They wanted to use points to exchange for supplies.
But this was an exam; were they all so delicate?
Hachiman stroked his chin, then said to Horikita, "So what do you think? Do you also want to buy a toilet like the others?"
The School had issued a manual for each Class, allowing them to exchange initial points for items.
A toilet was listed inside.
And purchasing a toilet required 20 points.
It looks more expensive.
However, this exam was very smooth for their Class, so a large number of students wanted to obtain as many points as possible.
After all, it's three hundred points, three hundred points! If we save them, next month will be an extra thirty thousand in living expenses!
Hachiman stood beside Horikita, and although his wristband didn't detect health indicators,
her cheeks were still a bit flushed.
She also looked a little tired.
She seemed to have been on the beach for a while, and her condition had worsened.
If he were to make her withdraw now, she definitely wouldn't agree. Currently, the students in the Class are arguing over a toilet that costs only 20 initial points. If Horikita withdraws due to health reasons, they would lose 30 points.
Given how the students in the Class are acting… it might lead to various discussions or complaints later on.
After all, some students in this Class have issues with their brains.
And now, the students in the Class are still arguing, with Hirata caught in the middle, torn between the two sides.
After a moment of thought,
"So, which side are you on?" Hachiman asked Horikita. "Are you on the side that wants to save points and endure hardship?"
"Huh?" Horikita didn't react for a moment. "Huh? Are you saying you also think points can be used indiscriminately?"
For her, who also wanted to reach Class A, being able to save points and obtain enough value was very important.
But Hachiman continued,
"Then are you going to use that temporary toilet? The kind that's just a simple hole, doesn't even flush, and you can still see… stuff?"
"...Don't say anymore."
It was truly disgusting.
Horikita stopped Hachiman from describing it further.
However,
her beautiful, arched eyebrows furrowed.
She was probably thinking about whether she could accept it or not.
"Horikita, you haven't considered your identity," Hachiman said, seeing this, deciding to tempt her a little.
"Identity?" Hearing this, Suzune looked up.
Then she saw Hachiman press his hand against his chest, "We are here to learn, to be students, so why should we mistreat ourselves? Do you think living miserably and saving points is the correct thing to do?"
"But aren't you trying to get a lot of points in this Uninhabited Island Exam, and we've been working hard for it…" Horikita Suzune said.
That is to say, she wanted to save points, and since the wristband didn't have a health monitoring function, she would probably endure any discomfort and not withdraw to avoid losing points.
"Seizing opportunities is very important."
"But," Hachiman said, "maintaining rationality is also very important."
"Some points can be obtained, so don't lose them, but there's no meaning in discarding some points only to desperately cling to others."
It's impossible to spend no points in an exam like this.
And even if you don't spend, you still have to pay a sufficient price.
Moreover,
his Class had one major weakness.
Which was also why he felt they could only aim for Class A once.
They could get there, but they couldn't hold it.
So even if they were super frugal now and didn't use any initial points, it was still possible for them to be secretly used up.
Because life on this Uninhabited Island is for a week, not just today.
"The students in our Class aren't going to follow through just because they've been promised something," Hachiman said. "So, they basically can't do this kind of point-saving thing."
"Then what do you mean?" Horikita Suzune's eyebrows furrowed.
She had also realized that Hirata simply lacked decisiveness. Rather, if someone privately pleaded with him, he really might be led astray.
Moreover,
using the initial 300 points didn't require anyone's permission; one could privately approach Chabashira and redeem them.
And there was no way to stop someone from going to Chabashira.
"Although I also want to get enough points in this Uninhabited Island Exam, I haven't factored in the initial 300 points," Hachiman said.
"I have never doubted how destructive the students in our Class can be," Hachiman said.
The worst thing would be to painstakingly save points, only to find out at the final settlement that the points had already been secretly squandered by some classmates.
And then you yourself suffered for a week.
If that happened… it would be outright fraud.
And with that, Hikigaya walked directly into the center of the students.
"Everyone! Listen to me!"
He directly raised both hands, as if to start an uprising, and with one call, everyone responded, "Regarding whether or not to buy a toilet, my opinion is, of course, to buy! And not just one, but two!"
"Hey! Hikigaya, are you like the girls too…?" This immediately made those who wanted to save points bristle.
Like Yukimura, who didn't perform very well in Class, but after arriving on the island, he became quite aggressive.
Hmm.
He's a top student, and he probably also has the goal of reaching Class A.
Hachiman liked students who actively worked hard for the Class.
