After careful consideration, you were not chosen to be the VIP student of the Cow Group.
I received a message from the school. Everyone received a message telling them whether or not they were chosen as the VIPs.
After careful consideration, so they say. Just what criteria did they use to determine the VIPs?
Immediately after, people started sending messages in the class group chat.
People wrote lists of members in their groups. Quickly, we had a list of each group's members. Those who were VIPs also told the group chat.
It turns out we did have 3 VIPs. Karuizawa from the Horse Group, Satou from the Rabbit Group, and Yukimura from the Rat Group.
Hm? Is that how they decided?
In the class group chat, they were wondering how they decided the VIPs. Some people deemed it unfair, which was understandable as the VIP had such a big avantage. Being the VIP has basically no downside from an individual point of view.
With three VIP names, it can be difficult to figure out a potential pattern, if there even was one. However, I already had a pattern in mind that was consistent with the VIP selections.
********
"My my, this is quite the meeting."
It was time for our meeting, and Arisu was the last one to arrive along with Hashimoto and Kamuro.
"Hey, Sakayanagi-san!" Ichinose greeted her with a bright smile.
"Kukuku, I can't wait to crush every single one of you. Especially you, Ayanokouji..."
"I'm not getting involved in the exam, Ryuuen."
"Oh ho? Is it perhaps too easy? Have you already figured out the VIPs?"
"Who knows?"
"Kukuku... you make my blood boil."
"How about we start by introducing ourselves?" Ichinose suggested.
"I don't think that's necessary, Ichinose. We all know each other, don't we?" Arisu said.
The others nodded.
"I suggest we aim for Outcome 1," Ichinose followed up.
"Don't give me that crap. There's no we in this exam. My sole goal is to crush every single one of your classes," Ryuuen disagreed.
"What do the others think?"
"Well, it is true that Outcome 1 is the best outcome for everyone, but is it a realistic one?"
"Achieving Outcome 1 is definitely easier said than done."
"Screw this, you guys leave me alone in this. I'm not cooperating with anybody," Ryuuen suddenly said, "Come on, Albert, Ibuki, Shiina, let's sit on the sides while these idiots argue."
The four of them immediately left the table and went to sit on the sofas on the side.
"Fufufu... seems like Dragon Boy is as troublesome as always."
"Shut the hell up you handicapped loli!"
"Fufufu."
"What should we do?" Ichinose asked once more.
"What an unproductive meeting," I heard Horikita quietly mutter.
"I think we should all give this some thought before deciding," Hirata said.
Thanks for the obvious advice, Hirata.
"It'll be incredibly hard to decide on a collective objective," Horikita reasonably said, "This is an opportunity for each class to gain class points. Aiming for something that benefits everyone goes against what we're fighting for."
"I think Horikita has a point," Hirata agreed, "Finding something everyone can truly agree on is close to impossible."
After a more few unproductive exchanges, the first meeting had ended before we knew it.
We parted ways, and I was left with Hirata, Kushida and Horikita.
"What should we do?" Kushida asked.
"Are you really not getting involved, Ayanokouji?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I think it might be better if you guys lead the way for this exam."
"Why?"
"It would be better for everyone if they stop depending on me."
"I don't really agree with this," Horikita admitted, "You're a Class D student like all of us. We should work together as a class, so you should work with us."
"Horikita. The truth is that I already have a pattern in mind. If the pattern is what I think it is, anyone can figure it out. You could figure it out yourself."
"Tch... if you're so unwilling to help, I suppose I have no choice but to figure out the pattern with the rest of the class."
"Yeah, let's work together to find the pattern. When we do that, then we can decide what outcome to go for," Hirata said.
"I agree! If Ayanokouji really doesn't want to help, then I suppose we have no choice," Kushida agreed.
Everyone then went back to their rooms, but I stayed behind to walk around the cruise ship, until I came across Kouenji who seemingly just got out of the pool.
"Oh ho! If it isn't Masterpiece boy!"
"Are you participating in this special exam Kouenji?"
"This special exam? This is child's play for a perfect existence like me."
He took out his phone and seemingly typed a message. Soon after, I had received a message from the school.
The special exam has ended for the Pig Group. All students from that group are free to do as they wish until the end of the exam period.
