As he approached, the students of Class D subconsciously cleared a path, their gazes complicated as they watched the classmate who was about to become their "dictator".
Curiosity, suspicion, fear, anticipation... all kinds of emotions were intertwined.
Subaru walked to the center of the crowd. There was no impassioned speech, nor was there any hypocritical appeasement.
He simply stopped, his gaze calmly sweeping over each face, and finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but it traveled clearly into everyone's ears:
"From now on, I am the Leader. All actions and point allocations will be decided by me. Anyone who objects can withdraw now."
The entire venue was silent; no one moved.
"Very good."
Subaru took the guidebook from Suzune Horikita's hands, flipped through it casually, and then looked up, walking in the direction of Sae Chabashira.
During the exam, the homeroom teachers of each class would also accompany the students. This was to convey information regarding student point expenditures and to handle information regarding the Leader's identity.
"Chabashira-sensei."
He raised his hand, his voice clear.
"Class D, Leader: Natsuki Subaru."
His declaration was brief and powerful.
Sae Chabashira looked at Subaru with some surprise.
Currently, the true content of the exam hadn't formally begun, and they still had some time to determine the Leader's identity later. generally speaking, a class would wait until they were sure no one else was around before finding the teacher to declare the Leader's identity.
But now, the other classes hadn't even left, yet Subaru had come to find her?
"Are you certain? Natsuki-kun?"
"Certain," Subaru answered expressionlessly.
He didn't care if others knew his identity. If others guessed the identity of Class D's Leader, it didn't matter. However, if they relied solely on such means to participate in the exam, that would be too boring.
What Subaru anticipated was something else entirely.
Although Sae Chabashira harbored some doubts in her heart, she still nodded. She could not deny that Subaru was a special student.
"Also, I want to use points to exchange for these things."
In a short while, Subaru returned among his classmates.
Not a single student around him dared to make a sound.
If Ryuen could be said to rule Class C with absolute martial force—then Subaru was absolute fear.
Even though Subaru previously had no intention of participating in Class D's affairs, nor did he have any thought of ruling the class, the students still held a deep-seated fear of him.
Soon, the exam staff on the other side delivered the items.
Tents, a toilet, food...
At the very beginning, Subaru spent quite a few points. However, this was not for the sake of the class. It was all for his own use.
Many students in the class were dissatisfied in their hearts, but no one dared to express it openly. After all, everyone remembered Haruki Yamauchi's previous encounter.
Subaru's gaze circled around. Apart from Rokusuke Koenji, who had already left early, everyone else in the class remained here.
"Next, follow me."
Subaru immediately stood up and moved, with the students of the class following behind.
"Where is Natsuki taking us?"
"I don't know... I just feel something is wrong."
"Why did we let him be the Leader?"
Only at this time did students in the class dare to secretly speak ill of Subaru.
Ayanokoji, however, was clear about the direction they were heading. It was a 'spot'.
While on the ship, the broadcast had asked them to observe the scenery of the island; in reality, it was to let them understand the layout of this island in advance.
Subaru, sure enough, has already memorized it.
Not only that, but the environment here was the most suitable—close to a water source and avoiding exposure to the sun.
Ayanokoji soon led the classmates to the first spot, where a machine was installed.
"This is... a spot?"
Amidst everyone's shock, Subaru walked up to the machine and placed the card he held as the Leader upon it.
[Occupation Successful]
Subaru immediately ordered the classmates to begin setting up tents, while simultaneously letting another portion go out to scout the surrounding environment.
"Natsuki-kun, may I ask if I can go along too?"
Just at this moment, Kikyo Kushida came before Subaru, asking with a smile, "I also want to help the class."
At this time, Subaru was sitting on a rock. He merely raised his head slightly, looking at her.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Sure, go ahead."
He knew that Kikyo Kushida was about to make a move.
"Thank you, Natsuki-kun!"
A brilliant smile without a chaotic haze bloomed on Kikyo Kushida's face. she bowed slightly toward Subaru, then turned and trotted to join the scouting team.
