Morishita Ai seemed to abandon her plan and continued down the path as though nothing had happened.
Since her group's designated zone was also E8, Kaoru naturally fell into step with them. Yamamura Miki and Kitō Hayato accepted his presence just as naturally.
"Yamamura-san, do you really have enough food?"
Considering Ai had actually spent points on cooking equipment, Kaoru felt compelled to ask.
Even with an additional Initiative card, keeping everyone properly supplied for the full exam would be difficult.
The test lasted two weeks. At two meals per day, each student would need twenty-eight portions of food. Even if they cut that down drastically, they would still need at least fourteen.
"Um... if we're careful, it should barely be enough."
Miki explained, "We saved the points we would've spent on drinking water and bought a filter instead. Morishita-san and I are also sharing a tent, so we used the remaining points on food."
They had even economized on drinking water, yet she had still allowed Ai to buy cookware.
That meant Miki had at least considered Ai's proposal. Ai had simply frightened her earlier by taking the idea much too far.
For Miki, wild vegetables and insects were probably options to consider only in the most desperate emergency.
Arisu had not given them any detailed instructions. She had merely provided an Initiative card and left them to manage themselves.
That meant Arisu had strategically abandoned most of her classmates, asking only that they survive on their own and avoid causing trouble.
In a sense, it was the correct choice.
The exam ranked students by group, and only the top three groups would earn class points. Every class therefore needed to concentrate its strength on competing for those places.
For everyone else, simply avoiding the bottom rankings and causing no problems was already the greatest contribution they could make.
While Kaoru was thinking, Miki asked, "Mitoma-kun, are you going to travel with us?"
Since they had the same designated zone, their routes should remain identical for the time being. There was no reason they could not move together.
"For now, that's fine, but I may leave at any time."
Kaoru accepted her suggestion.
"Are you aiming for the early-arrival bonuses, or are you focusing on tasks?"
Ai, who was walking ahead, turned around and answered on Miki's behalf.
"Competing for the top three arrival bonuses would consume too much stamina. We only need the normal arrival points. If we happen to find an entertaining task along the way, even better. That is also what Sakayanagi Arisu expects us to do."
Miki nodded, though she looked slightly conflicted over whether she should tell Kaoru that their group was one of Arisu's backup plans.
Not every small group could be upgraded into a large group.
They first needed to complete a task that rewarded them with an increased group capacity.
Once two groups combined, their points would also be merged, causing their ranking to rise immediately.
Under ordinary circumstances, Arisu would eventually combine her group with Kōhei's.
But that approach was not aggressive enough for her.
Arisu was greedy. She wanted more.
If Miki's group managed to earn a high score, Arisu would not hesitate to merge with them instead. Kōhei's group could then combine with another small group, maximizing the benefit to Class 2-A.
It was a flexible strategy.
If Miki's group failed to achieve anything significant, Arisu could simply fall back to the original plan and merge with Kōhei. Either way, she lost nothing.
Arisu had given Miki's group only one real instruction:
Earn as many task rewards as possible.
Hayato had excellent stamina. He could travel to the designated zones and ensure the group obeyed enough movement instructions to avoid penalties. Meanwhile, Ai or Miki could remain near task sites and compete whenever something suitable appeared.
They genuinely had a chance of succeeding.
"That's a good approach."
Kaoru had no objection.
It saved the two girls a great deal of physical strain. Nobody could reasonably expect Ai and Miki to climb across the entire island like wild monkeys.
"What about you? Why are you acting alone?"
Perhaps because walking was boring, Ai began looking for another topic.
"I simply didn't form an official group."
Kaoru pointed solemnly toward the surrounding trees.
"This entire island is filled with my people. The forest itself is always prepared to listen to my voice."
The moment he said that, Miki froze.
Even the usually silent Hayato could not help looking at him.
Only Ai became completely serious, as though carefully addressing a patient suffering from an advanced case of delusion.
"May I ask... what is Your Excellency planning?"
"Close your eyes, Morishita-san. The forest will tell you what I intend to do."
"What are they saying?"
"You must listen with your heart."
"And after I listen?"
"Morishita-san, all I can tell you is to think more deeply than you did before."
