"Actually..."
Kaneda clenched his fists, his face filled with anger. "That bastard Ryuuen didn't even bother taking the exam seriously. He just blew all the special points for fun."
The frustration in his voice was evident.
"It was such a waste of precious class points. I couldn't stand it, so I fought with him… and got kicked out."
As he spoke, tears welled up in the bespectacled boy's eyes, his expression one of deep grievance.
"Wait, seriously?"
A girl gasped in surprise. "Then what about your class's exam?"
"He didn't care at all."
Kaneda wiped the corners of his eyes, still choking back his emotions. "After wasting all the points, they just gave up on the exam and went back to the cruise ship to enjoy themselves. It's such bad luck being assigned to that class. My grades are obviously excellent… Damn it, this is so unfair!"
His voice carried clear resentment.
Hikigaya listened, unimpressed. Giving up on the exam? It wasn't necessarily a bad strategy. But judging someone's intentions wasn't easy, especially since he didn't know much about Ryuuen. If they genuinely just wanted to relax, that was their choice.
But something about Kaneda didn't sit right.
His crying felt… excessive.
Hikigaya had met all sorts of people, and Kaneda struck him as someone highly utilitarian. From the way he spoke, it was obvious he felt he didn't belong in Class C—that he deserved better. That kind of entitlement wasn't unusual, but the way he kept complaining made him seem calculated.
Even so, it wasn't his problem.
"Ichinose, what do you think?" Kanzaki asked, his voice calm as ever.
Ichinose hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Alright. Kaneda, you can stay here until the exam ends, but try not to get too close to the wooden cabin, okay?"
"Thank you," Kaneda said, removing his glasses to wipe his tears. "I understand. Don't worry, I'll help you guys with anything. I won't take advantage of you."
...No.
Even Hikigaya felt a little uncomfortable. A grown man crying like this? It was… something.
He almost laughed.
It was just too deliberate.
His gut feeling told him Kaneda wasn't someone he'd get along with.
Still, there was no point dwelling on it.
"Alright, let's eat. Huko, can you serve Kaneda a portion too?" Ichinose asked.
"Got it," Huko replied, heading toward the food.
They gathered at the edge of the cliff to eat. Hikigaya took his portion and sat a little further away, away from the crowd. Kaneda sat next to him, still sniffling as he ate.
As Hikigaya focused on his meal, he suddenly sensed someone sneaking up behind him.
"Hikigaya."
A familiar voice.
He turned his head slightly and frowned. "Huh? What are you doing creeping up behind me? I almost mistook you for a ghost."
Juke glared at him, clearly irritated. "You're so annoying. Are you itchy or something?"
"Sorry, sorry. What's up?"
Hikigaya sipped his fish soup. He had to admit, the girls in Class B could cook.
Juke glanced around and lowered her voice. "Do you think Kaneda is a spy?"
"I don't know," Hikigaya admitted after a brief pause.
Something about Kaneda's behavior was unsettling. The way he cried…
It just felt off.
"Hmm," Juke sighed, dissatisfied. "I think he's a spy. Why is Ichinose even taking him in?"
"Huh?" Hikigaya raised an eyebrow. "Are you about to start badmouthing Ichinose? Because if you are, I'm in."
"You wanna die?"
Juke jabbed his arm with her chopsticks, then quickly changed the subject. "Seriously, though, if you were in Ichinose's position, what would you do?"
"Me?"
Hikigaya thought for a moment.
If he were in charge, what would he do with a suspicious character like Kaneda?
"First..." He glanced toward Ichinose, then lowered his voice. "I'd make sure something 'accidentally' breaks and frame Kaneda for it. Then I'd use that as leverage to threaten Ryuuen, force him to hand over his points, and finally report him to the school to get Class C disqualified."
"...What?"
Juke blinked, stunned. "Ryuuen would definitely kill you."
"Is he that scary?"
Juke sighed in exasperation. "Of course he is. Anyway, that's too risky."
"Fine. Then maybe I'd just threaten Kaneda directly, make him hand over his personal points. If he refuses, I'd remind him that if Class C fails, Ryuuen won't let him off easy. And then, of course, I'd still report it to get Class C disqualified."
Juke stared at him in disbelief. "Wow… you're actually worse than Ryuuen."
"Of course," Hikigaya smirked. "When it comes to dirty tricks, I fear no one."
"That's… not something to be proud of," Juke muttered, shaking her head.
"Why not?"
Juke sighed again. "Whatever. Just think of a way to handle this. I want to move up to Class A. If Class C figures out our leader, we'll be in trouble."
"You think too highly of me," Hikigaya replied dryly. "What do you expect me to do?"
"I thought you were supposed to be smart," she said, frowning.
"That's on you," Hikigaya shrugged.
After exchanging a few more words, Juke left, blending back into the group.
Hikigaya exhaled, stretching his arms.
It wasn't like he had the power to influence this exam. He was just another average student in Class B—below average, even, in terms of academics and sports.
The leader was Ichinose.
No one would listen to him.
Not that he minded.
Later that night, after washing up, Hikigaya returned to the boys' tent. Unlike the girls, who seemed to have some complicated system for sleeping arrangements, the boys just threw their stuff in and found a place to sleep.
He glanced around, noting that Kaneda was in a different tent.
Their tent could hold eight people, but with ten squeezing in, it was a little tight. Not unbearable, though.
Ichinose had even bought earplugs for everyone, so at least they wouldn't have to deal with snoring.
Feeling the day's exhaustion settle in, Hikigaya quickly fell asleep.
Early morning.
Around six o'clock.
Hikigaya stirred awake. His instincts sharpened as he sensed movement inside the tent.
Someone had entered.
They were searching for something.
Then, a hand reached out and pushed his shoulder.
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