The hallway was dim, lit only by flickering amber lights that hummed faintly above. Shadows danced on the walls like quiet ghosts.
Knock knock.
The door creaked open with a soft sound.
Black-eyed girl stood there—barefoot, her uniform slightly messy from staying up late. Her face lit up at the sight of him.
"Do you know? Tomorrow we're going on a ship!" she chirped, grabbing Haruto's arm excitedly.
Before he could answer, she yanked him into the room.
It smelled faintly of lavender and printer ink. The windows were covered with black-and-white cotton curtains that swayed gently with the wind from the open fan.
"Yup," Haruto replied dryly, allowing himself to be dragged in. "I'm excited too. Just think about the free food. No need to visit that stingy shopkeeper uncle for a week."
He tossed his bag onto the table with a soft thud and turned to her.
"Give me the papers. Now."
She didn't hesitate. With a mischievous smile, she checked the contents one last time, then gently placed the papers in his hand.
"Here you go… Haruto-kun," she murmured. "Now, our male protagonist should kindly leave."
Her voice was playful but distant.
Haruto narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of hostess kicks her guest out right after the deal?" he said with a smirk, tossing himself onto her sofa with complete shamelessness. He grabbed the TV remote and casually started gaming.
"Tch—Haruto!" she snapped.
She stormed over and tried to pull him off the sofa, but he held his ground like a stubborn rock. In the midst of the struggle, Haruto's hand slipped—landing where it shouldn't have.
A moment of silence.
Then—
Slap.
"That's enough! Get. Out."
She shoved him toward the door with surprising strength.
"Who needs a girl like you anyway?" Haruto shouted from the hallway as she slammed the door in his face. "If you didn't have that body, I wouldn't even bother looking!"
Silence followed.
Then, something changed.
The warm night air suddenly grew still. Heavy. The world around him seemed distant—muffled. Haruto's cocky expression vanished, his smile dying on his lips.
His eyes turned dull. Hollow.
The camera zooms in—closer and closer—until we see nothing but the blank look in his eyes.
Cut.
The scene shifts.
Night again. Quiet and cold.
A different Haruto now—dressed in a blood-red coat that fluttered gently in the sea breeze. He stood at the edge of a pier under the moonlight.
From his hand, the papers scattered like dying butterflies into the air—pages flying, spinning, then disappearing into the ocean's darkness.
That moment had already happened.
A secret act buried in the past.
The only witness—the night.
****
The camera zoomed in on the white side of a paper fluttering in the wind.
Fade in.
A vast, deep-blue sea stretched across the horizon. A ship, elegant and massive, cut across the waters like a silent beast. Its white hull gleamed under the afternoon sun. Onboard, Class D students were spread out like colorful dots—some splashing in the pool, others plotting love confessions behind towels.
Ayanokoji stood under an umbrella with Horikita, their expressions as unreadable as always.
Meanwhile, Haruto stood at the edge of the deck, letting the sea breeze wash over him. His red coat had been traded for a school-issued uniform, but the dullness in his eyes remained unchanged. In his hand, a small slice of white paper—torn from the past—danced in the air.
With a gust of wind, the paper lifted itself from his palm and floated away.
Haruto sighed.
And ran.
Cue: Hussein Bolt mode.
He dashed across the deck, avoiding girls in swimsuits and awkward questions, finally making it to his cabin. Slamming the door shut, he collapsed on the chair, muttering:
"A peaceful day... is a myth."
His eyes moved across the room. A pair of binoculars. A dustbin overflowing with banana peels. One peel clung desperately to the rim like a survivor of a shipwreck.
His stomach growled.
"Time for lunch..." he sighed, dragging himself to the onboard cafeteria.
But fate had other plans.
"All things are gone," said the cafeteria worker, with an apologetic shrug.
Haruto groaned, turned, and slouched back to his room.
On the way, he noticed a commotion.
Ibuki stood alone, her knee scraped, glaring at a group of students whispering too loudly to be innocent. A small drama unfolded as Haruto paused nearby.
Before he could step in, a sharp grip pulled him backward.
"Haruto!"
It was her.
Black-eyed girl.
Dressed casually but sharply observant.
"Where should we go?" she asked with a glint in her eyes.
Haruto looked around, then pointed toward the stern.
"Back of the ship. Less people, more air."
They walked side by side, silence between them. When they reached the secluded area, the waves whispered below and gulls cried above.
Then—Haruto slipped.
"Why is my life so miserable—!" he yelled mid-fall, landing on his back with a crunch.
A garbage bin nearby tilted comically.
Banana peels flew out in dramatic slow motion.
One peel splashed into the muddy water trailing behind the boat, floating like a tiny failed raft.
Black-eyed girl looked down at him, arms crossed.
"You deserve it," she said flatly.
"You touched my chest."
Haruto, lying in the mess, let out a long sigh.
"Can I just reset my life…" he muttered, staring at the sky, while the ocean quietly mocked him with its endless waves.
The scene shifts to the luxurious cruise ship, Speranza, gliding smoothly over the azure waves.
Amidst this, our protagonist, Haruto, stands at the ship's railing, the sea breeze tousling his hair. He gazes out at the endless horizon, a slice of white paper clutched in his hand. Without warning, the wind snatches the paper away, sending it fluttering into the distance. Haruto watches it go, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face.
Haruto's Inner Monologue:
"Great. There goes my shopping list. Now how will I remember to buy those limited-edition noodles?"
Suddenly, the ship's intercom crackles to life, and the authoritative voice of their teacher, Sae Chabashira, echoes across the deck.
Chabashira: "Attention all students. Please gather in the main hall immediately for an important announcement."
A collective groan rises from the students, but they comply, making their way to the hall. Haruto trails behind, hands in his pockets.
Haruto's Inner Monologue:
"Maybe they're announcing an all-you-can-eat buffet. That would make this trip worthwhile."
In the main hall, Chabashira stands before the assembled students, her expression as stern as ever.
Chabashira: "I will now explain the details of your next special test."
The room falls silent, anticipation hanging thick in the air.
Chabashira: "Starting tomorrow, you will all be participating in a survival test on a deserted island. The test will last one week. Each class will be assigned a designated area on the island, and your objective is to survive using the resources available to you."
A ripple of shock courses through the students.
Haruto's Inner Monologue:
"Survival test? On a deserted island? This isn't some reality TV show. I didn't sign up for 'Classroom of the Elite: Castaway Edition.'"
Chabashira: "During this period, you will earn points based on your actions. These points can be used to purchase additional supplies or comforts. However, be mindful: any unnecessary luxuries will cost you valuable points."
Haruto's mind races.
Haruto's Inner Monologue:
"So, no five-star meals or cozy beds. Guess my dream of lounging in a hammock with a mocktail is out the window."
Chabashira: "Furthermore, each class will appoint a leader. Identifying the opposing class's leader will earn you additional points. Protect your leader's identity at all costs."
The students exchange uneasy glances, the weight of the challenge sinking in.
Haruto's Inner Monologue:
"Great. A week without Wi-Fi, gourmet food, or my comfy bed. Just what I always wanted."
As the announcement concludes, the students disperse, murmuring among themselves about strategies and concerns. Haruto remains seated, staring blankly ahead.
Haruto's Inner Monologue:
"Note to self: Avoid becoming the leader. High risk, zero perks. Also, find out if coconuts can be used as pillows."
With a resigned sigh, he rises and heads toward his cabin, mentally preparing for the unexpected adventure ahead.