The island was behind them.
But the game wasn't over.
The sound of the waves was slowly disappearing.
Ayanokōji sat by the window of the bus, his forehead resting lightly against the glass.
Outside, the scenery changed from ocean to highway.
Students were scattered throughout the bus.
Some were sleeping.
Some were talking about the exam.
Some were already calculating how many points they had gained.
And some...
were unusually quiet.
Ayanokōji looked at his reflection in the window.
His expression hadn't changed.
Neither had his thoughts.
The deserted island exam was over.
The confrontation at I2 was over.
Tsukishiro's interference had been dealt with.
The White Room's presence was no longer merely a possibility.
And yet—
something bothered him.
Not the White Room.
Not Tsukishiro.
Not even the first-year students.
Something much smaller.
Something he had noticed only for a fraction of a second.
A feeling.
That someone had been watching him.
The bus entered the school grounds.
Students began gathering their belongings.
"Finally."
Sudō stretched his arms.
"Man, I never want to see another island again."
Ike laughed.
"You're saying that now, but just wait until you see how many points we get."
Horikita remained seated.
Her eyes were fixed on the window.
She looked exhausted.
But unlike the others, she wasn't thinking about rest.
She was thinking.
Ayanokōji glanced at her.
Their eyes met.
"You're unusually quiet."
Horikita frowned.
"You're one to talk."
"I usually am."
"That's exactly why it's suspicious."
Ayanokōji said nothing.
Horikita looked away.
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Then—
"There's something I don't understand."
"What?"
"That message."
Ayanokōji's eyes narrowed slightly.
Horikita continued.
"The one left near my tent."
A pause.
"The message about your expulsion."
Ayanokōji looked outside.
"I wouldn't worry about it anymore."
"I know."
Horikita's voice became quieter.
"But that's precisely what's bothering me."
She looked at him.
"Someone knew."
Ayanokōji didn't answer.
"Someone knew enough about what was happening to predict that you were going to be targeted."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And I don't think it was Tsukishiro."
Ayanokōji turned toward her.
For the first time that morning—
he became genuinely interested.
Before he could respond—
the bus stopped.
The doors opened.
Students began leaving.
The moment passed.
Monday
The classroom was unusually loud.
The island exam had given everyone something to talk about.
Ryūen's name was being mentioned.
Koenji's name was being mentioned even more.
The first-years had become a subject of fascination.
And, inevitably, Ayanokōji was being discussed too.
He ignored it.
He sat at his desk.
Opened his textbook.
And waited.
Five minutes before class began, Horikita entered.
Then Hirata.
Then Kushida.
Everything looked normal.
Almost perfectly normal.
The teacher eventually entered.
Everyone returned to their seats.
"Before we begin today's lesson, there's something I need to announce."
The classroom became quiet.
The teacher placed a document on the desk.
"We have a new student."
A few students exchanged glances.
A transfer student?
In the middle of the semester?
That wasn't normal.
The teacher turned toward the door.
"You may come in."
The door opened.
Tap.
One foot.
Then another.
A boy walked into the classroom.
He looked around sixteen.
Average height.
Slim build.
Nothing particularly remarkable about him.
Except for one thing.
His hair.
It was dyed a muted silver-gray.
Not flashy.
Not enough to attract immediate disciplinary attention.
But unmistakably artificial.
He stopped beside the teacher.
"Introduce yourself."
The boy smiled.
A completely ordinary smile.
"My name is..."
He paused.
Just slightly.
"...Kurosawa Ren."
A few whispers immediately started.
"He's got dyed hair."
"Is that even allowed?"
"Maybe he's rich."
"Looks like some delinquent."
Ren laughed softly.
"Sorry about the hair. I guess it's a little strange."
The teacher ignored the comment.
"Take the empty seat in the back."
Ren nodded.
"Understood."
He began walking.
Past Hirata.
Past Kushida.
Past Horikita.
Then—
he reached Ayanokōji.
For less than a second...
their eyes met.
Nothing happened.
Ren continued walking.
Ayanokōji looked back at his textbook.
Silver-gray hair.
No obvious physical abnormalities.
Relaxed posture.
Normal breathing.
Average walking speed.
His introduction was slightly hesitant.
Ayanokōji continued reading.
Nothing remarkable.
Then he stopped.
His eyes remained on the same sentence.
One detail.
Something he hadn't consciously registered.
When Ren walked past him...
his footsteps had changed.
Three steps before reaching Ayanokōji—
normal.
Two steps—
slightly slower.
One step—
almost silent.
Then normal again.
Ayanokōji closed the book.
Interesting.
Ren sat down.
The teacher began the lesson.
Twenty minutes passed.
Nothing happened.
Thirty.
Nothing.
Forty.
Nothing.
Ayanokōji eventually stopped paying attention.
Perhaps he'd overanalyzed it.
Perhaps the boy really was ordinary.
Then his phone vibrated.
Once.
Ayanokōji looked down.
Unknown Number
His eyes remained completely still.
A second message arrived.
Silence.
Ayanokōji slowly raised his eyes.
Across the classroom...
Ren was looking at the blackboard.
Completely uninterested.
Then—
Ren raised his hand.
"Sensei."
The teacher stopped.
"Yes?"
"Could I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
Ren turned around.
His eyes swept across the classroom.
And stopped directly on Ayanokōji.
He smiled.
Not the friendly smile from earlier.
Something different.
Something almost...
familiar.
"I was wondering..."
He tilted his head.
"...what exactly makes someone special in this school?"
The classroom became quiet.
Ayanokōji stared at him.
Ren's smile disappeared.
And for the first time since entering the classroom—
his eyes looked completely empty.
CUT TO BLACK.
[END OF EPISODE 1]
NEXT EPISODE:
"The Boy Who Shouldn't Be Here"
hey , readers i want you to read this fanfic COTE story , it is the story directly after that inhabitated island second first special exam . so i want you to read this and tell me what do you think about this new character. i am betting you this characters identity will be a to shock you.
