It was the fifth night since the start of the exam, 14 hours after I had left the D-class base camp. After giving instructions to Kamuro-san this morning, I had been preparing a plan.
It wasn't a difficult plan, just waiting for a single student who was likely to show up.
"Well, I think it's about time."
I checked the time near a small, hut-like spot standing alone in the center of the mountain, far from any class's base camp.
This spot had a full set of food, wood for a bonfire, kindling, and a large pot, all presumably provided by the school. Because of this, there was no benefit to occupying it now, with only two days left in the exam, even if it might have been useful on the first day.
"...Rain. This is convenient."
A light rain began to fall, wetting my cheeks and hair. The situation was so perfectly convenient that I almost laughed, but if I was discovered here, everything would be for naught.
I told myself this and waited for a few minutes. Then, from the northeast, the direction of the A-class base camp, I heard the sound of footsteps splashing on the ground.
"Huff... huff. ...Damn it! Those guys, calling me a sidekick and making fun of me...!"
The student, Totsuka-kun, who was breathing heavily to catch his breath, wiped his rain-soaked cheek with his jersey and entered the hut.
The fact that he didn't check if anyone was around showed his low level of awareness. Not that I intended to be discovered even if he had checked.
Thinking this, I silently slid down from the tree trunk I was perched on and went around to the opposite side of the hut's door.
"All right! Now they can't complain!"
I could hear Totsuka-kun's excited voice through the thin wall. It seemed he had finished occupying the spot.
"...No one saw me, right?"
Totsuka-kun came back out and muttered to himself as if he just remembered. He slowly walked around to the back of the hut where I was hiding.
The moment I saw him, I lunged out in a low stance and grabbed the back of his head and his chin like a protagonist from a certain stealth game.
"Mmph?! ...Guh...!"
I adjusted my left arm to strangle his carotid artery on the side of his neck, not his windpipe.
Perhaps due to the fact that he had been running just moments before, Totsuka-kun's struggle didn't last long.
"That's not good. You shouldn't be out here alone in the middle of the night... Okay."
After confirming he was unconscious, I took the key card from his jersey pocket.
At that moment, three flashes of light came from the direction Totsuka-kun had come from. I sent back the same "signal," and three students—a boy and two girls from Sakayanagi's faction—appeared from the deep forest.
"...Is he alive?"
"Yeah, he's just passed out. I don't think he'll even understand what happened, so please proceed with our plan."
One of the three students, Kamuro-san, asked, unable to hide her confusion. It was understandable, given how peacefully he was sleeping.
"All right, all right... Jeez, you really do some brutal stuff. You're just as that person said. Well, I'll leave it to you, Kito."
"Got it."
As expected of A-class students, and those trusted by Arisu-chan, they carried out the job perfectly.
---------
The scene now shifts back to the morning of the fifth day, when Kamuro was called by Saito.
---------
"What I need you to do this time, Kamuro-san, is to 'lure Totsuka-kun to the spot I've marked here'."
"Lure him... What are you planning to do?"
It was a perfectly reasonable question. Kamuro-san furrowed her brows in suspicion, but she'd have to be patient as I explained.
"First, do you know what Arisu-chan asked me to do?"
"Help Sakayanagi take control of A-class by bringing down the Katsuragi faction, right?"
Surprisingly, she seemed to have listened carefully. I had imagined a scenario where she hadn't been told anything, but it seemed my concerns were unfounded.
"Correct. But to be precise, it's a little different. What Arisu-chan asked me to do was to 'bring down the Katsuragi faction without accumulating resentment towards Katsuragi-kun'."
"...Is that even possible?"
It certainly sounds difficult. Katsuragi-kun is undoubtedly a very capable person, given that Arisu-chan hasn't taken complete control unconditionally. Arisu-chan even said she wanted to use him as a "strategist."
And for a failure to happen without it being directly linked to him, the difficulty level skyrockets.
"There's no need to attack him directly. I also think Katsuragi-kun is a good guy."
"I see. So that's why you're targeting Totsuka."
She was quick to understand. And in that respect, Totsuka-kun, who rushes to occupy spots, is the perfect bait.
It's incomprehensible why someone with such high pride and a dull mind could have gotten into A-class. I wish I could trade places with him.
"Exactly. To put it simply, I'm going to 'steal the key card from Totsuka-kun.' And I'm going to make everyone believe it was Totsuka-kun's own fault."
"Are you serious? The penalty for getting caught is huge, and there's no guarantee I can pull this off."
Perhaps because the plan was so unexpected, Kamuro-san's eyes widened in shock. Ignoring her, I continued talking.
"A responsible person like Katsuragi-kun will think, 'It's my responsibility that I couldn't stop Totsuka-kun.' But the A-class students will think differently. They'll think, 'A-class lost because Totsuka-kun got ahead of himself.' Then A-class will descend into chaos. It could even become a trauma for Katsuragi-kun."
"...That's twisted."
"Why did he have to be so stubborn when he could have just left everything to Arisu-chan? Doesn't he know the saying, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'?"
I would gladly get with the program. It's an inexplicable situation for a freeloader like me to follow the rules, but let's put that aside.
---------
A day had passed since Tsugumi disappeared. It was now late morning on the sixth day of the exam. We had gone into the forest to find food but had returned to the base camp with no luck. Even though the sun wasn't out, it was still surprisingly hot in the summer forest.
