Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

The next morning.

The main restaurant of the luxury cruise ship was still enveloped in a quiet atmosphere.

Most of the students who were having a blast in the swimming pool and theater late last night are now fast asleep.

In the empty restaurant sat a man who seemed completely out of place on the ship.

Kaoru Hanayama

The Hawaiian shirt he wore yesterday was smeared with shark blood and seawater after his deep-sea battle.

With a vacation in mind, I didn't even bring my school uniform.

As a result, Huashan could only pull out his most familiar outfit.

A pristine white suit without a single stain, and shiny leather shoes on his feet.

On his table sat a thick-cut T-bone steak, cooked to medium-rare, and a full glass of whiskey.

“…………”

Huashan quietly cut the meat with a knife, put it in his mouth, and then moistened his throat with whiskey.

Although his movements were steady, the problem lay with the service provider.

(What's wrong with this person!?)

The young waiter, waiting a little further away, trembled slightly as he held the tray, inwardly screaming.

(There should only be students and teachers on this ship, right?! This person with such a scarred face, could he be a teacher?! Eating steak and chugging whiskey since early morning, he looks more like a yakuza leader!)

Huashan didn't even glance at the waiter, but silently continued chewing his beef.

Soon, it was past 8:30 in the morning, and the number of students in the cafeteria began to increase little by little.

"Ah, Hanayama! You're up so early!"

The first person to spot him was Ken Sudo, who was carrying a plate piled high with fried noodles.

But as he approached the Hanayama dining table, Sudo suddenly stopped.

Kanji Ike and Haruki Yamauchi, who were following behind, were also taken aback when they saw what Hanazon looked like.

"Feed, feed... Huashan, what's with that outfit of yours?"

"He already exudes enough presence normally, but when he puts on that standard formal suit, he looks exactly like a yakuza boss!"

Ike and Yamanouchi made sarcastic remarks while forcing stiff smiles.

Matsushita Chiaki, Kushida Kikyo, and other girls who arrived a little later also covered their mouths with their hands, their eyes wide with shock.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Huashan's expression remained unchanged, and he did not utter a word.

He didn't intend to reveal that he was a true yakuza, but out of a sense of righteousness, he also didn't intend to tell those vile lies.

That silence, transformed into an even more profound and powerful force, overwhelmed the classmates, and the air became slightly stiff.

"Hahaha! What nonsense are you talking about!"

Just then, Karuizawa Kei interrupted with a stiff laugh.

She had personally witnessed the tattoo of the chivalrous knight carved on Huashan's back before, and was the only one who knew that he was definitely a genuine yakuza student.

She was sweating profusely and desperately tried to change the subject.

"Hanayama-kun, well... his fashion sense is really good! Because it's super hard to wear a white suit like this well! Right? That's it!"

Karuizawa maintained his stiff smile and gave Hanayama a look.

Huashan put down his wine glass, let out a short breath, and then simply echoed the words.

"It's a vacation. It's only natural to dress presentably."

That sentence had a strange persuasive power.

The students just thought, "Well, it's Huashan after all..." and developed a strange sense of identification, and went back to eat breakfast.

"Don't you feel hot dressed so formally in the summer?"

Horikita Suzune, sitting at the next table, sighed silently and put down her cup of black tea.

When the hand points to nine o'clock.

Suddenly, an announcement came over the ship's loudspeaker.

"All students, please gather on deck by 9:30 AM after confirming that you have not forgotten any personal belongings. We will then begin disembarking in an orderly manner."

When the broadcast was heard, the students in the cafeteria cheered in unison.

"Is the destination a resort island?"

"Private beach! BBQ party! Bonfire party!"

Students, their minds filled with summer vacation fantasies, walked briskly toward the foredeck, carrying bags full of swimming rings, beach volleyballs, and sunscreen.

Huashan finished his last sip of whiskey and slowly stood up.

On the deck, intense sunlight poured down.

On the other side of the railing is a small, lush island covered by a vast forest.

Chabashira Sae, carrying the attendance roster and a thick stack of manuals, walked up to Class C.

She swept her cold gaze over the students who were hugging their swimming rings and laughing and making noise, then spoke.

"Looks like you guys had a lot of fun."

The whispers in Class C abruptly ceased with that cold voice.

"Your luxurious vacation is over. From now on, you will be taking a special test for a week on this deserted island."

"An exam!?"

"Are you kidding me?! Wasn't it supposed to be a luxury trip?!"

"Taking an exam on an island with absolutely nothing here? I've never even heard of that!"

A wave of discontent and resentment erupted instantly, and the students voiced their protest in unison.

Chazhu completely ignored the students' reactions and opened the manual in his hand.

"Quiet. No matter how much you complain, it won't change anything. Listen carefully, the rules for this exam are—"

But her words were cut off at that moment.

The air suddenly became heavy, making it feel as if all the oxygen on the deck had disappeared.

Sudo and Ike, who had been loudly complaining just moments before, were completely speechless, and they took a step back, their knees trembling.

As for Karuizawa, she even lost strength in her legs. If Kushida hadn't supported her, she probably would have collapsed on the deck.

Chasaki Sae felt a chill run down her spine and turned her gaze toward the source of the immense pressure.

Through the dozens of students, they saw Kaoru Hanayama dressed in a pure white suit.

He is slowly raising his head.

In the instant their eyes met, Chabashira saw a terror she would likely never forget for the rest of her life.

Huashan's deep, sharp pupils had completely disappeared.

All that remained in his eyes was the stark white of his eyes.

Huashan was really looking forward to this holiday.

Even killing a great white shark with his bare hands in the ocean yesterday was considered a pleasant pastime during his holiday, and he even drank a glass of whiskey for it.

but.

This woman in front of me actually said she wanted to hold some kind of special exam on a small island with no beach chairs, no chilled drinks, just a place full of trees and insects.

(They're all on vacation...do they still have to study and take exams?)

Although Huashan didn't make a single move, the tangible aura of violence emanating from him seemed poised to shatter the luxury passenger ship completely.