'...': Writing
'...': Sign language
"...": Text to speech
I texted the people in my contacts about what group they were part of.
Cow - Sakura
Rooster - Minamikita, Himeno
Pig - Onodera
Rabbit - Ichinose
Monkey - Koenji
Sheep - Mori
Dog - Ichihashi
I need more guy contacts on my phone...
Anyway, I think I have a better understanding of the particular exam. I needed to confirm it with someone and know the perfect person.
~Timeskip~
"Kagurazaka-kun, do you need something?" Mii-chan asked.
'I'm a bit curious about the Chinese Zodiacs. Can you tell me about them?'
I watch as Mii-chan's eyes sparkle bright, "Of course!"
~Timeskip~
I avoided the buffet popular with students for breakfast and went to the "Blue Ocean" cafe on the ship's deck. I chose a shaded table and called for the waitress. It's currently 7:45 AM.
Ten minutes went by before Ayanokouji arrived and sat down at the table.
One minute just before the designated meeting time, the person I was waiting for appeared before me with an empty expression, "You're here early," it was Horikita.
"I was waiting for an hour," Ayanokouji complained to her, trying to make a joke, but I don't think Horikita cared.
"I don't care since I arrived by the designated time; even if you waited 10 hours in advance for me, I couldn't care less," Horikita responded.
"So? Did the students called by the school form a group?" Ayanokouji asks her.
"Yes. Just as you said, 12 groups with four possible outcomes and the "target" being announced to us today by mail at 8:00 in the morning. If there are any small differences, I suppose you could chalk it up to the difference in teachers," she told him.
'Who's in your group, Ayanokouji-kun?'
Ayanokouji pulled out a slip of paper and showed it to us. The name of his group is Rabbit, so he's with Ichinose.
Class A: Machida Kouji, Takemoto Shigeru, Morishige Takurou
Class B: Ichinose Honami, Hamaguchi Tetsuya, Beppu Ryouta
Class C: Ibuki Mio, Manabe Shiho, Yabu Nanami, Yamashita Saki
Class D: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Karuizawa Kei, Sotomaru Hideo, Yukimura Teruhika
His group is going to have a rough time. Mixing Manabe and Karuizawa is going to be a disaster. I don't think Manabe is going to hold her back against her after what she did to Morofuji.
'Your group is a disaster waiting to happen.'
"Why?" Ayanokouji asked.
'Manabe-san and Karuizawa-san. An incident happened, and I think Manabe-san will approach Karuizawa-san for what she did.'
"How do you know this?" Horikita asked with a serious expression.
Why does it feel like I'm getting interrogated?
'I was there.'
Horikita didn't take her eyes off me before turning her attention to Ayanokouji, "Since you shared your group members, I'll do the same."
Ayanokouji's POV
Class A: Katsuragi Kohei, Nishikawa Ryouko, Shita Shinji, Koharu Yano
Class B: Ando Sayo, Kanzaki Ryuuji, Tsukabe Hitomi
Class C: Oda Takumi, Suzuki Hidetoshi, Sonoda Masashi, Ryuuen Kakeru
Class D: Kushida Kikyou, Hirata Yousuke, Horikita Suzune, Kagurazaka Norogumi
First, Hirata and Kushida were chosen from Class D for this group-two honors students to represent our class. Leaving aside the usually solitary Horikita and Kagurazka, putting these two together on the same team would likely form the most potent combination that Class D currently offers.
I expected another person to be in their group, but it didn't seem to be the case. Kouenji has overwhelming power, but I doubt he'd be helpful if added to the group. I'm unsure which group he was put into or if he even cared enough to attend the meeting.
"I see...looking back, I suppose this combination was inevitable," I muttered.
I know Katsuragi from Class A, Kanzaki from Class B, and Ryuuen from Class C. These prominent names represent their respective classes, almost like a soccer dream team.
"But there's also something unnatural here," I muttered.
If the intention is to gather the big names in one group, I felt it was unnatural that Ichinose was in our Rabbit group and not in the Dragon group.
"You're worried about Ichinose-san in your group, right? Right now, only her class knows just how excellent she truly is. It's not always that the face of the class is the leader," Horikita tells me.
