The morning unfolded as usual.
But today, our teacher brought an important announcement: the Survival Island Battle.
The entire Class A would be sent to an isolated island for three days, where each student's strength, intelligence, and survival skills would be thoroughly tested. No teachers would supervise us directly. No outside help. Just ourselves, our teammates—and potential enemies.
Dan had shone brightly in that battle. He was one of the last two standing, alongside Kiana. The two of them worked together with such incredible synergy that everyone was shocked. But what no one knew, except me, was that Dan had accidentally discovered an ancient artifact buried deep within the island a strange bracelet that could display a person's emotions as glowing words before your eyes. I still had no idea how it ended up there, but I was certain of one thing: I wanted it. If I had that bracelet, maybe I could finally understand the feelings others tried so hard to hide.
During lunch break, I sat with Lucy and Sachi under the shade of a tree near the training grounds. The soft sunlight filtered through the leaves, painting glimmers of light on the ground around us.
"That battle... sounds kind of scary," Sachi said quietly, eyes distant. "It's not just fighting. It's surviving. If I end up alone in the forest, I'd probably panic."
"That's why it's important to stay calm and analyze the situation," Lucy replied, her voice firm but gentle. "Whether it's a fight or survival, keeping a cool head is key."
I nodded. "I'm more curious about how people will cooperate. We're classmates, after all. It's not easy to fight against someone you know."
"As for me... I don't think I could really fight Yuto," Sachi said, turning to me with a small smile. "I'd get distracted too easily."
Before I could react, I noticed Lucy lower her head, brushing a fallen leaf off her lap. She didn't say a word, only smiled softly, but her eyes glanced at me—subtle and unreadable.
"If he loses focus during the battle, I'll be the one to remind him," Lucy said, still calm as always. Yet somehow... my heart skipped a beat.
I gave a sheepish laugh, trying to hide my flustered state. Both of them were far too kind... and I was keeping a secret I couldn't tell anyone, the bracelet Dan had found. It was still hidden somewhere on that island.
I glanced at Lucy. The sunlight shimmered in her crimson eyes.
"But... we can work together to survive and aim for a high rank, right?" I said, keeping my tone casual. "Of course, only with people we trust... and wouldn't mind sharing space with."
Lucy immediately turned away, but not before I caught the faint blush on her ears. She awkwardly ran her hand through her side-tied golden hair and muttered in a quiet voice.
"I... um... if it's necessary, I'll consider it."
I smiled inwardly. Coming from her, that was as good as a "yes."
"Sounds fun!" Sachi exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "A team of three would work, right? We could gather supplies, share food, build a shelter... like a camping trip!"
"Except for the part where we might get ambushed at any time," I replied, still smiling.
Lucy didn't look at me, but I felt her glance my way, only to quickly avert her eyes. Maybe she didn't expect me to say that in front of Sachi. Or maybe... she was embarrassed?
I clenched my fist slightly. Maybe this time, I won't have to fight alone.
---
The final class passed in silence, but my mind was completely elsewhere.
To prepare for the survival battle tomorrow, I needed a detailed plan. Especially since the event's rules limited how many items we could bring, I had to be smart about what to pack. I remembered that the island's temperature dropped sharply at night. If I didn't prepare properly, the cold alone could be dangerous.
While mentally listing essential supplies, a certain idea sparked in my mind—one that could help me bend the item limit rule just a bit.
Naki, a quiet girl in our class with soft purple hair tied in a ponytail and a tiny flower hair tie, came to mind. She rarely talked, but had surprisingly sharp eyes. Recently, I'd noticed her glancing toward Arisu during lunch breaks in the cafeteria. Even though Arisu always kept his aloof "cool guy" act, Naki's eyes... clearly gave her away.
She had a crush.
After class, I told Lucy and Sachi I had something to take care of, then made my way over to Naki. She was slowly packing up her books. On her wrist was what I had my eye on—a bracelet with a pale purple gem that shimmered in the late sunlight.
A spatial storage bracelet. A rare artifact that let the wearer store real items in a separate space. And while the teacher did say "items will be limited," he never mentioned we couldn't use artifacts.
Which meant, if I could borrow that bracelet, I could carry everything I needed for tomorrow.
"Naki," I called out gently.
She looked up, slightly surprised. "Yuto? Did you need something?"
I stepped closer and lowered my voice. "I want to borrow your spatial bracelet. Just for the duration of the survival event. I'll return it right after."
She froze for a second, instinctively covering her wrist with her hand. "Huh? You want to borrow... this?"
I nodded, not beating around the bush. "I need to prepare a few essentials. Warm clothes, some medical supplies, dry food. I can't carry them all by hand, but the rules don't say anything about borrowing artifacts, right?"
She didn't respond, clearly hesitant. I gave her a light smile and leaned in slightly.
"In exchange, I'll introduce you to Arisu."
Her ears turned red in an instant. "Wha—! That's not—!"
"You don't like him? Then why do you always sit near him in the cafeteria?" I tilted my head, teasing just a bit.
Naki turned away, gripping her bag straps. "It's just a coincidence."
I shrugged. "Coincidence or not, it's a chance, right? I won't force you to do anything. I'll just make the introduction. What happens after that... is up to you."
She went quiet for a while, then finally nodded.
I smiled. "That's more than enough. Thanks, Naki."
With a flustered but trusting expression, she removed the bracelet and placed it in my hand. I tucked it carefully into my inner coat pocket and gave her a small, grateful bow.
A small strategy had fallen into place. Now, all I had to do was pack my supplies... and get ready. Because this battle wasn't just about magic. It was about trust, teamwork
And maybe, emotions too.