『』『』『』『』『』
With the Rabbit group's exam concluded, Ichinose had successfully achieved Outcome Three. That alone would grant her and Class B fifty Class Points.
It wasn't an immediate victory. And in a way, it wasn't even about the points.
What she gained was something else, something less tangible but far more important.
Conviction.
Even if the word sounded grand, it wasn't supposed to be anything lofty. It was something all humans were meant to have naturally. Ichinose was no exception. But she'd simply been lacking in that aspect until now.
She wasn't ignorant. She understood right from wrong, gain from loss, honesty from dishonesty. She wasn't blind to how things worked. But her kindness, and her naïve way of thinking often got in the way, along with the inability to clearly separate her priorities. In the end, no other word described it better than naïve.
Her belief in being a good person while also being a good leader sounded noble on the surface. But without knowing when to draw the line, without knowing what to protect and when to let go, it was all just a misguided ideal. A contradiction she hadn't yet come to terms with.
Thankfully, something changed. Even if only a little.
No human can change their nature overnight. That kind of transformation doesn't happen in a blink of an eye.
Even a "Impartial non-human" like Anshin'in-san, who had lived through billions of years, still couldn't change her suicidal tendencies until recently.
『Well, I didn't think it'd happen this soon, but I expected no less from you. Just what I'd expect from someone enrolled in an elite school. But yeah... life never really goes the way you want it to, huh?』
His tone was vague. Whether it was praise, sarcasm, or something else entirely—it was impossible to tell.
"What do you mean Kumagawa-kun?"
Ichinose asked with a puzzled look. But instead of giving her a proper answer, Kumagawa slowly stood up from his seat.
『I won't have to stay too long here then. Sorry for disturbing you. It was nice talking to you after such a long time.』
Without waiting for a reply, Kumagawa turned and walked away.
Ayanokouji watched silently as Kumagawa and Kushida exited the room.
Throughout this exam, they had been unusually close. Especially Kushida—her behavior had been striking. He hadn't expected her to be that compatible around someone like Kumagawa. It reminded him a little of his own relationship with Horikita. Though they were rarely on the same wavelength, they still worked together, somehow.
Did Kushida and Kumagawa have something similar?
Normally, personalities that far apart should repel each other as people with such conflicting natures shouldn't get along. But maybe because they were twisted in their own way that they managed to get along.
Just like how two negatives in mathematics could cancel each other out. Minus times minus equals plus.
But even so, the word "compatible" felt fundamentally incompatible with Kumagawa Misogi. What could ever be considered "compatible" for someone like him?
"...He really is a unique person, isn't he?" Said Ichinose.
Rather than using stronger words like unpleasant, horrible, or disgusting, Ichinose had chosen to say "unique." It was vague enough to go either way, positive or negative, depending on who she was talking to. Ayanokouji understood why. There was no simple word to describe Kumagawa in a positive way.
She really was kindhearted.
Ayanokouji found himself thinking that maybe, if he wanted to make the most of his high school life, he ought to learn a little of that kindness too.
"...Yeah. I agree—"
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Suddenly, three notification sounds rang out in quick succession from both his and Ichinose's phones. It was the same alert that played when a group's exam had ended—just like what happened with the Rabbit group earlier.
"...What's going on?"
Ichinose quickly checked her phone.
Ayanokouji also did the same.
An unexpected situation had just occurred.
『』『』『』『』『』
At nine in the evening, the special exam would finally come to an end. The next thirty minutes marked the final window and the last chance for any kind of betrayal. Hashimoto had already gathered the members of Class A along with the VIPs.
Katsuragi scanned the room before speaking up.
"Where's Morishige?"
Morishige Ai, one of the VIPs from the Rooster group. Katsuragi had specifically requested that everyone, especially the VIPs, be present. But she was nowhere to be seen.
"She said she was going to take a nap," Hashimoto replied with a shrug. "Didn't want to be disturbed."
"..."
Katsuragi didn't press further. Morishige was known for her blunt attitude and somewhat odd behavior. In that sense, it wasn't exactly surprising that she would decide to sleep during the final moments of the exam.
"...And the VIP method?"
After calling everyone together, Hashimoto proceeded to use the method Kumagawa had given him. He tried to establish a pattern between the VIPs from Class A and Class C, hoping to verify the authenticity of Kumagawa's method. With the six possible VIP candidates they'd got from Kushida and Ryuen's earlier discussion, it should have been enough to find a pattern.
"I ran through all six names Kushida gave us and compared them with our VIPs to verify the method, but none of them matched. So, in other words..."