"Are you referring to yourself?" I ask her.
But I do feel Horikita has a point. We still don't know what Ichinose is truly capable of yet. It may also be that her academic ability is surprisingly low.
"From this, I understand how they've divided us into 12 groups. Ayanokouji-kun and Karuizawa-san are very similar, right? In terms of grades. Perhaps they are grouping us in terms of our current points. But the only flaw in this theory is that Yukimura-kun is also in the top grades, and the same goes for Kouenji-kun..." Horikita trailed off.
Horikita was trying to develop a hypothesis for the grouping by reviewing our mid-semester and final exam results to find a reason for the specific division of students.
'Maybe she's in your group to keep an eye on you,' It didn't help if I, Kagurazaka, was joking, but I couldn't let the possibility go. I'll hold onto it for now and stay low.
'Well, I have already figured out who would be the VIPs in Dragon's and Rabbit's group.'
"Is that supposed to be a joke because I'm not laughing," Horikita crossed her arms.
"Let's hear him out," I said.
I'm curious about his theory of how the VIP was chosen. It could give us an advantage in the exam.
'It involves the group's name, zodiacs, and Mei-Yu Wang understands it better.'
Mei-Yu Wang, huh?
"What does this exam have to do with her?" Horikita asked.
'She's a major help to the exam. The names of the groups have an order, starting with...'
He was interrupted by our phones vibrating, and we all confirmed the arrival of the mail.
Horikita handed me her phone displaying an email, which I read and compared to the others.
After careful consideration, we regret that you have not been selected as the "target." We encourage you to work together and take the exam as a team, which will begin at 1:00 PM today and last for three days. If you are part of the Dragon group, please proceed immediately to the designated room on the second floor.
'Mine is the same as hers.'
The mail sent to me, Horikita, and Kagurazaka were 'almost the same.' Except for the difference in the names of the groups, the other words in the mail all line up ideally.
"I suppose if we were chosen as the "target," the mail would be slightly different informing us of this fact."
"It seems neither of us has been chosen as the "target" for our groups. I don't know whether to be overjoyed at this or sad."
"If you're the "target," depending on your personal choices, you would be able to lead your group to any one of the four possible outcomes," I said.
In other words, you have a significant advantage if you are the designated "target" student for this exam. If you maintain a good poker face, you can earn at least 500,000 private points.
"I still don't like it though. It's almost as if they're telling me I don't qualify as the "target," Horikita tells me.
'It's because it would ruin everything. I've figured out who the VIP in the Dragon group is.'
Even after being placed in a dream team lineup like her group, Horikita still thinks she's the best. I suppose that's expected of her, though.
"Let's hear it," Horikita said, "Why could I not be the VIP? Who do you think is the VIP?"
Kagurazaka placed an index finger on the front of his lips and made a hush gesture to both of us. He gestured with his eyes, and I understood why he wanted us to be quiet.
"Nice weather, isn't it, Suzune? What are you having for breakfast?".
Two people approached us while grinning. It was Ryuuen of Class C, and another person was with him. "Don't call my first name so casually, Ryuuen-kun. And you, it's quite amazing you'd dare to show your face in front of us again after what you did, Ibuki-san," Horikita fires away at both Ryuuen and the girl beside him, Ibuki Mio, who also happens to be in my Rabbit group.
Ibuki seemed slightly provoked but tightened her lower lip without saying anything. Ryuuen, on the other hand, was grinning as if he was enjoying the whole situation.
Kagurazaka waved slightly at Ibuki, and she avoided eye contact. Wait, why are the tips of her ears red?
Besides, Ryuuen was already ordering Ibuki to remain silent anyway while glancing at us with a condescending look.
"I believe the mail has already arrived, so how was it? Did you become the "target"?" Ryuuen asked.
"There's no way I'd tell you, or perhaps you're going to tell us," Horikita counters.
"If that's what you wish," Ryuuen said as he sat down on a vacant seat nearby, "But before that, please tell me, how did you achieve that result in the island test?".
"I have nothing to tell you," Horikita sharply retorts.
