Chapter 119: Next, What Will Happen?
"Eh? What do you mean by that, Kami-nii-sama?" Elsie asked with a face full of confusion.
"Do you think the school would be so generous as to spend a fortune just so students could come out and play unconditionally?" Katsuragi Keima said slowly.
"They wouldn't?"
"Of course not! This is a government-run institution with massive amounts of money invested. Do you really think we're just out here to have fun?" Keima's eyes remained focused on his screen.
Based on his understanding of the school, it was absolutely impossible for the administration to do such a thing. Furthermore, Keima still remembered the contents of the contract Chabashira Sae had previously made with him. Although it had been voided, she had mentioned the term "Formal Exam." This implied the existence of special exams.
Before they departed, Horikita Suzune had also approached Keima to talk, and the latter had said the same thing—
"This time, it won't be as simple as just a vacation."
Keima looked up at Elsie with a trace of helplessness and said, "I suspect the most likely scenario is a Special Exam."
"Another exam?!"
"Don't worry, it probably isn't the paper-and-pencil type," Keima answered. "After all, for the school to go through the trouble of chartering a cruise ship to take us away from campus suggests the exam site is something that can't be replicated within school grounds."
"I see... but no one else seems to have noticed. Should we tell them?"
"There's no need, is there? Just let nature take its course," Keima said.
Right now, everyone was enjoying themselves; he had no desire to discuss meaningless matters. They could talk about the exam later! Besides, even if he didn't say anything, someone else surely would.
Elsie cast a somewhat worried gaze toward other parts of the ship.
At this moment, the cruise ship was sailing smoothly across the azure sea. Sunlight spilled onto the deck, and the sea breeze hit them with a salty, damp tang. This ship was a summer surprise prepared by the school for the students—at least, that was the official story.
The students on board were fully indulging in this rare moment of leisure.
In the open-air pool on the deck, several boys were playing water polo, splashing water everywhere amidst constant laughter. On the nearby lounge chairs, several girls in swimsuits were sunbathing, their bell-like laughter ringing out occasionally. The scent of gourmet food
wafted from the restaurant, long lines had formed at the SPA area, and the game room was packed to capacity.
"This is awesome!" Ike Kanji lay on a lounge chair on the deck, a glass of juice in his hand. "The school is actually so generous, treating us to a cruise vacation!"
"Exactly!" Sudo Ken chimed in from the side. "I thought I'd have to work a part-time job over summer break. I never expected a free trip!"
Hirata Yousuke stood by the ship's railing, staring blankly at the sea. He had thinned out considerably during this period, and his entire aura radiated a sense of decadence.
Karuizawa Kei, Sakura Airi, and Sato Maya were sitting under a sunshade on the deck, eating ice cream and chatting.
"This ship is so big..." Airi sighed softly, her eyes sparkling.
"Of course it is!" Sato Maya looked excited. "I just went for a walk around, and there's actually a movie theater! Let's go check it out later!"
Kei nodded with a smile, but her gaze drifted toward a certain direction from time to time. In that corner, Katsuragi Keima was chatting idly with Elsie.
"Kei, you're looking at him again." Sato Maya leaned in and whispered with a mischievous grin.
Kei's face turned red instantly. "I-I am not!"
"You are~" Maya sang out. "The frequency with which you look at him is even higher than mine."
Airi whispered from the side, "I... I'm looking at him too..." She seemed to be emphasizing her own existence.
The three looked at each other and then laughed simultaneously. Since that night, a strange sort of tacit understanding had formed between them. They were friends, and they were rivals, but that didn't stop them from chatting together, shopping together, and... secretly watching him together.
"What game do you think he's playing?" Sato Maya asked curiously.
"..." Kei shook her head. "In any case, it's definitely one of those... complex games."
"The way he plays is so focused," Airi said softly, her eyes shimmering.
The three fell silent again, each lost in their own thoughts. Not far away, Kushida Kikyo was chatting with several girls, a sweet smile on her face. Her gaze would occasionally drift toward that corner, but she would quickly pull it back, pretending nothing had happened.
Hasabe Haruka and Matsushita Chiaki sat at another table with drinks and snacks in front of them.
"Did you observe it?" Haruka asked in a low voice.
"Mm." Matsushita Chiaki nodded. "Kei looks at Him four times per minute, Airi looks three times, and Maya looks five times. Although Kikyo doesn't look, her ears are constantly pricked up."
Haruka laughed. "It's a waste for someone with your observational skills not to be a detective. Are you actually quite an extraordinary person yourself?"
"Haha, no, I'm just an ordinary student. I'd like to join your study group next semester, if that's okay?"
"Of course. God probably won't mind. However, in our study group, we already have a real 'detective'."
"Who?"
"Hiyori from Class C."
The two clinked their glasses and continued chatting.
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Horikita Suzune stood alone by the railing, looking at the sea. She was wearing a simple tracksuit, looking completely out of place among the girls in swimsuits.
She was also thinking. Thinking about what that man had said.
"Do you think the school would be so generous as to spend a fortune just so students could come out and play unconditionally?"
Those were the words Keima had said to her before the final exams. At the time, she hadn't paid much attention to them.
She looked at this luxury cruise ship, at the students enjoying themselves to their heart's content, and a faint sense of unease grew in her heart. That man never spoke without reason. If he said "things aren't that simple," then there was definitely a problem.
She turned around and looked toward that corner. Katsuragi Keima still had his head down, focused on his game. It was as if everything around him had nothing to do with him. But she knew that this person saw everything more clearly than anyone else.
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Evening. The setting sun dyed the sea a golden-red.
Students gathered in small groups on the deck to admire the rare scenery.
"So pretty..." Airi whispered, the sunset reflected in her eyes.
