Time rewinds to the evening of the first day of the special exam.
As the sun sinks below the horizon, Ryuuen and I are heading toward a certain location.
Dressed in our jerseys, we walk at a steady pace, closing the distance to our destination without strain.
"Damn it. This is the second time today I've had to look at this scenery."
Ryuuen curses as he forces his way through the tall grass, pushing forward aggressively.
I follow the path he clears, erasing our traces behind us.
Broken branches from the brushed-aside vegetation, trampled ground—anyone with sharp instincts would notice.
"You really think we need to be this damn meticulous?"
"Just to be safe."
Yes, just to be safe.
Even if he's shed some of his arrogance, Ryuuen still has plenty of naive spots.
Covering for him—since he must win for the sake of his "point tax" plan—is what I should be doing right now.
There's no reason to cut corners there.
"Well, if you could move through the treetops, we wouldn't need to bother."
"Don't shove your freakish athleticism onto other people."
Ryuuen spits the words with a straight face, past the point of mere exasperation.
"You'd get used to it."
"Why the hell should I have to imitate a monkey?"
Regardless of whether it's possible or convenient, tree travel apparently offends his pride.
"We're finally here."
We stop, and there it is—the cave entrance.
…It's pitch black inside.
I shift my gaze to peer in, but a massive makeshift curtain of connected plastic sheets blocks the entire interior.
"Ryuuen… and you're Kamukura, right? I'll call Katsuragi-san. Wait here."
A student who seems to belong to the Katsuragi faction eyes us suspiciously for a moment before speaking and disappearing into the cave.
In their place, two male students approach and announce they'll perform a body check.
We comply without protest.
"Kuku. On top of the body check, it's 'wait here' instead of 'follow me.' The guy's a total coward."
Even with a potential alliance between classes, they still conduct a body check before letting anyone inside.
I'd heard he was cautious, but he seems extraordinarily guarded.
"Boring. In that case, Sakayanagi would have been more entertaining."
"That was an option. But that girl becomes a real pain as an enemy. Crushing her now is what makes this a 'strategy,' right?"
"If that's your judgment, I'll follow it."
As we finish the exchange, the body check ends, and the two students step away.
Along the way, many students—including the pair who searched us—glared at the mention of "Sakayanagi," so it's safe to assume everyone around here belongs to the Katsuragi faction.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
A burly, skinhead man emerges from the cave.
He stands before us and speaks as if making a declaration.
But Ryuuen shows no intimidation and fires back.
"Lead the way already. This spot's too exposed."
"That's the plan."
We follow Katsuragi into the cave.
As we proceed, the paths branch like a maze. We take one of the many forks.
At the end of that route lies a dead end—the deepest chamber, it seems.
Inside this room are a large desk, chairs, and boxes I recognize.
They're identical to the ones Class C is using.
Katsuragi sits in a chair around the slightly oversized desk and gestures for us to do the same.
The cave seems dark, but lamps hang everywhere on the walls, providing ample light.
"Kuku. Looks like you're making good use of what I gave you… So, you cleared the area?"
"Yes. I instructed no one to approach this room. I also stationed a few people to stop anyone who tries to force their way in."
"You're creepily cautious… Here."
"…A recorder."
Katsuragi's caution is effective for secret meetings like this.
Fully aware of that, Ryuuen pulls out the device to guarantee the "contract," places it on the desk, and slides it over.
Katsuragi immediately picks it up, turns on the recording switch, and sets it back down.
"Now then, Katsuragi. I want your answer right away."
"Fine. First, regarding the 'contract' you proposed, I've made a few revisions.
With these changes, my class agreed unanimously to accept it. Naturally, I'm the signatory."
Katsuragi pulls out a prepared sheet of paper and places it on the desk facing us.
It lists the revised "contract" contents and is signed "Katsuragi Kouhei."
Whether a divided class truly reached full consensus is doubtful, but I'll leave that unpursued.
"Kukuku. You make things quick—I like that."
Ryuuen picks up the paper and begins reading.
"As you're aware, this is a one-time 'cooperation' only."
"Don't say that. Keep patronizing me in the future. I'll make it cheap."
"…Cheap? You've got some nerve saying that."
Ryuuen brushes off Katsuragi's intense glare with a cool expression.
"Oi, Kamukura. Read it too."
Once finished, he hands me the "contract."
---
[Contract]
This contract shall remain in effect until one of the signatories graduates or is expelled.
First, during this special exam, Class C and Class A are in an alliance, and betrayal is strictly forbidden. If betrayal or equivalent actions occur, the betraying class shall incur a 30 million point penalty. Additionally, to build trust, both sides shall disclose their leaders. (Naturally, attempting to identify the leader is prohibited.)
