Kiyotaka POV
Its finally the day of the paper shuffle. We were required atleast 720 points on this exam which was easy for me.
This means that Horikita and Kushida's fates will be decided today as well.
As I walked down the corridor on the way to the classroom, I met up with Satō who appeared to be waiting for someone.
For better or worse, the person she was waiting for appeared to be me, as she came close when she saw me.
Sato: "Good morning, Ayanokōji-kun. The exam is just around the corner."
Kiyo: "Aah. Did you sleep well last night?"
Sato: "I went to bed after studying til one o'clock, but I'm starting to feel a little nervous."
Kiyo: "lets just do our best."
Sato: "yeah right, you will just score all 100 right?"
Kiyo: "or would you rather I score all 69 again? so you'll try harder"
Sato: "no matter how many score you want to get, I'll always do my best. I don't want to be a burden."
Kiyo: "I see."
She clearly has a good spirit. If any other people were paired with me, I'll doubt they'll even study. They'll just left everything to me. While knowing I will get high marks to save myself
Kiyo: "lets go."
Sato: "yes"
With that, I entered the classroom with Sato and immediately takes my seat
Tatsuya: "yo"
Kiyo: "you're early"
Tatsuya: "what's so wrong with that."
Kiyo: "I see."
Tatsuya: "hey.."
Kiyo: "what?"
Tatsuya: "wanna compete?"
huh?
Kiyo: "you know we'll just tie our scores. There is no point in doing that."
Tatsuya: "is that so? then lets just compete on who's faster. Will all of our knowledge of course"
Kiyo: "that will attract a lot of attention you know"
Tatsuya: "everyone already knows about our grades. How about we mess up a little? we rarely compete like this after all."
Kiyo: "fine then. I guess having a life that's too peaceful can be quite boring."
Tatsuya: "that's the spirit"
After quite some time, Horikita arrived on the classroom
Kiyo: "you look excited"
Suzune: "is that so? I guess that's what you call a thrill for battle"
Kiyo: "do your best then. Don't forget to score 100 in maths."
Suzune: "its my intention."
Akito: "good morning Tatsuya, Kiyotaka, Horikita" Said Akito while taking his seat beside Tatsuya
Tatsuya: "morning"
Kiyo: "morning"
Suzune: "good morning."
shortly after, Chabasira sensei entered the classroom with a lot of papers on her hand
Chabs: "good morning students. You guys are quite tense today"
but no one responded. Instead they just look serious af
Chabs: "no response? very well. Lets just begin. You'll take your first end of term exam after this: Modern Japanese. It's forbidden to turn your paper over until I give the signal to start. Pay attention to this."
Chabashira-sensei didn't have the student at the front of each row pass the exams backward but instead placed the exam sheets on each desk one at a time.
Chabs: "The exam lasts for fifty minutes per subject with 10 minute break after each exam. Try to avoid calling in sick or the need to use the restroom as much as possible. If you aren't able to wait it out whatsoever, please let me know by raising your hand. You aren't allowed to leave the classroom for any other reason after the start of the exam. Also, you can't submit the exam right after you finished. You have to wait until the time is finished."
Kiyo: *whispering* "it seems our competition is cancelled"
Tatsuya: "quite unfortunate. I was getting excited"
Chabs: "Shiba, Ayanokoji, pay attention. Even though both of you can tackle this easily, don't get overconfident"
Tatsuya: "sorry, sensei"
Kiyo: "sorry for that. Continue please"
Chabs: "I have nothing to continue."
Chabasira sensei proceeds to hand out the papers to every students
Chabs: *glancing at her watch* "allright, your test starts now"
I opened the papers and scanned the questions.
Everything turned out as I expected
I raised my head, and my eyes crossed with Chabashira-sensei who was watching the class from the podium.However, Chabashira-sensei wasn't the one I was paying attention to.
Instead, I took note of how Kushida Kikyō was handling the exam in front of her.Even though the exam had started, there was no indication that her arm was moving.
