Prologue

Eichi: A moment of your time, Sakuma-kun.

Rei: ...Oh. I thought the sun became even brighter all of a sudden; of course it’s your fault, Tenshouin-kun.

Eichi: Fufu. I’m not actually emitting any light, however. The revolution forced the Emperor to abdicate his throne; I can no longer consider myself the shining sun of Yumenosaki Academy.

Rei: Your insincerity astounds me. No matter the titles bestowed upon you, one cannot change the light and the heat radiated from a star.

Eichi: That’s rather profound, coming from someone who changes personae on so much as a whim.

In any case, are you able to make out any ships along the horizon?

Rei: Unfortunately not. A watched pot never boils, and this sea is entirely calm. I presume this is a solitary island floating on the waters, far from any other islands or the continent—

Eichi: And on top of that, it seems to be uninhabited.

Our younger, livelier children explored the land, but they found no signs of people, let alone constructions or other indicators of civilization.

My high-end smartphone, too, is out of range, so there’s nothing to be done about the situation at the moment.

Until help arrives, our best course of action would likely be for us to conserve our energy and strength.

Rei: Naturally, if a ship ferrying the Tenshouin heir has been wrecked, no effort would be spared for search and rescue.

Help will come if only we wait.

Eichi: Fufu. This must be quite the novel experience for you. Do you understand now what is it like to be powerless and frail, so weak that he can only wait for someone stronger to save him?

Rei: Hm. When you put it into perspective, this may well be a valuable experience, after all.

Eichi: Indeed. To try and survive on a deserted island is an rare adventure even for those with money to burn. We ought to make the most of it and use it to grow.

Rei: How optimistic of you. Yes, that is a better mindset for young people... ♪

Yuzuru: ...Pardon me. I don’t mean to interrupt your pleasant chat.

However, lunch is served, so I would ask that we all return to the hotel.

Eichi: Tch. And here I was, having some fun with Sakuma-kun. We had been imagining that we’d been stranded on a desert island~

Yuzuru, have you ever read Two Years’ Vacation?[1]

I’ve always been enamored by such tales. Well, that’s the kind of thing every boy dreams about, right? ♪

Yuzuru: With all due respect, I think that Lord of the Flies would suit you two better.[2]

Eichi: The audacity.

What do you think, Sakuma-kun? My child here is rather adorably impertinent, don’t you think? ♪

Rei: Kukuku. If impertinence is the standard, my children are not to be outdone, either ♪

Yuzuru: ...You two are quite friendly with each other, more so than I expected. I’d been worried that there would be more tension between you.

Eichi: We’re not working right now. In business, a proper adult can share his interests and his meals with even an enemy when in private...

Indeed, it’s a routine engagement for businessmen.

Though too many people in this nation haven’t quite grasped that.

Yuzuru: If you’ll excuse me, it seems inappropriate to use the phrasing “this nation” when we’re on foreign soil.

Eichi: Ah, touché ♪

Yuzuru: Your penchant for complaining is one of your less elegant traits, President-sama.

I don’t mind because we aren’t in a professional setting currently, but I would advise you to refrain from such remarks on stage.

Eichi: Yes, yes. I knoooow. I’ll be more careful from now on.

As an idol, I ought to avoid doing or saying anything that may make others uncomfortable, yes?

Though my personality isn’t something that can ever be fixed. I suppose I’m just a bitter person at heart... right, Sakuma-kun?

Rei: Indeed. I can only call it bitterness that you keep dredging up things I’ve said in the past.

...In any case, we should cease standing around and move along.

We ought to hurry, or those children will eat up every last morsel of food.

Ah... There’s a delicious, meaty aroma wafting our way; is Adonis-kun in charge of meals today?

Eichi: Meat...? I’m not sure if I can handle something so heavy in the middle of the day.

But we ought to eat a hearty meal to keep up our strength. It would be such a shame to collapse in the middle of our fun three days and four nights of vacation in the tropics.

Rei: Yes. We are not on familiar ground, so we need to pay careful attention to our health.

...This plan was of your devising, Tenshouin-kun. It’s not simply a matter of enjoying ourselves; you must also have some sinister design in the makings.

Were you to collapse midway and have to back out before the battle even begins, it would spoil all the fun.

Eichi: Fufu. Don’t look so scared. I’m flattered that you have such high expectations of me, but this trip was not actually my idea.

It’s Yuzuru and Anzu-chan who are in charge of all of the planning.

Neither of them are the type to pull out any surprises, so I imagine this vacation will be peaceful from start to end.

Rei: Aww, how boring. I wasted my time being cautious.

...Unless you intend to lure me into a false sense of security and then strike when my guard is down. It does not matter who is making the plans; if you are participating, then you’re sure to be pulling some strings.

Eichi: Well, I suppose we’ll see.

Speculate all you like... but I’m innocent until proven guilty; you won’t act until I actually make a move. You are fair, after all, and above all kind.

It is your weakness, and I won’t hesitate to exploit it. And you are perfectly aware of that, too, aren’t you Sakuma-kun?

Rei: I am. Well, no matter how many schemes you plot...

In the end I will foil them with a tune on my lips, and with you left to cry yourself to sleep.

Eichi: Oh, how scary. Sakuma Rei of the Five Oddballs is still alive and well, I see.

Anyway, it’s not been all that long, but it’s good to work with you again, Sakuma-kun... no, UNDEAD ♪

Rei: Yes, it is. Let us make merry, gentlemen of fine ♪

Yuzuru: You two... You certainly appear to be friendly with each other, but just below the surface there are fierce sparks flying.

  1. A children’s novel by Jules Verne. It was written to adapt the story of Robinson Crusoe into an environment suitable for children: a group of schoolboys are stranded on a desert island in the Pacific Ocean, and through their ingenuity and camaraderie, they are able to overcome adversity.
  2. A novel by William Golding also about a group of boys who are stranded on a desert island. Unlike in Verne’s novel, this group descends into savagery and develops a theme of the tension between civility and chaos.