"A Werewolf game?"
Just as Ayanokouji Kiyotaka stepped out of the meeting room after finishing his group's first discussion, he received a message posted by Hirata Yosuke in the class group chat.
"Kitagawa Ryo from Class C, huh?"
The name flashed through his mind. After reading the summary of events, Ayanokouji pocketed his phone. He had always felt that this person's behavior followed a strange logic. Unlike Ryuuen Kakeru, Kitagawa didn't seem to place all his focus on reaching Class A. This wasn't to deny Kitagawa's achievements over the semester, but rather, from Ayanokouji's perspective, Kitagawa appeared to enjoy engaging in things unrelated to the class rankings.
For a long time, Ayanokouji had remained hidden behind Horikita Suzune, making it easier to observe Kitagawa's actions. Many times, Kitagawa had better and more efficient choices, yet he often acted as if he didn't care. The current Special Exam for VIPs was no different. He could have directly targeted the other three classes to reach Class A, yet instead, he went to great lengths to create a Werewolf game with a prize pool of over 83 million private points.
Some might believe Kitagawa's actions stemmed from arrogance or a need to prove he could win no matter the rules. But Ayanokouji didn't think so.
"Oooh, a boy who breaks the rules to make his own. How beautiful."
Upon returning to his room, the first sight that greeted him was Kouenji Rokusuke, shirtless and drenched in sweat, exercising with gleaming muscles. Supporting himself with one hand and holding a phone in the other, Kouenji burst out laughing.
"I was going to end this boring exam tonight, but now... this just got interesting."
He didn't care about the presence of the other three roommates, casually slinging a towel over his shoulder as he walked out.
"A beautiful person like me should absolutely participate in such an entertaining contest."
Ayanokouji shifted his gaze from the departing Kouenji to Hirata Yosuke.
"Is Class D going to participate in this game?"
The question wasn't random. Compared to Classes A, B, and C, Class D lacked the qualifications to participate. Not only did one need to find an invitation, but each participant also had to pay one million private points. For a class that had only recently raised its points to 87 through the island exam—points they wouldn't even receive until next month—that was a big ask.
"If we can find an invitation, I think I can still reach out to some friends."
Hirata, noticing Ayanokouji's concern, replied thoughtfully.
"Karuizawa-san said she can personally prepare the one million, and Kushida might help cover part of the rest. Since Classes A and C declared a temporary ban on lending points, we can only rely on Class B and upperclassmen. But I think we can gather the necessary points for two people."
There was no doubt that the more participants each class had, the higher their chances of winning the grand prize.
Thus, before the game even began, the real competition had already silently started.
And in this pre-game standoff, Class D, lacking resources, was at a clear disadvantage.
"I'll try reaching out to some seniors too, see if they'll lend us anything."
Yukimura Teruhiko, another roommate, gritted his teeth. Winning the Werewolf game would mean Class D could stop worrying about personal points for quite some time. They were desperately poor—and the poorer you are, the more you have to bet it all.
"Actually, there's no need to rush into borrowing points. That might get us exploited and leave us with debts. It also spreads our manpower too thin."
Ayanokouji's cold voice made the two freeze. They hadn't expected him to speak up so assertively, perhaps because he'd always been on the periphery of Class D.
"You have an idea, Ayanokouji?"
Hirata was the first to react. He'd always felt there was more to Ayanokouji than met the eye, especially after observing him during the island test.
"I think everyone should focus on searching for invitations right now."
"But even if we find one, we don't have the points to enter..."
"Then sell it to the other classes."
Ayanokouji added calmly:
"In this game, the entry qualification itself is a commodity—a combination of the invitation and the entry fee. If we find extra invitations, we can sell them. I'm sure Class A would love to buy them."
Hirata's eyes lit up. They had been so fixated on the million-point barrier that they missed this simple solution. Now fully awakened, he quickly sent a message to the class group chat encouraging everyone to search for invitations.
"Ayanokouji, you're a huge help. I've always thought you were amazing."
After sending the message, Hirata praised him with admiration.
"Let's go look for some invitations too."
"Mm."
Ayanokouji nodded, and Hirata cheerfully slung an arm over his shoulder.
"Let's work hard for Class D."
In the hallway, first-years had already begun scouring the ship using maps, while others buzzed excitedly about the special game. Ayanokouji squinted, recalling the message Karuizawa Kei had sent him earlier:
"Find an invitation. If you lack the points, I'll cover it. Help me win."
Due to the leverage she held over him from the island exam, Ayanokouji had no choice but to comply.
It was around then that he developed a fascination with Karuizawa Kei's feelings.
Of course, that didn't mean he had romantic feelings for her.
He was simply curious about her relationship with Kitagawa Ryo. The White Room never taught Ayanokouji about emotions. Escaping from it, he came here to experience them. That was why he initially wanted to live as a normal student in Class D.
He remembered the final night before the end of the island exam. Kei had her back to Kitagawa, but her ocean-blue eyes shimmered with a dangerous and vivid emotion.
[20 million personal points.]
Kei had mouthed those words to him. Given her ties to Class C, it wasn't hard to guess she wanted to transfer into Class C using that sum.
Ayanokouji was deeply curious.
He wanted to understand the true nature of that emotion. Books described love as pure, refreshing, and gentle. But what he saw in Kei's eyes was rooted in the most primal human urges—filled with deceit, possessiveness, betrayal. It was the most complex and dangerous of feelings.
