In practice, I can issue tasks to my master.

Horikita Suzune attempted to dominate the discourse.

"When school started, you said in your self-introduction that you wanted to be friends with everyone, but your performance lately..."

There's no need to finish your sentence.

Those who understand will naturally understand.

Kikyo Kushida sighed.

Is that strange?

"Because Karuizawa saved us that time, it's normal that she's more popular than me in Class C, which has someone like Ryuen, isn't it?"

"And I haven't distanced myself from everyone, it's just that we haven't been in contact as frequently."

"After all, I can't force them to play with me, can I?"

Horikita Suzune neither confirmed nor denied this.

But her meaning was not that simple.

"But you haven't had much contact with Nangong lately, have you?"

Kikyo Kushida suddenly chuckled, then covered her mouth with her hand and said, "Horikita-kun, don't you know what's going on with Nangong-kun?"

"You can't say that my lack of closeness to Nangong Jun is a problem, can you?"

"And your attitude towards Nangong Jun, isn't it the same as mine, maintaining a polite yet awkward social distance?"

Horikita Suzune nodded and then shook her head.

She explained earnestly, "It's precisely because I know his situation so well that I think your behavior is problematic."

"After all, isn't Karuizawa's current state partly due to your efforts?"

"..."

Kikyo Kushida tried her best to keep her expression in check, but this brief silence already revealed something.

Finally, she said with a smile, "Can't it be that I want to help others achieve their goals? After all, Karuizawa-kun has a lot of feelings for Nangong-kun, doesn't he?"

“I don’t deny that.”

Horikita Suzune's expression and tone remained calm throughout, as if she were simply stating some facts.

"But please forgive my bluntness—something definitely happened between you and Nangong, and that is the only reason you keep your distance from him."

"..."

A look of annoyance flashed across Kikyo Kushida's face.

Originally, because of the information that Nangong Cheng revealed on the second day of school, coupled with Horikita Suzune pointing out in public that her performance was out of place in Class D, her plans to make friends were constantly thwarted.

Then, unexpectedly, Karuizawa Kei even told Horikita Suzune about such private matters. She really couldn't understand what that bitch was after.

How do I increase Nangong Cheng's favorability?

Can't you have any shame?

Anyone who didn't know better would think you're the system owner... Hmm? Wait, could that really be a possibility?

Kikyo Kushida paused for a moment, then looked at Suzune Horikita with a more probing gaze.

"What about Horikita-kun?"

"What happened between you and Nangong Jun? Why does he always include you in everything he does, but he doesn't seem to have any romantic feelings for you? And you're lukewarm towards him too."

"What exactly is your relationship? I'm quite curious about it too."

Horikita Suzune fell silent.

She naturally couldn't let Kushida Kikyo know about the deal she made with Nangong Cheng, or rather, with her brother.

After all, as she wrote in her observation diary, she could not trust Kikyo Kushida—until the latter was honest with her.

So, that concludes the discussion.

Kikyo Kushida, on the contrary, breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, whether facing Horikita Suzune, Nangong Makoto, or even Karuizawa Megumi, she has to be extremely careful, afraid of revealing any clues.

Even though she has already used the "Black History Removal Card", she still has two faces.

This is an unchangeable fact.

If she were discovered, everyone would think she was the mole in the class, so she still needed to maintain appearances.

But as a result, the rate at which she accumulates negative emotions and stress has now doubled compared to when she first started.

"I'm going to the restroom."

"Ah."

Going to the toilet is true.

But the stress relief is also real.

Kikyo Kushida chewed on her "stress-relieving gum," but she could no longer feel the joy of flying on clouds that she had on the first day of school.

In fact, since last month, this thing has been less effective than kicking things.

"Hetui~"

"Useless thing..."

The scene from that night resurfaced in Kikyo Kushida's mind, and her fingers unconsciously reached down to her lower body.

But then she suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself.

"Snapped!"

"Kushida?"

The force was not small, and it sounded particularly crisp in the quiet night, naturally attracting Horikita Suzune's attention.

"It's nothing, I just found a mosquito."

"..."

