After Judo, it was immediately followed by Taekwondo.
Kushida Kikyo found it shocking—they had lost two matches in a row.
The score was now tied at three to three.
What was once a favorable situation had deteriorated so badly—it was truly unexpected.
However, Kushida Kikyo knew it wasn't the classmates' fault.
After all, in Judo, they had to face Albert. She doubted anyone could defeat that burly foreigner.
Taekwondo was even more exaggerated. A girl named Takeko Nishino charged around recklessly, even beating boys to the point where they knelt and begged for mercy.
One could only say, as expected of a class full of delinquents.
"Ah, only the math exam, Archery, Kendo, and Wrestling haven't been drawn yet."
Ryuen Kakeru said with a smile, "I'm really looking forward to which event will be drawn for the final one."
"I'm a bit nervous, but I'm curious—does your class still have some ace up its sleeve?"
Kushida Kikyo displayed the innocence and curiosity befitting a young girl, hoping to gather some information.
"Ace?" Ryuen Kakeru stroked his chin, "I'd like to know how effective that card is now, but more than that, I'm looking forward to what surprises he'll bring in the future. I hope it'll be worth the cost."
Kushida Kikyo was taken aback, unable to grasp his meaning.
"Heh, but it's enough to deal with your class for now."
Ryuen Kakeru was brimming with confidence because Class D of the first year hadn't yet utilized Koenji Rokusuke, seemingly saving him as their final trump card.
No one would likely expect that their own class's trump card would betray them.
Just when they needed him most, he would stab his own class in the back.
The thought of those fools' expressions, especially Horikita Suzune's reaction, filled Ryuen Kakeru with genuine delight.
Just like the last time he provoked Sakayanagi Arisu—it was truly delightful, absolutely wonderful.
"The next event is the mathematics exam."
Mashima Tomonari's voice interrupted Ryuen Kakeru's train of thought.
'It was the opponent's event?'
Ryuen Kakeru was momentarily stunned, then let out a wry smile.
Though this was the worst possible scenario at the moment, did he really care?
In contrast, Kushida Kikyo was ecstatic - the goddess of fortune was smiling upon them!
Without any hesitation, Kushida Kikyo placed Horikita Suzune, Hirata Yosuke, Koenji Rokusuke and others on the field.
There were reasons why these individuals had been kept until last.
Hirata Yosuke's performance had declined due to Yamauchi Haruki's expulsion, relegating him to substitute status.
As for Koenji Rokusuke, nobody could figure out what he was thinking, so he too remained a substitute.
This was Class D's final combat strength.
Horikita Suzune had deliberately saved them for today - even if it hadn't been a mathematics exam but something like Kendo instead, she would still have deployed these individuals.
"Finally bringing out Horikita, are we? Your trump card?"
Ryuen Kakeru remarked, "It seems I'll have to send out Hiyori."
Shiina Hiyori and Kaneda SaMitoma were Class C's two top academic students with exceptional grades.
During the previous English Exam, Ryuen had only dispatched students led by Kaneda.
Now was the perfect time to deploy Shiina Hiyori.
Yes, he had been holding back as well.
Soon, the screen showed Horikita Suzune and the others sitting in the examination area, with supervising teachers distributing test papers.
Class C and Class D were in separate areas, with cameras unable to show each other's answer sheets - only capturing images of students diligently working.
Simultaneously, exam questions would also appear on screen.
Kushida Kikyo could understand the earlier questions, but the last couple gave her some trouble.
Thus, she shifted her gaze to her own class.
Her expression froze - what was Koenji doing?
The guy had answered only one or two questions before stopping, then closed his eyes to rest. Even more absurdly, his answers showed no working process!
Wasn't this just too perfunctory?!
Kushida immediately became furious.
Koenji's usual laziness was one thing, but at this critical moment, he was still slacking off!?
"Finished all the questions already?"
Ryuen commented, though it was unclear whether he was praising, "As expected of Koenji. It seems we're really going to lose this time."
Definitely sarcasm - how could anyone finish all questions right after the exam started?
Ryuen knew this perfectly well, yet was subtly mocking them.
Fortunately, Kushida was a little angel who could forcibly suppress her anger, otherwise she would have exploded right then.
