3.1
Narrator: Shinohara.
"Could you gather everyone?" I asked Hirata.
I was frustrated because we couldn't find the culprit among the guys. I suspected that the pervert and idiot Ike or his idiot friend Yamauchi were the thieves of Karuizawa-san's underwear, but Hirata defended both of them and said that neither had stolen the underwear, so I had no choice but to believe him.
Still, I wasn't satisfied with things. That's why, with the girls, we reached an agreement on what to do in a situation like this. Since we hadn't found the thief and suspected it was among the guys, we decided we had to separate. We couldn't be around these disgusting guys.
So, we had to discuss our solution with Hirata-kun. If only all the guys were as decent as him.
I snorted and rolled my eyes. As if that were possible.
When Hirata came out of the guys' tent, he joined us girls for the discussion. Thanks to Hirata for having the patience and attitude with the guys. Right now, all the girls are angry. If it weren't for him, who knows what the guys would do just to deny all their disgusting acts.
While Hirata gathered the guys, I grabbed a long, sturdy branch from a tree to use as a makeshift drawing tool.
"Men can't be trusted. It's impossible to stay in the same place with them!" Karuizawa, who had stopped crying, was now claiming our condition with unleashed fury.
"But there's a slight issue for the guys and girls to live separately, don't you think?... The exam is almost over. Since we're friends, we should believe in each other and cooperate," Hirata explained, trying to convince us in vain.
"That may be true. But we can't stay in a place with underwear thieves!"
While Karuizawa dismisses this idea as absolutely impossible, I drew a line that would be the protective barrier separating us from the guys.
I glared at the guys. My furious gaze went towards Ike, who was coming out of the guys' tent to see what was going on as if he didn't care about anything. That idiot was even yawning.
My eye twitched at looking at this guy. Acting like an arrogant bastard just a few minutes ago. After what Ike said, I wasn't sure if he or his lying and ugly friend was the one who stole the underwear. He might have been bluffing, but with Hirata backing him up, I still didn't understand why Hirata would take the side of the perverts instead of listening to us girls.
Deep down, I knew Ike's words had some truth (although I would never admit that I might be wrong in accusing them). I know they're idiots, but not so much as to risk being something.
I stomped the ground firmly and dismissed the angry thoughts swirling in my head as I said, "We believe the culprit is a guy. So, let's draw a line here and divide the area between girls and guys. Guys are forbidden from entering our area."
I finally proposed officially dividing our common living space. We couldn't trust the guys right now, so splitting up was the most optimal option.
"What is this?! You're treating us like criminals without any proof. We even allowed you to check our luggage and undergo a physical check," the guy named Miyamoto exclaimed angrily, glaring at us.
I clenched my teeth in anger before snorting mockingly, "You might have hidden them somewhere other than your suitcase, right? Men are perverts. Anyway, don't enter the girls' territory until we find the culprit. So, go over there."
I told them with disgust. I also didn't acknowledge that Ike was partially right. If someone pointed it out, I would deny it and say that it was a logical thing to think, but there was a possibility that the thief stored the stolen belongings in their suitcase, even if it was a low chance.
Fortunately for the guys, they were saved from my furious diatribe. No one was foolish enough to point out something that was out of context right now.
After the girls, including me, demanded that they move their tent because we couldn't be near the guys since one of them was a possible thief, the stubborn guys didn't seem satisfied with this and continued with their stupid complaints.
"If you don't believe us, move your tent or whatever. We won't move our tent, and we won't help you move yours either," Sudo said with irritation and a scowling face.
Ah, I see. Well then. You can't bear the burden of getting caught while pretending to help." I exclaimed angrily, narrowing my eyes dangerously at the guys. They didn't flinch at my gaze, so I added to finish them off. "And don't use the shower anymore, okay? It's not a joke to let a man who could be a perverted thief use it."
As the stubborn guys didn't relent, and I could feel the situation becoming quite dangerous, I had to ask Hirata for help again.
"Hey, Hirata, could you help us? For Karuizawa's sake?"
"Okay, I'll help you. It might take some time. Is that okay?"
Thank you, Hirata! Good for us, Karuizawa!" I gave him my thanks with a smile.
