IT WAS SAKAYANAGI'S first attack in the second half.
This time, the target shifted from Horikita's class to Ryūen's.
Before the special exam, no specific policy was set on how to fight Ryūen's class.
They didn't think it was necessary to formulate a meticulous plan against an opponent who did whatever he wanted.
However, Sakayanagi now had extraneous information.
She received a phone call the night before where she was strongly advised by her classmate, Hashimoto.
Among the other various things he said, there were a few things that stuck in Sakayanagi's mind.
One of them was the conversation about eliminating Shiina Hiyori and exploring the possibility of expulsion.
Sakayanagi wasn't interested in Hashimoto's personal thoughts, but when she heard the reason, her thoughts came to a halt.
Ayanokōji's gaze and treatment towards Shiina.
Hashimoto said those were different from what he gave to ordinary students.
This remark caught Sakayanagi's interest.
She wondered if Ayanokōji would show his emotions if Shiina were expelled.
"But that's already an impossible development, isn't it?"
In the first half, Ichinose's way of fighting was more determined than before. Before, she would've hesitated to eliminate people from her opponent's class, Ryūen's Class C. However, Ichinose had no hesitation. She eliminated four people merely in the first half: Ishizaki, Isoyama, Yano, and Morofuji.
She was absolutely determined to protect only her class. To do that, she decided to be merciless with outsiders.
Even if Sakayanagi could single out Shiina and eliminate her, the rest of the students would be sacrificed.
Aiming for the unlikely chance of Shiina's expulsion would be less efficient.
Shiina had only made one mistake by this point. Even if she could get her to incorrectly answer twice by directly targeting her with problems she couldn't solve, it would be difficult to prevent her from being protected. The strategy wasn't easy.
"Interesting…"
She finished the first half of the exam in first place and was starting to get bored. Having some fun wouldn't be so bad.
She changed her mind and thought it would be interesting to eliminate a challenging target.
She would overcome the challenge, of course, keep the lead, and then finish the game.
To do so, she needed to build a strategy.
Within the few minutes she had until her turn came around, she finalized her plan.
And so, her 11th turn to attack began.
However—
In the 11th turn, all five students that Sakayanagi appointed were protected.
Two points were wasted against the perfectly protected slots. A total failure.
However, the students unanimously said that it wasn't a problem—that the play was fine.
But Sakayanagi saw it differently.
It was just one perfect result, but she didn't see it as just her being incredibly unlucky.
Immediately, she had reset her self-imposed challenge regarding Shiina in her head.
She threw away all strategies and logic, and she picked everything at random.
In other words, a combination of category and appointees that no one could predict.
The result was the same perfect outcome as the 11th turn; they showed two consecutive miracles.
Her classmates were clearly baffled.
If she was someone who thought normally, it wouldn't be strange for her to believe that she had been read, leading to her failure. However, such a thought didn't even exist in Sakayanagi's mind.
After two turns, she was certain there could only be one answer. Someone was interfering.
She believed a traitor, a Judas, was hiding in this class.
Clearly, internal information was leaking.
Otherwise, inexplicable events were starting to occur.
Until her next turn came, Sakayanagi decided to observe her classmates without saying a word.
Some sighed at Ryūen's luck, others desperately clung to their phones to avoid elimination.
And then came the attack on the 13th turn.
The class naturally became quiet.
Sakayanagi remained silent. After a 30-second pause, she took a one-minute pause between each name before passing them to the teacher.
It wasn't because she was wracking her brain to avoid Ryūen's flawless defense again.
This silence was Sakayanagi's unspoken command to her classmates.
It was a hidden message expressing, 'Enough with the games.'
After holding her silence until the last minute, she passed on five names to Chabashira-sensei.
However, the result was still the same, another perfect score.
"How unfortunate."
Sakayanagi muttered alone, her smile waning after three consecutive failures.
If the information was leaking in real time, their methods would be limited.
One method was to type Sakayanagi's appointed students into a chat or email and send it. Since a phone is used to collect information, typing wouldn't necessarily be seen as suspicious.
Another method was auditory transmission through a phone call. Immediately after Sakayanagi relayed information to the teacher, it could be transmitted to the other party; this could be executed without having to touch the phone.
As a preemptive measure, she could receive permission to pass the information on to the teacher via paper. Even if that was impossible, she could switch to whispering, preventing any voice leaks.
However—
Sakayanagi looked at the large monitor positioned over the teacher's shoulder.
If a method involving the use of a phone camera was employed, even preventing voice transmission wouldn't guarantee a resolution.
Perhaps the only way to defend was to physically prevent the transmission of information.
She would have everyone stop using their phones and tablets.
