---Notice---
Hi.
My discord (Best server in the world): discord.gg/afpvNgbA
--------------------------------
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." ~Henry Ford
The standings for each class after the sports festival had been officially revealed.
Of course, what mattered most was the outcome within our school year.
Our team—the White Team—had lost the festival, leading to the following results:
First place: Class C, who, despite their position, lost 50 class points due to being paired with us on the losing White Team.
Second place: Our own Class B, losing 100 points—not only because of the shared team result, but also because we failed to secure first place outright.
By the same logic, the Black Team faced the following penalties:
Third place: Class A, losing only 50 class points.
Fourth place: Class D, hit hardest with a 100-point loss.
This reshuffled the standings as follows:
Class A: 1,167 points
Class B: 928 points
Class C: 623 points
Class D: 0 points
Still holding onto zero. Impressive, in its own way.
Under normal circumstances, a 100-point loss would be frustrating—demoralizing, even.
But this wasn't a normal exam.
Only two of the twelve total classes earned points in this event. The rest took losses. From a systems perspective, this was clearly an exam designed for the school to cut costs.
And as for me?
I'd gained far more from what happened during the sports festival than I ever could have from a measly 100 class points. The loss was a calculated sacrifice. Worth every bit of what it bought me.
That's why it barely registered in my mind. A flicker in the background.
At least—until I stepped into Class B's classroom.
The atmosphere was tense.
While I remained unbothered by the outcome, the same couldn't be said for the others in Class B. They were visibly irritated and frustrated by the result. Thankfully, none of that irritation was directed at me.
No—It was aimed elsewhere toward Ryuen.
The hostility wasn't loud. It wasn't direct.
Most of Class B still feared him. That fear hadn't vanished. But even so, the shift was unmistakable.
Winning is addictive. The more you taste it, the more you crave it. Class B had been riding high on victory after victory. Now? They were choking on the bitterness of a 100-point loss. And Ryuen? He had taken complete control of the sports festival—and failed.
That kind of failure sticks. More than success ever does. People remember failure. They cling to it.
This obviously isn't enough to spark a revolt. But doubt? Doubt spreads.
People don't tolerate tyrants unless they get results. That's the question Class B has to face now: Is Ryuen worth the cost? Is his rule just tough, or is it reckless? Because tyrants can be tolerated—but only if they win.
With that thought in mind, I walked calmly to my seat, positioned just behind Ryuen, and sat down.
"Why do you look so happy?" I asked, noticing the grin he wore even now.
Ryuen's smirk stretched wider. "Because I'm close to finding that Class D bastard, of course," he replied without hesitation.
The moment he spoke, I realized something. Ryuen was clearly obsessed with Ayanokoji. That much was obvious. He had been beaten multiple times—strategically and psychologically—by an anonymous force. But I couldn't help but think there was something more to it. Obsession doesn't come from defeat alone. There was something deeper driving Ryuen's fixation.
"You never really explained your reason for being so obsessed with Class D's mastermind," I said, studying his reaction.
His smile dipped just slightly.
Ryuen's leadership is built on force. He dominates others through fear, submission, and raw power. His philosophy is rooted in visible, direct strength. Ayanokoji, on the other hand, operates in the shadows—subtle, precise, untouchable. Their ideologies clash completely. I wonder if Ryuen's obsession isn't just about revenge, but about proving that his way is the right one.
"That's none of your business," Ryuen said, brushing off the question.
It seemed my curiosity would go unanswered today.
Soon after, Sakagami entered the room. Under normal circumstances, you'd expect a teacher like him to look disappointed after a defeat. And while there was some of that in his expression, there was also something else—something that looked like satisfaction, as he noticed the tension running through the class.
"It seems you've all just had your first major loss," Sakagami said, placing his bag beside the podium.
"That brings us to an important question. How do you all feel about this school?" he continued, glancing around the room.
Silence followed at first. The class stayed quiet, most likely unsure of how to respond. But after a pause, a student near the back—Oda—spoke up.
