Ignorance du passé

The walls were as cold as steel—not from physical touch, but from their very presence. Just looking at them sent a chill down my spine.

The rows of seats stood mostly empty, save for a scattered few. Only fourteen students remained in the room. The adults moved with indifference, clipboards in hand, scribbling notes without pause.

"Not up to standard," one muttered as he seized a child by the arm and dragged him out. The number dwindled to thirteen.

I had seen it all—the misery, the relentless push for improvement, the endless calculations and adjustments. It was a cycle without end.

Fear gnawed at me. What if I failed to meet expectations? What if I was deemed useless? I told myself that as long as I kept striving, it would be enough—but deep down, I knew there would always be someone better.

The calculations flowed through my mind with clarity—until I faltered.

A mistake.

Here, mistakes were unforgivable.

A resounding *thud* echoed through the room as a hand slammed onto my desk. I didn't need to look up. His voice alone was enough.

"Get out."

---

"Lloyd!"

My face must have shifted from peaceful reminiscence to pure annoyance—though whether I let it show was another matter. Kozue raised an eyebrow at me, clearly unimpressed.

"Sorry. Just needed a quick mental reset," I said, rubbing my temple.

"I was *suggesting* we visit the main dining room. At first, I thought you were listening with your eyes closed, but your silence made it obvious you were asleep. Now I just look like I'm talking to myself."

She wasn't wrong. Kozue and I were lounging on the upper deck beneath an umbrella, the sun casting a soothing shade over us.

"I didn't deny it. Just taking a quick nap."

"Weirdo. Who falls asleep mid-conversation?"

I shrugged. "Me, apparently."

She sighed, and I sat up, stretching. The ship was moving at full throttle, though our destination remained a mystery. Kozue absentmindedly swirled her drink with a straw, lost in thought.

"Hey," she said suddenly, "why did you ask me to do that? Is there a reason?"

She was referring to the favor I'd requested. I wasn't ready to reveal the full truth yet—for now, she was just a proxy. But maybe a partial answer wouldn't hurt.

"You might not get it, but believe it or not, I like stirring up trouble. Makes things more interesting, don't you think?"

Kozue blinked, processing my words before waving a dismissive hand.

"My gosh, you're *so* weird."

"Everyone's weird in their own way. You'd be surprised what people hide when no one's looking."

"You saying I've got some weird secret too?"

"Probably."

She smirked. Not that I was lying—after all, my own quirks included questionable food combinations. Cheese and chocolate? Maybe not *that* strange.

"So, we heading to dinner?"

"Jeez, slow down!"

I dragged myself up and followed her as she bounded ahead, brimming with energy. Probably because she'd been burning through the points I allocated her every week. Speaking of which, someone still owed me their end of the deal.

But that could wait. For now, this was just a vacation—unless the rumors about the exam were true. The cruise ship was massive, almost *too* luxurious for just 406 students, all first-years. Multiple dining halls, theaters, karaoke bars, even a club. Overkill, really.

The dining room was elegant, with polished wood and tasteful decor. I admired the craftsmanship—someone had put real effort into this.

Finding a seat wasn't hard; the place was nearly empty. Mostly girls, with a handful of guys scattered around. Kozue, ever the spender, flagged down a waiter and ordered enough to feed a small army.

"*Expensive*," I muttered under my breath.

She caught my stare. "What? Got a problem with my appetite?"

Sticking out her tongue, she blew a raspberry at me. Annoying? Sure. But she kept things from getting dull.

As her food arrived, my attention drifted to a group of girls across the room. They carried themselves like a clique, all orbiting around one in particular—a blonde with a ponytail, exuding confidence and a faintly rebellious air.

"Interesting..."

"What's interesting?" Kozue mumbled through a mouthful.

I glanced at her plate—already half-empty—then back at the group. "Huh. Did I say that out loud? Just observing that blonde over there. She seems... socially gifted."

"Oh, Karuizawa? Yeah, she's popular. Class D. You *interested* in her or something?"

I ignored the teasing lilt in her voice. Kei Karuizawa—her body language, the way her friends hung on her words. There was something there.

"Think she's a poser?"

Kozue frowned. "A *poser*? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. Listening to their conversation, she seems like a 'go with the flow' type. Agrees with everything."

She rolled her eyes. "You're overanalyzing again."

"My brain, my reasoning."

Kozue puffed out her cheeks, looking like a disgruntled frog.

"Keep an eye on her for me," I said.

"*Why?*"

"Call it a hunch. Imagine if the 'perfect' girl everyone admires is just wearing a mask."

"...Okay, that *is* kind of intriguing."

"Just observe her. See if I'm right."

I wasn't sure if Kozue's curiosity would outweigh her laziness, but if she refused, I could always call in the favor.

"Consider it another favor."

She tapped her chin, weighing the offer. Meanwhile, my focus sharpened on Karuizawa. The way she laughed, the subtle tension in her shoulders—

Something was *off*.

Kozue exhaled. "Fine, I'll watch her. Anything else?"

"That's it for now."

For now. I could always rope her into more later—though I'd rather not come off as a creep.

---

An announcement crackled over the speakers, summoning students to the deck. Disappointing for those expecting fireworks or some grand spectacle.

Kozue's purple hair danced in the wind, playful and vibrant—a stark contrast to my dull ash strands. The view would've been serene if not for the ship's sudden deceleration.

It was subtle, but deliberate. The vessel adjusted its course, circling a lone island in the vast expanse of water.

Most students missed the hint. But the slowed speed, the careful navigation—it wasn't an accident. The school *wanted* us to see this.

If the rumors about the exam were true, this made sense. Physical endurance, survival skills—an island was the perfect testing ground. But they wouldn't just dump us in the wild unsupervised.

Tracking devices? Our phones could handle that. Unless they had something else in mind—wristbands, maybe.

"Kozue, I'm heading to the—"

I turned. She was gone.

Typical.

Well, if she's vanished, maybe I'll pay Miss Hoshinomiya a visit instead.