The atmosphere among the girls is strange.

Morning roll call on the fourth day has already ended, but the mood is clearly distorted.

This atmosphere was probably caused by Kushida stirring things up somehow.

A messed-up board state is exactly what I want.

That’s why I told her she could move freely.

“What are you planning to do today, Kiyotaka-kun?”

“I don’t really have anything specific planned. If I had to say something, it would be keeping an eye on Ibuki. Actually, I want to ask you. Did something happen among the girls?”

Horikita spoke to me, so I answered while also asking back about the strange morning atmosphere.

“…I’ll refrain from talking about it myself. I think Karuizawa-san, who’s directly involved, will take some action soon.”

It doesn’t seem like something she wants to talk about.

And it seems to be Kei, not Kushida, who’s directly involved.

I’ll hear about it from Kei later.

“Then I’ll rest in the tent. Call me if something happens.”

With that, Horikita returned to the tent.

Let’s rewind a bit.

* * *

“…It’s not here.”

This is strange.

My pan… underwear is gone.

Why?

Who could have…

Calm down.

First, I need to think about whether I should make a fuss here.

Kiyotaka was acting strange yesterday.

And before that, it looked like he was asking Kikyo-chan to do something.

…There’s no way Kiyotaka told someone to steal my underwear, right?

If that were the case, then maybe that means he’s interested in me…

If so, that would actually make me happy…

“No, that’s not it!!”

“Wha—!? What’s wrong, Karuizawa-san?”

I said that out loud.

Well, whatever.

He told me I could act freely and I’m embarrassed too, so I’ll move this along without spreading it to the boys.

“There’s something I want to talk about, so I’d like all the girls to gather. Is that okay?”

If Kiyotaka is the king, then I’m the queen.

This is non-negotiable.

From here on, I take control.

“My underwear that was definitely there until last night is gone. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, so for now I want everyone to help look for it. Could I see each of your bags first?”

At Karuizawa-san’s command, the girls gathered and what she said was somewhat shocking.

I think a boy might have stolen it, but this isn’t a situation where I can say that.

“What’s this? Why are you bringing something like this?”

“Well, haha. I thought it might be useful for something.”

* * *

I can hear Karuizawa-san checking bags behind me.

What happened yesterday is still lingering.

In the end, it was decided that things like the hair dryer and fan would be shared by everyone.

Still, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m the criminal who used points without permission.

My close friends tell me not to worry about it, but I can’t.

After seeing the look in Ayanokōji-kun’s eyes, not worrying isn’t an option.

What can you contribute?

That’s right.

I should hurry up, check my bag and start cooking.

I have a place where I can use my strengths.

I can’t just keep thinking someone else should do it.

Do what you can, when you can.

That’s what’s important for me right now.

And then I opened my bag.

Inside was underwear I clearly didn’t recognize.

“W… why?”

I definitely didn’t do this.

Why?

How?

Those thoughts keep repeating in my head.

“What’s wrong, Shinohara-san? You look unwell.”

Karuizawa-san spoke to me.

It felt like the Grim Reaper asking a question.

“There’s no way I mixed it up by accident. I confirmed last night that my underwear was properly in my bag.”

“N-no… it wasn’t me. I didn’t do anything like that…”

What benefit would I even get from stealing Karuizawa-san’s underwear?

“Hm. Well, whether you’re the culprit or not, that’s what you’d say. And besides… it’s suspicious whether someone would act in such an obviously detectable way.”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, it makes no sense for Shinohara-san to steal my underwear overnight. So doesn’t that mean someone who hates either me or Shinohara-san did this?”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you suspecting us?”

One of the girls said.

“Of course I am. At the very least, there’s a high chance Shinohara-san is hated. As for me… maybe someone was annoyed by me flirting with Kiyotaka. The boys were glaring with jealousy, after all. It’s not impossible that there’s a girl like that too.”

‘Sorry for flirting,’ Karuizawa-san jokes.

If that were actually true, it’d be bad, though.

Well, that’s unlikely.

The culprit definitely hates me.

The suspicion that I’m the culprit has faded somewhat, but knowing someone tried to frame me keeps my mood dark.

“If you say it like that, then the suspects are basically me or Horikita-san. But of course I wouldn’t do something like that!”

“Please don’t drag me in and subtly push the blame onto me, Kushida-san. I wouldn’t do something so stupid either.”

Karuizawa-san, Kushida-san and Horikita-san glare at each other.

Ah, the harem members…

Wait, aren’t they glaring way too hard?

It felt like I even heard a tongue click, but that must be my imagination.

“Fundamentally, there’s someone we should be suspecting first, don’t you think? Ibuki-san.”