"Kumagawa was lying." Katsuragi said flatly.
With this, Katsuragi felt more confident in trusting Kushida's words.
"So Kushida was the one telling the truth after all."
That conclusion came naturally given the circumstances.
Out of the two, Kushida's version was easier to believe. At the very least, she had a clear motive for betraying her class and she had even threatened Ryuen to ensure he wouldn't go back on his word. That level of planning made her seem credible.
Kumagawa, on the other hand, he made a deal with vague reasoning, that lacked any real substance. Given that, it was easy to conclude that Kumagawa's so-called "truth" was nothing more than another one of his lies.
Neither of them was particularly trustworthy, but it was easier to place faith in someone who at least provided a proper justification, rather than someone whose reasoning felt shallow.
So, in the end, Kumagawa's lies were just that—lies.
[The Rabbit group's exam is now over. Students in the Rabbit group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be mindful of your actions and avoid disturbing the others.]
"Hmm? What happened?"
Katsuragi narrowed his eyes as his phone buzzed with the familiar notification. The Rabbit group had ended—which meant someone had made a move and sent the betrayal message.
"...The Rabbit group," Katsuragi muttered under his breath.
If he recalled correctly, that was the group where Ichinose had been assigned.
"I told you not to send that message!"
A sudden outburst snapped him out of his thoughts. A commotion had broken out between Class A students. Not exactly ideal timing, considering what he was planning to do next. Without hesitation, Katsuragi approached the scene.
He found Machida in a heated exchange with Morishige, one of Sakayanagi's faction members.
If he recalled correctly, both of them were in the same Rabbit group.
"What's going on?" Katsuragi asked, his voice calm and firm.
Machida pointed a sharp glare at Morishige.
"This fucking idiot is the one who sent that betrayal message! I saw the messages in his phone say 'Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.' Even though I clearly said it was probably a setup, laid by Class D!"
"I didn't send anything yet! Don't throw accusations around just because you're panicking!" Morishige immediately snapped back.
"Who else could it be, huh? You've been acting weird this whole time!"
"Acting weird? I always act like this, you moron!"
"Calm down. Don't argue in circles. Just explain what happened."
Both students quieted down, though the glares remained.
At this point in the exam, there was no point in hiding details between groups. While Class A still had a split between factions, it wasn't something that would drastically change the course of the remaining thirty minutes. Understanding that, Machida explained what had happened.
"So, you saw the message 'Ayanokouji Kiyotaka' on Morishige's phone, and assumed he was the one who got baited into sending the betrayal message?" Katsuragi asked, calmly summarizing the situation.
"Yeah! That's what happened, but he keeps denying it."
"Because it wasn't me! I didn't press anything yet!"
'Yet,' he said. That single word was enough to give it away. Morishige didn't deny the intention—he just hadn't acted on it yet. It wasn't a stretch to think he had planned to betray the Rabbit group.
Machida's frustration was understandable. If he was wrong, Class A could lose 50 class points. But his reaction was also shortsighted. Cornering someone without solid proof only made things worse.
"It's okay. The Rabbit group has ended, and there's nothing we can do about it now. No point in worrying over what's already done," Katsuragi said calmly.
Morishige let out a small sigh of relief. Even if he'd lost the chance to gain a merit, at least the accusations had stopped for now. That was enough.
Machida looked a bit surprised, but he didn't say anything else. With Katsuragi settling it, there was nothing more to argue about. Though he was clearly bitter, he swallowed his frustration and backed off for now.
Katsuragi glanced around. Most of Class A had already gathered. Not everyone of course, there were a few students who had chosen to spend the final day doing as they pleased. But at the very least, one student from each group was present.
A student near the back raised his hand and asked with a frown. "Why did you call us here, Katsuragi? We're down to the wire. Shouldn't we be focused on our own groups right now?"
Katsuragi turned toward Hashimoto and gave him a firm nod.
Katsuragi stepped forward confidently.
"Listen up, everyone. Earlier, Hashimoto and I made a discovery, one that could change everything about how we approach this exam. It's something every one of you needs to hear."
But before he could continue, all of a sudden, everyone's phones vibrated simultaneously, three sharp notifications echoing throughout the room in rapid succession.
Katsuragi and Hashimoto froze. They, along with the rest of the students, glanced down at their phones, only to be met with a trio of messages notifications from the school:
[The Tiger group's exam is now over. Students in the Tiger group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be mindful of your actions and avoid disturbing the others.]
[The Rooster group's exam is now over. Students in the Rooster group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be mindful of your actions and avoid disturbing the others.]