"Yeah. Only Hirata is trustworthy," Karuizawa commented happily, embarrassed because of my words. Karuizawa's cheeks also blushed at Hirata's smile.
"Hmm... Although Hirata might be the culprit." One of the guys commented so ridiculously that I would have laughed at another time if I weren't angry at the absurdity.
"What?! Hirata is not the culprit! What a stupid thing to say! Get lost!" Karuizawa defended her boyfriend with great brusqueness before I could make my offensive comment.
"Don't make a fool of yourself, Karuizawa. Just because he's your boyfriend doesn't mean he can't be the culprit."
As it was something natural, we ignored the complaints of the guys, which were increasing even more. Even if we weren't considering it because it was obvious that it wasn't an option for us girls. All the guys were suspects, except Hirata. Before the discussion got more heated, someone unexpectedly intervened.
"I don't think Hirata stole Karuizawa-san's underwear either."
Almost all the girls looked at Ike in surprise, including me. Considering that Ike doesn't like people who are much more handsome than him and who treat women much better. One of the guys didn't take Ike's comment well.
"Are you taking the girls' side now, Ike? What happened to ignoring them?" Miyamoto commented angrily and pointed at him—something the girls didn't take very well.
"Taking the girls' side? Is this a joke? I never said that. Don't twist my words. What I said is that I also don't think Hirata stole Karuizawa's underwear. While it's a real possibility that it happened, it's ruled out when you look at the reactions he's had." Ike pointed for a second at Hirata's face. "It's obvious that he was initially surprised by the situation; he was even upset. Right now, he feels frustrated and powerless because the bond we had at the beginning of the exam has been definitively broken," Ike spoke with logic and a precise deduction about his argument for Hirata's innocence.
Miyamoto stayed silent after the explanation. No one argued because most were surprised by the events, but the most surprised was Hirata, who gave Ike a complicated look.
"Hey, Hirata," Ike turned to the person he defended. "Can I help you move the girls' tents? I'm sure you'll need help."
"Well, if it wouldn't be..." Hirata didn't finish the sentence before his girlfriend interrupted him abruptly.
"Absolutely not! We won't let a disgusting guy like you help us move our tent. Who knows what might disappear next."
Ike glared at her. "First of all, stop implying that I could be the culprit. I wouldn't stoop so low as to steal from someone like you." Karuizawa recoiled, offended and indignant, turning red with fury. "Secondly, you demanded earlier that we move our tent away from yours. What's the difference between moving one over the other?"
"It's very different! Moving the guys' tent is different from moving the girls' tent! You should have moved your tent in the first place! Instead of forcing Hirata to move our tent since he's the only one who can't be the culprit," I retorted, taking a step forward.
Why did this idiot offer to help move our tent? One would think he would just stand aside and watch Hirata do all the heavy lifting. Was it because of the conversation Hirata and Ike had inside the guys' tent?
It was obvious that all the girls were against Ike helping Hirata. Not only did we not want Hirata to associate with this idiotic and perverted guy, but we girls had also spent some points to make our tent more comfortable. If Ike were to find out, I'm sure he would use it to confront us in front of the guys.
"Well, if you don't trust me, I'm sure you can monitor every one of my moves. Besides, Hirata will be watching me too. I don't think he'd let me do anything wrong. That's not to mention that you're watching me like a hawk. Or do you not trust Hirata enough to keep an eye on me?" Ike smiled arrogantly, touching a sensitive point for the girls. He knew that none of the girls would contradict him because we all trust Hirata.
"I don't trust Hirata. Much less you."
Well, almost all. Horikita spoke, denying Ike's help. Besides saying something foolish like not trusting Hirata, it served us as a benefit so that Ike wouldn't move our camp.
Ike rolled his eyes before shifting his gaze to Horikita.
"Why are you so against it? Hmm. It's not like you have to hide anything, right?" Ike narrowed his eyes at Horikita before his suspicious gaze shifted to Karuizawa.
"Hide? We're not hiding anything. It's pretty obvious because no one wants your help. Not only do I not trust Hirata to watch you. But you are very unreliable. I'm sure that instead of helping set up the tent, you'll completely ruin it with how useless you are." Horikita gave her argument calmly.
