It was a pleasant day where the sun was shining brightly and the wide azure sky was clear. But it was the other way around for all the students throughout the island, the tension has gradually increased to each group, gathering as many points as possible before the curtain of the uninhabited island exam falls. We too, despite having a good footing in the rankings yesterday, needed to step up our gear for the last two times, to compete and have the chance to be part of the top three final rankings.

”Yosh, we can do this!”

I muttered to myself, clenching my fist preparing for the battle ahead.

The other group members then looked at me. Nishimura-san laughed while the other three just showed a smile.

“Let’s go, Ichinose-san~”

Nishimura-san then held my arm and then we started heading to the next task site, led by Hashimoto-kun.

I can pinpoint what the reason is but I noticed that both the boys and Kamuro-san are uneasy after Sakayanagi-san’s call just recently.

It drives me to the conclusion that they just received an undesirable news regarding something and still haven't processed it completely.

I wonder what it is all about?

Supposedly, me and Nishimura-san have the right to know about it because we, as well, are part of the group.

Sakayanagi-san must be up to something for not telling me about such information or it might be that it's not preferable for me to hear about it.

This all began on the ninth day of the exam, the time when I came back to them after being chased by the Acting Director and Shiba-sensei the other day. I got the feeling that they're hiding something behind my back and started keeping tabs on me all day, not giving me an alone time all by myself, no it's too rude to say that since they're only worried that another thing might happen to me like last time, but even so, things like accompanying me into the loo, always keeping me in the middle when we're traveling and some whispered or should I say group discussion that I'm being left out were too much for me to not be conscious about what's happening behind the scene.

I wanted to ask any one of them, especially Shibata-kun since we belong to the same class, but didn't because I'm expecting an order from Sakayanagi-san to not breathe a word about it specifically to me.

They have been scanning the surroundings from time to time, checking each sides and corners for whatever reason that is.

Also I haven't looked at the group's current points since yesternight.

We had only successfully joined one Task for the time-being because most of the sites we visited were already full. And our group also failed in the particular Task, so our points haven't grown aside from the arrival points in the designated area.

I then opened my tablet, navigating towards the group's profile while conversing with the group.

“Hey, Nishimura-san?” I called her,

“Hmm, Ichinose-san?” she responded,

“Do you guys have any plans for our stay on the cruise ship?”

I opened the topic about the things that each of us are planning during our vacation days. With this we can plan to hang-out or invite those that don't have one to fully enjoy it, instead of just staying alone in their room, wasting the rare chance of creating various memories in a luxurious cruise ship.

“Oh I remember that we're gonna check out the shopping corners with the girls then visit the pool afterwards.” Nishimura-san paused,

“What about you guys, Hashimoto-kun?”

The baton was then passed to Hashimoto-kun, who's walking ahead of us, together with Shibata-kun.

“Well, I'm gonna take a good rest first, but haven't thought of the days ahead. Bout you, Shibata?”

He turned his head to Shibata. The person being asked then slightly scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

“Hmmm... I'm gonna meet with someone…”

The place became silent for a moment. After that a sudden cheer was released by me and Nishimura-san. Hashimoto-kun also chuckled while Kamura-san doesn't have a slight amount of care about it.

“Who is it, Shibata-kun?”

The other girl asked, full of excitement.

It was a rare sight for someone famous to the opposite sex such as Shibata-kun to be acting a bit embarassed when talking about such stuff.

“Hmm… I will keep it as a secret for now… ”

This time he avoids our gaze and scratches his cheeks.

Wait!? Is Shibata-kun blushing?

“So it's about ”that” huh? I see. Well, wish you luck, dude.”

Hashimoto-kun tapped Shibata-kun’s shoulder.

“Thanks.” Shibata bowed

”I will share it with you guys, if it's a success, hehe.”

Shibata chuckled while smiling.

“Best of luck Shibata-kun. Whoever it is, I'm sure she's cute.”

Nishimura-san also gives her wish to him, together with a thumbs up. While Kamuro-san just nodded to him, sending hers, Shibata-kun then responded with a warm smile, understanding what she meant.

It was supposed to be my turn, not until I checked our current points and was shocked about it.

“What the?...”

The rest then turned their gaze towards me.

What is going on?

I also noticed that the more people card have been used and it's not the person that me and Sakayanagi-san had first planned in our strategic meeting.

I didn't hear about this.

I then stare at Hashimoto-kun since he's been the one who's leading the group according to Sakayanagi-san's order the time both of our group merged.

“Why is–”

I haven't finished my question as he quickly told me to be silent.

“Shushhh.. somebody might be eavesdropping, Ichinose.”

This time I finally proved that I, alone, was being left in the dark. Aside from Hashimoto-kun, it seems that the other members are also aware of such a fact but don't have the plan in telling me about it.

I'm conflicted on what to feel from knowing it. Should I be happy? Or should I feel betrayed? I don't know!!

“If you have something to ask Ichinose, better go directly to Sakayanagi. I'm just simply following her orders, we also don't know the full details about the sudden change of plan.”

