Starting in class C: not completely defective.

Arc 2 chapter 4: island exam part 3

It was the second day now, and the party was in full swing. We had people on jet-ski's in the ocean, or sunbathing on the beach. I had inadvertently become the master chef of the group, manning the barbecue. It was fine, though. I liked cooking.
Earlier this morning, we'd sent Komiya and Kondou to class D to check on things. We told them to give class D an invitation to come here. If all went as we planned it, they would be driven into a false sense of security when we all retired, thinking everyone had gone.
They came back, having completed their objective.

About 30 minutes later, I saw 2 class D students walking towards us: Kushida and Horikita. They looked surprised at all the fun we were having. I motioned to Ryuuen, who looked to where I was pointing, and smiled.
They walked towards us, so he sent Ishizaki over to greet them. I left Kondou in charge of the barbecue, and went to sit near Ryuuen.
"This is absolutely outrageous" I heard Horikita say.
Their class obviously were going for the conservative "save points" strategy.
"I thought someone was sniffing around. It's you, huh? What business do you have with me?" Ryuuen said.
"You seem to be doing quite well for yourself. This looks like a really fun party." Kushida smiled.
Ryuuen, tanned and clad in his swimwear, laid back in his chair. He flashed his white teeth at them.
"Just as you see. We're enjoying our summer vacation."
He spread his arms wide, proudly showing off the extravaganza.
"Hello, Ayanokouji. It's been quite some time. In fact, I don't think we've spoken to each other since the first day."
Horikita greeted me.
"Yes, it's been far too long Horikita. How have you been?" I asked.
"This is a test. Do you not understand what that means? You don't seem to understand the rules..." she addressed Ryuuen, ignoring my greeting. Ryuuen acted disappointed.
"I'm shocked. Does that mean you're offering help even to an enemy like me?" He asked.
"If the person on top is incompetent, those below him will suffer. This is pitiful. I can't believe you went along with this, Ayanokouji." Horikita said.
"First off: hurtful. Secondly: I don't control the class, you know. I couldn't stop them having a nice, normal vacation." I said, in mock anguish. Ryuuen simply smiled, grabbing the bottle of water placed next to his walkie-talkie.
"Wow, how many points did you spend. To be able to have this much fun, I mean." Kushida asked, giggling and bubbly as ever.
"Hmm. Well, I didn't make a precise calculation." Ryuuen responded guilelessly. "But, as you can see, we're enjoying our summer vacation. We're not your enemies. Do you understand?"
Horikita, finding our behaviour incomprehensible, pressed her fingers against her forehead and wrinkled her brows as if she had a headache.
"We're trying to warn you. You're an idiot."
"Which one of us is the idiot? Me? You?"
Ryuuen would accept no insults, and threw them back at Horikita.
"You want to try surviving on this deserted island in this shitty hear? Don't joke. Class D, the lowest of us all, had to put up with starvation, heat, and futility just to save a measly 100 or 200 class points. It makes me laugh."
"This test is about perseverance, ingenuity, and cooperation. It would likely have been impossible for you from the start. You can't establish a satisfactory plan."
At least Horikita had fallen for our plan, hook, line and sinker. It wouldn't have been a stretch to think Kushida believed it as well.
"Cooperation? Don't make me laugh. People betray each other with ease. People lie. Relationships built on trust just aren't viable. You can only trust yourself. If you've finished your reconnaissance, leave. But if you wish, we'd welcome you here. You're free to enjoy yourselves, whether it's to eat meat or play on the jet-skis. Or perhaps you would prefer to have a different kind of fun with me? I can prepare a tent for...personal use."
I slapped Ryuuen's arm and made a 'not cool, bro' face. He clicked his tongue.
"That's not the kind of answer I'd expect to hear from someone who declared war on us." Horikita said, referencing the Sudou incident we'd created, and that author-san was too lazy to write 😏.
"I absolutely loathe hard work."
(Haha me too)
"Patience? Saving? You must be joking? This is the way we do things in class 1-C. No more, no less." Ryuuen stated.
"Right. Well then, do as you please. It's convenient for us, anyway."
Horikita had changed her mind. Class C wasn't her enemy, so we weren't a problem.
"Working up a sweat in order to evaluate other classes is such a pain."
Horikita turned on her heel to walk away, but paused.
"There is one more piece of evidence. You know Ibuki, of course?"
"Yeah, she's a member of our class. What about her?"
"Her face is swollen. Who did that to her?"
So Ibuki had made contact with class D. I wondered if they'd invited her into their camp. While Horikita was nearly convinced that Ryuuen was the culprit, she purposefully asked in a roundabout way.
"Ah. She ran out of here rather suddenly. She went looking for help from another class in the end? Pathetic girl."
Ryuuen snorted in disgust, then laid back in his chair.
"There are helpless idiots in this world. A ruler doesn't need subordinates who disobey orders. We determined that I would use our class points to my liking. That's the fact of the matter. Besides, it's pointless to raise the banner of revolution against the ruling class."
"In other words, Ibuki-san clashed with you when you wanted to spend points?" Kushida asked.
"Well, you could say that. That's why she got a light punishment."
He made a gesture like slapping someone's cheek.
"Another boy defied me as well, so I had him driven out. I heard he didn't die, so he's probably off somewhere eating grass and insects to survive."
Ryuuen was doing a really good job of acting. It pained him slightly to have to hit Ibuki. I mean, he probably didn't feel that bad about Kaneda, as it was what he did most days.
"You...used up all your points on the first day, didn't you?" Horikita asked.
Even if we'd used up all of the 300 points we'd been given, there wouldn't be any penalties. The effect was nonexistent.
"Yes, as you said. I used all of our points."
"What short-sighted thinking. You're happy right now using your points, but what are you planning to do after the party's over?"
"Kukuku. What should I do, I wonder? Well, I suppose that plain, ordinary people can only engage in plain, ordinary thinking. You're desperate to protect the points you were given. Looking around for the leaders, desperately holding spots, working up a sweat running through the forest. Absolutely worthless."
Even though they'd confronted us with facts, Ryuuen laughed and showed no sign of panic.
"Fine. Let's head back, Kushida. If we stay here longer, I'm only going to start feeling ill."
"See you later, Suzune."
"I don't know exactly where you found that out, but do not call me by my first name so casually."
Ryuuen had done some investigating.
"Well, I rather like forceful women. I'll make you submit to me eventually. When the time comes, it will be the ultimate pleasure."
When he said that, Ryuuen touched his crotch under his bathing suit, clearly trying to provoke Horikita. Horikita's eyes, full of contempt, turned her back and walked away. I slapped Ryuuen on the arm again for the second time to make him stop being a creep, even if he was just acting.
Kushida also waved goodbye at us, eyes flashing for a brief moment, then followed Horikita.
"Do you think Kushida believed us?" Ryuuen asked.
"I think she did. At least, she didn't figure out the entire plan." I said.
"Good, good. Now, chef Ayanokouji, I want a burger, could you perhaps make me one?"
"Sure thing." I said, going back to the grill.

Authors notes
2250 words
Finally, some semi-original content.
Kushida didn't figure out class C's strategy.
Horikita is still neutral, but now doesn't like Ryuuen.
Kouenji has retired, because he didn't want to live like an ape.
We passed 6k reads. Back in chapter 10, I said I would make a lemon chapter for Kiyo and Fuka. I wasn't expecting the reads to go up so quick. Eek 😱 😥 🍋.
Not much else to say.
I hope you're all doing well and I hope you enjoyed.