Imagine being an ordinary high school student and suddenly finding yourself on a cruise aboard a first-class luxury ship.
For most students, that would be something close to a dream. Their dreams usually don't extend beyond getting a little increase in the allowance their parents give them.
I don't know whether this was good luck or bad luck, but here I was, aboard a luxurious ship cutting through the middle of the sea.
Even if I lived my entire life, I never would have imagined something like this happening.
It seemed that this school was quite generous when it came to the students' comfort.
A luxury ship equipped with every convenience imaginable—high-end restaurants, swimming pools, and all the other things young people loved. All of it paid for by the school.
I felt like the same scenario from the first day at school was repeating itself.
They gave us everything and absolute freedom, only to suddenly slap us with reality once again.
But what kind of wall would strike us this time?
I couldn't help but think about what the Student Council President had previously mentioned regarding special exams.
But what exactly would they test us on?
Hmm...
A ship... the sea... p-pirates?
Would they make us play some kind of pirate game?
No, that made no sense.
Well then...
A ship... the sea... an island?
Ha, what would we even do on an island?
I didn't know much about islands, to be honest. My knowledge was limited to documentaries I had seen on television. They were usually about foolish men leaving the safety of their homes in an attempt to survive on deserted islands by eating insects and drinking water from streams.
Hmm... a survival test on an island.
No, that seemed unlikely.
The school wouldn't go that far...
Right?
My thoughts had begun drifting into fantasy.
I shook my head vigorously while lying on a bed inside one of the ship's cabins.
It truly was a first-class room.
Soft blankets, comfortable beds, even a television, air conditioning, and a small refrigerator.
Its only flaw was that it accommodated four people.
Yes, I had been forced to share a room with students from my class.
The division process had been difficult. Everyone wanted to stay with their friends, and some students weren't even embarrassed to loudly protest:
"I don't want to be in the same room as him!"
For your information, I can hear you.
Thanks to Hirata, the ambassador of peace, the room assignments had somehow been settled in a way that satisfied everyone.
And, as usual, I found myself grouped with the outcasts.
Ayanokouji, Kouenji, and Hirata had ended up with me.
I wasn't sure whether this was a good group or not.
Hirata was constantly trying to bring everyone together.
He even tried starting conversations in the middle of the night.
Didn't this man understand that we were lying in our beds trying to sleep?
I suppose the only good thing was that everyone else did whatever they wanted.
Kouenji disappeared for most of the day and only used the room for sleeping.
Ayanokouji wandered around aimlessly.
Hirata remained busy participating in the activities organized by the girls in class.
As for me...
I spent my time lying on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling after forgetting to bring along any novels to pass the time.
However, it seemed that staying in the room for too long had begun affecting my thinking.
It would probably be better to go out and walk around for a while.
I jumped off the bed, buttoning my shirt before leaving the room.
Standing in the hallway like an idiot, I realized I had no idea where to go.
There were plenty of options, but most of them didn't suit me.
Maybe if I found somewhere quiet, that would be ideal.
Well then.
Let's get going.
I walked through the quiet corridor, but soon I felt strange gazes boring into my back.
Slowly turning around, I found someone standing at the end of the hallway, staring directly at me without making any effort to hide it.
After getting a better look, I recognized him.
He was that blond guy who had been standing behind Sakayanagi at the pool.
Did she send him to monitor me...?
Ryūen had said some stupid things that day which attracted unwelcome attention.
Well, what should I do now?
Return to my room?
Or try to lose him somewhere aboard the ship?
I figured I'd just go about my day normally.
He'd eventually get bored with my routine and leave.
However, there had been no need for any of that.
He simply turned around and left rather quickly.
Perhaps he had only come to take a look...
That certainly made things easier.
I slipped my hands into my pockets and wandered around the ship alone in search of a quiet place.
Eventually, I found what seemed to be a suitable spot.
It overlooked the ocean, and below it was the swimming pool.
Although there was some noise coming from the students gathered there, it wasn't unbearable.
I could overlook it.
I glanced toward the pool.
Like all the other facilities on the ship, it was luxurious.
The pool occupied the center, surrounded by tables placed beneath enormous parasols that shielded those beneath them from the sun.
There were also plenty of lounge chairs where one could stretch out and enjoy the sunlight.
A good place to relax.