However,
Yukimura, it's impossible for you to spend no points in this exam.
And Hikigaya also had his own considerations.
When he proposed buying two toilets, Hachiman noticed that the students he usually got along with felt relieved.
Like Sakura, like Kushida.
Airi is quite clean, no argument there.
And although Kushida is very manipulative, in this kind of conflict that could cause resentment, her attitude is usually ambiguous to avoid being resented, but from her relieved state, she must also want to buy a toilet.
After all, no one wants to be Sudo.
And Karuizawa also breathed a sigh of relief.
She had just been the one representing the girls, arguing for the purchase of a toilet.
And apart from them, half of the students in the Class seemed to show relaxed expressions, which meant that, as expected, most people didn't want to be stingy in this regard.
And one day is fine, two days can also be endured, but they have to stay on the island for a week.
Therefore,
if their feelings weren't considered, problems might arise in the end.
And now, Yukimura and the students who wanted to save looked over.
"I'm just interpreting this exam. And you all seem to have misunderstood one thing." Hachiman pressed his hands down, "Everyone, please look at the equipment the school gave us. Let's not even talk about toilets; just these two tents, do you think they're enough for only about 16 people? This is definitely not enough.
And with 40 students in the Class, where will the remaining 24 people sleep? Are they supposed to climb trees or sleep on the ground one by one? Some of you must have noticed before, this is an island, so there might be snakes."
He paused here.
"Ah—!"
And some cute girls cooperatively let out fearful sounds, "If we get bitten by a snake, we'll also be considered unwell and have to withdraw, losing 30 points, right?"
The person speaking was Kushida Kikyo.
She's really cooperative.
However,
I believe you, Kushida Kikyo.
She's cooperating now, probably guessing that he might advocate spending points. On one hand, she doesn't really want to suffer, and on the other hand, she's waiting for something to go wrong, like points running out later and students holding someone accountable, then the blame will fall on Hachiman, and have nothing to do with her, Kushida Kikyo.
He was even thinking of finding an opportunity on the island to let her vent her emotions and handle the powder keg, but it turns out she just wants to take advantage without taking responsibility.
Eek!
Hachiman then continued, "And this is an exam, not for us to save points, but to test whether we can correctly allocate resources."
"If various problems arise because of this, it will not only hurt the friendship among classmates, but also potentially lead to point deductions. Isn't that counterproductive? Or do you, Yukimura, think that using a simple toilet can meet the demand?"
Called out in public, Yukimura pushed up his glasses, "If it's just using a simple toilet—"
"That's not feasible," Hachiman said. "Not to mention the school only provided one temporary toilet, and if one student uses it for 5 minutes, 40 students using it would be 200 minutes. And after one use, it needs ventilation, right? So one round would take almost 5 hours. Are you going to hold it for 5 hours? So it's almost impossible to use normally."
"Hmm—" Yukimura hadn't considered this point, and with Hachiman saying it like that, some students in the Class, even some of the boys, felt it was a bit unbearable.
That is to say, they just thought the girls' demands were too finicky.
But if everyone actually used the temporary toilet… there would indeed be pressure.
"And you want to save points, you want to get a little more living expenses next month, I've considered that too," Hachiman said. "I also hope to get more living expenses. After all, you have to buy everything in this school, and living expenses are very important."
No.
You're lying.
However, almost all the students in the Class scorned him, because Hikigaya had been eating Horikita's bento in Class for two weeks already.
So, aren't you getting food?
Moreover, some girls even saw him being sponsored by students from other Classes to eat on the third floor before.
You should know that the restaurant on the third floor is generally for faculty, and the prices are also more attractive, so ordinary students wouldn't go to such a money-burning place to eat.
And Hikigaya didn't know that his reputation had instantly plummeted; he continued.
"Then everyone, consider the composition of the points for the exam ending on the morning of the 16th. points from occupying strongholds + 300 initial points minus consumed portions + bonus points for guessing other Team Leaders.
This is the best-case scenario, and Kōenji has already occupied 20 strongholds. This part of the points will be very significant, and after deducting the 100 points reward given to Kōenji, we can still get two hundred points."
"That means we have a safety net."
"No matter what, this exam can increase everyone's living expenses by 20,000 each month."
In other words, there's still a safety net.
So why work so hard and struggle so much?
Moreover,
most people don't want to suffer.
So as soon as Hachiman brought it up, someone immediately started taking notes.
