"That's a pretty bold idea, but I don't think it's realistic. Besides, is it really true that Ryuuen-kun has identified the VIP of Class C?"
"It's natural not to trust me. So, for this time only, let's make a written agreement. The deal is to split the three VIPs in Class A. This way, the three classes excluding A can get closer to the top."
The students gathered here seem to be a group of three collaborators.
"Even if we write an agreement, it's meaningless since we won't know who betrayed whom. Class C would just betray us and it's over."
It was a natural response for Horikita to dismiss it like that. It's because in the previous exam, they learned that he would not hesitate to bare his fangs at a collaborating class. You never know what he'll do by exploiting a loophole in the contract.
"What Horikita-san says is a valid point, but it's an impossible proposal if you haven't identified the VIP like Ryuuen-kun has."
"There's no point in playing dumb. There's no way you don't know the state of your class."
While their faces were smiling, the atmosphere became tense. A chilling presence prickled the skin.
"You're overestimating me. I never thought of such a thing, and I don't have that kind of trust. Besides, it's high-risk, low-return. I can't possibly agree to it."
"Being secretive is fine, but you should take action when you have the chance."
"That's what you'd say, isn't it? Now that you're forcefully gathering information, it's not a dream to rise to Class B if you can just sweep it all up with a net."
"It's no wonder. Suzune has a reason not to agree, even if she wants to."
"...What do you mean?"
"You know, don't you? This strategy requires a perfect grasp of your own class's details. I think that moocher would gladly drink it up, you know? He'll do anything to get a profit."
The atmosphere changed again. This time, it was a heavy, murky space.
"But it's a plan that can be pulled off by me, who controls the class, and Ichinose, who has immense popularity. I proposed a joint struggle between three classes, but this is also possible with just two classes. The probability of figuring out the rules might decrease, but I can manage somehow. If we do that, both A and D will be completely exposed."
It was a proposal for Class D and Class A to friendly split the VIPs between them.
"You're overestimating me."
"Overestimating? You have a pretty low self-evaluation, Ichinose. Look next to you. The guys in D, and even the guys in A, even the top students can't get on the same page. Katsuragi and Sakayanagi. Suzune and Saitou, too."
So that's why he's proposing an alliance with C and B, who have perfect unity. This might have been a proposal aimed at Ichinose from the start.
In front of the three leaders of Class D, Ryuuen's brazen offer of cooperation to Class B was eerie.
"...I'm amazed. If you really believe that story will work out, I'm envious of your naivety."
I was curious about Horikita's stance, but it seemed she had arrived at the same conclusion as me.
"If Class B and Class C were to team up, Class A and Class D would team up next. Even if Class D lacks unity right now, don't you think they'll unite when it's certain they'll lose?"
"Tsugumi and Sakayanagi of Class A have had a relationship since childhood. Once it's confirmed that you guys have teamed up, it won't take long for the two class leaders to join hands."
I added that as a supplement. Honestly, it's impossible to break the trust between those two. Tsugumi seems to prioritize Sakayanagi above all else, and to a lesser extent, Sakayanagi is the same.
"This discussion has no future. In the end, we'll just end up crushing each other."
"What do you mean, Suzune?"
"If you intend to have any more of these talks, like collusion, then we'll have no choice but to act on the premise that it's 'so.' That's all."
Currently, even if there isn't a cooperative relationship, there's no need to force a hostile one. Horikita probably wanted to convey that.
"I'm sorry, Ryuuen-kun. There are people in Class B who were hurt by your actions. We can't easily team up just for the sake of getting points."
"I see. That's too bad."
He didn't seem disappointed at all. It's because he was acting on the premise that it would never work out from the start.
Ryuuen stood up and walked past us to leave the room. As he left, he looked at me one more time.
"...No way."
I didn't react to the words that I barely caught by straining my ears.
Ryuuen shook his head slightly and left.
"Well then, I'm going back to my room."
After everyone left the Dragon Room, we disbanded immediately and Horikita returned to her room.
On the way, Hamaguchi, who seemed to have been waiting, joined her.
After seeing Horikita's back, Ichinose turned to me and said, "If you don't mind, could you accompany me for a bit?"
"Oh, I don't mind."
I was a bit intimidated with three Class B students, including Ichinose, around me.
