In a broad sense, Hashimoto Masayoshi was part of the Sakayanagi faction in Class 1-A. However, he hadn't joined because he believed in Sakayanagi Arisu's ideals. Rather, he simply saw her as the likely victor in her confrontation with Katsuragi Kohei and aligned himself with what he thought was the winning side. Hashimoto had merely chosen the path that best served his own interests.
Unlike Kamuro Masumi, whose weakness was held by Sakayanagi, Hashimoto saw himself as a knight guarding the "princess" by her side. This might seem fitting for his seemingly frivolous personality, but beneath the surface, he was conducting secret operations—gathering intel and paving the way for his own future.
Kingship isn't eternal, and Class A's position wouldn't remain unshaken forever.
Hashimoto sat cross-legged on the ground and thanked Kamuro Masumi for bringing him food. Right now, the Class A students were subsisting on C-Class's delivered meals—nutritional packages costing ten points per unit. The meals weren't exactly tasty, but they were far more filling than just fruit.
Kamuro, a beautiful girl, might have stirred some feelings in Hashimoto, but that didn't mean he could enjoy his meal under her strange, fixed gaze. After only a few bites, he asked helplessly:
"Is there something on my face? Or are you just mesmerized by me?"
"Not at all. Please, enjoy your meal."
Realizing her behavior was odd, Kamuro quickly moved to another corner of the cave. It was nearly dusk, but the outside temperature remained high. Most A-Class students lounged around the cave, cooling off and eating lazily. Katsuragi had taken some of his close followers to secure a base point and wasn't present.
Absentmindedly eating her own meal, Kamuro glanced at Hashimoto. Even in this deserted island environment, he kept his appearance tidy—his golden slicked-back hair perfectly neat.
Although it was Kamuro who had mentioned Hashimoto's name to Kitagawa Ryo, their relationship wasn't particularly close. They were simply comrades supporting Sakayanagi. Kamuro, not being good at communicating, had made a bold decision:
Strike first, explain later.
Maybe that would yield better results—in unexpected situations, people tend to show their true emotions.
Fueled by curiosity and vague excitement, Kamuro was already a bit thrilled. She was the type who sought stimulation, even resorting to theft just to chase that feeling. Imagining what was about to unfold, she hurriedly finished her meal—she might lose her appetite soon.
Just as the A-Class students finished their dinner, Katsuragi Kohei appeared, his bald head gleaming with sweat, followed by five or six students. Leading the group was his loyal underling, Totsuka Yahiko. They looked exhausted and immediately sat down after entering.
"Any valuable intel discovered today?"
Katsuragi wiped sweat from his brow and addressed the group calmly.
"Katsuragi, today we saw a D-Cla—"
One student began to report on seeing Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, but then paused, catching a strange smell. Given the crude shower facilities and the shared sleeping space, it was understandable that people had a bit of body odor. But...
"Hashimoto? Did you eat something bad?"
Unable to endure the smell, the student turned and asked Hashimoto.
"Ah... Sorry. My stomach's feeling a bit off."
Hashimoto didn't even try to joke. Forgetting his usual image, he clutched his stomach and dashed out of the cave toward the makeshift toilet.
"What the hell...?"
Katsuragi, seated at the cave entrance, was about to resume the debrief when the sounds from outside overtook the conversation. The cave fell into awkward silence.
"Did Hashimoto eat something weird today?"
"We went fruit-picking together today. I didn't see him sneak anything, and the island's fruits are school-approved. We even ate some yesterday."
"Could it be the water?"
"We boiled it, remember?"
"Maybe it's just his constitution?"
"Got the runs?"
The students speculated but didn't take it too seriously. After all, diarrhea wasn't uncommon. It was just unfortunate timing for Hashimoto to have such a public incident.
"Ahem... before you all continue, could someone please help me up?"
Hashimoto's weak voice echoed from the toilet.
Everyone turned toward Katsuragi, the leader sitting closest.
"Yahiko, lend a hand."
Without hesitation, Katsuragi stood with a righteous expression, declaring it his duty to support his classmates. He and Yahiko dragged the limp Hashimoto back. But just as Katsuragi sighed in relief, Hashimoto weakly raised a hand:
"Um... I think it's coming again..."
Katsuragi inhaled deeply—and then stopped halfway, realizing the futility.
He and Yahiko silently carried Hashimoto back to the toilet.
"Sorry, but... I think you guys need to hold me up."
Hashimoto looked utterly miserable. This exam no longer mattered. Just the few dozen seconds back inside the cave had already etched his social death. And Kamuro Masumi had seen it too. He wanted to remake himself on the spot.
But his legs were too weak to even go to the toilet alone. Katsuragi and Yahiko had to hold him by the arms.
