Ichinose Honami POV
Yuki-san was the last one to arrive.
The fourth group discussion would begin soon, and the entirety of Class B had reunited in one of the largest meeting rooms of the second deck following Karma-kun's convocation.
He stood in a place where he was able to face us all.
"Okay, let's begin then," he mumbled.
"Karma-kun? Why did you call us here? The group's discussions will begin soon, we might be late," Mako-chan was the first one to speak.
Karma scanned everyone's faces before replying.
"Like Mako, you must be all wondering that. Well... I called you here to apologise," he spoke calmly. His usual grin wasn't on his face, instead he looked serious.
"Why would you need to apologise, Karma?" Ryuji-kun inquired.
"I apologise because Class B will lose this exam."
No one reacted instantly. Everyone showed surprise at first, then, different expressions began appearing. Confusion, irritation, scepticism. I was myself quite astonished. I thought Karma-kun's plan was running smoothly.
Earlier he had ended two Class C groups, so we should have gained a hundred class points, right?
"...What are you saying, Karma-kun? Don't joke around..." Sayo-chan laughed nervously.
"I'm not joking. As some of you know, earlier I ended two Class C groups. Well, I purposely gave the wrong answer."
"Why would you do that, Karma-kun?" Eiichiro-kun asked. "You've been helping the class climb up the most. It's not like you to... uhm..."
"I think the word you're searching is betray, Matsuo."
"Ryuji-kun!" I reprimanded him instantly. "Karma-kun wouldn't do that to us. He must have a reason to explain his actions. Right? Karma-kun?"
Karma-kun chuckled slightly. When he stopped, he gave a deep sigh and gazed at the roof.
"I owed Mikoto a favour."
"Mikoto?" Kozue-chan asked. "That's Misaka-san's name, right?"
Some of my classmates confirmed her question.
"I don't understand Karma-kun," Beppu-kun told him. "Why something like that would affect our result?"
"I suppose Misaka-san asked for a favour that gave Class B no room to act," I answered Beppu-kun's question before turning to Karma-kun. "Is that it, Karma-kun?"
"Yeah... My hands were and are completely tied. I'll try to save face in the Dragon group," he bit his lip. I suppose he wasn't pleased by the situation. "Those who's groups are still meeting just attend. You don't have to do anything in particular but don't send any emails."
"So, we just have to sit and watch what happens?" Ryuji-kun questioned. "The plan was to become Class A before summer vacation was over."
"I suppose we can say mission failed," Karma-kun shrugged.
"There's really nothing we can do?!" Yume-chan shouted her question attracting all eyes.
Karma-kun addressed a kind smile to her.
"I'm sorry, Yume. But, right now, the meetings are just for show. Everything's between Classes A, C and D."
"But don't we risk a heavy loss? We could lose all our progress from the island."
Hearing Hamaguchi-kun's words a smirk made its way back to Karma-kun's face.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," he muttered.
With our meeting over, everyone started leaving the room to go towards their group rooms for those who's group kept going or to enjoy the cruise for those who's group had already ended.
In the end, no one blamed Karma-kun for what our result would be. He had to honour his word, after all. We just accepted that this exam was lost, and decided to give it our all during the next exam to become Class A. And if at the end of summer vacation, we had shortened the distance with Class A, then that could be considered a win. Even if not the one we expected.
I waited for everyone to leave and approached Karma-kun. Ryuji-kun, Eiichiro-kun, and Shinobu-san approached him as well.
"Now, Karma-kun, was that sympathy you felt for Yume-chan?" Shinobu-san asked him playfully.
"She's the VIP and someone's going to betray her group and send her name. She must feel like she failed to protect her identity," he shrugged.
"What was the favour Misaka-san asked?"
"Does it matter?" Karma-kun replied to Ryuji-kun's question.
"I just want to know, you seemed rather busy to simply have been a bystander."
"Heh... Well, I guess it doesn't hurt to tell you... Class B was to follow her commands for the duration of the exam."
"That seems rather large to be considered a single favour."
"All is in the wording, Ryuji. Don't forget that."
"You also accepted that on your own."
Karma-kun eyed him.
"Now, what's that supposed to mean...?" Karma-kun leaned closer to Ryuji-kun.
"You had no right to make that decision alone," Ryuji-kun stated not looking intimidated at all.
"I'm the Class leader, though."
"We are five leaders, Karma."
Silence.
Karma-kun and Ryuji-kun stared at each other, studying the other's behaviour.
Five seconds...
Ten seconds....
Thirty seconds...
