In a quiet room, two people sat facing each other. The atmosphere was thick with contained emotions, as if the unspoken words of years were about to burst. One spoke with a trembling voice, while the other listened with almost reverent attention. They were none other than Kayden Osawa and Tsubaki Sakurako.
After all the silences, Kayden had begun to open his heart. He spoke to Sakurako about his life, the struggles he had faced, how he had written a letter hoping to maintain their bond... a letter that, apparently, never reached its destination.
—Kay... I... —Sakurako stammered, her eyes misted with tears—. I'm sorry. I didn't know everything you were going through. In my immaturity, I thought horrible things about you...
She had blamed him for disappearing without saying anything, for leaving her behind. But the truth was that Kayden had been dealing with internal storms that the Sakurako of that time could never have fully understood.
—It's okay, Sakurako —Kayden responded calmly—. I was at fault too. I should have at least called you... But at that moment, I thought a letter would be enough. Now I see that was a mistake.
Sakurako threw herself at him and hugged him tightly, as if trying to erase the distance of all those years in a single gesture.
—Forgive me for how I treated you the other day —she whispered between sobs.
Kayden quickly wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug.
—And forgive me —he said—, for not getting in touch with you after I moved. I failed you.
Sakurako's regret wouldn't disappear overnight, but she had made a decision. She would do everything she could to help Kayden, to support him in whatever he needed. Perhaps by doing so, she could also forgive herself.
—Kay... do you have a partner for the special exam? —she asked, her voice still trembling.
—No, actually... When I saw you, I thought of asking if you'd like to be my partner —he replied, looking at her sincerely.
—Yes! Let me be your partner, Kay —she said, her smile renewed—. I promise I'll give my best. Let's take first place!
—I know how smart you are, Sakurako. I have no doubt... we will make it together.
...
Kayden and Sakurako had finally made peace. Their relationship, though unrelated to the class matters, was important to him, and being able to resolve their differences before the upcoming exam had lifted a weight off his shoulders. With that out of the way, Kayden could fully focus on what lay ahead.
In Class A, all the students had already chosen their partners for the special exam. Thanks to their high individual academic level, it was not difficult to form the required pairs. Unlike other occasions, Kayden didn't play a major strategic role this time. The format of the exam, which focused solely on academic performance, didn't require elaborate maneuvers or complex tactics. The traditional one-on-one tutoring sessions continued, but Kayden decided not to intervene too much.
A few days before the exam, the atmosphere in Class A was unusually relaxed. After everything they had gone through since entering the school —constant tests, ups and downs, unexpected challenges— the students had developed a strong self-confidence. They firmly believed that, no matter what obstacle they faced, they would be able to overcome it.
However, that calm would be interrupted.
Hoshinomiya-sensei entered the classroom with an attitude different from usual. Her smile was more subdued, and her movements more sluggish. She stood in front of the students, gazing at them for a few seconds before speaking.
—Well, guys. As you know, in a few days, you'll present exams that will mark the end of this special exam. But due to some organizational problems —she paused slightly—, the school has had to bring forward some important activities.
—Wait... are you saying we'll have another special exam right after this one? —asked Kanzaki, frowning.
—It won't be immediately after, but it can be considered part of the same exam. What you'll do before the next exam starts is crucial. So, I'll now share the basic information. Further details will be explained later.
The students watched attentively as a new file appeared on their tablets. The heading left no doubt:
PRE-EXAM REPORT"Survival on the Uninhabited Island"
Important Dates:
July 16: Deadline for forming small groups (1 to 3 people).July 19: Departure to the port and boarding the cruise.July 20: Official start of the special exam.August 3: End of the exam, announcement of results, and reward distribution.August 4: Day off aboard the cruise.August 11: Return to school.
What is it about?It's a realistic survival test on an uninhabited island. Students from first, second, and third years will participate.Leadership, intelligence, physical endurance, strategy, and teamwork will be evaluated.The performance of each group will determine the amount of private and class points awarded.Groups with the worst results may face expulsion.
Team Formation:Before the exam, each student must form a small group of between 1 to 3 people from the same grade.During the exam, it will be possible to ally with other groups, forming larger teams of up to 6 people.Parity rule: If the group exceeds 4 people, at least half must be female.Once the group is formed, it cannot be changed under any circumstance.
Special Cards:Each student will receive a special card randomly at the beginning of the exam. It can only be used once, and exchanged once, only with students of the same grade.
Types of available cards:Academic Points BoostPhysical Points BoostActivity RepetitionChange of Meeting PointReward DuplicatorProtection CardGroup ExpansionExtra VoteCamouflage CardEspionage Card
Rewards and Risks:The best groups will receive large amounts of private and class points.The group that takes first place will receive an additional reward.The groups in the last positions may be expelled if they don't have protection or enough points.Up to 6 million private points (1 million per person) can be paid to avoid expulsion.Loans of points are not allowed during the exam.
...
When the document finished loading, the teacher closed her tablet and crossed her arms.
—This is all the information you'll be given for now. The rest will be explained in due time. From this moment on, the most important thing will be that you carefully choose who you will form your group with. Remember, you can ally with students from any class, not just your own.
She paused briefly and added:
—The day after the couples exam ends, early in the morning, the special cards will be randomly handed out. You may negotiate or exchange them —although theft is strictly prohibited. With that said, I wish you good luck for what remains of the current exam, and I advise you to think carefully about who you will team up with for the next stage. Survival on the island will not be easy.
A nervous murmur spread through the classroom as soon as the teacher finished speaking. Hands went up one after another, with questions ranging from the most basic —such as food supplies or the duration of each day— to more serious concerns, like the real extent of the expulsions. It was clear that this special exam was shaping up to be the most demanding one the school had ever posed.
While most reacted with surprise or concern, there was someone who didn't share that collective anxiety.
Kayden was observing the file on his tablet with a slight smile on his lips. It wasn't one of those easily noticeable smiles, but it was there, reflecting something he rarely let show: genuine enthusiasm.
This exam not only promised to be more challenging than any other before... it was also an opportunity. A virgin terrain where strategy, adaptability, and true individual capacity would be tested without structural limitations.
"Finally," he thought. "A stage where I can give my best. No restrictions, no masks… just results."
He looked out at the horizon beyond the window, where the sky was beginning to turn a lighter shade of blue with the arrival of noon.
—I'm looking forward to it —Kayden murmured to himself, with silent conviction—. This will be fun.