It was just after 6:00 PM when Akira Shimizu returned to his dorm.
His ti out with Karuizawa Kei hadn't been long—barely over an hour in total. Yet, in that short window, he had easily earned 200,000 personal points.
There was no extra effort involved; he simply ate and chatted with his cute manager.
The efficiency was incredible—far easier than racking his brain for a complex sche.
However, he knew one task remained: finding the VIP of the Rabbit Group.
While lost in thought, he pulled out his phone and saw a ssage sent five minutes ago by Horikita Suzune.
Horikita Suzune: Class B did not agree to collaborate with Class D. It's because Koenji Rokusuke guessed the identity of a Class B VIP, and Ichinose-san heard it in person.
Akira Shimizu: Who was the VIP he guessed?
The reply ca seconds later.
Horikita Suzune: Shibata Souta.
Akira pondered the na for a mont. He had an impression of the guy—a mber of the football club along with Hirata Yosuke, and fairly popular among the first-year boys. During the island exam, Shibata had approached him to ask about hunting techniques, only to be unintentionally rebuffed.
It seed Koenji had found a flaw in Shibata's words.
But exactly what detail had he noticed?
Akira pushed the thought aside for now. Class D had secured 50 class points, which was solid news. More class points ant his monthly personal point allowance would increase. Most importantly, Class D now held the na of a third VIP. Even though this person wasn't from Class D, having three nas allowed them to start deducing the pattern the school used to assign VIPs.
Akira looked up to see Ayanokouji Kiyotaka leaning against the desk with his hands behind his head, clearly thinking about the sa thing.
"Any leads?" Akira asked.
"Three nas are still too few to support a complete deduction," Ayanokouji shook his head slightly.
"Class C and Class B have likely already obtained three nas as well; their progress is probably similar to ours."
Shiina Hiyori of Class C and Kanzaki Ryuji of Class B were both intelligent. If the pattern could be cracked with only three nas, the other classes would have already systematically eliminated the nine other groups. There would be no reason to wait.
Akira sat back on his bed. His phone vibrated again—another ssage from Horikita.
Horikita Suzune: Have you guessed the pattern for the VIPs yet?
Akira Shimizu: Not in detail. Even Ayanokouji has no lead yet, so it's likely impossible to crack right now. We need to wait for a fourth identity.
Horikita Suzune: You seem to trust Ayanokouji a lot. Is his sudden effort for the class also due to your secret instructions?
Akira Shimizu: It's not . You overestimate .
While his relationship with Ayanokouji allowed him to ask for small favors, he didn't have the power to make Ayanokouji actively exert himself for the class. His intel already confird that Ayanokouji was acting under Chabashira-sensei's direction.
Horikita didn't reply, likely returning to her deduction. Just as Akira set his phone down, the screen lit up with a ssage from an unexpected sender: Kamuro Masumi.
Kamuro Masumi: Shimizu! You've been acting pretty arrogant lately.
Kamuro Masumi: I haven't settled the score with you for voting for on the island!
Akira was speechless. His intelligence ntioned that Kamuro had been conflicted about being unable to lend him points, but he had forgotten about the voting. He had indeed written her na down during the island exam; it wasn't surprising she held a grudge.
He didn't make excuses.
Akira Shimizu: My mistake. Sorry.
Kamuro Masumi: You guys were being too loud playing cards! It bothered ! It affected my phone ti!
'Were we really that loud?'
Akira wondered. He had barely spoken, and the girls had kept their voices down out of respect for Ichinose. He suspected the reason was fabricated.
Akira Shimizu: Want to join the card ga?
Kamuro Masumi: No! Who could win against you!
Akira smirked. Despite her claims of being bothered, she was clearly paying close attention if she knew exactly who was winning. He considered letting others win a few rounds next ti.
Then, a ssage arrived from Sakayanagi Arisu.
Sakayanagi Arisu: Koenji-kun is acting on his own again. I'm truly curious how you made him so obedient on the island.
Sakayanagi Arisu: Speaking of which, why did you suddenly get so serious during the island exam? How many points did it take? Whose request was it? Surely not your horoom teacher? I made sure to investigate that business with the class funds.
Sakayanagi's personality was troubleso, but her IQ was undeniable. She had correctly guessed part of his connection with Chabashira-sensei.
Akira Shimizu: You guess.
He couldn't reveal the truth. If the school found out he was being paid to win, the 2 million points might be confiscated.
Sakayanagi Arisu: How an.
Sakayanagi Arisu: However, since the young master of the Koenji Conglorate acted, the person he guessed is almost certainly a VIP. If I'm not mistaken, it's a Class B VIP, right?
Akira was stunned. She guessed it instantly? He frowned and turned to Ayanokouji.
"As of now, how many people know the identity of the Class B VIP?"
", Horikita, Hirata, Yukimura, Ichinose, plus Koenji and you," Ayanokouji answered. "Seven people."