"So you've figured it out too, huh?"
"Ah ha ha! I suppose this exam is too easy for perfect existences like us, Masterpiece boy. Now I'll be enjoying the rest of my time on the cruise ship. Take care!"
He left while leaving water stains on the cruise ship's carpet.
I continued walking around the ship, and stopped at a floor map of the cruise ship.
They have a library?
I suppose I can go check it out.
********
The library wasn't as big as the one at school, but it certainly had more than a fair share of books.
I walked around the different aisles and head over to the mystery section.
Huh?
A girl with silver hair was struggling to grab a book on one of the top layers of the shelf. It didn't seem like the library had a stepstool.
I had seen her before. I first met her on the first day of school in the dormitory elevator. She's also in the Cow Group. Shiina Hiyori.
I stood up in front of her and grabbed the book she was reaching for.
"Wuthering Heights, huh? Do you like Brontë's works?"
"I don't dislike or like them. I suppose I just wanted to check it out. Umm..."
"So you like books, Shiina?"
"You know my name, Ayanokouji-kun?"
"Well you are in my group for the special exam, and I remember seeing you in the elevator on the first day of school."
"I sure didn't expect to see you here. So do you like books, Ayanokouji-kun?"
"I suppose I enjoy reading books."
"Really? Is there an author you really like?"
"I guess I enjoy reading Raymond Chandler's work."
Shiina's eyes started glowing as she started showing a bright smile.
"Really! I love Raymond Chandler's work! I find it quite wonderful."
"I recently read Farewell, My Lovely. It's quite a good book."
"I agree! But that book is so rare, it's popular amongst upperclassmen so I haven't had the chance to borrow it from the school library. Have you already read Dorothy L. Sayers?" she asked me with excitement.
"No. I've read Christie, but not Sayers."
"In that case, I would most definitely recommend Whose Body? That's the first book in the series features Lord Peter. If you read that book, you'll inevitably want to read the rest," she said as she grabbed a few books out of her bag and handed them over to me.
Her behavior left me somewhat puzzled.
"I'm sorry, I was rambering. Am I bothering you, Ayanokouji-kun?"
"No, not at all. I was just a little surprised, that's all," I said as I took the books she handed over.
Shiina looked extraordinarily happy. She smiled so widely that her eyes scrunched up.
"Say, Ayanokouji-kun, if you don't have plans right now, would you like to stay with me in the library for a bit?"
"Are you sure?"
This was a weird invitation. Although I didn't sense any hidden intentions, I couldn't remove the possibility that Ryuuen told her to ask me this.
"No one in Class C likes reading, so I don't really have anyone to talk to."
"Are you following Ryuuen's orders?"
"Huh? No. Please don't worry. I just play along so that Ryuuen doesn't bother me, but I've never been interested in conflict. I suppose I just wanted to talk to someone who shared the same interests as me."
"I don't mind spending some time with you then. I didn't have any plans today anyway."
Her smile grew even bigger.
"Well, should we go? I was sitting at a table over there in the corner."
"Sure."
Who knew this would be the result of a simple library visit?
********
"So, how do you like the books I gave you, Ayanokouji-kun?"
We spent about an hour or two reading in silence. We sat at the same table, across from each other.
"This one is really interesting. The author has a unique style of writing and it's quite intriguing to read it. You've got good taste."
Indeed, she had very good taste in books. William Irish, Ellery Queen, Lawrence Block, and Isaac Asimov. They were all brilliant authors.
I saw her smile happily, and laughing to herself.
"Is it something I said?"
"No, don't worry, it's nothing about you, Ayanokouji-kun. I'm just so happy that I found someone who likes books like I do. And I never would've thought that person would be you, the one they call the Masterpiece of the White Room. I'm book buddies with the Ayanokouji Kiyotaka!"
"Book buddies?"
"Yeah, book buddies, reading buddies, whatever you want to call it. I'm just so happy to be able to talk about books with someone like you!"
"Do you have any friends, Shiina?"
"Friends? Well I guess I do, but none of them like books like you do! You're my first and fellow reading buddy!"
"I suppose you're my fellow reading buddy too, Shiina."
Shiina slightly blushed and smiled.