She appeared to be checking something as she went over the questions several times.She made sure of everything for two or three minutes before she finally began to solve the exam questions.
In this way, the tense exams continued past the first without any time for leisure or idle chatter.
However, there was a slight incident during the fourth exam.It happened during the math exam, which is supposed to be when Horikita and Kushida's direct confrontation would be decided.
It was immediately after we turned our exams over after the start signal.
Kikyo: "Why......" Kushida's voice leaked out despite her attempt to suppress it.
Chabs: "what's wrong, Kushida?"
Kikyo: "n-n-n-n-nothing..."
now lets just enjoy her last bit of resistance..
Timeskip, Result day(One week later)
Kiyo: "you look relieved."
Suzune: "of course, this exam was really challenging after all"
Kiyo: "how much will you get on math?"
Suzune: "100 is what I want to say, but there is an unclear question for me. But at the very least, I already scored 98. There is no way Kushida san can score higher than that"
Kiyo: "even if she did, you preapared a counter attack right?"
Suzune: "yes. I can buy 2 points with 200.000 even if she scored above me. My victory is secured"
Chabs: "you guys look really tense" it was Chabasira sensei who suddenly barged in
Ike: "well, the scores will be announced today right? there is no way we could be calm"
Chabs: "well, lets just get to business"
Chabasira sensei posted a large paper which contains the scores of paper shuffle
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka(800)+ Sato Maya(512)= 1312 (passed)
Shiba Tatsuya(800) + Sakura Airi (296)= 1096 (passed)
Horikita Suzune(744) + Sudo Ken(416)= 1160( passed)
Koenji Rokusuke(800) + Okitani Kyosuke(376)= 1176(passed)
Yukimura Teruhiko(740) + Inogashira Kokoro(472)= 1212(passed)
Hirata Yosuke(720) + Ike Kanji(352)= 1072(passed)
Kushida Kikyo(680) + Yamauchi Haruki(280)= 960(passed)
Karuizawa Kei(552) + Matsushita Chiaki(616)= 1168(passed)
Miyake Akito(584) + Hasebe Haruka(592)= 1176(passed)
(And some other defects who passed but I'm too lazy to write all of their names)
All of this was based of 8 subjects which are math, english, japanese, science, social studies, physical education, art, and moral studies. Which was all too easy.
I got 800 points, if divided by 8, then I get 100 points average.
Keisei, Tatsuya, Haruka, and Akito did very well also
Although I cant say the same for Airi. She get 296 points, which divided by 8 is 37 points average. She's really lucky to be partnered up by someone like Tatsuya. If she's partnered by some students that has low acaemics ability, She'll get expelled no doubt
(yes, I'm shitting on Airi. Got any problem?)
And Yamauchi got 280? lets just not talk about that.
Chabs: "and here is the individual subjects results"
Math
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka 100
Shiba Tatsuya 100
Koenji Rokusuke 100
Horikita Suzune 100
Kushida Kikyo 84
(and the others which I'm too lazy to include. I only include math because its Horikita and Kushia's competition.)
Kiyo: "I'm impressed. You really get 100 on math"
Suzune: "although I can't get all 100 like the 3 of you, I'm still grateful I got 100 in maths"
Kiyo: "now I believe you have something to say to Kushida?"
Suzune: "it will be done. Make sure you watch her defeat"
Kiyo: "of course. I will engrave it in my memory."
Horikita just smirks
Chabs: "and also..."
the class silently watched her
Chabs: "congratulations on your victory against class C. Your overall points were bigger than them"
The class immediately erupted in excitement
Ike: "hell yeah!"
Yamauchi: "hahaha! I knew class C was no match against me!"
Hirata: "thank goodness."
Tatsuya: "sensei, what about class A and class B?"
Chabs: "class B defeated Class A. That's your answer"
I see. Sakayanagi defeats Ichinose huh? well, someone like Sakayanagi was too much for Ichinose after all
Now then, lets just wait until the end of the class and the fun will begin.
