The first group discussion for the exam was at one in the afternoon. Thinking that everyone might rush over at once, Kamio Tatsuya left much earlier.
However, it seemed Kamio Tatsuya wasn't the only one with this idea. Ichinose was there even earlier than him.
"You're really early, Ichinose."
"Because I predicted that everyone might arrive all at once in a short time, so I came early," Ichinose seemed as energetic as ever.
Oh, I'm not like that at all.
Kamio Tatsuya felt that he had turned into a tired kid since the summer vacation.
It must be because he was too tired. It's all Chabashira Sae's fault, that jerk!
"By the way, Kamio, do you have any clue who our group's VIP is?"
Kamio Tatsuya shook his head. I can't exactly say that I'm the VIP in the Rabbit group, can I?
If you want money, just say so. I can afford a mere 50,000 points.
"I don't even know who's in the Rabbit group, how could I know who the VIP is?"
Kamio Tatsuya innocently spread his hands and sat down opposite Ichinose.
"Huh? Didn't you write down the group members' names during the info session, Kamio?"
Seeing Ichinose's surprised face, Kamio Tatsuya instead showed an embarrassed smile.
"I almost remembered them all, but then I saw Result One and forgot everything."
Hearing Kamio Tatsuya say this, Ichinose didn't know what to say.
After a long pause, she said with a wry smile, "I see. But you're really amazing, Kamio, actually being able to convince Sakayanagi and Ryuen."
"I didn't convince Ryuen. He jumped in on his own."
Ichinose now remembered what happened yesterday. After Kamio Tatsuya made the suggestion, Ryuen agreed immediately.
"Does Ryuen actually care about his class students?"
"Who knows? No matter what, with a fair contract from the school, even if Ryuen wants to play tricks, I'm afraid there's nothing he can do."
That contract, plus the school's restrictions, forced the first-year students to rush toward Result One.
Even Kamio Tatsuya couldn't go against that contract.
As time passed, more and more people gathered in the Rabbit group's room.
But apart from Ibuki from Class C, he only knew students from Class D who came later.
Soon after, as the exam was about to start, the sound of the speakers on the ship echoed through the room.
[Now, let's begin the first round of group discussions.]
The announcement was clear and brief, and then it was the students' time.
But even though the time was given to the students, many didn't know how to interact with people they didn't know.
And Kamio Tatsuya realized that two of the three students from Class C in this group were people he had seen before.
That's right, they were the guys who threatened Ayanokouji on the deserted island and then took stuff from his pockets.
They had also recognized Ayanokouji as the guy who made them pay Ryuen 50,000 points more each month. Right now, they were staring hard at him.
Ayanokouji naturally noticed this, but he was a bit confused.
"Um, is something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Ayanokouji asked the two people staring at him with puzzlement.
Huh!
The two guys probably saw that as a challenge.
"You dare say that? If it weren't for you..."
"Morishige! Shut up."
Just as one of the students was about to explode, the other one stopped him.
Did he not want to spread this embarrassing thing?
"Okay, I don't know what's going on between you guys, but let's start the first discussion. Also, the school told us to do self-introductions, so let's start with me. I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B, nice to meet you."
Looking at the Class C student who was still angry, Kamio Tatsuya was a little curious.
What were they going to do?
Were they going to argue with Ichinose, or obediently introduce themselves?
They probably had a bigger chance of arguing with Ichinose.
But soon, Kamio Tatsuya realized he was wrong.
Not only did the Class C students not argue with Ichinose, but they immediately introduced themselves and even urged the others to introduce themselves.
While Kamio Tatsuya's group was doing self-introductions, in the Dragon group's room, which was Ryuen and Sakayanagi's room...
Sakayanagi had been playing with her phone, not doing anything, since entering the room and doing a simple self-introduction.
Back in the Rabbit group, Kamio Tatsuya also learned that the two people who threatened Ayanokouji on the island were named Morishige Takuro and Takemoto Shigeru. The guy who stopped Morishige was named Machida Koji.
"Okay, we're done with our self-introductions, it's your turn."
Machida said this and even took out his phone, seemingly ready to record the other people's names.
What was this guy planning to do?