Kikyo Kushida straightened her clothes, walked back to the campfire without changing her expression, sat down, and then picked up a piece of firewood and threw it in.

The crackling sounds continued.

In the firelight, she seemed to see a faint, indistinct scene.

But... it must be a hallucination caused by too much stress.

How could she possibly have a child with Nangong Cheng?

Or are they from the same nest?

...

...

The next day, oh wait, that's not right.

In short, on the morning of the second day of the deserted island exam, around nine o'clock, Nangong Cheng returned with the three gluttonous friends.

But today, there was one more person greeting them.

"Lord Nangong, I apologize for my unauthorized visit."

Hiyori Shiina took the initiative to step forward and bowed slightly, showing great respect.

She politely glanced at the three girls who had gotten off Nangong Cheng, her expression remaining unchanged.

"Shiina... I didn't expect it to be you."

Nangong Cheng's surprise was genuine. He had guessed that Longyuan would send a spy, but he hadn't expected it to be Shiina Hiyori.

After all, it was Ibuki Mio who came in the original work.

"Did Longyuan send you?"

"……Um."

This is an obvious answer, and Hiyori Shiina readily admitted it.

"So I wonder if Lord Nangong would be willing to take me in? Otherwise, I'll have nowhere to go."

"Then let's stay."

While gesturing to Horikita Suzune not to rush, Nangong Cheng continued, "Since you won't have a chance to touch the key card anyway, why not just consider it a preview of life in Class D?"

Upon hearing this, everyone except Shiina Hitoshi and the person in question changed their expressions.

Especially for Kikyo Kushida, a bold idea popped into her mind almost instantly.

But perhaps she learned from her mistakes, and she is no longer as impetuous as she used to be.

What if this is a trap deliberately set by Nangong Cheng, waiting for her to fall into it? Wouldn't that be the end for her?

Let's wait and see for now.

"In that case, Shiina, you will also take turns keeping watch with us."

Horikita Suzune was not surprised that Nangong Makoto would agree to let Shiina Hiyori stay. After all, even she could guess that this was probably Ryuen's plan, and there was no reason why this man wouldn't have thought of it.

So instead of driving away Shiina Hiyori and letting an unstable element out there, it would be better to use this as a pretext to keep her around for surveillance.

of course.

The main reason is that, because of their shared connection as fellow book lovers, Horikita Suzune was indeed reluctant to send Shiina Hiyori away, which is why she waited for Nangong Cheng to return before making a decision.

After all, if it weren't for Nangong Cheng, she wouldn't have been able to become book friends with Shiina Hiyori, nor would Ryuen have been able to exploit this relationship.

Therefore, he bears the primary responsibility.

"Then please give me your guidance, Mr. Nangong, and everyone else~"

Shiina Hiyori bowed slightly again, her response sounding neither like a refusal nor an acceptance of Nangong Cheng's statement.

"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance," Nangong Cheng said, pointing to a spot not far away. "Shall we talk privately?"

"it is good."

Hiyori Shiina nodded.

The two walked a distance apart.

"Have you eaten?"

"Yes, this breakfast is the last one."

I thought you would go back to the ship.

"why?"

Nangong Cheng glanced at her and said, "Because you look so frail, like a gust of wind could blow you over."

Hiyori Shiina smiled.

That's the truth.

However, times have changed, and she is no longer the weak woman who would be out of breath after running just a few steps.

"Perhaps this is still thanks to Nangong Jun?"

"Ok?"

Nangong Cheng remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he became alert, sensing that Shiina Hiyori was trying to trick him into revealing information.

However, the latter simply skipped over this topic.

"I think after this exam, Class D will become the new Class C, right?"

Are you so sure Longyuan will lose?

"I just have a feeling you'll win."

Hiyori Shiina smoothed the strands of hair around her ears.

"To be honest, when I saw that there were only a few girls like Horikita at Class D's base, and you weren't there, I didn't think Ryuen would win."

Nangong Cheng smiled without saying a word.

"Given the same decision, Longyuan's choice carries the highest risk and the most unstable returns, while your choice..."