It was 10:30 p.m. The frenzy of searching for the invitation letters had subsided. Perhaps there were still one or two hidden away in some obscure corner, yet after an entire afternoon of scouring the ship, most students had given up for the time being—some heading to their rooms to sleep, others stepping out on deck to enjoy the night breeze.
But the former group was the minority. Most of the high schoolers, despite their fatigue, were buzzing with energy, far more enthusiastic about the "Werewolf Game" than the "Privilege Exam." Since they weren't participants themselves, they freely chatted without restraint. It didn't matter whether they knew each other or not—the Werewolf Game didn't affect class points, so they casually shared their opinions on the matter.
"I heard more than half the participants have signed up already."
"Eh? So there's still half left? I thought most of the invitation letters had been found by now."
"Maybe someone found one and decided not to turn it in, planning to sneak into the game themselves?"
"That'd be pretty bold. From what I've heard, the contestants are some of the most prominent students in the entire grade."
"Heh, a lot of the Werewolf Game depends on luck. You could end up getting carried by your teammates and win hundreds of thousands or even millions of personal points."
In the lively crowd, students continued exchanging thoughts on the game, taking every chance to hype up the contestants from their own classes.
"Did you hear? Sakayanagi-san from Class A is participating in the Werewolf Game too."
"Sakayanagi Arisu? I thought she didn't board the cruise due to health issues?"
"Well, this isn't part of the exam, so as long as it's fair, she can participate even from the school."
A boy who seemed to be from Class A raised his glass and declared loudly:
"Sakayanagi-san is on a whole different level compared to someone like Katsuragi. This time, Class A is definitely taking the win!"
"Come on, if Sakayanagi-san were that amazing, Class A wouldn't have split into two factions before the deserted island exam."
Another boy scoffed:
"This game is all about logic and communication. Who in this entire grade can compete with our Ichinose in that area?"
"Ichinose's just in it for fun. Don't forget who came up with the idea for this game. If the boss is daring enough to play like this, he must be confident about winning."
A boy from Class C shot back without backing down.
"Tch, the more students a class has in the game, the better their chances. D-Class found four invitation letters just this afternoon—they've got the upper hand right from the start."
"So what if they have more invitations? Does D-Class even have four million points to pay the entry fee?"
Even at this late hour, the deck remained filled with energy and lively chatter.
"Ichinose-san, Kanzaki-san, may I have a moment?"
While smiling at the students bickering nearby, Ichinose Honami heard someone call her name. Turning around, she saw Hirata Yosuke from Class D approaching, wearing his usual bright and friendly smile.
"Ah, Hirata-san. What brings you here so late?"
Ichinose tucked a few stray strands of wind-blown hair behind her ear.
"I was hoping to propose a trade with Class B."
Hirata stepped forward and pulled out an invitation letter from his pocket.
"Would either of you be interested in this?"
"An invitation letter?"
Ichinose nodded. Class B hadn't had much luck in the search—they had only found one so far, and she had been chosen as the participant. But if they could get another one, their chances of earning points would improve significantly.
Take Kanzaki Ryuji, for example. Ichinose believed his abilities made him a perfect candidate for the Werewolf Game. The only thing holding him back had been the lack of an invitation. Now, with Class D offering one up, she was certainly intrigued.
"Is Class D really short on points to participate?"
"It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but yes."
Hirata smiled wryly and nodded.
"Although Kouenji-san paid his own way into the game, Class D can only afford to send two more people. So, if Class B is interested in this extra invitation letter..."
He paused to consider.
"How about one million personal points?"
Hirata himself wasn't sure about the price. One million didn't seem like much compared to the 80 million prize, but for Class D—who had been broke for nearly the entire semester—even that amount was hard to gather. That was why he had approached Class B, known for its good reputation and rumored to have few invitations.
"Hmm, one million isn't that much, considering there's a chance to compete for 80 million."
Ichinose nodded cheerfully. She took out her phone and initiated the transfer. Hirata soon received confirmation of the payment.
"All good."
With that, Hirata handed the invitation to Ichinose.
"Pleasure doing business."
"Likewise."
[First Year, Class B: Kanzaki Ryuji - Successfully Registered.]
-------------------------------------
"Katsuragi... -san, do we really have to do this?"