Far too noisy, though.
There were several familiar faces from Class D below.
The one who drew the most attention was undoubtedly Kouenji.
His prominent muscles on display, he laughed loudly while splashing water onto the students sitting near the edge of the pool like some narcissist.
Sudou, Ike, and Yamauchi were also sitting quietly nearby.
Ayanokouji had taken a seat beside them as well.
Perhaps his relationship with them hadn't suffered after what had happened in the Student Council room.
Then again, there hadn't really been much of a relationship to begin with.
Maybe he was simply spending time with them so he wouldn't be alone.
One face was missing.
The boy who wore glasses.
Su... Sa...
I had forgotten his name.
Something beginning with "Su."
He had probably only been their accomplice and didn't spend much time with them.
Unlike their usual noisy selves, the three sat quietly, keeping an eye on each other to ensure no one made any mistakes—especially here at the pool.
Their memories involving swimming pools were likely unpleasant now.
Still, the pledge they had signed seemed to be having some effect.
At the very least, they looked like respectable students.
If only they continued like this...
I let out a slow sigh as I rested my arms against the railing before returning my gaze to the vast sea ahead.
The gentle breeze brushed against my face and played with my hair.
Even the strong scent of the ocean filled my senses.
A strange smell.
Like life itself—you never quite know whether it's actually pleasant or simply unpleasant.
"I've made up my mind!"
I had been staring absentmindedly into space until a loud voice shattered my peace.
I looked down irritably, trying to identify whoever was shouting like that in a public place.
Ike stood among his group, raising his fist in front of his chest as though renewing his determination.
What exactly was he planning?
"What's wrong...?" Yamauchi asked, rising to check on his friend.
"I'm going to talk to Kushida-chan!"
Kushida?
I glanced toward the pool once again.
Kushida was indeed there in her swimsuit, playing around with her friends.
"Are you sure about this?" Sudou stood up as well, supporting his friend.
Wait...
Was this heading exactly where I thought it was?
The only one among the group who couldn't understand what was happening was Ayanokouji, who stared at them expressionlessly while attempting to participate.
"Y-Yeah... I won't back down. I'll do it."
W-W-Wait a second.
Was he serious?
Was he really going to do it?
Yamauchi placed both hands on Ike's shoulders and stared directly into his eyes.
"We're all supporting you. Go for it!" Yamauchi encouraged.
"I don't really approve of this, but don't back down," Sudou added.
Ayanokouji stood among them, staring blankly at their faces, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Ike looked toward him, waiting for encouragement.
Ayanokouji merely returned the stare.
"Come on, man! Don't be like that. Cheer him on!" Sudou urged, pushing Ayanokouji forward.
"Uh... go for it," Ayanokouji said calmly.
What was this...?
I'd bet all my wealth that he had no idea what they were talking about.
Look at his eyes.
He was staring at them as if trying to decipher a code he had just discovered.
After gathering courage from his friends, Ike charged forward like an arrow toward Kushida, who had been sitting beside one of her friends.
He spoke to her quietly.
Kushida stood up, apologized to the girls accompanying her, and followed him to a secluded corner.
What was this?
Was he actually going to confess to Kushida?
His friends moved closer in order to eavesdrop.
What were they doing?
Didn't they understand the meaning of privacy?
"What's wrong, Ike-kun?" Kushida asked while twirling the ends of her short hair.
"K-K-Kushida-chan..." Ike stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.
"Hmm? Yes? What is it?"
I placed a hand over my face, unable to watch what would happen next.
Unpopular boys really were pitiful.
If a girl treated them kindly, they immediately thought:
Wait, she likes me.
Then they confessed...
Only to end up heartbroken.
I had bad experiences with this sort of thing myself.
Why was everyone watching him?
Someone stop him.
Throw him into the ocean before he embarrasses himself.
"Kushida-chan... c-can I call you by your first name?"
Huh...?
My eyes widened as I stared at the exchange unfolding before me.
Was that all he wanted?
Apparently, I hadn't understood what was happening either.
"Ah... of course! Can I call you by your first name too?" Kushida replied cheerfully.
Perhaps she had initially feared he would confess to her.
Rejecting him might affect her popularity, after all.
Someone like her wouldn't want to lose any admirers.
Calling each other by their first names meant nothing to her.
To that idiot Ike, however, it meant everything.