Timeskip
Suzune POV
The class finally ended. Its time to settle my score with Kushida san
Sudo: "Suzune.."
Before me and Ayanokoji kun went to Kushida san, Sudo kun approached me
Suzune: "what's wrong, Sudo kun?"
Sudo: "Thank you. For helping me study. I couldn't done it without your help"
Suzune: "Its fine. Your efforts makes it possible. I was just supporting a little"
Sudo: "still. I want to thank you."
Suzune: "you're welcome. Congratulations, Sudo kun" I said with a smile.
A genuine one. I truly felt happy for his improvement
Sudo: *with red cheeks* "hehehe, thank you. Well, see ya Suzune. You too, Ayanokoji" said Sudo kun with red cheeks. Does he have a fever or what?
Kiyo: "lets go."
Suzune: "yeah.."
Timeskip, Special annex
It was finally the time. Kushida san was now infront of me and Ayanokoji kun. We're currently in the special annex
Suzune: "Kushida san"
Kikyo: "what, Horikita san?"
Her face was tired and weary.
Suzune: "I believe we have an agreement?"
Kikyo: "yes. Its your victory, Horikita san. Are you satisfied?"
Suzune: "Can I believe it then? That you'll cooperate with me in the future?"
Kikyo: "I'll fulfill my promise. No matter how much I disagree with it. Do you want it in writing?"
Suzune: "No need. Let's start by trusting each other."
I offered my hand for a handshake, but instead she just walked away
Kikyo: "I hate you, Horikita-san."
Suzune: "I know. But I think I can work hard to change that."
Kikyo: "It seems that I'm beginning to hate you more and more."
she just replied coldly before continuing
Kikyo: "I won't interfere, but I will never cooperate with you. Don't forget this."
Suzune: "......Is that so? It's a shame, but it can't be helped. Those are the conditions, after all."
Kikyo: "Don't forget, Horikita-san. The only condition is to refrain from getting in your way."
Her words were suspicious. But I will do everything I can to gain her cooperation. I'll make sure that happens
Kiyo: "nice face you're making right there, Kushida"
Kikyo: "I hate you, Ayanokoji kun"
Kiyo: "I love you too"
Kikyo: "fuck you"
Kushida san just left with anger overflowing with her.
Suzune: "is that even necessary?"
Kiyo: "sorry, got a little bit excited"
Suzune: "whatever. Lets go."
Kiyo: "yeah."
with that, both of us returned to our dorms
Timeskip
Kiyotaka POV
After parting ways with Horikita, I thought about the future.
The Ryuuen Kakeru of my imagination is not the type of person to leave things unfinished like this.
Horikita certainly did a good job this time. She confined Ryuuen, who manipulated Kushida, with a well placed preemptive strike.
Originally, her approach wouldn't be very useful during a class conflict where it's difficult for allies to betray each other, but it's truly an effective strategy when a traitor is already lurking. However, her method can't always be used. It's limited to situations such as the sports festival and exams like this one.
That's why she took the initiative to secure her brother as a witness, effectively creating a one in a million opportunity. Class D studied intensively for the month before to the final exam, so it shouldn't be possible for us to lose to Class C. Overall, this could be considered to be a complete victory.
My phone began to vibrate.
Ryuuen: [what are you scheming?]
I received such a message.
It's not just me. Aren't you scheming something too, Ryūen?
Ryuuen: [I'll make you pay the price for using me]
He sent another short message, followed by another one shortly afterward.
There was a file attached this time.It was an image file.
After I opened it, it turned out to be a single photograph.There was no text included in the message because the image alone says it all.
Kiyo: "As expected, Manabe and the others confessed after all."
He probably utilized threats similar to intimidation and extortion in order to get to the traitor.
And now, names like Keisei's and my own will be on his mind, deepening his suspicions.
However, he has no evidence. He also can't come to any conclusions, given the possibility that the mastermind might still be lurking.