Totsuka Yahiko swallowed hard. The two of them were hiding in a corner of the ship's cabin, and in front of them lay two bright red invitation letters, vivid like fresh blood.
They had been remarkably lucky. By the end of the afternoon, they had already found one invitation. Now, back in the quiet of the ship at midnight, Totsuka had discovered a second one hidden in a secret compartment.
"I think... even if we hand them over to Sakayanagi-san for distribution, she'd probably still let you participate, Katsuragi-san."
Totsuka spoke nervously, mainly because Katsuragi Kohei had just stopped him from informing the class about their discovery of the second invitation.
"That would be pointless."
Katsuragi's usually composed face was now twisted with frustration. Ever since the announcement that Sakayanagi Arisu would be remotely participating in the game, the once-disorganized Class A had rallied behind her as a central figure. He and Totsuka had been completely isolated.
"Right now, the only way we can be accepted back into Class A is if we achieve results on our own."
Katsuragi placed a firm hand on Totsuka's shoulder. He knew that if they handed over both invitations to Sakayanagi for distribution, there was a chance she might allocate one to him. But she could just as easily give both to students from her own faction, like Hashimoto Masayoshi or Kamuro Masumi.
And even if Katsuragi was selected to participate and ended up winning, the class would likely credit Sakayanagi for her magnanimity, saying that she had allowed the so-called "traitor" to redeem himself.
Katsuragi Kohei had always been known as a steady and honest person.
But even an honest man will snap when cornered. Katsuragi looked firmly into the eyes of the only follower still loyal to him.
"Join me in this game."
"Then, let's win."
"But Katsuragi-san, don't we... not have enough points?"
Though deeply moved, Totsuka still raised a very real concern.
"It's fine. I contacted Ryuuen Kakeru from Class C earlier. He agreed to lend us the points needed to participate."
"Eh? That Ryuuen? Are you sure? What if it's a trap set by Kitagawa or something? You should be careful, Katsuragi-san."
"No need to worry. I looked into it. Ryuuen Kakeru from Class C has always been at odds with Kitagawa Ryo. I suspect he wants to use this game to damage Kitagawa's reputation, which is why he lent us the points without hesitation."
"I see..."
Totsuka nodded, then gripped Katsuragi's hand in return.
For several long seconds, the two stared at each other as if silently pledging loyalty: You will not fail me, and I will not fail you.
Finally, Totsuka made up his mind:
"Alright! Let's show those shortsighted fools in Class A that Katsuragi-san is the true man to lead us forward."
[First Year, Class A: Katsuragi Kohei, Totsuka Yahiko - Successfully Registered.]
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"Um, I think it would be better if Hirata-san participated instead?"
Kushida Kikyou pressed her index finger to her lips and made a cute thinking pose.
"After all, my brain isn't really suited for such a complicated game."
"It's just too hard to deceive others."
As she said this, Kushida stuck out her tongue in a shy gesture. For the little angel of Class D, participating in a game of lies like this just seemed too difficult.
The rest of Class D had no objections. Since the person herself didn't want to join, they couldn't exactly force her. In fact, several of the boys turned to comfort her instead:
"We all saw how hard you worked this afternoon, Kikyou-chan."
"No matter the outcome, you gave it your best."
While Kushida politely thanked them, inwardly she clicked her tongue with disdain:
[With that monstrous lineup in Class C, there's no way Classes A, B, or D can win a psychological game against Kitagawa Ryo. Just look at how badly they got wrecked in the deserted island exam.]
[That 80 million points prize is just a bluff. No matter who joins, they can't win. It's just setting someone up to take the fall.]
With that thought in mind, Kushida rolled her eyes, then feigned concern for the class:
"Hirata-san, don't you want to participate?"
"Me? I might have some confidence in other kinds of events, but I really can't handle Werewolf."
Hirata Yosuke scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile. Ever since losing his best friend in middle school, he had given up on normal socializing and ruled his school with violence to eliminate bullying. He hadn't played socially intensive games like Werewolf much at all.
"I see..."
Kushida furrowed her brow as if concerned, then clapped her hands as though she'd had a bright idea.
"Then how about letting Horikita-san join?"
"Horikita?"
Unlike the rest of Class D, who frowned at the suggestion, Hirata was the type who listened to others. Instead of dismissing it outright, he began to consider it seriously.