As for informing the teacher, she'd whisper, and until Ryūen named five people, everyone would keep their backs turned to shut out any information.
If this solved the problem, it would be a blessing.
They had only given away 15 points so far. They could still stop Ryūen's rampage.
As she continued to think, the silence was broken, but it wasn't Sakayanagi who broke it.
"Information is leaking."
The one who shattered the class's silence was Morishita Ai.
She muttered those words expressionlessly.
"Morishita-san might be right. We should probably have everyone stop touching their phones and check them. Ryūen-kun might have a trick up his sleeve."
Sanada, slightly delayed, agreed with Morishita's words, asking Sakayanagi for a response.
Kitō and Hashimoto immediately rose.
"There's no need for a response."
"But...!"
"We should continue using our phones to find hints and leads to solve the questions."
Under these chaotic circumstances, it would be hard to say that cramming was effective.
Unexpectedly, the leader refused to do what needed to be done.
"Are you okay with this, Princess? I'm also certain after seeing three consecutive perfect nominations. I definitely think information is leaking. We need to take action—"
"There's no change in plans. Let's continue the exam as it is." If instructed to, no other students could question further.
Nobody was given the authority to overturn the decision.
Though everyone was obedient, they were thinking, 'Why didn't Sakayanagi make the necessary moves?'
Betraying the class wasn't something that could be easily done. If the opponent was obviously protecting the targeted students, it was only a matter of time before people realized that information was leaking during the exam.
Since they were still executing the plan despite knowing this, concerns arose that the problem might not be solved simply by confiscating phones and blocking the monitor's view.
What would happen if measures were taken and the leaks didn't stop?
Information gathering would be hindered, and the class would become bewildered and disoriented.
Even if some evidence came to light, if Sakayanagi was in the position of a traitor, she would never leave evidence near her. She would plant it on some random student's desk or bag, or somewhere in the classroom. Then, it would become a war of words. They'd argue with each other on the spot, pinning the blame on each other.
Naming a student who had a high possibility of being a traitor without providing solid evidence was simply too risky.
Either way, it was more disadvantageous to make a fuss about it now.
Sakayanagi decided to prioritize avoiding last place rather than aiming for first place.
It didn't affect you as long as you could defend and gain points, even if information continued to leak.
They tried to defend against Horikita's attacks as much as possible and aim for third place, but it didn't go as well as they hoped.
From the flow of the exam transmitted from the monitor, it became evident that Ichinose was assisting Horikita. A strategy was being constructed—to use a traitor to make their class sink to the bottom.
The 20th turn ended while they were falling behind, and they lost their third placement by six points.
"It seems this time I've lost."
They competed between the four classes and suffered the disgrace of coming in last place.
Even if the circumstances were due to inside betrayal, no excuses could be accepted.
Sakayanagi let out a sigh.
As the leader, she still needed to take responsibility for this defeat.
"As we have been defeated, we must select an eliminated classmate to expel."
During the exam, five students—Kamuro, Yamamura, Sugio, Toba, and Machida—were eliminated.
"Normally, it would be proper to decide based on the contribution to the class, but we won't do that. The reason is simple. From my perspective, the five of you are all on the same level."
Sakayanagi asserted that there would be no change in the class's strength regardless of who was expelled.
"So, how are we gonna decide then…?"
One of the eliminated students, Machida, asked anxiously."We should draw lots and decide on who to expel fairly."An unexpected proposal caused a scream from the eliminations.
"Are you dissatisfied? Unfortunately, it won't make a big difference who is expelled."
In the silent classroom, Sakayanagi continued the process tirelessly. The eliminated students wanted to vent their frustrations, but they wanted to avoid aggravating Sakayanagi and being singled out for expulsion.
"It's pointless to object. The leader has the right to decide on who to expel."
"If we follow the results of the draw, can that be considered the leader's decision?"
"Of course. To make it easier to avoid a case where a student with a low OAA takes responsibility, I have decided to judge the unlucky ones as those without talent. And if someone refuses to participate in the draw, I'll interpret that as them giving up the fight at that point, and I'll expel them."
In order to forcibly involve them, Sakayanagi tirelessly eliminated any means of escape.
"I've prepared the lots."
A female student spoke to Sakayanagi in a carefree voice, unaware of the heavy atmosphere.
"You're well-prepared, Morishita-san. Thank you for carefully coloring them. We're short on time, so let's get it over with quickly. The person picking the colored paper will unfortunately have to drop out of school."
There were a total of five lots prepared, four of which were safe. That was all.
"Who would like to draw first? Whether you're the first or last to draw, your odds start the same."
Would they show that they can avoid expulsion with their own hands, or wait for someone else to be expelled?