Ike opened his mouth before closing it with a loud snap. Ike was looking at Horikita with an offended and, at the same time, angry look. It was a strange sight, to be honest with myself.
Ike took a deep breath before speaking. "Useless? With all due respect, Horikita, but your words are more than garbage." He responded brusquely. "In any case, you're the useless one. What have you done apart from some basic contributions? Hmm."
"Why do you dare? I have done..." Horikita couldn't finish before Ike interrupted her.
"I don't want to hear the excuse that you're sick or something. You're not, right?" Ike smiled maliciously. It was a bit terrifying and creepy how he was behaving.
Horikita hesitated before responding, "Of course not! I'm fine!"
Ike rolled his eyes. "Sure, and I can fly!" His sarcastic comment made me wonder if Horikita was sick. "I have made more contributions in this exam than all of you combined, thanks to my experience. In this field, I am much more useful than you. I may not be as good academically, but when it comes to camping, I am above you because of my experience."
"True. Kanji has been much more useful than you, Horikita." Yamauchi supported him.
I didn't know what to say, honestly, to get Ike to stop insisting. Every argument one of the girls was giving, Ike countered with cunning that he had never shown before. Not to mention that strange but attractive accent he was using.
I wrinkled my face in disgust at that unconscious thought.
"Even if it's true, we can't let someone like you help Hirata. Since you're not reliable. I'm sure you're only doing this to look good in front of Kushida." Karuizawa supported Horikita, mocking him.
"Don't you have any compassion for Hirata? You treat him like he's your servant, taking advantage of his kindness. If I help, Hirata will finish much faster. Besides, with my help, he'll get less tired." Ike ignored the insults and gave a good argument against Karuizawa's attack. I just frowned, thinking about what he said.
"Yeah, I'll help too," Yamauchi commented, raising an arm enthusiastically. But before a girl could reject or insult him, Ike spoke again, surprising Yamauchi.
"No. Not you, friend," Ike commented.
"Why can you insist on helping, and I can't?!" Yamauchi exclaimed.
Ike shrugged. "Sorry, Haruki. But it's better if you don't join, because the more people from our circle," Ike pointed to Yamauchi and then pointed to Sotomura and Sudō. "Join to help us, it will be much harder for Hirata since he can't keep an eye on everyone. I'm only doing it because Hirata helped me once, so I want to repay the favor."
If things continued like this, the girls wouldn't be able to convince Ike to give up, and we would have no choice but to accept and watch him to ensure he didn't do anything suspicious.
"Hirata, tell him he can't help us. I'm sure he has hidden motives for doing so," Karuizawa, seeing how stubborn Ike was, asked for her boyfriend's help.
Ike's smile only grew as if he had caught a canary that had escaped its cage. A chill ran down my spine. That was the smile of someone who had won.
"Karuizawa, it would be a great help to me if Ike manages to help. I'm sure he won't do anything wrong. Can we do that? Please?" Hirata gave Karuizawa a smile that begged her not to be against his opinion.
"But I don't want a disgusting pervert like him getting into our tent! Can't you understand that the girls are afraid he might try something with hidden intentions?" Karuizawa tried to convince her boyfriend.
"Shut up, Karuizawa!" Ike snapped, glaring at her, making all the whispers fall silent. "Stop being stubborn and accept the help I'm offering. You girls are so against me helping that it makes me wonder why. Your excuse that I'm a pervert doesn't hold much weight if that's all. The solution would be to watch me, right? So can you explain why you're so against it?"
"Because..." Karuizawa stopped, unable to find a reason. She looked at him with frustration and barely contained fury.
"Nothing, huh? Great, I don't think you're hiding anything either. I'm sure that you feel as uncomfortable in the tent as your back or neck hurts." The emphasis didn't go unnoticed by the girls, making some nervous, including me. "I'm sure you also sweat a lot because of the heat since you don't have a battery-powered fan, right, girls?" Ike raised his eyebrows and smiled arrogantly.
The girls remained silent.
"You won't stop insisting, right?" Horikita asked with a sigh.
In response, the bastard's smile got even bigger.
"I guess there's no choice but to accept you. But don't get me wrong; I don't trust you. I don't trust Hirata either, despite your arguments. I can't take for granted that Hirata might be the culprit. What you're saying makes sense since two are better than one. In my opinion, none of the guys is trustworthy. Therefore, I will watch them along with Ayanokōji-san."
