The gentle sway of the cruise ship ended in the early morning, replaced by the hard jolt of boots stepping on sand.
The students of Advanced Nurturing High School stood in rows, gazing at the vast, uninhabited island before them. Trees swayed in the wind, the ocean lapped at the shore, and the call of gulls filled the air.
For a moment, it felt like a vacation again. But then our homeroom teacher shattered the illusion.
Sae Chabashira stood on the rocky pier, clipboard in hand, her voice sharp and steady.
"This is your next special test. For one week, you will survive on this island using only the resources you can secure. At the end of the test, the class with the most points will be declared the winner."
Murmurs spread instantly. Students shifted uneasily, already picturing starvation and mosquito bites.
"Each class will begin with 300 points," she continued. "You may spend these points to purchase supplies, tools, or facilities. Every purchase reduces your score. Points will also be deducted for rules violations, such as using forbidden areas or failing to maintain your campsite."
A student raised his hand nervously. "W-what if we run out of points?"
"Then you suffer," Chabashira replied coldly. "If you waste your resources, you'll live with the consequences."
She flipped a page on her clipboard.
"Now, the critical rule: Leadership. Each class must choose a leader. This leader's identity will remain hidden from other classes. However, at the end of the test, classes may guess the leaders of their rivals. A correct guess will steal 50 points from that class. Protecting your leader's identity is as vital as surviving the island."
The air thickened with tension. Hirata paled; Horikita's eyes sharpened; Sudō groaned under his breath.
And me? I simply listened.
Leadership wasn't a burden. It was an opportunity.
After the rules explanation, each class was sent ashore to find their campsites.
Class B marched off together, Ichinose leading with bright energy. Class A moved with rigid order, Katsuragi barking instructions. Class C scattered noisily, Ryuen's laughter echoing through the trees.
And Class D? We stumbled onto a riverbank clearing, almost by chance.
"This spot's good," Hirata said, trying to reassure the group. "We have water, some shade, and enough space for tents. It's perfect!"
Most of the class nodded, though Horikita frowned. "It's too obvious. Other classes might find us easily."
"Better to be comfortable," Sudō countered. "We'll crush anyone who shows up!"
Chaos, as usual.
But while they argued, I slipped away.
I found Chabashira near the teacher station, where supplies were distributed. She raised an eyebrow when I approached alone.
"What is it, Miyamoto?"
"I want to register as the leader," I said quietly.
Her eyes narrowed. "Interesting. Your classmates are still fighting over it, aren't they?"
"Which is why none of them will suspect me. Horikita and Hirata will think the other volunteered. Ayanokoji won't bother. I'll keep the role hidden — even from them."
For a long moment, she studied me. Then, with the faintest smirk, she marked her clipboard.
"Very well. You're the leader of Class D."
A hidden dagger, sharp and unseen.
Next, the points.
Other students whispered about saving them, stretching their supplies. But hesitation was death in survival.
I handed over all 300 points without blinking.
"Food meal rations. A portable toilet. A boys' tent."
The staff distributed the gear. Heavy crates of rations, a compact sanitation unit, and a sturdy tent that would shield at least half the class.
When I returned to camp, dragging the supplies behind me, the students gasped.
"Wha—Miyamoto, where did you get all that?!" Hirata exclaimed.
"Teacher station," I replied calmly. "I thought it'd be better to secure essentials before they run out."
"But the points—!" Horikita started, eyes wide.
"Gone," I said simply.
The camp erupted in complaints.
"Are you insane?!""Now we'll end with zero points!""We can't win like this!"
Hirata tried to calm them. "W-wait, everyone! He probably thought about our survival first…"
But they didn't know the truth. They didn't know that the hidden Leader was me — and that those points, spent early, ensured our survival while preserving our ability to bluff.
Sometimes losing on paper meant winning in reality.
That night, I gathered my own group in secret.
We sat apart from the others, the crackle of the fire masking our voices.
