"Yukimura-kun, do you think I'm easy to talk to, so you're pushing your luck? If you want to be serious, then let me ask you, who told you that the ghost card must help the favored person hide their identity?"
Sakayanagi Arisu displayed an arrogant attitude rarely seen from her.
That condescending look, gazing down at the weak and flaunting her superior abilities, was something Amane rarely saw.
"The special ability of the ghost card..."
"To double the rewards for Result One and Result Two, right? But... why must I pursue double rewards for Result One and Result Two? Yukimura-kun, you wouldn't think Class A lacks these one million personal points, would you? You underestimate us too much. For us, Result Three is the most useful, isn't it? Letting Class D taste defeat, I believe this is something every Class A student would hope to see."
Sakayanagi Arisu retaliated against Yukimura without mercy.
Yukimura gnashed his teeth, glaring at Sakayanagi, his eyes beginning to redden with anger. His fists were clenched, and his teeth chattered uncontrollably due to intense emotional fluctuations.
Simply put, Yukimura now looked like a gambler who had lost everything.
"Yukimura-kun, let's go. A loss is a loss; there's no need to argue further."
As the person involved, Horikita Suzune found it hard to accept being eliminated in such a way.
But logic told her that even if she stubbornly made a scene, the outcome wouldn't change because of her dissatisfaction.
With more and more spectators gathering, it was better to leave and think about the potential chances of other groups rather than making a spectacle of herself here.
"Horikita-san, are you really content with losing like this? You didn't even know you were the favored person, and you lost this exam because of a tiny slip of paper. Are you truly content?"
Yukimura's voice carried a hint of sorrow.
One could tell that Yukimura was genuinely unwilling to lose like this. Perhaps he could have grudgingly accepted it even if Sakayanagi had coincidentally guessed or even blindly stumbled upon the result.
But he absolutely could not accept this method of directly announcing the answer to declare a group's victory or defeat, especially when someone like Sakayanagi directly drew the favored person's name and then mercilessly eliminated them, giving them no chance to resist at all.
"Then what can I do? The school rules are like this, and Sakayanagi-san is acting within the rules. We lost this time due to luck."
Horikita's expression showed some regret, but she seemed to have accepted the reality.
However, Sakayanagi didn't intend to let Horikita and Yukimura off so easily.
"Luck is also a part of strength. A loss is a loss. I don't believe you would show mercy if you drew the name of a Class A favored person. Just now, Yukimura-kun, weren't you quite vocal? Come, answer my question now. If the favored person of the dragon group were me, and you happened to draw my name, what would you do?"
Sakayanagi Arisu leaned on her cane and approached Yukimura.
Facing Yukimura, who could explode at any moment, Sakayanagi showed no fear.
Standing beside her was Kitou Hayato. Not to mention Yukimura, even Amane would take some effort to launch a surprise attack on her.
Kitou's presence was Sakayanagi's confidence.
"I wouldn't end the exam like you did. I would try my best to let everyone achieve Result One or Result Two, allowing more people to experience the fun of the special exam. Ending the exam directly like this completely goes against the original intention of this exam; it utterly fails to showcase everyone's 'thinking'."
Yukimura passionately retorted.
Sakayanagi's response was a cold laugh.
"Heh, Yukimura-kun speaks as if it's true. Even if you really would do that, what if submitting my name, causing us to lose fifty class points, would allow you to ascend to Class A? Would you still stick to your statement?"
Sakayanagi had insight into Yukimura's true thoughts hidden deep within his heart.
Yukimura opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing.
He knew that if it truly came to that situation, he wouldn't care about thinking or not thinking; he would still end the exam immediately.
But then, what would be the difference between his actions and Sakayanagi's?
He could, of course, avoid embarrassment by lying.
But he couldn't deceive his own heart.
With the situation completely one-sided, Amane suddenly emerged from behind Sakayanagi.
"It's really lively here."
Amane's single sentence startled Sakayanagi, who quickly turned to look.
Amane, standing close by, showed her white teeth to her.
"Amane, you scared me. When did you get next to me?"
Sakayanagi was standing not far from Yukimura at this moment. If Amane had walked over, she should have been noticed by Yukimura or warned by Kitou, but Sakayanagi hadn't detected anything unusual from Yukimura or Kitou, as if Amane had suddenly appeared.
"Just now. I saw you two arguing and came to watch."
"Amane, how's your situation?"
Just as Sakayanagi was about to continue talking to Amane, Horikita threw a question at Amane.
"I'm doing alright. No clues. The information I drew isn't very useful, so it looks like it'll be a tough battle."
Amane's words left Horikita slightly disappointed.
Amane couldn't break the deadlock, and she herself had already been eliminated. Now, they could only hope for some surprise from Ayanokoji's or Kouenji's side. If everyone was wiped out, Class D might immediately lose its qualification to be promoted to Class B at the beginning of next month.
After all, Class C was chasing quite fiercely from behind.
They were only fifty or sixty class points apart. They could easily push Class D out by winning just two matches.
"If Horikita-san is done asking, I'll take Amane away. It's been a while since I had a good chat with Amane. You wouldn't refuse, would you, Amane?"
Sakayanagi gave Amane a look that said, 'You're dead if you refuse.'
Horikita, meanwhile, decisively shook her head.
"Using the identity of a friend to coerce Amane is hardly what a friend should do. Now, because of you, Class D's strategy has been completely disrupted. As a member of Class D, I believe Amane should return with me to thoroughly discuss matters concerning this special exam, rather than wasting time here. Amane, let's go back."
Horikita spoke to Amane in an unquestionable tone.
Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes at this, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of her lips.
"I initially thought Horikita-san had some profound insight. You say I'm coercing Amane as a friend, but have you seen her unwilling?"
Sakayanagi reached out and pinched Amane's cheek.
"Ouch."
Amane rubbed the pinched spot, looking resentfully at Sakayanagi. This intimate interaction made Horikita's eyelid twitch.
"My relationship with Amane transcends what you call 'friends'; it's a much more intimate kind, you see. Don't conflate my relationship with Amane with yours. Besides... aren't you, as the leader of Class D, trying to coerce Amane into following your orders? What's the difference between you and the 'me' you speak of, Horikita Suzune?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's previously narrowed eyes slowly widened. Her purple eyes, almost identical to Amane's, brimmed with unconcealed mockery.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"