[The Dog group's exam is now over. Students in the Dog group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be mindful of your actions and avoid disturbing the others.]
Three groups—Tiger, Rooster, and Dog—had all ended at the same time.
A murmur spread like wildfire among the students.
"What the hell...?"
"All three? At once?"
Katsuragi felt a jolt of panic surge through his chest. His mind kicked into overdrive, immediately racing through possibilities. Who would launch a direct move against Class A at this exact moment?
His thoughts jumped to the first name that came to mind.
"Is it... Kumagawa?" Katsuragi muttered under his breath, almost unconsciously.
"No. It's Ryuen," Hashimoto said calmly, correcting his train of thought without hesitation.
"Huh...? Ah—right."
Katsuragi's eyes widened slightly as the realization sank in. After taking a breath and gathering his thoughts, the pieces began to fall into place.
Having heard Hashimoto's explanation about the deal Kumagawa made with Sakayanagi regarding the Snake group's outcome, Katsuragi understood why Hashimoto arrived at that conclusion so quickly.
Kumagawa had already made a deal with Sakayanagi—and by extension, with Hashimoto. Kumagawa had no reason to attack Class A, not if Hashimoto kept his end of the deal and secured Outcome One in the Snake group.
Katsuragi realized his own bias had clouded his thinking. He had been so caught up in that earlier humiliation from Kumagawa that he instinctively assumed it was him. It had clearly left a stronger impression than he thought.
"...I see," Katsuragi muttered, settling back down.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself before speaking again.
"Everyone, calm down and listen. Before we move forward, our class VIPs are Morishita Ai from the Tiger group, Kōji Machida from the Rooster group, and Kenta Yoshida from the Dog group, right....? Do you all understand what that means?"
"Huh?"
Some students blinked in confusion, but others, especially the sharper ones, caught on rather quickly. With the way Katsuragi worded it and the timing of the notifications, the answer became obvious.
"...Did our class just lose... 150 points?"
Someone unknowingly muttered it under their breath, but due to the sudden silence, his word echoed across the room, reaching every corner, and only deepened the collective anxiety, especially since no one had fully grasped what had just happened.
Before panic could set in, Katsuragi quickly stepped forward. If the mood collapsed now, it'd be hard to turn it around.
"Calm down, everyone! Listen to what I have to say."
His firm voice cut through the tension, stopping the confusion from boiling over into chaos.
"A couple of hours ago, Hashimoto and I witnessed something. On the deck, we saw Ryuen and Kushida talking....."
Katsuragi then went on to explain everything he had seen, from Kushida's betrayal, the exchange of information, and the likely connection between that moment and the three groups suddenly ending one after another. He recounted it clearly and without exaggeration.
The room stayed quiet at first. But it didn't last long.
Voices quickly rose, one after another, all carrying the same heat and frustration.
"Then what are we waiting for?! Let's just attack Class C and get the points back!"
More students echoed the same sentiment. In the heat of the moment, and under the weight of the tense atmosphere, everyone in Class A arrived at a rare, almost unanimous decision for the first time.
Losing 150 class points in an instant was no small blow. Even those usually passive or hesitant had fire in their eyes now.
Katsuragi observed the reaction from his classmates, While he understood their reaction, he also knew that rushing in blindly could backfire. But at this point, trying to suppress the momentum would only fuel more unrest and the backlash might be even more spectacular.
And then, just like before, a new round of notifications buzzed across the room in rapid succession.
[The Rat group's exam is now over. Students in the Rat group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be mindful of your actions and avoid disturbing the others.]
[The Goat group's exam is now over. Students in the Goat group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be mindful of your actions and avoid disturbing the others.]
[The Pig group's exam is now over. Students in the Pig group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be mindful of your actions and avoid disturbing the others.]
Six groups in total had now been taken out in rapid succession.
Seeing that the deed was done, Katsuragi quietly turned and left the room, leaving the others to make their own decisions.
As he walked back toward his quarters, a strange feeling started creeping in. Doubt. Despite the clarity of their current situation, something didn't sit right with him. Was attacking Class C really the best course of action?
They had already lost 150 points. In that sense, there wasn't much of a choice. But even so, something about this didn't sit right with him.
Wasn't this all too convenient?
Getting ahold of the information about Class C's VIPs, Kushida's betrayal, the timing of the notifications—it all lined up a little too perfectly.
Altought it wasn't Katsuragi who discovered the information, as it was Hashimoto, who claimed he shared it as a sign of trust. Katsuragi didn't doubt Hashimoto's intentions, at least not during this exam. But that didn't explain the uneasy feeling in his chest.
