A Tyrant's Will

Volume 3: Chapter 2.1 - Rivals on the Move

I woke far earlier the next morning than I had anticipated. The heat and humidity had kept me restless through the night, leaving me poorly rested. Our tent was cramped and smelled of sweat, which did little to help matters. I carefully slipped out so as not to wake anyone else and approached our mountain of piled luggage.

We'd kept the luggage outside to make the tents as spacious as possible. After scanning the area to ensure I was alone, I spotted a piece of luggage with a distinct color. It was Shiina's bag. Because it stood out from the rest, it was easy to identify. I took it without hesitation and checked inside. The contents were mostly ordinary—towels, a change of clothes, the same items everyone else had. But mixed among them was something that didn't belong.

"A digital camera, huh?"

This item wasn't appropriate for a deserted island. On the bottom of the camera, I noticed a rental sticker. Why would Shiina have this? I considered possible explanations, trying to view the situation from her perspective. As the image took shape in my mind, several possibilities began to emerge.

I checked the camera's power source. There was no data on it, and no sign that it had ever been used. After finishing my inspection, I returned the item to the bag and went back to the tent.

"Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun. You're up early today."

Hirata was already awake. Perhaps he, too, had struggled to sleep in the unfamiliar environment.

"Ah. Did I wake you, by any chance?"

"No. I can't exactly sleep soundly in these conditions. Ah, my back hurts." Hirata rolled his shoulders as he stretched. "I guess that's only natural without a proper mattress."

Sleeping in such cramped conditions wasn't easy. Even so, everyone else was still asleep. They were probably worn out from the previous day's activities.

"If you include Kouenji-kun's penalty, we spent almost 100 points yesterday. I told everyone that in the worst possible outcome we'd be left with 120 points, but now I'm not even sure about that. I guess the anxiety woke me."

Hirata took out the manual to confirm his fears. Kouenji's retirement had been a pretty serious blow.

"I don't envy your position. You and Horikita have it tough." I couldn't fathom carrying that kind of responsibility. One had to manage the entire class, while the other was forced to wake in the middle of the night each day. The weight resting on their shoulders was considerable.

"I'm only doing this because I enjoy it. If my hard work can make everyone in the class happy, then I'm satisfied. Still, it's more difficult than I expected. How many points we have after this special test will have a huge impact on our lives, and I don't think it's right to frighten everyone."

Make everyone in the class happy, huh? Unfortunately, that was probably close to impossible. The school's system all but ensured it.

"You're doing a great job as is, Hirata. Only you have the skills to unite Class D and get us through the first day of the test. Now that the logistics are sorted out, the rest of the days should go by more smoothly. Anything else that happens is beyond your control."

There was nothing Hirata could've done about Kouenji's retirement. All things considered, Class D wasn't doing too badly at the moment.

"Thank you, Ayanokouji-kun. Coming from you, that makes me really happy. If there's anything you need, please let me know, all right?"

I assured him that if I needed help, he would be the first person I turned to. Hirata politely excused himself and headed for the toilet. With the space he left behind, I stretched and considered the situation.