A Tyrant's Will

Volume 3: Chapter 5.1 - Setting the Stage

Class D's campsite was shrouded in a pall of gloom. The girls' side felt lifeless. Even a cemetery might have had a livelier atmosphere.

It was hardly surprising. Hirata was the only boy in Class D the girls genuinely trusted, and having him exposed as an underwear thief was a devastating blow. With two days still remaining in the exam, the time ahead promised to be long and suffocating.

The worst part, though, was that our leadership had been undermined. Hirata had been the glue holding Class D together. With him gone, someone would have to take his place. None of the other boys were qualified, and Karuizawa was in no condition to help. As a result, the responsibility naturally fell to Kushida.

Like Hirata, Kushida naturally drew people in with her personality. The problem was that she lacked his talent for resolving conflicts and making decisions. If a major dispute were to break out, she would probably struggle to handle it.

"Could everyone please gather around?"

Still, she had to try. She was the only one left who could even attempt to salvage the situation. She called for a class meeting, urging everyone to come together.

"I know what happened was a huge shock to everyone. But there's no point in dwelling on it now. We still need to make it through this exam, remember? I'd like us all to stay civil and work together so Class D can finish with a good score. Does that sound good to everyone?"

The boys cheered at Kushida's proposal, clearly on board. The girls, however, responded with low grumbles. They shot us sharp, accusatory looks.

"You might be right, Kushida-san, but it's impossible. We can't stand being in the same place as underwear thieves!"

Shinohara shook her head, unable to let it go. If the victim felt that way, Kushida couldn't really force her. Picking up a fallen branch, Shinohara dragged it across the ground, carving a clear line between the camps.

"Since the culprit was a boy, we're drawing a line between the boys and the girls. Boys are absolutely prohibited from entering our side."

Shinohara's proposal took gender-based separation to the extreme.

"What the hell? You're just arbitrarily treating us like criminals. Don't lump us together with Hirata!"

"That doesn't mean you're not perverts, though. Boys are disgusting. Don't you dare set foot in the girls' territory until the end of the test. Go over there."

With that, she ordered the boys to move their tent. As expected, they weren't convinced. Booing erupted immediately.

"If you want us to stay apart, then move your own tent. We're not moving ours, and we're not helping you either," Yukimura said.

"Heh. Can you guys even drive in the tent stakes? You're probably too weak," Sudou added.

Shinohara tapped her foot in annoyance, realizing the situation had taken a turn. Normally, she would have called on Hirata to help her, but that was obviously no longer an option.

"Shinohara-san, I understand how you feel. But moving the tents would take too much work. Let's just make it through these next two days, okay?"

Shinohara looked as though she wanted to object, but after realizing there was no better option, she reluctantly agreed to Kushida's proposal.

With that, the boys and girls split off. I took a seat at the edge of the camp, quietly surveying the layout and the positions of each student.

"Excuse me, Ayanokouji-kun. May I talk to you for a minute?"

I looked up to see Shiina approaching.

"What you were talking about this morning was really serious. The underwear incident, I mean."