Second, during this exam, Class C shall transfer all items purchased with points to Class A by the end of the special exam. Failure to do so nullifies the fifth clause.
Third, during this exam, Class C must transfer all points secured via "spots" to Class A one hour before the exam ends.
Fourth, during this exam, Class C shall investigate the leaders of Classes B and D and provide all obtained information to Class A. When guessing leaders, both parties shall write the same class's leader name. If either signatory objects, guessing for that class is canceled. Failure to comply violates the first clause.
Fifth, if the second, third, and fourth clauses are fulfilled, all Class A students must transfer 40,000 points per person with total 1.6 million points and monthly to Class C's signatory.
Sixth, by signing this contract, the signatories indicate understanding and agreement to clauses one through five.
---
I instantly memorize the stiffly worded contents and return the paper to Ryuuen.
"Done reading… Katsuragi, I approve this 'contract.'"
"The 'contract' is established. As of this moment, we are allies."
Ryuuen signs with the provided ballpoint pen. Katsuragi continues without changing expression.
"Now, let's discuss the crucial matter—how to win. First, how much do you know about the other classes?"
"Just Class B so far. I've sent a spy into Class D."
As he answers, Ryuuen pulls a walkie-talkie from his jersey and flaunts it.
That should convince him it's no lie.
"Proof?"
"None for Class B. If I had to say, Kamukura visually confirmed Class B's leader, Shiranami Chihiro, using the card."
Katsuragi's brow twitches slightly at Ryuuen casually naming an individual.
A few seconds later, he directs a sharp gaze at me.
"I've heard plenty of rumors about you. A genius who excels at everything. Even Sakayanagi respects you.
But no matter how capable you are, without clear evidence, I won't write a leader's name."
"I see."
I give a perfunctory reply to his predictable stance.
"Kuku. True, there's no definitive proof the leader is correct. But Katsuragi, you know that some risk is unavoidable in a gamble, right?"
"Of course. Yet our consensus is to avoid danger as much as possible."
Utterly boring. As I think that, Ryuuen lets out a heavy sigh.
Katsuragi remains unfazed by the belittling attitude. His mind is likely still consumed with risk-return calculations.
But Ryuuen Kakeru wouldn't back down so easily.
He plays one of his trump cards.
"Even if that choice leads to you being dragged down by Sakayanagi?"
"…What? That sounds like you're admitting you'd betray us. Have you forgotten the 'first clause'?"
"I won't betray you. But after this exam ends… what Kamukura Izuru does is outside the contract, right?"
Katsuragi's eyes widen for a split second at those words. He quickly returns to normal.
But the king doesn't miss that momentary flinch and grins wickedly.
If the opponent shows weakness, crush them. Never let up.
"Hey, Katsuragi. Though it was just entertainment, Kamukura beat that Sakayanagi.
Ever since, he's taken a real liking to her. Enough to even object to our contract with you."
Katsuragi's face gradually distorts.
An expression born from glimpsing the future ahead. That exposure only widens the opening for the devil.
"You're quick on the uptake, so you already get what I'm saying. If you don't cooperate on the leader guess?
…After this exam, Kamukura Izuru—an existence even more troublesome than the Sakayanagi you're struggling with—turns enemy.
Your faction's fate would be obvious, but… I'm kind, so I'll warn you anyway."
—The future beyond that is "despair," you know?
"…You planned this from the start."
"No more changes to the 'contract.' The conversation after signing is recorded."
"—!"
No longer bothering to mask his expression, he simply glares, lips bitten in frustration.
That's the most resistance Katsuragi can muster now.
But it won't stop the king's assault.
"Also, Katsuragi, rumors about you losing the student council election should start spreading soon, right?"
"How do you know that!?"
"Ha. Don't underestimate my information network."
The student council—the group dominated by that Horikita president.
Katsuragi's ability is unquestionable, but I surmise his rigidly inflexible thinking caused the loss.
"If word of your defeat spreads, the Sakayanagi faction will gain even more momentum. Even your supporters will betray you."
"Could you still lead Class A under those conditions?"
"…Well, Katsuragi. You understand some risk is unavoidable, right?"
"…Fine. But I'll add a condition for the risk if the other class leaders are wrong."
Swallowed by the devil's whisper, Katsuragi makes his bitter decision. Then he makes a futile struggle.
"If we miss a leader, reduce the points collected under the 'fifth clause' by half. If we miss both classes, the deal is off."
"You're demanding more selfishness than me, Katsuragi? …But fine. I'll accept. Without that much thrill, it'd be boring."
Ryuuen laughs "kuku" and ends the discussion, glancing at me.