"Mm!" Sato Maya nodded vigorously. "It's so great to be able to come out on vacation!"
Kei stood beside them with a smile. But her gaze couldn't help but drift toward that corner again. Keima was still sitting there. Still with his head down, playing his game. Still maintaining that indifferent attitude toward everything.
"Has he... not moved at all?" Kei asked softly.
"It seems so..." Airi nodded.
"Doesn't he get tired?"
"I don't know..."
The three looked at each other, feeling a bit helpless.
That man really was different from everyone else.
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Dinner time. In the luxurious restaurant, the buffet tables were laden with various delicacies. Students carried their plates, excitedly picking out their favorite foods.
Katsuragi Keima came too. But he just grabbed a few things at random, sat in a corner, and continued playing his game.
"Kami-nii-sama, are you really not eating?" Elsie walked over with a plate piled high with food, a piece of cake stuffed in her mouth as she spoke indistinctly. "This cake is super delicious!"
Keima didn't even look up. "Not interested."
"..."
"You eat yours."
Elsie pouted, sat down beside him, and began to feast.
Kei, Airi, and Maya carried their plates around the restaurant once before "coincidentally" sitting near Keima.
"Oh, the seating here is great!" Sato Maya said loudly on purpose.
"Mm-hmm," Kei agreed.
Airi kept her head down, her face turning slightly red. Keima still kept his head down as if he hadn't heard them. But the corners of his mouth seemed to turn up just a tiny bit. It was very subtle. Almost imperceptible. But it definitely turned up.
After dinner, the students dispersed in small groups. Some went to the bar, some to the game room, and some back to their rooms to rest. The three girls—Kei, Airi, and Maya—took a walk on the deck.
"Kei," Sato Maya suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think something special might happen during this vacation?"
Kei was stunned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean..." Maya thought for a moment. "Don't you think it's strange? The school suddenly lets us go on a cruise vacation, and everything is free. Isn't that a bit too generous?"
Kei fell silent. She certainly thought it was strange. If it had been before, she wouldn't have thought much of it. But after spending so much time around Keima, she had unknowingly begun to think more deeply. She couldn't say exactly what was strange about it, though.
"Maybe... it's just a reward?" Airi suggested softly.
"A reward for what?"
"I don't know..."
The three fell silent. The sea breeze blew past, carrying a hint of chill.
For some reason, they all felt a bit uneasy.
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Meanwhile, in a certain room on the ship.
Sakayanagi Arisu sat by the window, a book in her hand. But she wasn't reading it. Her gaze was fixed on the endless ocean outside.
"Interesting," she said softly.
Kamuro Masumi sat beside her, looking at her with confusion. "What's so interesting?"
Sakayanagi smiled. "This 'vacation' isn't as simple as it looks."
Kamuro froze. "What do you mean?"
Sakayanagi didn't answer. She just looked out the window, a meaningful smile on her lips. "Wait and see. There will be a good show soon."
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In another room.
Ryuen Kakeru lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Ibuki Mio and others stood nearby.
"Ryuen, what are you thinking?"
Ryuen didn't answer. After a long while, he finally spoke. "There's something wrong with this cruise trip."
"What's the problem?"
"I don't know." Ryuen sat up. "But there's definitely something wrong." He stood up and walked to the window. "The school board wouldn't let us out to play for no reason."
Ibuki Mio was silent for a few seconds. "So what should we do?"
Ryuen laughed. "What should we do? We wait and see. Regardless of what happens, we won't be at a disadvantage; I've already prepared in advance." He turned around and looked at Ibuki. "One thing is for certain—this 'vacation' is going to be very interesting."
"Very interesting?"
Just as Ibuki was confused, a knock sounded at the door.
"He's here, my guest," Ryuen said with a smirk. "Katsuragi."
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On the deck.
As night deepened, students gradually returned to their rooms to rest. Katsuragi Keima was still sitting in that corner. Elsie had eaten until she couldn't take it anymore and had gone back to the room to sleep. He sat there alone, playing his game. The sea breeze blew, cold and sharp. But he didn't move, just kept his head down, continuing to play.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached. Keima looked up. Horikita Suzune was standing before him.
Horikita frowned and looked at Keima. "Not sleeping yet?"
Keima gave her a glance and resumed playing. "Not sleepy."
Horikita sat down next to him. The two were silent for a few seconds.
"Katsuragi."
"Mm?"
"What did you mean by what you said earlier?"
Keima looked at her. "Which sentence?"
"The one about..." Horikita paused. "'Things aren't that simple'."
Keima was silent for a second. Then he spoke. "Why do you think the school is letting us go on a cruise?"
Horikita was stunned. She couldn't answer. Originally, she had taken it for granted that this was a reward for the students' excellent performance during the semester, but she had quickly dismissed that thought. Because there was truly nothing worth rewarding. Studying was a student's duty. Even if students could do as they pleased in the school, that was based on the premise of having points.
Points = Strength.
But everything on the cruise was free. That was illogical.
Keima pushed up his glasses and continued. "This ship belongs to the school. All services on the ship also belong to the school. It looks free, but the costs are entirely within the school's control." He paused. "Besides, did you notice?"
"Notice what?"
"The teachers' faces don't show a hint of relaxation."
"That's true..." Horikita nodded, finally realizing something. "Does that mean there's going to be an additional exam?"
"It's very likely."
"In that case, we need to inform the classmates in advance." Horikita's expression became incredibly serious.
"Is that why you came to find me?"
"..." Horikita pursed her lips. While she did want to ask that, she had other thoughts as well. "After this, during summer break, are you free?"
"Why? Are you asking me out?"
"I—no, no, no, that's not it!" Horikita's cheeks suddenly flushed red, and she denied it in a way that was almost a confession. "I just... want to discuss the class's battle plan for next semester with you."
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