"I see. As expected of Mitoma Kaoru. You have already solved the equation behind this uninhabited island exam. Who among the entire school could possibly resist your power?"
"You're not bad yourself, Morishita-san."
"To witness a battle between two great powers means this journey was already worth the price of admission."
Miki stared at the two of them in complete disbelief.
One strange Morishita Ai had already been difficult enough.
She had not expected anyone to match Ai's bizarre wavelength so perfectly.
Were those two genuinely going to start researching edible insects together?
Miki immediately looked close to tears.
The next two weeks suddenly seemed unbearably bleak.
"We're almost there."
Hayato spoke without warning, interrupting the two performers.
Other students appeared ahead of them.
As they moved closer, Kaoru's watch vibrated several times, notifying him that he had entered the designated zone.
He checked the result.
It was only the standard arrival reward. Every student who reached the area within the time limit received one point.
"Someone beat us here, as expected."
Ai could already see numerous students resting in the open area. They were scattered in small groups, chatting as though they had come on a school trip.
Since there was still plenty of time before the next designated zone appeared, most students had nothing to do.
Except on the first and final days, the school announced four designated zones each day:
7:00 to 9:00 a.m.,
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.,
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.,
and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Since this was the first day, the next destination would not appear until the afternoon. Everyone had several free hours.
However, a closer look revealed that many students were holding their tablets and waiting for some kind of notification.
Kaoru immediately understood.
They were waiting for the tasks to refresh.
Although the next designated zone would not appear for a while, new tasks could appear at any moment.
Task locations would be displayed directly on every student's tablet, allowing everyone to see which zones currently offered opportunities.
"President!"
Someone waved toward Kaoru before jogging over.
Perhaps after noticing Ai and the others beside him, the girl slowed and stopped.
Then Kaoru saw a familiar smile.
"Good morning, President."
The person who appeared was Nanase Tsubasa.
She stood neatly before him in athletic clothes, looking even more youthful and energetic than usual.
The loose tracksuit still could not entirely hide her mature figure. Somehow, the attempt to cover everything only made it more noticeable.
Kaoru unconsciously glanced once more.
He failed to notice that Tsubasa was secretly observing his reaction too. She was already far too familiar with the way men looked at her, and her cheeks warmed faintly even though her expression remained composed.
"I didn't expect us to meet this quickly. Where are your teammates, Nanase-san?"
As soon as Kaoru asked, another familiar figure appeared as though answering the question.
A girl eagerly squeezed in behind Tsubasa.
"Here, here! I'm right here!"
Amasawa Ichika raised her hand. She leaned against Tsubasa's back and stared at Kaoru with sparkling eyes.
"It's been so long, Mitoma-senpai. Did you miss me?"
Looking at her, Kaoru suddenly felt as though he had encountered an obsessive fan.
Even Ai and Miki instinctively moved a little farther away from him.
"Of course I missed you. Every day without you, I thought about you constantly."
Kaoru looked at Ichika without the slightest embarrassment.
"Did Amasawa-san think about me too?"
He was hardly thin-skinned.
If she dared to say it, he dared to answer.
Their eyes met.
"I can't, Senpai. Although I'd really like to say yes."
Ichika shyly looked away and hid behind Tsubasa.
"You already have girlfriends. I can't accept your feelings."
Kaoru stared at her expressionlessly.
So she could provoke him, but she could not follow through?
"Tsk, tsk."
Ai examined him, then looked at him with extreme contempt, apparently imagining herself in Ichika's position.
"D-don't do anything strange."
Even Miki quietly warned him.
Seeing Ichika struggling not to laugh, Kaoru took a deep breath.
"Nanase-san, could you restrain her for me?"
"What are you planning to do after you catch me?"
Ichika crossed her arms protectively, her eyes filled with theatrical outrage.
"Does being Student Council president mean you can use violence to make girls obey you? Even if you pin me down and ruin my clothes, I still won't surrender quietly!"
She stared at Kaoru warily, as though he might transform into a wild animal at any moment and attack her regardless of how loudly she protested.
Kaoru felt his blood pressure rising.
This girl really was an unbearable actress.
"Amasawa-san, stop saying nonsense!"
