On the other side of the bath, Kamuro Masumi had already noticed them.
She had not planned to tell Sakayanagi Arisu, but she had underestimated the short girl's powers of observation.
Arisu soon spotted Ichinose Honami as well.
"Kamuro-san, shall we go over and say hello?"
Arisu asked with obvious interest.
"Go if you want."
Masumi stretched lazily in the warm water, entirely unconcerned. Steam drifted across the surface, blurring the figures around them as the heat left everyone's skin faintly flushed.
"It would be better if we went together."
Arisu smiled.
"Tomorrow is Ichinose-san's birthday. I remember Kamuro-san got along quite well with them last time. Relationships need to be maintained properly."
"What do you mean, last time?"
Masumi's face reddened slightly.
"How was I supposed to know what they were planning? They said they were celebrating that pervert's birthday, so I went with them."
"Kamuro-san really is easier to persuade than I expected."
Arisu sighed.
"But never mind. Getting along with them is a good thing."
Masumi looked at her suspiciously.
Arisu wanted to get along with them rather than fight Honami for the position of official wife?
"We're already tied to the same fate, Kamuro-san."
Arisu spoke calmly.
"Since we boarded that man's pirate ship, we should start thinking about our positions. If you never step forward, other people will genuinely treat you like a background character. Nobody will give you the scenes a heroine deserves."
Masumi fell silent.
Then she saw Arisu begin moving toward the other side. The two bathing areas were connected.
"Come on. We should at least greet them."
Watching Arisu leave, Masumi reluctantly followed.
...
Honami and Horikita Suzune were both surprised to see them approach.
Karuizawa Kei frowned faintly, while Sakura Airi instinctively hid behind Kushida Kikyō.
"Hello, Sakayanagi-san, Kamuro-san! You came to bathe too? What a coincidence!"
Once she recovered from her surprise, Honami naturally welcomed them with a bright smile.
"We saw all of you from the other side, so we came over to say hello."
Arisu smiled gently.
"I heard tomorrow is your birthday. Allow me to wish you a happy birthday in advance."
The atmosphere froze for a brief moment.
Honami blinked, not expecting Arisu to have come over merely to wish her a happy birthday.
"Me too. Happy birthday, Ichinose-san."
Masumi spoke awkwardly.
Saying something like that in front of so many people felt strangely embarrassing.
"I'm sorry that the timing was so rushed and I couldn't prepare a proper present."
Arisu continued apologetically.
"I asked around and learned that custom cakes can be ordered on the ship. Since it seemed none of you had reserved one, I arranged it in advance. It will be delivered to your room at eight tonight."
The girls stared at her in surprise.
Even Masumi looked shocked.
Arisu had silently arranged an entire birthday cake without saying a word. She had clearly come fully prepared.
Honami was visibly moved.
With the special exam approaching, she had already prepared herself to clash fiercely with Arisu. She had expected the two of them to compete until neither was willing to yield.
Arisu opened her mouth to add something, only for Honami to suddenly wrap her in a tight hug.
"Th-thank you. I knew my impression wasn't wrong. Sakayanagi-san really is a kind person."
Arisu froze.
Nobody had ever called her kind before.
Was this what people referred to as a good-person card?
"Hehe. There's no need to thank me. It was only natural."
Arisu had not intended to push her away, but Honami's enthusiastic embrace was unexpectedly overwhelming.
"Ichinose-san, could you loosen your arms a little?"
"Sakayanagi... No, I think I'll call you the same way Kaoru does from now on."
Honami held Arisu by the shoulders, her eyes sparkling.
"Arisu. And I hope you'll call me by my name too."
"Do as you please. I have no objection."
Perhaps unable to withstand Honami's intensity, Arisu shifted her gaze toward Kei and the others and offered a faint smile.
"Hello. Although we've all seen one another before, I believe we should properly introduce ourselves. I'm Sakayanagi Arisu."
