Bonus SS: The 6 freshmen

Tsubaki gazed out the window from inside the cafe. Her expression carried a trace of seriousness, yet also a touch of fleeting fragility.

At the end of her gaze, walking at a steady pace, was the second-year student Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

“Do you want to rise to Class A, Tsubaki?” a voice beside her asked.

“…Not really,” she replied softly, eyes still lingering on the figure outside. “But if that’s considered the ultimate goal of this school, then isn’t it the duty of every student to give their all toward it?”

Utomiya, seated beside her, gave a faint shrug. “We haven’t known each other long, but… you don’t seem like the type to live by duty.”

1

“Maybe, but aren’t you the same, Utomiya-kun? You don’t look like you care much about Class A or special privileges either.”

Her gaze left Ayanokoji and turned to the boy at her side. Utomiya, caught in the moment, averted his eyes to the window with an awkward look.

“Hosen and Nanase.”

“Hnn?”

Following Utomiya’s attempt to change the subject, his gaze fell on two first-years from Class 1-D, who were about to pass by Ayanokoji.

For a moment, it looked like something might happen. But in the end, all that passed between them was a polite bow from Nanase.

“Was it a coincidence, or not?” Tsubaki murmured.

“Hard to say from that alone,” Utomiya replied, though his eyes narrowed. “But Ayanokoji’s bandaged left hand… it bothers me.”

2

“He was wearing one?” She hadn’t noticed.

“Maybe something’s already happened. With Hosen’s personality, it wouldn’t surprise me if he picked a fight.”

“And Ayanokoji-senpai got injured? Hosen-kun looked unharmed though.”

“If they’ve indeed clashed, Ayanokoji probably didn’t fight back. Hurting the opponent recklessly would carry too much risk.”

“Huh? But wouldn’t that require a certain level of skill from Ayanokoji-senpai?”

“His real fighting strength is unknown,” Utomiya admitted, “but I can’t imagine him losing to Hosen. Just by observing his demeanor and presence, you can sense it.”

“You mean… Hosen-level? Are you serious? He acts like he can run wild however he likes.”

What surprised Tsubaki was not the high evaluation given to Ayanokoji, but how low Hosen was placed.

“That’s only because the ones around him are weak. …Probably.”

Realizing he said too much, Utomiya trailed off, interrupting himself.

Men, Tsubaki thought, are creatures who put up a tough front. Most of them believe they are stronger than their adversary.

Perhaps it was entirely possible that Utomiya’s remark was just bravado, or an inflated self-assessment, but he wasn’t the kind to usually posture in that way.

Tsubaki, for the first time, felt a slight interest swell up within her towards her classmate, Utomiya.

“Maybe I want to know a little more about you, Utomiya-kun.”

4

“Stop it. I don’t pry into anyone’s business, and I don’t want anyone prying into mine.”

2

Before the air between them could settle, a playful voice cut through.

“Aah~ what’s this atmosphere? Could it be… you two are dating?”

1

A shadow fell across their table. A girl with an easy smile and mischievous eyes leaned in. It was Amasawa from Class 1-A.

1

“We are not.” Utomiya denied immediately.

He cut her off without hesitation, and Tsubaki, looking rather uninterested, nodded in agreement.

“Really? You seemed pretty close, though~.” Amasawa’s teasing only grew bolder.

“You’re imagining things. Did you come here just to throw out nonsense like that? Or were you hoping to dig something out of us?”

His sharp tone only made Amasawa smile wider. “Oh, don’t be so cold. I don’t mean anything by it. Even if we’re in different classes, we’re still all first-years, aren’t we? We should get along. Right, Tsubaki-chan?”

“Sorry, but I’ll pass. I’m not exactly looking for friends.”

“Ouch, harsh~.” Amasawa replied sweetly, as if the rejection rolled right off her back.

“Then maybe I’ll save deepening our friendship for another time. See you, Tsubaki-chan, Utomiya-kun.”

With that, she blew them a little kiss before turning her back and leaving.

“Amasawa-san doesn’t know about the special exam… right?”

“She shouldn’t. Only Takahashi and Ishigami are aware. But even if she doesn’t know the details, it’s possible they asked her to probe around for information.”

“I see.”

“Still, a secret special exam to target one individual—Ayanokoji alone—that’s strange.”

“Maybe it’s something normal in this school and we just haven’t heard of it.”

“..If that’s the case, then it’s even more messed up.”

“Hello, Utomiya-kun. And you too, Tsubaki-san.”

The new voice came from a short distance away. Yagami from Class 1-B, who had also come to the cafe, stopped and approached them.

3

“Yagami,” Utomiya muttered. “Speak of the devil. We were just talking about the exam.”

“Not surprising, is it? The number of private points at stake is on a whole different level.”

“Do you mind if I join in on your conversation?”

“It was just boring small talk,” Tsubaki replied flatly.

“It didn’t seem that way. You seemed to be watching Ayanokoji-senpai and Hosen-kun.”

“Oh?” Tsubaki’s lips curled faintly. “So you’ve been watching us for quite a while, then.”

“Pure coincidence,” Yagami said smoothly.

1

“Doesn’t matter. We’re enemies all the same,” Utomiya said flatly.

“Precisely because we’re enemies, there’s meaning in talking,” Yagami replied.

1

Utomiya. Tsubaki. Hosen. Nanase. Yagami.

Five first-years whose orbits were beginning to draw together.

And though Tsubaki and Utomiya could not yet realize it, even Amasawa was entangled in the threads of this peculiar special exam.

All of them shared a single target: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

And from this quiet cafe, from this seemingly idle gathering, the story would soon stretch forward—toward the coming trial on a deserted island, where everything would begin.