"These books aren't from the library, are they from your personal collection?" I asked as I noticed these books didn't have any tags on them.
"Yes! I brought them with me on the cruise ship. I've been carrying them along with me, hoping I'd meet someone who shared my tastes and would want to borrow them. I started out just carrying one, but I guess I accumulated more and more books while waiting for that certain someone."
"Is that so?"
"Please, don't hold back. You can borrow any of these books."
"Well... it's a hard decision. I suppose I'll start by borrowing the book I was reading."
"Cat of Many Tails by Ellery Queen it is then. Feel free to borrow any one when you're done!"
"I will. Thanks Shiina."
If Shiina was acting, this was quite the performance. I had the feeling that she genuinely enjoyed talking to me about books. I suppose I'd made a rather strange connection in a rather strange place. I'll remain wary, of course, just in case this is some kind of trap by Ryuuen, but I highly doubt it.
"Say, Ayanokouji-kun, do you want have lun-"
"Hm?"
My phone rang.
Arisu?
"I'm sorry, Shiina. I have to pick up this call."
"Oh, don't worry about it, Ayanokouji-kun."
"I'll come back after I end the call," I said as I left the library to pick up the call.
"Hello?"
"Kiyotaka, are you free right now?"
"It depends on what you're about to say next."
"Fufufu. Well, mind joining me for lunch?"
"What for?"
"No need for the dry tone, Kiyotaka. I just want to have a chat with my childhood friend."
"Is it about the special exam?"
"Maybe."
"What time?"
"How about in 30 mins? In front of the cafeteria on the second floor."
"Sure, I'll see you then."
I head back into the library where Shiina was waiting for me.
"Who was that?"
"Oh it was Arisu."
"Arisu... as in Sakayanagi-san? Are you guys on first name basis?"
"I guess so."
"Hmm... why don't we call each other by our first names too?"
"I don't mind, Hiyori."
"Now we're even closer reading buddies, Kiyotaka-kun! So, what did you and Sakayanagi-san talk about?"
"She invited me to have lunch with her, so I'd have to leave in about 20 minutes."
"Oh, okay."
"Sorry, Hiyori, I know you were about to invite me too. Let's have lunch together another time, okay?"
"Mhm. Sure. Let's exchange contacts!"
We then exchanged our contacts. After a little while, I left to have lunch with Arisu.
"Bye bye, Kiyotaka-kun! I'll make sure to invite you to lunch soon!" she bid me farewell with a bright smile.
"See you, Hiyori."
********
"What did you want to talk about, Arisu?"
"What do you plan on doing? Are you really not getting involved?"
"Yeah. I'm letting my classmates handle things."
"Is that so? What do you think about the pattern?"
"Before that, if you were to know the pattern, how do you plan on doing things?"
"That's a good question. Knowing the pattern while the others don't can easily gain you a ridiculous amount of class points, while absolutely crushing the other classes."
"That's true, but it's not that simple. Also, I don't plan on telling the pattern to Horikita and the others. After all, they set their mind on figuring the pattern themselves. What about your class?"
"Hmm? Well I think the obvious choice for us would be to attack the current Class A and take back our spot. Attacking Class C would also be a good additional option. I could also attack all three classes, but where's the fun in that?"
"I think Class C will be able to figure things out in a few days. Depending on how we want things to play out, it may or may not be wise to attack them now. If we wait, it might come back to bite us, or not."
"As vague as always, Kiyotaka. Do you plan on making everyone delay their decisions?"
"Who knows. I personally wouldn't rush into any decisions. If we were to attack Class C right now, Ryuuen will most definitely immediately attack us the moment he figures out the pattern, which might prove to be dangerous. On the opposite scenario, he would most likely wait a bit after figuring out the pattern to see how we would act. Also, attacking now would mean that the exam will end for our group."
"Fufufu... so you think the VIP in the Cow Group is in Class C too, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Fufu, you never fail to impress me, Kiyotaka. So, who do you think is the VIP in our group?"
"Shiina Hiyori."
********
Author's Notes
Hey!
In this timeline, the VIPs are decided slightly differently than in the LN.
'Attacking' a class in this context means to guess all three VIP's of that class.
This marks the beginning of the book buddies!
That's all for what I had to say, see you soon!