While suppressing his urge to object, Machida was the first to draw a lot.
"Heck yes!"
Machida drew a plain lot and showed the biggest victory pose so far.
Encouraged by this, Sugio and Toba followed.
One after another, they drew uncolored papers.
Then, only two of them were left: Kamuro Masumi and Yamamura Miki.
The former simply stayed because she couldn't be bothered to go and draw.
The latter was too scared to move. They were left behind for totally different reasons. Sakayanagi, who had a friendship with both, didn't change her expression.
The reason she chose a lottery of equal probability was that she decided it didn't matter who dropped out.
"You go ahead and draw."
Even though she was prompted by Kamuro, Yamamura couldn't move.
She was shaking with the realization that she had a one-in-two chance of being expelled and was completely unprepared for it.
She couldn't think about what would happen after her expulsion.
Even if she wanted to move forward, her feet were frozen.
"I-I, I am..."
"Geez... then I'll draw it first. Is that okay?"
Unable to speak, Yamamura repeatedly nodded in agreement. That was all she could do.
Kamuro approached Morishita, who was holding the lottery box.
"Please wait."
Just as she was about to reach out her hand, Sakayanagi stopped her.
"I said that those who won't draw will be expelled. That means, Yamamurasan, who refused to draw, will leave."
"Eh...? But... Eh...?"
"So, there's no objection?"
"E-Eh…! T-That's..."
"What is this? Are you trying to help me?"
"No, that's not it. I was just stating the facts."
"Oh, I see. Then it's settled. Yamamura and I will draw at the same time, right?"
Eager to declare who would be expelled, Sakayanagi found herself stopped by Kamuro.
Kamuro easily threw away her own chance to avoid expulsion.
"Come quickly."
She went towards Yamamura, who couldn't take a step forward, and forcibly grabbed her arm and dragged her.
"This is your first and last opportunity to decide which of our luck is superior."
"You're really kind, aren't you, Masumi-san? Do you really need to take risks to help someone you should just discard?"
"No, it's just a whim."
"Is that so…? Then let's see the both of you draw."Morishita offered two lots for them to draw.
When Kamuro forcibly moved Yamamura's indecisive left hand, she reflexively clutched one lot.
Seeing this, Kamuro also wrapped her hand around a lot.
"Don't hold a grudge."
In a calm voice, Kamuro awkwardly comforted the restless Yamamura."Now, release your hands."
Morishita said slowly, and at the same moment, they opened their clenched hands.
The two pieces of paper fluttered in the slight breeze.
The person who drew the colored paper would be expelled—that was the rule.
The one who held that paper was Kamuro.
Apart from the person in question, the other students were unable to accept the result and fell silent.
"It's decided. Good for you, Yamamura. You survived.""Ah, eh..."
She gently patted Yamamura on her shoulder, whose status, whether staying in school or dropping out, had not been conclusively determined yet.
Class A was engulfed by silence.
It was a completely different situation from when Totsuka had previously been expelled—the class points decreased due to the defeat and the expulsion was through a selection.
Class A was truly experiencing defeat for the first time.
What was surprising was that Kamuro, the sole sacrificial lamb, seemed calm throughout.
Seemingly annoyed by the gazes pouring in from her classmates, Kamuro brushed them off and returned to her seat.
Sakayanagi took her eyes off her and urged Chabashira, the teacher in charge, to proceed.
"Well then, let's consider this special exam completed."
The survival and elimination special exam, that had taken such a long time, had ended at last.
198
1
Final results:
1st: Ryūen[Class D]69 points
2nd: Ichinose [Class C]62 points
3rd: Horikita [Class B]59 points
4th: Sakayanagi [Class A]53 points
Ryūen, having perfectly defended for all the ten turns in the second half, turned the tables and won the victory.
With this ranking confirmed, Ryūen's class gained 100 class points. The second and third-placed classes, regrettably, lost 50 class points, whereas Sakayanagi lost 100 class points.
The result, which was unimaginable based on the first half, was completely unexpected; everyone fell from the top.
Defeat was no cause for joy. Yet, there was little discontent in the class.
Rather, they appeared strongly relieved to have barely scraped by in third place.
No wonder. Those who had been eliminated had spent the end of the exam in mental distress.
Chabashira-sensei announced that more details, including Class A's expulsion, would be reported the following week and that class was dismissed for the day.
Among the lingering excitement, a single student burst open the classroom door from the hallway.
"Sorry, Karuizawa-san!"
"Eh, Ichinose-san...!?"
Kei, who was pressured by ten consecutive nominations, stiffened at Ichinose's appearance.
Protectively, Satō slipped in front of Kei.
Seeing this, seated at the very back, Horikita stood up.
