The luxury cruise ship ‘Sun Venus’ was extremely well-equipped and Kiyotaka-kun and I spent the short time before the exam briefing together.

We played at the pool and the game corner and ate together at the lunch venue...

It wasn’t just the two of us, Hirata-kun and Kei came along too so it ended up like a double date.

Naturally most of the conversation was about the special exam.

“If Kiyotaka-kun is going to focus on supporting others then I couldn’t feel more reassured but are you yourself going to be alright?”

“Hard to say. I might get eliminated quickly or end up being completely useless.”

“That’s not something that would happen to Ayanokōji-kun. The 3 million points and the ‘Halve’ cards we gave you are just insurance.”

“I know. But the exam details haven’t even been explained yet. I’ll give it my all but I should consider every possibility.”

Even so, since solo participation is allowed by the rules it’s hard to imagine an exam format where Kiyotaka-kun would be completely useless.

If he can’t do it then no one could clear it alone.

“But if it’s an island exam then just gathering terrain or group info would help, right? That kind of information gathering is your specialty.”

“Yeah. I’ll support your group and Kei’s too so don’t worry.”

For this day, Kiyotaka-kun had borrowed several survival books from the library and studied them.

I read them alongside him so I’ve learned things like how to purify water and which berries and plants are edible.

Still, even if I close the knowledge gap I can’t match his thinking, physical ability or ability to read situations.

He’s not aiming for top ranks anyway so I’ll rely on support when needed.

“...Looks like the first-years are coming out. It’s almost our turn.”

The additional briefing was done by grade and first-years went first.

The venue was a movie theater.

The first-years walked past us with tense expressions.

Among them, a few made eye contact.

Nanase Tsubasa bowed slightly and walked off with Hōsen and the others from Class D.

Meanwhile, a red-haired girl approached us.

I didn’t recognize her but she was clearly looking at Kiyotaka-kun.

...As she got closer I could see her face clearly, she was very pretty.

I glanced at Kiyotaka-kun and he lightly shook his head as if to say it’s a misunderstanding.

“Hey there, Ayanokōji-senpai. And your classmates?”

“That’s right. I’m Hirata Yōsuke. This is my girlfriend Kei Karuizawa and this is Kiyotaka-kun’s girlfriend, Matsushita Chiaki.”

“Hmm...”

Hirata-kun must have sensed something off.

He emphasized that I’m Kiyotaka-kun’s girlfriend.

Very helpful.

The girl... Ichika narrowed her eyes at me.

“You are?”

“I’m Amasawa Ichika from Class A. I went to the same middle school as Ayanokōji-senpai. We never met though.”

“Really? So he was famous?”

“Oh yeah. Always top in exams and great at sports. Teachers would always say ‘be like Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.’”

All three of us looked at him and he awkwardly looked away.

“When I heard he was still at the top here I had to say hi.”

Ichika looked at him happily.

...Something felt off.

The way she looked at him.

There was affection but something beyond that too.

Romantic feelings?

Without thinking I wrapped my arm around his.

Ichika’s expression darkened slightly.

“You’re amazing, Kiyotaka-kun. Your abilities were known everywhere.”

“That’s why I tried not to stand out in high school... guess that failed.”

“He really didn’t stand out at first but it didn’t last long.”

“By the island exam last year he was already central to the class. It was reassuring.”

Hirata-kun praised him and he scratched his cheek.

“Hey Chiaki-senpai, when did you start dating him?”

“Around May last year.”

“Why? He was still hiding his abilities then, right?”

Her eyes told me she understood my personality.

Sharp girl.

“His movements, his physique during swimming, his knowledge... I gradually realized he was hiding his abilities.”

I gave our usual cover story.

Ichika stared suspiciously.

“Chiaki hid her abilities too.”

“Not really. I just held back a bit. Kiyotaka-kun had too much ability to act average.”

“Hmm... you’ve got good insight. You’re lucky to be his girlfriend.”

“I’m the lucky one that Chiaki became my girlfriend.”

...That line is unfair...

I’m definitely blushing.

“Me too. I’m glad he’s my boyfriend.”

“Oh, bold.”

“Stop teasing!”

Ichika didn’t look amused.

“So, we should head in.”

“See you, Ichika.”

“Yes... see you on the island.”

She left with that ominous line.

Ahead of her, I spotted a boy.

Yagami Takuya.

He was staring straight at Kiyotaka-kun’s back.

That gaze was almost...

“Hey, Chiaki. Let’s go.”

“Ah, yeah.”

I followed him into the theater.

...This island exam might be more dangerous than I thought.

* * *

The four of us sat in a row.

Nearby were Horikita, Sakayanagi, Katsuragi, Ryūen with Shiina, Ichinose and Kanzaki.

“Hello, Ayanokōji-kun. I heard you’ll support our group.”

“That’s the plan.”

“No complaints?”

“None. This isn’t a test where I can fully perform anyway.”

Sakayanagi smiled.

...She seems to forget we’re allied with others.

Ichinose spoke up.

“This is exciting though.”

“First place is ours. The issue is second place.”

Ryūen said.

“You think we’re just his pawns?”

“Isn’t that true?”

Tension rose.

“Let’s get along,” Ichinose tried.

“Impossible,” Horikita snapped.

As expected.

Shiina just kept reading.

Then Ichinose turned to Kiyotaka-kun.

“I heard you’re competing with Nagumo.”

“Yeah. If I lose I join the council.”

“While supporting us? That’s tough.”

“Yeah.”

Word has already spread.

More trouble.

“Still, I’ll prioritize support.”

Kanzaki and Katsuragi looked uneasy.

They rate him highly.

Then Mashima-sensei appeared.

The briefing began.

“Now I will explain the additional rules.”

The exam lasts two weeks.

Groups compete for points.

Points come from ‘Movement’ and ‘Tasks’.

All tracked via smartwatch and tablet.

Health is monitored.

If it worsens, alerts trigger.

If ignored, penalties apply.

Broken watches must be replaced.

Tablets show map and rankings from day 4.

GPS search becomes available from day 6.

Charging stations exist.

Movement divides the island into 100 zones.

Groups must move to designated areas.

Arrival gives points.

Faster arrival gives bonus points.

1st gets 10, 2nd 5, 3rd 3.

But only if all members arrive.

Skipping too many times causes penalties.

There’s a pattern to area selection.

Mostly nearby, sometimes random.

Tasks appear across the island.

Rewards include points and food.

After day 4, tasks can expand group size.

Max is 6.

“Movement and tasks...”

Kiyotaka-kun muttered.

He’s already thinking of strategies.

“Interference with other years starts on day 4.”

“I’ll secure supplies first.”

“Use transceivers for contact.”

“Right.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier if Nagumo was in the same table?”

Ryūen asked Sakagami-sensei.

“Not possible.”

“Tch.”

“What about merging groups?”

Kanzaki suggested.

But Sakayanagi and Kiyotaka rejected it.

Too unreliable.

Also risky.

But Shiina spoke.

“If conditions are right it could work.”

Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes.

“True. If a good group appears we’ll contact Ayanokōji.”

“From you?”

“Yes. I’ll handle coordination.”

She’ll act as command.

Special rules apply to her.

Then Tsukishiro made remarks allowing some conflict.

The briefing ended.

Tomorrow the exam begins.

I lay in bed on the ship trusting Kiyotaka-kun.

...There’s a lot to be careful about.