Classmate Shibata's mockery left Horikita unable to retort.
Because although Horikita's plan seemed well-reasoned and perfectly suited to the current situation,
she had overlooked the most crucial thing.
That was the perceived threat level of Class D in the eyes of the other classes.
Indeed, it could be said that Class D was more attention-grabbing than Class B, which had already fallen to the bottom.
Just as Classmate Shibata said, Horikita's assumption that Class AC would cooperate with Class D was entirely her own wishful thinking, believing they would unite because of Class B members' previous provocations.
Amane-san, Shiina-san, and Sakayanagi-san's friendly relations also led to her misjudgment.
Horikita gradually began to accept Classmate Shibata's analysis.
Her momentum instantly weakened, and her expression revealed a soft, unconfident side. When Classmate Shibata saw Horikita's expression, he knew her psychological defense had been breached. As long as he could withstand Horikita's final, desperate counterattack, Horikita would succumb to his threat.
Classmate Shibata knew Horikita's last trump card perfectly well.
The complete asymmetry of information between the two sides caused what should have been an evenly matched battle to instantly become Classmate Shibata's overwhelming victory over Horikita.
"Don't show such a helpless expression. Right now, I won't go easy on you just because Horikita-san is a girl. Come on, you must have one last trump card, right? Bring it out and entertain me."
Classmate Shibata spread his arms in a somewhat arrogant posture that Horikita had never seen elsewhere. With two trump cards easily defused by Classmate Shibata, she only had one left.
Would her last trump card really be effective against Classmate Shibata?
Horikita doubted herself for the first time.
When they had cooperated before, she hadn't thought Classmate Shibata was very strong. On the Uninhabited Island, Classmate Shibata's performance could also be described as terrible; she had tricked him into letting Kanzaki-san occupy Class A's base, thereby drawing fire upon himself.
Combining information from various sources, Horikita had concluded that Classmate Shibata's abilities were mediocre. But the person standing before her now gave her a feeling no less formidable than someone like Ryuuen, perhaps even surpassing Hirata in his usual 'good guy' mode.
Had he been hiding his strength all this time? Did he have a reason to hide his strength?
Or was it... that Classmate Shibata wasn't actually strong, but rather that she was truly weak?
No, it shouldn't be like that.
Horikita's gaze firmed. If she doubted herself, how could she lead Class D to Class A?
No matter how strong Classmate Shibata was, she didn't believe he could handle her last trump card.
"Hmph, if you insist on tearing off the mask, then I won't hold back either. I've collected a lot of evidence of Classmate Shibata betraying Class B, and there are also some recordings. These things are enough to ruin your reputation."
Horikita's last trump card, in terms of its caliber, was a weapon of mass destruction identical to the one Classmate Shibata held.
Under normal circumstances,
Classmate Shibata should have chosen to retreat, and Horikita would have been able to save face and withdraw unscathed.
However, Classmate Shibata was not one to play by the rules.
"You're right."
Classmate Shibata smiled.
This strange behavior made Horikita feel a chill in her heart.
"Since you've realized..."
"But what if my reputation is ruined? Do you dare to make a bet with me?"
Classmate Shibata walked closer to Horikita, step by step.
"What do you mean by that? If you're scorned by the entire Class B, you can't be a leader. All your previous preparations will be for naught..."
Horikita didn't know why Classmate Shibata could still smile in such a situation.
"You are completely, absolutely correct. But what if I'm willing to give up on becoming a class leader? What if I'm willing to accept failure? Can you do that, Horikita-san?"
Classmate Shibata's response was simple: acceptance.
It seemed like giving up, but for an ambitious person, letting go is incredibly difficult. Giving up ambition and dreams is akin to depriving them of their life.
Yet, Classmate Shibata could frankly accept his failure and choose to let go of his ambition.
Such words sounded like a fantasy to Horikita. For her, giving up on rising to Class A, giving up on proving to Horikita Manabu that she was the best, was simply impossible. She would rather choose to drop out and disappear from Horikita Manabu's sight than to ignominiously give up after making such grand declarations.
"I don't believe you would do that. Your answer is indeed an unsolvable solution, but I don't believe someone who wants to lead others forward would willingly abandon their ambition."
Horikita clung to this point, unwilling to believe such a person existed, yet she forgot... the matter of Amane-san letting go when she chose to.
"What's so unbelievable about it? Why should I be a leader? It's because I want everyone to have their own individuality, not to be assimilated by Ichinose-san's inclusiveness into mere tools without their own distinct appearances. So if they all choose to abandon me, why should I save them? Is letting go... that hard? As long as I kneel before Ichinose-san and beg for forgiveness, Ichinose-san and everyone else will forgive me. But what about you, Horikita-san? Do you dare to face Miyako-san's wrath?"
Classmate Shibata's single sentence startled Horikita, causing her to retreat several steps before regaining her composure.
She remembered Amane-san's chilling gaze, her indifferent expression when she chose to ignore Sakura-san, and she recalled Amane-san's countless, luxurious achievements.
From the moment she stepped onto the Uninhabited Island and heard the rules, the entire special exam became Amane-san's playground, and only Ryuuen's surprise attack could bring Amane-san some enjoyment.
Looking back, all of Amane-san's victories seemed to be a matter of course. Did Amane-san, who could control everything, know about the things she had been doing behind her back?
Amane-san probably didn't know, otherwise, even if it was just her, she would have at least gotten a slap, right?
As Horikita's mind was in turmoil, Classmate Shibata decided to push to end this battle, which had already exceeded his estimated time.
"Since Horikita-san, you already understand your situation, you should obediently tell me your poker card number. I will also abide by this agreement and keep this secret until graduation."
Classmate Shibata offered his terms.
Keep the secret until graduation? Perhaps it wasn't impossible to agree.
She didn't want to lose Amane-san. The reason she targeted Sakura-san was entirely because she saw Sakura-san's weakness, wanting to use Sakura-san to tell Amane-san that, besides herself, no matter how close a girl was, she couldn't be trusted.
But... in the end, it still turned out like this.
Indeed, what goes around comes around.
"My number is 5."
Horikita stated her poker card number.
Classmate Shibata pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up.
"Now I've found the pattern. Thank you for your help, Horikita-san. I hope we can cooperate happily next time."
Classmate Shibata extended his hand. Horikita hesitated for a moment but finally extended her hand as well, intending to shake it.
She had no turning back.
"Horikita-san, what are you doing here?"
A familiar voice interrupted their actions.
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