Seriously, using first names didn't necessarily mean people were close.
For example, forcing you to do something you hated—that meant they understood exactly what you liked and disliked.
I ignored the foolish scene below and returned my attention to the calm sea.
Eventually, someone else approached the railing beside me and gazed out at the ocean.
He wore a colorful summer shirt and sunglasses, once again showing off his chest muscles.
Ryūen stood beside me, with his personal bodyguard Albert behind him.
Did he follow him everywhere?
I wondered if he even went to the bathroom alone.
"What are you doing here, Student Council Secretary?" Ryūen asked as he tightened his grip on the railing.
"Hmm..." I merely glanced at him from the corner of my eye before looking back at the sea.
"Standing around by yourself? Did people cast you aside because you're a fraud?" Ryūen laughed strangely at his own joke.
Would he never stop calling me a fraud?
I wouldn't answer him.
I'd ignore him.
Instinctively tightening my grip on the railing, I focused on the scenery ahead.
Oh, look.
A seagull.
They were always associated with the sea and freedom.
I wonder if they taste good...
But how exactly would we cook one?
"Fufufufu... Ignoring me, huh? We'll see if you react the same way once I crush you."
Once again...
Why was he obsessed with crushing things?
He should drop out of school and work at a recycling facility.
Most of their work revolved around crushing things.
Ryūen stepped away from the railing.
Perhaps he had finally grown bored and decided to leave.
"Ryūen!"
A girl suddenly shouted his name.
She was short, with short blue hair, standing directly in front of him as though she felt no fear.
"Ibuki..." Ryūen said, sounding slightly surprised.
"I need to talk to you," the girl declared.
Perhaps they were simply classmates, and she had come looking for him.
"Did you miss me?" Ryūen draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
Wasn't that harassment?
"No. I'm tired of dealing with you." She slapped his hand away and stepped back. "I've had enough of your methods."
I agreed with her wholeheartedly.
Even I had had enough of him.
"I see... Well, we can continue this conversation privately in my room later," Ryūen replied with a mocking smile.
How could he say something like that so casually?
Where were the police?
Ibuki flew into a rage and threw a punch directly at Ryūen's face.
Unfortunately for her, a gigantic human wall named Albert intercepted it effortlessly.
"Albert... are you fine with this too?" she asked.
Albert merely stared at her from behind his sunglasses without answering.
Had I ever heard him speak before?
Did he even have a voice?
"Ryūen has completely trained you..." she muttered bitterly.
Ryūen turned around calmly as though he had already finished whatever business had brought him here.
He walked away as if none of this had happened.
"Wait, Ryūen! We're not finished talking yet!" Ibuki shouted as she attempted to follow him.
Albert seized both her arms, restraining them behind her back before lifting her up and tossing her aside as though she weighed nothing.
She crashed into the wall.
"Enough," Albert said.
He had finally spoken.
In a foreign language, at least.
So he really did have a voice.
Albert departed after Ryūen, leaving the girl writhing on the floor in pain.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, checking on her condition.
She was still a girl.
She could have been seriously hurt.
"It's none of your business," she replied.
Ignoring my concern, she slowly stood up and walked away in the opposite direction.
Even the girls in Class C were delinquents.
It seemed their class stood on the verge of collapse.
Someone clearly disagreed with Ryūen's leadership.
That girl was one of them.
This was what Ryūen wanted me to think after that cheap performance.
He could have at least waited for my applause after putting on such a show.
Did he really think I'd believe that the girl had attacked him immediately after he came to see me?
There was no such thing as coincidence.
I rested my arms against the railing while considering returning to my room.
I'd already had enough of this.
However, my phone suddenly vibrated inside my pocket.
A message?
I pulled it out to check the sender, but I never would have expected it.
Chabashira-sensei?
But how had she gotten my number?
The message was short and lacked any greeting or introduction.
"Come to the theater on the second floor."
Wait a second.
There was a theater on this ship?
I slipped the phone back into my pocket.
Normally, I would ignore or decline any suspicious invitation like this.
But this time...
It came from a teacher.
I had no choice.
I cast one final glance toward the pool, where the trio still celebrated Ike's accomplishment.
Ayanokouji, however, was nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps he had grown bored and returned to his room.
Stepping away from the railing, I began searching for the theater.