"Well, it's a strange place," Oda said. "But there's a lot of opportunity to make money. A lot of things to do. And there are definitely some interesting people around. At the very least, you can't deny this school is one of a kind. I can't even imagine going back to a normal school after being here."
Sakagami nodded slightly.
"Yes. ANHS is one of a kind. There are very few places like it. Even I can see that much as a teacher," Sakagami said, his tone unusually relaxed. "How about the people? What do you think of them?"
Another student, Yabu, raised her hand slightly before speaking. "Huh? Well… the students are definitely diverse. But I've always thought something about this school feels a little off."
"Like what?" Sakagami asked, not dismissive, but genuinely curious.
"Everyone knows ANHS is supposed to be a school for geniuses… So, isn't it strange for this school to be diverse? Sure, there are geniuses here. But beyond that, most of the students seem… pretty normal. Some even feel below average. It's strange, especially when entire classes seem to revolve around just one or two standout students."
Another voice from across the room chimed in. "I agree. Honestly, in the first-year batch, I'd say there are maybe a dozen students—at most—I'd actually consider genius."
Sakagami paused, placing a hand on the podium, clearly mulling over how he could respond. Then he looked up.
"I suppose that's a fair observation," he said evenly. "And now, Class B knows firsthand what it feels like to lose to a genius from another class."
That line landed poorly. You could feel it in the room.
"But now that you've lost, and know what that feels like, I hope it gives you something useful—motivation. Because your next opportunity to bounce back is coming soon. And if you don't want to spend the rest of your time here playing catch-up to Class A, I suggest you all pay close attention."
The tension shifted as every eye in the room focused on him.
"As you should all know, there's an upcoming eight-subject quiz scheduled for next week. It's officially part of your final exam prep. The quiz will consist of 100 questions per subject, with a total of 100 points per test. However, the difficulty level will be roughly that of a third-year middle schooler. The idea is to assess your academic foundation. Whether you score 0 or 100, it has no effect on your grade."
Kaneda furrowed his brow. "Then what's the point? I'm sure you already have a good idea of our academic level by now."
Sakagami nodded. "You're not wrong. The quiz itself won't impact your class points directly. But it's not meaningless. It will determine how you're paired up for the final exam."
That drew a wave of murmurs across the room.
"Let me explain," he continued. "Each of you will be paired with another student in the class based on your quiz performance. These pairs will be locked in for the final exam. For each of the eight subjects, you and your partner will be required to score a combined minimum of 60 points to pass. If a pair scores, say, 59 points combined on a subject, both students in that pair will be forced to drop out."
Silence.
"At the same time," Sakagami added, "if, for example, Yagami scores a perfect 100 and his partner scores a zero, that pair still passes. So yes, one student can carry the other. But it's a dangerous gamble. You'll be tested across all eight subjects. Each test will consist of 50 questions, worth a total of 100 points per subject."
The weight of the announcement hung in the air. For the first time since the sports festival, everyone in Class B was quiet, not out of boredom or disinterest, but focus.
Sakagami took a breath before continuing.
"Lastly, there's one more way to fail this exam. Even if a pair scores 60 points on every subject, that won't matter if your total combined score across all subjects falls below the overall pass mark. Last year, that threshold was 700 points."
I see. Simple enough—on the surface.
But I was sure there was more to it. Still, none of that really concerned me. Even if I were paired with a complete baboon, I'd have no problem carrying the team. It seemed the rest of the class had come to the same conclusion, judging by the way several of them looked over at me.
Based on Sakagami's numbers, the minimum average per person would be ~44 points per subject. In this class, the only ones who could probably survive that comfortably were myself, Shiina, and Kaneda—unless one of them got extremely unlucky.
"You can consider this a special exam," Sakagami said. "It's usually called the Paper Shuffle. And most years, it results in at least one or two expulsions. Cheating, as always, is strictly prohibited and will lead to immediate expulsion for the entire pair. That applies not just to this exam, but to all exams, as you should know. After the initial quiz, once scores are reviewed, the pairs will be assigned."
