Aside from the enticing rewards, Kaoru also noticed an important note.
"There's one thing you should be aware of—the lowest-ranked large group in this exam will face expulsion penalties. Of course, it won't be a full-group expulsion. If any small group within that large group has an average score below the school's prepared baseline, the leader of that small group will be expelled."
The students in the car exchanged uneasy glances.
Katsuragi frowned—it seemed the double rewards for leaders weren't so easy to obtain after all. With great gains came great risks.
"Wait, wait, if someone gets expelled, who in the world would volunteer to be the leader?" Totsuka Yahiko asked in confusion.
"Are we supposed to decide that ourselves too?"
"Correct. You must decide the leader among yourselves and inform me by tomorrow morning," Mashima replied. "If you fail to select a leader, the entire small group will face Mandatory Expulsion."
"E-Entire group expulsion?!" Totsuka Yahiko was shocked—this was the harshest penalty so far.
Still, no one would be foolish enough to let the school expel the entire group.
At the very least, they could decide the leader by drawing lots.
"Additionally, once a leader is expelled, they can invoke joint responsibility and choose one other student from the group to be expelled alongside them."
"W-What?! Doesn't that mean we could be dragged down by students from other classes in a mutual destruction scenario?!"
Even Katsuragi couldn't stay composed—this condition fit Nagumo Miyabi's demands all too well!
"Don't be so nervous. Not just anyone can be designated as a scapegoat. The school must first determine that the student in question is indeed one of the factors affecting the group's performance—someone who has hindered the team. Only then can they be nominated."
Upon hearing Mashima's words, the tense atmosphere in the vehicle eased considerably.
As long as they couldn't arbitrarily nominate just anyone, things were manageable.
Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled softly. "Hehehe, someone who hinders the collective... it sounds like the ancient Greek practice of ostracism."
Kaoru felt the same way.
On the surface, it seemed like all they had to do was take the exam normally.
But in reality, it would be easy for the group to ostracize someone—by making it impossible for them to participate properly in the exam, thereby turning them into a hindrance to the collective, and then nominating them for expulsion.
"For every expelled student, the corresponding class will lose one hundred Class Points. If the class's Class Points fall below the deducted amount, the deficit will be settled when the class earns future Class Points."
Mashima recalled the previous Class D.
Even the school hadn't anticipated that a class could score zero points twice in a row.
If they hadn't managed to scrape together a hundred points in the final exams, he suspected Chabashira Sae would have gone berserk.
Perhaps because no first-year students had been expelled so far, Mashima emphasized once again the cost of [rescinding an expulsion].
To save an expelled student, the expelled student's class must pay the school twenty million Personal Points and three hundred Class Points.
Both are mandatory—without either, the expelled student cannot be reinstated.
"The final exam results will be evaluated on the last day. Until then, no one is allowed to withdraw or replace group members midway. After arriving at the mountain lodge, you'll receive a schedule detailing the order and nature of the tests on the final day."
Kaoru reviewed the instructions in the materials.
The official program would begin tomorrow, Friday morning, and end next Wednesday—eight days and seven nights in total.
The final day, next Thursday, would involve all grades participating in the last round of tests and evaluations.
Boys and girls would be separated, each forming six small groups.
These would then merge with senior-year groups to form six larger teams.
Exam results would be based on the performance of these larger teams, and the lowest-ranked team might have failing subgroups facing expulsion.
This was the upcoming training camp exam.
There were two possible strategies: either strive to earn as many rewards as possible, or target other classes to force their students into expulsion.
If they could compel another class to rescue an expelled student, that class would pay a staggering price in this exam—enough to cripple even the current Class A.
However, Kaoru felt that, aside from Class A, the other three classes likely couldn't afford the redemption cost.
Ichinose Honami might barely manage, but that was it.
Targeting them now would feel like bullying children.
The first-years could be left alone for the time being—but what would Nagumo think?
Kaoru took out his phone.
Seizing the moment, he contacted second-year students Tonokawa and Iijima, curious about Nagumo's current thoughts.
...
Before disembarking, Mashima confiscated everyone's phones, gaming devices, toys, and snacks—none of which were permitted inside the mountain lodge.
"Hehe, I didn't expect boys and girls to be separated. It seems I'll only get to see Mitoma-kun during breaks." Sakayanagi smiled faintly at Kaoru, leaning on her cane with Kamuro by her side, looking every bit the reluctant caretaker once again.
During summer vacation, it seemed Kamuro had been taking care of her too.
"Mashima-sensei just said that even during breaks, we need permission to go outside."
Kaoru was actually a little frustrated.
This time, the boys and girls were staying in separate dorm buildings, meaning they'd essentially be living apart.
"Except during meals."
Sakayanagi suddenly paused, then stood on her tiptoes in front of him to adjust his tie.
"Even though we'll be wearing gym clothes tomorrow, you should still pay attention to your appearance now."
Was she deliberately provoking him?
Kaoru averted his gaze from the ring on her finger, only to notice the strange looks from those around them.
Given that he had a girlfriend, shouldn't they be eyeing the suspicious Sakayanagi instead?
"See you later, Mitoma-kun."
Sakayanagi curled her lips like a little fox, not giving him time to react before quickly stepping off the bus.
"Don't do anything so suspicious next time."
Kamuro shot him a sidelong glance before following Sakayanagi off the bus.
Kaoru reflexively felt wronged, but then it hit him—Kamuro must have known the ring on Sakayanagi's finger was from him.
No wonder she was upset.
"The girls will have to be Sakayanagi's responsibility. Mitoma-kun, what do you think we should do on our end?"
Katsuragi patted Kaoru's shoulder, lowering his voice. "If we team up with other classes, Nagumo-senpai will definitely make his move."
Not just would—he absolutely would.
Katsuragi was now considering whether to fully back Kaoru to avoid getting swept away by the student council president's schemes.
"No need to rush. Let's assess the situation first."
Kaoru had already arranged a coded communication system with Tonokawa Sosuke and the others.
Nagumo's intel was practically an open book to him now.
Stepping off the bus, Kaoru was greeted by a vast expanse of snow-covered mountains, silver threads of mist drifting between the peaks.
The trees stood tall against the white landscape, their branches reaching toward the sky.
Ahead of him stood two old school buildings.
The wooden structures had clearly been around for years, but regular maintenance had kept them from falling into complete disrepair.
"It's freezing out here. Shouldn't a forest school thing be a summer event?"
Someone nearby complained, making Kaoru unconsciously touch the scarf around his neck.
His gaze shifted to Ichinose in the distance, who noticed him and waved cheerfully.
If only this could just be a normal training camp, Kaoru couldn't help but think.
"Excuse me."
Morishita Ai spoke up from behind him.
Kaoru silently stepped aside for her, even though he hadn't really been blocking the way.