Horikita responded calmly and confidently, showing her impressive acting skills. However, Ryuuen remained unfazed.
"I don't care either way, but according to her report, you didn't do much during the island test to allow your class to achieve those results," Ryuuen says while pointing at Ibuki.
"I'm not such an idiot that someone like her would be able to figure me out. I was just saving my strength back then, thanks to my fever".
In response to that provocation, Ibuki immediately stood up and declared, "Then let's have a rematch right here and right now, let's fight," she said to Horikita.
"Didn't you lose all your points for getting caught for using violence?" Ryuuen asked with a smirk.
Ibuki turned her attention to Ryuuen with a glare, "I shouldn't have followed your dumb plan."
Ryuuen was unfazed while he smirked, "But you still followed it."
"Since we're all here, let's have some coffee. It seems to be a good time to drink." Horikita surprisingly held herself together and ordered the waitress for her morning coffee. I also ordered the same coffee. Kagurazaka got up from his seat and started walking away.
~Timeskip~
Kagurazaka's POV
There's an order going on with the meeting times for the groups. I put the groups in a list using the information I earned from Mii-chan.
Rat Group
Cow Group
Tiger Group
Rabbit Group
Dragon Group
Horse Group
Goat Group
Monkey Group
Rooster Group
Dog Group
Pig Group
So, in theory, the VIP is chosen in alphabetical order by surname. Since the Rat Group is first, the first person in line should be in the VIP.
I won't be able to do anything except try to get Outcome #1.
~Timeskip~
Ayanokouji's POV
The first meeting went as expected. Ichinose's social skills led the discussion, while Class A students chose not to participate. I can't determine the correct strategy yet. After the debate, I glanced around the room.
I took note of a particular Class C girl. She must be the one that Kagurazaka was talking about. I watched as Manabe stood up and approached someone.
"You're Karuizawa-san, right? I want to ask you something," Manabe called out to Karuizawa.
Karuizawa didn't seem to be expecting her name to be called out here, and she quickly turned away from her phone, "What?"
"Perhaps it's my misunderstanding, but did you quarrel with Rika over the summer holiday?" She asked.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean? Who's Rika?" Karuizawa asks.
"She's from our class. The one wearing glasses? She wears her hair like a dango? You don't recall her?" Manabe replies to her.
"I don't. You've got the wrong person," Karuizawa brushed them off as if they had nothing to do with her and glanced back towards her phone.
But Manabe's following words caused a change in Karuizawa's expression. "Isn't it strange, then? We heard a different story. That Class D's Karuizawa bullied our Rika. That she was waiting in line at the cafe, and you pushed her out of it," Manabe says.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Do you have a problem with me?" Karuizawa replies.
"Not really, just checking. If that's true, I want you to apologize to Rika. Rika's the type to keep quiet over matters like this, so it's our job as her classmates to stand up for her," Manabe says.
It looks like it's not just our class; Karuizawa also has a reputation as a troublemaker in other courses. I turn my eyes away from them. After all, even Class C can be a pain to deal with. Karuizawa also tries to ignore them, but it seems to have made Manabe angry.
Manabe takes out her phone and points the camera toward Karuizawa, "Then you won't mind if I check again with Rika, will you? If you didn't do anything, you surely wouldn't have a problem with that, right?"
At that moment, Karuizawa suddenly stood up and grabbed the phone from Manabe's hands. She used much force as the phone flew through the air and fell to the floor with a thud.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Manabe shouted at Karuizawa.
"That's my line; don't take photos of me without my permission. I already told you I didn't do it!"
Both sides were denying the other's claims, and as their argument heated up, Ichinose stared at them as if trying to discern who was right and wrong.
"What're you going to do if my phone breaks?"
"What? Just tell the school and get yourself a new one!" Karuizawa sharply replies to Manabu.
"There were some precious photos in that phone," Manabu's tone turned softer when she picked her phone up.
Two other students from Class C backed up Manabe by standing in front of Karuizawa as if to intimidate her, "What.....are you trying to say I'm the bad one here?"
"If you are innocent, why are you so defensive? Let me take your photo," Manabe tells Karuizawa.