"You should wash up quickly, Horikita-san. You're completely covered in mud..."
"You're right... This state is unbearable."
Horikita, whose hair and clothes were somehow covered in mud, muttered uncomfortably. It was a pitiful sight, but it couldn't be helped. I'd have to beg for her forgiveness by prostrating myself for the first time in my life later.
And to tell the truth, it was all my fault that Horikita was covered in mud. During this special exam, I had: 'moved the underwear put in Ike's bag to Tsugumi's bag,' 'subtly informed Ibuki about the key card's existence,' and 'asked Yamauchi to throw mud on Horikita.'
Regarding the first point, Tsugumi still believes Ibuki put the underwear in the bag. In other words, I and Tsugumi are working towards different goals.
"I will hate you forever. Be prepared for that."
As expected, Yamauchi was thoroughly beaten and cowered behind me, trembling.
"I-I did it. You-you'll keep your promise, right?!"
"Don't worry. I'll definitely tell you after the exam is over."
I had absolutely no intention of telling him, unfortunately. He deserved this punishment for constantly doubting Tsugumi until the very end.
"Ah, but it looks like the showers are out of the question..."
The girls who had already returned from their search were gathered in front of the showers, waiting their turn. Ironically, three girls from the Karuizawa group were in line.
It wouldn't have been a problem if it was just Shinohara and her friends, but Karuizawa being there changed things.
"How about using the river? It'd be faster."
"...You're right. There doesn't seem to be any other way."
This is where the meaning of my second action comes in. As I discreetly guided Horikita to a secluded location, I glanced at Ibuki.
"I think I'll go for a swim too. Ibuki-san, want to join? I'm pretty sweaty. It's okay for C-class to use the river if we give them permission, right?"
"I'll pass. I don't like swimming, so I'll just wait for the showers."
Good. So far, everything was going according to plan. Next, I quietly followed Horikita, who was walking away from the showers with a hint of reluctance, and whispered to her so no one else could hear.
"If you're going to swim, give me your key card. It would be a huge deal if it were stolen."
"Okay. That helps, Ayanokoji-kun."
Horikita handed over the key card without a second thought. This was likely due to the trust we had built over the past few months, but it also made me realize how much Horikita had grown.
After she left, I went to the baggage area where the boys' bags were piled up and rummaged through my own belongings.
"...Good, it works."
I took a 'certain object' out of my bag, checked that it was functioning properly, and put it in my pocket. I had rented it without permission from the class, so it would be a huge deal if I were caught.
"Well, it's about time for me to make my move."
About 10 minutes later, Horikita returned after changing and sensed a strange atmosphere at the campsite.
It was due to the faint, dark smoke coming from behind the portable toilets. It was too early for a bonfire, and the location was all wrong.
"What's that smoke? What happened?"
I met up with Horikita and grabbed Ike, who was making a ruckus nearby, to ask what was going on.
"It's terrible! A fire! Something's burning behind the toilets!"
All the girls who were lined up in front of the showers were gone. They must have moved after hearing about the fire.
"I don't see Ibuki-san. Maybe she's responsible for this fire. Where is she?"
"She noticed the fire and just walked over there."
We hurried to the back of the portable toilets, where we saw Hirata and the others, and also Ibuki.
The students' attention was all on the fire. I had set the stage for this, so if they didn't act now, there was nothing more I could do.
While I was thinking this, Ibuki spoke to Horikita, and the two of them walked away from the group. With the noise from the other students, I couldn't make out what they were saying. However, I could read their lip movements to get a general idea.
'If you want to prove Saito's innocence, come with me right now without saying a word.'
Ibuki started walking. And Horikita... after a few seconds of internal conflict, she seemed to decide to follow her.
"Is this... a manual?"
"Yes, it seems so. Who would do such a thing..."
It seemed the fire had been put out over here. One of the girls and Hirata looked confused.
"It's my responsibility. I had the manual stored in my bag. It was piled up in front of the tent, and since it was daytime, I never thought anyone would steal it. But first, we have to make sure the fire is completely out..."
Hirata prioritized making sure the fire was extinguished over finding the culprit and headed to the river. As he filled an empty plastic bottle with water, he muttered with a dark expression.
"Why... Who would do this... Why can't we all get along... What am I going to tell Tsugumi-kun..."
The natural force he applied to his hand caused him to crush the plastic bottle. His usual cheerful expression was gone, replaced by a somewhat frightening aura. The atmosphere had soured so much compared to when he and Tsugumi were co-leaders, putting a great strain on Hirata's mind and body.
"You don't have to carry this all by yourself."
When I offered him these words that were hardly a comfort, he quietly said "thank you" and stood up.
"We have to... talk about this properly. If we don't, I won't be able to face Tsugumi-kun."
"You're right. Most of D-class witnessed the fire. They must want to know the truth."
With a downcast expression, Hirata returned to the source of the fire with the water he had drawn.
I used that opportunity to follow Horikita and Ibuki. A few minutes later, I saw Ibuki about to kick Horikita.
"...I'm sorry, Horikita."
However, I had no intention of compromising.
Pushing aside two conflicting feelings, I pointed the digital camera I had taken from my pocket at the two of them.
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