Classroom Of The Elite 25 Classroom Of The Elite Vol 4 Chapter 2 Part 1 (1/2)

Chapter 2: A Vast Array of Thoughts

Breakfast time I made sure to avoid the buffet popular with the students and turned back towards the deck of the shi+p On the deck there is a cafe called ”Blue Ocean” where there are hardly any students I chose to sit there in an empty table in the shade and called for the waitress The current ti ti for appeared before me with an empty expression ”You're here early” It was my fellow classmate from Class D Horikita Suzune She sits next to me and one of the few people I could call a friend in this school And she also happens to be a very problematic existence who knows a little about my true capabilities She sat down in the seat in front offor an hour” I co to tease her a bit ”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” Ok I suppose I can't tease her like this, it'll only end up hurting ?” I ask ”No There's no need for that Let's continue our chat from yesterday” Horikita, who does not like idle chitchat, wanted to go down to business and seemed to want to report her situation fro she told

”So? Did the students called by the school forroups with 4 possible outco announced to us today byIf there are any small differences, I suppose you could chalk it up to the difference in teachers” she told roup members and how many are there?” I quickly ask her I knew so her that ”It was quite a actually, almost as if it was on purpose and not just coincidence” Horikita tellsme that, Horikita hands roup members and wrote it on a separate piece of paper to show on) and beloere the nai Kohei, Nishi+kawa Ryouko, shi+ta shi+nji, Koharu Yano

Class B: Ando Sayo, Kanzaki Ryuuji, Tsukabe Hitomi

Class C: Oda Takumi, Suzuki Hidetoshi+, Sonoda Masashi+, Ryuuen Kakeru

Class D: Kushi+da Kikyou, Hirata Yousuke, Horikita Suzune

First of all, it seems Hirata and Kushi+da were the ones chosen froroup Two honors students to represent our class Leaving aside the usually solitary Horikita, putting these two together on the saest combination that Class D currently has to offer I had expected another person to be in their group like it ith mine but see power but even if he were to be added to the group, I doubt he would be useful Honestly I'roup he was put into or whether he even cared enough to go for theback I suppose this combination was inevitable” I muttered Even if I list the nai from Class A, Kanzaki fro na their classes It's almost like a drea unnatural here” If the intention is to gather the big naroup, 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 tellsto yourself?” I ask her But I do feel Horikita has a point We still don't knohat Ichinose is truly capable of yet It ly low ”From this I can soroups Ayanokouji-kun and Karuizawsan are very si us in terms of our current points But the only flaw in this theory is that Yukioes for Kouenji-kun” Horikita trailed off It seerouping by going over our mid-semester and final exam results to find a reason for the specific division of students

”But you do have a point, rades as wellthen there's you and Hirata” On the other hand, if ere grouped purely based on our grades Kouenji should be at the very top Naturally, I have no doubt grades are taken into consideration, although thereas well If possible, I would like to see the other group lists to ascertain this for myself ”In any case this is a probleroup and clear the exam” Of course it was inevitable the ather in one group And then there's the fact that Horikita's compatibility with Ryuuen is like fire and water Horikita probably won't accept it even if I tell her this so I chose to keep quiet However, on the contrary, I do believe Horikita will be able to work efficiently with a straightforward type of person like Katsuragi Their way of thinking, down to the sh after all

”It's about time, I wonder if the mail really will come” Once the clock hit 8:00 AM both our phones vibrated at once without even being a second apart Immediately we both confir the contents of my mail, Horikita pushed her phone and the mail displayed on it towards me and I do the sa it to the other's It said the following:

After a period of thorough consideration, you have not been chosen as the ”target” Please act together as one and challenge the exain from 1:00 PM today onwards The exam will be held for three days froroup please come up to the room marked as such on the second floor immediately