As expected, it's all based on Sakayanagi-san's strategy. I thought that our class had made an alliance with each other in this special exam. Am I mistaken?

I forcefully opened my mouth, wanting to ask about something but again, Hashimoto-kun quickly cut me off.

“I'm sorry Ichinose, nobody here can answer your question.”

Then I decided to give up for now and focus on the remaining days in this exam, then ask about various things to the leader of this group.

I sighed.

“I understand.”

Then we continued walking to the Task site but the light atmosphere was changed into a gloomy and heavy one.

’I should stop thinking about this.’

Almost an hour passed and the group then started heading deep in the forest to arrive at the designated area while keeping tabs on the map, about the Task sites that we may cross on the way there.

We'd been walking for quite some time now but we didn't run across any group nor even felt a human presence across the place. Moreover, the silence of the forest is deafening, giving us the chills by just observing the surroundings.

“This felt strange for some reason.” Nishimura-san muttered.

The unfortunate fate that happened to one of the second year small groups, then crossed our thoughts, making us raise our guard in case anything will happen.

“Nishimura, quickly do a GPS search.”

She hurriedly opened her tablet and spent a point in the process.

“There’s only one person nearby and she's from Class 2-D.”

I thought that it's done since there's no way a fellow second year student would attack us, but unexpectedly, Hashimoto-kun grabbed her tablet and spent another point checking the surroundings.

“Still the same result, eh?”

Hashimoto-kun and Shibata-kun looked at each other with a confused look on their faces.

I don't really understand what's going on right now, but this strange atmosphere, not to mention the uneasiness of the other members of the groups, drives me to the conclusion that something bad is about to happen.

Is Sakayanagi-san's earlier call related to this. Maybe she warned them that another group has been attacked or heard information that the next target will be our group.

“Did you see hi–”

Hashimoto-kun hasn't finished his statement as a lone student suddenly emerges in the shadows, approaching us slowly.

“Looking for me, senpai?”

The male student spoke in a gentle tone, but the stuff he was holding, tells the other way around.

Wait if I remember correctly, he's name is Takuya Yagami.

I glanced at his arm that is holding a tree branch, then found that his wristwatch hasn't functioned.

So this is the reason why Yagami-kun was not tracked the time we used the GPS search earlier.

“Why are you following us?” Hashimoto-kun spoke in a grave tone.

I thought that he would answer the question being asked, but instead he shows us a distorted smile, which is enough to tell us that there's something wrong with this person.

“Give me, Ichinose-senpai,” he ordered.

He intentionally let the tip of the branch touch the surface of the ground as he approached us carrying an ominous aura.

Me? Why me?

Is Yagami-kun part of the people that are after Ayanokouji-kun? I think yes. Because there's no reason for him to target me, aside from the fact that I overheard the plan of the Acting Director and Shiba-sensei.

Ayanokouji-kun's personal life has become more confusing than ever.

This must be why he wouldn't open up anything about him so that nobody will be tangled up on his personal problem.

“Ichinose, run!!” Hashimoto-kun shouted.

As Hashimoto-kun finished his statement, I once again saw those pairs of terrifying eyes.

The other girls are also terrified as Nishimura-san is shaking and falls into her knees.

I was gonna help her to stand up but Kamuro-san suddenly pushed me away from them.

“Go now, Ichinose-san!! He's after you!”

I was hesitant to leave them and run all by myself. But my legs move independently on their own, running away from Yagami-kun as much as possible.

‘I'm sorry.’

It was all because of me that our group has been targeted.

I'm really the worst, giving harm to other people's lives because of being involved in another person's affairs.

What if I didn't break my watch at that time? Then I wouldn't have heard the conversation between Acting Director Tsukihiro and Shiba-sensei right? And this current predicament won't happen in the first place?

But then a certain person's life will be put in danger instead. The student that had helped me countless times now.

I honestly can't weigh who's more important than who. Is it my group that I'm together through thick and thin in this exam? Or the person that is always by my side when I need it the most?

There's no use going back in the past, things have already happened and I must find someone to ask for help to restrain Yagami-kun before things escalate more.

Tears has been dropping in my eyes. It's not like I regret for telling Ayanokouji-kun about it, it's just I felt worried about my group's situation right now, facing a person carrying a weapon.

Haaa… haaaa… haaa….

Still continues running searching for someone in the deep and vast forest. I went to the direction where Nishimura-san found a student from Class 2-D.

Haaa… haaa… haaa….

I think I'm already close…

“Ohayooo.. Ichinose-san?”

Turning my gaze towards the origin of the voice is. I then found a familiar student waving her hands and was running towards me.

“Kus...hida-...san.”

I was already tired from all the running, but by seeing Kushida-san, everything's gonna be alright I think.

Or so I thought.

The time I looked at her again, the bright natured Kushida-san was nowhere to be found. All I see is a woman with a terrifying gaze and full of ominous aura surrounding her.

What is really happening?

Is this how my life ends?

•••

In the starting point

Still shading herself in the large beach umbrella, Sakayanagi then closed her tablet and whispered.

“Checkmate.”

She slowly gets up and takes her time walking towards the school's staff's large tent to announce her retirement.