Rest Day, 6:00 PM.
Hirata-kun and I were invited for an early dinner. Of course, the invitation was from Ichinose-san and Kanzaki-kun. It was finally time for us to discuss the upcoming climax of this exam.
"Now then. How do we take Ryuuen-kun's words?" asked Ichinose-san.
"In the little time that we of Class C have mulled over the situation, we've surmised that there's still a big chance Ryuuen was bluffing," said Kanzaki-kun.
"Horikita-san and I have talked about this, too. Both of us can agree based on the evidence," followed Hirata-kun. "Would you mind filling them in, Horikita-san?"
"Of course," I replied. "I'm sure you've already figured it out by now, but the VIP from the Horse Group is someone from our class. By extension, the VIP from the Cow is someone from your class."
"Yes, we won't deny that." Kanzaki-kun answered with a nod.
"However, it's easy to spot the trick behind Ryuuen-kun's deduction," I said, looking at Ichinose-san.
"Yep~. Katsuragi-kun is working with Ryuuen-kun, right? Then he could've just revealed the 3 groups that Class A's VIPs belong to. Doing that would eliminate 6 groups and the last 6 would naturally belong to our classes." Ichinose-san explained it without much issue. I guess something like this is child's play for her.
"That's why we've concluded that Ryuuen's implication shouldn't pose much of a threat," added Kanzaki-kun.
Ryuuen-kun left out one group from Class C along with our Dragon Group... I still don't understand his reason for doing so. That said, it was certainly a blessing in disguise.
"Well, we say that, but there's no way we're letting our guards down. We have to protect our VIPs until the very end."
The serious look on Ichinose-san's face made something clear...
"Ichinose-san... You still haven't given up, have you?" I said. "You still plan to win by finding the VIPs in different groups."
Ryuuen-kun and Katsuragi-kun-- both of them, including me, already guessed that Class C had something in mind.
"Ahahaha, of course, Horikita-san. Staying idle won't do us any good, after all," she said. "I don't know what Class A is doing, but if we don't take Ryuuen-kun into account, you're the only opponent that we're most wary of. After all, unlike them, you're really trying to find the pattern. We wouldn't have been too threatened by your efforts, but you have a fourth name in your arsenal. I personally can't do an estimate on how much it helps you since we gave up on trying to find the pattern, but we had no other choice than to take a gamble."
Finding the VIPs without finding the pattern...
"A gamble in which Class C will win if Horikita-san can't figure out the VIP before the exam ends, right, Ichinose-san?" asked Hirata-kun.
"Yes," she nodded.
"By that logic, you must be planning something massive on the last day."
"On the last group discussion, to be exact. It's not that massive, but it is a straightforward plan that requires the innate social and cold-reading abilities of my classmates."
"Ichinose-san, is it possible for you to tell us the specifics of your plan?"
Her words were like honey. They tempted us into asking for more. With that, I immediately knew that I fell for Ichinose-san's bait.
"Of course!" Ichinose-san narrowed her eyes with a smirk. "If we win, we'll choose to spare Class B. In exchange, in the event where Class C loses the gamble and Class B figures out the pattern before the exam ends, I want you to spare our class instead."
"You know that we can just lie about this promise, right?" I inquired.
"That much is obvious, no? However, if that happens, then we'll gladly take the loss while it's early. At least we'd know that Class B cannot be trusted."
Like Ayanokouji-kun, Ichinose-san thought about the long game. That's why she didn't bother asking for a contract.
"Alright, we promise. Class B will not submit the names of any VIPs from Class C. However, this deal is severely disadvantageous for our class. Since we're thinking about the future, then we'll expect some compensation down the line."
"You can count on us! We'll definitely pay you guys back."
Ichinose-san's vibrant smile didn't fade. She gladly started laying out their plan. As expected, it was extremely simple, yet terrifyingly effective in the hands of the right people.
Day 1, 9:30 PM.
"Everyone, we've successfully made our initial negotiations with Class B!"
Inside the private lounge were fourteen students including Ichinose, Kanzaki, and Tsube. Apart from Dragon Group members who were all present, Class C only chose one student to represent the eleven remaining groups.
"That said, I'd like to remind everyone about the task I've given you earlier. Feel free to decline, though." Prioritizing her classmates' autonomy, Ichinose gives them the option to refuse anything in a joking manner. "For the duration of the exam, I want everyone to become friends with their groupmates."