"Calm down, Karuizawa-san. Those mysterious consecutive nominations were Ichinose-san trying to throw us a lifeline."
Ichinose apologized while agreeing with Horikita's words."Eh? What, what does that mean…?"
"She was trying, in her own way, to give us points. Right?"
"I had considered contacting you through text or by call, but it would be unnatural to say that we would be giving your points, so we decided to make a series of consecutive nominations in order to send a straightforward message. It was then that Horikita-san got suspicious and contacted me."
Horikita was the one who contacted her, not the other way around. Ichinose explained that this was the important point.
"We were also able to successfully protect a few people later thanks to
Ichinose-san informing us of the nominees in advance."
"Why would they... Why would they need to do that…?"
"To defeat Class A, probably. Essentially, every class in second place and below was able to fight so that no one would lose."
"Yes, our only option was to face Sakayanagi-san head-on. That's what we call a godsend."
If it wasn't for Ichinose's support, the six-point difference might've been a setback.
"But, why did that have to be me?"
"You, Karuizawa-san, have been playing a central role among the girls, and naturally, Horikita-san would think of protecting you from being eliminated, wouldn't she? That's why I planned to keep nominating you from the beginning. However, I thought you must've been feeling anxious, so I rushed over here. I'm truly sorry!"
Looking at the justified reasoning and Horikita's message that substantiated it, Kei was somewhat relieved.
Ichinose continued to apologize to Kei several times before inevitably leaving since she was keeping her classmates waiting.
Afterward, as she looked at the ranking, Horikita received her classmates' thanks as they began to leave.
I also called out to Horikita.
"We lost this time. In the second half, it was clear that there must have been some kind of deal between Ryūen-kun's and Ichinose-san's classes... Of course, without any evidence, it's just speculation, but his class gave points to Ichinosesan's class, which elevated them to second place, without a single elimination.""Exactly, but that's not the main point."Horikita nodded in agreement and stood up.
"If two classes colluded, they basically had to start working together from the first half. Only by assisting each other could both parties benefit and share the victory. So I was fully relieved when there were no signs of it even after the first half was over."
"It wasn't just you. Sakayanagi couldn't have expected it either."
It was uncertain when Ryūen and Ichinose joined hands, but it must've been after the special exam arrangements were announced. And without showing their faces publicly, they were quietly preparing.
"But the turning point of all this was that Ryūen was able to sense all of
Sakayanagi's attack targets beforehand."
"Someone leaked Class A's information to him... That's the only explanation."
"That seems to be the case."
"That student is insane. I can't imagine something like clearly betraying the class. This wasn't Class D or Class C, but a class that has maintained A since enrollment. What did they get in return for executing this?"
"They could betray their class if they were being paid 20 million points.
Other than that, they probably wouldn't do it."
But still, it was hard to believe that anyone would betray their class if asked straight out.
Indeed, gaining 20 million points, which enabled you to move to another class at any point in time, seemed like a true goal, but there was still more than a year left until graduation. If such a huge amount of points were transferred, the betrayal would soon be exposed to the light of day, and the student would be the target of Class A's fury. They would also be envied by other classes. If they were targeted in the subsequent special exams, resulting in the risk of expulsion, they'd have no choice but to part with their private points. If that were to occur, they'd be getting their priorities backward.
In other words, it was safe to assume that the traitor wanted something special but unusual.
"I'm not thrilled with the outcome, but I can't complain. Although it's disappointing not coming in first, Class A ended up being fourth, so there's basically no damage done. However… I still feel frustrated."
Stepping out into the hallway and out of other students' sight, Horikita vented her true feelings without holding back.
"Take that frustration to the next special exam."
"Okay... I'll do that."
"I'm going to check out Ryūen's class. What are you going to do?"
"I'll go home for today. I don't have the confidence that I can listen to his sarcasm maturely."
Indeed, there was no denying the possibility that Ryūen could stir things up.
2
Wanting to confirm the state of Ryūen's class, which should be in high spirits, I went close to Class D and found Hiyori.
She seemed to be looking down at the floor from the window.
Her expression was not the soft smile she usually showed, but a stern one. Noticing this incongruity, I quietly approached and copied her, looking down from the window.
What I saw was Ryūen and a few of his entourage.
A noticeable figure was Ishizaki, who was gesticulating in joy while jumping about.
There was also Katsuragi's figure, walking majestically towards Keyaki Mall, even with his gaudy movements.
His side profile which was briefly visible, as always, was stern as usual.
"Just about time to taste the wine of victory, huh?"
I wouldn't be surprised if they splurged at Keyaki Mall today.
"That seems to be the case."
Hiyori responded to my words in her natural tone.
"Aren't you going?"
