Chapter 123: Don't Worry, Everything is Under Control
"Is it really necessary to buy these things?"
Horikita Suzune looked at Katsuragi Keima with a furrowed brow. At this moment, on the beach, the supplies prepared for each class had been delivered. Katsuragi Keima had purchased quite a few items in advance, spending a significant amount of points.
"The school provided basic supplies as well, didn't they?" Horikita Suzune continued.
The school had provided a tent, sunscreen, and some necessary toiletry tools.
"True, but it's far from enough," Katsuragi Keima said slowly while continuing to play his game. "The tent provided by the school can only sleep eight people at most. Furthermore, regarding the portable toilets, it's certainly inconvenient for boys and girls to use them interchangeably. These are all necessary expenses."
"This reduces the points we've obtained, doesn't it?"
"Mashima-sensei said earlier that no matter what rank you achieve in the exam, the remaining exam points are added directly to the Class Points. So, we won't lose out either way," Katsuragi Keima continued. "Moreover, only by providing the students with a sufficiently comfortable environment will the subsequent survival on the deserted island be easier—and the bulk of the points gained will still come from guessing the leaders of each class at the end."
Beside him, Horikita Suzune nodded noncommittally. He wasn't wrong about that.
Originally, Horikita Suzune thought that the matter of purchasing supplies might spark some conflict among the students in the class. After all, some students would surely want to buy more supplies, while others would certainly want more points for the next semester.
However, Katsuragi Keima had resolved this trouble. Necessary supplies were sufficient, and although their Class Points had been deducted significantly at the start of the semester and when Yamauchi Haruki was expelled, they were far from reaching a point where no points were available. Thus, the students in the class did not have any objections to Katsuragi Keima's decisions.
"Time is almost up. Students of all classes, please be prepared."
At that moment, Mashima Tomoya's voice rang out again. Soon, the four classes headed deep into the interior of the deserted island from different directions.
Under Horikita Suzune's lead, the Class D group advanced in the direction pointed out by Katsuragi Keima. No one in the group spoke; there were only the sounds of footsteps and occasional heavy breathing. The tropical jungle was more difficult to traverse than imagined. Dense vines and shrubs nearly blocked the path, requiring the use of the machete from the tool kit to clear the way.
"Keima-kun," Sato Maya couldn't help but ask, "Where are we going?"
Katsuragi Keima walked in the middle of the group, still holding his handheld console. But if one looked closely...
"Water source."
"Water source? How do you know where there's a water source?"
"Memorized it earlier when the cruise ship circled the island."
Sato Maya was stunned. Memorized it? From just those ten or so minutes of sightseeing, he memorized the terrain of the entire island?
"You... you really memorized it?" Sato Maya was incredibly surprised. At the time, she simply thought it was a sightseeing segment prepared by the school. She hadn't expected it to be so important.
"Mhm." Katsuragi Keima didn't even look up, his tone as flat as if he were saying the weather was nice today. "There is a freshwater stream to the northeast, a wild fruit gathering area to the southwest, and a small hill in the central area. The spots are mostly distributed at the foot of the hill and along the coastline."
Everyone looked at each other. Ike Kanji couldn't help but ask: "When... when did you memorize this?"
"During the sightseeing."
"Just in that short time?"
"Mhm."
Ike Kanji was speechless.
Sudo Ken whispered to Ike: "Is this guy... even human?"
Ike Kanji shook his head, his expression complex.
Karuizawa Kei walked at the back of the group, watching Katsuragi Keima's back as that complex wave of emotion surged up again. This person was always like this. Usually, he didn't care about anything, but at critical moments, he could always produce something unexpected. She remembered how he had volunteered earlier.
"For this exam, I will definitely do my utmost to contribute to the class."
Coming from his mouth, those words sounded like an alien language. But he said them. And he was serious. Although Karuizawa Kei always felt that Katsuragi Keima surely had other motives.
"Kei-chan," Sakura Airi whispered, "Do you feel that Keima-kun... seems to have changed?"
Karuizawa Kei froze for a moment. "Changed?"
