manage logistics. If possible, let Kanzaki bear that responsibility."
"You've given this considerable thought."
"Yeah, I have... Then, I'll head out to scout around."
"Okay! Good luck!"
With that, I left.
x-x-x
I arrived at Sakayanagi's camp. The location didn't have a water source nearby.
With Sakayanagi around, figuring out the leader will be difficult. And Class A seems to be in turmoil...
It appeared that Katsuragi had wanted to claim the cave spot and had almost struck a deal with Ryuen, if not for Hashimoto stopping him under Sakayanagi's orders. That was the cause of the argument currently unfolding.
The fight consisted mostly of Totsuka cursing while Katsuragi tried to talk sense into him, all while Sakayanagi glared at Katsuragi, infuriating him further.
The reason for the fight is understandable. But this feels a little too excessive.
Then I noticed that Sakayanagi was holding the keycard, though it was partially obscured by her cane. I barely managed to take a good enough photo to know the leader's name without making a sound.
Good thing she doesn't know I brought an exceptional camera.
With that, I left my eavesdropping position and continued scouting, eventually running into Class D's base. They were setting up their tents, and I walked directly toward Hirata.
"Yo, Hirata-kun. Doing well?"
"Shikakoi-kun... Yeah! We're doing just fine... How is your class doing?" His voice was as calm and peaceful as always.
Is he not the least bit angry about last time? I guess he thought of it as me letting them off easy for breaking school rules.
"Yeah, our class is doing well. Since I'm here, I wanted to talk. Our classes are allied at the moment, so I believe we should refrain from guessing each other's leaders."
"I understand."
Everyone else was listening intently to our conversation, even Horikita. But seeing that I hadn't said anything problematic, she simply observed.
"Well then, I'm heading back to our camp. Would you send someone with me to scout Class C's camp? Then they can learn the location of our camp as well."
"Ayanokoji-kun, Horikita-san... Would you like to go with him?" Hirata asked.
"Why me?" Ayanokoji asked.
"Horikita-san seems a little sick, and you're the most familiar with her condition."
"WAIT! Suzune's sick?" Sudo shouted.
"It's not that big a deal," Horikita said, irritated.
"It's a huge deal," I interjected. "If you have to withdraw, you'll lose class points."
"It's not your problem, Shikakoi-kun." Her gaze was intense.
"Okay. Then let's go..." I said.
The trio left for Class C's camp at the rumored location—the cave.
After reaching the camp, it was as if Ryuen wanted to be noticed as their leader.
Just to be safe, I used my camera secretly and took a photo with the leader's keycard visible, then put the camera back into my pocket without making a sound.
"I guess this much is enough..." Horikita said.
"Yeah," Ayanokoji agreed.
"Let me show you both to Class B's base," I said, leading them toward my class's camp.
They both followed, and Horikita said, "Ryuen was holding the keycard..."
"Yeah. And everyone seemed pretty much okay with him being the leader," I replied.
"I don't think everyone would agree," Ayanokoji said.
"They'd have to, or else they'd just get beaten up and kicked out."
"And even when they do get kicked out, they wouldn't be able to go back to their ship," Horikita added.
"I don't think it's that simple," I said.
"Maybe." He replied.
Horikita seemed to be in a bad mood after this, though I didn't think she was angry at us specifically.
Anyway, when I reached Class B's base, I went straight into the boys' tent and went to lie down to rest, leaving the talks to Ichinose.
After I heard them leave, I relaxed, came out, and started assisting the class.
x-x-x
Narrator: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka
When we were watching Ryuen sitting at the cave entrance while everyone else worked, Souta had sneaked a picture.
So he brought a camera too. But won't the image be insufficient to guess the true leader's name?
And by his tone, it seems as if he already knows Ryuen's plan...
I guess I need to keep an eye on him...
x-x-x
Narrator: Shikakoi Souta
Ichinose's arrangements were impressive. She had bought a toilet.
She placed a tent in front of the shower(constructed with cardboard walls) to make entering and changing clothes easier and more private. As such, she bought three more tents: two for sleeping, one for the shower.
In total, we had four tents to sleep in.
Along with that, two meals would be purchased daily for the first two days, and based on the response, we'd decide whether to buy three or two meals daily for the rest of the exam.
Based on the calculations, we'd be able to save 182 class points.
However, on the first evening, an injured Kaneda from Class C was brought in by another scouting group. Kaneda helped around a lot.
As long as he helped, I had no problem keeping him.
Him being a spy was no problem, as long as we hid the keycard correctly.
The vice-leader, Kanzaki, kept the keycard with him. The actual leader remained hidden beside Kanzaki while claiming our spot, surrounded by our classmates. Kanzaki always appeared to be the one claiming our spot, no matter how one looked at it, but the hand holding the card was hidden, and it belonged to the actual leader.
After that, all it took was warning Ichinose about never leaving the keycard unattended, and Kaneda would never know the actual leader.
Kaneda told Ichinose that he and Ibuki had rebelled against Ryuen, but he couldn't tell us the reason. After they voiced their opinions despite Ryuen's orders, they were beaten up by Albert and kicked out of their camp.
No matter how absurd it seemed to everyone else, to Ichinose and Kanzaki—who knew from me that Ryuen was blatantly displaying himself as leader despite actually being one—it made sense why Kaneda would rebel.
x-x-x
Narrator: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka
After scouting Ryuen's base with Souta, I knew that if I didn't follow Shikakoi around, I would miss something important.
With that thought, I decided to tail Souta from above in the trees. He seemed to be roaming around at first, then something caught his eye and he started sneaking around. It seemed he was following someone.
That's Totsuka, from Class A... Why is Shikakoi following him?
The reason I wanted to follow him was something I couldn't put my finger on. Maybe curiosity, or my gut instinct, or maybe both.
But I followed him day after day, until on the fifth day, he came to my camp to meet me and took me somewhere private, four hours before the time he usually tailed Totsuka.
x-x-x
Narrator: Kaneda (Class C)
Even though Ryuen-san told me that failure was expected, I still didn't want to disappoint him. So I decided to keep an eye on things.
On the final day of the exam. Shikakoi-san took his bath far earlier than normal and went on his way.
I decided to follow him, and he actually went to the medical center of the island.
He asked them to treat his injury, and seeing that, I decided to go back to the camp.
I guess even geniuses get injured while bathing.
With that, I left the medical center, since my disappearance might cause an unnecessary commotion.
x-x-x
Narrator: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka
As the exam ended, we were called in front of the ship, lined up, and the teachers started to announce the results.
Mashima-sensei's voice rang out. "You all have worked very hard over the course of this past week. At this moment, I will announce the end of the Island Exam."
A few were excited at the prospect of returning to air-conditioned rooms, while most were nervous about the results.
"Before we announce the results, I would like to inform you that the school will not provide explanations for the scoreboards. The students will have to determine for themselves how these results came to be.
"Starting from the least class points, is Class A, with zero points."
Everyone was stunned, except for Class A, who looked frustrated and defeated. All of Class A seemed to be glaring at Yahiko.
"Next is Class C with 157 points."
"Second place goes to Class D, with 173 points."
"First place goes to Class B, with 221 points."
Everyone hasn't realized it yet. With this, Class B has now overtaken Class A...
"Since Class B has now surpassed Class A in S-points, Class B will be promoted to Class A, and Class A will be demoted to Class B. With that, we conclude the Island Exam."
x-x-x