That being said, Ryuuen's move to corner me here undoubtedly has to be for that reason.
It isn't necessary for me to think very hard about what his intention is with this photograph.
The fact that he has this photograph in the first place means that her background is known to a certain extent.
Kiyo: "He should've stayed silent after all."
To think that he would reveal the information he obtained so easily. Is he enjoying this?I was already getting somewhat tired of his obsessive searching.
I closed my cell phone and hardened my will at the same time.It seems that there's no reason to go about this half-heartedly if my goal is to dampen his mental strength.If he's intent on waging war, I'll match up with him.
Kiyo: "Come at me with full force so you have nothing to regret afterward. I'll play this game with you on your own playing field."
Yes. I can't help but get excited.
Ryuuen Kakeru. I will destroy you.
Somewhere else
3rd Person POV
Ryuuen: "You're late, Kikyō. Were you having trouble slipping away from your classmates?"
Kikyo: "What do you mean by that, Ryūen-kun?"
Kushida appeared on a remote rooftop. She drew closer to Ryūen without trying to conceal her true nature.
Ryuuen: "Ah?"
Kikyo: "The questions and answers you gave me turned out to be completely different from the ones on the exam."
Ryuuen: "Oh, yeah. I switched out the questions right before the deadline. What about it?"
He laughed a bit scornfully before taking a drink of mineral water from his plastic bottle.
Kikyo: "Like I told you. I will force Horikita to drop out no matter what I have to do. Solely for this reason, I betrayed my classmates and secretly submitted Class D's exam questions. The condition was that I'd get the questions and answers for Class C's math questions in return. If you had kept your promise, Horikita would've voluntarily withdrawn herself from school by now. And yet, you betrayed me."
Ryuuen: "What? Are you mad about something like that?"
Kikyo: "Something like that? You come out ahead against Class D, and you're just going to end it with that?"
Ryuuen: "You're fundamentally misunderstanding the situation, Kikyō. The questions you made weren't used on the exam."
Kikyo: "Huh? What are you talking about? I turned in the exam questions as soon as possible just as you instructed. I also confirmed everything with Chabashira-sensei. There were no mistakes."
Ryuuen: "You haven't noticed yet? Suzune took the steps ahead of time to prevent your exam questions from being formally adopted. Thanks to that, we not only failed to come out ahead, but also narrowly avoided expulsion. The whole class was depending on this strategy."
Kikyo: "Wait a second...... Ahead of time? Such...... No way......"
Ryuuen: "you've seen the results right? class C lost to class D. In other words, our agreement is invalid. I can't afford to show you the correct answers to the exam questions if I don't receive anything in return. That's the natural turn of events."
Kikyo: "But how do you even know she had taken countermeasures? if that's the case, you're still going to give me the questions but your class still got defeated after Horikita took her countermeasures. Care to explain?"
Ryuuen: "I have my ways, Kikyo."
Kikyo: "tch..."
Ryuuen: "Though I'll tell you this, Kikyō. You have no right to bear any grudges against me so how about thanking me instead?"
Kikyo: "Thanking you!? I lost to Suzune, you know!? What do you want me to thank you for!?"
She thought back to the humiliation of being forced to declare defeat before Horikita. It was enough to make her blood boil over in anger.
Ryuuen: "For you to get caught in this trap without even knowing it, you sure take things easy."
Ryuuen drew close to Kushida and grabbed her uniform.He then forcibly unfastened the button of her blazer and began to reach inside.
Kikyo: "Hey! What are you doing!?"Ryūen smiled as Kushida pushed away from him in a panic.
Ryuuen: "Jeez, I'm not going to do anything. Search inside your pocket."
Kikyo: "......Inside my pocket?"
While still on guard, Kushida slowly reached into the inner pocket of her blazer. There was a paper feeling that she wasn't expecting to come across. After taking it out, she found a folded piece of paper.