The mail sent to me and Horikita were 'almost the saroups the other words in the mail all line up perfectly ”I suppose if ere chosen as the ”target” theus of this fact” ”It seeroups I don't knohether 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 outcoet” student in this exae If you can keep up a good poker face you would easily be able to obtain at the very least 500,000 private points ”I still don't like it though It's alet” student” Horikita tells roup, Horikita still thinks she's the best I suppose that's expected of her though ”In this exam, there is a et” and the ones not selected Since all the other students le to uncover the identity of the ”target” and there is always the possibility that the point gap between classes ht Of course even if Class D fails, our points will not dip into the negative But the slight lead we gained after the uninhabited island teston our perfory to approach this exaroup and the oal I must aim for becomes clear ”I don't kno the students whose names I don't even knoill act, I'll need to interact directly with theet rid of them if necessary” I ady that can be executed on the spot It needs to first be set up and the ti needs to be perfect But it is possible

”I'll be looking forward to your results” Horikita finally tellswhat direction you will lead your group in” I reply to her in kind Still I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling I had The selection of the ”target” is not randothened my resolve of that There is a certain difference between the ones that would be selected and the ones that would not be selected ”In either case I'll ask you this now, but who in our group are youfrootten the same infor strangely ever since receiving this inforroup members are, it can't be helped I suppose ”Ryuuen” I admit to her ”What a quick answer” ”Because there's no one as suspicious as hii-kun? It's only because of him that Class A was able to secure thenotable Wouldn't you say we should be suspicious of him?” Horikita asks

”Of course that is an excellent acco roup I'd say Katsuragi On the other hand, the most suspicious one would undoubtedly have to be Ryuuen” During the island test, beyond the shadow of a doubt, Class D won However, Ryuuen also ht victory in a sense But Ryuuen, because of that fact,in reverse, that also ht noary of Class D as well At any cost I would like to avoid revealing myself He cannot know that it was thanks to me that Horikita achieved all those successes on the island test

”While the identity of the ”target” is so thestrange about the mail sent to us from the school? And the strict” before Horikita could finish the sentence I quickly silenced her by putting esture at her Speak of the devil, a shadow appeared before us ”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 there was also another person with him ”Don't call my first na 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 hiroup

Ibuki seehtened her lower lip without saying anything Ryuuen, on the other hand, was grinning as if he was enjoying the whole situation In the uninhabited island test, Ibuki infiltrated our class as a spy Eventually, Horikita discovered her and they had a fight in which Horikita received a direct hit Horikita insisted that she lost only because she was sick during the test, although I couldn't care less which one of the Ibuki to re look ”I believe the mail has already arrived, so hoas it? Did you becoet”?” 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 do tell e to achieve that result in the island test?” ”I have nothing to tell you” Horikita sharply retorts

Horikita was completely calm in her response, I could not even detect a quiver in her voice Indeed, she possess a tre skill But Ryuuen did not seem to be provoked by her response at all ”I don't care either way, but according to her report, you didn't do anythingthe island test to allow your class to achieve those results” Ryuuen says while pointing at Ibuki ”I'ure th back then thanks to my fever” In response to that provocation, Ibuki imht here and right now, let's fight” she said to Horikita

Horikita did not rise to that challenge, however, and simply said ”I'll have to decline, unfortunately, since violent will be a violation of the school's rules for this exam If you do happen to use violence on me, however, I will report this to the school Please do as you wish then” to Ibuki Ibuki angrily stepped towards Horikita after that, but stopped just shy of actually laying a hand on her Using violence here will undoubtedly result in penalties laid upon you by the school And most iht to her personal desires here The talented Ibuki who hates Ryuuen That was the very reason she was chosen by Ryuuen as the one to be sent to Class D as a spy in the previous test ”Since we're all here, let's have soood tiether and ordered the waitress for hercoffee I also ordered the sa and instead seemed to want to continue the conversation while silently observing Horikita Then he finally said ”Fro quite cautious of you” to Horikita