Even after hearing about them from Kaoru, seeing all these girls gathered together still left Arisu somewhat astonished.
Could that man genuinely manage all of them?
"Hello, Arisu!"
Kikyō greeted her enthusiastically.
Since Honami had already started using Arisu's given name, Kikyō naturally took advantage of the opportunity.
Suzune remained silent and almost wanted to pretend she did not exist.
Many people still did not know about her relationship with Kaoru. Having it indirectly exposed in front of Arisu made her feel strangely uncomfortable and embarrassed.
"By properly introducing yourself... are you acknowledging that you're Kaoru's girlfriend too?"
Kei's tone was not especially hostile.
Since Arisu had prepared a birthday cake for Honami, it was difficult for Kei to speak too harshly.
"His fiancée."
Arisu answered without blinking, completely firm in her position.
"Huh?"
Kei raised an eyebrow and casually revealed the ring on her hand.
"If you're talking about the ring, everyone has one."
Her implication was obvious.
Do not get carried away. Please calm down.
"My relationship with him isn't defined by a ring alone."
Arisu smiled faintly.
There was little left at this school that she was attached to. If circumstances demanded it, she believed she could leave without hesitation and build a future with Kaoru immediately.
"Ah, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but neither is mine."
Kei's expression became blank.
She did not know exactly what Arisu was thinking, but a girl's intuition required no explanation.
Arisu felt dangerous.
"That remains uncertain, Karuizawa-san."
Arisu wore a mysterious smile and rested one hand lightly over her stomach.
The gesture instantly drew everyone's attention.
Kei's eyes widened, and her face turned red.
What was that supposed to mean?
She had been trying hard too!
"Wait, don't tell me the two of you already..."
Kikyō trailed off shyly, her face reddening like an innocent girl.
Arisu had never seen the little angel's true nature, so she naturally smiled and deliberately continued provoking them.
"Hehe. A fiancée should naturally be able to care for him whenever necessary. After all, he seems excessively fond of me."
"You mean you're already that careless together?"
Kikyō asked quietly, looking even more embarrassed.
"Who can say?"
Arisu maintained her reserved smile, clearly enjoying the effect she was having on them.
Masumi was barely holding herself together.
She desperately wanted to warn Arisu that Kikyō's shy expression was completely fake.
Never trust anything that little angel said!
Sure enough, the innocent angel spoke timidly in the next moment.
"Wouldn't that make you the same as Horikita, then? Something convenient he doesn't need to take responsibility for?"
At first, Arisu looked confused.
She did not understand the reference.
Then she saw Suzune, her face bright red, grab Kikyō's cheeks and pull them apart until only muffled noises came from her mouth.
In that instant, Arisu's face also turned red.
"Don't take it seriously. They're always like this."
Honami leaned close to Arisu's ear.
"Actually, everyone is fairly reckless around Kaoru. Arisu can work hard too."
Arisu stared at her.
She had thought she was already behaving scandalously, yet to these girls it was apparently nothing unusual?
"Sakayanagi-san, it's still too early to say who's ahead."
Kei looked at her with a cheerful smile, her gaze briefly dropping toward Arisu with inexplicable pride.
Masumi sighed.
This was exactly why she had not wanted to come over.
If she stayed around them too long, she might eventually become just as strange.
"It appears I spoke too confidently. My apologies."
Arisu quickly regained her composure and restored her elegant smile.
"Being a fiancée is evidently more demanding than I thought. I'll work harder from now on."
Kei was still slightly annoyed, but she did not take the claim too seriously.
What real difference was there between "fiancée" and "girlfriend"?
In her eyes, Arisu was no different from Suzune. One insisted she was the fiancée, while the other insisted she was something much less romantic.
Both were simply inventing titles for themselves.
Kei silently resolved to work harder too.
She was not going to lose.
...
Kaoru knew nothing about the girls' conversation in the bath.
He only learned that Arisu had prepared a birthday cake for Honami.