As planned, Katsuragi has taken mental damage, his thoughts chaotic with impatience.
It's time to give him my gift.
This should earn me a bit of his trust.
"One last thing, Katsuragi-kun. I have two 'proposals.'"
"…Proposals?"
Katsuragi shifts his gaze to me and settles into a listening posture.
"First by the final roll call on the last day of this special exam, retire the current leader and install a new one."
"…Are you joking? Why should we throw away 30 points?"
"It's insurance. And—there will be no 30-point penalty."
"…What?"
Katsuragi, who thought he knew all the rules, gapes at the blow from outside his field of vision.
"And the second is—"
The devil's contract is hereby complete.
…
"...Haa..."
After leaving the beach and walking a little farther away, my companion stopped.
She leaned against a nearby tree and began taking long, deep breaths.
There was something almost sensual about it—breaths so unguarded they bordered on moans.
But it was no wonder she'd end up like this.
If anything, it was impressive that Horikita hadn't taken a single step back or lost her composure under that man's pressure.
"Who is he, exactly? That suffocating presence... it doesn't even compare to my brother."
It seemed she'd been able to withstand that intimidation because she had built up some resistance to it.
Kamukura Izuru was a different kind altogether, but knowing the piercing pressure that radiated from the student council president would certainly give anyone a certain degree of tolerance.
"...Why are you so calm about it?"
"I'm actually pretty shocked myself."
I've seen all kinds of people, but I'd never encountered anything on that level before.
So I wasn't lying; for once, I was genuinely surprised inside.
"...Honestly, we came away with nothing and got saddled with a terrible parting gift."
"That's not quite right, Horikita. We did get something out of it."
"Like what? Class C spent every single point they had. There's no way they can stretch one day's worth of food across the remaining five days.
What could we possibly have gained from a class that's already given up on the test?"
Horikita was firmly calling Ryuuen's approach bizarre, which meant she'd fallen right into his trap.
I see. It was the kind of strategy only someone who could completely silence his entire class could pull off.
—I'd learned something valuable.
"That there are minds like Ryuuen's out there, right? Thanks to his plan, Class C will probably be able to end the test without any real hardship."
"That's impossible. The way he's throwing points around, they can't possibly last the full week. It doesn't even qualify as a strategy."
"True enough. But since he never intended to last the week in the first place, he went all-in on this reckless approach."
"Not lasting the week...? What do you mean?"
For the first time since we'd started back, Horikita turned to look at me.
"What if the test ended today? Wouldn't that make for a perfect vacation?"
"I suppose... it would. But what about afterward? They'd have zero points left..."
"Simple. They retire."
"...Huh?"
"They claim illness, bad health—any excuse will do. Once they retire, everyone can return to the cruise ship and live comfortably.
They get to enjoy their summer vacation without a single hardship."
The school couldn't very well refuse and send them back just because they suspected it was fake.
And the rule that made this strategy possible was the one stating that points could not fall below zero.
The penalty of minus 30 points for retiring students meant nothing when starting from zero. Ryuuen had turned that rule to his advantage.
"So he really—"
"—is abandoning the test? Not necessarily, Horikita."
"...How can you be so sure?"
"I'm not certain. But I can make an educated guess. One piece of it comes from Kamukura's behavior."
"...!! The leader guessing."
"Exactly. If we assume everything they told us was laced with lies, a different picture emerges."
"What if Kamukura had already obtained information from the other classes? What if that was on Ryuuen's orders? What if Ibuki was acting as a spy?"
"Once you start considering those possibilities, their lavish spending starts to look like a feint meant to conceal their real objective is correctly guessing the leaders."
"...So while they appear to be wasting everything, they're actually planning to close the class gap using the points gained from accurate leader guesses. That's another plausible interpretation."
"That's the idea."
Of course, if this theory was completely correct, then the moment Kouenji failed to detect Kamukura's presence, we were already finished.
He truly wasn't someone to underestimate... but that wasn't the point right now.
He was the highest-priority threat.
"...So you were hiding your true ability after all."
"Not at all. You were shaken this time, so I noticed first. If you hadn't been, you would have realized it sooner than me."
"The very fact that I wasn't shaken is what makes you suspicious."
"No, I'm just slow on the uptake."
"Don't joke about this."
She sent me a glare fierce enough that even Ryuuen might have flinched.
In certain circles, a beautiful girl's glare is supposedly a reward, but I'd rather not receive it.
"Calm down, Horikita. Getting angry wastes time we could be using more effectively."
"...Fine. What do you suggest?"
"We scout Class B and Class A, starting now."
"That's actually a good idea. Though it annoys me to admit it."