"Mhm." Sakura Airi nodded. "Previously, he didn't seem to care much about anything, but now... he seems to have started caring about some things."
Karuizawa Kei fell silent. Yes. He had indeed changed. When did it start? The day Yamauchi was expelled? The day Hirata lost his temper? Or the day Sato Maya confessed? She didn't know. But she knew that this change made one... very happy.
After walking for about forty minutes, the group finally arrived at the location Katsuragi Keima had mentioned. A clear stream flowed down from the hill, merging into a small pool. Around the pool was an open, flat area, sufficient for setting up camp.
"This is the place," Katsuragi Keima said.
Horikita Suzune looked around and nodded with satisfaction. "The location is very good. It's near a water source, the terrain is open, and there are enough trees around."
She began assigning tasks. "Ike, Sudo, please go set up the tents and prepare to start a fire; Karuizawa, Sakura, Sato, go check the surroundings for wild fruits and food; Kushida, you are responsible for organizing the supplies..."
Although Katsuragi Keima held absolute decision-making power this time, the one actually issuing the commands was still Horikita Suzune. This was Katsuragi Keima's intention. Unless it was something particularly important, Katsuragi Keima was too lazy to bother.
Horikita Suzune paused and looked at Katsuragi Keima. "Katsuragi, you—"
"I'll be right here."
"Here?"
"Mhm. If there's any emergency, you can find me anytime."
Horikita Suzune was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."
The group dispersed to their tasks. Katsuragi Keima sat down under a large tree and took out his handheld console. The screen lit up. He began playing his game. But if one looked closely, his peripheral vision occasionally swept over the surroundings.
Observing the terrain. Observing everyone's movements. Observing everything.
"Some students stayed to set up the camp, while the others went out to scout the environment." After handling the matters, Horikita Suzune walked to Katsuragi Keima's side and reported the situation.
"Good work," Katsuragi Keima replied simply.
"You were right; there really is a special exam this time. But... why do I feel like you even guessed the deserted island exam?" Horikita Suzune studied Katsuragi Keima with an inquisitive face.
"Maybe I just knew in advance," Katsuragi Keima said slowly.
During the sightseeing, Katsuragi Keima had actually given his classmates a slight reminder to pay attention to the environment. However, in truth, he had already known the specific layout of the deserted island beforehand and had even guessed the content of this exam. Because last night, Katsuragi Keima had already let Elsie fly ahead to discover the existence of the deserted island and record the terrain in detail. This was the reason for Katsuragi Keima's absolute confidence.
"By the way, who did you choose as the leader this time?" Horikita Suzune asked. Regarding the leader, Katsuragi Keima had gone directly to Chabashira Sae, so Horikita Suzune hadn't had a chance to ask yet.
"..." Katsuragi Keima pursed his lips and turned his head to look elsewhere. "Elsie went with some students to scout the terrain, right?"
"Correct."
Horikita Suzune's brow suddenly furrowed. "Wait a minute, our leader wouldn't be—"
"Exactly, it's her."
While the Class D group was busy setting up camp and exploring the environment, Class C on the other side presented a completely different scene.
On the beach, Ryuen Kakeru lay leisurely on a beach chair, holding a glass of iced juice and wearing sunglasses. He didn't look like he was participating in a special exam at all, but rather enjoying life at a high-end resort. Beside him, several Class C students were busy setting up parasols, placing folding tables, and spreading out picnic mats.
The table was covered with various delicacies—sushi, grilled meat, fruit platters, ice cream, and even a bottle of champagne—though it was actually a soft drink, as students cannot consume alcohol.
"Ryuen," Kaneda walked over cautiously, "The supplies are all ready. We bought three premium tents, five beach chairs, two parasols, one BBQ grill, and..." He opened a list and read off a long string of items.
"How many points did it cost in total?"
"285 points."
"15 left?" Ryuen Kakeru nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad."
Kaneda hesitated, then couldn't help but ask: "Ryuen, are we really going to spend most of our points on these... these entertainment facilities? The other classes must be buying survival supplies..."