"Although I was invited, I declined today."
"Why?"
"Maybe because I just couldn't feel like celebrating."
Among the jubilant students, the only one without a smile might have been Hiyori.
"I felt uneasy seeing Ryūen-kun's way of thinking and offensive approach today."
"He achieved first place against the odds. I think it was an excellent result.""We can say so if we only look at the result. However…"After hesitating a bit, Hiyori continued speaking.
"I have doubts if we can continue winning without incident using these methods."
"It wasn't a conventional approach. Rather, it was more like treading carefully when it came to the class's strengths."
The ability to gamble on unique strategies was Ryūen's forte, but that was
all.
"We somehow managed this time, but we're not going to be able to build upon this victory next time. I'm not saying we should lose, but we've lost a valuable opportunity for growth."
"You could be right."
However, to achieve that, they might need some fresh perspectives.
"The parts necessary for us to rise to class A also serve as obstacles. It's troubling."
Hiyori could see a clear weakness in her class.
The strength laid in Ryūen's existence.
But on the flip side, the weaknesses were due to his presence too.
"If there's a student who realizes this, there's still hope for the class."
I wanted to briefly hear what the winners would say, but I had no intention of interrupting.
Hiyori, who looked concerned, seemed to be going to the library and invited me to join, but I decided to decline.
I also wanted to see how Ichinose's and Sakayanagi's classes were doing.
About Ichinose's class, for better or for worse, it was the same as usual. While avoiding the lowest position, they provided insurance by keeping the number of eliminations to zero. Fighting without abandoning anyone carried risks, but in the end, they finished in second place.
Horikita determined her goal and deliberately orchestrated the strategy in the first half of the battle to push five students to the brink of elimination. In the second half, she allied with Ryūen, who appeared to have initiated negotiations early on, achieving an elimination count of zero. Furthermore, she assisted Horikita, relegating Sakayanagi's position to the very bottom.
It could be said that they made the best possible moves for a class caught in the middle.
3
It was after school, and the time had already passed 5 p.m. Due to the second year's special exam, club activities were canceled, and only a few students remained on campus.
Sakayanagi was seated at Kamuro's desk, which had yet to be cleared away, quietly waiting for the time to pass.
As the promised time approached, the classroom door opened.
"I've been waiting for you, Hashimoto-kun."
"Why did you want to meet me in such a place and with just the two of us?"
"It's a reflection meeting."
"Well, that would be a little scary."
"This special exam turned out to be a great disappointment. It was my failure."
"I agree. It was disappointing, but I can't blame you. No matter how I think about it, the class's information must have leaked to Ryūen."
The newly entered Hashimoto gently placed his hand on Kamuro's desk and looked around the classroom.
"The traitor caused Masumi-chan's—Kamuro-chan's—expulsion. It's unforgivable."
"I thought you didn't care who got expelled as long as it wasn't you,
Hashimoto-kun."
"We were comrades for two years, weren't we? Even I would feel angry." "Yes, I suppose. But how do you think the class's information was leaked?" Sakayanagi asked Hashimoto, as though to seek his opinion.
"Normally you would think it was leaked via a phone. Simple and effective."
"I think the same."
"If that's the case, why didn't you take countermeasures when Morishita spoke up?"
"What do you mean by countermeasures? Confiscating everyone's phones?"
"Yeah, exactly. Wouldn't that have minimized the damage?"
"The traitor isn't stupid. I assumed they had some sort of countermeasure in place. I thought that if we started a clumsy investigation, it would only create confusion."
"So, you chose to wait and see as you saw ahead. A strategy only you could've orchestrated."
Slowly, Hashimoto walked between the rows of desks and advanced toward the podium.
"However, didn't it pain your heart to cut off Kamuro-chan, even if it was the result of the lots?"
"Pain my heart?"
"You were good friends. If it was me, I would've bent over backwards to get
Toba or the others expelled instead."
"That's impossible. She isn't a special existence to me."
"No matter what, you've been together for two years, facing highs and lows. It's strong of you not to waver. I kind of liked Kamuro-chan, and I don't think I'll be able to get over it any time soon."
From a distance, Hashimoto answered with a complicated look on his face. "Who do you think is the traitor that caused Masumi-san to be expelled?"
"You keep on asking questions. Unfortunately, I have no idea. But do you have any clues?"
Sakayanagi laughed and then slowly stood up from her chair, leaning on her cane.
She then signaled for Hashimoto to join her.
Walking away from the podium, Hashimoto did exactly that and made his way towards Sakayanagi.
"Hashimoto-kun, you're the traitor who leaked our internal information, aren't you?" she asked.
Hashimoto scratched his head and sighed heavily in response.
