15.5 Chapter 5.4: The Treasure Hunt Of Troubled Women Part4

Though the ship was broad, the students couldn't go anywhere they wanted to. The places for leisure and relaxation were necessarily focused in certain places. Students would often meet each other without expecting it.

A certain man headed towards a sidewalk cafe and another man returned to his room.

Two people with completely different decisions see each other in a hallway.

Because both of them were walking right in the middle, neither of them compromised at all. They noticed each others' presence at about the same time and stopped moving approximately one meter away from each other.

"Yo, Ryuuen. You've helped me a lot recently."

The one who opened his mouth first was 1-D's Housen Kazuomi.

"Is it okay for you not to go home? If anything you should be in bed sleeping for about a week."

The recipient of those words, Ryuuen Kakeru, answered as he received.

"Don't worry. Even if I beat you half to death here - no, until you're fully dead, I wouldn't be satisfied. My killing targets have increased from one to two so it looks like I'll be busy."

"It won't look good if you lose to the same opponent twice. Don't push yourself."

Though they challenged each other repeatedly, they never extended their fists or anything of the sort.

"Haa. More than that, bastard, I heard that you bought the Piggyback card in secret. You made a bet with a 3rd year named Nagumo or something. Didn't you earn quite a bit?"

"Kuku. Who leaked that? The contract said not to talk about it."

Before the Uninhabited Island Exam, Ryuuen approached a 1st year student who had the Piggyback Card and made a contract with him. If the designated group won a prize, then they would give him all their points. If the designated group only reached the higher 50%, then they could only gain up to 30,000 points. In other words, if more compensation is paid then they would abandon the contract.

As a result, Ryuuen nominated Nagumo and gained 280,000 points as a reward from the student he had made the contract with.

This fact isn't known even to most of Ryuuen's classmates. Only his comrades who were used to carry it out knew about it.

"If you simply lick my shoes, then I could give you some leftovers you know? Gorilla."

As he laughed, Ryuuen continued to walk without taking his hand out of his pocket even once.

Housen could have stopped him like that, but he stepped aside by one step and opened the way.

Ishizaki kept his guard up against Housen and followed, flustered.

Housen didn't turn around either and started walking on his own down the middle of the hallway in a grand manner.

"Frightening guy as always. But he got cold feet and let us through."

"Do you think his balls would let him do that?"

"But..."

"He's showing his willingness. When we get back at him, he'll let us surrender."

At the instant he passed by, Ryuuen perceived his gushing killing intent and violent nature.

"What a scary guy."

"Leave it. I know he's an annoying opponent, but first is the search for the culprit."

"Yeah. Right now Nishino is pinning him down."

Ishizaki took out his phone to confirm. As if to guide him, Ryuuen led the way.

Not long from there, they arrived at their destination.

Faster than Ishizaki could say his first words, Ryuuen approached a female student.

"You're Nanase Tsubasa right?"

"Yes. Did you need anything with me?"

Nanase stopped and stared at Ryuuen without even looking surprised.

She doesn't know why a senior, who was above, had her eyes on her.

"Sorry, but give me some of your time."

Originally it would have been enough with Ryuuen on his own or Ishizaki with him, but they were also coordinating with the girl Nishino, in order to make her stop moving. That was because they understood that a group of men surrounding a single female junior would become a disadvantage, not an advantage.

"I want to hear something from you about our time on the island."

"Our time in the test, is it?"

Nanase still didn't understand the situation, but with the next words she would.

"Komiya was wounded. I'm looking for the perpetrator."

"Why did you approach me?"

"At that time, the first ones to reach the scene were Sudou, Ayanokouji, Ike, Hondou, and you. Sudou and Ike couldn't get any clues."

"Then wouldn't it be better to ask your fellow 2nd year Ayanokouji-senpai?"

"Of course depending on the situation I'll ask him. But you come first, after all. Looks like you were tagging along with Ayanokouji on the island. What's the reason?"

"That has nothing to do with this case."

"Whether it has something to do with the case or not is something I'll decide after hearing from you."

When approached by Ryuuen's highly pressuring attitude, most people would confess easily.

"Apologies, but I have nothing to speak about."

However, far from losing her calm, Nanase coolly declined.

She lowered her head and tried to disappear from this place, but Ryuuen kicked his foot out and stuck it to the wall.

"You don't have the right to decide whether you'll speak or not, you see."

"You're considerably violent. I think if someone sees this kind of situation problems may arise."

"Don't worry. I have others watching guard so that doesn't happen."

"I understand that Komiya-senpai is Ryuuen-senpai's classmate. However, I do not think I can be of any help. I don't have a single clue."

"Is that so? You've been moving around quite a bit these past few days considering that."

"Whatever could you mean?"

She kept eye contact and replied that his meaning was unclear, but for Ryuuen that was an opening to take advantage of.

"Though everyone else is playing around, you were watching Kurachi from 1-C for a whole day weren't you?"

"..."

For the first time here, Nanase opened her eyes widely and showed disturbance.