But the students in the Rabbit group didn't think too much about it and completed their self-introductions with the help of Ichinose and the Class C students.
After the self-introductions were over, Machida stopped using his phone.
What was this guy doing exactly?
"Okay, now that we've done what the school wants us to do, the next question is how to proceed. If anyone doesn't want me to be the leader, please say so."
"Ichinose, do you mean you want to keep finding the VIPs and finish that game?" Machida seemed very eager to find the VIP in the group.
"Yeah, because everyone agreed, and it would be pretty boring if we just let it be, right?"
"I see. Well, let me confirm again, the VIP in this group agrees to this game, right? If the VIP is against it, I want them to stand up now, or it'll be too late to regret it once we find the VIP."
As he spoke, Machida scanned all the students there.
For a long time, no one spoke in the Rabbit group's room. Of course, no one spoke because the VIP of this group was Kamio Tatsuya.
It didn't matter if the others agreed or not.
"In that case, I'm going to point out the VIP."
Machida's words surprised everyone present, even Ichinose was very surprised.
"Um, Machida, even though the bet is only 50,000 points, shouldn't you think about it some more?"
"No need, I already know who the VIP of the Rabbit group is."
Machida smiled confidently and then turned his gaze to Kamio Tatsuya's face.
"Kamio, you're the VIP, right?"
After being pointed out by Machida, Kamio Tatsuya didn't panic. Instead, he calmly asked, "Are you sure you want to point me out?"
"Of course, I'm sure."
Looking at the confident Machida, Kamio Tatsuya chuckled softly.
"Too bad..." Looking at Machida's slightly changing face, Kamio Tatsuya gave his answer, "I am indeed the VIP of Class D."
Kamio Tatsuya's admission changed the expressions of almost everyone in the room.
Because based on how confident Machida was, he wasn't guessing.
If this was the real exam, then this could end the exam and give Class C 50 class points... and Class D would lose 50 class points.
Had the Class C members already found the rules for choosing the VIPs?
Then, Kamio Tatsuya took out his phone and showed Machida and Ichinose the VIP message he received from the school.
However, Kamio Tatsuya was a little curious. He hadn't shown any hints, so how did Machida find out?
"Take out your phone. I have 50,000 points, so we don't have to wait until the reward is given."
A smile appeared on Machida's face. Sakayanagi was indeed amazing, finding the VIP from just a list!
After completing the transaction on the spot, Kamio Tatsuya looked at Machida with curiosity.
"I thought I didn't show any weaknesses, so did Sakayanagi find the rules for choosing the VIP?"
Then, Machida showed a smug expression: "That's right, Sakayanagi has perfectly found the rules for choosing the VIPs in this exam.
Except for the groups where the VIP is a Class C student, the games in the other groups should be over, right?"
Just as Machida said this, Kamio Tatsuya noticed that the Class D group chat had become lively.
"The Class C students guessed our group's VIP right away, how amazing..."
"Huh? You too? Same here."
As expected...
Sakayanagi must have found the rules for choosing the VIPs.
And it wasn't just Class D. Ichinose also seemed to have received some news.
Then, the two of them unconsciously looked at each other.
Kamio Tatsuya saw gratitude and a bit of fear in Ichinose's eyes.
And the expression in Kamio Tatsuya's eyes was as expected.
"It's really thanks to you, Kamio, for letting the exam go toward Result One. Otherwise, our group would have ended the exam directly."
Kamio Tatsuya was also a little scared. He was right to confirm the result before the VIP list came out.
"Hmph, now you know the strength of Class C, right? Don't think you're so proud just because you won by luck once. The defeat on the deserted island was Katsuragi's fault. That wasn't the true strength of Class C!"
Seeing the expressions on Kamio Tatsuya and Ichinose's faces, the guy named Morishige immediately yelled smugly.
Heh, this guy was indeed stupid.
Does Sakayanagi know that you are being this loud?
She wouldn't dare talk to me like that in front of me, you're really amazing.
But Kamio Tatsuya was too lazy to deal with him. The goal had been achieved, so let Sakayanagi show off here.
And Sakayanagi ending the games of nine groups at once wasn't without benefits for Kamio Tatsuya.
At least, it could prove his foresight.
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