Ike's body tensed, and the arrogant smile froze. That made me blink in surprise. Why was he so surprised when they mentioned the name of the doll-faced girl? We had never seen her change her expression, even though she was very beautiful. She didn't fit in with the girls' groups. That's why she spent most of her time alone or talking to Horikita.
["Shit. I didn't expect that."]
Ike's words confused me as much as they surprised me. Even though I didn't understand anything because he was speaking in Spanish, if I'm not mistaken. It surprised me even that he knew how to speak another language perfectly.
Ike looked directly at Ayanokōji-san in the eyes before quickly turning away with flushed cheeks. Although from the strange expression on his face, I couldn't be sure if it was embarrassment or something else.
"Do what you want. But I assure you I won't do anything suspicious," Ike replied before walking away, hands in his pockets, heading toward where the water bottles were.
The girls looked at him with frustration, unable to argue anything against Ike. I crossed my arms due to contemplation about the behavior shown by the idiot. Is he even an idiot? The arguments he gave today prove that he has intelligence and cunning. So... why does he behave the way he does or did? If we compare the Ike from the beginning of classes to the Ike now, we could say they are different people.
I think everyone could realize that Ike was acting strangely, so no one could counter him with their arguments. No one could know that Ike could act this way. That's why I feel more frustrated and confused. For not understanding how this situation ended up developing.
I sighed resignedly and with a feeling of dissatisfaction as I walked away to talk to the girls about the results. The meeting with the guys ended. So, there was no point in staying close to them since one of them was the culprit.
I'm going to watch that idiot doesn't do anything stupid, or else...
I'm going to make him regret it.
ᕕ (⌐ ■ _ ■) ᕗ ♪ ♬ ᕕ (⌐ ■ _ ■) ᕗ ♪ ♬ ᕕ (⌐ ■ _ ■) ᕗ ♪ ♬
3.2
Narrator: Kiyone.
Once the meeting ended, I stayed behind, analyzing the situation thoroughly. I thought I had correctly analyzed Ike's strengths and weaknesses, but I was too surprised by his sudden cunning. The logical and correct arguments he presented against the girls left me impressed.
I severely underestimated the intelligence he possessed. No... it wasn't that; it's as if Ike were an entirely different person than he was before. The confident posture, his analytical eyes, his new way of speaking—casual, informal, and sarcastic. Even his accent came from a more informal Spanish language than the one I was taught.
The way people speak in the countries of America, specifically. I wasn't sure which country he learned Spanish from, but his intonation gave me the idea that it was casual Spanish used in American countries.
The way of speaking taught in other countries is of a different expression and intonation. You probably wouldn't notice it at first glance unless you specifically heard them.
Ike is intelligent; that fact cannot be denied after his demonstration. It was obvious on Ike's part to hint to the class about his hidden intelligence. If he was going to reveal it, why hide it in the first place? Was Ike like Kushida, but at the same time completely different?
Kushida is someone who pretends to be someone she's not, gaining satisfaction from people's praises. Even though she hates her way of acting with people she despises, she hides her true personality because being loved and having people's attention is something she finds purpose in.
One might think Kushida has a personality disorder, but you realize that's not the case. Since she can change her way of acting at will. With Ike, I found his behavior yesterday strange, but maybe it made some logical sense.
Ike seemed confused and shocked. I heard him ask things that were something he was supposed to already know. But for some reason, he didn't remember anything. His way of acting and speaking changed. He didn't even try to hide his change in attitude. Sure, sometimes he "tried" to act as usual, but it was noticeable that it was staged.
Dissociative identity disorder is a disorder characterized by the existence of two or more personalities. Each personality has a pattern of perceiving and acting with the environment. Generally, the main cause of having a dissociative disorder is derived from trauma. People create a new personality as a defense mechanism to overcome the trauma that their conscious self cannot face.
Even though it was a valid theory, I couldn't rule out that his "true" self was just an act to make people lower their guard around him. The thoughts in my head are, at best, hypotheses waiting to be resolved. I'm very curious if he was sincere, but it wasn't a priority at the moment.
