The day after the uninhabited island exam ended, the morning of August 4. From today until August 10, the students would have 7 days of rest on this luxury cruiser. It was promised that there would be no special exam whatsoever, unlike last year.

Within the ship there was a pool, a fitness gym, a movie theater and a concert hall. Near a viewing deck and a large public bath there was a shopping area, a cafeteria and other food establishments, as well as various recreational facilities.

In other words, we’d gained the privilege to enjoy all of those to our hearts’ content starting today.

On that anticipated day, if you were to ask me where I was…

I was relaxing in my guest room. They had been distributed to 4 students each, and I was resting with my phone in hand.

There’s no need to rush just because the break is here.

Actually, ignoring everything and resting for the whole time wasn’t a bad idea either.

Unlike the hard beds at the dorm, these were 1st-class beds that softly wrapped around my body.

Not to mention that we had just finished that rigorous test where we had to sleep in tents. This sensation was all the more comforting.

With that, let’s put the first day aside.

With the results of the uninhabited island test, our new class points were displayed.

Usually one day after every new month starts, the class points would be displayed. But this time it was in the middle of the uninhabited island test, so it came irregularly late, and after the results of the special exam were shown.

For the students enrolled in this school, every new month started with an update of class points. The same went for our individual rankings, but class points would be converted to private points. That meant it was directly linked with the pocket money we would be granted for the month.

If there was no pocket money to use freely, the holiday on this luxury cruiser would be a big waste.

2nd year Class Points: August

A-Class lead by Sakayanagi 1206 points

B-Class lead by Ichinose 578 points

C-Class lead by Horikita 571 points

D-Class lead by Ryuuen 551 points

As a result, our class stopped at C-Class by a small margin.

We had a chance to come all the way to B-Class in one go, but unfortunately it seems we fell one step short.

But rather than looking at it pessimistically, we should see it as an excellent result.

By taking 1st place alone, Kouenji gained 300 class points.

We were made to feel the power of that overwhelming number.

Until now most of the class strongly viewed him as a liability, but now those around him couldn’t help but look at him differently. But how long that will last for is dubious.

As a reward for getting so many class points, from now until graduation Kouenji has gained the right of 「Exemption from Cooperation.」 If this fact were revealed publicly, not so many people would be rejoicing. Though I think that everything’s fine as it is.

If Kouenji hadn’t gained 300 points, we would have had to fight while dealing with the fear of not being able to actually catch up to the upper classes.

But now that he has, even our morale will get a big boost compared to other classes.

Afterwards, we can slip into Class B, who are currently a head taller than us. Then if we get the best of Sakayanagi’s class in a direct confrontation, we could start closing the distance.

The same goes for Ryuuen’s Class, now Class D.

They weren’t able to get into the top 3 on the winner’s podium for this uninhabited island test. There’s nothing they can do about being outdone in class points. But there’s nothing to criticize about their strength. Katsuragi joining their academically challenged class raises their standard, but it also gives them a sense of assurance. Besides that, Ryuuen and Sakayanagi had some sort of deal. Whether that has to do with private points or class points, or something completely outside of my expectations, is hard to guess as of now. They might change things from now on. Far from decreasing, the reasons to worry about them are increasing. Calling them the scariest class right now wouldn’t be a mistake. Them dropping to D-Class is superficial. In truth they probably don’t mind that at all.

On the other hand, Ichinose’s class which returned to B doesn’t seem bad, looking only at the results.

With Sakayanagi’s lead, Ichinose’s Class, which had been cooperating with her, was able to gain class points.

But they can’t let their guard down. The difference between B-Class and D-Class is a measly 27 points.

With small problematic behaviors that hadn’t been monitored during the special exam, it wouldn’t be strange if their places changed by September 1. They were forced into such a situation. Depending on the results of the uninhabited island exam, they might have even dropped to Class D. Just because of that, Ichinose must have experienced great anxiety. No, she must be on the tips of her toes. From here on out, the critical moment has finally come, Ichinose.

In my heart, I send her those words.