Then, he added something more.
"There's one last component. For this exam, you'll be writing your own final exam questions. These questions will appear on the finals, but not your finals. The questions you write will be used on another class's exam. It's a bit complicated, but here's the idea: another class will write your questions, and you'll earn points both by attacking and defending. A successful attack and a successful defense are each worth 50 points, determined by the overall class performance. Of course, all questions will be reviewed and approved by faculty to ensure fairness."
I raised my hand.
"How is the class we attack decided?" I asked.
"It's simple," Sakagami replied. "Each class nominates the one they want to attack. If more than one class chooses the same target, then the attacking class will be chosen at random."
I nodded. It wasn't as complicated as some of the other special exams we'd faced.
With the explanation finished, Sakagami returned to his desk, and after a while, regular classes resumed. They came and went as expected—uneventful.
Eventually, the end of the day arrived, along with the approach of a mandatory assembly. There was still some time before it began, so students chatted among themselves.
"What do you think of this Paper Shuffle?" Ryuen asked, turning toward me.
"It's interesting," I said. "But I doubt my opinion matters. I assume you'll be more focused on chasing down your ghost."
"Haha. It's a good opportunity, no doubt," Ryuen said. "But I'll need to play this one properly. First, I'll have to investigate Matsushita thoroughly—to see if she's really the one I'm looking for."
"So you'll be targeting Class D then?" I asked, already suspecting the answer.
Ryuen grinned.
"Who knows?" he replied.
After some time, everyone left the classroom. We regrouped quickly as all three school years were brought into the auditorium. Rows of students lined up, standing in formation before the speaker's stage.
At the front stood President Horikita.
"I'm happy that I've had the opportunity to lead the student council for as long as I have, and for that, I thank all of you," he began, his voice calm, composed, just like always. "Today, I'm here to introduce the next student council president. Miyabi Nagumo. Please give him a moment of your attention."
The announcement was brief and respectful. It suited Manabu Horikita perfectly.
Nagumo stepped onto the stage with confidence, his stride measured. Horikita remained standing beside him. As he reached the podium, many in the room looked at him with quiet respect—even Ichinose, though the slight reservation in her expression was clear. She hadn't forgotten our conversation.
"I'm Nagumo of Second-Year Class A," he said, his voice clear and practiced. "I'm grateful to President Horikita for everything he's done. It's an honor to take up the mantle from one of the most influential student council presidents in this school's history."
He turned to Manabu and gave him a respectful bow. It looked genuine.
"I'll be serving as the next student council president," Nagumo continued. "Of course, Manabu will still hold most of the responsibility until graduation. But I already have a few ideas on how to improve this school."
His smile didn't falter. "So if you have any concerns or ideas, don't be strangers."
Then his tone shifted—only slightly—but enough that I could tell this was the real message.
"Let me get right to the point," he said. "I have more than a few changes in mind. I intend to reshape everything—from class rankings to how student council appointments function."
As he said this, he glanced directly in my direction.
"I believe these reforms will help the student council progress, evolve, and give its members the tenure necessary to enact real change. Naturally, there will also be checks and systems to prevent corruption and to remove underperforming council members from their positions."
He paused, not for dramatic effect, but to let his words settle.
"I wish I could implement everything at once," he admitted. "But there are constraints that come with taking office. Still, I promise you—change will come."
His gaze swept over the assembled students.
"Those who are capable will rise to the top and prove themselves the best of the best. Those who aren't will fall. A true meritocracy. So let's see what all of you are really capable of."
And with that, Nagumo concluded.
--------------------------------
I actually have so many plot points I've laid out the ground for, I could cry thinking about it. I'm hoping to expand on some of those more soon. Still, first I had to address the paper shuffle I tried to make it enjoyable as I know chapters like these just come off as a copy of canon but its challenging to be creative in these cases, anyways I am looking forward to the future I think I have some excellent plans but I'll let all of you be the judge of that.