[I am Uesugi Grylls Gen.][I’m going to show you how to survive on the safest uninhabited isnd on Earth.][I must endure a week of challenges.][In a pce like this, if you don’t have the proper skills to pass the time, you won’t even st a single day…]

  I CAN’T LAST, DAMMIT!

  Uesugi Gen’s bloodshot eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright from the ground.

  He, Uesugi, was suffering from insomnia.

  No lights. No air conditioning. No comfy bed. And worst of all, no computer, no phone, no game console—stranded on this deserted isnd, he had come to a cruel realization:

  He couldn’t sleep.

  And to make things worse—

  It wasn’t even that te yet.

  It wasn’t even 11 PM.

  Normally, this was the prime time for him to be brimming with energy, gaming till dawn.

  So now that he was lying here, completely awake—

  What the hell am I supposed to do?

  Uesugi fell into deep thought.

  He turned his head, first gncing at Shibata Sō, who was sprawled out like a starfish, then at Kanzaki Ryūji, who remained perfectly composed even in sleep. Finally, he scanned the other boys around him.

  If I wake them up now, they’re definitely gonna beat me to a pulp.

  Suppressing his growing urge to mess around, Uesugi sighed in resignation.

  Fine, they’ve had a long day. I’ll let them rest properly.

  With that, he carefully stepped over his sleeping cssmates and slipped out of the tent.

  Since this isnd was entirely artificial, there was no need to worry about wild animals. Because of that, Css B hadn’t assigned anyone to keep watch at night.

  The camp was completely silent, with only the distant sound of a waterfall and the chirping of crickets in the grass.

  Man… this pce feels totally different from home or Advanced Nurturing High School.

  Uesugi found a random rock and plopped down with a sigh.

  “I knew you wouldn’t be able to sleep.”

  A sweet voice rang out from behind him.

  “You’re awake too, huh? You spent the whole day setting up camp with your cssmates—you should really get some rest.”

  He didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was.

  “Mm~ Not sleepy at all. Back home, I always waited for my mom to come home before sleeping, so I’m used to staying up te.”

  Ichinose Honami sat down beside him, offering her expnation.

  Uesugi didn’t reply. He simply continued watching the distant waterfall.

  Ichinose also remained silent, sitting beside him without another word.

  The night grew still.

  “…Hey, Uesugi-kun. You skipped the css discussion and appointed Kanzaki-kun as the leader. That means there’s a reason it had to be him, right?”

  After a long pause, Ichinose finally spoke, her voice soft.

  Uesugi gnced at her fair face before answering calmly.

  “Yes. This pn can only work with Kanzaki.”

  “…Then, can you tell me? What exactly are you pnning, Uesugi-kun?”

  Uesugi was silent for a moment before firmly rejecting her request.

  “No. This pn isn’t for you.”

  Seeing his unwavering stance, Ichinose let out a bitter smile.

  “I figured…”

  If it was a straightforward and honorable pn, Uesugi wouldn’t have hidden it from her.

  Which meant—

  It was something that went against her ideals.

  Should she beg him not to go through with it?

  No.

  She couldn’t.

  She had already reached her limit st time when she asked him not to overwork himself.

  She didn’t want to see him running around, burdened by css affairs. He should’ve been spending his school days happily. And all of this…

  It was all because of her.

  A shadow of pain flickered in Ichinose’s eyes.

  At that moment, Uesugi pced both hands on her shoulders, gazing directly into her deep blue-violet eyes as he spoke seriously.

  “Ichinose, listen. I’m not telling you to change your kind nature. Helping others, wanting to protect your cssmates—that’s not wrong.”

  “But we can’t afford to see the world through rose-colored gsses. Gaining something always means losing something else.”

  “In chess, no one can win a game without sacrificing a single piece—not even a god. The only thing a pyer can do is minimize losses as much as possible and cim victory with a fwless strategy.”

  Uesugi paused before continuing.

  “From the start, they already accepted the possibility of sacrificing themselves for the leader. Css B chose you as their leader because they believed you could lead them to victory.”

  “Ichinose, you’re smart. Use that intelligence here. Only those willing to give up everything can win everything.”

  In this isoted moment, with no one else around, Uesugi forced Ichinose to confront the harsh reality she had always avoided.

  “…I know. I know…”

  Ichinose clenched his hands tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.

  “But, Uesugi-kun… I can’t. I really can’t. Just thinking about having to sacrifice you one day to win—it hurts so much.”

  Watching the girl before him sobbing uncontrolbly, Uesugi’s eyes softened with a trace of guilt.

  Did I push her too hard?

  He sighed.

  Forget it. I’ll leave this for another time.

  Gently, he let go of her shoulders.

  Then, he pulled Ichinose into his arms, rubbing her back in reassurance.

  “Then don’t change just yet, Ichinose. If you can’t, then that’s fine. Just focus on looking after our cssmates like always.”

  “Leave the rest to me. I promise you—I’ll minimize Css B’s losses as much as possible. I won’t let anyone get expelled. Okay?”

  The sobbing gradually quieted, reduced to faint sniffles.

  Finally, a soft, slightly spoiled voice whispered in his ear.

  “…Really, Uesugi-kun?”

  “Of course. When have I ever lied to you?”

  “…Liar. You always lie to me.”

  “Huh? No way. Just once or twice, maybe.”

  “Then why do you always say you’ve already eaten when I invite you for a meal? Kanzaki-kun told me you spend every evening pying games in the clubroom until seven or eight.”

  …

  What the—?! Kanzaki, you bastard!

  I actually thought you were the only one in my group who wouldn’t stab me in the back! Even Shibata wouldn’t have sold me out like this, and yet you—!

  You’re dead to me.

  “Ahem. That was… an accident. Give me another example—I definitely never lied to you.”

  “Nope. You always lie to me.”

  “…Then what do you want me to do?”

  “From now on… whenever I invite you to eat… you’re not allowed to say you’re busy…”

  “What if I really already ate?”

  “I… don’t care. Otherwise, you’re lying to me…”

  “…Fine. But can we at least space it out? Every few days, maybe? Hey, Ichinose? Ichinose?”

  …

  Uesugi stared bnkly at the peacefully sleeping Ichinose, resting against his chest.

  You fell asleep… So what am I supposed to do now?!

  ---

  T/N: UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

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