I was still a little bitter that Chabashira forced me to act the way she did. I didn't mind helping with some exams for Horikita, as I did with Sudō's case. But the way they forced me left me with great discontent.
I dismissed that thought to watch how Hirata was moving the girls' tents while Ike was hammering stakes to keep the girls' tents fixed to the ground.
"Sorry for making you go through a tough time," I heard Hirata start a conversation with Ike. Although it was at a considerable distance where an average person couldn't hear their conversation, I, on the other hand, had very keen hearing. So, even with the distance, it was no problem that made me avoid listening to them.
"Why are you apologizing? You haven't done anything wrong as far as I'm concerned. Besides, you helped me, so common sense dictates that I help you again, right?" Ike dismissed Hirata's apology with a nonchalant and disdainful air.
"I still apologize for how the girls treated you despite your efforts. I apologize on their behalf. They're just frustrated and not saying things seriously," Hirata commented, stopping his activity before bowing in apology to Ike.
Ike panicked, not because of his action itself but because of what the girls might think seeing Hirata bowing to someone like Ike. "Stop doing that. Don't apologize for something you had control over. I know you want to be friends with everyone and make everyone get along. But that's something that's not realistic. Conflict is embedded in human DNA. Even with the most absurd thing, they seek to argue among themselves. Whether it's due to opposing opinions or resentment, envy, or whatever."
Ike was right. Humans, by nature, tend to be conflict-prone, and that's not necessarily good or bad. It's because each person has different views, different aspirations, different cultures, different goals, and different positions. Each of these creates and resolves conflicts daily. Whether it's a small conflict or a serious one.
"Maybe you're right. But that's why I'm working hard so that our class can stay united, and we can cooperate. That's why I do what I have to do." Hirata explained his reasoning, rejecting the idea of a daily class conflict as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I think this special test is not a battle but an important opportunity for everyone to become closer. That's why I want to cherish this moment. I'll be happy to work if necessary to achieve it."
It made me wonder why Hirata puts in so much effort and works so hard to keep the class united. He wasn't like Kushida, who had a hidden motive to be good. I couldn't help but have the feeling that Hirata was being honest with his feelings and goals with Ike.
Ike finished hammering the second stake of one of the tents, stood up from his crouched position, and stretched his back for a few seconds before lifting his sports shirt, revealing his abdomen, and wiping the sweat from his forehead.
My eyebrow raised at his action.
"I see. Anyway, we have only half left, so we'd better finish quickly. This sun is bothering me." Before both guys could continue, they were interrupted by Karuizawa.
"Hirata-kun! Come here for a moment!" Karuizawa and the other girls called Hirata. In an instant, they surrounded Hirata and pulled his arms forcefully.
"Come on, come on, come here!"
"Ah, I still have things to do..." Hirata started before being interrupted.
"Leave it to Ike. Wasn't he insisting so much on helping move our camp? I'm sure he can finish the rest. Right?" Karuizawa gave Ike a vindictive smile as she pulled her boyfriend with all her strength.
Ike's eye twitched. "Yes, I suppose I am, but I'm sure..." Before he could finish, Karuizawa interrupted him.
"You see. Ike said it would be fine. So let's go. Horikita is watching him anyway." Karuizawa and the girls dragged Hirata forcefully.
"...Hirata wouldn't abandon me," Ike murmured incredulously, watching Hirata walk away, leaving him with all the work alone. I almost felt a bit sorry for him. Almost.
With slumped shoulders, Ike turned around to finish the job. Horikita, who was nearby, watching Ike, approached him before insulting him.
"Isn't it pathetic what happened to you? It seems Hirata considered it more important to go with the girls while leaving all his work to you. Isn't it a bit ironic how you wanted to help him, but he abandons you halfway through the job?"
Ike shrugged dismissively. "I had a suspicion that the serious girls were resentful of my arguments. But still, I thought Hirata wouldn't abandon me if I told him to help me finish the job." Ike accepted his mistake without being offended by Horikita's insult. "I guess I made a miscalculation; it's not a big deal."
"You make it sound like you had everything planned," Horikita couldn't help but roll her eyes at Ike's audacity.