"I figured that's why I was called here. It's not unreasonable to suspect me, after all. As you probably know, I have always been exploring the possibility of transferring to another class. I admit that. But think about it, would I jeopardize my position in Class A? It doesn't make sense."
Although acknowledging that the suspicion was inevitable, he strongly rebutted against it.
"That would be the typical view. I myself believed no overt betrayal was probable."
It was normally hard to imagine a Class A student resorting to an inexplicably self-risking course of action.
Not even someone like Sakayanagi, with meticulous attention to detail, could ever foresee and counteract betrayal from a comrade.
"I won't do anything to jeopardize the class. What's the point if the person expected to betray actually does?"
Fully aware he was the most likely suspect, Hashimoto asserted he wouldn't betray the class.
"I will pitch in to find the traitor; then, I will prove my innocence."
"Then, shall we have you start assisting immediately?"
Sakayanagi took out her phone and gently placed it on Kamuro's desk.
The screen showed Hashimoto walking with Ryūen at Keyaki Mall.
"You met with him before this special exam, didn't you?"
"That was Ryūen approaching me on his own accord. He just dragged me around," Hashimoto retorted with great reluctance. "Who on earth took these photos? Was it your personal assistant, Yamamura?"
Before she could respond, Hashimoto asked with a sense of preemption."Can we end this farce now?"
Sakayanagi said in her typical tone to Hashimoto, who had been denying everything.
"I assume you won't believe me, no matter whatever I say."
"If you insist on justifying it with excuses, would you show me your phone's history?"
She countered Hashimoto's defense with a rebuttal. Her suspicion was evidently strong.
"I suppose you would drop your suspicions if I did that?"
"Well, it's worth a try, don't you think?"
"Indeed, if you were to leak information during the exam, it would be quickest to keep your phone on and secretly texting and emailing. So, the one with traces would be the traitor. But are you okay with that? If you check my phone and find nothing, you'll have to apologize accordingly."
He had been suspected so far, and he wouldn't let it slide; he was confident enough to say this.
"If I'm mistaken, I'll meet your expectations. But what I'm asking for isn't a call history or chat history. You can easily erase those, after all."After school, Hashimoto had plenty of time to himself.Erasing these histories would be easy.
"So, what history do you want to see?"
"What I want to see is your use of private points, not the call or chat history."
Having said this much, would he admit it?
At Sakayanagi's words, Hashimoto choked up in the back of his throat.
"You seem easygoing, but you're actually cautious. You can't guarantee that Ryūen-kun won't trap you, even if you join hands. If you were eliminated, you would take on the risk of being expelled. You can make a contract with Ryūen-kun in writing to protect yourself, but that leaves physical evidence that you want to avoid as much as possible. Therefore, it's no wonder you may have taken a large amount of Private Points as a way to guarantee things. If the promise is fulfilled, the full amount would be returned. If not, you could seize the Private Points. This way, there would be no betrayal unless something very serious happens, right?" Hashimoto took out his phone and grimaced with a bitter smile.
"Gosh. It won't be as simple as I thought. I admit it. I've surrendered."
Sakayanagi's observation was right. Using his classmates, Ryūen collected a large amount of Private Points to give to Hashimoto. It was his insurance from getting eliminated.
"How much did he buy from you?"
"The information fee wasn't high. About 500,000."
"That's a cheap price for betrayal."
"I kept it at that level. Private Points aren't a problem, but that's not why I betrayed you."
Hashimoto emphasized that Private Points were not the main goal.
Normally, it wouldn't have been strange to immediately pursue his real intentions, but Sakayanagi didn't.
She already understood why he'd betrayed her.
"Should I praise Ryūen-kun, who led you to betray me this time?"
"Don't make me laugh. As the information broker, I deliberately chose him on my own. I chose him because he doesn't hate betraying anyone, and if he benefits, he'll accept it without hesitation. Horikita and Ichinose wouldn't have accepted it, would they?"
"Even if you say that you were passing information to other classes as an informant, whether the other class leaders would accept it is a different story. He's the only one who would easily accept it."
"Yeah. So, for today's special exam, I initially bet on the two-thirds chance that our class would go up against his class."
If Class A was placed on a diagonal line with no attack and defense with Ryūen's class in the special exam, Hashimoto said he was going to watch without making a move.
With that decision, the situation would've dramatically changed.
It wouldn't have been strange if the first half's ranking settled it.
"Do you not think of scolding me at least once?"
"I am not a teacher. I don't feel like guiding you correctly."
Hashimoto shrugged his shoulders and put away his phone in his pocket.
"Shouldn't you have searched me at least?"