Koenji wasn't the type to answer questions just because soone asked; he only revealed the na because he was in a good mood. Class B wouldn't leak such critical info either.
"No one is around," Ayanokouji added flatly.
Akira nodded. If Ayanokouji said so, there was likely no eavesdropper. But a thought occurred: 'Could Sakayanagi have used her subordinate, Yamamura Miki?'
He rembered Yamamura's stalking ability from the island—she was so stealthy that even Ryuen didn't notice her. She might be able to evade even Ayanokouji's senses.
Sakayanagi Arisu: I didn't send Yamamura this ti; she's busy following soone else.
Sakayanagi Arisu: I guessed it through simple deduction.
Sakayanagi Arisu: Class B's Ichinose-san slipped up, and Koenji caught the flaw.
Sakayanagi Arisu: Shimizu-kun, do you rember the first eting? Ichinose-san was the one who controlled the pace of the discussion.
Sakayanagi Arisu: It seems you're really planning to slack off this exam. You haven't noticed the overall movents of Class B mbers in the other eleven groups at all.
Sakayanagi Arisu: But I like you, Shimizu-kun, so I'll be kind and tell you. During the first eting, Class B mbers in only six groups suggested "taking turns speaking to deduce the
VIP." This included the Dragon and Rabbit groups. Class B mbers in the other six groups remained intentionally silent. And the group Koenji Rokusuke is in just happened to be one of those silent groups.
Akira's mind raced. He understood imdiately. Ichinose wasn't a fool; she would only push for transparency if she was certain her group didn't have a VIP. Conversely, the groups where Class B remained silent likely harbored their VIPs.
He hadn't noticed this because he had focused entirely on the Rabbit Group. But Sakayanagi, as the leader of Class A, had eyes in every group. The difference in information volu dictated the depth of the deduction. Class B's flaw was obvious once pointed out.
Akira Shimizu: So, Kamuro's line in the eting today was your instruction to counter Ichinose?
Sakayanagi Arisu: Hehe, exactly! I told her to say it. Our Kamuro doesn't have such a clever brain!
Akira Shimizu: Hey! Don't talk about Kamuro like that. Careful, or I'll screenshot this and send it to her!
Sakayanagi Arisu: Oh? While you're standing up for her, you didn't deny that she lacks the intelligence. I've screenshotted that! Let's see who sends it first.
They were at a stalemate and agreed not to send the screenshots.
Akira Shimizu: Why is Kamuro following your instructions for this exam?
On the island, Kamuro told him she hadn't joined any faction. She also had a low opinion of Sakayanagi.
Sakayanagi Arisu: Because I paid the price in points. After you got so many points on the island, Kamuro surely doesn't want to see you outpace her.
That made sense. Akira had used Kamuro to secure 500,000 points from Katsuragi. It seed her competitive side was stronger than he thought, and Sakayanagi had exploited that by hiring her.
Akira Shimizu: Why are you so obsessed with Kamuro?
Sakayanagi Arisu: Indeed! She's the woman I've never quite been able to 'get,' and it keeps curious!
Before he could respond, another ssage popped up.
Sakayanagi Arisu: Actually, after the island exam, I've been quite dissatisfied. Why did Class B get 235 class points when they did the least amount of work?
Sakayanagi Arisu: Look at the effort: Class C had Ryuen's complex plot, acting as a double agent, working with Class A, and personal spying. Class D had your plan starting from the
second day to get 255 points—no one can find fault with that. Class A only got 190 points, and thanks to Katsuragi, everyone but had to pay Ryuen 20,000 points a month—it's laughable. But Class B? They did nothing substantial, paid 500,000 personal points, and walked away with 235 class points. I'm personally very annoyed.
Akira realized the trade between A and C was that bad. Katsuragi had essentially handed Ryuen a gold mine. And Class B's success was only because of their trade with Akira.
Sakayanagi Arisu: So, Class B is just a bunch of "carried" losers.
Akira Shimizu: So what do you plan to do?
Sakayanagi Arisu: I'm going to make Class B lose 150 class points this ti. I want them to understand that without you, they are nothing. They are worse than Class C—they are the weakest class!
Sakayanagi Arisu: Therefore, for the two remaining Class B VIPs, I, Sakayanagi Arisu, will personally conduct their reporting ceremony.
Akira was stunned.
'A reporting ceremony?' Sakayanagi was turning her full attention toward Class B? She wanted to hunt down the remaining VIPs? Did she already know who they were?
Sakayanagi Arisu: What do you think?
Akira Shimizu: I'll just watch you work.
What could he say? He had helped Class B once on the island. He wasn't their babysitter. He would be a bystander this ti.
Akira Shimizu: Why aren't you continuing the Class A civil war? Working for the class isn't like you.
Sakayanagi Arisu: Oh, the internal fighting will continue, don't worry.
Akira's doubts vanished. That was the Sakayanagi Arisu he knew.
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