It had been three days since the deserted island exam began.

Class D’s point-saving was progressing smoothly.

Besides the spot for the base camp’s river water rights, our Class D had also expanded the range around it and was occupying around five spots.

If we assume one spot gives 3 points, then if we keep occupying spots until the day before the last day, we can secure roughly an extra 70 points.

If we increase the number of spots later, the amount of points we gain will increase even more.

A countermeasure for spot occupation to prevent our leader from being guessed came out on the very first day.

As the leader, Horikita formed teams of at least six people and had them move while covering their faces with towels and the like.

That way, if another class tried to lay hands on them to see their faces, we could simply report it as an act of violence.

It’s a simple method anyone could think of, so we decided to set up measures so we could occupy as many spots as possible.

Aside from those minor details, there weren’t many problems.

Using points requires my permission, but when needed, Hirata sometimes uses them on his own and then reports it afterward.

I said I’d allow flexibility with point usage, so there’s nothing worrying about it.

More than anything, it was used for a valid reason, so it’s fine.

“By the way, are you really fine with this?”

“Fine with what, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know there are weird rumors going around among some of the girls, right? Like you’re trying to steal Hirata from Karuizawa.”

“...That’s a completely pointless false rumor.”

In class, there aren’t any complaints about the life I’m running and they accept it.

If anything, there’s so much laughter it never seems to stop.

The problem is the tiny internal split that could grow at any time.

And it’s the malicious kind of group ostracism, where a group targets and attacks one person.

Of course, the victim is me.

And the perpetrators are Karuizawa’s group.

Me openly talking with Hirata or giving him instructions and me dismissing their words as illogical and ignoring them.

If you want a reason, you can make one out of anything.

If we’re talking about the root cause, it’s probably that they were humiliated at the restaurant.

It’s beyond pathetic.

Idiots who can’t even properly separate public matters from private ones aren’t worth caring about.

I can just ignore them and be done with it.

“Right now you’re making an effort, so I’m not saying anything, but once the exam ends, it’ll definitely become a problem. They’ll try even harder not to follow your instructions.”

“Then it can’t be helped. I’ll have to get advice from Ryūen about ruling through violence.”

“...You say something awful like that without batting an eye.”

“Enough nonsense, how did the occupation go?”

I shrugged and received a report on the occupation situation from Horikita, who was sitting beside me.

As we’ve been acting together more often lately, we’ve become even less hesitant about talking like this.

“Let me confirm again, your body really has gotten better, right?”

“Thanks to someone who took thorough care of me, I’m completely recovered. And besides, if I don’t recover quickly, it’s obvious you’ll threaten me using our classmates as leverage.”

“Thanks for noticing quickly. I’ll be expecting you to keep showing the good side of a dedicated personal maid. I’ve been pretty satisfied lately.”

“You crazy bitch.”

After giving rough instructions for today’s work, I stood up from my seat without the others noticing.

There aren’t any particular problems yet and at this point there’s a lot I should be preparing too...

So, should I start moving soon?

* * *

On the fourth day, I once again moved through each class’s base camp zone to check their status.

After I visited, Class A started tightening security even more, like increasing the number of people on watch.

Avoiding their eyes, I lingered near the cave spot and found a ladder in the cliff’s blind spot.

‘So this really was the place I saw from the ship.’

Near the cave, there are quite a few different facilities.

Even right beneath the ladder I was going down, there were fishing tools and the like inside a small hut.

When I checked the spot, Class A was occupying it with about four hours remaining, so I hurriedly left.

If you didn’t carefully look over the island from the ship, you wouldn’t even know this place existed.

In other words, Katsuragi noticed the hint the school gave from the very start.

I thought only Ryūen, Hiyori and I had noticed it, but he’s sharper than I expected.

I pulled out my map and marked the location, then rummaged through my memory and headed somewhere else.

The place I arrived at was where a tall tower stood.

Almost certainly a spot, a definite one.

I checked the device installed on the wall.

From the look of it, the terminal wasn’t occupied and was in a free state.