”Unsurprising After all, he never would've thought that someone from Class D like me would be capable of such feats after all Isn't it the sauard against oing to even deny it I am indeed here to confirm your capability for myself” Ryuuen says while Horikita takes a sip of her coffee ”But you should also know that i's, besides a serious-chan type girl like yourself would definitely not be capable of fory like the one on the island test” ”I don't care either way, but hoould you knohatthe island test was? All that was announced were the results after all” Horikita tells hirinned at her He seei doesn't know thehe kno the results of the island test were achieved by our class ”I wonder if you can explain hoe did it then?” Horikita asks

Ryuuen si ”At the end of the exam when the leader na was because the leader had been changed to soer you” ”That's nothing i as sii you just made fun of” Horikita retorts ”No, no He thinks you were the one that planned it all But from my perspective, even you shouldn't have been able to predict you'd be the leader or that you'd have to retire before the end of the exam” Ryuuen tells her ”It's just insurance to prepare for theinto account the roundbreaking in what you just said” Horikita replies to Ryuuen

”Anyways, the i is that the new leader of the island test, the one itched with you at the very end They are the one pulling your strings froht at Horikita and also quietly observing ht behind Horikita I don't kno serious he was about that stateures me out here he'll most definitely attackabout, I barely have any friends to scheme with anyways The only one I can consider somewhat close toattention to my presence, Horikita was actually able to s ”Perhaps he's the one pulling ently looks athis eyes

It seeer paid any attention to ards to academic ability, physical ability and communication skills from Horikita's act After all, such parameters can easily be used to assess someone's threat level in s did not go according to plan in this er in his expressions ”It's a shaht I'd finally found someone who sche Suzune's strings made their move a bit too early The trump card they used in the island test should have been saved for this exaas later, please pass this e onto him for me” Ryuuen finally told Horikita

”Thanks for the advice” Horikita coldly told Ryuuen ”No need for thanks” ”You really think sos don't you” Horikita asks him Ryuuen did not answer her question He h there was no proof or confirmation from Horikita's side After all, the man named Ryuuen believes in himself above all else and does not look like the type to accept someone else's advice He seemed to have taken this failure in stride and just see with Horikita Suddenly, Ryuuen whipped out his phone without warning and before anyone could react, quickly snapped a photo of Horikita without her permission ”Don't take s like that, I'll tell you so at the photo of Horikita he'd snapped in his phone ”There is so other than you” Ryuuen gives Horikita a hint ”That's a good thing, instead of askingthey should be able to make their own decisions” Horikita fires back ”In any case, I'a around in the shadows Everything is a target forI understand being cautious of me, but why obsess over me so much? Aren't there others you care about? Like Ichinose-san in Class B or Katsuragi-kun in Class A and then there's the person known as Sakayanagi according to the ruuys above Class C you'd norood so answer me that much at least” Horikita asks Ryuuen the reason why he focused so much on Class D ”It's because I already know more or less their capabilities and none of theh to be my enemies If I wanted to crush them, I could crush any of them whenever I want” Ryuuen boldly said ”How about the rui?” The person who asked that question was not Horikita but rather Ibuki It looks like Ibuki herself wanted to confirm this fact with Ryuuen And Ryuuen, who spoke ever so s ”I' that woi now” he said at last Ryuuen then stood up and together with Ibuki, left our table

”Are you perhaps dissatisfied?” I ask Horikita once Ryuuen had left ”No I have no such sentiments I simply disliked the way you handled the situation In the first place, on our path to Class A, I was the one supposed to be drawing the attention and not you” she said in reply ”That uy Ryuuen He's an unpredictable one” I thought to myself despite what he showed us earlier, Ryuuen already suspected me somewhat in his mind Of that there is almost no doubt I, of course, don't knohat Ryuuen is thinking But the tierous ”It could've been he was spying on us froood” Perhaps Ibuki is involved in this The very fact that Ryuuen brought her to thewith us should ather inforroup as well

