The board's been set.

Ayanokoji's POV

The air buzzed with chatter, gossip spreading like wildfire. It wasn't just meaningless noise—this time, it was different. This time, it involved everyone's secrets.

It had only been a few minutes since the students returned from sightseeing on the deck, but something peculiar had already stirred the atmosphere. A strange discovery had been made.

"A confession letter?"

"Yeah, but it's more than that. Some contain love confessions, while others expose dirty secrets."

"Sounds sketchy."

"Not everyone got one, though."

"Yeah, I think it's just a bunch of crap."

Ike and Yamauchi's conversation was laced with irritation. I could tell they were disappointed—not because they had received love letters, but because they hadn't. Instead of words filled with admiration or hope, what they received shattered their confidence. Yamauchi's lie about being a tennis prodigy had been exposed, and Ike was called out for his crude behavior.

The letters had been distributed in bulk, mixed in with other school-related announcements and club notices. It was nearly impossible to trace them back to their source—there were no signatures, no identifying marks. They had simply appeared in the pockets beside some of the dorm rooms on the cruise ship.

Horikita received one but didn't even hesitate to crush it in her hand and toss it into the trash. Sudo got one as well—his reaction was straightforward: he tore it apart without a second thought. Kushida, Hirata, and a few others had also received letters.

Surprisingly, I wasn't left out of this strange event either.

I kept my letter to myself. If it contained rumors or habits that could damage my image, it was best to minimize exposure as much as possible.

In my cabin, I unfolded the letter and scanned its contents carefully, my eyes moving in an orderly fashion across the page.

"Who saw Nero with us?"

At first glance, it seemed nonsensical—random words thrown together. But the absurdity of it only made it more intriguing. What exactly did this mean?

The name Nero stood out immediately. It wasn't Japanese. A foreign name, just like Whis.

And then, it clicked.

By rearranging and eliminating certain letters, the message became clear. Nero remained constant, but Whis's name was also hidden within it.

And sure enough, after a bit of analysis, the phrase took shape:

"Whis and Nero."

Who was Nero? Was he working with Whis to uncover my identity? It was a plausible theory. The only people with such information were from Class C. Whis had been reckless that day, deliberately provoking me to gauge my reaction. A dead giveaway. But the real question was: did he even care? His actions had been wasteful, as if he had no further plans beyond that.

Could it be that this was his only mission here?

Was there someone else at this school who knew about the White Room?

And more importantly…

Who sent this letter? Was this person connected to Whis and Nero? Another member of their group, perhaps? Someone watching from the shadows, gathering information on me?

I couldn't draw any conclusions just yet. There wasn't enough data.

But one thing was certain.

Whis and Nero were a threat—and they needed to be eliminated. No matter the method.

---

Ichinose's POV

Kanzaki and Himeno sat at the table, engaged in a conversation about trivial matters. But Lloyd—he was different. His gaze wasn't on us.

Following his line of sight, I saw them—students from Class A, deep in discussion.

"Don't you think we should have a brief meeting?" Lloyd asked, his voice calm and measured, his eyes still fixed on the students.

"Aren't we already having one?" I responded, tilting my head slightly.

Lloyd finally turned to look at me, his usual half-lidded eyes now fully open, revealing a sharp and calculating expression.

"No," he corrected. "A meeting with the other class leaders. We need to hear their thoughts on the exam."

Kanzaki stroked his chin, considering the idea. I did the same.

Even though we were still on this cruise, the actual exam had yet to begin. If we could gather insights from the other class leaders, we might gain a better understanding of what to expect. It would help us stay informed—and prepared.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea."

---

Later That Evening—Meeting with the Class Leaders

As we made our way to dinner, my gaze flickered to a familiar sight—Katsuragi, accompanied by Yahiko, walking ahead of us. Not far behind were Hirata and Horikita.

No sign of Ryuen.

I wasn't surprised. It was in his nature to remain elusive.

The moment we sat down, Horikita wasted no time.

"I got your message," she said sharply, "and while I was skeptical about this meeting, I can at least see its potential benefits."

Ayanokoji, as expected, stood behind her in silence, his face unreadable.

Hirata gave her a subtle glance, a silent signal that she was being too direct. She brushed it off.

Lloyd, meanwhile, remained at a slight distance—seated near the railing but close enough to listen in. His eyes scanned everyone, analyzing. Watching.

"I understand your doubts, Horikita," I said calmly, "but these rumors aren't something we can just ignore. Fundamentally, I wanted to hear your thoughts on the exam—or, more specifically, the rumors surrounding it."

Katsuragi was the first to reply.

"Interesting, but ultimately just speculation," he stated plainly. "We can't act on something that isn't concrete. So far, all we know is that we'll be taking an exam on an island. Given past experiences, it will likely test our physical endurance and class coordination."

Horikita nodded. "Which means, at this point, all opinions and information remain premature."

Ayanokoji's gaze briefly met mine. His face was blank, as always.

"I see," Kanzaki said. "While we should enjoy our time here, we must remain mentally prepared for what comes next. Those with weak resolve will fall short."

Horikita remained skeptical.

"Ichinose, what exactly is your play here?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "Gathering class representatives for a discussion about exams and rumors… it seems to me that there's more to this than just getting acquainted."

"I assure you, Horikita, we have no ulterior motives," I replied smoothly. "Perhaps you're simply overanalyzing the situation."

"Perhaps."

Despite the initial tension, the conversation eventually shifted to other topics—small details about the school, theories about upcoming challenges. The exchange gave me a better grasp of how each class viewed the situation.

But as I glanced toward Lloyd…

He was still watching. Observing everything.

---

Lloyd's POV

The board was set.

The risks had been accounted for.

Now, all that was left was execution.

Ichinose, I apologize in advance—for what I must do.

To you. To Class B.

But it's for the good of you all.

And then, there was him.

The most unpredictable variable in all of this.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.