"That's just such an Ichinose-like task," commented Tokitou Katsumi. "Don't worry about it, Ichinose. We've been doing just that."
Ichinose nodded gratefully.
"I know it sounds silly but making more friends means more information. Of course, I'm not telling you to create fake friendships. Taking advantage of others or manipulating them isn't our goal here. I want you to genuinely befriend those who are in your group. If you gain any sort of crucial information regarding the exam, you're all free to completely hide them from me or anyone," she explained with a smile. "For now, I just want you to get along with them."
"I understand that the main goal is to make friends. However, if we're not doing this for psychological manipulation or any sort of deceptive tactic, then may I ask the point of this in terms of winning the exam?" asked Hamaguchi, who sensed that there must be something more to Ichinose's so-called 'task'.
"Perfect question, Hamaguchi-kun." Ichinose comically pointed at him. "Don't worry, everyone. I'm doing this with every intention to win, but the truth of this plan doesn't need to be known just yet. If we still haven't figured out the VIPs from other groups by the Rest Day, then that'll be the time for me to reveal everything!"
Ichinose's confidence and charisma told them that things will be alright if they leave everything to her. They knew their leader had a plan. As long they do their part, they can entrust the call-making to her.
"Before the designated Rest Day, it's better for everyone to focus on naturally socializing. That's why we decided to leave everyone in the dark for the moment. I hope that much is clear," nodded Kanzaki.
"Ohh, interesting."
"Alright, Ichinose-san. You can count on us!"
"Somehow, this feels really thrilling."
Class C came to an agreement without much trouble. Because of Ichinose's reassuring presence, everyone in her class had been on the same page.
"Class C had used the first and second days to expand its connections. Of course, we genuinely wanted our classmates to make new friends, so this strategy was a convenient way to go about it," explained Kanzaki-kun.
There weren't any downsides to the initial phase of this strategy. All they did was make friends. Naturally, the students from other classes had their guards up. However, since Class C had no idea what Ichinose-san had in mind, her classmates would obviously have no ulterior motives. Since Ichinose-san's strategy didn't involve finding the pattern, all she needed to worry about was the other classes figuring it out before she moves forward with her proposition.
"And then, since ten out of twelve groups we're still in the exam, I can finally tell my classmates the second part of my plan," said Ichinose-san.
Rest Day, 2:00 PM.
"We'll probably have to make this quick, everyone. Kanzaki-kun and I have a meeting with Ryuuen-kun."
"Honami..."
"It's alright, Shibata-kun. I won't let your efforts get wasted."
"I know you won't. Kozue's doing better, too. She really had it rough," said Shibata.
He still participated in the meeting even though the Monkey Group was already finished. Minamikata, his groupmate and the VIP of the Monkey Group felt quite guilty about getting found out.
"Kozue-chan didn't need to feel bad at all. No one in our class blames her for what happened. And Class B was kind enough to offer us a deal."
Most of them had bitter smiles. In exchange for a supposed gain of 500,000 private points, at least they got their 50 class points back. They couldn't really blame anyone, not even Kouenji. After all, he found her out fair and square. Class C knew that Minamikata wasn't an open book that could be read easily. That's why they're extremely wary of Kouenji now, especially since they were aware that he's not the type to work with his own class.
"That said, we finally have a chance to turn things around. Tomorrow, Class C will commence the last phase of the plan." Ichinose's confident smile brought life to the class's morale.
"And that is?" Nakanishi asked excitedly.
"I call it "Flipping the Cards Over"~!" announced Ichinose.
"Ohhh...!"
Naturally, her classmate's reaction was that of curiosity and intrigue.
"We can't tamper with the emails from the school, right? Then, whatever it says will be absolute truth. We've figured that out a long time ago." Ichinose gave her classmates a side-eye.
Some of them were starting to see what she had in mind. And with that, Kanzaki continued the explanation. Whenever Ichinose hands the mic over to Kanzaki so he can explain the details, Class C understood that it was finally time for them to pay attention seriously.
"For all the groups where none of the Class C students is the VIP, you'll work together in forcefully uncovering their identity. And by that, I mean persuading your groupmates to reveal the emails they got from the school."
