The cruise ship gradually slowed down and finally dropped anchor in an open stretch of sea. Students from each class, organized by their Class teachers, reassembled on the deck.
The Class teacher of Class A, Teacher Majima Tomoya, stood on a makeshift platform, looking sternly at the students below who were still immersed in their vacation fantasies.
"Everyone, starting now, the week-long special exam officially begins."
His voice, broadcast through a loudspeaker, instantly shattered the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere across the deck.
"For the next seven days—that is, until noon on August 7th—you will live as a group on this uninhabited island, organized by class. Where you sleep, what you eat, everything must be figured out by yourselves." Teacher Majima's tone was devoid of emotion. "Incidentally, this exam was designed based on the induction training programs of large real-world corporations, making it highly practical and challenging."
"During the exam, no one is allowed to return to the cruise ship without a valid reason. Initially, the school will provide each class with two tents, two flashlights, and one box of matches. Sunscreen will be supplied in unlimited quantities, and each person will receive one toothbrush. Furthermore, considering special circumstances, feminine hygiene products will also be provided without limit. That concludes the basic details of this exam."
These words, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, caused an uproar among the students of Class D.
Ike Kanji's expression instantly collapsed from initial anticipation into despair.
"Are you kidding me! Survival on a deserted island?!" His voice became sharp due to shock. "The school has no martial virtue! To deceive! To sneak attack! How can they launch such a sudden assault on us weak students!"
Teacher Majima seemed to have anticipated this reaction. He simply continued calmly, "We are not interfering with your actions; the kind of life you want to lead on the island is entirely up to you. The school will issue three hundred special exam points to each class. Additionally, each class will receive a guidebook detailing the complete list of items that can be exchanged for points."
"If you want to use these three hundred points to throw a seven-day beach party on the island, that's perfectly fine. However, I must remind everyone that after the exam concludes, all remaining points will be converted into your class points at a one-to-one ratio. Choose enjoyment or choose the future; the decision is yours."
"Finally, regarding the withdrawal mechanism. During the exam, if a student withdraws due to physical discomfort or other reasons, their class will be deducted thirty exam points. Incidentally, Class A will start with two hundred and seventy points because one student is unable to participate due to a physical condition. Now, all classes, prepare to disembark onto the island."
...Organized by the Class teacher, the students of Class D began lining up to board the small landing craft. Before boarding, Chabashira Sae and several staff members meticulously inspected every student to ensure no one was hiding personal belongings.
After about half an hour of sailing and waiting, Natsukawa Sosuke's feet finally stepped onto the soft sand of the uninhabited island.
While still on the boat, Chabashira Sae had already handed the thick guidebook to Hirata Yosuke.
Natsukawa Sosuke naturally walked over and, using the excuse that "Horikita wanted to look at the guide but wasn't feeling well, so she asked me to grab it for her," took the booklet from Hirata's hands.
He quickly flipped through it.
(It must be said, the school is truly never stingy when it comes to pay-to-win items.)
The item list in the manual was dazzling, covering everything needed from wilderness survival to a luxury vacation, ranging from basic charcoal, shovels, and drinking water, to extravagant digital cameras, portable showers, and even jet skis... "This is amazing!" Ike Kanji quickly regained his energy after stepping onto the island's beach. "As long as we save money and endure this tough week, we'll get an extra thirty thousand points every month back at school! Thirty thousand points! If that's the case, it's worth the price even if we starve until we collapse!"
His words instantly ignited the enthusiasm of most of the boys in the class.
Just then, Chabashira Sae's cold voice, like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, extinguished everyone's fantasies.
"Don't celebrate too soon. The rules haven't all been covered yet. There are also deduction rules."
"During the exam, those who commit the following acts will face severe penalties. First, if a student is judged by the school to be unable to continue the exam due to obvious physical discomfort or serious injury, that student will withdraw, and their class will be deducted thirty points. Second, if acts of environmental pollution, such as littering, are found, twenty points will be deducted. Third, roll call will be taken at eight in the morning and eight in the evening daily; five points will be deducted per person for each unexcused absence."
"And the most severe penalty is," her gaze sharpened, "if any class engages in acts of violence, looting, or destruction of equipment against another class, that class will immediately lose its qualification for the exam, and all personal points of the individuals involved will be confiscated."
Ike Kanji's recently burning enthusiasm was instantly extinguished, his face etched with disappointment.
Meanwhile, the focus of the girls was entirely different.
"Um... Teacher..." Shinohara Satsuki somewhat awkwardly raised her hand. "Excuse me, sensei... how are we supposed to deal with the hygiene issue?"
Chabashira Sae retrieved two cardboard boxes from nearby and placed them on the beach.
"Use this simple toilet," she explained concisely. "It can be used by simply lining it with the special plastic bags and absorbent cloth provided by the school. In principle, both of these items are supplied in unlimited quantities. You will solve your hygiene problems on the island using this."
"Huh?! Use this?!" Shinohara Satsuki let out a cry of disbelief. "How can anyone possibly use something like that!"
"Just endure it and it'll be over!" Ike Kanji said impatiently from the side. "Is now the time to talk about this? The points are what matter!"
"It's easy for you to say! It's not like you have to use it!"
...Just as the argument between the boys and girls was about to erupt, Chabashira Sae interrupted them again.
"Quiet! I still have additional rules to announce."
"First, the Class teacher must accompany you throughout the exam. Once you have decided on the location of your main camp, report it to me. I will establish a base there, and subsequent roll calls will also take place at this base. Note that once the main camp is selected, it may not be changed without a valid reason."
"Second, several special 'bases' have been set up on this island. These bases operate under a 'right of occupation' mechanism. The class that occupies a base will be granted exclusive usage rights to that location. The right of occupation is valid for eight hours, after which it automatically expires, allowing other classes to compete for it again. Each successful occupation of a base will earn one Bonus Point, or BP. These points cannot be used during the exam but will be included in the final settlement after the exam."
"Regarding base occupation and the leader, there are several detailed rules:"
"One: A dedicated key card is required to occupy a base."
"Two: The key card can only be used by the student designated as the 'Leader'."
"Three: Once the Leader is selected, they may not be changed without a valid reason."
"Four: During the exam, each class has one opportunity to guess the Leader of another class. For every correct guess, the guessing class will receive fifty BP, while the guessed class will have fifty exam points deducted. If the guess is incorrect, the class that submitted the guess will have fifty exam points deducted."
"Five: If a Leader is correctly guessed, all BP earned by that class through occupying bases and correctly guessing other Leaders will be nullified."
Chabashira Sae's explanation ended there.
"Alright, report the location of your main camp and your chosen Leader to me before the eight p.m. roll call tonight."
Having finished, she stepped aside, leaving the time and space for the students of Class D to act freely.
Natsukawa Sosuke turned the guidebook to the first page and wrote a line in the blank space with a pen:
"I can endure the darkness, if I have not seen the sun."
Then, on the simple map included with the manual, he drew an 'X' on a certain spot.
After doing all this, he handed the manual to Horikita Suzune, who was in the crowd.
He believed that with Horikita's intelligence, she should understand the hidden meaning behind that sentence.
The students of Class D immediately fell into a heated discussion.
"We should find a place close to the sea, right? That way it'll be easier to catch fish!"
"No, the seaside is too damp; it'll definitely be hard to sleep at night!"
Just as the boys were arguing endlessly over the base location, Shinohara Satsuki spoke up again among the girls.
"Um... Hirata-kun, before we decide on the base, shouldn't we first settle the toilet issue..." She cast a pleading look toward Hirata Yosuke.