Well, this facility is big enough that it’s easy to get discovered.

Katsuragi probably knows that too.

If the chance of being found by the enemy is high, then the chance of the leader being found goes up as well.

That’s the kind of man Katsuragi is.

Even though he has enough ability to lead a class, he’s serious and only uses safe strategies.

But that’s exactly why you can’t beat me, Sakayanagi or Ryūen.

Someone who won’t take risks can never seize victory.

“Hey, who are you? This is a place our Class A uses.”

At that moment, two men emerged from the bushes.

Looking at their faces, both were members of the Sakayanagi faction.

“Isn’t that Ayanokoji Aoi!”

“You came to scout?”

“Yeah, I was just walking around and ended up here. I’m leaving soon, so if you have something you were doing, go ahead and do it comfortably.”

As long as I’m filling in for Sakayanagi during the cruise trip, they’re practically my hands and feet.

In fact, one of them was already showing an attitude like he was pledging loyalty the moment he saw me.

But it seemed someone didn’t like it.

“Ayanokoji, we’re cooperating with you right now, but just because you got Sakayanagi’s authority, you shouldn’t act too freely. Some of us still don’t acknowledge you.”

“H-Hold on, Morishige. You don’t have to say it like that.”

“I only said what I think. If you’re going to tell Sakayanagi, then go ahead, I don’t care.”

I’d expected someone like this to show up.

No matter how much I’ve been running wild with my abilities, in the end I’m still Class D.

It’s natural that getting involved with Class A, a caste upper class, could look unpleasant to them.

Instead of getting angry, I ran my finger down the jaw of the guy called Morishige and spoke.

“A guy like you, I don’t think badly of you. You seem like you’ll be a pretty good asset, so I’ll advise Sakayanagi to make good use of you.”

“Ghk... W-What are you...”

“If you doubt my ability, then look forward to the last day. I’ll show you a result you’ll never forget.”

At my meaningful words, both of them tilted their heads.

Imagining the shocked expression they’ll make at the end...

It’s pretty fun.

As I left, I told them again.

“Anyway, don’t worry, the Katsuragi faction is going to properly collapse on this trip.”

* * *

Class C’s base camp was truly deserted.

Just the day before yesterday, they had a noisy festival-like mood, but after spending all their points, they retired in spectacular fashion and vanished from the exam.

The one person left is definitely Ryūen...

Now it begins.

While looking at the coastline and thinking, a pair walking up behind me greeted me happily.

“You came to scout too, Ayanokoji.”

It was Ichinose and Kanzaki.

It seemed they’d come to check on Class C like I had.

“Yeah. Up until the day before yesterday it was lively, but now it’s completely empty.”

“Honestly, I thought we might at least guess the Class C leader. But maybe that’s impossible now. If everyone went up to the ship, then we can’t even find hints.”

As expected, Ichinose wasn’t even considering the idea that Ryūen might have stayed behind.

In truth, it’s normal not to.

There are almost no people who can grasp how Ryūen thinks in the first place.

“A strategy of spending all your points isn’t something to praise, but it still feels kind of impressive. It’s something you can think about, but you can’t bring yourself to actually do.”

“This exam is an exam to build pluses.”

“The moment he threw that away, Ryūen lost.”

Ichinose and Kanzaki spoke with somewhat pitiful expressions, but I know.

Ryūen is not a man who fights battles he can’t win.

And in this exam, he might be the person who causes the second biggest shockwave.

Of course, the person who causes the biggest shockwave will be me.

“Yeah, guessing who the leader really is, is insanely hard.”

“It’s just impossible. I think the best thing is to watch and take the exam safely.”

“Yeah. For us, a steady strategy is the best.”

While openly sharing their policy, the two of them turned their eyes away from the beach.

It’s basically the same as completely giving up on the leader nomination battle.

And for sure, they won’t be nominating our side’s leader.

And unfortunately...

This morning, I already succeeded in identifying Class B’s leader.

Poor Ichinose.

On the surface we’re allies, but since we’re different classes, someday we’ll be enemies, right?

Don’t think too badly of it.