Cruise Ship Special Exam: Third Part

(Third Person's POV)

Ayanokoji, having effectively subdued Kushida, watched her scurry back to her dorm room, a defeated shadow of her usual bubbly self.

The switchboard room was once again silent, the aftermath of their tense exchange hanging heavy in the air.

Kushida, true to her word, soon left for her meeting with Ryuuen.

An hour later, her call arrived. Ayanokoji listened patiently as she recounted the details of their deal.

The information was surprising.

Ryuen, having learned the identity of the Dragon Group's VIP (Kushida herself), hadn't taken the opportunity to exploit it.

There was no plan to betray Class D, no attempt to send a message to the school and shift class points in his favor.

Instead, according to Kushida, Ryuuen proposed a strategy for the Dragon Group to focus on Possibility One: an outcome that wouldn't alter class points but would shower participants with private points.

A frown creased Ayanokoji's brow as he ended the call. Ryuen's plan felt unorthodox. Why forgo the chance to secure a significant class point advantage?

Private points, while lucrative, paled in comparison to the benefits of climbing the class rankings. This unexpected development left a sour taste in Ayanokoji's mouth.

He suspected there was more to Ryuuen's scheme than met the eye.

Perhaps the cunning leader of Class C was playing a long game, aiming to uncover the underlying mechanics of the exam itself.

Ayanokoji leaned back in his chair, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities.

Ryuen's strategy had thrown a wrench into his own plans, forcing him to re-evaluate the situation.

(Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's POV)

The Rabbit Group's meetings continued their pattern of unproductivity. Both the third and fourth sessions yielded nothing new in terms of identifying the VIPs. As the clock struck nine on the second day of the cruise, I found myself, along with Yukimura, trailing behind Manabe and her two companions from Class C.

A loud slam echoed from the emergency stairwell entrance. With practiced stealth, I nudged the door open a crack, revealing a scene brewing with hostility. Karuizawa stood amidst the three Class C girls, her usual facade faltering under their aggressive questioning about a classmate named Rika.

Karuizawa feigned ignorance, her voice strained but resolute. They attempted to reach Rika by phone, their faces contorted with a mixture of anger and worry. However, their pleas for an apology, any acknowledgment of wrongdoing, fell on deaf ears. Karuizawa held firm, refusing to back down.

The situation escalated quickly. The girls resorted to physical intimidation, shoving Karuizawa against the wall. Yukimura, his concern evident, reached for the door, but my hand shot out, stopping him.

Karuizawa's face paled, her breathing turning shallow. The ringleader, Manabe, tightened her grip on a fistful of Karuizawa's hair, yanking her head back with a snarl.

Fear flickered in Karuizawa's eyes, her bravado crumbling under the physical assault.

Yukimura, unable to bear witness to the scene any longer, lunged for the door. I followed suit, my voice a calm counterpoint to the brewing chaos.

"There you are," I said, projecting a hint of surprise. "A teacher just passed by, looking for some students. Perhaps this isn't the best place to… chat."

The threat of a faculty member's intervention proved enough. Manabe and her companions exchanged a tense glance before releasing Karuizawa. Their parting words were laced with a final, chilling threat before they scurried away.

Yukimura rushed to Karuizawa's side, concern etched on his face. She swatted his hand away with surprising force, her eyes blazing with a fury that transcended the fear I had witnessed moments ago. Without a word, she stormed off, slamming the door behind her with a resounding bang.

Yukimura, left dumbfounded, took his leave, his exhaustion evident. As I remained standing there, the encounter left me with a nagging suspicion. Karuizawa's terror wasn't simply a product of the girls' threats. There was something more, something deeper lurking beneath the surface.

Time to gather more intel. With a mental shrug, I fired off a message to Sakura, requesting a late-night rendezvous.

Nearly 9:30 PM. An unconventional hour for a meeting, especially with someone like Sakura, whose beauty had graced the idol stage before her arrival at Advanced Nurturing High School. Unsurprisingly, the message was read almost instantly, followed by a swift reply.

"Where?" her response simply stated.

"Lowest level," I replied, keeping it brief.

The deserted lower deck provided the perfect setting for our clandestine conversation. Sakura arrived after a few minutes, her usual serene demeanor replaced by a hint of curiosity. We settled onto the dusty floor, the silence momentarily awkward.

The conversation was straightforward. "Any luck with identifying the VIP in your group?" I inquired, my voice neutral.

"Nothing yet," she replied, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Same on my end," I confirmed.

A brief silence followed, then she spoke again. "But I followed through on your request," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. "Shared contact information with everyone in my group, just like you asked."

"Good," I acknowledged with a subtle nod.

"And…" she hesitated, "I also requested Kushida-san's assistance in distributing my contact information to Class D."

This was unexpected, but welcome. Another subtle nod conveyed my approval. The web was being spun, slowly but surely.