From now on, tests where all classes of all year levels from the whole school will most likely stop happening.

If that’s the case then 9 times out of 10, the next test will be divided by school year.

If they fall behind so easily to C or D, the future of Ichinose’s class will be dark.

In other words, the next fight will also determine where they will go from here…

The situation of our three classes. Though a bit simplified, that’s how it is.

Finally, there’s Sakayanagi’s A-Class. As usual they’re not allowing anyone to even come close. With much leeway, they were able to slip to 3rd place this time as well and accumulate points.

Individually they have many excellent students. Sakayanagi controlling them doesn’t fall behind either.

Furthermore, the strategies Sakayanagi uses are undoubtedly efficient and masterfully executed.

For the immovable A-Class, she is perfectly suited for leadership.

They never show anything like an opening, but if 「Horikita’s Class」 becomes even more vigorous from now on, catching up to them is definitely not impossible. Indeed, it’s not as if there’s nothing at all we can capitalize on.

Of course, towards that end, it will be necessary for A-Class to be disturbed for whatever reason.

Having Sakayanagi expelled would be the shortest route. But she has a protection point. Eliminating her would be extremely difficult. Even if she didn’t have a protection point, she wouldn’t be easy to deal with.

Rather than crushing the head, it may be smarter to crush the pieces which act as hands and feet.

That was not just one or two persons, but the exclusion of a number of people beyond that.

For example, Kamuro, Hashimoto, Kitou and others. If they were absent or unable to function, that would already be enough to greatly limit what Sakayanagi can do. With regards to Kitou there are many unclear points, but the former two carry various problems.

Now, then. With this let’s stop analyzing the other classes for now.

Since we’ve officially started the summer break, the whole school is in a temporary ceasefire.

From now on it’s our turn to have as much fun as we can, like students. For a while. Until the other day our pockets were empty, but with the class point announcement we’ve received our private points for August. Our wallets have swelled up. Our class has 571 class points, which is worth 57100 yen in private points, granted to everyone. Since I wasn’t able to reach a ranking that would give me additional private points in the special test, I don’t have any bonus, but it’s still enough. To pass time in this luxury liner to the fullest, I can’t go without private points. Enjoying movies and eating the food I like both require some amount of private points, after all. Last year, the establishments within the ship were all free to use. So even the rules about money have become more strict. Of course, if you’re penniless it’s also possible to shut yourself off in your room for a week and it wouldn’t cost anything, but that would be no different from staying in the dorms.

Piron. A nice, short noise rang, and an e-mail arrived.

On the phone that was returned to me, I received a message saying that for only 2 days from now, in the resting space beside the fitness gym, the uninhabited island test’s detailed results are being displayed. Since both the top and bottom groups were displayed, most students were interested.

I myself wanted to check it in order to look at the future.

It’s just that it would have been easier to send a picture of the results through the phone. Did them not doing that mean that they didn’t want the students to take the results home to analyze them for a long period of time? Tsukishiro had also been moving behind the scenes. This could be a measure to make sure proof of that didn’t remain.

I more or less wanted to see it right away. But since students would possibly come there in large numbers, it might be easier to wait for a bit.

Temporarily forgetting about the results of the test, I sent a message to Ichinose asking if she could spare some time to meet me at night 3 days from now. It was a simple message.

Of course, it would be easy for her to imagine that it’s about my reply to her sudden confession on the uninhabited island or something similar.

I thought to meet her as quickly as possible to give her my reply, but that rigorous island test has just finished. I’ll let her recover her energy first and pass time with her good friends.

Since it seemed that she hadn’t read it yet, I turned off my phone screen for now.

Then I quickly looked at what my 3 roommates, Miyamoto Soushi, Hondou Ryoutarou, and Miyake Akito were doing.

“Hey Ryoutarou, they’re displaying the exam results. Wanna come look?”

“n-…pass. I’m all beaten up so I can’t walk. Right now I just wanna stay in bed…”

It wasn’t just that he was tired. Laying down on this bed, it’s completely understandable even if you don’t feel like moving anymore.