With that, she turned her back to me.
"...What is it?"
"Lead the way already. I don't know where the other classes' bases are."
"Uh..."
"What's that look for?"
She intimidated me enough that I immediately gave in.
Putting her own shortcomings aside so arrogantly—yes, this was Horikita Suzune.
I silently offered her a measure of respect in my mind.
"...Sei!!"
"...Guh!?"
While I was mentally poking at her, an abrupt elbow to the solar plexus sent me crumpling to the ground.
"This is punishment for holding my hand."
"P-Punishment? That's pretty severe."
"I'll also correct you on one thing. I gained something too, that's confirmation that intra-class violence is permitted."
"That's just tyranny."
"Having spent this much time with me, you should have noticed that much by now, shouldn't you?"
Even Ryuuen or Kamukura would probably be stunned by this willful queenly attitude.
Thinking that, I slowly stood up and brushed the dirt off my clothes.
"Let's go."
Without so much as a glance back at me, Horikita started walking ahead.
I jogged briefly to catch up.
Trailing behind her, I fully played my role as the map.
...
"You're absolutely sure going straight down this path is correct?"
"...Yes, it's correct."
Still traumatized by the earlier elbow, I kept a cautious distance as I answered.
If Kanzaki was right, I no longer needed to act as a mapping machine. We should arrive if we kept going straight.
Before long, we reached our destination... Class B's base camp.
"As expected of Class B..."
Class B's base camp felt entirely different from Class D's in terms of livability.
There were plenty of trees. Unlike Class D, whose spots were in open areas, they didn't need to block sightlines with groups of people.
They had fewer tents than we did. Instead of extra tents, they used hammocks to secure sleeping space.
It was a model base camp that made maximum use of limited space.
"Oh, Horikita-san? And Ayanokouji-kun?"
Perhaps sensing our presence, the one who turned and called out was Ichinose.
Even in a jersey, her light peach-colored hair stood out; she appeared to be in the middle of tying a hammock to a tree.
She paused the task and waved. A little farther off, I could see Kanzaki.
"Class B seems to be running smoothly."
"Ahaha, we struggled quite a bit at first. But we managed to improvise and put things together. Then the workload actually increased. There's still a mountain of tasks left."
Smiling as she spoke, Ichinose finished tying the knot firmly.
"Then we really shouldn't intrude."
"Sorry if it sounded like I was shooing you away. But staying a little while is fine, right? You probably came because you have questions."
She showed no sign of displeasure as she answered and sat down on the newly hung hammock.
"For now, can we still consider ourselves in a cooperative relationship since the violence incident?"
"I certainly think so."
"Then—"
Horikita began asking how many points they had spent, on what, and how useful the purchases had proven.
Ichinose pulled the manual from her bag, listed the purchased items on a blank sheet, and did the calculations.
Their point expenditure was nearly identical to ours. If anything, because Kouenji had solved our food issue, Class D's usage was slightly lower.
We also learned about something called a "water shower"—a large device placed beside the well.
Class B had claimed a well as their spot and secured a water source.
The machine used water drawn from the well and a gas canister to produce hot water.
"Tents... doesn't the hard ground make sleeping difficult?"
Having gotten enough information about the water shower and points, Horikita casually shifted the topic.
"I was worried at first, but we took proper countermeasures. Want to see?"
Ichinose led us toward the tents.
After excusing herself to the girls chatting inside one, she lifted the edge of the tent floor slightly.
"This is..."
"Surprised? When the portable toilets were issued, the rule said vinyl sheets were unlimited, so I pushed a bit and got a huge amount."
A thick stack of vinyl sheets lay beneath the tent, roughly two centimeters deep.
Yes—with that thickness, no one would wake up with muscle aches from the hard ground.
"I see. Kouenji-kun got extra vinyl too, but this is another clever use for it."
"Mind if I ask how Kouenji-kun used his, for reference?"
It wouldn't be fair to only take information. Horikita nodded and explained.
"He wove thick grass into simple baskets and lined the inside and outside with vinyl.
That way he could carry large amounts of water without leaks, and the same for fish and nuts—quite an efficient system."
"...I see, I see. Hey, would it be okay if I borrowed that idea?"
"Since we're cooperating, I don't mind at all."
Kouenji himself wasn't here, yet Horikita gave permission without hesitation.
Well, if someone copied him, he'd probably just say "praise me" rather than get angry.
"Oh, right! If we're continuing our cooperation, I think it'd be smart to use the additional leader-guessing rule to exclude each other's classes. What do you think?"
"I was thinking the same thing. I'd be grateful to remove at least one target from our watch list. If you're fine with it, Ichinose-san, I'd like to accept the offer."
