Chapter 77: The Traitor
Walking along the forest path, Katsuragi looked back and saw that all the Class C students, except for the sneaky-looking boy with glasses, had followed them, even carving marks on the surrounding tree trunks with small knives.
"Katsuragi-kun, those guys from Class C are still following us. What should we do now?" Totsuka Yahiko asked, sounding anxious.
"There's no need. Don't worry about them. Those guys aren't familiar with the terrain around here. We just need to walk a little faster to shake them off," Katsuragi glanced at the Class C students trailing far behind, and said softly: "Let's go to the Tree Trunk Base on the east side."
The Tree Trunk Base Katsuragi mentioned wasn't far from the Hillside Base; it would take less than ten minutes to get there if they were familiar with the terrain. The Class A group quickened their pace and soon disappeared from the sight of the Class C group.
After confirming that the Class C students couldn't follow them, the three students holding key cards walked up to the occupation device installed on the tree trunk and occupied the base. Taking this opportunity, Katsuragi quickly took out his walkie-talkie and pressed the talk button.
"This is Katsuragi Kouhei. Yukinoshita-san, I have something I need to discuss with you. Please respond if you hear me."
"Katsuragi-kun, why did you suddenly cut off the communication just now?" Before Yukinoshita could speak, Shimizu Naoki, who had been excitedly sharing the discovery of a new base, couldn't help but interrupt when he heard Katsuragi's voice.
"I apologize, Shimizu-kun. We encountered a situation earlier," Katsuragi said after gently exhaling.
"But this base..." Shimizu's words over the walkie-talkie were quickly covered by static, and then Rionaka Satoshi's voice came through: "Alright, Naoki. Katsuragi-kun has an urgent matter; let's wait until he finishes consulting with Yukinoshita-san."
"Fine, but Katsuragi-kun, hurry up. This base has many fruit trees; it would be bad if another class occupied it," although Rionaka had persuaded him, Shimizu's voice still held a hint of reluctance.
"This is Yukinoshita Yukino. Katsuragi-kun, do you have a question?"
After Shimizu and Rionaka's conversation ended, a clear, cold voice came through the walkie-talkie.
"Yukinoshita-san, we found a few Class C students at the base near the forest fork today. It seems they want to reduce Class A's points and supplies. They occupied the base right in front of us, showing no intention of hiding their leader. Class C's leader should be a boy named 'Yamada Albert'," Katsuragi briefly explained the situation he encountered, then
added: "Moreover, they somehow knew the location of the bases we occupy, and they followed us, intending to find Class A's leader. Class C now knows we have three key cards. I suspect they will continue to try and probe us..."
"I see. So, Katsuragi-kun, do you have any ideas?"
"We've shaken off the Class C students. I plan to change our route with Yahiko and the others. Although this might mean we occupy fewer bases, it will effectively prevent the Class C students from tracking our movements.
I believe that since we already know Class C's leader, we only need to focus on concealing our Class A leader," Katsuragi presented his usual steady plan, then softly asked: "Yukinoshita-san, do you have any suggestions?"
"...No. Since you already have a plan to deal with this, Katsuragi-kun, I won't interfere further. If anything happens, please contact me immediately."
"Understood, then." Katsuragi replied briefly after explaining the situation to Yukinoshita.
After asking Shimizu Naoki for the location of the Fruit Orchard Base, Katsuragi led the group beside him to cover their tracks and footprints on the ground with leaves and mud. Just as the Class A group was about to leave the Tree Trunk Base, Yukinoshita's voice came through the walkie-talkie again.
"...Does anyone know where Hashimoto-kun is? If anyone encounters him, please notify him to come to the cave. I have something I need to ask him about."
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At the Class A base camp, Hikigaya was sitting listlessly at the long table by the cave entrance, looking half-asleep.
Thanks to Katsuragi and Yukinoshita's arrangements and commands, the deserted island exam was like a pleasant summer camping vacation for the Class A students. However, Hikigaya had no intention of joining the loudly chattering and playfully fooling around students around him.
I don't know when "Summer = Ocean + Pool + BBQ + Festival + Fireworks" became the standard answer. Reading a book alone in the cool shade; sighing "Ahh..." alone after a hot bath; staring up at the beautiful starry sky alone at night, lost in thought; falling asleep groggily to the faint sound of cicadas... Aren't these also the most beautiful summer memories?
In summer, it's best to be alone. Being by yourself is best. It's so hot anyway.
Just then, a few students, both male and female, who had been out exploring returned to the camp. The boys and girls, as if savoring the fruits of midsummer, were laughing and teasing each other, their bodies filled with the scent of romance.
These were the kind of people who, for example, would have a barbecue on a sandbar in the river, get trapped when the water rose, and need an emergency rescue, or who would hike a mountain in casual clothes with a picnic mindset and then get into trouble.
Hikigaya was still spacing out when he saw a handsome blond guy who had just returned to the camp wave at him and walk over to the cave.
"Yo, Hikigaya." Hashimoto Masayoshi first greeted him very warmly, then frantically squinted and winked at Hikigaya.
'What's wrong with this guy? Did he get sand in his eye?'
"Hashimoto-kun? Weren't you playing by the river with others? Why are you back..." Hikigaya was confused, then showed a look of sudden realization: "Did you come back for the barbecue tools? If so, I recommend having a barbecue on the sandbar in the river."
"No, and didn't Nishikawa-san and the others borrow the barbecue tools?" Seeing that Hikigaya didn't understand his look, Hashimoto gave a wry smile.
'Ah, I think that happened...'
Hikigaya was about to recommend that the other hike in casual clothes, but he saw Yukinoshita walk out of the cave. She gave Hashimoto a sharp look and spoke in a cold voice: "Hashimoto-kun, I need to take up a little of your time. I have something I want to ask you about."
Hikigaya glanced at Hashimoto and saw that his smile had become somewhat stiff and forced.
So that's what's going on...
"Um, Hikigaya, why don't we go in together?" As if looking for an ally (or shield), Hashimoto clasped his hands together, giving Hikigaya a pleading look.
Hikigaya initially wanted to refuse, but this was the first time a popular, handsome guy from his class had ever asked him for a favor like this, and his vanity was greatly satisfied. He hit the table with a "clack" and stood up heroically.
"Hey, Yukinoshita, I..." Before Hikigaya could finish his sentence, Yukinoshita gave him a sharp glare. Meeting that fierce and cold gaze, the brave Hikigaya silently sat back down.
'Ignore, ignore. I absolutely won't step up for the traitor Hashimoto now. It's practically no different from walking to my death.'
"I was only completing my mission, after all..." Hashimoto muttered softly, glancing at Hikigaya with a look of contempt. An expression of going to certain death appeared on his
face, and then he walked into the dark cave alone to face the witch Yukinoshita's interrogation.
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