1.1

"Whoa, there are loads of people."

Sure enough, the rest area near the fitness gym where the test results were disclosed was crowded with students. A large sign beside the monitor read, 'Photography is strictly prohibited' and there were two adults, probably associated with Tsukishiro, watching the students.

The rankings and scores were displayed as a list on the monitor, which seemed to be scrolling automatically. Right now we could see the group members and scores for the groups ranked 50th through to 60th.

"…Huh?"

Suddenly, I felt an incredible sense of discomfort flowing through my body. What was it? I couldn't immediately figure out what it was, but I felt an indescribable sick kind of feeling.

"I wanted to get a closer look at the results, but I don't think I can concentrate with all this."

Ishizaki, who wasn't feeling the same discomfort as me, looked at the monitor and muttered in displeasure.

"There's no helping it. I'm sure a lot of people wanted to know the detailed results of the exam."

Ishizaki clicked his tongue in frustration and had no choice but to squint at the results from the spot. Although he had a bold personality, he wouldn't push the upperclassmen to get to the front.

The trouble was, even though it was an auto-scrolling monitor, you could touch it with your hand to hold it in place or scroll to look at any order. Currently a third-year student was operating it, so it was unlikely we would see the top results that Ishizaki wanted to see anytime soon.

"What shall we do?"

Even if we waited for a long time, it would be a while before our turn would come.

"I'm curious, but let's not overdo it. We can look at it later after all."

That was what I said a few minutes ago but…If he understood, then it was fine.

"By the way, do you notice anything?"

"Hm? Notice what?"

Ishizaki, who was about to turn around, didn't seem to have noticed anything.

This bizarre atmosphere. The number of gazes directed at me.

This couldn't be dismissed as just my imagination. It wasn't that Ishizaki next to me was too slow and unaware of it. It wasn't Ishizaki, or any other students; the gaze was focused entirely on me.

They were watching my every move, with no apparent intention to hide. All of the students looking at me had one thing in common; they were all third-years. I didn't know all the details yet, but I was certain that Nagumo was involved in this. I guess this was one of his plans that he had decided set in motion after putting it off in anticipation for the exam.

"What's up?"

Apparently, I was so lost in thought that Ishizaki was worried about me.

"No, it's nothing. It looks like a lot of other students are coming to check it out, so let's head back."

"Oh, yeah you're right."

I'd imagined he'd try something sooner or later, but this was a bit troublesome. It would've been much easier to deal with if Nagumo had decided to confront me directly. He got me with something I hated to deal with right from the start.

"Hey, you haven't eaten yet, right? Let's eat together."

"What? Ah, yeah I haven't eaten yet, but…"

I started to walk away, and there was no sign of the third-year students following after us. In the end, all they did was watch me, but it didn't feel great to be stared at relentlessly.

"What's the matter with you? You don't want to eat with me? You're a rude guy."

"It's not that. I was just thinking about something unrelated."

I couldn't involve Ishizaki in this, but if they didn't come after us, we'd be fine.

"It's rude to think about other things like that."

He had a point. Let's forget about the third-years for now.

"Are you fine with it? Eating with me?"

"Who cares? We're just eatin' a meal together."

I couldn't deny that I was feeling some pressure, but it didn't feel bad at all. I just couldn't get over the fact that Ishizaki was treating me like a friend.

"I don't know if I've said this before, but I'm not invitin' you out like this just to get you to join our class. It's 'cause I like you as a friend, okay?"

Without hesitation, Ishizaki uttered a line that, in a way, set my teeth on edge. But then, as if realizing something, he turned around.

"…Am I botherin' you?"

"That's not the case."

"Right!?"

For a moment, Ishizaki seemed to wonder if he'd been acting selfishly, but then he immediately laughed with a cheerful face. Well, I already knew that he had this kind of personality. I didn't feel bad at all, so I decided to just go along with Ishizaki.

As the two of us left the area and started to move, we heard footsteps running towards us from behind.

"Ayanokōji-senpai!"

The owner of the footsteps was Nanase, who I had worked with for the first half of the uninhabited island exam.

"You came to see the results of the exam too, senpai?"

"Yeah. Saying that, I couldn't go over them slowly, so I gave up."

"Is that so? Right now the third years are operating the monitor, so we underclassmen will have to wait a while before we can view it freely."

Apparently Nanase also wanted to know more about the results, but decided against it. Ishizaki was watching our conversation with curiosity. Thinking about it, Ishizaki probably hadn't had any direct interaction with Nanase.

"Oi, oi Ayanokōji. When did you get to know this cute girl?"

"A lot happened."

It was tedious to explain from scratch, so I gave him that summary.

"Oi, don't tell me you're…datin' an underclassman, are ya?"

"That's a big leap. It's just a normal senior and junior relationship."

It was unusual for me to be brought into this sort of thing. I'd thought that Ishizaki wasn't particularly interested in relationships with the opposite sex, but not so much, apparently.

"Did you want something from me?"

"No, after I saw you, senpai, I just wanted to come talk to you."

She spoke without hesitation as she looked at me with bright eyes, despite the contents of her reply being somewhat embarrassing.

"Sorry for bothering you. Excuse me!"

One minute she was running up to me, and the next, she was running away. The ship's interior was the same as the school corridors in that she shouldn't be running here, but I guess she was just about safe.

"She was a cutie. And her…you know…was pretty…you know."

I'm sorry, but I guess I'll just skip over the 'you know' part.

"You're really not dating her, right?"

"No, we're not dating."

It would be annoying to have people misunderstand and spread the story. That was why, once again, I firmly pushed Ishizaki so that he wouldn't talk.