The buffet restaurant on the cruise ship was a popular spot for students to eat and hang out.
Compared to the Western-style restaurant with its many rules, small portions, and slow service, the buffet was characterized by its large, satisfying quantities, wide variety, and serve-yourself style. On top of that, the food was quite good, making it uniquely appealing to students of this age—after all, at their age, they could really eat a lot!
It was lunchtime, and nearly half of the first-year students were gathered in the restaurant. Fortunately, the place was spacious enough that it didn't feel crowded.
After getting his food, Symon, carrying his tray, was looking for a place to sit when Masumi Kamuro from a short distance away waved at "her."
"Hiyori, over here."
Beside Kamuro sat a girl he hadn't seen before. She had a side ponytail, slate-blue hair, and was looking down, so he couldn't see her face clearly.
Symon walked over, sat down, and joined their table. Looking at the girl with her head down, he turned and asked, "Aren't you going to introduce me? Your friend."
"This is Yamamura, Miki Yamamura. I think I've told you about her before, right?"
"Hmm... I think I do remember you mentioning her..." Symon recalled for a moment. "The deepest darkness hidden within the Sakayanagi family, the legendary intelligence master, the genius assassin with innate presence concealment, and I believe, your love rival?"
Kamuro was stunned on the spot. "I never said anything like that! And what the hell is this about a love rival?"
"Well, as long as you get the general idea," Symon said, his gaze meeting Yamamura's as she cautiously looked up.
He smiled and spoke, "Nice to meet you. Just call me Shiina."
Miki Yamamura was clearly a bit flustered, nodding cautiously. "Hello... um..."
"Is there something else?" Symon asked, puzzled.
"I'm not a genius... genius assassin." Miki Yamamura waved her hands, her pretty face turning a little red. It was probably the first time she realized her weak presence could be described that way.
Symon paused at her words, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. He stroked his chin, feigning contemplation. "I see. So you don't deny being the deepest darkness of the Sakayanagi family and a legendary intelligence master? You really are a cool girl, pfft!"
He could almost hear the sound of steam rising from the top of the girl's head, likely from embarrassment.
Inside their shared body, Hiyori Shiina couldn't watch anymore. She whispered in his mind, "Mr. Ghost, please stop teasing this child."
"Sorry, I don't really know how to talk to such introverted girls. I just say whatever comes to mind. Why don't you teach me?"
"No... I'll take over."
With that, Hiyori Shiina took control of the body.
She looked at Kamuro, whose pupils were wide with shock as if seeing her for the first time, clasped her hands together, and offered a gentle smile. "My apologies," she said softly.
I hope she understands with just that.
Kamuro raised a hand to her forehead. "It's fine. I think I understand what just happened."
As it turned out, there was a clear difference between Hiyori's and Symon's speech and behavior. At least, Kamuro quickly realized that the second personality Arisu had mentioned must have just taken over.
She had to admit, his presence was incredibly strong; she had only managed to get in one retort—and even then, she lost the exchange.
Seeing that she seemed to understand, Hiyori Shiina picked up her chopsticks and asked with a smile, "By the way, was there something you wanted to see me for?"
"Actually, yes," Kamuro nodded, then said with some confusion, "We were just talking about it—what the pattern for the VIPs was. The exam is over, and we still haven't gotten a call from Sakayanagi."
"I see..." Hiyori Shiina pondered this, noticing Yamamura peeking over at them.
She smiled and asked, "Are you also curious about this, Yamamura-san?"
"Mhm..." Miki Yamamura nodded, replying in a small voice, "I just can't imagine Sakayanagi-san failing."
"About that..." Hiyori Shiina thought for a moment and then said with a smile, "After a case is solved, some detectives instantly lose interest in it. Sherlock Holmes, for example, was like that. At times like these, you need a Watson to step up and ask, so that the solution to the mystery can be revealed~"
The girl was trying to save face for Sakayanagi.
Miki Yamamura froze at her words. "Shiina-san, you mean..."
Masumi Kamuro pursed her lips. "That's right. That's exactly the kind of thing she would do."
And to think they were just discussing whether they should tell Sakayanagi the exam was over. They were even wondering if she might be crying about it.
They had completely forgotten how malicious her personality could be; she would absolutely do something like this.
"Well, that's more or less it..."
Hiyori Shiina picked up a fried shrimp with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.
She watched the two girls, who had now huddled together to mutter about Sakayanagi behind her back, and thought softly in her heart, "I wonder if that girl has ever considered how to repay such trust."
Even after losing 150 class points, they showed no signs of wavering. The quality of Class A's students was truly remarkable.
"Hmm..."
Symon recalled Sakayanagi's usual style and joked with a laugh, "As you were saying that, I bet that little white-haired loli was still tapping her feet while playing online chess, completely unaware that her harem is in revolt."
"Mr. Ghost, that's just prejudice. That girl can be reliable at times... right?"
Meanwhile—
At the Advanced Nurturing High School, in the Chairman's office.
Arisu Sakayanagi sat on the sofa, tapping her feet, listening to her dear father ramble on.
After a good while, the girl lifted her gaze to Chairman Sakayanagi, who was pinching the bridge of his nose, and spoke in a cheerful tone, "A special supplementary exam where all students can actively participate, which must showcase their communication skills, willingness to contribute to a team, and adaptable thinking, while limiting but not negating individual heroism..."
"An exam with a punitive nature can't meet such requirements. Father, are you prepared to spend a fortune?"
Chairman Sakayanagi choked on his words. "The budget needs to be kept within 20 million, and 3500 class points is a bit too high. It will be hard to manage next semester."
"In that case, Father, you'd best find someone more capable." Arisu Sakayanagi listlessly picked up the coffee on the table and crossed her legs.
The private points were one thing. Dividing 20 million among everyone would give each student around 100,000, which was enough to motivate the average student.
However, without class points as a reward, those private points were barely enough to fill the gaps for the class as a whole.
With the tortoise-like defensive stances of people like Katsuragi and Ichinose, it would be a miracle if they achieved a good result.
Seeing this, Chairman Sakayanagi thought for a moment before speaking. "Alright, for now, let's keep the class points under 4000 points. As for the rest, we'll let the planning team worry about it themselves when they get back to school."
Arisu Sakayanagi raised her eyes again. "In that case, I will produce a proposal by this evening. I hope you won't find it too complex, Father."
"It needs to be understandable to the average student, at least."
"Ara, I'll do my best?"
...
_____
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