"While I was hearing about the circumstances from Komiya, I had people monitor you, and just in case, Sudou, Ike, and Hondou. Those three were playing around like idiots, but you acted like you weren't retarded. Instead, without playing at all, you shadowed a certain 1st year. That's not normal."

"It's just a coincidence."

"A coincidence huh. There's a treasure hunt today. Many people are enjoying a game. That Kurachi guy is participating, but you aren't. But you were still tailing Kurachi so much that Nishino was able to get a hold of you. Today, is that also a coincidence?"

If someone is participating in the game, they have to look for 2D codes.

But if you aren't participating in the game, you could have that time for yourself.

As Nanase kept track of Kurachi, she didn't notice someone else keeping track of her.

"I am quite naive myself, to think that I would not notice someone tailing me day after day. I'm surprised."

"You should thank me for contacting you first, you know?"

"Great job, Ryuuen-senpai. But what I am doing with Kurachi-kun is irrelevant to Komiya-senpai."

"Okay, so will I settle this matter face-to-face with Kurachi?"

"I would be troubled."

"Then talk about what you know. Or will you not say anything unless 『someone』 orders you to?"

"There is no such thing. However, unrelated things are unrelated."

"Don't make me say it again. The one who will decide that isn't you, but me."

Nanase's smile had never faltered, and Ryuuen's smile was also continuous. But the air about him changed.

Ishizaki watching from the side seemed to have felt Ryuuen's pressure. He still wasn't used to it. It wasn't as if he was being interrogated, but he was about to give in.

"That is not true. Ryuuen-senpai doesn't have such jurisdiction."

But despite that, Nanase replied directly while looking into Ryuuen's eyes, without showing any trembling.

"What are you hesitating about? You can just go and say it right?"

Indeed, Nanase Tsubasa was hesitating and worrying. The seed of that worry was born in the middle of the Uninhabited Island test. With anger she had no outlet for, she clashed with Ayanokouji. It goes back to that day, after Amasawa appeared in front of them with a dangerous weapon.

According to Ayanokouji, there was someone before Amasawa, another person. It was when she had been expecting that.

At that time, Ayanokouji declined to use a GPS search, but right after they had put up the tent, Nanase secretly used a GPS search.

However, without looking at the details she went under Ayanokouji's tent. If she had examined that and learned something, her surprise and trembling would be seen through. The result of that secret GPS search was that near herself and Ayanokouji, there were two people aside from Amasawa. The 2nd year Kushida Kikyou and the 1st year Kurachi Naohiro. Originally they were both people who should be investigated. The fact that she was Ayanokouji's classmate was also being put off.

Then apart from that matter, Ayanokouji verified that nothing unusual was happening. Depending on the situation she was planning to make periodic contact in order to protect him, but it didn't seem that he had noticed that point.

"This is a waste of time. Why don't you go and get to the point?"

Nanase hung her head, resigned. But she raised it back up right away.

"I am sorry to say this, but I don't know where he's looking for 2D codes within this ship."

Ryuuen gave a small laugh and produced a telephone.

"Where's Kurachi? He's in the 4th Guest-Room Floor, right? Yeah, I'm coming."

Ryuuen, having expected all of this to happen, cut the call shortly and kept it in his pocket.

"You've been watching Kurachi-kun since I separated from him."

"Because unlike you, I have many people to become my hands, feet, eyes and ears."

"Kurachi-kun really might be unrelated."

"You don't need to tell me. I'm just thinning them out one by one."

Whether for Nanase or for Ryuuen, the only clue they could chase right now was Kurachi.

"Are you coming or not? Hurry up and decide."

If Nanase declined here, she wouldn't even need to imagine Ryuuen going to Kurachi alone.

She nodded once, and together they made to go to him.

Not long after that, they saw Kurachi looking for 2D codes and Taguri, who looked like his pairmate.

"Please let me speak with Kurachi-kun alone first."

"What?"

"I can bring out information from him well."

"Where's the guarantee that you'll tell me the information that you hear?"

"There's no choice but to believe in me."

"Sorry but I don't believe in you."

"Even if you don't believe in me there is no choice but to believe in me. I will certainly have him report everything."

"Well okay. But I won't pardon you for messing up even though you're a girl alright?"

"I have guessed as much."

Ryuuen ordered Nishino and Ishizaki with his chin to separate from Taguri and Kurachi.

If he was called by a 2nd year, and by Ishizaki and the others at that, then he would have had no choice but to follow quietly.

"Can I have a little while, Kurachi-kun?"

"Eeh? If I remember right, you're D-Class's Nanase... aren't you?"

Taguri, having been called by her seniors, lost her composure and trembled.

"I have something I want to ask for a little while."

"Sorry but you see, we're doing a treasure hunt so we have-"

"Please tell me the reason you were aiming for Ayanokouji-senpai at the Uninhabited Island test."

"Hah? Wha-what's this?"

If she takes too long then Ryuuen might come at any moment.

Nanase had the sense of urgency to get the information out of him while they could speak alone.