Including me, everyone was being gripped by the allure of the beds.

Hondou was especially exhausted. He weakly turned to the left, facing his back towards me.

“You’ve been like that since yesterday.”

“I moved like I was gonna die on the last day. Even though I just wanted to eat.”

With his back faced towards me, he curled up in his futon until it reached his head.

Anyway, it looked like he was just going to sleep for now.

The trip on the ship would continue for one week. Recovering instead of hurrying is a good decision.

“Miyake, Ayanokouji, what will you do? Aren’t you curious about the rankings?”

Akito turned his eyes towards Miyamoto while playing with his phone.

“I’m fine, since we more or less know what rank we got. To be honest, right now I think that just being able to avoid expulsion is enough. I wanna rest for today, like Hondou.”

It’s not hard to imagine that Akihito, in a group with Haruka and Airi, had to do a lot of things as the only guy. Probably not just his body but even his spirit got done in.

“Wait, you were in the same group as Sakura and Hasebe right?”

Miyamoto sat down on his bed and asked Akito.

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“My group was full of guys so it always reeked of sweat and it was like hell. But wasn’t being in a group full of girls like heaven?”

“Heaven? I had so many things to take care of that it was like hell. A group full of guys definitely must’ve been easier.”

Since they both had different groups, they were calling the other’s heavenly.

Hearing their conversation, I was honestly relieved that I didn’t enter any group.

In a test like that, as long as you couldn’t get a group with people you’re very close with it would be better to go alone.

Anyway, since they both refused, Miyamoto’s eyes turned to me.

Unlike Hondou and Akito, I was able to recover much of my strength from the time in the uninhabited island by resting in bed. I’m not up to full capacity yet, but going around the ship couldn’t hurt.

It’s just that I could see the test results later. Besides, although Akito isn’t coming to see it, other members from the Ayanokouji group might come.

“I’ll also rest today. Everyone probably wants to see the rankings and I don’t like crowds.”

Knock knock knock

When I tried to refuse like the other 2, the door to our room was knocked on a few times.

It was strangely strong, as if something unusual had happened.

Akito, wide awake, hurried to open the door. The one behind it was Ishizaki.

The air was strained with the thought that something might have happened but…

“Ayanokouji! Let’s look at the exam results together!”

We were all exasperated with that anticlimactic smile and message.

Akito turned around and looked at me with a shrinking voice.

“No, I’m…”

“What the heck, you’re free anyway right? Let’s go?”

He barged into the room and grabbed my arm while I was sitting on the bed.

“When did you guys start getting along so well?”

The most surprised one was the one who spent a lot of time with me everyday, Akito. Ishizaki was the problem child of a rival class. It was understandable that he would be cautious.

The other two were surprised at Ishizaki’s appearance and gradually stiffened.

“Well, it just happened.”

I didn’t answer any more than that, though it’s not as if Akito could understand.

The pressure in Ishizaki’s smile strengthened, and I decided to refuse him as he was pulling me.

“I’m a bit tired today.”

“What do you mean tired? It’s you, so you’re alright. Let’s go?”

He didn’t notice what I wanted. As if he intended to force me, he showed no signs of giving up.

“…Alright. Give me time to change for now.”

“Yeah, then I’ll wait in the corridor!”

Having received my consent, Ishizaki left the room.

“He kept on asking even though he was being annoying. If something is wrong, say so, alright?”

“Thanks Akito. Well, Ishizaki isn’t a bad guy so it’s fine.”

“Not a bad guy, huh. I don’t have a good impression of him. Ryuuen might be pulling some strings behind the scenes. It won’t hurt to be careful.”

Another clash with the delinquents led by Ryuuen. If you don’t know the condition of that class, thinking along those lines is natural.

The person known as Ishizaki is bad at hiding things and isn’t someone who can do strategy. But if you don’t know that, you might think he’s being manipulated behind the scenes and is therefore a dangerous guy. Anyway, since we’re not in a special exam right now we can assume that’s not the case.

