'This jam is quite good. The sweetness is just right, not too overpowering.'
'The texture of this shaved ice is excellent, with perfectly sized and textured ice particles.'
'Even in a regular dessert shop, you might not find shaved ice of this quality. Even in school, it would cost a lot of points—but on this cruise, all entertainment is free. I guess I'll take back what I said earlier about the school being inhumane. This is actually pretty great.'
Saiki Kusuo preferred taking tests indoors rather than under the sun.
Fully enjoying his meal, Saiki only noticed the footsteps approaching him.
"Saiki... Saiki-kun..."
Saiki turned to see Sakura Airi.
"Sakura."
Saiki nodded, greeting her.
Perhaps due to the previous incident, Sakura's personality had improved. Though still unnoticed in class, she now greeted Saiki daily and occasionally others.
"Is something wrong?" Saiki asked.
"No, not really... It's just too crowded outside... It's quieter in here..."
Sakura hesitated, feeling uncomfortable in the crowd.
'I just saw how Saiki-kun eats... He's so different when he's eating...'
Sakura's thoughts were heard by Saiki, who slowed his eating.
Just then, the ship's announcement echoed.
"Attention students. If you have time, please gather on the deck. We're approaching an island. You'll soon see a very meaningful view."
'Ugh, I don't want to join the crowd,' Saiki thought.
Using his X-ray vision, he saw the deck already packed with people enjoying the view—a scene he'd already witnessed earlier.
Before the cruise, Saiki had overheard the teacher's thoughts about the trip's exam: surviving a week on a small island.
After the ship set sail, Saiki went to the bathroom, teleported to the island, studied its environment, and returned to the ship—all unnoticed.
'They built an artificial island for this exam? That's over the top,' Saiki thought, already planning when to teleport home from the island.
As mealtime approached, the restaurant filled. Sudō Ken and others entered.
"Saiki, you're still here!"
"Oh, Sakura's here too!"
Seeing Sudō and his friends, Sakura panicked, stammered a greeting, and quickly left.
"Was Sakura just talking to you, Saiki?" Ike Kanji asked, surprised.
'Sakura's usually quiet in class, and Saiki's not much better... In a way, they're alike?'
Saiki ignored Ike's thoughts, noticing the growing crowd and preparing to leave.
Sudō and his friends studied the menu, overwhelmed by the options.
"What to eat?!"
"So many foreign dishes!"
"And it's all free, no points needed!"
The trio's loud chatter annoyed nearby diners.
'Why are they so loud?'
'So annoying!'
'Are they from Class C? C and D aren't much different—still just rejects!'
'I should leave before I'm associated with them,' Saiki thought, standing up.
"Listen, this isn't a place for trash like you," a boy cutting steak said disdainfully to Sudō.
"What did you say?" Sudō snapped, approaching him.
The boy remained smug, ignoring Sudō.
"Trash should eat trash food. Why not go eat burgers?"
'Burgers don't deserve that,' Saiki thought.
"You got a problem with burgers?" Sudō's anger grew, grabbing the boy's collar.
As tension rose, the boy's companion spoke sternly.
"Yuhiko, don't provoke others with such silly reasons."
"Katsuragi..."
"Even on vacation, poor behavior can cost points. Remember you're from Class A."
The man was tall, his bald head striking.
'Lightbulb,' Saiki thought inexplicably.
'Is he a teacher? I've never seen him. Teachers eating with students... Lightbulb... Stop thinking about it! His bald head is too distracting.'
Saiki tried looking away but kept glancing back.
"That's Katsuragi Kōhei, Class A's leader. The other is Totsuka Yahiko, his follower," Ike whispered.
Saiki looked shocked for the first time.
'That bald man, looking like a middle-aged man, is a student? Our age?'
"No need to be so surprised, Saiki," Ike said, noticing Saiki's reaction.
Saiki rarely interacted with other classes, especially A.
"Learn some manners and don't bother others," Katsuragi told Sudō, shaking his head.
"Whatever," Sudō muttered, glaring at Totsuka.
"Sudō, let's eat somewhere else," Ike said, patting his shoulder. "Saiki, let's go."
'Don't act like I'm with you,' Saiki thought, following reluctantly.
Before leaving, he used telekinesis to flip Totsuka's plate.
"Ahhh! Hot!" Totsuka screamed.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ship, Horikita Suzune and Ayanokōji Kiyotaka sat in a booth.
"Ayanokōji, are you sure you didn't make that recording?" Suzune asked seriously.
"Believe me, I didn't. It's likely an internal issue in Class D," Ayanokōji replied.
"Probably..." Suzune nodded, though unconvinced.
"Yo, Suzune," a casual voice called.
Ryūen Kakeru approached with Albert and Ibuki Mio.
"Don't call me that," Suzune said coldly, avoiding eye contact.
"Yo," Ryūen smiled, his sharp gaze on Suzune.
"Was it you who made the recording?"
Ryūen had investigated the recording incident daily, confiscating phones and checking records—to no avail.
Now, he suspected someone from Class C.
"Why would I tell you?" Suzune replied. "Maybe your behavior in class made someone dislike you."
Ayanokōji observed silently.
'Ryūen's reaction suggests they've ruled out an internal issue. They're likely testing us.'
"Is that so?" Ryūen narrowed his eyes. "I'll find the culprit and deal with them. See you then!"
Ryūen left, leaving Suzune serious.
She disapproved of Ryūen's violent leadership but shared his curiosity about the recording.
The ship's announcement interrupted.
"Students, wear gym clothes and gather on the deck."
"What's this about?" Suzune frowned.
"This school's unusual. It's not just a regular vacation," Ayanokōji said.
"Right, let's go."
Minutes later, all first-year students gathered on the deck, including Saiki.
"Why are we here? Are we arriving?"
"We're supposed to stay on an island, but why gym clothes?"
"Probably some activity."