What does the body need after spending a week on a deserted island?
Rest? A little sleep is enough.
What it really needs is a cup of black coffee with extra sugar. I was thinking about grabbing a can of Max Coffee from the vending machine, but since there were luxurious cafés on board the ship, I figured I might as well try one of the drinks there.
I headed toward a café located in the middle of the ship. It looked first-class—not just because of the chairs, tables, or even the staff. Everything about it was refined, fitting for a luxury cruise ship.
I stood at the entrance, looking around. It wasn't crowded since it was still early in the morning.
Perfect.
"Hey... Hikigaya."
A voice from behind caught my attention. I turned around to see Sudo waving at me while Hirata and Ayanokoji followed behind him.
Didn't I leave them back in the room? What were they doing here?
"Hey, what are you doing here...?" Sudo asked as he walked toward me.
"Ah... I came to get something to drink."
Wasn't that obvious? What else would someone do in a café?
"Good morning, Hikigaya-kun," Hirata greeted me with his bright smile, while Ayanokoji simply stared at me without saying anything.
"Morning..."
Now that we'd exchanged greetings, it was probably best for me to find a suitable table.
I turned to leave, but a large hand firmly grabbed my shoulder.
"Hikigaya, where are you going?" Sudo asked as he tightened his grip.
Maybe this was one of the side effects of playing basketball.
"I'm looking for a table..." I said, staring at him in confusion.
Why was he holding me like this? Was he trying to bully me?
"I know... Why are you leaving? Let's sit together," Sudo said with a foolish grin.
"Huh... Why?" I looked toward the others.
"Aren't we classmates...?" Hirata laughed awkwardly as he looked at us.
"Uh..."
So just because we're in the same class, we have to sit together all the time...
This is crazy...
No. I don't want to.
"F-Fine..." I agreed reluctantly.
Hirata picked a table in the middle of the café. It really suited him.
If I were in his place, I would've chosen the table farthest from the entrance.
Hirata and Ayanokoji sat next to each other while Sudo and I sat across from them. Soon, a waiter came over to take our orders.
If I had come here alone, I'm sure he would've ignored me.
"What would you gentlemen like?" the waiter asked while holding a small notepad.
"Black coffee with extra sugar," I answered quickly so he would write down my order first and prepare it first.
Coffee takes priority.
"A soda!" Sudo shouted.
"Juice..." Hirata chose calmly.
"Black coffee," Ayanokoji said while watching the waiter write everything down.
I don't think he even needed to write it.
Wasn't it easy enough to remember?
It's just black coffee with extra sugar and...
Well, the others don't matter.
The waiter left to prepare our drinks, leaving the four of us staring at each other.
I wonder what they're doing here...
Where are the rest of Sudo's friends?
I absentmindedly played with the napkin on the table until the waiter returned carrying our drinks.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
Hirata thanked him on behalf of all of us before the waiter walked away.
I stared at the cup of black coffee in front of me with great interest before taking a small sip.
"Mmm..."
My expression changed involuntarily after that tiny sip.
It's bitter.
Didn't I ask for extra sugar...?
Where is he? I'm going to pour this over his head.
I grabbed the sugar packet from the small saucer and dumped the entire thing into my cup while feeling everyone's eyes piercing my skin.
Why don't they pay attention to their own drinks and leave me alone?
"Hikigaya-kun, are you alright?" Hirata asked with a puzzled look.
"I'm fine. I'm fine..."
I stirred the coffee irritably before taking another sip.
"Mmm..."
My face twisted again from the bitterness.
If coffee isn't sweet, then I don't want it.
I stared at the cup with a displeased expression, wondering whether I should pour it over the waiter's head or directly into his face...
Didn't he hear my order?
I sighed in resignation before lifting my eyes from the cup and noticing Ayanokoji peacefully sipping his coffee.
I looked at the small saucer beside him.
The sugar packet was still there.
"Do you need that?"
I pointed at the sugar packet, waiting for his answer before pouncing on it.
"Yes," Ayanokoji replied as he calmly placed his cup on the table.
I quickly reached out, grabbed the sugar packet, and threw it into my coffee before stirring it rapidly.
I took a third sip.
The sweetness hit my tongue immediately—the kind of sweetness that would make most people feel sick.
This is my favorite drink.
If coffee isn't like this, then I don't want it.
I placed the cup on the table with a relieved sigh.
Only to find everyone staring at me in bewilderment.
"Huh... What?" I asked as my eyes moved from one face to another.
"Hikigaya... He said he needed that," Sudo said, raising an eyebrow.
Oh, was that why...
Well, who cares?
"Ah, sorry. I didn't hear you," I said as I lifted the cup toward my face once again.
"...It's fine," Ayanokoji replied indifferently.
Hirata chuckled quietly as he watched the exchange between us.
"Man... Finally, that crazy exam is over," Sudo said as he stretched his body forcefully.
"Yeah, you're right. It was exhausting," Hirata agreed.
That was the truth.
The exam hadn't been easy for anyone.
Everyone had faced obstacles, whether physical or psychological.
"Hey, do you think we'll have to go through something like that again in the future?" Sudo asked as he turned toward me.
"I don't know," I replied with a shrug.
If this school relied on exams that went beyond paper and pencil, then there was no telling what they might test us on next.
"Still, it was fun, wasn't it?" Hirata said cheerfully.
"Yeah, man. We had a great time."
"No. It was exhausting," I said, glaring at Sudo.
What's fun about living like a primitive human?