There were originally only 2 tents, so 24 people had no place to stay. With a wave of the hand, 3 more were immediately added. As for the toilets, no one had any objections, so 2 were added, and showers were also purchased, as well as bathroom heaters.
Clothes drying clips were purchased, bamboo poles were purchased, and daily necessities were purchased.
And some girls felt that the tents might be very hot, so they requested to buy small fans. The boys said they were also afraid of the heat, so they also wanted to buy them. How could girls enjoy the cool while they suffered?
Then Hirata asked Kōenji, who had already returned after swiping his card, and confirmed that he had indeed swiped 20 strongholds. Then he learned that some strongholds even had corn, so some students suggested buying a barbecue set. And after learning about vegetables, they wanted to eat vegetables, so woks, oil, and seasonings were purchased.
Someone else felt scared at night and needed a flashlight.
And some people wanted to fish.
Some students felt bored here, so they requested to exchange for game consoles and books.
As soon as they opened their mouths, it became unrestrained.
Even when Hirata said everyone should save a little, requests to use points kept pouring in.
Completely lacking ambition.
"This is truly absurd," Horikita complained, pressing her left hand on her right elbow.
Because Hikigaya-kun just started it, saying that everyone has a guaranteed minimum, and as a result... they started to be so extravagant and wasteful.
But Hikigaya-kun was still standing at the front.
"Not only that, I suggest that in future exams, a third of the Class rating points that capable students bring to the Class can be theirs, and only two-thirds will be confiscated. This can allow students to benefit, and also motivate excellent individuals to contribute to the Class's development," Hachiman finally added.
"I have no objection."
"I have no objection either."
Because they felt they had gained benefits, the entire Class unanimously passed this proposal.
"It's just that our 300 points were spent just like that, it's really—" Horikita complained weakly.
Actually, she had said similar words just now, but she probably repeated them because she wanted to be acknowledged.
So Hachiman said to her,
"If something really goes wrong, then there's no need to deduct points."
"In other words, before students in the Class cause trouble and incur deductions, we will spend all the points first."
"..."
Then you are quite capable.
This statement left Horikita Suzune speechless for a moment.
"Actually, it's possible to save points," Hachiman said, "but that's something Class A or Class B can do. Their Class students are very self-disciplined and can control themselves, but our Class cannot."
"But didn't everyone follow the behavioral guidelines exam before?" Horikita asked.
"That was because if they didn't save, they wouldn't have money to spend, and they also ate unpalatable wild vegetable meals. It was a do-or-die situation; there was no turning back. But now everyone has basic living expenses," Hachiman said. "Can people be self-disciplined when they are not so short of money?"
"Most people don't have camping experience, and many haven't even experienced hardship, so they will probably secretly spend points very quickly."
Oh.
This means that he actually considered this aspect?
The students in her Class... are indeed difficult to manage.
Horikita Suzune felt enlightened.
But.
"That's interesting, Hikigaya-kun."
Kōenji Rokusuke sat aside, calmly observing all of this. As a genius, his thinking ability was very strong.
And he had completed his temporary work, occupying 20 strongholds.
Then he rested after returning.
However, he still had one point of confusion: why did he induce his classmates to spend the initial 300 points? Because some facilities require spending, such as toilets, shower facilities, and tents, which are necessities.
But things like game consoles, fishing rods, fishing nets, and fishing are not needed.
So, this was letting the students spend those 300 points at will.
But when he looked down, he noticed that while the students were discussing enthusiastically, Horikita Suzune, although talking to Hikigaya, kept her left hand pressed on her right elbow, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
And this redness was not shyness.
Instead, it seemed like she was feeling unwell.
Oh.
Understood.
Kōenji crossed one leg, so this was showing compassion for a girl.
Horikita Suzune was feeling unwell, and withdrawing due to being unwell would incur a deduction of 30 points. Doing so might also lead to complaints from some foolish classmates. So now that everyone had spent all their points, even if points were deducted, it wouldn't result in negative points. In that case, Horikita's withdrawal would not be criticized, and Horikita would not have a psychological burden.
From this perspective, Hikigaya-kun is also a kind-hearted man.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Ryuen of Ryuen Class was almost becoming a rough guy.
Facts proved that it wasn't just Class A.
The other two Classes also failed to occupy any stronghold.
Class A, under Katsuragi's leadership, was doing relatively well. Although they were preempted several times, they finally secured one stronghold.
Class B, on the other hand, was quite miserable. Ichinose and her group started marching after carrying tents and other supplies from the beach.
