"...No way, how is this possible?" Horikita Suzune stood frozen, staring at the lively scene on the beach, muttering several times in disbelief as if she couldn't trust her own eyes.
Temporary toilets, showers, parasols, large tents, jet skis and parasailing gliding across the sea—all accompanied by the laughter and screams of boys and girls. If it weren't for the certainty that they were still in the school's special exam, Horikita might've thought she was at a resort beach.
"Just from what we can see, this must've cost over a hundred test points." Standing beside her, Karuizawa Kei couldn't help but click her tongue, though a trace of bitterness welled up in her heart. She had spent the entire morning running back and forth, negotiating with classmates, comforting one side while appeasing the other—exhausted just trying to save a few test points. And yet, when she looked over at Kitagawa Ryo, he was lying there leisurely under the shade, sipping a cold drink.
"Did Class C give up on the exam?" Even Hirata Yosuke was stunned. Following the one-line-per-person pattern of dialogue, it should've been Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's turn next, but he remained silent, carefully calculating the exact number of points spent.
After choosing a base and setting up their tent, Class D had split up to search for food, water, and other locations. Horikita had suggested scouting the other classes' activity, but due to her social difficulties, only Ayanokoji agreed to go with her. Hirata joined to ease the awkwardness between the two, while Karuizawa—taking advantage of the information-gathering excuse—simply wanted to see Kitagawa Ryo.
"Yo, Class D. Long time no see." Class C students made no attempt to stop the four from approaching. Kitagawa Ryo, who had been napping, opened his eyes as if he sensed their arrival and greeted them casually.
"Ki-ta-ga-wa Ryo! Don't you realize this is an exam?!" If there was anyone in Class D obsessed with beating Kitagawa, it was definitely Horikita Suzune. The moment the special exam rules were revealed, she was determined to compete with Class C. Yet to her shock, Class C didn't even seem to be trying.
It was like her full-force punch had landed on cotton. Horikita couldn't help but feel frustrated: "This exam is about 'endurance.' Are you telling me Class C can't even handle a little hardship?"
The other three from Class D hadn't expected Horikita to react so emotionally. Shouldn't it be a good thing if the opponent was slacking off? Why did she sound so angry on their behalf?
"Suzune, are you feeling alright? You've been shaking." But Kitagawa didn't respond to her accusations. Instead, he sat up and asked with concern.
Caught off guard, Horikita flinched. She was indeed feeling a bit feverish. Karuizawa placed her hand on Horikita's forehead.
"You're a little warm." Hirata also looked at her with concern.
"If you're unwell, you should've told us."
"I'm fine," Horikita said stubbornly, brushing Karuizawa's hand away. "I know my own condition."
"If you drop out due to illness, you'll lose thirty test points." Kitagawa sighed with such sincerity that even Class D forgot their original goal and nodded along.
"We should buy some basic medicine," Kitagawa suggested. "It'd be a shame to lose points over a cold or stomach ache."
"Kitagawa's right," Hirata agreed. "I'll talk to Chabashira-sensei about exchanging for those."
They chatted a bit more. Horikita tried several times to speak up but was always cut off by Kitagawa with a gentle, "Patients should rest and not talk." By the time Class D left, they hadn't gathered any useful intel.
"Take care, everyone. We might even end up working together later." Kitagawa waved them off, legs crossed, utterly relaxed.
Once they left Class C's territory, Hirata commented genuinely:
"Kitagawa's reputation might not be great, but he doesn't seem that bad."
No, no. Horikita thought bitterly. Class D's downfall was practically his handiwork.
She had intended to hide her condition, but the fact that Kitagawa spotted it first unsettled her.
"We didn't even notice Horikita's condition… Kitagawa really caught that right away." Karuizawa added. Truthfully, she was exhausted too. She'd barely gotten to speak to Kitagawa at all—it was all about Horikita.
Horikita noticed Karuizawa's strange gaze but didn't think much of it, assuming she was being blamed for not saying anything earlier.
"Sorry for the trouble," she murmured.
If Kitagawa had been there, he might've remarked how Horikita had finally become a bit more tactful.
"Do you think Kitagawa is Class C's leader?" Back to her usual self, Horikita posed the question bluntly.
"Using the class's original leader makes it too easy to guess." Karuizawa touched her lips thoughtfully.
"But if everyone thinks that way, using the obvious choice becomes a kind of reverse psychology," Hirata offered.
Class D had a few possible leaders—Hirata, Karuizawa, Kushida, and Horikita—all capable, which made it hard to guess. Class C, however, had only Kitagawa active from the start, and Ryuuen Kakeru had just suffered a blow in the previous exam.
It was likely that Class C either made Kitagawa the leader as misdirection—or chose someone completely unremarkable.