Her light figure quickly blended into the forest, chatting and laughing with several classmates, appearing completely as if she were actively contributing to the class.
Subaru just quietly watched the direction in which she disappeared, his eyes devoid of any ripples, as if he had merely granted a trivial request.
He remained seated on his clean rock, flipping open the guidebook, seemingly studying the upcoming arrangements, turning a deaf ear to the busyness and whispering around him.
Not far away, Ayanokoji silently set up a corner of the tent allocated to him, but his gaze seemed to drift inadvertently over Subaru's calm profile, then swept toward the woods where Kikyo Kushida had left.
He said nothing.
Deep in the woods, the sweet smile on Kikyo Kushida's face had long since vanished without a trace, replaced by a coldness mixed with anxiety and calculation.
"This uninhabited island is so big."
"Let's not go too far..."
"If we get lost, it'll be trouble."
The students traveling with her were chatting, while Kikyo Kushida immediately spoke up:
"But this efficiency is too low. If we go back knowing nothing... I'm afraid Natsuki-kun will be angry."
She added another sentence, "Although Yamauchi-kun was indeed in the wrong last time, Natsuki-kun just... because of personal emotions..."
With just a few words, Kikyo Kushida manipulated the topic. She not only incited the other students' dissatisfaction with Subaru but also successfully created an opportunity for herself to act alone.
She deliberately slowed her pace, pretending to be interested in a peculiar plant, and gradually broke away from the group's line of sight.
After confirming she was thoroughly far from the Class D crowd, Kikyo Kushida's steps became swift and precise. She carefully avoided areas where she might encounter students from other classes and, relying on her memory of observing the island map on the cruise ship, moved toward the direction where Class C was likely stationed.
About twenty minutes later, behind a rock near a stream, she saw that familiar figure.
Ryuen was leaning against a large rock. Daichi Ishizaki and a few core members of Class C were scattered around the perimeter, not right by his side.
Seeing Kikyo Kushida appear alone, Ryuen revealed a playful smile that suggested this was within his expectations.
"Oh? A bit faster than I thought, Kushida."
Kikyo Kushida took a deep breath. She re-hung that seemingly incomparably friendly smile on her face, but her eyes revealed a shrewdness.
"Ryuen-kun, I will provide information on Class D to help you~"
"I never would have thought that the person cooperating before the exam officially started would be you," Ryuen's smile widened.
Before the exam, Kikyo Kushida had already found him.
"It can't be helped. Because of some special reasons, I had to do this."
"Oh? What reasons?"
"Certain students in the class... his actions have made the class feel panicked."
"You're talking about Subaru?"
He took two steps closer, looking down at Kikyo Kushida.
Kikyo Kushida's pupils constricted slightly, a stiffness flashing across her face, but she quickly covered it with an expression of worry.
"Yes... the situation is out of control. Natsuki-kun he... used very forceful means to obtain leadership rights. Now Class D is almost his one-man rule. This completely disrupted... our plans. The students in the class are terrified."
"Subaru..."
Ryuen stroked his chin, recalling that boy who always drifted outside the crowd yet whose eyes made one inexplicably wary.
"He is indeed a bit interesting. He looks like he doesn't care about anything, but this time he actually jumped out on his own initiative... Does he have any moves?"
"He occupied a spot right away, then spent a large amount of points to exchange for supplies, but mainly to serve himself and those close to him. He assigns tasks arbitrarily. Although the classmates don't dare to resist openly, there are many complaints in private."
Kikyo Kushida reported quickly while observing Ryuen's reaction.
"However, he doesn't seem to truly care about the class's victory or defeat. It's more like he is... toying with something. I cannot predict his next step."
"Toying?"
Ryuen laughed. It was the smile of someone discovering a new toy.
"Sounds much more interesting than that rigid honor student Horikita. But since he has become the Leader, then he is the target. Find him, crush him, and Class D will naturally fall back into chaos. When that time comes..."
Suddenly, the smile on his face stopped.