Although the birthday celebration was simple, Honami seemed perfectly satisfied. Had the cruise ship not been crowded with students and cameras everywhere, the night might easily have become far more chaotic.
At eight the next morning, the exam officially began.
The cruise ship gradually approached the shore, and the administrator's voice came through the speakers, instructing each year and class to disembark in sequence.
As before, the first-years would leave first.
Kaoru stood among the Class 2-A students. Everyone had changed into athletic clothes, including him, and he carried a large pack on his back.
Much like the previous uninhabited island exam, every student had received five thousand basic points before the test. Those points could be used to purchase personal tents, food, drinking water, tools, daily necessities, and other supplies.
Kaoru had already spent all of his points on personal equipment.
He had never intended to conserve them. They were disposable exam currency and had no purpose outside the island.
Students holding an Initiative card received an additional 2,500 basic points, allowing them to purchase significantly more equipment. It was arguably the most useful card during the exam's opening stage.
"Good morning, Mitoma-kun."
Arisu appeared beside Kaoru.
Without her cane and its familiar tapping sound, Kaoru still found her approach slightly unfamiliar.
"Good morning, Arisu."
His gaze naturally lingered on her.
She wore the same athletic uniform as everyone else. The loose jacket nearly swallowed her small frame, making her already delicate figure appear even smaller.
She was also wearing her usual beret, which had practically become part of her body.
Arisu stared at Kaoru for an unusually long time.
Her gaze made him feel slightly uncomfortable.
Was there something on his face?
Fortunately, she soon stopped staring and urged him, "Where's your tablet? Let me see it."
She was referring to the portable tablet the school had distributed to every student.
It displayed the complete island map and allowed them to confirm designated zones, current locations, available tasks, detailed rewards, group rankings, scores, and other information.
Arisu naturally had her own tablet.
She did not want to take Kaoru's. She only wanted to compare their routes.
Kaoru took out his tablet and showed it to her.
After looking, Arisu frowned slightly.
"Your designated zone is E8. Mine is F9. It appears we aren't following the same route."
Every group had a different sequence of designated zones.
According to the explanation, there were twelve possible routes. Since Arisu and Kaoru had different first destinations, they were clearly assigned different routes.
"Then we probably won't see each other while traveling."
Kaoru put away his tablet.
"Hehe. That isn't necessarily true."
Arisu's tone carried a trace of amusement.
"I believe we may still encounter one another on the way. When that happens, please show me mercy."
"If I'm punishing you, I won't show mercy."
Kaoru answered expressionlessly.
"You haven't even landed yet, and you're already thinking about such things."
Arisu sighed.
"I'm beginning to worry about you. Can Mitoma-kun survive two entire weeks?"
"If I can't, I'll find you and ask for help."
Kaoru glanced down at her legs.
She no longer needed a cane and could stand steadily beside him. Unfortunately, she wore practical long athletic pants today, so her usual white stockings were nowhere to be seen.
"That's acceptable."
Arisu blinked.
"If Mitoma-kun comes looking for me, I'll always do my best to satisfy him."
Kaoru immediately looked away.
Ever since their relationship had deepened, this girl had become far too skilled at provoking him.
"Perhaps not. Hashimoto-kun is in your group. It would be troublesome if he noticed."
Kaoru had expected that to end her teasing.
Instead, Arisu suddenly leaned closer.
A faint, alluring fragrance drifted toward him as she whispered beside his ear.
"That's fine. I'll make sure he notices nothing."
By the time Kaoru turned toward her, Arisu had already retreated with a cheerful smile.
Masumi stood nearby, staring at them with an utterly speechless expression.
"I'm looking forward to meeting Mitoma-kun somewhere on the island."
Arisu continued.
"If two entire weeks pass without seeing you even once, I may become lonely."
Kaoru could not tell whether those were her genuine feelings or merely another attempt to tease him.
He had no time to consider it further.
The second-years were being called forward.
It was finally their turn to disembark.