"Nope. I'm not good at making plans. I'm more of the people who improvise and do things in an orthodox way." Ike shrugged. "Making plans requires too much thinking. So, I always go with the flow."
Even though Ike was being honest, I couldn't help but feel he wasn't telling the whole truth.
"Is that how you act?" Horikita asked with narrowed eyes, giving Ike an evaluative look.
"Excuse me?" Ike looked at her with bewilderment.
"I couldn't help but think that he's a completely different person from what we saw at the beginning of the year. Certainly, that air of immaturity suddenly disappeared from him."
Ike's body tensed for a moment before paling. Then he looked in my direction, surprising me. Ike gave me a complicated look that I couldn't completely decipher. So, I tilted my head in curiosity.
I started to approach them. I couldn't pretend that I wasn't interested in Horikita's interrogation and Ike's new behavior. Besides, I could offer a helping hand.
Ike sighed heavily. "Do I really seem like I've changed that much?" he asked nervously.
"No. You look like the same person as always." I wasn't lying; his physical appearance was the same as always. The change that occurred was at a mental, not physical, level. But I wasn't going to correct it if he thought otherwise.
Ike gave me a flat look. "You know, your sarcastic comment is even more irritating with your flat tone. I guess the cat is out of the bag, huh?" Ike commented, giving me an inquisitive look. "There's no use hiding it from someone like you. Anyway, I'm sure you've noticed." Ike didn't reject his abrupt behavior change; in fact, he accepted it without a hint of fear. Ike shifted to a relaxed posture with his hands behind his head.
Still, his words bothered me. "Someone like me? What did he mean by that?"
Horikita's eye twitched. "You know, you remind me of someone. Someone who pretends they can't do anything when it's the opposite." She gave me a sidelong glance.
Hey, at least don't be blatant in front of Ike. I'm sure this girl did it on purpose. Where is Hirata when you need him to control certain people?
"I wonder who that could be," Ike said sarcastically, looking directly into Horikita's eyes.
Well, it was obvious it wouldn't be me. He must be talking about Koenji.
"Koenji?" I said tentatively, trying to give Ike the wrong idea.
Ike looked at me before shrugging. A gesture that said he didn't care who the person hiding their abilities was. I mentally thanked him for not continuing with the topic. It was problematic for me.
"Do you know you can't change the subject, right, Ike-kun?" Horikita was insistent in her question about his behavior.
Ike pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. "The only thing I'll tell you is that I'm still Ike Kanji. But at the same time, I'm not Ike Kanji. You can take my words as you want because I'll refuse to tell you more about my behavior." Ike explained, firmly expressing his opinion.
It was an interesting but vague statement that could be taken in different ways depending on the person to whom it was said. Horikita, for example, being a person who considers various options as possible hypotheses, frowned contemplatively.
My mind simulated all the possibilities about Ike's new behavior while filing away in percentages which were the most probable and which were the least likely of all. I saved the results for further investigation. For now, I needed more information for the questions my brain posed.
"Anyway, I need to finish the girls' tents. Unless you're going to help me, then the conversation is over. I don't want the girls to despise me more than they already do." Ike commented, rolling his eyes, considering the girls' behavior as irrational foolishness.
If I were a normal person, I would feel uncomfortable considering Ike's abrupt change. But it was the opposite; I was very curious about him. That's why I needed to know what triggered it. I also wondered if he would return to his previous behavior and if his current demeanor would disappear.
"I'll help. Then," I commented as I approached to help him move the girls' tent, which currently had its entrance closed with fabric, so the interior couldn't be seen.
When I was about to grab the second tent to start moving it, Ike grabbed my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.
"Wait," Ike said, keeping his hand. It was a soft hand without calluses. Fortunately, it was sweat-free, and his contact with my skin was warm. I looked at Ike, tilting my head, wondering what he wanted. Ike turned to Horikita, who was about to leave, but stopped when Ike stopped me. "Hey, Horikita. Be honest. You girls spent more points just to make the girls' tent comfortable on the inside." Ike commented, letting go of my hand.
I blinked at that. So, Ike did find out about the other girls' spending points to make us feel much more comfortable. Unlike the guys who were having a hard time in their tent. At times like this, I'm grateful I was born a woman and not a man.