Today's outcome was crucial - Horikita Suzune had promised her certain things.
If they lost like this, Kushida felt she would never forgive Koenji for the rest of her life.
...
Horikita Suzune noticed Koenji's actions - after all, he was the only one resting with closed eyes in the entire venue.
However, Horikita Suzune wasn't the least bit angry.
Although Koenji had been considered part of their final combat strength, she had never actually expected him to contribute meaningfully.
There were six participants in the mathematics exam, with a total possible score of six hundred points.
Without Koenji's contribution, Class D only had five hundred points available.
This was going to be a difficult match - competing with one hundred fewer points than their opponents.
For anyone else, this might have been discouraging, but Horikita Suzune had faced far more setbacks with Kaoru and Class D before—this didn't affect her mindset.
A mere hundred points short? Horikita Suzune refused to believe the opposing class could exceed five hundred points.
With Kushida's assistance, she had long analyzed Class C's information and knew exactly which participants Ryuen could choose.
Shiina Hiyori was exceptional, but she stood alone.
The rest averaged around seventy points, putting their total score at roughly four hundred fifty at best.
Calmly, Horikita Suzune looked up at the camera, aware that Kushida was monitoring every move.
Ryuen Kakeru probably assumed she was unprepared.
...
'Interesting.'
'This woman seemed to have improved.'
Ryuen Kakeru observed Horikita Suzune's expression.
He had thought Koenji Rokusuke's actions would disrupt her rhythm, causing panic like Kushida Kikyo. Yet, there was no fear in Horikita's eyes.
"But how will you break this deadlock?"
Ryuen's interest grew.
He knew precisely the caliber of participants he'd sent.
Indeed, surpassing five hundred points was difficult—they'd likely hover around four hundred.
However—
With only five members, to exceed Class C, each would need to score over ninety points.
Ryuen shook his head, deeming it impossible. Horikita Suzune had already expended some of her top performers in the prior English Exam.
Academic achievers weren't like leeks—you couldn't just cut them and expect regrowth.
Once used, they were spent.
"I'll exercise the Command Tower's interference right," Kushida Kikyo suddenly declared. "The answer to question three is 42."
Ryuen was momentarily stunned.
The Command Tower's interference allowed substituting one answer, so Kushida's move was valid.
"So that's it..." Ryuen understood abruptly and burst into loud laughter. "You even accounted for this? If Koenji won't answer, you answer for him? How amusing!"
Since Koenji Rokusuke left blanks, Kushida simply solved one question for him—at least securing some points.
Thus, Kushida as Command Tower was essentially a hidden asset.
"But with only one question interference, how many points can you gain?" The more excited Ryuen became, the harder he laughed.
"Is this your final plan?"
Kushida shot him a glare but maintained her angelic smile. "I believe in doing everything possible. Even if we lose, I can comfort myself knowing I tried my best."
"Judgment of fate?" Ryuen had no interest in her act and turned to the screen.
Class D was becoming intriguing now. Had Kaoru intervened?
Yet, if they truly lost... Ryuen felt a dull ache in his chest.
Two million Personal points were at stake. So this was what it felt like to be extorted?
Soon, as the exam concluded, the judgment of fate arrived.
"Final scores: 448 points versus 444 points. Victory goes to Class D."
Hearing the result, Ryuen fell silent.
A mere four-point difference—it seemed Lady Luck hadn't favored Class C.
"Though it might sound a bit arrogant, Ryuen-kun..."
Kushida Kikyo smiled sweetly, her voice honeyed, "As expected, we're going to win. Because I've always believed in everyone in our class from start to finish. Even playing fair and square, we can still win."
The implication being, unlike someone who needed to drug others.
Ryuen had been somewhat composed, but he couldn't help recalling the recent losses—Year C Class had already forfeited 100 Class Points and 2 million Personal Points, plus Koenji's 2 million Personal Points.
Losing this exam would cost them another 130 Class Points.
Ryuen's brow twitched slightly, it seemed Year D Class had unknowingly surpassed them.
Watching Ryuen's expression gradually darken, Kushida could barely suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth!
This felt amazing—finally, she got to mock Ryuen mercilessly!