”I doubt anybody actually suspects you're the one working behind the scenes The reputation you've built up throughout the semester as an 'ordinary' person will be very hard to shake” Horikita tells me I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult but it is true that no atesspecial Normally no sane person would deliberately lower themselves to such mediocrity the way I have so I should be more or less safe from Ryuuen's scrutiny However, the very fact that I'm close to Horikita should put me on a to-watch list of his Also, the fact that Ibuki is in the saroup as I am means I'll be under so to coot up froht? In that case, I' to back to my roo left to discuss All we have left to do is proceed in our own groups Good work for today Docomes up” Horikita tells me as I leave At least I've seen that when faced with adversity, Horikita has shoillingness to fight back But regardless of personal compatibility, Hirata and Kushi+da should be able to rein her in I suppose I'll go back to my room and sleep until afternoon Despite the fact that the exa to do until then anyways

1

”Sorry to keep you waiting Geppu, geppu If you eat three heavyon a diet but it see his belly that had swollen up from all the food he'd eaten earlier It conveyed a coo on a diet He ca in front of ”It is troublesome that the exam has started, I've barely eaten” ”Is that a 'I'?” ”I've been wanting to say it for a while now, but can't you cut it out with that weird way of speaking?” Yukimura retorts to Sotomura Of course, from the perspective of someone who doesn't quite understand Sotomura, his words et used to it, I guess On the contrary, so in an unusualBut if I speak out now, I ht incur Yukimura's wrath and so I let him continue on with his tirade ”Pofu~ Did you not like my way of speech? What would suit you then, Yukimurdono?” ”Just speak normally” Yukimura replies to Sotomura

”Ok, froonist I'll nor but the truth is, I have a power capable of destroying the world worthy of na given up on convincing Sotohtly late, we started walking in a hurry towards our destination ”Ayanokouji, there's so in a tone befitting a protagonist type character ”What would you like to ask?” ”I ondering what your favourite type of dialect is, since you'd surely be happy if a cute heroine were to speak in such a dialect” The way he said it itself sounded cool, but the content of the dialogue was always the same with him ”Nothere's no particular dialect I like” Since I was born and raised in Tokyo, there's no way I would know about such dialects ”Have you not yet had the chance to experience the dialect of 'moe'?” he asks me Just how many students in this school does he think possesses the attribute of such a dialect? I could just shut hi roo with him ”Do you have a favourite dialect?” I ask hi system for dialects In third place would have to be the Kansai dialect It gives off a strict yet rough impression Second place would be the dialect of the beauty in the snow, the Hokkaido dialect The use of the dialect in the 2D world is also widespread so it's a surekillwith him, but none of this made any sense to me But before I could reply in any e ono like 'doururururururu' ”The nu would have to be the dialect that lolis to Onee-sans all use in a versatile manner, the Hakata dialect It's said to be the ultis These three dialects are my best 3” Sotomura continues on Unfortunately, I couldn't understand what he wanted to tell h I did realize he was quite passionate about the subject But it see time since by the time we finished the conversation we had arrived in front of the designated roup (Rabbit) written on a plate in front of it on the second floor Since the exaave me a sense of claustrophobia

”Playtiht for yourself and for the sake of your class” Yukimura mainly directed those words at Sotoment ”Haaano matter how many times I look at it this is a sorry teairls who entered the rooirls of Class D (although a bit gaudy) Karuizawa Kei Including her, 11 people were currently in our rooed in a circular forht ere probably the last ones to arrive I wouldn't be able to identify them from the list alone but there were several students besides Ichinose and Ibuki in the roonized There was athe island test to propose an alliance to sabotage Class D But I don't recognize most of the other male and female students in the roooing to be forced to cooperate in this exam

Naturally, it's not only our class but the other classes that were also feeling confused and aard froe would just make us stand out even roups based on classes, but Karuizawa and Ibuki both sat further out from the circle of students alroup ”H, Ayanokouji?” ”no It's nothing” I had thought Karuizaould confront Ibuki the moment she saw her After all, it was Ibuki Mio in front of us as responsible for stealing her underwear back on the island test I thought she'd go for revenge immediately, but perhaps Karuizawa is more mature than I expected, or was it that she'd finished with her revenge already In either case, the fact that Karuizawa did not even seem upset was unnatural But before I could voice those questions, an announcement came from the onboard speakers installed in the rooin with the first group discussion” Just that A short announceroup from different classes know each other well, there was no one willing to take the initiative in starting the discussion

