The class points before summer break were as follows:
Class A: 1004 points
Class B: 877 points
Class C: 803 points
Class D: 492 points
However, after two consecutive special exams—the uninhabited island survival and the preferential exam—things had drastically shifted:
Class A: 1004 (base) + 0 (island exam) - 200 (preferential exam) = 804 points
Class B: 877 + 68 + 150 = 1095 points
Class C: 803 + 230 + 0 = 1033 points
Class D: 492 + 0 + 50 = 542 points
With this recalculation, the original Class D had skyrocketed to Class A, while Class B, which had previously fallen, reclaimed its position. Meanwhile, the once-dominant Class A had suffered a devastating drop to Class C. And as for Ryuen Kakeru's rebellious faction, they had hit rock bottom, thoroughly cementing their place at the lowest rank.
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Thirty minutes later – Chairman's Private Quarters
The heavy wooden door creaked open slightly, and Kure Ragna cautiously peeked inside like a stealth operator on a mission.
The room was illuminated by a warm glow from an elegant crystal chandelier. In the center of the lavishly decorated bedroom, a petite girl with silver-white hair sat against the headboard of an oversized bed. She wore pink-and-white polka-dotted pajamas, half-buried under a soft quilt, engrossed in a book.
Hearing the door, she turned her head and smiled. "You're back."
"Uh…" Caught red-handed, Kure Ragna abandoned his stealth attempt and stepped in casually. "You're still up?"
"Almost ready to sleep." Sakayanagi Arisu closed her book with a faint smile. "But I was waiting for you, so I stayed up a little longer."
"Give me a minute. I'll shower quickly and be right back."
"I'll wait."
True to his word, Kure Ragna returned in under five minutes, refreshed and dressed in a clean nightgown, even taking the time to dry his hair. Without further ado, he switched off the lights and slipped under the covers.
As soon as he did, a soft, warm body snuggled up against him. Instinctively, he wrapped an arm around her.
"Hmm~" Arisu hummed triumphantly, shifting even closer until there wasn't a sliver of space left between them.
Then, out of nowhere, she spoke. "Should I congratulate you?"
"Huh?" Kure Ragna feigned ignorance.
"I may not have participated in the exam, but I still received the results." She retrieved her phone and let its screen cast a faint glow in the dark. "Hmm… I expected this outcome, but it still feels strange to drop to Class C so suddenly."
Kure Ragna hesitated, playing dumb to avoid the awkwardness. It wasn't like he had planned this—at least, not entirely. Unlike the uninhabited island exam, where he had acted on Arisu's behalf, this time, his own schemes had dealt the fatal blow to Class A.
Katsuragi's rigidity had cost them dearly—losing 200 points while inadvertently boosting Class B by 150. A shift of 350 points in total, more than enough to knock Class A off its pedestal.
Even though Arisu likely didn't mind, it still felt odd knowing he had effectively punched his "sister's" class down the rankings.
Arisu turned off her phone and stretched under the quilt. "Still, this must be good news for Yukinoshita from your class. He did nothing and somehow landed in Class A."
"My, my…" Kure Ragna sighed dramatically. "Such is life."
"On the bright side, this should finally put an end to the Katsuragi faction's influence. It'll be easier for you to control Class A now."
"Correction—Class C." Kure Ragna smirked.
Arisu chuckled. "Right, right. But actually, I'm not planning to seize full control just yet. I intend to give Katsuragi another chance."
"A chance?" Kure Ragna raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Think about what's coming up after summer."
"The… sports festival?"
"Exactly. And since I can't participate, I won't have the authority to dictate strategy. There's an old saying—'third time's the charm.'"
"I see…" Kure Ragna mused. "Well, what about you? Got any plans?"
The silver-haired girl tilted her head. "Me? I was about to ask you the same thing. You always claimed you had no interest in reaching Class A, yet here you are—going from D to A in just one semester. Don't tell me you still have no ambitions."
Kure Ragna sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine, I won't lie. I do have a thought. What if… I let them fall back to Class D?"
A brief silence. Then—
"You're planning to betray the class?" Arisu asked, her tone mildly surprised.
"Not exactly." He shook his head. "If I just sit back and do nothing, they'll plummet on their own. No betrayal needed."
Arisu giggled. "How cruel—letting them taste hope, only to rip it away."
"Not my fault they lack the skills to stay at the top." He exhaled slowly. "Besides, getting to A was way too easy. If I put in even the slightest effort, I'd probably be running this school by now. But I'm not their guardian—I have no reason to carry them to victory."
"Well, don't worry." Arisu reached down and gently held his hand. "Once I take full control of Class A—"
"Class C," he corrected immediately.
"Fine, fine. But just to encourage you, I came up with a fitting nickname for you. Want to hear it?"
"Go on." She huffed.
He smirked mischievously. "Sakayanagi has a C."
A long pause.
Then—
"...I'm going to bite you."
And just like that, Kure Ragna burst into laughter as Arisu pouted in the darkness.
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