"Now," I said, transitioning to the next phase, "tomorrow, spend time with the girls from Class B. Yume Kobashi and Yui Ninomiya, specifically."

She blinked, a flicker of shyness crossing her features. "Why?"

"They claim to be fans from your idol days," I explained, my voice flat. "Use that as an entry point. Get to know them, make them comfortable."

A pause, then, "And while you're building rapport with Kobashi, subtly inquire about the internal dynamics of Class B. Specifically, their leader, Ichinose."

A spark of curiosity ignited in her eyes. "Ichinose-san?" she echoed, a hint of apprehension coloring her voice.

"Yes," I confirmed. "Information is power, Sakura. Gather what you can."

She nodded slowly, the weight of the task settling upon her shoulders.

Silence descended upon us once more, a comfortable quiet that allowed each of us to process the information exchanged. After a moment, she rose to her feet, brushing the dust off her skirt.

"Until tomorrow, then," she said, offering a small, polite smile.

"Indeed," I replied with a barely perceptible nod. As she turned to leave, I couldn't help but notice a newfound confidence in her step.

~~

(Third Person's POV)

The dead of night, 2:00 AM to be precise, found Ayanokoji with a furrowed brow. A rustle from his neighbor's bed caught his attention – Hirata was awake and heading out. Curiosity piqued, Ayanokoji followed, their paths converging in the deserted hallway.

The impromptu meeting led them to Karuizawa's room. The following conversation proved to be a goldmine of information. The carefully constructed facade of Karuizawa's perfect life crumbled, revealing a past riddled with bullying. Hirata, with his unwavering desire to save everyone, had been drawn to her vulnerability, leading to their fake relationship. But tonight, their charade ended, leaving Karuizawa to retreat into the night, a storm brewing behind her tear-filled eyes.

Hirata, left raw and exposed, confided in Ayanokoji. He poured out his own story, one marked by past regrets that fueled his present need to protect everyone. It was a revelation that shed light on Hirata's unwavering kindness.

Hirata, with a voice heavy with emotion, revealed the truth – Karuizawa was the hidden VIP of Class D. Ayanokoji, having meticulously gathered the scattered pieces, finally saw the complete picture. He now possessed the knowledge to navigate the intricacies of the exam within his Rabbit Group.

Soon, Ayanokoji and Hirata parted ways.

~~

Day three of the cruise arrived, a welcome respite from the exam's tension. Free from group meetings, students were allowed to unwind and enjoy the ship's amenities.

Ayanokoji found himself surrounded by his usual companions: Ike, Sudou, and Yamauchi. Predictably, the conversation revolved around girls. Ike regaled them with tales of his continued pursuit of Kushida, punctuated by jealous glares at any attractive male who dared to linger near her.

Yamauchi, meanwhile, sported a self-satisfied grin as he bragged about snagging Sakura's contact information directly from her. He even spun a wild narrative where Sakura's willingness to share her number signified a romantic interest in him.

Sudou and Ike burst his bubble with a shared chuckle. They revealed they too had received Sakura's contact information, courtesy of Kushida, who informed them it was a general distribution to Class D. Yamauchi, impervious to reality, dismissed their words, clinging to his delusion.

Sudou, however, couldn't seem to get Horikita off his mind. He peppered Ayanokoji with questions about her preferences – food, hobbies, anything that might give him an edge. Unfortunately, Ayanokoji, despite being her only friend, struggled to provide helpful insights. After all, Horikita kept most things close to the vest.

As the afternoon ticked by, an announcement buzzed through everyone's phones – the special exam had concluded for the "Cow Group." The name jolted Ayanokoji; Sakura was in that group. He opted to wait before contacting her, allowing her some time to process the exam's end.

The remainder of the day unfolded in a blur of leisure activities. Some students opted for sunbathing on the deck, soaking up the rays and the gossip. Others flocked to the various entertainment facilities – the pool, the arcade, the buffet.

As the sun began its descent, casting an orange glow across the endless horizon, Ayanokoji finally felt the need to act. He excused himself from the boisterous trio and made his way to a secluded corner of the deck.

With a practiced ease, he pulled out his phone and dialed Sakura's number. The ring echoed in the growing silence, raising the tension with each unanswered beat.

Finally, just as Ayanokoji began to consider alternative methods of contact, a voice, timid yet familiar, filled his ear. "Hello?"

Ayanokoji cut to the chase. "Where are you?" he asked, his voice devoid of curiosity.

Sakura hesitated for a beat before responding, "Just back in my room."

"Come to the second floor, near room 201," Ayanokoji instructed. There was no room for negotiation in his tone.

Sakura simply replied, "Okay," before hanging up.

Minutes later, Ayanokoji spotted Sakura approaching their designated meeting spot. He stood with an air of casual indifference, waiting for her arrival.