So Ayanokouji decided to take things a step further.
He would join the Werewolf game.
Closing his eyes, the entire layout of the cruise ship surfaced clearly in his mind—something he had memorized a few days ago out of boredom.
Step one—find an invitation.
-------------------------------------
"So, that's the situation right now."
Kamuro Masumi relayed all the facts of the Special Exam for Privileged Students up to this point to the girl on the other end of the phone. She waited quietly for instructions.
From beneath her white pleated skirt, a pair of slender legs stretched out. At home, the girl wasn't wearing her usual white garter stockings. She was lazily rubbing the fluffy cheeks of a white cat with her toes. Although Hotaru seemed displeased with the position, the cat, under someone else's roof, had no choice but to lower its head. Ever since being handed over to someone named Sakayanagi Arisu, Hotaru couldn't help but miss the days spent with Kitagawa Ryo.
Back then, the sky was blue, the grass was green, and the cat food was abundant.
Hotaru extended her paw to scratch at the girl's foot. The girl insisted she had been eating too much and gaining weight. Hotaru hadn't had a full meal in days.
"Sakayanagi?"
Sensing the phone being momentarily moved away—only vague laughter and chaos could be heard—Kamuro Masumi called out again.
"It's fine."
Sakayanagi Arisu's voice returned to normal. She spoke lazily:
"Seems like Ryo went along with the plan to suppress Katsuragi."
"But only on the deserted island."
"Geez, just like his cat—once he's settled down, he has to stir up trouble."
Though it sounded like criticism, Kamuro Masumi felt a subtle joy in Sakayanagi's tone.
It was similar to the strange satisfaction of realizing a long-lost friend still had the same taste in food.
Kamuro dubbed it "the ex-feeling of not being forgotten and knowing the other hasn't changed into a stranger in your absence."
Of course, she wouldn't say that aloud—after all, she was completely under Sakayanagi's control.
"What is Katsuragi doing now?"
Perhaps aware of her earlier tone, Sakayanagi steered the conversation back.
"Katsuragi and Totsuka went to look for an invitation. They haven't returned yet."
"I see."
With a nonchalant tone, Sakayanagi picked up Hotaru by the scruff.
"You and Hashimoto should get moving too. At least find one invitation."
"Understood."
Kamuro responded, then hesitantly asked:
"If we only find one, should I participate, or should Hashimoto? I think he's more skilled in a game like Werewolf."
"Neither."
Sakayanagi shook her head.
After hearing the rules Kitagawa Ryo set for the Werewolf Game, she understood one thing:
Ryo deliberately created conditions that allowed her to participate remotely. Since the game involved only voice communication with processed audio, she didn't need to be on the cruise ship in person.
It was a challenge he had set for her.
Sakayanagi released Hotaru, who trembled and scurried back to its nest.
She was currently in Kitagawa Ryo's room. In fact, ever since the first-years left for summer break, she had moved in.
Even though the layout was the same, Sakayanagi preferred this room.
"Who do you think will participate?" she asked.
"Though it seems anyone who finds an invitation can join, each class will ultimately choose their top representatives."
Kamuro asserted. After all, no ordinary student would dare to register alone with just an invitation. If they lost, their standing in class would plummet. Better to leave it to the class leaders.
"For Class B, Ichinose Honami will surely participate. Then there's Class C's Shiina Hiyori and Class D's Karuizawa Kei. Those three are basically locked in."
Karuizawa Kei.
Sakayanagi caught the name.
"Understood. Once you find the invitation, contact me. I'll confirm the remote participation details with Ryo."
"Got it."
After hanging up with Kamuro, Sakayanagi nestled into the sofa.
"Hotaru, come here."
The white cat reluctantly emerged from its nest and leaped into her lap.
"Meow."
Hotaru's round eyes sparkled like firefly-colored gems—hence the name.
Sakayanagi and Kitagawa had once joked that she was the one who named Hotaru. In a way, it was true. The moment she saw the cat, she felt it was meant to be called "Hotaru." Had she named it, it would have been the same.
But at that time, Hotaru already had the name "Hotaru."
Sakayanagi stroked its fluffy head, her pale fingers scratching under its chin in light revenge.
The person who named Hotaru had long forgotten about it.
She remembered hearing about Kitagawa Ryo for the first time when her father mentioned a violent incident.
It was said a boy, trying to protect a female classmate from bullying, had stabbed a fellow student, leaving one seriously injured and several others lightly wounded. He himself was also critically injured and hospitalized.
Why "it was said"?
Because in the court trial, the girl who was supposedly protected claimed memory loss due to psychological trauma. Her parents refused to let her testify.
Meanwhile, the victims painted the boy as a violent delinquent known for fighting with thugs outside school. They claimed they were the ones attacked unprovoked.
Karuizawa Kei.
Sakayanagi hugged her knees, curling into a small ball.
Logically, she knew the blame shouldn't fall on one person, but...
-------------------------------------
[Six players have successfully registered:]
[First Year Class A: Sakayanagi Arisu]
[First Year Class B: Ichinose Honami]
[First Year Class C: Shiina Hiyori]
[First Year Class C: Ryuuen Kakeru]
[First Year Class D: Karuizawa Kei]
[First Year Class D: Kouenji Rokusuke]
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