"I....don't want to". I expected Karuizawa to respond with even more force, but she sounded surprisingly weak. Or, more precisely, despite her trying to say harshly, I could hear the fear in her voice. Perhaps that's just my imagination.
"Aren't you just trying to hide your acts?" Manabe locks the camera onto Karuizawa as if forcibly trying to take a picture of her.
The girls from Class C watch this unfold while cruelly laughing as if enjoying it. Only the last Class C student, Ibuki, took a different attitude and did not join in. She looked at Manabe as if in disgust but did not stop her.
"This is stupid," Ibuki said.
"Stupid? What's that supposed to mean? This has nothing to do with you, Ibuki-san. You're not even Rika's friend," Manabe tells Ibuki.
"That's right, I have no stake in this. So I'm just observing," Ibuki said with her arms crossed as she looked away from the scene.
Manabe did not like Ibuki's attitude but raised her voice against Karuizawa instead, possibly due to Ibuki's higher rank in Class C's hierarchy.
"In any case, I'm taking that photo," Manabe finally says.
"No!...please say something to stop her," Karuizawa looked towards Machida from Class A and pleaded with him for help.
"Manabe-san, if Karuizawa-san is objecting to it, stop," Machida then speaks out.
"T-this has nothing to do with you, Machida-kun," Manabe argued.
"It doesn't matter; from what I've heard, you're in the wrong, Manabe. If Karuizawa refuses to let her photo be taken, it's wrong to do so against her will forcibly. It would be much better if you talked with your friend to confirm your story," Machida rebukes Manabe.
Machida is indeed in the right, but taking photos of someone without their consent is a breach of etiquette. Manabe acknowledges this point and steps back, but she does not appear to be satisfied with ending the conversation at this point., "Fine, I'll ask someone who witnessed everything."
She must mean Kagurazaka.
"S-stop with the strange accusations. And thank you, Machida-kun," Karuizawa looked at Machida respectfully and thanked him. Although he was from Class A, it didn't seem like he was utterly heartless. However, Takemoto and the other students seemed uninterested.
"I only did the right thing," Machida replies to Karuizawa with a slight blush.
Could this be the start of a new romance between Machida and Karuizawa? Unfortunately, Karuizawa already has a boyfriend named Hirata, which poses a slight problem. Additionally, the conflict between Class C and Karuizawa appears to persist.
~Timeskip~
Kagurazaka's POV
"The first group discussion begins now," a concise announcement.
"Everyone, can I have your attention, please? I know most of you, but I think it's better if we introduce ourselves before we start anything. After all, there are probably people here who haven't met before," Hirata was as charismatic as ever.
"I don't think there's any need for that. The school's just saying it as a formality. Only the ones who want to introduce themselves should do it," Katsuragi said.
"If Katsuragi-kun doesn't wish to do it, I certainly can't force you to," Hirata answered with a smile.
"There may be a recorder hidden somewhere in this room. If we blatantly disobey the instructions from the school, it may not just be you but the whole group that gets punished, you know?" Kanzaki said.
"Alright, I think it's fine if we introduce ourselves," Katsuragi can't refute what Kanzaki said. Everyone introduced themselves, including Horikita, and it was my turn.
'Kagurazaka Norogumi.'
"Kuku, you're useless for this exam. How about sitting this one out, panty thief?" Ryuuen said with an evil grin.
"I want to explain Class A's position," Katsuagi said, "We will not be participating in this exam."
"Kukuku, it seems you have already given up. I wonder why," Ryuuen said.
"What do you mean?" Kanzaki asked Katsuragi.
"I have decided that for Class A, the best strategy is to avoid taking the exam. Each group has the same outcome, and the school is the loser. After that, it is up to each person to decide whether or not they want to share the points. Since VIPs are likely evenly distributed across classes, this is the most feasible outcome," Katsuragi explained.
"How about this? I'm willing to tell you the VIPs in our class for free," a robotic voice said.
"Who the hell said that?" Ryuuen asked.
"I did," everyone looked at me.
I typed in my phone, and the robotic voice spoke, "I'm willing to screw over my class for free."