"This looks like acute dysentery," Yahiko muttered, impressed as Katsuragi calmly analyzed the situation.
"Did you eat anything unusual?"
"Just the school meal pack today..."
Hashimoto's eyes were dead. He looked at his trembling legs and forced a broken smile.
"Meal pack... That was delivered by C-Class, right?"
"I knew it! C-Class must've tampered with it to make our members sick and cost us test points!"
Yahiko shouted his theory.
"Would C-Class really be that blatant? And Hashimoto's the only one affected so far."
Katsuragi offered his counterpoint, but both began debating amid the sounds of Hashimoto's suffering.
"What about me?" Hashimoto weakly asked. "I remember the cruise ship had a medical room. Can I go back?"
"But that'll cost thirty points."
Yahiko looked to Katsuragi for guidance.
"Let's investigate first," Katsuragi said. He raised his voice toward the cave:
"Anyone else who ate the same meal and feels unwell?"
"Now that you mention it... my stomach kinda hurts."
Another student ran off to the other toilet. Kamuro looked stunned—she hadn't drugged that one.
"Mine too..."
"You guys are scaring me."
"I feel fine though."
Kamuro hadn't realized that among a group of 16- to 17-year-olds, physical resilience varied. Not everyone could adapt to island life. Poor sleep in the cave and lack of food variety might have caused minor stomach issues. Katsuragi's comment had possibly triggered a psychosomatic effect.
"So the meal pack was bad?"
"Those C-Class bastards might really have done it."
"Should we report it to the teachers? This counts as an attack."
The cave buzzed with concern. Although only Hashimoto was seriously sick, everyone feared becoming the next victim. There were only two toilets, and polluting the environment would cost points.
"Wait, weren't there meds for diarrhea in our supplies? Let's check!"
As chaos brewed, someone mentioned this, prompting students to search the supply stash behind the cave.
"Found it!"
One soon returned with medicine.
"Is it safe? Wasn't this also from C-Class?"
Katsuragi examined the unopened packaging.
"It's fine. Sealed tight. No way they tampered with it."
Katsuragi checked the label and packaging carefully. Finding no issues, he gave Hashimoto the medicine and distributed pills to others claiming discomfort.
"What now, Katsuragi?" Yahiko asked.
"Should we call staff to confirm if C-Class tampered with the supplies? It'd cost them if it's true."
"But that exposes our deal with C-Class."
"Doesn't matter. The deal is contractually protected by the school. No conflict."
Yahiko whispered:
"If they're guilty, we punish C-Class. If not, at least the class will feel safer."
Convinced, Katsuragi nodded. He submitted a formal complaint. Soon, teachers from all four classes and several school staff arrived at the A-Class camp. Class A's teacher, Mashima Tomonari, frowned.
"Katsuragi, what happened?"
Katsuragi produced the contract with C-Class and calmly explained:
"On the first day, we signed a deal: A-Class pays 1 million points per month, and C-Class supplies us with resources. But today we suspect tampering caused several students to fall ill."
"Isn't it inappropriate to accuse another class without evidence?" C-Class's teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, stepped forward. Though smaller than Katsuragi, he showed no fear. "C-Class only redeems supplies from the school. Tampering is impossible."
"Let the school inspect first."
Katsuragi stood firm. Mashima approved the inspection.
While B and D-Class teachers stayed back, observing the drama, Chabashira Sae of Class D unexpectedly stepped forward and handed Katsuragi a document.
"What a coincidence. A few hours ago, some of my students reported that A-Class used violence to steal D-Class's supplies."
Katsuragi frowned. "If that's true, what exactly did A-Class take?"
"Still under investigation," Chabashira replied. "But it seems... a little short."
She handed him a contract identical to the A-C one—except the parties were A-Class and D-Class.
"Medicine."
Katsuragi looked toward the cave, where staff were now verifying the supplies. Suddenly, a chilling thought struck him.
Kitagawa Ryo's list of C-Class goods... didn't include medicine.
Actually, the long, detailed list had made him lower his guard.
Then... whose medicine had A-Class just used?
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, did B-Class redeem any medicine?"
"That's confidential info. Can't tell you," she replied playfully.
[Engaging in violence, plundering, destruction, or theft of supplies from other classes will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of all personal points.]
The harshest rule of the uninhabited island exam flashed through Katsuragi's mind.
He trembled, looking at the contract from D-Class. They had even pre-signed it, like laying a trap.
[First-Year Class D receives supplies worth 200 special exam points (brand new) from First-Year Class A.]
The next line hit like a hammer:
[First-Year Class A receives medicine worth 10 special exam points (excluding cold medicine) from First-Year Class D.]
He almost passed out.
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