The third day of the Special Exam on the Uninhabited Isnd.

  "That guy, Ryūen, really pulled off a clean job, huh?"

  Uesugi Gen remarked as he gazed at the now-empty beach.

  "I thought he’d at least hold out until the fourth day. To accommodate his pn, our cssmates barely took a stroll around before leaving, helping him save a huge sum of unnecessary expenses. And yet, he still packed up and ran off overnight."

  Shibata Sō suddenly chimed in.

  "Could it be that he was actually scared off by Css D?"

  At those words, silence fell over the group.

  It was a possibility. If Css D kept up the same level of intensity as st time, Css C might not even have enough supplies left to hand over to Css A.

  "But, Uesugi-kun, Css C withdrew so quickly that we don’t even know how many people they left behind. We have no way of identifying their leader now."

  Ichinose Honami rested her chin on her hand, letting out a sigh of regret.

  Kanzaki Ryūji, however, had a different perspective.

  "Ichinose, trying to pinpoint a leader among forty people is an extremely difficult task. Given the advantages we currently hold, even if we simply focus on taking the exam seriously, we might not lose."

  That’s right. Ever since Uesugi had reminded him yesterday that leaders could be swapped, Kanzaki had completely given up on guessing the leaders of other csses. Even if they managed to identify one, there was no guarantee that other csses wouldn’t think to switch their leaders at the st moment. A wrong guess wouldn’t just mean missing out on 50 points—it would also result in a 50-point deduction and the loss of a base’s points.

  In that case, it was better to abandon those 150 points from the start. Instead, they could deliberately expose a weakness, trick other csses into thinking they had identified their leader, and then swap them out at the st moment to make the opposing css lose points.

  With this strategy, their 300 starting supply points, combined with their base and several scattered bases, would ensure that Css B scored over 300 points!

  A score that no other css could possibly achieve—not even Css A. If Css A and Css C shared information, then that 50-point deduction was practically guaranteed.

  However…

  Kanzaki Ryūji quietly turned his head to observe Uesugi, who had a faint yet enigmatic smile on his face.

  If things were really that simple, Uesugi wouldn’t have come along. The fact that he was here gathering intel meant he hadn’t given up on identifying the other csses’ leaders.

  Uesugi, I know the risks of guessing leaders. There’s no way you don’t understand them either. Just what exactly are you pnning…?

  "Well, well, in a strategy like this, secrecy is the top priority. Too many people would only increase the chances of exposure. Not to mention, feeding a rge group would be another major issue. Besides…"

  A mischievous grin spread across Uesugi’s face.

  "That guy, Ryūen, is probably experiencing a real-life survival challenge right about now."

  While the isnd was under the school's management and posed no real dangers, if Css C wanted to execute their pn smoothly, they couldn’t afford to stay in tents. In fact, they couldn’t build any conspicuous shelters at all. Ryūen would have to constantly remain on high alert, wary of other csses stumbling upon him, all while foraging for his own food. And this would continue until the seventh day…

  Just imagining it made the corners of Uesugi’s mouth curl upward.

  "Let’s go. The objective has been achieved, and there’s nothing left to see here but sand. Time to head back."

  Retracting his smirk, Uesugi led Css B’s students across the soft sand, making their way back to camp.

  But then—

  They ran straight into Css D’s scouting team.

  "Huh, what a rare sight—Kushida-san and Horikita-san, working together."

  Uesugi greeted the two with a friendly wave.

  One was an ally, the other was a target he had been commissioned to deal with. It wouldn’t be right to just walk past them without a word.

  "Don’t get the wrong idea. I never agreed to this. She just followed me on her own."

  Horikita Suzune’s tone carried a trace of exasperation, making it clear that she had no way of shaking off Kushida Kikyō.

  "Hehe, don’t say it like that, Horikita-san. We’re on the same side now, aren’t we?"

  Kushida Kikyō smiled sweetly, her tone carrying the air of a friend pyfully teasing another.

  Had Uesugi not known her true nature, he might have actually believed her.

  "So, did you find anything useful, since you got here before us?"

  Horikita Suzune got straight to the point, directing her question at Uesugi.

  "Unfortunately, Ryūen made a clean escape. Didn’t even leave a single trace behind."

  Uesugi scanned the golden beach once more. Apart from a few distant tents, there was no sign that Css C had ever been here.

  "However—"

  He turned to Horikita Suzune with a pyful glint in his eyes.

  "Even if I did find something valuable, do you really think I’d hand it over to someone from a rival css?"

  "Or rather, would you even believe me, Horikita-san?"

  "Good point…"

  Horikita Suzune shot back just as sharply.

  "Something only has meaning if you confirm it for yourself. Even if you told me, I wouldn’t necessarily believe you."

  With that, she took a careful tour of Css C’s abandoned camp, meticulously searching every corner before returning.

  "Ryūen Kakeru… he really just up and left, huh? He was so full of himself before the exam, and yet, this is all he amounted to?"

  "Whether he’s capable or not, I have no idea. But since we’ve accomplished our goal, we’ll be taking our leave now."

  Uesugi had no intention of sticking around to give his competition any unnecessary hints. The sooner he withdrew, the sooner Horikita Suzune’s attention would shift elsewhere—that was the best course of action.

  After a quick farewell, Uesugi prepared to lead Css B’s students away.

  "Wait, Uesugi Gen."

  Horikita Suzune suddenly called out from behind.

  "Why don’t you… come visit our Css D camp?"

  At those words, the expressions of the two girls present instantly changed.

  Kushida Kikyō’s secret distress signal transmission initiated…

  Hey! Uesugi, you better not be fooled by that b*tch’s innocent act! I’m the one on your side, got it? Me! I’m your ally!

  Meanwhile, Ichinose Honami, standing next to Uesugi, didn’t say a word. The usual warm smile on her face had disappeared, repced by an intensity she had never shown before.

  She was carefully scrutinizing every inch of Horikita Suzune.

  "Oh my, I never expected this. Horikita-san, inviting me—your competitor and Css D’s supposed archenemy—to visit your camp?"

  Uesugi teased, clearly entertained by the sudden invitation.

  "Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s just… a return favor for your invitation."

  Horikita Suzune shot him a gre, trying to sound firm.

  "Hold on!"

  Before Uesugi could respond, Ichinose Honami raised her hand with a sweet smile.

  "I'm coming too."

  ---

  T/N: UUUUHOHH