Where was this discomfort coming from?
Ever since he enrolled in this school, he had braced himself for a challenge. And true to expectations, the obstacles came one after another. The faction conflict within Class A. His rejection from the student council. All of it was within what he could accept. This was an elite school, he knew it wouldn't be easy.
But lately, it felt different.
Especially during this past week, everything seemed to be going downhill faster than he could react. Even though he tried to stay composed, he always felt like he was being dragged down by something.
"Katsuragi!"
"Hmm?"
He turned around and saw Matoba Shinji approaching him. They had been in the same group during the exam, and Shinji was also part of the Sakayanagi faction.
"Your information really helped," Shinji said with a nod. "If we didn't know about Class C's VIPs ahead of time, we would've been the ones who got hit."
Katsuragi gave a small nod in response. He didn't feel like saying much. Even though it was technically Hashimoto who got the information, it was Katsuragi who chose to believe it and share it.
"...I'm glad it worked out," he said quietly.
"Even though it was nice and all, are you really going through with the decision for our group?"
Shinji's tone was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity behind his words. Katsuragi understood what he meant right away.
Earlier that evening, before meeting with Hashimoto at the café, Katsuragi had already gathered with Ryuen, Kushida, and Kanzaki to settle the Dragon group's outcome. After a short discussion, they had all agreed to settle for Outcome One.
Kushida had verbally declared herself as the VIP, though she never provided concrete proof. It was a move designed to create uncertainty and prevent reckless actions from the others—anyone who acted carelessly might trigger retaliation.
"Yes, I'm sticking with the plan. If we act recklessly now, it could backfire hard, especially if Kushida isn't actually the VIP. Even if she says she is, there's no way to know for sure. That's why we're playing it safe. I don't intend to take any unnecessary risks this late in the exam." Katsuragi answered calmly.
Katsuragi had considered verifying her claim using Kumagawa's method, but with that method now proven unreliable, he had no way to confirm her role. It left too much room for error.
In the end, Katsuragi chose the safer option, accept the deal, follow the deal, and avoid gambling on something he couldn't verify.
For now, all they could do was wait for the end of the exam and see how everything unfolded.
『』『』『』『』『』
Whoosh
In the back of the ship, the wind flowed gently across the open deck. It wasn't that strong likely due to the ship's steady pace and the surrounding structure breaking most of the airflow—but it created a soft, comfortable breeze that felt just right.
Coincidentally, it was also the only place frequently visited by two students with the most extreme, polar opposite reputations in the school.
"I knew you'd be here," Kushida said, her eyes settling on the boy in front of her, who was leisurely reading his favorite pastime just like he had been since school started back in April.
『Kushida-chan. 』 he said.
In that manufactured tone of voice that made everything sound like a lie.
『What coincidence. 』
He didn't even bother looking up from the book. His finger idly flipped the page, as if her presence wasn't anything special. But that kind of response was already expected.
"You knew I'd come," she said, walking closer.
『Is it? I mean, it's really the perfect place for a pair like us. 』
"Don't get ahead of yourself." Kushida immediately shot back.
Kumagawa let out a soft laugh, as if he expected that.
『Anyway, seeing your cute expression, it seems like you have a mountain of questions to ask, or maybe just one specific question. Or maybe none at all. Judging from that cute look on your face, though, I'd bet you've got something you want to confirm with me, even if its not, I'm pretty sure it's one of those. 』
Kushida unknowingly took a small step back. She couldn't help it—it was a little unsettling.
He said it so casually that it almost sounded like a joke. But it didn't feel like one.
Especially since he was completely right.
Was it intuition? Instinct? Stalker-level perception?
They hadn't spent much time together, but Kumagawa's attitude toward her made it seem like he knew her a little too well for her own comfort.
"...You're seriously weird. Do you rehearse this stuff in front of a mirror or something?" she muttered, keeping her distance just in case.
『What is it, Kushida-chan or actually, Kushida-tan. You're pretty involved in my business today, huh?』
"Please don't call me Kushida-tan."
Just hearing him call her with the "-tan" suffix made her skin crawl, like bugs squirming under her skin. She'd already endured being called "Kushida-chan" by him, but even she had her limits.
Kumagawa, of course, ignored her disgust without missing a beat.
『Anyway, what did you want to ask? 』
Surprisingly, he sounded confident in his reasoning, which was rare for him. Normally, he was the type to go back on his word or give up on things easily. Though it irritated her, Kushida knew deep down it was just her way of venting her frustration.