"There's no use in hiding it. On the hard rain of the 7th day, I used a GPS search to determine who was around us. One was Amasawa-san and the only other one was you. And there was an assault weapon found near the scene. You cannot talk your way out of this."

"I don't know what you mean!"

Kurachi shouted and tried to run, but Nanase grabbed his arm.

"You can see the 2nd year senpai behind me, can you? He's urgently looking for the culprit who might've attacked Ayanokouji-senpai. Depending on the situation he may use brute force."

"Ha-haa? Do-don't screw around, what do you mean!?"

"Shhh. It would be better for yourself if you don't shout or act very hostile."

"!! But-but I... I was just...!"

"Just?"

"...If I attack Ayanokouji-senpai they'd give me money... I was told..."

"Attack him and you'll get paid, was it?"

"I normally wouldn't accept it. But I've used too many private points, and..."

"And?"

"They said I could 『pretend』 to attack him. It wouldn't have been serious so it was fine, they said. I'm not really doing a bad thing, you understand?"

Indeed, if it were just pretending to attack, then it could be settled as a joke.

"Who ordered you to pretend to attack him in exchange for money? When did it start?"

"That was... before the Uninhabited Island Test..."

"Be-before the test, you say?"

Nanase was surprised towards the time period she hadn't been expecting.

"In other words it was planned from the beginning... wasn't it."

"And I don't know who it was. I was just spending my private points as I wanted."

"-You're lying, aren't you."

"!? I-I'm not lying."

"You obviously know something but you're hiding it. That's what I see."

"I'm not..."

"I don't believe you know much, but because of what you did at that time, Ryuuen-senpai and Housen-kun's plans were altered."

Because of the sudden change in topic, Kurachi knit his eyebrows.

"Now, he is desperately looking for the culprit. What would happen if I report you? Housen-kun wouldn't overlook it. Surely, wouldn't he raise his fist against you?"

The 2nd year Ryuuen and the 1st year Housen. She threatened that he would be targeted by these two violent people.

"Wa-wa-wa-wait, wait I said! I'll talk! I'll talk so please forgive me!"

Even in a whisper he raised his voice frantically.

Housen was feared with the most prejudice among the 1st years.

The effectiveness Nanase experienced from that name when she tried using it was higher than she had thought it would be.

"...It was my classmate Utomiya-kun."

"Utomiya-kun, you say?"

"Yeah. I'll give you money when this Special Test ends, so I want you to attack Ayanokouji-senpai, he said."

"Is that true?"

"I'm seriously telling the truth!"

Seeing Kurachi's eyes, Nanase nodded once.

"I believe you Kurachi-kun. Please tell me one last thing. Do you know anything about Komiya-senpai being injured?"

"Komiya? What are you talking about, I don't know. No, I really don't. Anyway, don't ever tell Housen-kun that I was involved, okay? Please?"

"Understood. I promise."

She ordered Kurachi to go. Taguri was also released at the same time.

Ryuuen approached Nanase and demanded she speak. It didn't look like Kurachi had anything to do with Komiya's case, but Ryuuen wouldn't believe her if she said that. Because even from afar, the fact that he was telling Nanase something was seen.

"According to him... Utomiya-kun might know something, he said."

"Utomiya?"

"The same as Kurachi-kun, a 1-C student Utomiya Riku-kun."

Ryuuen produced his phone right away to check Utomiya's face and ability on the OAA.

"Not a face I remember seeing. But his physical ability is A, huh."

"If it's him, he might've been strong enough to push Komiya-kun without him noticing, but no conclusive evidence is there yet."

"Looks like we've seen many things, haven't we?"

"...What do you plan to do?"

"It's decided isn't it? I'll track down that Utomiya brat and have him talk, you see."

"Please wait. That's difficult to approve."

If Utomiya was a White Room student, even Ryuuen would have somewhat of a hard time fighting him.

More than anything, the fact that he's come this far without approval from Ayanokouji isn't something that can be praised.

"A case with no conclusive evidence... no, it's a concern. Hypothetically, even if Utomiya-kun was the culprit, you would not be able to go far if he feigns ignorance, would you?"

"Just as Kurachi talked just now, it's a matter of intimidation isn't it."

"I've researched regarding him beforehand for a few days here. Considering his nature, I think that he would be able to push him and let him fall. But there are variables concerning him."

"What do you want me to do about it?"

"Please give me time. Of course, not just a little time."

"Hoh? Talk."

"I've been silent, but there is an eye-witness for Komiya-senpai's concern whom you do not know. He wouldn't mind me saying who he is."

"Who is it?"

"I can't say now. I will tell you if you restrain yourself from seeing Utomiya-kun directly."

"I'm a confident negotiator. Well it's fine, I can accept that condition."

"Thank you very much. I will verify the details and contact you."

"But, if this turns out to be a lie then you'd better have prepared a fitting amount of resolve you know?"

"It is not a lie."

"Kuku, I thought so. Contact me before I can no longer wait."

Nanase gave a small reply and nodded as he left that place.