The tension was rising between them.
Except for the five of us, the room was completely empty.
Then, Karma-kun laughed.
It didn't sound like his usual laughter, though. It seemed more uproarious. Almost like it belonged to an entirely different person.
When he stopped, he put a hand on Ryuji-kun's shoulder. A smile on his face. However, it wasn't like his usual kind and gentle smile, nor like his characteristic grin. Somehow, it looked both devilish and condescending.
"You really believe that? Eh? Ryuji?"
His voice was soft, yet his tone was scornful.
I was shocked by Karma-kun's change.
Was he mocking Ryuji-kun?
I mean, yes, I considered that Karma-kun was our leader, and Ryuji-kun, Shinobu-san, Eiichiro-kun and I worked more as some kind of seconds in command.
Yet, I couldn't help but feel like Karma-kun was going too far here.
"Karma."
Just as Karma-kun was going to speak again, Eiichiro-kun's firm voice caught his attention.
"We're going to be late for the meetings."
Karma-kun let go of Ryuji-kun, closed his eyes, and gave a heavy sigh.
When he opened his eyes, he was back on his usual self. He addressed a kind smile to Eiichiro-kun.
"You're right, Eiichiro. Let's get going."
I entered the Dragon room alongside Karma-kun and Shinobu-san.
Ryuji-kun had went to the Snake group while Eiichiro-kun left for the Rabbit room.
We had been silent all the way after leaving the room where our Class meeting had taken place.
Class A and D were already here. We greeted each other and waited for a few minutes in silence for Class C to arrive and the meeting to begin.
I took a few glances at Karma-kun who didn't seem perturbed at all by what had happened a while ago.
It's like he had completely forgotten about it.
Yet, I cannot think the matter is over. Ryuji-kun wasn't the type to let things slide. It concerned me. Up until now Ryuji-kun and Karma-kun had basically been the steppingstone of our class when it came to formulating strategies.
According to Eiichiro-kun and Shinobu-san, the two of them had devised what the strategy we were supposed to have implemented during this exam.
As I understood their explanation, we would change the SIM cards of the groups where the VIP belonged to a member of our class and lead the other classes astray to obtain Outcome #4. Thus, gaining one hundred and fifty class points.
In the other groups, we would work along with Class D to reach Outcomes #1 and #2 to obtain a maximum of private points.
What they told me certainly aligned with what I knew, since in the Dragon group Karma-kun had changed the SIM cards. Although, I wasn't sure if he or Shinobu-san was the VIP.
Yet, their explanation was quite shallow, and I was unable to see the big picture. The two or three times I had asked Karma-kun and Ryuji-kun directly they had given me vague responses.
So, I had to content myself with my own theories.
I suspected that Karma-kun wanted to do something like use our alliance with Class D to attack Classes A and C and use Class D's groups to reach Outcome #1. I simply couldn't picture Karma-kun aiming for Outcome #1 and #2 in nine of the twelve groups.
However, I found my own theory hard to believe. Even if the possibility of Class D accepting was high, it completely overlooked whatever Classes A and C might do or prepare.
Perhaps the idea was simply to put a strong front against them by joining forces with Class D and choose what Outcome to aim for in each group following how the first one or two meetings would have progressed.
The announcement coming from the loudspeaker that marked the beginning of the fourth discussion took me out of my thoughts.
Class C was already here, I hadn't heard them enter.
No one spoke.
Everyone just stayed there. Silent.
"Come on guys," I spoke, showing a bitter smile. "No one has anything to say?"
"Fufu, what do you want us to talk about, Ichinose-san?" Sakayanagi-san inquired with a smile.
"Well, we still have to decide what Outcome we're aiming for..."
"Really? I believe I stated that I was aiming for Outcome #3, thought," she replied with the same sweet tone.
"What are you not interested to know what happened with those groups of yours, Sakayanagi?" Ryuuen asked her.
"Why would I be, Ryuuen-kun? I took the risk of revealing where my VIPs were. Now, all I have to do is hope the guesses are wrong. Or are you perhaps saying that Class C sent those emails to the school?"
"Kuku, at all. I have no idea who sent those emails. What do you think, Suzune? Perhaps Class D discovered who Class A's VIPs were."
Horikita-san looked at him with a neutral expression before answering him.
"I already told you to stop using my given name. And no, no one in Class D has sent any emails. Unlike you, we have not figure out what the pattern is."
Chikujoin-san chuckled at her response.