After that, we parted ways with Kanzaki, and only the Rabbit group remained.
"Horikita-san said that, but I think there's still room for cooperation."
"Room for cooperation?"
"Yeah. I was surprised that Class A distanced themselves from us, but I think there's a chance. For that, I think it's necessary to reveal everything."
"Everything...?"
To me, who couldn't quite grasp the meaning, Ichinose continued to explain while holding up a finger.
"This exam is all about finding the VIP, isn't it? So, I think the standard strategy is to increase the probability by creating as many non-VIPs as possible. That's why I'm telling you... I'm not the VIP. And I intend to find the VIP and bring a victory to our group."
Ichinose said this, looking me straight in the eye. She added, "If I were the VIP, I would have hidden my existence. Even if Ayanokouji-kun asked me... The reason is simple, I'm doing my best for Class B."
"...I see."
Her words were unexpected. I thought there wasn't much of a benefit to declaring her stance here... but it seems Ichinose has her own way of thinking.
"...Is it weird?"
"No, I was just surprised because you're so honest. ...I respect your opinion, but looking at the situation around us, I don't think it's going to work out that well."
"Oh... I see. By the way, could you tell me why?"
Feeling guilty about her obviously dejected look, I hardened my heart and explained, for Ichinose and no one else.
"For example, maintaining a cooperative relationship within our group only. I agree with that, and I think it's realistic. But I think it's difficult for the entire class to cooperate, like during the uninhabited island exam. Whether it's the method Ryuuen just mentioned or not."
"Is that... because of the class points between classes?"
"Yes. The situation should have changed significantly after the uninhabited island exam. In this special exam, Class D gained 450 class points. While there's still a gap with the classes above us, both Class C and Class A are probably watching us closely."
In fact, Class C has Ryuuen, who learned about Tsugumi's abilities in the special exam. Class A has Sakayanagi. In that respect, Ichinose's Class B probably only sees Tsugumi as a kind person who's a little sharp.
However, in reality, Tsugumi's abilities are such that he could have a trouble-free time in the White Room. The only concern is his mental fragility due to his kindness.
"..."
While I was lost in thought, I noticed that Ichinose and her friends were staring at me in a daze.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, no. It's just... You're amazing, Ayanokouji-kun. You look completely different from usual."
...I messed up. It's not like me to give advice for the sake of others.
"I said too much. Forget about it."
"No! It was really helpful! It's rare to get a chance to hear another class's thoughts like this."
I tried to return to my usual goldfish-like mode, but Ichinose's respectful gaze didn't waver.
"Oh, is that so. Then I'm glad."
...It's embarrassing to be thanked so directly.
Looking at it this way, Ichinose and Tsugumi might be similar in some way. The difference is that for Tsugumi, Sakayanagi is the highest value in his life, while for Ichinose, it's the entirety of Class B.
"...Well then, I'll be going now."
"Okay! See you later, Ayanokouji-kun."
────But that state of mind is far too unstable.
---------
It was a little after 7 p.m. As promised, Arisu-chan and I were having dinner at a restaurant on the ship.
"Hmm, this is delicious. Kamuro-san seems to know my tastes very well."
"Is that so. I'm glad."
Arisu-chan said that and elegantly carried a forkful of pasta to her mouth. Yep, a beautiful girl's eating posture is also a sight to behold.
"Would you mind if I had a bite of yours?"
"Hmm? Go ahead."
"Thank you."
We swapped plates and took a bite of each other's food. Oh, this is delicious too.
"By the way, is it okay to be doing this during the exam?"
"Yes. There's no reason to be restricted during the free time we're allowed, is there?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
This girl is so relaxed.
After that, we had a few more casual conversations. Arisu-chan, who had stuffed her small body with food, was even going to have dessert.
"Tsugumi-kun, why don't we share this?"
"Huh? What is it... Are you serious?"
When I looked at the menu item Arisu-chan pointed to, there was an absurdly huge parfait.
Besides, Arisu-chan is a very light eater. She probably wouldn't even be able to eat 10% of it.
"...Is it no good?"
"It's fine. I'll eat whatever you leave."
"Hehe. Thank you."
Before I knew it, I had agreed. That upward gaze is unfair, that upward gaze.
"When did you become such a devious woman..."
"Tsugumi-kun, on the other hand, why were you so good?"