If she kept dodging his question out of pride, he'd just keep poking at her in that annoying way of his. Relentlessly. It'd be smarter to get it over with now than let him drag it out.
"Do you really think the plan will work? This whole thing won't fall apart halfway through right?"
『Ah... That? 』
Out of the two of them, Kushida was the one who seemed the calmest on the surface, but deep down, she was probably the most uneasy right now, though she never showed it on her face or in her body language.
Everything had started with Kumagawa. He laid the groundwork. And that fact alone was... more than a little concerning.
So, trying to calm her nerves, she threw the question at him. But instead of reassurance, his answer only made things worse.
『Well... Who knows?』
Kushida's face twisted into something far from pleasant.
『Ahaha, just kidding. You should've seen your face. What happened to the kind Kushida I used to know? 』
Kushida took a deep breath, resisting the urge to yell at him right then and there. There was no point in getting all worked up. If she did, she could already imagine the annoying response he'd throw her way— "Ah~ I just love girls who get all hot and bothered like that. You're doing it again, Kushida-tan~ So cute."
If that actually happened, she knew she'd be falling right into his pace all over again.
『Huhu. Well, there's no point in thinking about what'll happen next, Kushida-chan. Since things already came to this point, there's no use regretting it now. Besides, even if I was thinking of giving up halfway through, the reward's just too tempting to ignore. 』
"Reward? What kind of reward?"
『Of course—it's getting to spend the rest of this vacation looking at Kushida-chan's panties as a reward for all my hard work. 』
"...Ah."
She ended up letting out a slight moan.
Kushida didn't even seem shocked anymore. After being on the receiving end of his harassment more times than she could count, it had stopped surprising her. The real problem was that she couldn't even tell if she was actually getting used to it. That alone felt like a defeat.
Was she just desensitized? Probably. But that didn't mean it was okay.
And yet, she tried to reframe it in her head, if only to keep her sanity.
That had to be a joke. She wanted to believe it was a joke.
Because if it wasn't, then the fact that she didn't snap back right away would feel a lot worse.
『Kushida-chan, what time is it right now? 』
"Eh?"
She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question, then checked her phone.
While they had been going back and forth, time had quietly slipped by. It was now a little past 9 p.m.—only 25 minutes left until the betrayal window would close. Once the clock struck 9:30, no more betrayal messages would be accepted, and only Outcomes One and Two would remain as options.
『Is that so? 25 minutes, huh—if there's no notification from the school in the next few seconds, then it's a failure. That'd make this my loss. I'd just be the sore loser of this exam. It'd hurt my pride a little, sure, but... well, it is what it is. 』
He said it so casually, as if it has nothing to do with him, and without Kushida lifeline on the line. Especially her life for the next three years on the school.
"It wouldn't... right? Kumagawa-kun."
Kushida couldn't help but voice her concern. But as if luck had heard her, three rapid notifications suddenly popped up on her phone.
The Tiger, Rooster, and Dog groups had officially concluded their exams.
『Well, well, would you look at that? Seems like your prayer was answered. Good for you, Kushida-chan. 』
"....."
It was frustrating how easygoing he sounded, especially when she'd been tense the whole time. But since those three groups had officially ended, just like Kumagawa said.
『See? All according to plan. 』
Kushida looked at Kumagawa rather skeptically. He smiled as if this whole thing was a casual game. Especially if he said that plan is going according to plan. It somehow sound dubious if he's the one who said it.
Kushida stayed silent. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging it. But the tension in her shoulders eased slightly.
『Hey, hey, what's wrong? Are you really that worried, Kushida-chan? I'm not worried at all. If anything, I'm excited.』
"You sound like a pervert."
『How cruel. 』
"But it is surprising."
『What is? 』
"The fact that no one betrayed you... even with those deals you made with Ryuen-kun and Sakayanagi-san."
『... 』
Kumagawa gave her a strange look, which made Kushida feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. Unable to ignore it, she asked with a hint of irritation.
"What?" she asked, frowning.
『It's nothing. Just... for someone as smart as you, you really say dumb things sometimes, huh? 』
"...Hah?"
『Of course they can't betray me. It's just their bad luck that I know how the VIPs are determined. 』
"Ah...."
When he put it that bluntly, Kushida felt a little stupid.
She'd been so tense earlier that her head wasn't working properly. Her thoughts were all over the place, and she ended up letting that kind of remark slip out without thinking.
But he was right.
It really was their bad luck.
Everyone who got involved with Kumagawa, whether they wanted to or not, ended up paying for it somehow.
