It is common sense to have a well-thought-out strategy.
Since the third day was designated as a free day by the school, students could choose to rest or schedule discussions at their convenience. Ichinose had arranged a meeting with Katsuragi to negotiate terms.
She approached the discussion with sincerity, even revising the contract on the spot to add a clause ensuring that the identification of the privileged student would be verified through an official school document.
Logically, this was a foolproof safeguard, eliminating all risks. All Katsuragi had to do was agree, and he'd secure points effortlessly.
Yet, even with everything laid out so clearly, Katsuragi refused.
Ichinose wasn't surprised. Kure Ragna had already warned her the night before about the opponent's schemes.
The key issue was that Katsuragi had yet to relinquish control over Class A. His failure during the uninhabited island test had cost his class half of its total points. However, instead of being sidelined, Sakayanagi Arisu had given him a second chance, entrusting him with the privileged student test.
This meant he had no choice but to prove his worth and lead his class to victory. The usual defensive strategies he relied on wouldn't work here; another failure would only further diminish his standing.
Arisu's move was deliberate—forcing Katsuragi to take responsibility, knowing full well he was unlikely to succeed.
The third day passed in the blink of an eye, and soon, it was the afternoon of the fourth day.
When Kure Ragna and Karuizawa Kei entered the discussion room, most of the students were already there. However, one person was conspicuously absent—Ichinose Honami.
"Oh? Ichinose isn't here yet?" Kure Ragna asked as he scanned the room.
"Ah, well… she had something to take care of," Hamaguchi Tetsuya and Reko Ryota, her classmates, exchanged awkward glances.
Before they could say more, Machida from Class A let out a snide chuckle.
"Yeah, I bet she's off somewhere trying to come up with an excuse."
"An excuse?"
"Wait, don't tell me—"
The shift in atmosphere was palpable. It was obvious to everyone: Ichinose had failed. The realization cast a somber mood over the room.
Then—
Squeak—
The door creaked open, and a familiar shade of pink peeked inside.
"Ah… Hello, everyone. Looks like I'm a bit late."
Ichinose Honami entered with her usual bright demeanor, waving at everyone. But to those paying attention, her smile lacked its usual warmth. It was a forced expression, barely concealing her disappointment.
Kure Ragna narrowed his eyes. She's putting on a brave face.
"Huh? Why is everyone so quiet today?" Ichinose asked, her voice lighthearted, though it wavered ever so slightly.
Ibuki Mio exhaled sharply and closed her eyes. "No need for words. We all know the outcome. Your plan failed… no, our plan failed."
"…I see."
The fake smile faded. Ichinose lowered her head, deep in thought. After a moment, she looked up at Machida, who was still grinning smugly.
"Well, I hope Class A reconsiders. This deal benefits everyone. If we work together—"
"Yeah, no." Machida cut her off, shaking his head with exaggerated amusement.
"Come on, Ichinose. You know better than that. The moment you failed to convince Katsuragi, this entire plan collapsed. There's no point wasting time on it anymore."
Ichinose clenched her fists but quickly relaxed them, letting out a quiet sigh.
There was an old saying: Business is business. But in reality, when a deal falls through, people don't just shake hands and move on. There's always lingering resentment.
The room remained tense for the next fifty minutes, everyone drowning in their own thoughts. Finally, the school's announcement rang through the speakers, signaling the end of the discussion period.
Class A left immediately, followed by the remaining students. However, just as the last few were about to exit, Ichinose spoke up.
"…Wait."
Those still present turned back, their expressions wary.
"Even though I couldn't convince Katsuragi, I intend to keep my promise. I'll reveal the identity of the privileged student."
"Pointless."
Ibuki scoffed before striding toward the door without another word. She had never signed any contract to begin with—this didn't concern her.
On the other hand, Yabuna Nanami from Class D hesitated but was promptly tugged back into her seat by Manabe, who signaled her to stay quiet.
Kure Ragna noticed this but said nothing, merely smiling to himself.
He understood why Ichinose was in such a hurry to make the announcement. The school's exam rules dictated that after the second discussion on the fourth day, all students would be barred from speaking or contacting each other for half an hour. Only after this period would they be allowed to submit their final answers.
In other words, if she didn't make the announcement now, she wouldn't get another chance before the test concluded.
Reasonable.
As the last of Class A disappeared down the hallway, Ichinose took out her phone. She glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before unlocking her screen with her fingerprint.
Then, she turned the screen outward, allowing everyone in the room to see the message confirming the identity of the privileged student.
She took a deep breath.
"This is my phone," she said firmly. "And I am the privileged student of the Rabbit Group."
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