A Tyrant's Will

Volume 3: Chapter 1.1 - The Deserted Island

The endless summer sea surrounded us, its shimmering waves catching the light of the bright blue sky above. Cool air drifted past, a gentle breeze brushing against our faces. Out here, it truly felt like an oceanic paradise.

"Woohoo! This is the best!" Ike shouted, throwing both hands into the air. His voice echoed across the deck of the luxury liner.

Normally, someone would have grumbled or shot them an annoyed look. But today, no one seemed to mind; everyone was too absorbed in the scenery. Even Sudou, who would have bashed their heads in on any other day, said nothing and simply lounged in the special deck seats while taking in the stunning view.

"What a view! I've never seen anything like this!"

A group of girls led by Karuizawa stepped out from the ship's cabin, with Kushida among them. It felt as though, just for today, we could set our worries aside and enjoy the eternal bliss of summer.

Class D had endured a great deal over the past few months. We had begun with zero points, fought through the midterms and final exams, and even weathered the conflict with Class A. It felt like a miracle that we had made it this far at all. Almost as if the school acknowledged everything we had gone through, they arranged an extravagant two-week voyage aboard a luxury cruise liner.

"I'm just glad I managed to make it past the cutoff line for the finals. Imagine failing right at the end. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy this trip at all!"

Yamauchi was practically glowing with excitement. Naturally, after news of his and Ike's betrayal came to light, the entire class had shunned them, whispering behind their backs and treating them coldly. It was only through Hirata's tremendous effort to mediate and repair the damage that the two of them could even stand here among everyone else.

Of course, the class had not completely forgiven them. The wound left by their betrayal ran deep, and rebuilding trust would take a long time. Sudou remained especially unforgiving, and he would likely keep this incident in mind for the rest of the year.

"I never imagined high schoolers could go on a cruise. And it's for two whole weeks. Two weeks! This is gonna be amazing!"

Like Ike said, this was no ordinary trip. Since the school was backed by the government, we never paid tuition or any extra fees, and on top of that we were provided with the best treatment imaginable. The cruise liner itself was top-class, and every facility on board reflected that same level of luxury. The ship had everything from fine-dining restaurants to a full theater, and even an upscale spa.

According to the schedule, we would spend the first week at a luxurious summer lodge on a deserted island, then enjoy another full week aboard the cruise.

At five in the morning, the first-year students boarded the buses and headed for Tokyo Bay. The passenger boats departed as soon as everyone was on board. We ate breakfast in the lounge, and from that point on we were free to explore the entire vessel. Best of all, every facility on the ship was available to us at no cost. For a class that had struggled so much with a lack of points, this felt like a blessing.

Kushida glanced around, as though looking for someone. It was clear that something was on her mind.

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Horikita-san in a while. Do you know where she is, Ayanokouji-kun?" she asked.

"Who knows? I don't recall seeing her after breakfast. Maybe she went back to her room."

"Hmm, that's probably it. I doubt someone like Horikita-san enjoys traveling all that much. It might also be that she's still recovering from what happened with Class A. She did come very close to being expelled."