Kikyo: "What is this......"Ryūen shouldn't have had the time to put something inside just now. In other words, it had already been placed there beforehand. When she opened the paper, she found a list of questions and answers for the recent math exam.
However, these weren't the questions that were on the exam that was given today. Instead, they were the ones that Ryūen originally said he would submit.
Kikyo: "Why is something like this in my blazer......"
Ryuuen: "There'll probably be more than that. There should be several cheating materials scattered throughout your personal belongings. You'll find them if you try looking for them later."
Kikyo: "I don't understand what this means."
Ryuuen: "Someone in Class D was prepared to take you out. What would happen if you were accused of cheating during or shortly after the exam? What if I decided to use those questions after all? What do you think would happen if they found that paper on you after you had done well on the exam?"
Kikyo: "I'd be expelled? Even if I didn't cheat? That's stupid!"
Ryuuen: "There should be some way to prove it if you're truly innocent, but it's also true that you got the answers beforehand by joining forces with me. So even if you're determined to be guilty, it can't be helped."
Of course, it's possible for her to claim that the situation was designed by somebody else. Although she's more innocent than guilty, she'd still be tainted with suspicion.
This is because of the undeniable fact that Ryūen had supplied her with the questions and answers for Class C.
Even though it's not against the rules to give these to another class, the suspicion still wouldn't disappear.
Even if she managed to avoid expulsion, suspicions of guilt would still remain and the results of the exam would become invalid.
Even though these suspicions would never be anything more than speculation, Kushida would've also jeopardized Class D's position, and the trouble would downpour onto Class C as well.
Kikyo: "When did this cheat sheet manage to......"
Ryuuen: "You don't have any idea? Have there been any strange things going on around you recently?"
Kikyo: "It's possibly...... no, but...... I went to the final strategy meeting with Horikita and the others at Karaoke last week. I suppose something a little strange did happen then. It's not clear why, but a girl began to throw accusations around and then poured her juice on me out of anger. After that, she insisted on taking it to the dry cleaners to make up for it. It's understandable given the situation...... and I don't think there's any connection...... but it's somehow still on my mind."
Ryuuen: "I'll take a guess at who that girl is. Karuizawa Kei, right?"
Kikyo: "......How do you know that? Don't tell me you saw it?"
Ryuuen: "How could I have possibly seen it? The reason is simple."Ryūen tapped his finger against the side of his head to emphasize his deductive capability.
Kikyo: "Explain it in detail, starting from the beginning."
Though Kushida still felt dissatisfied, she fully explained the details of the incident at the Karaoke box.
That Horikita and Hirata summoned everyone together, that she had been seated at the table with Ayanokōji, Sudō, Shiba, and Karuizawa, and that in the middle of the discussion, Karuizawa had picked on her and ultimately poured juice onto her blazer.
Ryuuen: "see? its a set up. Karuizawa poured that juice to make you hand the blazer to the laundry. And then sets a trap for you."
Kikyo: "how is that even possible? there is no way that idiot can do something like that."
Ryuuen: "she's being manipulated duh."
Kikyo: "so you're saying there is another individual that set me up?"
Ryuuen: "of course. Do you seriously think Suzune or Karuizawa can think like that?"
Kikyo: "it can't be. Shiba?"
Ryuuen: "I wouldn't jump into conclusions if I were you."
Kikyo: "ugh."
Ryuuen: "Hey, Kikyō. I don't know about your past, and I'm not really interested in that sort of thing. However, if you continue persistently trying to have Horikita drop-out of school, you're going to be wiped out."
Kikyo: "what do you mean?"
Ryuuen: "exactly. I'm leaving now"
Kikyo: "This cheat sheet......!? Wait! Isn't there something a little strange!?"
Ryuuen: "oh, you noticed?"
Kikyo: "tell me, Ryuuen. Why does a class D student have a question only you and I supposed to have?"
Ryuuen: "That's right. The reason why X was able to use these questions is because I gave them to him."
Kikyo: "X? is that the name of the mastermind behind class D?"