Karuiwaza Kei was already confirmed to participate. Both he and Kushida had declined. Kouenji Rokusuke had paid for his own entry. Going down the list, it seemed like most of the capable students had already been ruled out.
"What about Ayanokouji-kun?"
A sudden image flashed in Hirata's mind, and he quickly asked.
"Ayanokouji already went back to his room. He said he was too tired today."
One of the boys replied.
"Why bring him up anyway, Hirata?"
"Just wondering."
Hirata sighed. He was certain that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was one of the hidden talents of Class D, but the fact that he had returned to his room at this moment clearly meant he didn't want to participate. Hirata had no intention of forcing him.
That left only Horikita Suzune.
Especially considering how she had helped search for invitations all afternoon despite not being fully recovered, the others no longer viewed her as negatively as they had right after the deserted island exam.
"Actually, I think Horikita-san has the capability to participate in this game."
Hirata made the suggestion.
"I think so too. Horikita-san is perfect for it."
Kushida, who secretly wanted Horikita expelled more than anything, quickly raised her hand in support.
With the class's most popular boy and girl both recommending her, the rest had no choice but to go along despite some lingering dissatisfaction.
"Then, Horikita-san, we're counting on you."
Kushida handed the invitation letter to Horikita Suzune, who had been quietly listening from the corner.
"I'll do my best."
Horikita gave Kushida's dazzling smile a cold glance. She could sense the malice behind Kushida's proposal.
But—
As the girl ran her fingers over the crimson invitation, an image came to her mind of a boy spreading his arms wide:
"Then let's have a real Werewolf game on this cruise ship."
That was Kitagawa Ryo's arrogant declaration.
"I accept your challenge."
"I'll defeat you."
Horikita Suzune made her resolve. Other people's words no longer mattered to her.
At this point, there was only one goal left in her heart:
To defeat Kitagawa Ryo.
[First Year, Class D: Horikita Suzune - Successfully Registered.]
-------------------------------------
"In the crucial moment, help me win."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka lay on his bed, staring at the message on his phone.
Karuizawa Kei must be truly eager to win this game.
But the request was quite the tall order.
Not only would he have to identify Karuizawa among eleven contestants whose faces were hidden and whose voices were altered, but he'd also need to determine her role and win conditions.
Still—
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was curious to see what Karuizawa Kei would look like when she entered Class C.
He had once lured Kitagawa Ryo into a trap at Horikita Suzune's request—though in the end, that turned out to be a complete manipulation on Kitagawa's part.
Even so, thanks to that event, Ayanokouji had gotten the chance to stand beside Kitagawa holding a pink apron and meet Shiina Hiyori.
Even now, he still remembered the look on her face when she opened the door and saw Kitagawa.
Was the emotion in her eyes the same as what he sometimes saw in Karuizawa Kei's?
Ayanokouji wanted to find out.
He turned over and raised the final invitation letter he had hidden away.
[First Year, Class D: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka - Successfully Registered.]
While many struggled to fall asleep that night, Kitagawa Ryo slept peacefully—so peacefully, in fact, that he dreamed for the first time in a long while.
In his dream, there was a boy he had fought with since childhood, only to sit and gripe together afterward.
A girl he met online, who loved reading and especially adored mystery novels.
A tiny kitten with bright firefly-colored eyes, scruffy and scared when first picked up.
And then—
"I'm sorry."
"You chose to protect my daughter back then. As a father, I'm truly grateful."
"But... I'm very sorry. I must also ask that you continue to protect her."
"Kei is still lying in a hospital bed. She's forgotten the past, and we don't want to trigger those memories again. The doctors said doing so could cause irreversible damage. I believe you don't want her future to be haunted by this incident either."
"So, I'm deeply sorry—but Karuizawa Kei cannot testify in this case."
-------------------------------------
[At this point, all participants have been confirmed.]
[First Year, Class A: Sakayanagi Arisu, Katsuragi Kohei, Totsuka Yahiko]
[First Year, Class B: Ichinose Honami, Kanzaki Ryuji]
[First Year, Class C: Kitagawa Ryo, Ryuuen Kakeru, Shiina Hiyori]
[First Year, Class D: Karuizawa Kei, Horikita Suzune, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Kouenji Rokusuke]
[The Werewolf Game officially begins.]
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