Chapter 22 - Plots

---Notice—

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"The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness." ~Joseph Conrad

Just yesterday, Class D's designated spy made a safe arrival to our camp. For the most part, he exhibited good manners. The morning roll call had just concluded, yet Kaneda was already making his rounds in the camp, offering his assistance to others. He seemed to particularly get along well with Ayanokoji and Kikyo, which was to be anticipated. After all, they were the ones who discovered him, and Kikyo herself is known for her outgoing nature.

Koenji, on the other hand, continued his usual behavior. While he hasn't been directly aiding the class, he has contributed in his own way. Every day, Koenji amassed a staggering amount of food for himself. Members of Class D took note of this and observed where and how he went about gathering this food. As a result, the efficiency of food collection had dramatically improved from the first day, when many in the class had gone to bed hungry.

While Koenji didn't often share his food with the class, the womanizer did occasionally share with some of the girls of Class D if they were hungry. So, in a way, Koenji proved to be more useful than most of the class.

"Have you eaten breakfast yet?" Hirata inquires, approaching me.

"I consumed a few strawberries upon awakening," I reply.

"A few!? You practically ate them all, leaving none for those who gathered them!" Karuizawa, trailing a few steps behind Hirata, chastises me.

"Is that so? I must have been starved from the rigors of island life." A few of the boys and girls glance my way upon hearing my words.

"I haven't seen you contribute anything of value since the start of this exam. If you're not going to assist the class, you should at least take care of yourself like Koenji," Karuizawa continues, awaiting my response.

As I remain silent, Hirata decides to speak up, "That's not entirely accurate. Eru has provided me with his insights on several camp issues."

Shinohara then decides to voice her opinion, "I hate to admit it, Hirata, but I agree with Karuizawa. Anyone could approach you and offer their perspective on issues. Did Eru really say anything to you that no one else had said or thought?"

"If you believe I'm not pulling my weight, don't worry; things won't remain this way for long. If I'm wrong, you can accuse me of being useless at a later time," I respond.

"Regardless, none of us should really be speaking, right? In the first month of school, Eru explained the school system to us, and as a class, we still failed to acquire any class points. So we can't blame him for any failures since these are issues we've been tackling as a class together, and we've also failed him before," Hirata explains to the spectators of the class.

"I suppose you're right… Whatever. This whole situation is new to all of us, so I think you can understand my outburst," Karuizawa admits.

"I, too, apologize. While I stand by what I said, I think Hirata has a point. I might've been overly harsh without a right to be." Shinohara also concedes, "But really, you could do something to help out.

"It's fine. I prefer honesty in people's sentiments, whether they are negative or positive. I'm not fond of deception," I say, noticing a shift in Kikyo as she focuses more on my words. "And regardless, I will keep my word. Feel free to criticize me all you want by the end of this test if I prove to be of no value. The only reason I haven't been helping around camp is because this isn't the field where I am needed." I conclude, and most of the class nods their heads, even if I'm sure most didn't comprehend my words.

"Alright, everyone, let's begin preparations for lunch," Kikyo announced, effortlessly drawing the attention of the students. The leadership duo of Hirata and Kikyo was an effective one. With just a few words, they could command the attention of the class. While Hirata was adept at pacifying and communicating with the girls, Kikyo had a better connection with the boys for reasons that were self-evident. Even though she was more popular with the girls than Hirata was with the boys, people tended to see her more as a deputy leader. However, one could argue that she may even have an edge over him in that respect.

As everyone was getting ready for lunch, a few faces appeared by the river next to our camp. They were members of Class B. It seemed that Kanzaki was among them. Could he be plotting something? No, Ichinose wouldn't tolerate any underhanded tactics, and Kanzaki himself, while I'm sure he's a strategist, still seems too kind to resort to the dirty tactics common to most of Class B.

Upon seeing them, I scanned the area for Kaneda, but it appeared he had concealed himself or was occupied with something. That was good. I didn't want Class B to spot him.

"Greetings, Kanzaki," I say, approaching him from our camp. Some of our classmates take note of him and the other Class B students trailing behind him.

"Eru? It's good to see you. I'm pleased to see that Class D has secured a decent location," Kanzaki responds in a friendly tone. Soon, Kikyo also joins the conversation.

"Ah, Kanzaki, it's unexpected to see you here. I didn't anticipate crossing paths until after the exam. It's a pleasant surprise," she tells him.

"Yes, well, Class B wanted to get a lay of the land. We were also curious about your situation here, but I'm glad to see you're all faring well."