Ryuen couldn't make any sudden moves because Kumagawa had already revealed the VIP selection method to him. And when Kumagawa proved it on the spot, Ryuen had no choice but to acknowledge it. That put him in a position where retaliation would only backfire. If he refused the deal, Kumagawa could easily turn other classes against him.
Sakayanagi was in an even worse position.
It was precisely because she wasn't on the ship that Kumagawa could move so freely. Without having a full grasp of the situation, she couldn't react properly. And since she wasn't taking part in the exam herself, she had no way to confirm whether Kumagawa's method was real or not. If she made the wrong call, Kumagawa could use that to attack Class A.
Basically, Kumagawa was free to do as he pleased with Class A, which was being led by Katsuragi and his rigid way of thinking. Even though Hashimoto was around, someone Kumagawa once described as a guy who always wanted to side with the winner and profit from it, he wasn't nearly as crafty as Sakayanagi.
He could read between the lines to an extent, sure—but he still couldn't match her level. Kumagawa had taken advantage of that.
In the end, he made them choose between two evils.
Ryuen, who couldn't be trusted, and Kumagawa, who really couldn't be trusted. And they ended up putting their faith in Ryuen.
The lesser of the two evils.
When Kushida thought about it like that, it really was disgusting.
"...There's one thing I still don't get. You said you wanted the Snake group to get Outcome One, right? So how did you get Class B to go along with that?" she said, looking at him again.
『Ah, that? That wasn't me. All the credit goes to Ryuen-chan.』
"Ryuen?"
She gave him a puzzled look.
She hadn't asked much about the Snake group since it didn't involve her directly. All she knew was that Kumagawa had some goal involving them. But now it seemed Ryuen had played a part in that too.
『Yeah. He talked Kanzaki into it. Then he had his own classmates send betrayal texts in the Horse group. 』
"Wait, he sacrificed them?"
『Pretty much. It was a trade. He gave up the Horse group to make sure the Snake group could get Outcome One. 』
"But... wasn't your deal with him just about hitting Class A? Why would he go that far just to help you?"
『That's obvious, isn't it? Ryuen-chan's a good guy. Unlike me, who just takes advantage of people's kindness, Ryuen-chan actually put in the effort. He went out of his way to strike a deal with Kanzaki so I wouldn't turn on him and crush his class for not meeting my demands. 』
Uwaah....How terrible.
In the end, Ryuen had to convince Kanzaki to cooperate, just so the Snake group could reach Outcome One. Because if that didn't happen, Kumagawa could easily side with Class A and aim directly at Class C.
He'd practically forced Ryuen to do his job for him through blackmail.
Poor Ryuen.
Kumagawa knowing the method is probably the worst thing that could've happened in this exam, especially for anyone aiming to win.
After all, the absolute worst person ended up holding the key to winning it.
『But don't misunderstand. You know how much I hate forcing people to do things they don't want to. So if you interpreted it that way, then your interpretation is completely wrong. So can you try interpreting it a little more nicely? 』
How else was she supposed to interpret it?
Kumagawa holding the key to victory meant he could side with any class whenever he felt like it. Everything he did was just him cornering someone into giving him what he wanted. If they didn't meet his conditions, he'd simply switch sides and crush them with someone else.
In the end, he was just forcing people to do things they didn't want to.
There was no other way to interpret that.
『Besides, even if I didn't push him, Ryuen-chan was always going to end up making a deal with Kanzaki. He'd still need to sacrifice another group to earn Kanzaki-kun's trust. 』
"Trust?"
『Why do you think Kanzaki agreed so easily to help Ryuen-chan with achieving outcome one for the Dragon group? 』
"Ah... so that's why he was so cooperative."
Kushida had already told Kumagawa about the plan Ryuen made with the Dragon group. The only problem was convincing the others to aim for Outcome One—especially stubborn and uncooperative people like Katsuragi, and Kanzaki, who was only slightly more flexible.
But things had gone more smoothly than she expected.
She didn't know how Ryuen managed to convince Katsuragi, but the strange part was how easily Kanzaki agreed.
She had wondered about that. Kanzaki had seemed unusually agreeable during the earlier discussion. He didn't say much, but Kushida knew he didn't trust Ryuen. So seeing him go along with the plan without much resistance had felt strange.
So, whether Ryuen had been manipulated by Kumagawa or not, in the end, he still had to sacrifice the Horse group just to earn Kanzaki's trust.
Basically, Kumagawa took advantage of him, forcing him to do something he was going to end up doing anyway.
In the end, Ryuen was taken advantage of.
Kumagawa really is a jerk.
