Bab 7: Deserted Special Island Test: Second Part
After our secret conversation in the forest, Kushida and I returned to our respective tents and settled in for the night. The darkness enveloped us once more as we drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
The next morning, I woke early and silently slipped out of the tent, my mind already occupied with the tasks ahead. Making my way to Ibuki's tent, I carefully checked her luggage, my expression remaining stoic as I discovered a rental digital camera with no data. Satisfied, I returned the camera to its place and headed back to my tent, my movements deliberate and controlled.
Drawing a simple map of the island on a blank page from a manual, I folded it neatly and slipped it into my pocket. It would prove useful later on.
As I emerged from the tent, I exchanged greetings with Hirata, our conversation brief but meaningful. We discussed the situation following Kōenji's retirement, our voices low and measured as we weighed our options.
On our way to the river, Hirata and I encountered Ryūji Kanzaki and some B-Class students. Kanzaki claimed to be checking on us, but I remained cautious, my expression betraying nothing as I asked about B-Class's location.
Kanzaki provided the information we needed before taking his leave, leaving Hirata and me to continue on our way in silence.
The morning ritual of roll call concluded, our ragtag group of D-Class students set off to explore the island.
However, the unwelcome presence of Komiya and Kondō from C-Class soon interrupted our trek. Their involvement in Sudō's little incident was a detail I had not forgotten.
"Well, well," Kondō drawled, his voice dripping with mock sympathy, "look at D-Class. Out and about so early. Must be rough, having to scrimp and save on everything."
"Ibuki," I began, my voice flat as ever, "they are from C-Class, right?"
She shot me a curt nod. "Komiya and Kondō," she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of disdain. "Ryuen's goons."
Their forced laughter grated on my nerves. Their comments about our meager supplies were as predictable as they were tiresome. These C-Class pawns were simply mouthpieces for their leader, the opportunistic Ryuen.
"A message, then," Hirata stated. "Let's hear it."
Komiya puffed out his chest, reveling in the temporary power dynamic. "Ryuen-san," he declared, his voice dripping with mock seriousness, "invites you all to the beach. Mingle, have some fun. Maybe then you'll all loosen up and relax a little on this summer vacation."
"How quaint," I murmured to myself.
Ryuen's invitation, delivered through his buffoonish emissaries, presented an interesting dilemma. Ignoring it entirely wouldn't provide the necessary data. A visit to the beach, a brief foray into C-Class territory, seemed the most logical course of action.
With a plan formulating in my mind, I set off to find Horikita, intending to enlist her as a… reluctant companion.
After all, two students were less conspicuous than one. However, as fate would have it, my path intercepted Sakura's.
A thought, fleeting yet intriguing, flickered across my mind. Perhaps an alternative approach was in order.
"Sakura," I began, my voice as flat as ever, "would you be interested in accompanying me to the beach?"
Her surprise was evident, a flicker of wide-eyed astonishment flitting across her face. Yet, to my surprise, her answer came swiftly.
"Yes," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper, "I… I'd like that." A hint of something akin to delight, laced with a touch of shyness, colored her cheeks.
"The purpose of our visit," I began, my voice devoid of any warmth, "is to observe Class C's base of operations."
Sakura nodded in understanding, her gaze fixed on the path ahead.
Capitalizing on the opportunity, I decided to further our "exposure therapy." With a practiced motion, I reached out and relieved her of her spectacles. The transformation was immediate – the shy, bookish façade melted away, revealing the undeniable beauty hidden beneath.
"Your appearance," I began, my voice devoid of any inflection, "is certainly… noteworthy. Idol-worthy, even." A factual observation, delivered in a monotone.
A flush crept up her cheeks, a flicker of surprise morphing into a shy delight. Interesting. The compliment, delivered in a neutral tone, seemed to have a far greater impact than any flowery declaration.
She mumbled a barely audible "thank you," her eyes flitting away from mine.
This "therapy," it seemed, was having the desired effect.
Her discomfort, while still present, was eclipsed by a newfound confidence, a blossoming awareness accompanied by happiness of her own attractiveness.
As Sakura and I walked along the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled the air. My expression remained impassive as I attempted to engage her in conversation, my words measured and deliberate.
"You know, your photo in that swimsuit that I saw before as a gravure model was truly beautiful," I remarked, my tone neutral. "If possible, I would like to see you in a two-piece swimsuit."
Sakura's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at my compliment, her shy demeanor betraying her reaction. Despite her initial hesitation, she mustered up the courage to respond.
"I-I appreciate your kind words," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you want to see me in a swimsuit, I'm willing to wear it for you... as long as we're alone."
I nodded in acknowledgment, my expression remaining unchanged.