As such, an aard air cairl na s the initiative Spoke ”I do know most of the people here, but I suppose in accordance with the school's instructions, we should introduce ourselves firstly Since there are also people who roup It's definitely not easy being the leader of a group like this, one ht even be froether as one to clear the exam But Ichinose didn't see the group Some students from Class A could not hide their surprise at her unexpectedly taking the lead ”I don't think there's any need for that The school's just saying it as a formality Only the ones ant to introduce themselves should do it” it was Machida who said that to Ichinose ”If Machidkun doesn't wish to do it, then I certainly can't force you to But there may be a recorder hidden somewhere in this room If we blatantly disobey the instructions froroup that gets punished, you know?” Ichinose quickly replies to Machida Basically, being selfish hereit like that, she uy named Machida fro

She then started the self-introductions by introducing herself I think back to the first day of high school and how I messed up my self-introduction back then But when roup ca the same, dull and monotonous introduction as that day ”Yaa~ho Ayanokouji-kun It see” Ichinose called out to et back to my seat Once everyone's self-introductions were over and done with, Ichinose once again stepped up to speak ”So, we've done as the school instructed Hoould you guys like to proceed fro the leader, would you please tellif anyone would like to take the leadershi+p position fro it in a way like that ensured that no one would ever wrest the leadershi+p spot fro us who are not satisfied with the way Ichinose does things, but fearing the possibility that the responsibility of leadershi+p would be thrust on them, none would speak up now

”Since no one would like to take the leader spot, can I proceed? Firstly, I believe we should discuss aspects of the exam some don't quite understand yet, or any other questions and concerns you uous situation will continue on as it is” Ichinose said as she proposed the first topic of discussion There was no resistance froestion and there were no hands or voices raised against her Things like that can often happen when strangers gather together as a group and the fact that one can act without fear of such opposition is the mark of a true leader Ichinose then put her hands on her hips and s and I' that no one here is the ”target” I'd like to ask if everyone here would like to work together to clear this exah outcome 1 I'd like to ask you if you all think this is the best course of action or not?” Ichinose asks us ”Huh? What do you mean? Isn't that obvious?” Karuizaas the one who replied to her question She acted like she understood yet more likely than not she didn't, but in a situation like this, the first one who speaks their roup hierarchy, whether it be superior or inferior Yukiirl fro in the same manner as if to be in sync with Karuizawa Obviously, if at all possible, it makes sense everyone here would want to airee with Ichinose's statement, one of the male students froave during his self-introduction was Ha with each other as a group is the obvious course of action here” he said It wasn't a bad question to start the discussion out with, I must admit It seems quite a few of the students haven't noticed it yet, but by asking a seely casual and obvious question like this, it et” while fostering a positive attitude aht, they may even be able to narron the list of suspects for the ”target” at this stage It ht still be difficult to decide black or white for certain with this one question Ichinose, the one who asked the question Karuizaho first answered her Then Yukimura and Manabe who followed up on Karuizawa's answer And Haet” were a a beat

I went along with theht now ”We're a group after all, and our private points are all low right noays, I'd like to cooperate if possible How about Sotomura?” I ask Soto toohis belly when I called out to hi his shoulders to juet points fro to keep up his cool,all of us, were the students of Class A who only consisted ofus to see what direction the group's discussion will take ”Ichinose, that question is unfair isn't it? If you're not the ”target” by saying that, you et”, and there's no one ould blatantly disagree with you and declare themselves as a traitor after your stateet” as the bad one for not speaking out, I believe this is a very inappropriate question you've asked us” It was Machida who told that to Ichinose in a stern tone of voice