Whether from anger or because of whatever scene she had imagined, Tsubasa glared at Ichika with a red face.
"How is it nonsense? Senpai is a pervert who enjoys bullying girls. Once he gets you cornered, he starts touching wherever he wants."
Ichika spoke with vivid conviction.
Perhaps because Kaoru had handled her roughly before, she even puffed out her cheeks.
"Little Nanase, don't listen to him. Senpai is far too forceful with girls."
She could still remember how casually he had restrained and searched her. He had not been gentle at all.
"Stop talking!"
Tsubasa's ears were nearly burning as she hurriedly covered Ichika's mouth.
"Mmph?!"
Seeing Ichika trapped in Tsubasa's hands, Ai suddenly became excited.
"Mitoma Kaoru, I'll help you hold her down."
"If you keep encouraging this, I'll deal with you too."
Kaoru immediately saw through her intentions.
She simply wanted to join anything that looked entertaining.
"So your true nature is finally revealing itself after all this time?"
Ai quickly covered herself, even though she normally showed little concern over a man's gaze.
Something about the way Kaoru looked at her felt indecent.
Even a simple glance somehow made her feel as if he had already touched her.
"You're right. Everyone already knows you're the woman I've chosen. You won't escape forever."
Kaoru decided to frighten her.
"That is false. I already clarified that we are only ordinary friends."
Ai denied it firmly.
"Go harass someone else, pervert."
For some reason, whenever she responded with such a serious and innocent expression, Kaoru found her strangely cute.
Still, the person he truly wanted to punish right now was Ichika.
"W-wait! I was only joking!"
After finally escaping from Tsubasa's grip and sensing Kaoru's dangerous mood, Ichika immediately played innocent.
"Wasn't Mitoma-senpai supposed to be acting alone? Are these two senpai your teammates?"
Tsubasa did not interrupt her this time.
She was also curious about the two girls standing beside Kaoru.
After all, she had never seen these potential rivals before.
Neither was overwhelmingly beautiful at first glance, but both had their own distinct appeal.
They had arrived with Kaoru. Even if they were not teammates, they were clearly traveling together, which made Tsubasa feel strangely uncomfortable.
Of course, everyone knew Ichika was deliberately asking a question whose answer was obvious.
Hayato was standing right there beside them.
"N-no, that isn't it. We're only traveling with Mitoma-kun temporarily."
Once attention shifted toward her, Miki hurriedly waved her hands in denial.
"We may camp together tonight. We're considering cooking with ingredients gathered from the island."
Ai seemed to remember her plan involving insects and enthusiastically invited the two first-years.
"Would you like to join us?"
She did not have the courage to try such food alone.
Perhaps she could trick two younger girls into tasting it first.
"Cooking outdoors?"
Tsubasa paused and looked at Ai with new respect.
The phrase implied she had genuinely prepared to gather wild plants and other ingredients.
As expected, Ichika immediately asked, "That sounds fun. What are you planning to eat?"
"Whatever we can find."
Ai answered without the slightest change in expression.
Her shamelessness was not inferior to Kaoru's.
"Don't listen to her. She acts on every strange idea that enters her head."
Kaoru showed no mercy.
"If we leave the food to her, our entire group will withdraw from the exam by tomorrow."
"When I finish cooking, you had better not eat a single bite."
Ai sounded slightly offended.
"You eat it first."
Kaoru stared directly at her.
Ai subtly looked away.
Even if she decided against insects, there were still plenty of other choices.
It was not as though she intended to forbid him from eating.
She would have cooked it herself, after all.
"Eh? I think it sounds interesting. We should try it."
Ichika eagerly raised her hand like an enthusiastic student volunteering in class.
"Why don't I travel with you too?"
She appeared to be interested purely in the outdoor cooking experience.
What she was actually thinking was something only she knew.
Tsubasa also seemed tempted, though she was probably too embarrassed to say so directly.
Kaoru had originally intended to operate alone.
Running into Ai and Miki had already been unexpected. Now Ichika and Tsubasa wanted to join them as well.
He was beginning to wonder whether he had accidentally become the teacher supervising an elementary-school field trip.
Camping with several attractive girls stirred far too many dangerous ideas in his mind.