Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

On the forest path, only the sounds of leaves rubbing against each other and dead branches breaking underfoot echoed.

"No. How could I possibly find fruit that looks edible by chance?"

Horikita Suzune wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and sighed softly.

Although it is covered with ferns and many kinds of mushrooms, none of them can be said to be safe to eat.

"If the forest isn't an option, then let's go to the beach."

Kaoru Hanayama, who was walking ahead, changed direction with light steps.

"Are you planning to go fishing? If you're going to use points to rent a fishing rod, you might as well just buy food from the start."

"What points? Just pull out the guys swimming nearby by hand."

Faced with Hanayama's unusual idea, Horikita could only sigh again.

After all, coming from the man who had just smashed a giant wild boar to pieces with his bare hands, these words didn't sound like a joke at all.

Soon, through the gaps in the trees, one could see the white sand beach reflecting the dazzling sunlight.

However, on that beach, a scene completely unrelated to survival on an uninhabited island was presented.

"What? That's incredibly stupid."

Horikita frowned.

Standing on the beach are brightly colored giant parasols and comfortable-looking beach chairs.

The students lying on the bed in their swimsuits, chatting and laughing while holding chilled juices or tropical drinks, were the members of Class D led by Ryu Yuanxiang.

"Oh. What a coincidence, Hanayama. And Horikita too."

Long Yuan, wearing sunglasses under a parasol, spotted the two and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He took two chilled plastic bottles, still dripping with water, from the refrigerator and casually tossed them over here.

"It must be tiring for you to wander around the island in this sweltering heat. Here, take it."

Hanayama easily caught the two bottles with one hand and handed one of them to Horikita without saying a word.

Although the cold touch softened his expression, Horikita's eyes were sharply observing Ryuen's position.

"Did you use up all 300 special points you were allocated?"

"Hehe, I guess so. Anyway, even if we're careful with our money, the points left are pretty limited. The guys in my class are always living on a tight budget. At least let them enjoy themselves like it's a vacation during this exam. That's what being a leader is all about, isn't it?"

Long Yuan shrugged, behaving like an excellent leader who cares for his classmates.

"……Yeah."

Horikita didn't press further, but simply gripped the plastic bottle tightly.

Huashan flicked the cap off the carbonated beverage bottle he had received with his thumb and gulped down half of the liquid in one go.

"Thank you for the meal. It was delicious."

Huashan left only these words behind before turning around and walking towards the rocky coastline.

Horikita followed behind without saying a word.

Horikita's sharp voice only rang out when he was far enough away from the beach and the sound of the waves was enough to drown out his own voice.

"That's a lie. Ryuen-kun's words are complete nonsense."

"Oh?"

"I've calculated the prices of the items listed in the manual. There are sun umbrellas, beach chairs, coolers, and quantities of drinks and food. No matter how high I estimate, the points used would be at most around 150 to 180. Saying that all 300 points were spent is clearly a lie."

Horikita frowned, staring intently at the plastic bottle in his hand.

"On the surface, he pretends to discard points to enjoy himself, trying to lure the other classes into a false sense of security. But then he saves almost half of the remaining points. What is he really up to behind the scenes... He's such a calculating man that it's disgusting."

"It doesn't matter what."

Faced with Hanayama's indifferent reply, Horikita looked at him with an incredulous expression.

"It's probably a conspiracy by another class, how can you be so carefree?"

"What others do behind our backs is none of my business as long as they don't target our territory. Dinner is more important tonight."

What unfolds before you is a rocky beach with jagged rocks.

Waves crashed against the rocks, splashing up white spray.

In the clear, shallow water, you can see the shadows of several fish swimming around.

"Without a fishing rod, how do you plan to catch them?"

"I told you, I'd grab it with my hands."

As he spoke, Huashan stopped at the rocky outcrop and placed his hand on his white suit.

"This is the only set of clothes I have. If it gets wet from the seawater, it will be a hassle to wash it later. I'm going to take it off."

"ha?"

"Turn around."

Horikita paused for a few seconds trying to understand the meaning of the sentence, then raised the corners of his mouth as if he were stunned.

"Are you shy? A man like you who can kill a wild boar with his bare hands is actually worried about taking off his clothes in front of his classmates. What a strange joke."

Despite her sharp tongue, Horikita obediently turned her heels around, facing away from the sea and towards the forest.

(…)

The sound of the tide rising and falling.

A tiny spark of curiosity peeked out from Horikita's heart.

It's not that I have any ulterior motives.

It was merely out of pure observational interest to see what the back of that man with extraordinary power looked like.

"...The more people tell you not to look, the more you want to confirm it; it's human nature."

Muttering something under her breath, as if making an excuse, Horikita turned her neck slightly backward.

Then her breathing literally stopped.

My pupils contracted, and I could feel the blood draining away from my body.

What exists there is definitely not just "a well-trained man's back".

On that rock-like, raised back, there was a huge, brightly colored, and terrifying tattoo.

That was the poignant figure of a man carrying a heavy ancient bell on his back, gazing up at the heavens.

As Hanayama stepped into the sea, Horikita hurriedly looked away.

Deep within her chest, her heart pounded violently like an alarm bell.