He seems to be clearly different from the students of Class D and Class C who sireed with Ichinose It alation and he atching and criticizing Ichinose's words Ha heard Machida's complaint, replied to him calmly ”Isn't this a reasonable question for this sort of exam? Ichinose-san did not use any sort of threat to force us to cooperate or divulge information, if you don't want to all you have to do is stay silent” Hauchi quickly puts a stop to Class A's criticisst the group already, Machida was not surprised at all by Hauchi's retaliation, almost as if he'd already expected this would happen ”Indeed, we have the right to remain silent And as such, that is what , keep our silence” Machida bluntly rejected Ichinose's offer to cooperate And the re their lead in turn, the re students who have not yet answered also chose to keep silent ”Perhaps I ca with that question?” In response to this unexpected rejection, Ichinose smiled bitterly

”No, Ichinose-san Your question was perfectly reasonable But I suppose their wariness was slightly stronger than we expected Tell me, then, Machidkun What questions here would you consider appropriate? We could talk about our favourite foods and hobbies, but I doubt the exa of the sort That would roup except your silence” Ha” Machida tries to respond ”I myself do not knohat Ichinose-san intended with that question, but in this exam, I know that discussion between students is vital In the case that you still refuse to keep your silence, ill have no other choice but to continue our discussion without Class A in it At the very least, you could help us decide what topic we should start the discussion on” Haht, exactly as he said, just by keeping silent you won't get any closer to finding the ”target” or clearing the exa his arate closed shut, Ichinose tries to break through

”In that case, although reluctant, I guess we'll have to decide the leader with a majority vote There will undoubtedly be suspicion directed at the ones who refuse to answer the question and we can naet” later Would everyone be ok with that?” Ichinose broke through the castle known as Class A with those words Horikita also thinks similarly to Ichinose, but the difference between them is that Ichinose is easily able to rally the people around her to her side To fight a battle while receiving the approval of the people around you makes her a very powerful presence in this situation Frankly, Ichinose already holds the majority vote in her hands the moment she took the initiative in the discussion As far as I could tell, no one else in the school is capable of doing the sai and Ryuuen would not be able to do what she did Hirata and Kushi+da would not be able to do it either

”Are you threatening s with you all You're free to decide for yourself what you wish to discuss and what you wish to not discuss But I would like people to participate in the discussion at this stage, since it is a required condition in this exam” Machida see to hiely ”This exa? Do you really think we'll figure out the ”target” just by talking with each other? Or are you going to lower your head and beg them to reveal themselves?” Machida finally tells Ichinose I see, it looks like Class A's approach to this exam has already been decided, but this approach doesn't see behind Machida ”So, is there another way?” Ichinose asks Machida, having full confidence in her approach But of course, this is so Class A already expected her to ask ”Yes There is a way to easily and definitively clear this exam” One of the students frouchi could not conceal their surprise at this ”could you explain your strategy to us?” she asks theroup' after all so it's natural to share such information” Machida, no, the whole of Class A cay we came up with isto not talk at all from the start of the exah for us, sitting on the sidelines of the discussion, to hear as well It seemed both Karuizawa and Sotomura also understood what he meant to say ”Now that's a pretty unique proposition, but how do you propose to clear the exa we let the identity of the ”target” remain completely hidden to the end?” Instead of Ichinose, it was Hauchi who cut in and spoke out ”Indeed, the real shortcut to clearing this exa to each other at all” Machida said in reply ”I can't believe this This is starting tothe students of Class A and this action is being taken to help protect their identity while sharing inforst your classet” is already in your class, there's no need to talk to anyone else nor participate in any discussion It can't be helped that Hauchi, but it can't be helped if everyone else suspects theet” is in, it won't affect the outcome If we siy that Katsuragi-san devised for us” ”Katsuragi-kun?I see”Ichinose seei's na mentioned Machida then turned towards Yukian to explain his strategy ”There can only be four possible outcomes in this exam I believe you have already been briefed on them all What do you think is the outcome we should all aim to avoid in this exam?” Machida suddenly turns towards Karuizawa and asks her the question ”Ehhhthe outcoet”'s identity and betrays the group?” she replies ”Exactly, the roup Whether the traitor answers correctly or incorrectly, both paths lead to a loss But, thinking in reverse, what about the other possible outcomes?” Machida looks towards Yukimura for an answer