"We should be nearing the beach," I stated, keeping my voice flat. "Maintain a low profile and observe from a distance."
Sakura nodded silently, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and nervousness. We continued walking, the sound of the waves growing louder with each step.
After a few moments, I emerged from the cover of the trees, keeping my expression carefully neutral.
"Um..." Sakura stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "They... they have a lot of supplies. Beach balls, portable toilets..."
I scanned the scene, taking in the sight of Class C lounging on beach chairs and splashing around in the water.
"An interesting expenditure of points," I mused, my voice devoid of any emotion. "Their priorities seem... misplaced."
Sakura remained silent, her gaze fixed on the carefree spectacle before us.
"We've gathered enough intel from this vantage point," I stated, my voice flat. "Let's move closer for a more detailed observation."
Sakura hesitated for a moment, then nodded silently. We approached the Class C base with calculated steps, maintaining a low crouch to avoid detection.
As we drew nearer, I scanned the scene with a practiced eye.
Suddenly, a glint of metal caught my attention. On a table positioned near what appeared to be Ryuen's seat, a transmitter sat conspicuously.
Intriguing.
I kept my expression unreadable as I scanned the rest of the area, committing details to memory. After a few moments, I deemed it sufficient.
"We're finished here," I announced, my voice devoid of inflection. "Let's return."
Sakura didn't question my decision, simply following me back into the cover of the trees.
"We require further data," I stated to Sakura, my voice monotone. "Let's proceed to Class B's location."
Sakura's eyes widened slightly, but she offered no protest. "I understand," she murmured.
An interesting development. Her compliance was becoming more predictable.
Perhaps the "therapy" was progressing more efficiently than anticipated.
Without waiting for further confirmation, I turned and began walking in the direction Kanzaki had indicated. Sakura hurried to catch up beside me. This time, she surprised me by removing her spectacles of her own accord.
I made no comment on the change.
"Ayanokouji-kun, Sakura-san. What a surprise to see you both here," she chirped.
I took point in the conversation, keeping my voice flat. "We're simply gathering information," I explained. "May we inquire about your current situation?"
Sakura remained uncharacteristically silent beside me, her eyes flitting around the campsite but never meeting Ichinose's gaze.
As we spoke, I made a mental note of the layout and resources at their disposal. It was a stark contrast to the meager setup of D-Class. More importantly, I spotted an unfamiliar face amongst their ranks.
"If you don't mind me asking," I began, my tone unchanged, "is there a reason you have a student from Class C amongst you?"
Ichinose's smile faltered for a brief moment, but she quickly recovered. "Ah, that's Kaneda-kun," she explained. "There were some... difficulties between him and his class. So, we offered him temporary refuge."
Interesting. It seems Class B was also harboring a defector. "A similar situation arose with Ibuki of Class D," I remarked, noting the flicker of surprise in Ichinose's eyes. "We've offered her a place in our camp as well."
This exchange provided valuable data on how each class was handling internal conflicts. Ichinose's willingness to accept Kaneda spoke volumes about her leadership style.
"Thank you for your time, Ichinose-hon," I concluded, my voice devoid of any warmth. "We won't impose any further."
With that, I turned and began walking away, Sakura following silently in my wake.
As we made our way back to the D-Class camp, I decided to gauge Sakura's reaction to the recent events.
"Your lack of spectacles during our interactions with Class B was noteworthy," I began, keeping my voice flat. "How did you find the experience?"
Sakura blushed a faint pink, her voice barely a whisper when she replied. "I-It was nerve-wracking, of course. But... strangely, I felt a sense of confidence. Perhaps because you were there, Ayanokouji-kun."
She hesitated for a moment before adding, "And Ichinose-san seemed very approachable."
Her observation held merit. Ichinose's demeanor did project a sense of warmth and openness.
"A valid assessment," I acknowledged, my voice devoid of any inflection.
It seemed the "therapy" was indeed having an effect. Her comfort level was demonstrably increasing, albeit subtly. This newfound confidence, while minor, could be a useful asset in the future.
As we neared the D-Class camp, Sakura reached for her spectacles, a blush creeping up her cheeks. We parted ways at the edge of the clearing, and I continued towards our camp where Hirata awaited.
"Any findings?" Hirata inquired, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Class C's situation is intriguing," I remarked. "Their resource consumption suggests a potential zero-point strategy. They may intend to withdraw from the exam entirely once their points deplete."
Hirata absorbed the information, his brow furrowing in thought. "An interesting theory," he conceded. "But what of Class B?"
"Their approach appears similar to ours," I explained. "Resource conservation seems to be a priority, suggesting that they aim to accumulate points for later use."
This exchange served to solidify our understanding of the other classes' strategies. The information gleaned would be vital in formulating a course of action for D-Class.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone