When Yamamura Miki took in the scene unfolding before her eyes, her gaze flickered involuntarily — and she began to seriously doubt whether everything Morishita Ai had just sworn to her so earnestly beneath that tree was actually true.
Hadn't Morishita Ai said that she and Shikime Natsu had done those naughty things not long ago? So how was it that in such a short span of time, another cute girl had already appeared at Shikime Natsu's side? If it were Kamuro Masumi and the others, that would be one thing — but this was Ichinose Honami. A girl who, just like Yamamura Miki herself, had no established relationship with Shikime Natsu.
And on top of that — she was also a dazzlingly brilliant girl, much like Shikime Natsu himself. The kind who ranked among the most popular in all of Class B.
Two beautiful girls had appeared before him at the same time, and Shikime Natsu greeted them both with a gentle, easygoing smile.
"Ai, Yamamura-san — you two came?"
Upon recognizing the two Class A girls, Ichinose Honami broke into a warm, radiant smile of her own and gave a small wave in return.
"Morishita-san, Yamamura-san — hello!"
For her part, Morishita Ai had been inwardly seething — the idea that Shikime Natsu could have done those naughty things with her and then seamlessly turn his attention to another girl without missing a beat had stoked a fierce, burning jealousy inside her.
But then — the moment she heard Shikime Natsu call her by just "Ai," that faintly intimate single syllable, something strange happened. It was as though a spell had been cast over her. The resentment that had been swelling in her chest simply dissolved, and her previously taut little face softened at a visible pace — the corners of her mouth even curled upward, just a tiny bit, against her will.
It really had to be said — Morishita Ai was an extraordinarily easy girl to satisfy.
A single, subtle shift in how she was addressed — from "Morishita-san" to just "Ai" — and that alone was more than enough to make Morishita Ai thoroughly content.
Of course, it would be even better if Shikime Natsu continued to call her "my cute girlfriend" — but in front of this many people, Morishita Ai decided she'd let that one go. After all, she did have a sense of decorum. Somehow, having Shikime Natsu use that kind of pet name for her in front of all these other girls felt quite embarrassing.
And when Yamamura Miki heard Shikime Natsu's choice of address, something clicked into place for her too. The relationship between those two really had grown that close. Up until now, it had always been "Morishita-san" and "Yamamura-san" — but now, she alone had fallen behind.
A faint, bittersweet pang stirred in Yamamura Miki's chest. Of all people, she hadn't expected to trail behind Morishita Ai of all people.
But then again — why had Morishita Ai dragged her along here in the first place?
Was she intending to have Yamamura Miki lay her feelings bare on the spot?
No, no, no — absolutely not! She couldn't possibly do something like that!
For Yamamura Miki, she simply wasn't mentally prepared for anything of the sort. Just jumping headfirst into something like that — it was completely beyond her.
The very thought made Yamamura Miki's fair cheeks flush a vivid crimson in an instant. She hurriedly dropped her gaze to the ground, wishing she could bury her head entirely into the collar of her shirt.
Watching the two of them, each wearing such utterly different expressions.
Shikime Natsu made no effort to pry into the little schemes turning over in their hearts.
He looked over at Yamamura Miki and extended a cheerful invitation.
"You two came at just the right time."
He gestured toward the campfire and the water basin that had already been set up nearby.
"I was just about to start preparing the ingredients. How about you stay — we can all have lunch together!"
At the invitation, Yamamura Miki lifted her head with a slightly flustered air and instinctively glanced over at Morishita Ai beside her.
Morishita Ai, on the other hand, puffed out her chest with the full confidence of someone who needed no permission from anyone, and gave her own chest a smug little pat.
"Well, obviously — Morishita Ai is having lunch right here."
Having received a personal invitation from Shikime Natsu himself, and with Morishita Ai already staking her claim so boldly.
Yamamura Miki — who had never been good at turning people down — could only give a quiet, obedient nod.
"Well then… sorry to impose."
Meanwhile, Ichinose Honami, standing to one side, watched the stream of girls joining the gathering and felt no particular displeasure in her heart.
True, this did mean she had lost her chance to have a quiet, private conversation with Shikime Natsu.
But even so — things turning out this way was actually rather nice.
For Ichinose Honami, who had always been devoted to cultivating warm, genuine connections with the people around her, being able to use this opportunity to get to know more friends from other classes was something genuinely worth smiling about.
In the course of ordinary school life, Ichinose Honami — as the central figure of Class B — rarely had many chances to interact much with Class A's Morishita Ai or Yamamura Miki.
And so, naturally and without any fuss, the girls gathered together and began helping out nearby — washing the edible fruits and cleaning the fish.
It wasn't long before the sound of light, cheerful footsteps and easy conversation drifted closer.
Kamuro Masumi, Shiina Hiyori, and Sakura Airi arrived together at the cabin, the three of them appearing as a group.
Their arrival transformed what had been a relatively tranquil forest clearing into a scene of sudden, lively bustle.
The girls gathered, exchanged smiles, and greeted one another.
But among them, as the girlfriend who had been at Shikime Natsu's side the longest.
When Kamuro Masumi's gaze swept across the assembled group, it landed — with razor precision — on Morishita Ai.
A woman's intuition is a terrifyingly accurate thing.
Kamuro Masumi narrowed those lovely eyes of hers, just slightly. She had a distinct feeling that Morishita Ai today seemed… somehow different from before.
She still had that same habit of putting on airs, that same eccentric, wavelength-of-her-own quality — but the way her eyes moved when she looked at Shikime Natsu, and the natural, unguarded ease with which she positioned herself at his side.
It was noticeably more intimate than before.
Could it be…
It wasn't only Kamuro Masumi who noticed. The perceptive Shiina Hiyori, and Sakura Airi — who had always quietly kept her eyes on Shikime Natsu — both picked up on the same subtle shift before long.
And especially when Shikime Natsu began assigning tasks and directing the group — the change in how he addressed people was the most direct evidence of all.
When he spoke to Morishita Ai, he no longer said "Morishita-san." He said "Ai."
The nature of their relationship had undergone a genuine, substantive change.
Even so.
Though they had each seen through it, the girls exchanged a brief glance among themselves and said nothing more.
After all, they all understood perfectly well.
Given Shikime Natsu's personal magnetism, winning over Morishita Ai had only ever been a matter of time — a natural conclusion that was always going to arrive. Besides, Morishita Ai wasn't the type of girl who harbored particularly deep schemes; she was never going to be able to outmaneuver Shikime Natsu.
What remained to be seen was simply how far things between Morishita Ai and Shikime Natsu had actually progressed — whether they were officially dating or not.
After all, the three of them present had each gone through the same sequence — first a change in how they were addressed, then a relationship — and now that Morishita Ai's form of address had changed, it was only a matter of time before she followed the same path.
Kamuro Masumi's gaze settled on Morishita Ai, who looked quietly pleased with herself. She had anticipated that Morishita Ai would eventually become part of Shikime Natsu's orbit — but she hadn't expected it to happen this quickly. Given Morishita Ai's personality, she hadn't seemed like the type who would easily come to terms with her own feelings. Kamuro Masumi had assumed there would be a great deal more of a back-and-forth first. Honestly, in her estimation — she had always thought Yamamura Miki would be the faster one.
But Shikime Natsu still addressed Yamamura Miki in the ordinary way — "Yamamura-san" — so it seemed Yamamura Miki still had some work to do.
And then, at that very moment, Kamuro Masumi suddenly realized something. A shift in how someone was addressed didn't just happen on its own — it had to be precipitated by something. Something that had brought them closer. At the very least… something that had deepened their affection for one another.
And yet, whether on the cruise ship or during the first day on the island, Morishita Ai had had almost no opportunity to be alone with Shikime Natsu. The only window that could have allowed for it was this morning, when everyone had gone their separate ways.
In that brief stretch of time… what on earth had happened between them?
But Kamuro Masumi quickly let the thought go. In the end, whether it was a confession or simply a moment where the atmosphere carried them forward — these things happened naturally on their own. Just like when she herself had confessed to Shikime Natsu: there had been no preparation at all, and yet the relationship had advanced so naturally, and then, naturally, so many other things had followed.
Before long, all the ingredients had been prepared, and Shikime Natsu presented the finished dishes to everyone. He had even used his spare time to knock together a wooden table so everyone could sit properly — the man was simply superhuman.
"This is truly delicious."
"No matter how many times I taste it, Natsu's cooking is always the best."
Ichinose Honami took in the scene around her, and a quiet sense of wonder rose in her heart.
This was, nominally, just Shikime Natsu's personal cabin — or rather, Shikime Natsu and his girlfriends' cabin — and yet here it was, filled with this many cute girls, everyone getting along warmly and cheerfully, while Shikime Natsu moved among them all with effortless grace, tending to each girl's mood with the ease of someone entirely in his element. He was, in every sense of the word, magnetic.
It was precisely because of that magnetism that everyone had gathered here around him. And Ichinose Honami herself was no exception — she felt it too, that pull, drawing her deeply toward him.
Come to think of it, this little gathering had brought together representatives from every class on the island.
From Class A: Shikime Natsu, Kamuro Masumi, Morishita Ai, Yamamura Miki.
From Class B: herself.
From Class C: Shiina Hiyori.
From Class D: Sakura Airi.
Four classes that, in the context of this special exam, ought to be rivals locked in competition — and yet, because of one boy, they had all converged here in the same place.
And here they sat, all of them together, sharing a meal in perfect harmony and good cheer.
Watching the occasional moments of natural, easy intimacy that passed between Kamuro Masumi and the others and Shikime Natsu.
A faint ripple stirred somewhere in Ichinose Honami's heart.
She couldn't help but let her thoughts drift, quietly, somewhere deeper.
If — if someday, some day in the future, she finally found the courage to take that step, and became Shikime Natsu's girlfriend herself.
Then the way she and everyone else interacted would probably look just like this, wouldn't it? Relaxed, and warm, and just like this.
But the moment that image of a possible future took shape in Ichinose Honami's mind, her fair cheeks flushed crimson on the spot.
How could she keep having thoughts like these?!
She shook her head firmly, dispelling that entirely shameless little fantasy and banishing it back to where it came from, then bowed her head and devoted her full attention to the grilled fish in her hands.
Meanwhile.
On the far side of the deserted island, in a rest area set aside specifically for the teaching staff.
The homeroom teachers of all four classes had gathered together.
Class B's homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya Chie, was sprawled in her chair in her characteristic languid pose.
Those eyes of hers — carrying that familiar glint of cunning — slid over toward Class A's homeroom teacher, Mashima Tomoya, who was seated upright beside her with his usual composed rigidity.
"My, my — Mashima-sensei."
Hoshinomiya Chie drew out the syllables in that soft, slightly coquettish way of hers.
"Having Shiki-san in your Class A really does make everyone else jealous. The whole of Class A looks like they're on a vacation right now."
Mashima Tomoya's brow furrowed, ever so slightly. He knew perfectly well what Hoshinomiya Chie was referring to with those words.
She was talking about how, right from the earliest stage of setting foot on the island, Shikime Natsu had used extraordinary efficiency to construct a number of sturdy wooden cabins and, through sheer individual effort, effortlessly resolved what had been Class A's most pressing survival concern.
Though even Mashima Tomoya had found it quite remarkable at the time — from the standpoint of the exam's rules, Shikime Natsu had not violated anything. If anything, the fact that he had been able to accomplish this through his own abilities was entirely to his credit, and he deserved every point that came with it.
He had not only safeguarded his classmates' well-being — he had also genuinely saved Class A a substantial number of class exam points.
This was exactly what a qualified leader was supposed to do.
Seeing that Mashima Tomoya wasn't taking the bait.
Hoshinomiya Chie covered her mouth and let out a light, amused laugh.
"I could see it from the very beginning."
She affected a theatrical sigh.
"I just knew — Shiki-san was going to be a boy of boundless potential and exceptional quality."
She touched her cheek with one hand, half in jest.
"If only I'd been born ten-some years later, the same age as all of them — how wonderful that would've been. I might not have been able to help going after him myself."
Upon hearing this declaration that bore absolutely no resemblance to anything a teacher ought to say.
Class C's homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazunori, seated on the other side of the room, slowly spoke up, adjusting his glasses as he did.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei."
"The reason the rest of us are gathered here is certainly not to listen to you say things like this."
Far from being angered by Sakagami Kazunori's rebuke, Hoshinomiya Chie simply straightened up in her seat.
"And how is this 'things like this,' Sakagami-sensei?"
She set aside her playful tone, and her eyes sharpened somewhat.
"Have none of you noticed?"
"Thanks to this Shiki-san of ours, it seems the competition and tension between the various classes on this island have… decreased quite considerably."
Hoshinomiya Chie gave a small shrug.
"Our kids in Class B have always leaned toward the peaceful side of things. They've already decided — they're not going to take part in that high-risk leader-guessing game at the end."
At that, her gaze shifted back to Mashima Tomoya.
"And I would imagine, since Shiki-san has arranged everything so neatly, Class A must be in much the same position — not looking to start any trouble, either?"
Mashima Tomoya's expression remained impassive.
Faced with Hoshinomiya Chie's probing, he replied in a measured, unhurried tone.
"I have no knowledge of what decision they will ultimately make. In this exam, what choices to make and what strategies to adopt are entirely at the students' own discretion. As their homeroom teacher, I will not interfere or hint at anything."
After receiving that airtight, completely impenetrable answer from Mashima Tomoya.
Hoshinomiya Chie laughed again.
"Mashima-sensei really is nothing if not meticulous."
She continued, in that unhurried, analytical way of hers.
"Though even without you saying so, anyone with eyes can work it out."
"Shiki-san has cute girlfriends in both Class C and Class D — and he's Class A's leader on top of that. There's simply no way he'd launch an offensive against the classes his own girlfriends belong to, now is there?"
"And then… our class has quite a few girls who are on good terms with Shiki-san as well. It would be even better if Honami-chan and the others were a little more proactive — but regardless, I doubt Shiki-san would attack Class B either."
Having finished her analysis of Class A's likely movements, Hoshinomiya Chie's line of commentary pivoted sharply, pointing directly at Sakagami Kazunori.
"So then — Sakagami-sensei."
"That Ryuuen of yours in Class C — he's not planning to do anything either, is he? And honestly, from everything I've seen, it looks like Ryuuen is at a rather significant disadvantage whenever he goes up against Shiki-san."
Hoshinomiya Chie jabbed at Class C's sore spot without a hint of mercy.
At those words, tinged as they were with both barb and analysis.
Sakagami Kazunori's expression turned visibly sour.
He fixed Hoshinomiya Chie with a cold stare and pushed back.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei — was all of that just so you could say something with absolutely no basis in fact?"
Unfazed by Sakagami Kazunori's displeasure.
Hoshinomiya Chie idly flicked her hair to one side.
Her tone shifted, carrying in it a kind of regretful relish — the relish of someone who loves watching the chaos unfold.
"I just think…"
"If things keep going the way they're going right now."
"The different classes won't attack each other, everyone will get along just fine, and these few days will pass by in quiet, uneventful peace."
She curled her lip.
"Don't you think that makes for an awfully boring special exam?"
Upon hearing that remark — dripping with the gleeful desire for things to go sideways.
Mashima Tomoya turned his head and leveled a grave, serious look at Hoshinomiya Chie.
He warned her, in a low, measured voice.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei."
"Please be mindful of your position. I am warning you — do not use your personal preferences as a reason to act behind the scenes in violation of the rules, interfering with the progress of the students' exam."
Faced with Mashima Tomoya's stern warning.
Hoshinomiya Chie appeared entirely unconcerned.
She waved a dismissive hand and replied in that soft, petulant tone of hers.
"Relax, Mashima-sensei."
"I'm certainly not planning to do anything out of line. After all, I've already been given a very serious warning by the school once before."
She put on a pitiable expression.
"I'm going without pay for the next several years — I don't have nearly enough nerve to go causing trouble on top of that."
She let out a small sigh.
"It's just that, watching everyone get so thoroughly soothed by Shiki-san and settling into this cozy, peaceful coexistence — I can't help feeling a little understimulated. A little irritated, if I'm honest."
"At this rate… quite a few class points are going to pile up for everyone."
With that said.
Hoshinomiya Chie turned her head.
Her gaze came to rest on the figure of Class D's homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, who had been sitting silently in the corner this entire time, saying nothing at all — just quietly smoking.
The corner of Hoshinomiya Chie's mouth curved into a smile that carried just a touch of venom.
"But then again — it doesn't really matter."
She said it lightly, as though it were the most trivial thing in the world.
"As long as the final result of this exam is still Sae-chan's Class D sitting comfortably at the very bottom — that'll be enough."
"I'm rather looking forward to seeing what bold moves Sae-chan's class makes."
____
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