”The other possible outcoative result does not occur?” ”Indeed, there are no de two possible outcomes The class points will neither rise nor fall drastically, and in addition we gain a tremendous amount of private points as well The only loser in this scenario would be the faculty There is no need to find the ”target” student By discussing a each other of hiding the ”target” and end up slipping up sonize the soundness of this strategy to a certain extent, however, as long as we don't knohich class the ”target” belongs to, there is always the possibility that the point gap between the classes s to a certain class and ends up favouring that class, said class ain h the class point itself will not be affected, I'm sure everybody understands the impact a difference in private points can uchi counters Machida's points

Haht, private points are also extremely useful One can buy test scores, for instance, or even change classes depending on how one chooses to use theet” may choose to favour their class to use those private points in such a ainst Class A, after all, Katsuragi must have already realized the ”trick” hidden in this exay to us otherwise ”Think about it carefully, the school would definitely not give any class an unfair advantage in an exam like this To the point they e the briefing Of course there's no denying the fact that there is only one ”target” in each group but that is not i is that every class has an 'equal' opportunity to have the ”target” There's no denying the fact that in this exam, both Class A and Class D would start equally at the sai's strategy, they would naturally insist that there would be no discussion and allow points to be equally distributed aet” belongs to

But Hauchi responded to Class A's unexpected proposal promptly ”I admit the school made sure every class starts out equally in fairness And if you take their word for it, certainly you're train of thought is not wrong But, we cannot be certain of that fact yet” It was the hard truth, but Hauchi did his best to voice it anyways The school would certainly try to avoid bias by not assigning the ”target” student to specific classes That uess for anybody ”I believe you understand as well, but by talking ast each other noill only create suspicion and doubt and could cause a breakdown in our group relationshi+ps There is indeed the possibility that you will find the ”target” this way, but you also run the risk of a traitor eroup to suffer for their own sake” Machida continues

”You're right, it's not a bad thing if we all profit while having the school lose out in the process” Ichinose says as she accepts the strategy Katsuragi devised for the exa at us with a face that seeical course of action, but it doesn't seey ”But to execute that strategy will be difficult, perhaps even more difficult than if we simply talked with each other I will not talk, I will not doubt and I will not betray Unless every student here can abide by that, that strategy is pointless Since the school already gurantees anonymity for the students, trust between each other also becoreat if the points can be equally distributed between all of us at the end, but couldn't there also be a risk of so the points for theet the points for the it fro about an aard ati's plan is to stick to defense, alroup That is his strategy Getting cooperation froroup would surely be difficult, but the strategy itself only requires one to not talk at all, a simple tactic that everyone can easily abide by It can aly that overturns the school's plans and renders the exam moot in the first place ”Isn't this fine? I don't see any problest each other in our classes and share the points from the exam” Sotomura's sentiment seems to be shared by students froreed with hi as we can share our points after the exam is over that's fine Better that than to run the risk of a traitor eroup, it's not realistic too to try and figure out the ”target” si to each other” Yukiht as he said that, but even he raised no objections against the strategy Sensing that the opposition has died down, Machida slightly laughed ”I see, indeed as Machidkun says, the problem can be resolved after the exam in each class, hmm?” Ichinose says with her arms crossed as she looks at her own class, then at Class D and Class C

”I'd like to get a consensus froy, please raise your hands” she then says Yukimura and Sotomura from Class D as well as some students froh scattered, they raised their hands ”Ibuki-san, how about you? May we hear your opinion too?” Ichinose then asks Ibuki ”I don't have any opinion in particular, there's nothing happening noays so continue as you want” It doesn't seee She's clearly different from the other three students from Class C

Since Manabe and the others didn't seem surprised by it, this seems to be Ibuki's usual attitude ”I see, that's your idea then How about Karuizawsan?” Ichinose asks Karuizawa

”ReallyI'et points is a different et points by talking to each other right?I'd just like this exa fun” she said Despite Karuizawa just speaking her thoughts, it seems her words resonated with quite a few other students as well