"We'll split into teams of three," I said. "Exploration is vital. Every unclaimed spot we register gives us bonus points. But the key is disguise — no one must suspect I'm the leader."
They nodded.
"Team one: me, Yukimura, and Airi.
Team two: Akito, Haruka, and Kyosuke.
Team three: Wataru, Mei, and An."
Haruka tilted her head. "You're making it sound like we're… independent."
"Exactly," I said. "The class thinks we're just helping Hirata and Horikita. In truth, we'll cover more ground than anyone. If we find unclaimed spots, we take them quietly. Don't report it loudly. Just let me know."
Akito grinned. "Got it. We'll be your shadows."
Airi fidgeted nervously, but Yukimura adjusted his glasses with determination.
"Then it's settled," I said. "While the rest of Class D argues, we'll win in silence."
The next morning, chaos struck early.
Koenji — self-proclaimed "paragon of strength" — collapsed after only a few hours of chopping wood and carrying supplies.
He wailed dramatically, clutching his stomach. "A magnificent body such as mine should not be wasted on menial labor! I require sustenance! Comfort!"
When no one indulged him, he stormed off into the forest. Hours later, the teachers retrieved him — a voluntary dropout.
The rest of Class D fumed. "One man down already?""What a joke…"
But for me, it was expected. Koenji was never a piece worth playing on this board.
Exploration Begins
Our trio — me, Yukimura, and Airi — set off first.
The forest was dense, roots snaking across the ground, mosquitoes buzzing incessantly. Airi clung to her camera, snapping quick photos of landmarks. She startled easily, but her camera became surprisingly useful — documenting routes, marking trees, recording spots without wasting memory.
"Good thinking," I told her once. She blushed, nearly tripping over a root.
Yukimura, on the other hand, kept us organized, measuring distance with his watch and marking paths with sticks. His logical mind grounded us.
By midday, we found a rocky outcrop near the stream. I checked the map device the school had provided. It blinked: Unclaimed Spot.
I placed the card on the scanner. A beep confirmed our claim. Bonus points secured.
"First one down," I said, slipping the card away.
Airi smiled faintly. Yukimura adjusted his glasses, satisfied.
Across the island, our other two teams worked as well. By evening, they returned with similar news — two more unclaimed spots registered.
Three bonuses in one day. Quiet victories no one else would know.
Not all was peaceful.
While scouting, Akito's team crossed paths with Class C. Ryuen spotted them instantly, his grin wide.
"Well, well. Class D's little mice are wandering in the wolf's den."
Akito reported later how he'd kept calm, feigning innocence, pretending they were just "lost." Ryuen had laughed and let them go — but not without a warning.
"Careful, kids. The island eats the weak."
Meanwhile, my team encountered Class B. Ichinose waved cheerfully, offering to share supplies. Her group carried extra water bottles, clearly purchased with points.
"You can always come to us if you need anything!" she said brightly.
Her kindness was dangerous. Every favor became a debt. We politely declined, moving on.
By the time we returned, exhaustion weighed heavy.
But unlike other classes, we had food rations. Unlike other classes, we had a functioning toilet. Unlike other classes, we had a real tent.
Class D ate well, relieved beyond words. Even those who had complained earlier now praised the "genius" of buying supplies.
Only Horikita scowled. "You acted without permission. That recklessness will cost us."
I met her glare calmly. "And yet tonight we're fed and sheltered."
She clicked her tongue and turned away.
The fire crackled. Classmates laughed weakly, relieved after a hard day. But I sat apart, my group around me.
Airi leaned against the log beside me, camera on her lap. Yukimura adjusted his glasses, already reviewing tomorrow's route. Haruka hummed quietly, Mei and An whispered together, Akito and Wataru stretched their tired limbs.
My shadow network. My hidden team.
The class thought Hirata and Horikita carried them. In truth, survival rested on the supplies I had secured, the bonus points we quietly earned.