Being chosen as their group's representative meant that they were capable. Such capabilities were immediately shown through their resolute composure.
At that moment, they thought about what this plan entails. As long as you're not the VIP, you would have nothing to hide. If they can persuade all the non-VIPs to show their phones, finding the true VIP will be nothing but a walk in the park.
"For the remaining groups where the VIPs are from our class, you can either act as usual or try to mislead the enemies." Kanzaki scanned the room and observed his classmates' reactions before concluding the instructions. "You are free to come up with your own methods in executing this strategy. After all, only you can judge how much influence and persuasive power you have to solicit your groupmates' cooperation."
"If you're worried about hurting your friends should they turn out to be the VIP, all you need to do is set the premise that you intended to win, right from the very start. It doesn't matter whether you're direct or indirect about it. If they recognize that what you're doing is for your class, then they'd understand why you'd execute this plan," said Ichinose. "In the end, we'll be fighting fair and square. If they hold a grudge against you or spite you for doing so, then they might have not recognized you as a friend in the first place."
It was a fundamentally fair and square fight. If you don't take the initiative, you won't gain any advantage. That's what Class C had been preparing for, all this time. They didn't make friends with their groupmates only to betray them, but doing so gave them enough initiative to control the climactic situation.
"That's true. I wouldn't want to be friends with someone close-minded," commented Sumida.
"My groupmates back in the Pig Group are super competitive. I'm sure they'll understand!" followed Asako.
"If you feel really bad about cornering the VIP, you can always propose to get Outcome #1, you know? Wouldn't everyone win some private points if that happens? That said, if someone from another class turns traitor, then that would be your own defeat." Ichinose finished her piece with a smile.
Understanding what Ichinose wanted them to accomplish, the Class C students readily agreed.
Outside of increasing their connections and potential allies for the future, they finally understood why Ichinose wanted them to make friends with their groupmates. Depending on their ability to sway the majority's opinion, Class C might just be able to win everything.
To be honest, I had goosebumps. This was tantamount to a large-scale offensive, but at the same time, it wasn't.
Since only one class had the VIP, the other three would most likely join. Given the rewards and their class's internal strife, it wouldn't be hard for the sociable and persuasive students of Class C to convince Class A students to join the fray should the VIP not belong in their class. And if the VIP was keeping their identities even from their classmates, the unknowing members of that class will naturally join the bandwagon.
At that moment, the VIP would be at the mercy of everyone else.
Hirata-kun didn't look surprised after hearing Ichinose-san's plan.
"You see, Kushida-san and I have thought of a similar plan yesterday, but even we would be hard-pressed to actually put everything in motion. As expected of Ichinose-san, I guess," commented Hirata-kun. "Ah, sorry for not informing you, Horikita-san. We didn't want to ruin your focus on finding the pattern."
With such a considerate and thoughtful mindset, he could only smile bitterly. To think that we'd be on the receiving end of the plan that they also came up with.
I see... Of course, they were also thinking of ways to win the exam. It was foolish of me to think about working alone just because Ayanokouji-kun wasn't there to help. I had other allies.
Once again, Ayanokouji-kun was right.
"After hearing about your plan, I can see why you're fine with sharing this with us. Even if we warn our classmates or ask them to cooperate with you, it's quite unlikely for any of them to turn traitor with absolute confidence due to the risks. In contrast, since Class C became quite close with their groupmates, they'll have a much easier time to distinguish whether they're being misled or lied to," I elaborated. "In other words, unless we do something, Class C might achieve total victory."
Ichinose-san responded with a silent smile. Her strategy was fair because it gave everyone the chance to turn traitor once the VIP or their class gets cornered. However, the initial phase of her plan gave them the psychological advantage in terms of making sure whose name they'd have to submit. Not only that, the connections that they've made will surely come in handy for future tests...
And to think that she came up with this on the very first day...
She was someone who didn't need to use underhanded tactics in order to win. Her sheer amount of influence and charisma gave her enough power to concoct such a plan and execute it without much difficulty. This was something that only Ichinose Honami could pull off.
They were the original Class B and she was their leader. I can clearly see why that's the case now.
Really... What a terrifying opponent.
Author's Notes:
Honami's plan in CotE: Alter is an enhanced version of her plan in the canon.