"Now, now, Suzune-chan, what's with that wording?" she stood up and walked towards Horikita-san, an amused smile on her face. "Did you perhaps mean "I" instead of "we"?" she went behind Horikita-san and changed from Horikita-san's left shoulder to the right as she said those words, making Horikita-san to have to turn to see her face.
She then went towards Ayanokouji-kun and stood behind him putting her hands on his shoulders.
"Maybe, he figured it out?" she did the same with Matsushita-san, her smile still present on her face. "Or perhaps she did?"
"Right? Chi-a-ki-chan?!" Chikujoin-san put a finger in Matsushita-san's chin and approached their faces.
"Huh? ... Ehhhh? No, no, no," Matsushita-san gave a light jump and began denying Chikujoin-san's question eagerly, her hands quickly waving in front of her.
"Chikujoin-san, I'll thank you if you stopped harassing my classmates," Horikita-san told her firmly.
"Harassing?" Chikujoin-san took a finger to her chin and tilted her head. "But Chiaki-chan and I are having so much fun! Right, Chiaki-chan?!"
Matsushita-san lowered her head and scratched her cheek, embarrassed.
I was unable to understand the change on her behaviour. She didn't appear to be the confident and joyful Matsushita-san I had met and had interacted with up until now. Instead, she had become more reserved and shy. Almost as if she wasn't sure about what to do or how to act.
Although I couldn't be sure, if it was something she only did here or was doing in general since I had barely interacted with her since the island exam ended. Out of the discussion hours that is. But I suppose counting the time in the Dragon group was generous of me since she barely interacted at all.
"And what about the other groups?" I asked trying to drive the attention away from Matsushita-san. "It was the Dog, the Tiger and the Sheep group, if I remember correctly."
"You're right, Ichinose-san. And curiously enough all the groups ended at around the same time," Horikita-san followed me.
"Is it that weird, though?" Hiroya-kun inquired. "They all ended after today's first meeting. I mean, if you look at it that way, it seems logical, right? That's the moment everyone's suspicions are stronger."
I was surprised by Hiroya-kun's comment. Not by what he had said, which was logical, he certainly had a point in that regard. I was surprised by the fact that it was him who made the comment. Except for his introduction during the first meeting, he hadn't pronounced a word. Leaving the talking to Ryuuen-kun and eventually Misaka-san.
But then again, Chikujoin-san's intervention was also unexpected.
"Even if that's true, Hiroya-kun. We have clearly seen in this exam that barely any students move without having the green light from their Class leader. So, forgive me if I think that the ending of those five groups was instigated by someone in particular."
Even if Horikita-san's eyes were fixed on Ryuuen-kun, I got the impression like she was talking to someone else entirely.
"Kuku, it certainly seems that way, Suzune."
Instead of refuting Horikita-san's statement, he welcomed it. Yet, it was hard to tell whether or not he was behind it. Ryuue-kun's intentions were always difficult to assess, after all.
"You don't deny it?" Horikita-san inquired.
"Why would I? It's not like you'll believe me," he shrugged.
"Well, if we follow your statement, you do know the pattern, Ryuuen-kun," Tomori-san told him.
"Kuku, so you believe me when I say I know the pattern, but you don't if I say I have nothing to do with today's emails?" Ryuuen-kun asked visibly amused.
"Guys, I think we're digressing from the main topic," I stated.
"You're still with that, Ichinose?" Ryuuen asked. "We still have two more meetings tomorrow. Besides, what's the problem with digression?"
"That we're not resolving anything, Ryuuen-kun."
"Yeah, yeah," he dismissed my comment. "Now, how about we question the Mastermind over there? We all know what the guy did on the island, and we let him be as if he had made vow of silence or something."
"... I don't see what I should explain," Ayanokouji-kun replied not showing any reaction to Ryuuen-kun's remark.
"Kuku, perhaps all those messages we have been talking about are of your making and you're just enjoying yourself there, watching us struggle over pointless talk."
Ayanokouji-kun met his eyes fully and pondered for a few moments before replying.
"I haven't done anything. Horikita's leading Class D this time," he shrugged.
"I wonder why no one mentions Class B, though," Horikita-san took the attention away from Ayanokouji-kun.
"Class B has taken a defensive stance in this exam. We're not sending any emails. We want to get either Outcome #1 or #2, where we can," Karma-kun replied calmly.
"Oh, I would like to know why you're letting the opportunity to overtake us slip, Karma-kun," Sakayanagi-san commented.
Karma-kun shrugged.
"I'm just letting the three of you fight each other. I'll pick up on the next exam."
"You seem confident," Tomori-san told him.