"It's pointless. You didn't do anything illegal like leaking information on your phone, right? It's too dangerous to spy on your own phone. Instead, you borrowed a phone from a student in another class ahead of time and hid it somewhere in the classroom, didn't you?"
"Did you read through me that much?"
"You won't gain anything by testing me."
Hashimoto, who tried to pull one off, was quickly counterattacked.
If he was suspected, he would've pulled out his phone without hesitation.
No evidence would have been found even if everyone's mobile was checked during the exam.
Sakayanagi, who knew that it was just a waste of time, decided early to continue using it to capitalize on the defensive aspects instead.
The feeling that those around her were in a hurry was just a misinterpretation.
"The hiding place must be in the classroom, but it takes time and effort to find it. There could be a spy in the hallway, someone pretending to be ignorant and making a fuss, and while there's an opportunity, forcefully taking out the phone wouldn't be destroying evidence. "
Sakayanagi, who had mobility impairments, couldn't make nimble movements to catch them red-handed.
If she showed signs of whispering to Kamuro or Kitō, Hashimoto would have hesitated.
"When the special exam came to an end and you were going home, you left the classroom with Yoshida-kun, who you weren't so close with. Did you put it in his bag?"
"Aha, you're watching well, Princess. So, I was the most suspicious after
all."
"There were elements in your recent remarks that made me realize."
"But why? Instead of asking me to show my Private Points history the moment I arrived in the classroom, why'd you take the time to coax me into confessing?"
Sakayanagi didn't immediately confront Hashimoto when he showed up in the classroom.
If she hadn't yet made up her mind, it would be a different story, but Sakayanagi clearly held a firm belief.
"It's an act of mercy towards the traitor, including the fact that I didn't do anything during the exam."
That was why Sakayanagi created two moments for him to confess.
She was asking him to reflect on his actions and stay put.
"It's unfortunate that you didn't notice it. Colluding with other classes and plotting a transfer—I can overlook those as a harmless prank—but this act crosses a different line."
"That's right. It can be said for many special exams—being betrayed by your comrades is a fatal blow. A class functions as a community of shared destiny. Although there may be some dissatisfaction, and they may not follow instructions, they wouldn't betray the class. This is because it directly affects the class's disadvantage and their own disadvantage."
That was why even students who had complaints kept their frustrations in check and endured their daily lives.
"You crossed a line that shouldn't have been crossed."
"I won't deny it."
Hashimoto, standing against Sakayanagi, acknowledged the truth without flinching.
"The people around me won't understand. They'll say, 'What's the gain in bringing down Class A?' But no, that's wrong, this class had no chance of winning from the beginning. Even if I didn't betray you, the class is destined to sink below
Class B in the future. So I had to create a winning chance, even by betrayal."
"So you're fighting your own battle."
"It was hard for me too. But this special exam was a good opportunity to send a warning. The loss of class points isn't a matter of despair. Only the ones who lacked ability were eliminated. I thought it was a golden opportunity. I didn't betray this class because I wanted to. The temporary betrayal was because I wanted to win."
"You being discovered was part of the plan. Rather, it was included in your plan."
"I didn't think it would be today, though."
He thought it would be revealed in a class gathering, or something close to
it.
Hashimoto wanted to avoid being forced into a situation where it was just the two of them if possible.
"The moment you noticed my betrayal and found out my plan, you probably already knew the reason, didn't you?"
"That's why I created this setting."
To take a big gamble, even at the risk of exposing himself to danger—that was the reason.
"Unless I did this, I couldn't convince you that I'm serious. At the end of winter break, I again suggested my idea to you. I want to pull Ayanokōji into our class."
"Yes, I've already heard plenty of your passionate speeches."The poaching of Ayanokōji and the act of betrayal.
Other students might tilt their heads as they couldn't connect the two.
However, Hashimoto understood very well the essence and nature of Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Even if we lost class points this time, even if I turned out to be the traitor, and even if you have to expel me, I've decided that it doesn't matter. That's the resolution I had made."
This wasn't the end, it was the beginning.
The threat of repeating the betrayal until Sakayanagi adopted Ayanokōji.
"You seem to genuinely believe that you can't graduate as Class A with my guidance."
"I acknowledge that Princess is excellent. But still, I'm convinced that we won't be able to stop Ayanokōji's class's rapid progress in the near future. Class A's and Class B's positions will eventually be reversed, and we won't have a chance to outdo them afterward. In other words, our current position is just an illusion."
He passionately continued.
"The best strategy to graduate as Class A is for Princess and Ayanokōji to be in the same class. With that, we will become a solid, unbeatable class."
"I guess it was the right decision to not let you say this in front of others."
"Won't you admit it? I think my idea is right."
"I can't agree."