The weight of the supplies was quite substantial.
They had to switch classmates several times just to transport them.
But they walked for nearly two hours and still didn't find any empty strongholds.
All the ones they saw had been taken by Class C.
However, Class B was more patient and stable than the other Classes.
After searching for a few strongholds and finding that they were all occupied by Class C, they stopped searching.
Instead, they chose a nearby stronghold and, to avoid violating the rule of 'unauthorized occupation of other Class's strongholds' and incurring deductions, they chose to guard outside the stronghold.
Ichinose's suggestion was to wait until the eight-hour effective occupation time passed, then occupy it nearby.
Compared to aimlessly searching for strongholds in the jungle, especially strongholds that were very likely already occupied by Class C.
Class B students cared for their companions and didn't want everyone to continue this intense activity, especially since they also found snakes on the side of the road while moving.
So, for safety, they preferred this 'waiting for the rabbit' approach.
After all, this time, the rabbit wouldn't run away.
On the other hand, although Kouenji estimated that there were about 25-26 strongholds on this island, and he only took 20, he did leave some space for other Classes.
But the ones he left were in the depths of the island.
So Ryuen of Class D, leading his Class students, advanced along the beach, and similarly, found no useful strongholds.
He faced the same situation as Katsuragi.
But he was different from Katsuragi.
Katsuragi had memorized the entire island map while on the ship, so Katsuragi could consecutively find several strongholds.
Even if Kouenji preempted them all, it still proved Katsuragi's ability.
Ryuen, however, had no such prior preparation.
Because this time, he wanted to fight an off-field battle.
After all.
According to the rules, no matter how many strongholds you occupy, if the Team Leader is guessed, the stronghold points will become 0, and you will also be deducted another 50 points.
So Ryuen wasn't particularly concerned about stronghold points.
At the same time, he wasn't as patient as Class B.
He gave up after walking for just over an hour. But he did make arrangements.
Finally.
"Ryuen, I found it!"
Ishizaki Daichi ran over hurriedly, panting, "On the beach, on the beach, Katsuragi of Class A is leading people to exchange supplies. They seem to have found a stronghold."
"Really?"
Ryuen's eyes lit up, and he quickly rushed towards the beach.
Not being able to occupy a stronghold, while somewhat annoying Ryuen internally,
did not make him lose confidence.
On the contrary, he had already seen the direction of victory—
Just as Katsuragi had thought.
Since it's impossible to gain points by occupying strongholds, then just forgo this bonus point.
As long as they can guess the Team Leader of other Classes, preventing their opponents from getting bonus points, then it's even.
They might even profit!
And the prerequisite for all of this was that he needed to find a Class to cooperate with.
And this Class... had to be reliable and willing to deliver.
And Katsuragi's reputation was good.
So he was his first choice.
...
"That's all for now."
Katsuragi was about to exchange a batch of food and water. He pondered for a moment, then said to Teacher Majima Tomoya.
"Okay."
Majima Tomoya nodded gently, "A total of 10 points spent. Are you sure you want to exchange?"
"Confirmed."
Katsuragi nodded. All the strongholds he could find around him were already occupied.
Even if he discovered the identity of Class C's Team Leader, he couldn't expose the other party immediately.
So, at this stage, food and water became the biggest problem.
In the morning, Yahiko was deducted fifty points for picking an apple at Class C's stronghold. Katsuragi really didn't want to be deducted points again.
So, he could only exchange with points.
"Wait a moment!"
Behind him, a loud voice suddenly came.
Katsuragi turned his head, frowning slightly, "Ryuen, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to cooperate with you."
Ryuen showed a comfortable smile.
"Cooperate?"
Katsuragi looked at him deeply, and said calmly, "How do we cooperate?"
Although he didn't want to admit it, he indeed needed allies now.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to completely defeat the Sakayanagi Faction in this exam. And he had also shown a disadvantage in this exam.
"Very simple."
Ryuen Sho chuckled, as if he had expected Katsuragi to agree, and said, "In this exam, our Class D will provide your Class A with 300 points worth of supplies. In other words, we can help you exchange for all the supplies you need."
"You'd be so kind!"
Yahiko blurted out subconsciously, looking at Ryuen with some disbelief.
"What's the condition?"
Katsuragi remained calm and steady, saying quietly.
"Equally simple."
Ryuen Sho's lips curled upwards, "Class D will provide Class A with 300 points worth of supplies in this exam, and Class A will provide me with 30,000 points per person every month until graduation."