But before she could think any deeper about just how much of an asshole he was, another rapid notifications from the school echoed in quick succession. This time, it was the Rat, Goat, and Pig group that has concluded their exam.
『By the way, Kushida-chan—or rather, Kushida-chan—did you or did you not persuade our dear classmates? I mean, did you manage to convince them?』Asked Kumagawa.
Why did he say it in such a roundabout way?
"More or less. I told them that if six groups happened to finish their exams close together, they should send betrayal messages right away."
Almost like it was timed, another school announcement followed immediately.
[The Cow group's exam is now over. Students in the Cow group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be mindful of your actions and avoid disturbing the others.]
One more group has concluded their exam.
『Oh? Looks like it really happened just like you said. You're more trusted than I expected.』
"Well, of course. Isn't that obvious?"
Kushida replied without hesitation, like it was a matter of fact. She didn't doubt that, after Hirata, she was the one their classmates trusted the most.
"Unlike myself, I do know that you're whimsical and a contrarian and someone who's hated."
『I never said I was hated. 』
"Hmmph."
Kushida let out a small cheeky smile, clearly entertained by his usual behaviour.
After that brief exchange, the conversation naturally ended.
Kumagawa returned to reading his manga, flipping the pages at a slow pace. Meanwhile, Kushida leaned against the railing, letting the soft sea breeze brush against her cheeks as she watched the waves.
Just quietly doing their own thing.
Without disturbing each other.
It wouldn't be right to call it awkward.
For Kushida, it actually felt peaceful.
So peaceful, in fact, that they spent almost an hour doing absolutely nothing.
She knew some of her friends were probably looking for her. Her phone had been ringing nonstop for the past several minutes. But Kushida didn't bother picking up.
Instead, she glanced over at Kumagawa, who was still buried in his manga, showing no interest in her at all.
Was she irritated? Annoyed that a guy was ignoring a beautiful girl like her?
Of course not.
This wasn't some cheesy romance story where a girl falls for a guy just because he helps her without expecting anything in return. There was no chance she'd ever see Kumagawa as a "love interest." And she probably never would.
Still, a small question lingered in the back of her mind.
Was this Kumagawa being considerate?
After all, he'd always had an uncanny ability to read her.
He could tell when she was tired of pretending, or when she had a question she didn't want to voice. Even the slightest change in her expression didn't go unnoticed.
It was unsettling. But she couldn't deny that out of everyone in this school, Kumagawa might be the one who understood her best.
So was this his way of being considerate?
...Probably not.
Kumagawa Misogi wasn't the type to be thoughtful. In fact, he's someone couldn't read a room even if his life depended on it. So, the fact that he was ignoring her was likely just that—him ignoring her. He was probably just that focused on reading his manga, completely lost in his own little world.
But whether it was out of consideration or not, the peaceful feeling she had right now —
It was... kind of nice.
But that peacefulness was broken when the clock struck 11:00 PM.
At that exact moment, every student's phone buzzed with a notification.
It was time.
The results of the exam were about to be announced.
Both Kushida and Kumagawa looked down at their phones, reading through the long message that had just popped up on their screens.
A lengthy message was displayed.
[The traitor in the Rat Group answered incorrectly , resulting in Outcome #4]
[The traitor in the Cow Group answered correctly, resulting in Outcome #3]
[The traitor in the Tiger Group answered correctly, resulting in Outcome #3]
[The traitor in the Rabbit Group answered correctly, resulting in Outcome #3]
[The entire Dragon Group answered correctly at the end of the test, resulting in Outcome #1]
[The entire Snake Group answered correctly at the end of the test, resullting in Outcome #1]
[The traitor in the Horse Group answered incorrectly, resulting in Outcome #4]
[The traitor in the Goat Group answered correctly, resulting in Outcome #3]
[The traitor in the Monkey Group answered correctly, resulting in Outcome #3]
[The traitor in the Rooster Group answered correctly, resulting in Outcome #3]
[The traitor in the Dog Group answered correctly, resulting in Outcome #3]
[The traitor in the Pig Group answered incorrectly, resulting in Outcome #4]
[Based on those results, the increase or decrease in class and private points are as follows. "CP" and "PP" are used to denote "Class Points" and "Private Points," respectively.]
[Class A: –250 CP and +2.5 million PP]
[Class B: No change in CP and +2.5 million PP]
[Class C: +200 CP and +7.0 million PP]
[Class D: +50 CP and +4.5 million PP]
The results for each group were exactly as Kushida and Kumagawa had planned.