Ryuen Kakeru took off his sunglasses and glanced at him. That look made a chill run down Kaneda's spine. "Are you questioning me?"
"No, no..." Kaneda waved his hands hurriedly, "I just thought... if the other classes find out we're spending points like this, will they think we're..."
"Think we're what?" Ryuen Kakeru laughed. "Think we're stupid? Think we're slacking off?"
Kaneda didn't dare speak. Ryuen Kakeru put his sunglasses back on and leaned back into the beach chair. "Let them think that." He paused. "Do you know what the key to this exam is?"
Kaneda shook his head.
"It's the leader-guessing segment on the last day," Ryuen Kakeru said. "All the spot occupations and supply accumulation from before are just preparation for that final moment. Whoever holds the information wins." He took a sip of juice. "And what we are doing now is making everyone think Class C has given up. Let them lower their guard and think we are nothing to fear. Until the last day..."
He didn't finish. But Kaneda understood. "But..." Kaneda was still a bit worried, "Ibuki..."
Ryuen Kakeru laughed. "She acted well, didn't she?"
Kaneda was stunned. "You mean... that conflict just now..."
"Was an act, of course." Ryuen Kakeru sneered. "Did you really think I'd be stupid enough to fall out with my own person in public?"
Kaneda's mouth fell open, speechless. Ryuen Kakeru looked toward the distant jungle. "Next, we need to find an opportunity to plant her into the other classes."
Kaneda was thoroughly impressed. "Ryuen, you're amazing..."
"Save the flattery." Ryuen Kakeru waved his hand. "Go set up the grill and roast some meat. Since we're acting, let's act convincingly."
"Yes!"
"Before that, there is one more thing that needs doing."
"What?"
"As for the number of actors, one isn't enough." An ill-intentioned smile appeared on Ryuen Kakeru's face. Kaneda seemed to realize something and could only swallow his saliva.
"Don't worry, I won't hit your vital spots."
On the beach, the Class C students began to get busy. The aroma of BBQ wafted through the air, music began to play, and some people even changed into swimsuits to go for a swim. This scene was a full-blown beach party.
In the distance, in the Class A camp, Katsuragi Kohei stood under a tree, observing Class C's movements through binoculars. His brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
"What are they doing?" The boy with glasses leaned over to ask.
"Barbecuing," Katsuragi said. "Entertainment, swimming."
"What?!" The boy with glasses took the binoculars in disbelief and looked. On Class C's beach, several boys were playing beach volleyball, the girls were lying under parasols drinking juice, and Ryuen Kakeru was lying on a beach chair, looking like he was enjoying life. Beside them was Kaneda, whose face was bruised and swollen.
"Are they... are they crazy?" The boy with glasses was incredulous. "This is an exam!"
Katsuragi was silent for a few seconds. "Perhaps this is their plan."
"Plan? What plan?"
"To make people lower their guard," Katsuragi said. "Make everyone think Class C has given up, and then..." He didn't finish. But he remembered what Ryuen Kakeru said last night.
"This exam will be very special, but we will definitely win."
Katsuragi spoke slowly, "Continue to observe. Don't act rashly." The boy with glasses nodded, but the expression on his face remained confused.
Meanwhile, Katsuragi Kohei narrowed his eyes slightly. He was waiting; before the exam, he had an agreement with Ryuen Kakeru. After Ryuen gave the signal, the two would meet alone to discuss the subsequent plan. For now, Katsuragi Kohei only needed to wait.
In the Class B camp, Ichinose Honami also received the report about Class C.
"They're throwing a party?" Her eyes widened.
"Yes," Kanzaki Ryuji nodded, his expression serious. "Our scouting classmates saw it with their own eyes. They're barbecuing, drinking, and playing volleyball on the beach. It doesn't look like they're taking the exam at all, and furthermore..."
"Furthermore, what?" Ichinose Honami asked with some urgency.
"It seems Kaneda-kun from their class was... disciplined by Ryuen Kakeru and sustained quite a few injuries."
"What?" Ichinose Honami's brow furrowed, her voice becoming serious. "This... this is simply going too far!"
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