Karma-kun just smirked at her as a response.
"But, eight groups have ended," Shinobu-san began. "We know three of them have a VIP from Class A, but what about the other five?"
A silence followed.
Even if people like, Ryuuen-kun and Karma-kun knew at the minimum, the VIPs from their own classes admitting which groups those VIPs were in wasn't something everyone was willing to do. Right now, there was some kind of tacit agreement between all the leaders who only knew the VIPs from their own class or who knew the pattern, and thus knew all the VIPs, as to not speak out loud about it.
After all, it meant to publicly give away information that could be useful. Even if in private, everyone knew, publicly there was an image to maintain.
"Fufufu, no one wants to admit it then," Sakayanagi-san stated.
Misaka-san sighed exasperated.
"It's not like it matters now. Three of those five are from Class C," she declared suddenly breaking that tacit agreement.
While my first reaction was one of astonishment, few people emulated me. Horikita-san, Matsushita-san, Hiroya-kun and Katsuragi-kun were the only ones.
Ayanokouji-kun didn't react at all and Karma-kun, Chikujoin-san, Sakayanagi-san and Ryuuen-kun showed an amused expression. Tomori-san and Shinobu-san only sent Misaka-san distrustful looks, evaluating her intentions.
"What was that Mikoto?" Chikujoin-san inquired while chuckling.
"What? Where's the harm? It's obvious that must of us know the pattern. It's useless to keep playing dumb."
"But aren't you spoiling the fun, Mikoto? You just gave away the secret behind the magic trick," Ryuuen-kun spoke, despite his words, his face showed that he was amused by the situation.
"What do you mean, must of us?" Katsuragi-kun questioned, intervening for the first time.
"Just that. Must of the people that are in this room are aware of the pattern, whether they want to admit it or not," Misaka-san responded simply.
"Sakayanagi, what's—" Katsuragi questioned Sakayanagi-san.
"Fufufu, it seems I've been caught."
He abruptly stood up.
"You knew the pattern all along?!" he shouted. "You could have ended this any time!"
"Fufu, yes, I could have."
"Then why are we still here?! You should have ended this the moment you learned all the VIPs."
She gazed at Katsuragi-kun, as if unable to comprehend his protests.
"But Katsuragi-kun, where would have been the fun in doing that?" she stated with one of her characteristic smiles.
This time, it was Katsuragi-kun's turn to look at Sakayanagi-san as if something was wrong with her mind.
"What the--? ... We're not here to cure your boredom Sakayanagi. This is our future you are playing with! ... Our classmates will definitely hear of this," he finished his statement with resolve.
Sakayanagi-san kept her smile, seemingly unperturbed by Katsuragi-kun's threat.
"But of course, they will, Katsuragi-kun~"
Katsuragi-kun's face stiffened at her words. He grabbed his chair and went towards the corner of the room where he sat.
"I will not be participating in this charade any longer."
With that statement, Katsuragi-kun took out his book and became oblivious to all of us.
"Now, Sakayanagi-san, that's not a way to treat a classmate," Shinobu-san told her.
"You're right, Kocho-san," she turned towards Katsuragi-kun. "Katsuragi-kun, please allow me to apologise. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."
Katsuragi-kun ignored her words and kept reading his book.
"Now, that's quite rude, Katsuragi-kun. Ignoring a fragile girl that's trying to apologise. You hurt me."
"You should stop toying with your classmates, Sakayanagi-san," Horikita-san told her. "Unless you want to follow Ryuuen-kun's path of course."
"Heh? And what's wrong with my path, Suzune?"
"You're a tyrant, Ryuuen-kun. Do I need to say more?"
"I fail to see how that's bad."
"Naturally, a tyrant always thinks his way is the correct one."
"I think it'd be more correct to say that everyone thinks their way's the correct one, Horikita-san," Misaka-san replied.
"Even if agree with you, Misaka-san. That doesn't erase the fact that Ryuuen-kun could try to be a bit more kind to his classmates," I commented. "You're fighting together, after all."
"Kukuku, as your class is?" Ryuuen-kun asked me.
I frowned, not liking his words.
"Ryuuen-kun, I would please ask you not to doubt the union of our class," I replied.
"May I ask why?"
"Because we all trust each other in Class B, Ryuuen-kun. Even if we face an obstacle, or stumble, we all fight for a common goal."
I spoke in a confident tone. Yet, even if those were my words what happened earlier made me fear about what could happen in the future.
Despite that, I was certain of one thing.
I would fight to keep my class strong and united.