"If we can't be sure, we just shouldn't guess." Hirata smiled. "We only need to protect our own leader's identity."
"Yeah, I'll keep it safe," Karuizawa said, touching the keycard in her pocket engraved with her pseudonym.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, silent the whole time, studied Karuizawa's back. He was now certain she had some connection with Class C. Which meant Class D's leader info was likely compromised.
But if that were true, Class C shouldn't target Class D, given how little threat they posed with only 87 class points. If anything, Karuizawa might even help Class D gain small benefits—just like with the Class B incident.
Recalling his earlier conversation with Chabashira before the exam began, Ayanokoji steeled himself.
Let's see what Class C does next.
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"Kitagawa-kun?"
Ichinose Honami had just finished setting up the tents when she heard a commotion near Class B's camp. Looking up, she saw Kitagawa Ryo approaching. He seemed to be alone, and unlike the rest of Class B—who were dressed in sporty outfits—he wore a lightweight waterproof jacket and swim trunks, looking more like a tourist just passing by.
"Hello, long time no see, Honami."
"Didn't we just talk on the boat yesterday?"
"Just a small joke."
Kitagawa walked up to her. Though Ichinose looked a little tired after a long day, she still carried her usual energy and encouraging smile. Under such a leader, it was no surprise Class B was doing well in the special exam.
As he moved, over twenty students from Class B followed anxiously behind him, worried that Kitagawa might try something against Ichinose. The grudge between Class B and Class C wasn't small, after all. In contrast, it seemed Ichinose was the only one from Class B who genuinely showed goodwill toward Kitagawa.
"Did you come here for something? If there's anything we can help with, just say the word."
Kanzaki Ryuji nearly choked hearing their class leader speak so kindly to Kitagawa. Class C had been playing around all day—what help could they possibly need?
Kitagawa casually reached out and brushed off some grass and leaves from Ichinose's hair with a smile.
"I just wanted to make a deal with Class B."
"What kind of deal?"
Ichinose warmly invited him to sit and listened patiently.
"I'll give you the leaders of Class A and Class D. In return, Class B will pay Class C 200,000 private points each month. How does that sound?"
"Eh?"
Ichinose blinked, not quite following.
"If Class B is worried, we can sign a wager agreement. If the names are wrong, Class C will pay Class B 200,000 private points per month instead."
"Ah… that's not what I was asking."
Ichinose ignored the now-buzzing Class B students and instead earnestly thought about Kitagawa's offer.
"If what you're saying is true, Class B would gain 100 class points, but 200,000 private points is only equivalent to 50 class points."
Kanzaki covered his face.
"So why would Class C offer this unequal trade?"
"To hit Class A."
Kitagawa replied with ease, clearly prepared.
"Right now, Classes B and C are about 400 points behind Class A. Only by working together can we close that gap."
"If only Class C guesses correctly, Class A loses 50 points. But if both of us guess right, Class A loses 100, and both B and C gain 50 points. The 200,000 private points are simply payment for revealing Class D's leader."
"I see."
It was a persuasive explanation. No matter how they looked at it, Class B stood to gain. Just as Kitagawa said, a joint effort would bring the two classes much closer to catching up with Class A. The students of Class B were clearly tempted.
In truth, there had always been a natural foundation for cooperation between Classes B and C—their shared goal of toppling Class A.
Under the Advanced Nurturing High School system, neither Class B nor C could win unless they overtook Class A. Fighting each other would only benefit Class A. Perhaps Kitagawa had taken this into account before approaching them.
Kanzaki and Ichinose both believed they now understood Kitagawa's logic. The rest of Class B students also grasped the simple math and looked to Ichinose with hope. With over 600 class points, even after paying 800,000 monthly to Karuizawa Kei, Class B still had plenty left. Trading private points for class points was clearly a good deal.
"Alright, we're willing to make the deal."
Ichinose nodded sincerely.
"But I still think Class B is getting the better end of this. So if you ever face difficulties during this exam, Kitagawa-kun, Class B will do what we can to help."
"If you put it that way, I'll be sure to take you up on that."
Kitagawa responded with a sincere smile.
"Pleasure doing business."
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The white cat Hotaru curled up in its little bed, trembling as it peeked at the commotion outside.
"This is the room of Kitagawa Ryo from Class 1-C, right?"
An unfamiliar girl's voice came from outside the door.
"He went to the special summer exam."
Sakayanagi Arisu's cool voice replied, as calm as ever.
"Is that so?"
The girl outside didn't seem bothered by the fact someone else was in Kitagawa's room. Her tone carried an infuriating indifference and casualness.
"Then tell him when he gets back."
"Nagumo is making his move."
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