"To you?"
Katsuragi repeated, his expression somewhat grave.
"Exactly, to me."
Ryuen Sho smiled and nodded.
Using Class D's points to gain benefits for himself, openly engaging in corruption.
Ryuen Sho wasn't afraid of this matter being exposed, nor was he afraid of it causing turmoil in Class D.
He had plenty of ways to suppress those people.
Moreover, he didn't say he would monopolize it completely; giving them half could also keep them under control.
"What a joke!"
Yahiko immediately became enraged, "How could we possibly agree to something like this! Do you take us for fools?"
"Katsuragi, you absolutely cannot agree to him!"
Yahiko yelled, glaring fiercely at Ryuen like a mad dog.
Ryuen, however, never once looked at him, while Katsuragi lowered his head, lost in thought.
He had to admit, Ryuen's condition was very tempting.
On the surface, if the 300 initial points from this exam could be saved and ultimately added to the Class score, it would mean an extra 30,000 point per person each month.
However, for students in Class A, the amount of living expenses wasn't important; what mattered was the Class rating score.
This was the standard for maintaining Class A's unknown status.
However.
Even Yahiko could see the impropriety in it.
Because although it seemed like a good proposal, once this deal was agreed to, Ryuen would receive 1.2 million point from Class A every month, not a single point less.
But in this exam, Class A could not guarantee that these 300 points could be saved.
Rather.
Class A's current initial score of 300 points had already been reduced by 30 points because Sakayanagi didn't come, and then Yahiko deducted 50 points.
Only 220 points remained.
There was no advantage left.
At the same time.
This was only the first day of the exam, and three hours hadn't even passed yet.
So, there were risks during the exam, such as any violations occurring within these seven days, or someone being forced to withdraw due to illness, or the final Team Leader guessing round.
Guessing the wrong Team Leader of other Class, or having their own Class's Team Leader guessed by other Class.
All would result in point deductions!
In other words, even if they agreed to Ryuen, the remaining 220 initial points of the Class might very well be completely gone by the end.
This was a gamble.
A huge gamble.
Ryuen could gain all the benefits, but Class A could potentially lose everything.
Moreover, Katsuragi was just steady, not stupid.
It was tantamount to Class A bearing the risk that should have belonged to Ryuen, a double risk.
This condition was not fair to Class A at all.
And not friendly.
But Katsuragi was still tempted.
Because they couldn't afford to lose this exam. His series of failures could easily lead to a lack of trust from the students in the Class.
At the same time, Class C occupied a bit too many bases. Although he confirmed that Kouenji was the Team Leader, it was unsettling if he couldn't ensure that their bases were reduced to 0.
Moreover,
Katsuragi also needed this stable method, because as long as they stayed on the island, there would definitely be expenses, and with such deductions, there wouldn't be many points left after the 7-day exam. That's why Katsuragi had just been forced to come and exchange for supplies.
So, even if they didn't agree to Ryuen, their own Class's initial points would only continue to be consumed.
Should they pay Ryuen money from outside or continue to consume points in this exam?
"How about it? What have you decided?"
Ryuen wore a calm smile, looking confident.
He knew Katsuragi wouldn't refuse.
Because he was well aware of Class A's current situation; Sakayanagi Arisu, the representative of the Sakayanagi Faction, hadn't come, but Katsuragi hadn't gained any advantage.
Instead, it seemed like all disadvantages.
Katsuragi was under immense pressure.
"The deal is acceptable."
Katsuragi finally spoke slowly, his voice still steady, "But 300 points is too much, we don't need that many."
"Furthermore."
Katsuragi said, "The risks are all borne by us, while you have no risks at all."
"So my demand is that you must try every possible way to ascertain the identities of the Team Leaders of Class B and Class C, and then tell me," Katsuragi said.
"Oh?" Ryuen grinned.
Katsuragi and he were thinking alike.
Yes.
The solution Ryuen had conceived for this exam.
1. First, secure a baseline for his own Class, which means trading initial points with other Class for a fixed and stable monthly living expense.
After all, as long as they stayed here, consumption would occur, so initial points generally couldn't be saved. In that case, it was better to directly exchange them for money.
2. Continue the exam, proceed to the base occupation and Team Leader guessing stages. The base aspect might be more difficult, but Team Leader guessing could continue.
Therefore.
"Alright," Ryuen said. "I'll arrange for my people to scout for information on the Team Leaders of other Class."
"And I'll tell you once the results are confirmed."