"Really."
"Teacher Hoshinomiya is really like a child. I'll go call her, everyone please wait a moment."
Ichinose smiled and walked away quickly, leaving behind everyone else with helpless smiles.
Hiki-Gaya clearly noticed.
This was a kind of helpless and affectionate smile, like one toward someone who just won't improve, the kind only seen on elders.
This relationship isn't quite right.
Even if compulsory education only goes up to junior high.
Is this relationship reversed? It seems like they are the ones taking care of Teacher Hoshinomiya.
Soon.
Ichinose returned with Chie Hoshinomiya.
"Sorry, sorry~"
Chie Hoshinomiya put her hands together and blinked her pretty eyes; Class B helplessly chose to forgive her, as they had no way to deal with this teacher.
"Everyone."
Ichinose looked up at the sky and smiled: "Let's find a shady spot first before discussing what comes next, what do you think?"
With the scorching sun overhead.
This was indeed not a good place for talking. The group followed Ichinose into the woods.
When leaving.
Hiki-Gaya glanced back toward Class D; those people were still under the sun, chirping and arguing non-stop.
Sae Chabashira, who looked down on her own class, and Chie Hoshinomiya, who was on good terms with a teacher from another class.
This won't do.
There is too little information.
But regardless.
Teacher Hoshinomiya shouldn't go as far as betraying the class, right?
Otherwise, they might as well just admit defeat!
A loner trusts no one and maintains a skeptical attitude at all times.
Even the teacher was a subject of his suspicion.
Soon.
Class B found a relatively wide clearing.
Ichinose and the others gathered in a circle again. Hiki-Gaya sat on a rock three steps away from the group to rest.
"Teacher."
Ichinose held the manual and said: "Can you tell us about the 'Ownership' and 'Leader Card' in the manual?"
"That~ that, let me see."
Hoshinomiya leaned in like a child, holding Ichinose's wrist to look at the manual:
"Oh, this. I remember there are many spots on the island. If you occupy one, you get exclusive usage rights. Each occupation also earns you one special point. You just need to swipe the leader's keycard."
"But," Ichinose tilted her head, "Teacher, in that case, wouldn't we be able to farm points infinitely?"
Kanzaki and the others also cast questioning looks.
"Let me see."
Teacher Hoshinomiya's finger moved across the manual. After a while, she said in confusion: "How come it's not written here? Let me think. Oh, right, the ownership seems to only last for eight hours; it will automatically expire when time is up, so be careful!"
Seems?
Is this person really a teacher? Teacher, I suggest you go back to school for retraining.
Hiki-Gaya stared boredly at the ground; the bushes around them had marks of being crushed. Clearly, this was not a truly deserted island.
He also remembered the rules he had just read:
Occupying a spot requires a special keycard.
Every occupation grants one point, and the occupied spot can be used freely.
Using a spot occupied by another class without permission will result in a 50-point penalty.
The only person who can use the keycard is the one who becomes the leader.
The leader cannot be changed without a valid reason.
On the final seventh day.
An exam will be held to guess the leaders of other classes.
For each correct guess, 50 points can be plundered from the opposing class.
Conversely,
a wrong guess results in a 50-point deduction, and the extra points earned from occupying spots during the exam will also be cleared.
"Then Teacher Hoshinomiya."
Ichinose continued to question: "Where is the daily roll call conducted?"
"Don't worry, Teacher will follow you properly."
Chie Hoshinomiya thumped her chest proudly. Don't go running off again like you just did...
Hiki-Gaya really had his doubts about this person with a prior record.
"I see."
Ichinose nodded and turned to the class: "Let's start by deciding on the leader. Does anyone want to be the leader?"
"Surely it should be Honami-chan, right?"
"Yeah, I agree too."
A group of people below instantly chimed in.
"That won't work, right?"
Kanzaki shook his head. "Although Ichinose's abilities are flawless, she is far too conspicuous. It would be very easy for other classes to guess her."
"Exactly."
Ichinose also nodded apologetically. "So I also hope someone else can serve as the leader. Does anyone want to be the leader?"
Hiki-Gaya turned his head to the side.
Who would want to take on such a troublesome role?
There are no benefits, and if you're guessed correctly, you might be disliked by the class. Most crucially, you have to go to a spot every eight hours to renew the ownership.
The most logical schedule would likely be
8:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 12:00 midnight.
Are they even going to let people sleep?
It's simply all drawbacks and no benefits.
Only an idiot would do it.
"Then I'll do it."
The normie Shibata volunteered himself.
"No." Watanabe frowned and shook his head. "Shibata and Kanzaki, like Ichinose, are a bit too conspicuous. If there's really no other way, should I do it?"
Well.
There are quite a few idiots in this class; several more people volunteered.
Hiki-Gaya accidentally made eye contact with Yuki Himeno, who had stepped back; she instantly glared at him.
It seems there are only two normal people in this class...
"Wait, everyone wait."
Ichinose also helplessly stopped everyone's foolish behavior. Her gaze traveled back and forth over them before finally landing on him.
Don't pick me, don't pick me, don't pick me.
Hiki-Gaya averted his gaze, feeling like a primary school student afraid of being called on by the teacher.
He didn't know if his prayer had an effect, or if the goddess of luck was on his side today.
"How about Chihiro, you serve as the leader?"
Ichinose turned to the other side, her gaze gentle.
"Eh?"
The girl named Chihiro—also known as Shiro—turned pale with shock, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "But... I... I..."
"It's okay."
Ichinose stepped forward and patted her shoulder, her tone gentle: "Although Chihiro-chan usually doesn't interact much with people, I know you've always been a sharp person. It will definitely be fine. And we'll all be right there to help, do you want to give it a try?"
"This..."
After hesitating for a long while, Shiro nodded with determination: "I can try..."
It had to be said.
Hiki-Gaya also felt this was a correct decision.
After all.
Aside from being friends with Ichinose, Shiro was just as inconspicuous as he was in the class.
Probably no one would guess that someone like her was the leader, right?
"To hide the leader, we probably need some people to act as cover when occupying spots."
Ichinose scanned her surroundings and proposed: "How about this: Kanzaki, Hiki-Gaya, and I will act as cover. What does everyone think?"
"No problem."
Kanzaki nodded seriously.
"Eh, wait."
Hiki-Gaya quickly stood up and said in a panic: "Why me?"
He was a man who could say no.
Otherwise.
If it stayed like this,
wouldn't he still be unable to get a peaceful night's sleep?
Having to crawl out of bed at midnight every night was simply too terrifying.
"Because,"
Ichinose explained with a smile, "I feel that the people chosen for cover must possess different types of qualities, as well as keen observation skills, to better protect the leader."
"Though it's a bit embarrassing to say, I'm fairly popular in school. Kanzaki is of the conventional type, but his strength is very outstanding."
"And Hiki-Gaya is of the inconspicuous type, with observation skills that are also outstanding—one could even say the best in Class B."
"This was already proven at the start of school. Is there any problem with my judgment?"
"That makes sense..."
Yes, instantly refuted.
As expected of Ichinose.
Truly an exceptionally excellent existence, thinking things through thoroughly.
Unfortunately.
It seemed the goddess of luck was not on his side today.