Ryuuen: "yes."
Kikyo: "what a shitty name you've given to him/her"
Ryuuen: "I'm free to call him/her however I want, kukuku"
Kikyo: "more importantly Ryuuen, you betrayed me"
Ryuuen: "is that so? take a look at this"
Ryūen took a look at his cell phone.
There were pictures of the questions and answers before he changed them out.Ryūen sent these pictures to someone's unidentified email address.
Ryuuen: "However...... He understands me well."
Before Ryūen sent the pictures, he had received several messages from X.The first one had a title that read 'Transaction'.
The content of the message was this:
X: [Provide Class C's finalized questions and answers for the end of term exam.]
X: [Otherwise, make significant changes to the questions and answers you provide Kushida Kikyō.]
This was the message that Ryūen had received
with this message sent to him. He was given 3 options.
The first was to disobey X and let Kushida win. However, this was something that Ryūen, who didn't want Horikita to drop out of school, wanted to avoid as much as possible.
The second was to not change out the exam questions and let X expose Kushida for cheating and make her drop out of school. However, it wasn't fun to abide by X's ideal progression of the situation, so he didn't consider this option.
Ryūen's final option was to change out the exam questions and let Horikita win the exam.
Ryuuen: "And with that, he protected Suzune, while sealing off your options at the same time."
Kikyo: "tch. We've been played huh"
Ryuuen: "But I'm about to push him over the edge. If he doesn't show his true colors-"He opened up the image file that he sent to X once again.
Ryuuen: "At that time, I'll just have to destroy him."
Ryūen was convinced that the person in that photograph is an important piece to the puzzle of uncovering that person's identity.
It was a picture of Karuizawa Kei
Kikyo: "you seemed to be excited after seeing something on your phone. Mind sharing it?"
Ryuuen: "of course no. This is my fun." Ryuuen said after putting his phone back to his pocket
Kikyo: "fine.."
Suddenly, a transquilizer dart stabbed Ryuuen's nape
Ryuuen: "what the---"
Ryuuen immediately gets knocked out in an instant.
Kikyo: "Ryuuen. Oi, Ryuuen. What the fuck is happening to you!"
But Ryuuen didn't answer. He's already asleep
Kikyo: 'transquilizer dart? who the fuck dares to use this at school?'
suddenly, Kushida's nape were stabbed by another transquilizer dart.
Kikyo: 'shit. What the fuck is happening'
With that, Kushida also followed Ryuuen to his sleep
??? POV
I was currently hiding on the rooftop. Listening to Kushida and Ryuuen's talk for some time
Ryuuen: "At that time, I'll just have to destroy him."
Yes. That's the spirit. Ryuuen
I took out my transquilizer gun and Shot Ryuuen's nape
Ryuuen: "what the---"
Ryuuen immediately gets knocked out in an instant.
Kikyo: "Ryuuen. Oi, Ryuuen. What the fuck is happening to you!"
But Ryuuen didn't answer. He's already asleep
I rushed to another position and shot another dart into Kushida's nape, making her asleep.
Tatsuya: "All the conditions are met. My victory is secured."
To Be Continued
Hi BigFrog Here, I Hope you enjoy the chapter xD
A/N
Class points after the paper shuffle
Class A-1120-150= 970(Honami) Demoted to B
Class B-1030=150= 1180(Arisu) Promoted to A
Class C-910-150= 760(Ryuuen)
Class D-535+150= 685(Suzune)
Volume 6 ends. Next will be volume 7. I hope I can make this a blast
Sorry if I took too long to finish this volume
Well. Kushida is defeated.
What will Tatsuya do after knocking Kushida and Ryuuen?
Sorry if there is not enough Tatsuya in this chapter.
And sorry I used a lot of copy paste. Paper shuffle aftermath are kinda boring.
A not so long chapter
Sorry if it had an uncomfortable pace and boring
Feel free to critisize the chapter!
Published date: 21-9-2021