"Sorry to break it to you, but Ayanokōji is undoubtedly the strongest in our year—"
"What do you claim to know about Ayanokōji-kun?"
With a clatter, the tip of her cane firmly struck the floor."...!"
Clear anger was leaking from the previously calm Sakayanagi.
"It seems you're pretty wrapped up in him. Have you noticed your fanatic statements?"
Under that extraordinary pressure, Hashimoto was intimidated by the petite Sakayanagi.
"You're angry at being told you're not the best?"Indeed, this was Sakayanagi's anger.
But, it wasn't because Ayanokōji was judged superior.
It was unbearable to see this man, who blindly believed in Ayanokōji, before her.
What could a man, who isn't even aware of Ayanokōji's background, say about him?
"Drop your pride and pull Ayanokōji to your side. It'll be the worst if Ryūen surrounds him."
"The possibility of Ryūen-kun pulling in Ayanokōji-kun is zero. If he has the capabilities you've evaluated, he'd rather persist as an enemy to defeat him directly."
"Maybe it's like that now, but what about when he can't win? If he keeps antagonizing him, and he loses his chance to reach Class A, his thoughts might change—"
"They won't change. Ryūen-kun and I both wish to fight a worthy adversary. The obsession with graduating as Class A is practically nonexistent."Upon hearing these words, Hashimoto closed his eyes and let out a sigh.
His own remarks were proven wrong. The reason for Sakayanagi's previously unseen attitude was that she had rated Ayanokōji highly for much longer than Hashimoto had realized.
Simultaneously, it was reaffirmed that Ayanokōji's skill was, without a doubt, genuine.
"He might be tired of your behavior. When I enrolled in this school, I intuitively thought that you, or Ryūen, would be the leaders to graduate from Class A. However, I always felt an odd sense of discomfort. Now, the reason is clear.
Neither of you has a true passion for graduating from Class A."Winning against rivals, and subsequently remaining in Class A.
If anything more important than being Class A were discovered, it would easily be tossed aside.
"On the other hand, Horikita and Ichinose possess passion. It's strange. Classes who can't win, who lack power, have this passion, while a class capable of winning doesn't. However, if Ayanokōji and Princess team up, passion won't matter. It would certainly lead to the birth of a winning class."
While looking at Hashimoto, Sakayanagi spoke indifferently, as she was satisfied with her own understanding.
"I understand you're saying that bringing Ayanokōji to our class is the absolute condition for victory. However, isn't getting a class exchange ticket and transferring to the class he's enrolled in the simplest and safest method? In addition to having Ayanokōji, Horikita-san's class also has a fixation on reaching Class A.
"Was such a position possible for me?"
"Of course. If you had pleaded for the class exchange ticket because you wished to transfer, I would've gladly given it to you."
"I guess I've made a regrettable decision then."
Sakayanagi immediately pointed out his deliberately regretful behavior.
"You're joking. You wouldn't have accepted the ticket in that situation.""...Why is that?"
"Your intentions are transparent. Even though the future is unclear, you wouldn't want to give up this class that currently holds the A position. However, Ayanokōji-kun scares you. You want to change classes, but there's no guarantee after going to Class B. That's why you won't use a ticket. If you can't move yourself, the only option left is to move someone else."
Students who frivolously switched classes could hardly gain trust.
The hurdles to get the next ticket were much higher than before.
They lost the means to escape from the sinking ship in case of emergency.
"We have no intention of keeping you, the traitor, in our class from now on. You can't escape now, you know? I'm sure you're trying to negotiate with your surroundings, but you're not worth 20 million points. No one will seriously pick you up. Even if you try to get the class transfer ticket, I will never let you get it as long as I control Class A. Of course, the same applies to letting in Ayanokōji-kun."In other words, Hashimoto was at a deadlock.
But he didn't retreat. From the moment he decided to betray his class, Hashimoto faced it with firm determination.
"I wanted you to understand, but it can't be helped. I will continue to do the same thing. I will definitely convince Princess to bring in Ayanokōji."This was Hashimoto's big gamble.
If something came along that would allow the entire class to expel one person, he would be in a desperate situation.
But if such a thing didn't come, it wouldn't be easy to expel Hashimoto.
"The special exam isn't the only chance for expulsion. You understand that, don't you?"
"You insist on not accepting my offer. Then, in the worst-case scenario, I have no choice but to get you expelled. After that, I will control Class A and bring in Ayanokōji."
At his words, which could be described as a complete parting, Sakayanagi applauded dryly.
"Well said. That's the most brilliant line you've said today, Hashimoto-kun.
If you're going to expel me, let's welcome it. Please show me."The complete break within the class.
It was the beginning of a battle that would not end until one of them was defeated.