"Come on. We spent our time playing, even if there was some hard work mixed in."
Look at this huge guy. I'm pretty sure anything that doesn't involve studying is fun to him.
It's probably best to ignore his nonsense...
My attention returned to the cup of coffee in front of me, but a large shadow suddenly stopped beside our table, blocking the light.
I raised my head to find Ryuen and his followers standing over us. Ibuki was with them too.
Did they just come here to get drinks...?
"Hello, Class D. What are you all doing?" Ryuen said with an arrogant smile, as though he had already gotten over yesterday's defeat.
What fighting spirit.
"You bastard, what do you want?" Sudo slammed his hand on the table, visibly furious.
"Sudo-kun, no..." Hirata quickly stood up to stop him.
We didn't need to witness another fight.
But seriously, did this idiot really have to come over here, start provoking us, and expect us to stay quiet?
"Hey, Ryuen, are you stupid?" I said while taking a sip of my coffee.
"Hah?" Ishizaki shouted from behind Ryuen as if the insult had been directed at him.
"Hikigaya-kun..." Hirata looked at me with concern, as though afraid I was about to start a fight with them.
I calmly placed my cup on the table before raising my head to look at Ryuen.
"Are you guys Class D now, or are you waiting until the start of next month to get used to it?" I asked with a mocking smile.
"You bastard, we'll throw you back into the hole where you belong!" Ishizaki clenched his fist threateningly.
"Still don't understand the difference between us? It's around..." I started counting on my fingers, trying to get the exact number right, but failed.
"Anyway, the gap is huge."
I looked away to avoid their sharp stares.
"Hikigaya, come outside with me," Ryuen said, slipping a hand into his pocket.
I glanced at him before raising my cup and finishing the rest of my coffee.
It's probably better to leave this place.
"Hey, where are you going?" Sudo quickly stood up. More than anyone, he knew how dangerous Ryuen could be.
"Don't worry. We're just going to talk," Ryuen replied with an arrogant smile.
"I'll come too." Hirata stood up as well. He always worried about his classmates.
"Me too," Sudo said while clenching his fist.
What was this?
Did they think we were about to go fight?
"No need. I'll go alone," I said as I stood up from my seat.
"But..." Hirata tried to argue, but I raised my hand.
He reluctantly sat back down.
"Are you all worried about him? He doesn't need anyone's help... at all," Ryuen said as he turned around and followed me out of the café while everyone watched.
We stepped through the door and into the empty corridor.
There was nothing separating us from the sea except a railing.
I glanced around and spotted a vending machine nearby.
I walked over to it and pressed my face against the glass, searching for my target.
Then I found my drink on the right side of the machine.
I immediately pressed the button and paid with my phone before kneeling down to grab the yellow can.
I opened it and brought it to my lips.
If happiness had a flavor, it would probably taste like this.
I turned around to find Ryuen and his group staring at me.
If trouble had a shape, it would probably look like this.
I rested my hand on the railing and looked out at the ocean while waiting for all of this to end.
"Look, Ibuki. That's the fraud who tricked you," Ryuen said, laughing like a madman.
"Tch..."
Ibuki kicked the railing angrily while glaring at me.
Is this some kind of anti-Hikigaya club or what?
"Ryuen, you didn't lose to me. You lost to Class D."
If Ryuen had taken the exam seriously from the start, none of this would have happened.
But that simply wasn't his style.
From what happened with Sudo, I understood that he loved putting on a show.
Showing off how much control he had over his class and how easily he could make them follow his orders.
"Are you saying you didn't try to deceive us this time?" Ryuen asked as he stepped closer.
"That's exactly it," I said while pointing at him.
"From the very beginning, you were looking for my trick. Where would I deceive you? How would I fool you?"
"You forgot that this was an exam before it was a battle of schemes," I said before taking another sip.
From the start, his goal had only been to expose me.
That was why he kept waiting.
The moment I gave him the smallest opening, he convinced himself that he'd uncovered the plan and began celebrating his victory.
"What are you talking about?" Ibuki struck the railing as she glared at me.
"I hate people like you."
"People who pretend to be calm and kind when they're really just trash hiding their true selves behind a mask," Ibuki growled without hesitation.
"What are you talking about...?" I raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not a good person."
"I lie. I'm rotten on the inside. I curse. I hate the people around me. I hate working..."
I counted each point on my free hand until all five fingers were used up.
I still had plenty more examples.
Unfortunately, my other hand was occupied.
"Could you lend me your fingers?" I asked while glancing at her.
"If you want me to shove them into your eye..."
"No thanks..."
I still need my eyes for now.
I'd rather keep them.
"Fufufufu... This isn't the end," Ryuen said as he cracked his fingers.
"Ryuen, you're like a chicken..."
"You bastard, what did you say?" Ishizaki stepped forward angrily, but Ryuen raised a hand to stop him.
He froze in place.
Like an obedient dog.
"You're like a chicken because you have wings, yet you can't use them to fly."
Ryuen was capable of creating elaborate traps.
His mind constantly stayed a step ahead of those around him.
Yet he continued to hold himself back.
All he wanted was a flashy victory and the complete destruction of his opponents.
At this rate, he would never fly.
"Say whatever you want. This is only the beginning," Ryuen said with a dangerous smile before turning around and walking away.
Ibuki glared at me for a moment before turning around and following him.
Maybe that alone showed how much influence he possessed.
He gathered followers who walked behind him and reacted the moment someone mocked him.
That was genuinely impressive.
Only the beginning, huh...