Classroom of the Elite: Legacy

V.3-Ch.4.2

Furukawa

The Uninhabited Island; Class D's Base Camp

After the nighttime roll call was taken, and the groups returned from gathering resources and food, everyone went into their tents to sleep for the night. Like last time, I stayed outside and sat beneath a tree in the dark. I kept watch of our base camp and patiently waited for the spy to come.

Earlier, with Horikita's permission, I bought a few items I needed to make my trap. Around sunset, I started setting it up in the area where I saw the spy that night. I made sure it covered a wide range in case the spy was moving around, and I covered it with leaves so it would be hidden. When the spy was close to our camp, they didn't use any source of light as it would give away their position. With the darkness of the night and camouflage from the leaves, they'll hardly see it.

It was quiet. I could feel the cold breeze going through the air and the smell of smoke from the bonfire that was put out not too long ago. Beside me, I had a flashlight and a half-bottle of water. There was nothing else aside from that.

A few minutes passed, turning into an hour and another. As I was waiting patiently and silently, that's when I heard a noise.

*rustle*

*THUMP*

It came from the direction where I set up my trap. I grabbed my flashlight and turned it on, then I stood up and walked towards where I heard the noise.

*rustle*

*rustle*

As I walked closer and closer, the noise started to get louder. Whatever was caught in my trap sounded like it was struggling to free itself. Arriving at the spot, I looked around with my flashlight only to find nothing, but as I went deeper into the woods, there I saw a student lying down on the ground with her legs tied up.

"Tch..."

She had long golden hair and aquamarine-eyes, and she wore a red tracksuit like every other student. She seemed frustrated and was moving her legs back and forth, trying to free herself.

"You seem to be in trouble."

"Y-You..." The girl looked at me, closing her eyes to shield her from the light from my flashlight. "Was this you?" Instead of replying, I stared at her in the eyes.

Using durable fishing line, I tied it around the nearby trees and connected them, creating almost a web. With the survival knife I bought, I cut the fishing line once I was finished and set it all up to where if someone or something moved the fishing line, it would all come together and tangle the person's legs. I never did this before, but it worked on my first try.

"Are you just going to stand there and look at me, or are you going to free me?" she said.

I crouched down. "I will, but first, you're going to answer a few of my questions. You're from Class C, aren't you?"

"...!" She was surprised at what I said and stared at me with caution. "...I am. How did you know?"

"Not too long ago, Horikita and I came to visit your class. Even though it was brief, I remembered every one of your faces."

"Just from that visit...? You're kidding..."

"On to my second question: Who are you?"

"..." Hearing her silence, I pulled out my survival knife from my pocket. Her eyes turned towards the blade I held in my hands and her breathing quickened. "T-Tabiuchi. My name is Tabiuchi Hana."

"Third question: Why are you here at night watching Class D?"

"What are you talking about? I wasn't watching you or your class," she said. "I was just walking around the island when I came here and stepped in your stupid trap."

"I don't believe you," I said. "Of all times to take a stroll, why do it at night? And why walk around without any source of light?" Tabiuchi immediately went silent. She was clearly a horrible liar. "During the first night, I noticed someone watching us from here. When I went to confront them, they ran away and left their footprints behind. I think it was you that night."

"Just from footprints?" she said. "Hmph. What makes you think it was mine? It could have been anyone else."

"That's true. However, looking at your shoes and the trail of footprints on the ground, you're the most likely suspect at the moment. It's not only that. Of all places on this large uninhabited island, you came here. It's almost as if you know your way here."

"..." Her expression stiffened a little and she looked away from my gaze.

"I ask you again. Why are you here at night watching Class D?" Tabiuchi remained silent, then I moved closer to her with the knife in my hands.

"I was scouting!" she shouted. "I was sent to scout the island to look for Class D. When I found the camp, I would go back to give my report and return here to keep watch of your class. I was looking and gathering intel, that's all."

I stared into her eyes for a moment and realized that she told the truth. "Alright. Do you have anything on you?"

"..." My knife slightly twitched and she was startled. "A radio! And a camera and flashlight."

I started searching her body by going through her pockets, grabbing those exact items from her. I took a glance at the radio, making sure it was off. Next, I focused my attention on the digital camera and turned it on. There, I saw photos of our class moving around and talking during daytime and nighttime.

"Why do you have these photos?" I asked, showing it to her.

"I told you, I was gathering intel. I took photos of you and your classmates, as well as your supplies and your entire camp so I could show it to my class."

"I see." I pressed a button on the digital camera and deleted all of the photos. "You can have it back." I threw the camera, radio, and flashlight to the ground next to her. I walked behind her and raised the knife in my hands upwards.

"W-Wait! What are you-" I lowered it, cutting the fishing line that tied her legs. Seeing this, Tabiuchi let out a sigh of relief and stood back up. She touched her feet and her legs, brushing off dirt and checking to make sure she wasn't injured. "Thank you...I guess..." I remained silent and stared at her. "So? Is this where you take me in as a hostage?"

"Hostage?" I tilted my head.

Tabiuchi stared at me and she became confused. "You're...not really going to take me in?"

"No, I'm not," I replied. "If I did, what's to stop you from going back to your class by the time we do morning roll call? And even if I kept you, there would only be trouble."

"Yeah, you're right about that," she agreed with me. "If you're fine with letting me go, then you don't mind if I leave right now, do you?"

"No. Just don't come back here again." Tabiuchi stared at me for a moment, then turned around and headed back to her class' base camp. Once she was further away, I turned around and headed back to my class.

I'll have to talk to Horikita about this tomorrow morning.