I can't imagine what my life would be like as a man.
Horikita looked at Ike before sighing. "I guess it would be useless to hide the truth once you've figured it out. Why didn't you say anything if that's the case? One would think you'd disclose it to the guys to annoy the girls."
Ike gave Horikita a flat look. "Do I look like a blabbermouth to you? Don't answer." Ike stopped her with a glare. Horikita just raised an eyebrow, looking at him with amusement. "The bond between the guys and the girls depends on a very thin thread. Any other abrupt activity could break the trust between us. Which would make cooperation in future exams difficult. So, it's better to keep your mouth shut."
"That's quite a logical argument on your part, Ike," Horikita reluctantly admitted, yet she seemed to have sucked a lemon, judging by the expression on her face. "You can see for yourself if you want."
Horikita opened the fabric on the main panel and showed the inside of our tent.
"I see..." Ike remained silent, analyzing every material in the girls' tent. Noting the partiality and unfairness of the girls compared to the guys.
Unlike the guys' tent, the girls' tent was completely different. Because on the floor, there was a rug to soften the hardness of the ground, and several pillows seemed to have been inflated with air. In addition, they installed a wireless battery-operated electric fan.
"The same things were also placed in the other tent. A total of 12 points." Horikita notified Ike, who remained silent with a thoughtful frown.
Ike sighed, looking more tired than angry about the matter. "I guess it doesn't make sense. Complaining about a few more points. We've already spent on the shower and other things, so I suppose twelve points aren't much. In comparison." Ike shook his head in frustration. "It's pointless to cry over spilled milk. We'd better hurry. Oh, and just in case, let's move this a bit more to the left to keep it as far away from the guys' tents as possible." Ike said as he knelt in a crouched position and began to hammer the stake after moving the tent.
"Karuizawa and the others requested this," Horikita commented, making Ike raise an eyebrow. From his expression, Ike had probably suspected that Karuizawa was the main culprit going behind the guys' backs.
"Well, it's not charming that we suffer neck and back pains while you all are relaxed. I certainly envy the way you guys are, as I am content with my tent," Ike shrugged, getting up to nail the other stake. I was adjusting the tents to make sure they were positioned perfectly.
"No need to be sarcastic. I realize it might be unsatisfactory for you. Although it's not an excuse, I noticed that when the order was already placed and everything was ready. It's difficult to do anything when we create a rule that anyone can use points if they request it," Horikita explained to both Ike and me.
"And, like Koenji's case, points can't be recovered. So asking for a refund is completely out of the question, and you could only accept the facts as they are," Ike concluded.
Horikita nodded, satisfied that Ike could understand her explanation. "Exactly. It seems Karuizawa informed to Hirata, so he knows. Even you suspected that the girls had done something behind the guys' backs. It's a fact that no one told or informed others."
"I guess I understand what you're trying to say, Horikita. But it's not like we could do anything right now. If the guys find out that the girls bought things behind their backs, I'm sure our unity could be completely shattered. That's why we must stay silent about this," Ike detailed the situation perfectly.
Ike was right. At this moment, it was unnecessary to talk about the girls' spending behind the guys' backs; it would only create unnecessary conflict in the class. Making cooperation among us in our current exams and future exams much more difficult.
"True, it's too risky to reveal this to the guys. Because the culprit of stealing Karuizawa-san's underwear still hasn't been resolved, we would risk the class suffering harm. The culprit could have attacked our class seeking to damage our cooperation unit," I spoke, trying to contribute to the conversation. Ike looked at me in surprise while Horikita nodded in satisfaction.
"Ayanokōji-san is right, Ike-kun. That's why we should do everything possible to catch the culprit. We can't let our class suffer another blow," Horikita explained and asked for our help.
"So, do you want us to collaborate with you?" I asked.
"Yes. Now that cracks have started to appear among the guys, there are many things I can't do alone," Horikita explained.
Guys and girls are now in the midst of a cold war. The flow of information between both sides has stopped, and it's hard to find it even if we go out to explore.
"Understood. I don't know if it will be of help, but I'll cooperate," I accepted her request for help.
Ike shrugged, accepting Horikita's request. "I don't mind cooperating if it's for the good of our class."