"Kanzaki, if you don't mind, I'm also curious about the location of Class B's base camp. I wanted to visit you guys and Ichinose. I have something to discuss with her."

"Ah, perhaps that's why she's been mentioning you then. She has seemed worried about you for some reason. Anyways, if you head towards the beach where we arrived on the island from here, you should see a few peculiar trees with curved stems. If you venture into the forest southwest of there, you should find a river. Follow it upstream, and you'll locate our base. Ichinose mentioned that if you guys need anything, you shouldn't hesitate to ask," Kanzaki responds.

"I see. Thank you for the information. You can expect a visit from me," I reply, and Kanzaki nods his head.

In a lower voice, he then continues, "On a different note, have you encountered any members of Class C?"

Before Kikyo could react, I quickly replied, "No, I can't say I have. I've been searching for their base without much luck, although I haven't strayed very far from here."

"I see," Kanzaki says, seemingly relieved. I suppose the idea that a Class C member was only sent to Class B made him more confident that it wasn't a spying attempt by Ryuen. "Well, anyway, we should get going. We only came to survey the area, but it was nice talking to you," Kanzaki says, waving.

After a moment, Kikyo turns to me and asks, "Why did you lie about Kaneda?"

"Kaneda is undoubtedly a spy," I respond. "If Class B is inquiring if we've encountered a member of Class C and sighs in relief after hearing a negative response, it's likely that Class B itself has a refuge from Class C. Why would I inform Class B that we also have one and aid them in achieving a higher score? It's more advantageous if they lower their guard, something they probably wouldn't have been as inclined to do if I had told the truth."

"I see, so if Kaneda is really a spy, are you dealing with him?" Kikyo probes.

"No," I reply, and she gives me a doubtful look. "I've delegated that task to Horikita. After all, she's the leader."

"Alright then, I should return to the class," Kikyo then says.

"Wait, you're coming with me," I tell Kikyo, and she looks at me, puzzled, as I make my way towards Hirata. "Hirata, I plan on going for a walk with Kikyo and Horikita. I have something to discuss with them."

"A walk?" Hirata inquires, but I don't elaborate. "Okay, well then, be safe," he says, looking slightly confused.

Having informed Hirata, I approach Horikita, who is currently basking in the warmth of a nearby fire. "Accompany me," I instruct her.

"Why?" she inquires, her tone as stoic as ever.

"I'd rather not discuss it here, but it's not as if you're particularly occupied at the moment, correct?" I question her.

"I suppose not," Horikita concedes, rising to her feet. Soon, we depart the camp, heading in a northwesterly direction.

"So, Eru Chan, where are you leading us?" Kikyo questions once we've put some distance between ourselves and the camp, her voice laced with curiosity.

"We're going to pay a visit to Class C," I reveal.

"You know their location?" Horikita interjects, her tone betraying a hint of surprise.

"Yeah, I thought you told Kanzaki that you didn't know where their base was?" Kikyo adds, her voice echoing Horikita's surprise.

"Well, that was a half-truth," I admit. "I haven't bothered to attempt to locate Class C's base, but if I truly desired to find Ryuen, I could have done so at any given moment. Given his reckless expenditure of points, he's likely on one of the island's beaches where he could get the most enjoyment from the use of his points. Likely on the farther side of the island, considering we haven't noticed any Class C members other than Kaneda, and it seemed that Class B hadn't either," I explain to both girls.

"I see. Your explanation does make sense, though I can't help but feel inadequate for not figuring it out myself," Kikyo admits, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Don't compare yourself to him. It's pointless," Horikita interjects, her words catching Kikyo off guard.

"You're the last person I expected to hear that from, Horikita. You always take pride in your abilities," Kikyo retorts. Still, Horikita remains silent as we continue our walk toward the location of Class C. "What do you think of Kaneda, Horikita?"

"Well, he's a spy. Eru all but confirmed it to me," Horikita reveals, causing Kikyo to glance at me.

"I told you, I've been collaborating with her. As she's the leader, it only makes sense," I respond, maintaining my calm demeanor.

"I see. So rejecting Kaneda was also an act?"

"Yes, it was. I already knew we would be receiving a guest, but openly accepting them would have been suspicious," Horikita responds.

"I see… Why didn't you tell me, Eru?" Kikyo asks, her voice laced with disappointment. I suppose I was working with someone she wants gone.