Class A lost 250 points, having fallen for the act Kushida and Ryuuen put on earlier. That little performance on the deck had led Class A to submit the wrong VIP name, handing Class C a complete victory. They would've lost 300 points in total if not for the fact that Ryuen had to sacrifice one of his own VIPs to fully deceive them.
Kushida and Ryuuen had deliberately shuffled just one name when they revealed it to Katsuragi and Hashimoto.
That one change was enough to throw off the entire pattern.
Even if Class A somehow got their hands on the full list of Class C's VIPs, they wouldn't be able to confirm the accuracy of it. The uncertainty it created, paired with the time pressure near the end of the exam, left them with no room to figure things out properly.
They were forced to take a gamble—
And they lost.
Kushida glanced at the results on her phone, then turned toward Kumagawa.
Even though she already expected this kind of outcome, seeing the numbers spelled out in front of her was something else. Especially Class A's result.
Because of Kumagawa's interference, Class A had dropped straight into Class C.
If she remembered correctly, they had 804 class points before the cruise exam. But now, they were sitting at 574. Combined with the 70-point loss during the uninhabited island exam, and the two expulsions from early July that cost them 200 points, they had lost almost half of their points in just five months.
All because of one student.
Kumagawa Misogi.
He had single-handedly dragged the top-ranked Class A straight down into Class C.
『Hmm? What is it, Kushida-chan?』
Kumagawa, who had already skimmed through the results and returned to his manga, noticed her staring at him.
"It's nothing... I'm just honestly kind of impressed."
She meant it too.
"I mean, it's honestly kind of amazing. I was expecting a disaster, to be honest. Especially since you were the one calling the shots. But somehow, everything went exactly the way you said it would. You won, and... you helped me. So yeah—thanks, Kumagawa-kun."
Kushida praised him.
Even though she really didn't want to.
The fact that Kumagawa had helped her was something she couldn't ignore. No matter how irritating he was, facts were facts. Even someone like her, who lived every day wearing two different masks, knew how to express gratitude when it mattered.
It might not have come from the heart, but it was genuine in its own way.
So, she braced herself for the aftermath.
After all, this was Kumagawa. She expected him to go ballistic with that weird, smug narcissism he had been developing lately. He was getting worse by the day. But... just this once, she figured she'd let it slide.
Only, what happened next was something else entirely.
『...I wonder about that. 』
He closed his manga slowly, the pages falling shut with a soft thud.
"Huh?"
『Even when everything goes according to plan, life still doesn't go the way you want it to. 』
"...? What are you talking about, Kumagawa-kun?"
Wasn't this the part where he said something annoying? Something inappropriate? Like demanding to see her panties, or tossing out one of his usual delusional remarks that made her want to punch him in the face? Of course, she wouldn't actually respond to any of that, but still... what happened?
Instead, Kumagawa looked at her with his usual smile, as if accepting that what happened was meant to happen, and what didn't wasn't meant to in the first place.
『Though I intended to toy with Sakayanagi-chan, she ended up playing along with me. Though I meant to crush Katsuragi-kun's reputation with my own hands, Hashimoto took care of it for me. And though I planned to teach Ichinose-chan a lesson by defeating her, she beat me to it and arrived at the answer before I even had the chance. 』
Kumagawa let out a quiet sigh, wearing a smile that looked like he'd already accepted the disappointment.
『Even when everything goes according to plan... Again, I couldn't win. 』
Kushida looked at him with a puzzled expression as he turned his back and started walking away, leaving her alone on the deck.
She heard him mutter something under his breath, the words drifting back to her, vague and confusing.
『Aaaah, why can't I win. 』
For the Minus named Kumagawa Misogi.
Even when everything worked out.
Nothing ever truly went the way he liked.
Class A : 574 ▼ (–250)
Class B : 733 ⚫ (0)
Class C : 663 ▲ (+200)
Class D : 248 ▲ (+50)
『END』
『』『』『』『』『』
Huhu, guess I really am a bit of a liar.
Also, I'm putting this here since people usually don't bother open the author's thought, which, honestly, I get. Even I skip them. So hey, be grateful I'm writing this in the actual chapter.
Anyway, this should be the last chapter of Volume 4… or maybe not? Still not sure if I want to add a bit more, but yeah, this pretty much wraps up the exam.
Next up, I wanna jump into Volume 4.5 since there's a scene I've been super excited to write. After that, I might take a short break and re-read Volume 5 while I'm at it.
That's about it, I think?
Feel free to drop your thoughts on the story so far in the review comments. I'd seriously love to hear what you think, it might give me a bit of motivation, y'know? That's how humans work, right?
That's it for this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it!
[Thanks for reading!]