I changed to my school uniform, lightly waved to Akito and put the room behind me.

It seemed like only Ishizaki was waiting in the hallway. No one else was there.

“Let’s go~”

“There’s no need to be so hurried is there?”

“Eh? Why not?”

“Even if we don’t hurry, the test results are going to be up for 2 more days. We can still see them later right?”

“I wanna see them earlier. ‘Cuz I’m the type to see a new movie as soon as I can after it’s released. I can’t wait.”

Even if he says he’s that type of person, it’s not like I’d understand.

It’s a bit hard for me to imagine Ishizaki happily going to movie theaters on the day of release.

“Recently too, I went to see 「World Domination 16」 on its release day.”

It’s the first time I’m hearing that title, but it definitely seems to be the kind of title that involves guns and fighting. Though to be the 16th movie in its series means it’s very long. But I wonder why just hearing the title makes me feel completely disinterested in it.

“I’ve been wondering what place Ryuuen-san’s group landed on.”

Anyway, Ishizaki should have a lot of friends within his class.

Did he really have to go out of his way to invite me, from a different class?

“Was it alright to not invite other people who might be curious about that like Ryuuen?”

I indirectly tried searching for his true motives by asking that.

“That guy would call me if he needed me. Him not calling me right now means I’m not needed, right?”

“That’s straightforward.”

“Isn’t it? Many others aside from him were tired from the uninhabited island so they passed.”

Like Akito and the others, there are many students who want to rest for now.

“You’re energetic. Aren’t you tired?”

“Me? I recover when I sleep.”

“Okay.”

It was an unexpectedly simple answer but straightforward. It’s not as if he was especially athletic, but he might recover faster than others. It’s just that it’s hard for me to believe that the one he decided to come to via process of elimination turned out to be me.

“It’s easy to call you.”

“…Is that so?”

Spending time with people definitely wasn’t my strong point, so that was a little unexpected.

“I mean you’re definitely way easier to call than Kaneda.”

I don’t know much about Kaneda, but being compared to him makes me feel somewhat complicated.

On the way, we passed by a shop.

“Uoh, they’re selling national flags!”

Ishizaki’s eyes shone. He excitedly took the flags of the world’s countries into his hands. I didn’t know why he was so excited, so it was a strange sight. Ishizaki rubbed the bottom of his nose with his index finger and answered.

“No – like when we went to Albert’s room before it was a collection of national flags. I guess that must’ve been what awakened me to collect them too.”

Someone’s interests influenced someone else and they ended up having the same interest, huh.

So nowadays they’re both interested in collecting rare flags.

“I don’t know Albert that well, but he seems like a good guy.”

“Yeah. That’s right. Though we fought a few times here and there after enrollment, now we’re both close friends.”

Indeed, Ishizaki and Albert are seen together relatively often.

“So you naturally became friends?”

I honestly put admiration into my words, but Ishizaki’s face hardened slightly as he was walking beside me.

“That’s not it either. ‘Cuz I’m not popular in class.”

“Is it because you’re both under Ryuuen?”

“I wonder if there’s any other reason aside from that. Since it got like that right after we enrolled. But after we fought you on the rooftop, I defeated Ryuuen and took back the class. I’ve been hanging out with more people I didn’t know before.”

After saying that he was at a loss for words.

As he says, Ishizaki might be in a complicated position.

Not a few students wanted Ryuuen to be taken down, so they thanked Ishizaki.

Nevertheless, since he returned to being under Ryuuen he wouldn’t be able to avoid animosity.

“I’m part of the reason that happened.”

“Ah sorry, I said it weird. I don’t blame you at all. We started that fight. It’s true that I lost more than a few friends, but in exchange I got to get along with you so I don’t mind.”

Ishizaki turned to me and smiled strongly.

But I saw his smile as fragile, holding in worry.

“Don’t think that you can solve a class’ problems by yourself.”

“I know, I know. A class’ problems are solved by the class. Ryuuen-san, too, returned with that in mind.”

Ishizaki believes that and follows him with all he has.