"As the leader of the class, I needed you to act as naturally as possible for Kaneda's arrival. A lot of the class looks up to you. Any slight difference in you could have resulted in a different reaction from the class. Essentially, I didn't tell you because you'd play your role perfectly without my interference. The same couldn't be said about Horikita." Kikyo nods, seemingly satisfied with my response.

"So, what are you planning? Why let Kaneda stay in Class D?" Kikyo inquires.

"You'll understand once everything is over," I responded to Kikyo. It was better I didn't talk about our endgame since Ayanokoji had a big part to play in it, and he preferred to stay hidden. He made that especially clear to me in regards to Kikyo.

"Smells like barbecue," Horikita noted.

"We must be close," I replied. As we pushed through some bushes and neared the shore, we saw what Class D students would call a paradise. Showers, toilets, jet skis, beach chairs, a full volleyball setup, snacks, drinks, fridges, and of course, meats being barbecued.

"I knew about Class D's plans, but this is beyond what I imagined. Is Ryuen so sure of himself that he doesn't plan to save a single point?" Horikita asked. Kikyo just looked around, likely surprised by the sight. As a class leader, she had a lot of responsibilities. Seeing Class C enjoying the exam like this must have been a shock.

"Remember, act like you don't know," I told both Horikita and Kikyo.

As we walked on the beach, a Class C student rushed towards us from under an umbrella. "Ryuen-san is calling for you guys…" he said, sounding defeated.

"Who does Ryuen think he is, a king?" Horikita remarked, sounding annoyed.

"Then lead us to him," I told the Class C student. Then, turning to Horikita, I added, "In Class C, Ryuen is like a king. Who else can control a group like he does?"

Ryuen reminded me of myself in some ways, but we were very different in others. Still, I think he was right. If I had been in Class C and interested enough to stay, I might have gotten along with him.

"This is amazing," Kikyo said, looking around.

And soon, we were approaching the man in charge of this vacation spot.

"Oh? So it was you two lurking around," Ryuen glances in our direction, peering at us over his sunglasses, "So, what do you want from me?" he inquires.

"Actually, I was under the impression that you wanted something from us, considering you summoned us here," I retort.

"Well, I wouldn't mind inviting these two ladies to a tent out back," Ryuen responds with a wide smirk. Horikita grimaces at his words, and Kikyo recoils, instinctively shielding herself with her arms.

"You're as crude as you are senseless," Horikita retorts, scanning Class C's surroundings, "You've squandered every single point Class C had, haven't you?"

"I intend to enjoy my summer break while the rest of the classes are out there slaving away," Ryuen counters.

"At this rate, Class D will easily overtake Class C," Horikita continues.

"Why should you care? Isn't that beneficial for you?" Ryuen retorts before calling out to Ishizaki, "Get me a cold water, this one's already warm," he commands, discarding the warm bottle onto the ground.

"Do you happen to have any ice cream or cake here? If so, would you mind if I partake in Class C's luxuries?" I ask Ryuen.

"Ishizaki, bring me a pint of ice cream too," Ryuen bellows across the beach.

Kikyo appears somewhat taken aback by this, and Horikita seems mildly surprised as well.

"You know, Eru, you've let me down a bit this exam. I've had my minions in Class D scout out the other classes. Everyone seems to have adopted a passive approach to this exam, even you and your puppet," he says, glancing at Kikyo, "It's surprising. I expected you to be more aggressive, especially after what Sakagami said about you and your previous performances."

Kikyo looks slightly taken aback. "How did you know?"

Ryuen bursts into laughter. "Don't make me laugh. Everyone here knows you're not capable of scheming at that level. Plus, Eru didn't exactly hide the fact that he was closely associated with you in Class C. He advertised you, said my plan would fail, and then look who brings my plan down? But I am curious to know what percentage of your actions Eru is behind. It's not a bad plan from his side. It makes it hard to estimate the true ability of the class and keeps him in power since there's still Hirata in Class D, someone who has more sway than Eru himself. But with you, that begins to matter less." As Ryuen finishes, Horikita turns slightly to look at me, but Kikyo's eyes remain on Ryuen. It makes sense since I've explained this to her to some extent.

"Here's your water and ice cream, Ryuen-san!" Ishizaki announces loudly, and Ryuen looks at both items on the table.

"Are you an idiot? How is one supposed to eat ice cream without a spoon?" he snaps.

"Ahhh! I'm sorry! I'll get it right away!" Ishizaki exclaims and quickly leaves.

"Eru, I have a question for you. Would you be interested in joining Class C?" Ryuen asks.

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