Despite my frankness, Horikita looked at me with a suspicious gaze.
"...I can understand a bit about Ike-kun's motive, but Ayanokōji-san, do you have any other goal?"
I had to act carefully because Ike was watching both of us with curiosity. But his eyes were quite sharp at the moment. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable; it reminded me a bit of the curious looks I got in the white room.
"I just thought I could help. Also, as a woman, I'm dissatisfied that the thief couldn't be found and is hiding among us. That's my motive for cooperation, so you should be satisfied," I replied.
"Well, forget it. It's decided then."
But the culprit wasn't stupid. First of all, in the face of suspicion from all the class members, they didn't reveal their true intentions. Horikita may still think everything will be fine even in the worst situations. We've already been disrupted in this test more than this, and it also affected the points.
However, about the culprit... Ibuki probably has to act once again. No, it has to happen for sure. Because they haven't achieved their goal yet. That reminded me that I would have to have a conversation with her after finishing helping Ike with the tent.
"Is this a serious conversation, you know? Your face screams how thoughtful you are," Ike commented with a playful tone to Horikita while raising an eyebrow, intrigued about the seriousness of the matter at hand.
"Because of this incident, the class is a mess. It's a pity, even though we did everything quite skillfully until today," Horikita began her explanation and paused before commenting, "It's unexpected that we managed to cooperate until now. Usually, there's no teamwork in Class D. The result has been poor, especially now that there's a crack between the guys and the girls. Of course, it would have been better to handle all of this until the end of the exam. Also, whoever the culprit is, I wonder what their true goal is. Was the purpose of stealing Karuizawa's underwear to ruin our teamwork? I feel like there's another hidden purpose."
At the keyword "purpose," Horikita crossed her arms, but after considering it for a moment, she shook her head.
"Let's not think too much... I'm sorry, but I'm going back to the tent." Horikita, as she breathed slowly, brushed her hair and turned her face away from Ike and me.
Horikita moved away from us to enter the girls' tent that we had already finished moving and securing to the ground correctly.
"Hey. Ayanokōji-san," Ike called me.
"Hmm. What's up?" I asked with curiosity.
"Horikita is sick, right?" He asked me, innocently tilting his head.
"I suspected that you knew from the way you phrased the sentence. But I stayed silent, or Horikita would get mad at me. She can be a little devil when she wants," I replied honestly, trying to make a joke to lighten the conversation.
Ike chuckled, shaking his head amusedly. "She can be a pain, right? Especially when she's being stubborn. Sometimes I think she should stop being so rigid and relax a bit." Ike shrugged. "But, well, everyone is free to act as they please."
I nodded, understanding his point of view. "By the way, I'm curious. When did you realize that Horikita is sick?"
I wanted to gauge how observant Ike was. He already showed cunning and intelligence, which surprised me. So, it wouldn't be a big surprise if he were a keen observer.
"Right after they announced the arrival on the island. When we met with our classmates. On the anchoring platform, Horikita seemed to be cold, even though it was hot. Even now, Horikita is wearing her jacket with long sleeves and the zipper up. Then I kept an eye on her to confirm if it was true, and it seems I'm right," Ike spoke frankly and explained his reasoning.
That... was a precise, detailed, and completely accurate deduction. I was surprised again by his detailed and easy-to-understand explanation.
Ike Kanji was much more interesting than I thought he was. I would piece together the puzzle that I had put together wrong the first time. But this time, I would put it together correctly, without underestimating his capabilities. It made me wonder if I had underestimated other people as well.
"Don't you mind if I hum a song, Ayanokōji-san?" Ike asked me something that made me curious.
"Not really. Why? Do you want to sing?" I asked, blinking with interest.
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm bad at singing. But right now, I just want to sound a melody to relax and finish this work. So, I was wondering if you'd mind?" Ike shook his head. "No. I'm curious about how you can sing, so please go ahead, and don't worry about me," I told him, sincerely, that I wouldn't have any problem with Ike humming the melody of a song.
"Alright then," Ike nodded before continuing to work while starting to hum a soft, relaxing, and quite catchy melody. He does it quite well, actually, for it just being the melody. It makes me wonder what his voice islike when singing a full song.
With that, we continued working on the tents in a relaxed atmosphere.