"Of course, it's fine."
After reconfirming the terms of our cooperation, Horikita suddenly looked up as if remembering something.
I had a bad feeling about it.
"Right, Ichinose-san, has anyone from your class—"
"—Hey, Ichinose, did you see what's going on with Class C right now?"
I cut Horikita off before she could ask whether "Kamukura Izuru" had visited Class B.
Even though we were cooperating, the gap between us and Class B was larger than I'd expected, and closing it whenever possible was the smarter move.
It was still just a possibility, but if we wanted any chance of reaching Class A, this was currently our best play.
"Ayanokouji-kun, where would you like to be hit next? Tell me."
"I didn't cut you off on purpose."
"You spoke after I did."
As Horikita opened and closed her fist, I felt a surge of unease, but I did my best to convey my intent through eye contact.
"U-um, I'll answer Ayanokouji-kun's question first, then.
To sum it up—yes, I saw. I was honestly shocked. It really looks like they have no intention of taking the test seriously."
"...I agree. They're doing something unbelievably foolish."
"Yeah. There's no cheating allowed in this special test. Ryuuen-kun's strategy has almost certainly burned through nearly every point they had. They might be having fun now, but they'll definitely regret it later."
Seeing Ichinose's expression stiffen slightly, Horikita started to mention the all-retirement plan—or the feint hiding a leader-guessing strategy—but stopped herself.
My desperate eye signals had apparently gotten through.
This way, we could avoid giving Class B unnecessary information.
"But if it were just Ryuuen-kun, it'd probably end there... but there's Kamukura-kun too."
"...True. Still, judging from his attitude earlier, he seemed perfectly fine with that foolish plan. I don't think we need to worry too much."
"I guess... but after what happened during the violence incident, I can't help it, you know?
Ah—sorry for bringing it up now, Horikita-san. We ended up winning that one, but one wrong step and we would have lost."
She probably still felt responsible for how cornered we'd been back then, but that had been our mistake—she didn't need to worry about it.
Any attempt to reassure her would fall on deaf ears, though.
"It's already over. Don't concern yourself."
"You're right. Okay, switching gears!"
She'd looked a little down for a moment, but she clenched her fist, raised her voice cheerfully, and turned her strong gaze back on us.
Seeing that, Horikita gave a faint smile before asking her question.
"Ichinose-san—I'm sorry for only asking things—but we'd also like to check on Class A's situation.
Do you have any information on their base camp? Even just the location would be helpful."
"If it's just 'probably,' I know the location. Getting more details will be hard, though."
As expected of Class B—or rather, of Ichinose. They'd already scouted Class A.
Without any reluctance, she pointed in the direction and told us what she knew about their camp.
"There's an open area past here; if you turn right, you'll see a 'cave.' Class A's base seems to be there.
I went to check it out myself, but I couldn't figure much out. They're extremely secretive—or rather, their defenses are thorough."
"Secretive? ...What kind of measures are they taking?"
"A picture is worth a thousand words. Once you see it, you'll understand immediately."
Ichinose smiled softly—a pure, genuine smile that hinted at her high popularity across the grade.
"We should get going, Ayanokouji-kun. Staying too long would be rude to Class B."
After exchanging a few more words with Ichinose, we parted ways and left Class B's camp.
Once we were in a place with no one else around, I listened to Horikita's thoughts on Class B.
It was rare for her to praise others, but I paid it no mind.
I'd learned a lot.
The essence of this test lay in two approaches; cooperating to endure, or Class C's mass-retirement strategy. Both were valid; both could be correct here.
Especially with an absolute leader like Ichinose, I was reminded that the orthodox method offered the highest chance of victory.
Having understood both patterns, two crucial rules floated to the front of my mind—rules that would be key to guiding us to victory.
The "point transfer" rule in particular stood out.
I didn't know why he had asked about it, but anything usable should be used.
Add to that the information Kouenji had provided.
On the evening of the first day—my guess was that Ryuuen and Kamukura's absence meant they had gone to another class to lay important groundwork.
Judging from Ichinose's demeanor, their target hadn't been Class B.
That left contact with Class A as the most likely scenario.
...If my prediction was correct, then in the worst case, Class A's leader could end up changed. I would need to plan carefully, taking that possibility into account.
And given how stubbornly guarded they were, breaking through from the front would be difficult.
—In that case, attacking from somewhere other than the front was the answer.
An internal attack rather than an external one, for example.
Once the offense was prepared, defense would come next.
But that was no issue—multiple countermeasures were already in place.
Acting in small groups was just one example.
I began seriously formulating a strategy to win this test.
***
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