“Sorry, but I didn’t do it. And I don’t even remember going near the girls’ tent. Isn’t it unreasonable to suspect me?”

“That’s up until now. That doesn’t prove you didn’t do it early this morning.”

“Suspect me all you want. I didn’t do it.”

Ibuki-san, who had been called over, said that and went silent.

The atmosphere is awful, but it’s almost time for roll call.

“Anyway. What I want to say is that anyone could have done this. Don’t forget that. So at this stage, I’ll suspect everyone. Remember that.”

Karuizawa-san wrapped things up, but everyone was left feeling suspicious of each other.

Who should I trust from now on?

* * *

“My panties were stolen?”

“Your voice is too loud! Don’t make me repeat something so embarrassing!”

In the end, Kei talked to me at night.

Though honestly, your voice was louder.

“Basically, my panties were in Shinohara-san’s bag. Since it was just yesterday, there’s no way she’d do that. So I figured it was probably Kikyo-chan, who’s been sneaking around. And with how Kiyotaka acted yesterday, I thought it’d be better to make everyone suspicious of each other. I don’t think Kiyotaka does pointless things. …That was okay, right?”

Kei asked, sounding a bit anxious.

“Yeah. It’s not bad. Though I thought the boys might get suspected too. Did that not happen?”

“The one most likely to say that, Shinohara-san, was knocked out. Though in their hearts, people like Satō-san probably think a boy did it. But honestly, since coming to this island, the boys have been way more interested in work, rivers and nature than in girls.”

That’s a sharp observation.

Unless there’s an event like girls changing into swimsuits, the boys’ sense of adventure probably takes priority on an uninhabited island.

And the girls are just in familiar jerseys.

“…But, um… You didn’t do it, did you?”

What is she even saying?

“If I did it, the risk would be way too high. Kushida could at least make excuses.”

If it were found and she said she picked it up and tried to return it, that might work.

If Kushida said it, people would go ‘Kushida-san is so kind!’ but if I said it, I’d probably be going to jail.

Even if she’s my girlfriend, that wouldn’t be forgiven.

“Huh. So you really did ask Kikyo-chan. Well, whatever~”

Kei suddenly becomes sulky.

What is her problem?

“Hey, boss. Mission complete. I saw Glasses returning to the ship. Oh—sorry. Was I interrupting a date, Karuizawa?”

“It’s not a date! And what do you mean by ‘Glasses’? And what are those goggles?”

Ken came back.

I thought it would take longer.

“These goggles are night-vision goggles I bought with PP. I just had Ken keep watch for me.”

This confirms that Kaneda isn’t the leader.

Having a spy as a leader is risky, but not impossible, so I wanted to properly watch the moment they retired.

It was necessary to ensure an attack on Class C, but there are other problems too.

From the first day until now, Kōenji has been roaming the island day and night, so hiding carries risk.

That means there’s a high chance the Class C leader is holed up behind Class A’s curtain.

That makes it impossible to confirm numbers.

Given Ryūen’s personality, it’s unlikely he wouldn’t remain until the end, but we haven’t seen all of Class C retire.

If even just Ishizaki or Albert remains, our odds drop below one-half.

“I didn’t want to get involved… but it looks like I should talk to the Sakayanagi faction.”

* * *

Bonus Scene

“That’s obvious. At the very least, Shinohara-san being hated is highly likely. As for me… maybe people were annoyed by me flirting with Kiyotaka.”

“If you say it like that, then the suspects are basically me or Horikita-san. But of course I wouldn’t do something like that!”

“Please don’t drag me in and subtly push the blame onto me, Kushida-san. I wouldn’t do something so stupid either.”

The three glare at each other.

‘Kiyotaka wants to divide the class, so it’s better if everyone is suspected and becomes paranoid!’

‘Since Shinohara already had hate directed at her, it’s easier to control things if we keep focusing that hate on one clear enemy!’

‘Rather than just the class fighting internally, it’ll be useful to make Ibuki-san herself aware that she’s being watched too!’

‘He told me to move freely and this won’t hurt him anyway.’

* * *

NG Scene

“There’s no way I mixed it up by accident. I confirmed last night that it was properly in my bag.”

“N-no… it wasn’t me. I didn’t do anything like that…”

Shinohara-san is pale.

Using class points without permission was wrong, but it doesn’t seem like she was involved in this.

If we could present evidence like during the violence incident, maybe it’d work out.

I should clearly state my opinion too.

“Um… can I say something? I think this could seriously destroy the class. If we ask Ayanokōji-kun, he could probably buy something that detects fingerprints, so wouldn’t we be able to find out who did it that way?”