"No need to pretend, Kushida. Although you say it's a transaction, you've spilled everything about Class D before I provided any return on my side, haven't you?"
Ryuen suddenly narrowed his eyes.
"Kushida, was it Nagumo who asked you to do this?"
"Sorry, Ryuen-kun, I don't know what you are talking about."
"Relax, because Nagumo also sought me out, asking me to cooperate."
"What?"
"He asked me to hinder Subaru, but I have other plans. I'm preparing for someone else to make the move."
"Who?"
"Airi Sakura. How much do you know about her?"
Kikyo Kushida's heart stirred, understanding Ryuen's plan. He wanted to create panic by striking the weak, thereby forcing the Leader to make a mistake or expose himself.
"She is very scared, always hiding in the crowd, but Subaru seems to have paid her no special attention so far..." Kikyo Kushida's voice lowered. "If some accident were to happen to Airi Sakura, it shouldn't be a big deal~"
"Accident? Ryuen-kun, I'm just providing information. As for what exactly to do, of course, that is decided by you~"
She neither admitted nor denied Ryuen's guess regarding Nagumo, but cleverly pushed the initiative of the topic and action back to him. This was a form of self-protection, and also a further probe into Ryuen's true plans and the depth of his relationship with Miyabi Nagumo.
Ryuen stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly grinned. That smile was full of mockery and a certain understanding.
"Cunning woman. Forget it, I'm not interested in delving into who exactly is behind this right now. As long as the goals align, temporary cooperation is fine."
He straightened up, hands in his pockets, gazing toward the direction of the Class D base deep in the forest.
"Airi Sakura... a timid, withdrawn girl with a weak presence. Subaru paying no special attention to her now shows she is either irrelevant, or... Subaru is confident enough to think no one will touch her, or that it doesn't matter if they do. Whichever it is, she is suitable to be the first victim."
He turned his head, looking at Kikyo Kushida, his eyes flickering with a cruel light.
"No need to really cause irreversible injuries. Frighten her, harass her, make her feel isolated and helpless. Let her accidentally hear some discussions about Subaru's cold-bloodedness near the Class D camp, or..."
"Or perhaps 'accidentally' discover some evidence pointing to Subaru potentially abandoning burdens. Fear is contagious, especially in this kind of isolated environment. When the weakest person starts to collapse, what will the others think of their 'dictator' Leader? Will they unite to protect their companion, or will they be suspicious of each other, worried about becoming the next one?"
Kikyo Kushida narrowed her eyes slightly.
Ryuen's methods were more insidious than she imagined; not direct violent confrontation, but disintegrating psychological defenses from the inside. This was indeed more effective, and harder to guard against.
"I will keep an eye on Sakura-san's condition, and at the appropriate time... approach and comfort her. Perhaps I can hear more."
Kikyo Kushida whispered, which was tantamount to silently agreeing to cooperate with Ryuen's psychological tactics.
"Then, what is the return you demand?"
"Just make the classmates completely lose trust in Natsuki-kun, that will be enough. Even if the class fails in the exam this time, it doesn't matter—however, I also hope Ryuen-kun can deal with Horikita a little more afterwards."
"Deal with Horikita? Hahahahaha, you really are an interesting woman too, Kushida. I promise you."
Ryuen nodded with satisfaction.
"As for the Leader identity... for Subaru to announce it publicly in such a high-profile manner, it's either foolish arrogance or a provocation with deep meaning. I will use my methods to confirm it. After you go back, keep an eye on Subaru's next orders, especially any arrangements related to protecting key figures, scouting other class Leaders, or responding to sudden accidents."
"I understand."
Kikyo Kushida nodded, re-hanging that impeccable friendly smile on her face.
"Then, in order not to arouse suspicion, I will go back first."
"Go. Remember our cooperation."
Ryuen waved his hand, looking at her meaningfully.
Kikyo Kushida turned, returning quickly and silently along the path she came. she needed to 'get lost' again and rejoin the team before the scouting group returned.
____
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