Arisu-chan smiled, placing her index finger on her pale pink lips. It was a very sensual atmosphere.
"...No comment."
"Oh, being secretive is charming, but if you do it too much, I might think you're cheating on me, you know?"
She said it with a smile, but for some reason, my little toe was screaming. When I looked, her silver cane was digging into my sneaker again. If I were to say something like, 'We're not even dating in the first place,' I don't know what would happen to him.
By the way, as Arisu-chan sat at the table, her feet were dangling in the air. She's like a little girl.
"Mmmph."
"You just thought something rude, didn't you?"
She was accurately grinding my little toe with the small surface area of the cane tip. No, even with a little girl's body, she's charming, so please spare me...
"There wasn't much of a difference in height back then... Don't you think it's a bother that you've only grown in height?"
I remember that fondly. I used to piggyback her often. Now I think I could carry two people... Wait.
"Don't say it as if my personality hasn't grown at all."
"...You've been the same since forever. Anyway..."
"Excuse me. Here's your jumbo parfait."
"...!"
Arisu-chan, who seemed to want to say something, was interrupted at the perfect time by the arrival of the parfait. It was about twice the height of Arisu-chan's face, so eating all of it would be tough.
"It's huge... I'll take a picture and show it off to Kiyotaka-kun. Come on, Arisu-chan, I'll take it."
"...That's unusual. You're not the type to take pictures or use social media, are you?"
It can't be helped, when I was a student in my previous life, Twitter was just starting to come out.
Lately, I've been trying my best to take pictures for Kiyotaka-kun and Suzune-chan. Aren't I great?
"Don't worry about it. Okay, cheese... Oh! That looks good!"
I said that, but what I opened was not the camera app.
I pretended to show her the picture and held up my phone screen.
"Let me see...! That's a good one. Please send it to me later."
What I had launched was the memo app. On the pure white screen, the words 'The seat in the back, to the right, is bugged' were displayed in black.
"Alright. I've taken the picture, so let's eat right away... "
"Wait a minute."
"Huh?"
I thought she understood my intention, but for some reason, Arisu-chan stopped my hand from picking up the spoon.
She opened her phone again, pointed to the edge of the screen, and said, "This part is cut off. Let's take another one."
"...Okay."
...So she did want to take a picture.
---------
"Tsugumi-kun. Say 'ah'."
"Ah."
"Oh my, it would be a bit more endearing if you were a little flustered."
"Huh, even though we've had a deep kiss?"
"...Don't say that so loud."
"Huh... are you serious?"
"Don't ask me!"
"Arisu-chan, you have some whipped cream on your mouth."
"Please take it off."
"Okay. Mmm, it's not too sweet and it's delicious."
"...Do you really do something so cliché? Normally?"
"Are you embarrassed? Cute Arisu-chan... Mmmph."
"This height is easy to aim at, isn't it?"
"Hee..."
"...Hey. Is this really what Ryuuen-san wanted to see?"
"Definitely not."
"I'm full. Tsugumi-kun, please do your best with the rest."
"You should eat more so you can grow... Mmmph... I didn't even say anything yet!"
"It's a stitch in time, Tsugumi-kun. I'm taking precautions beforehand."
"Don't be so clever."
"...Excuse me. One black coffee. "
"I want one too."
" ...Two, please."
"No kidding. It's so nice that everything is free. I used up all my points to call Arisu-chan, you see."
"Oh, now that you mention it. ...Did you hate being apart from me that much?"
"Huh? Of course. I'd die if I couldn't see Arisu-chan for two weeks."
"Is that so... Hehe, you're a hopeless person."
"Oh, by the way, I don't have any money to play with during summer vacation. Could you lend me some points later? I'll pay you back at the beginning of the month."
"...Understood."
"He's a real piece of trash, isn't he..."
"...I want to go home already."
---------
"...Haa. Please use your points more responsibly."
"Of course. Thank you, Arisu-chan!"
I'm so grateful. I was about to borrow money from Kiyotaka-kun, so this helped a lot.
Well, I'll pay back the money I borrowed properly, and even if I get some, I'm paying a price for it, so I hope you'll forgive me.
"Anyway, it's a pity that the conversation they overheard after tailing us was that."
Ishizaki-kun and Ibuki-san? When I was paying the bill, I secretly looked at them and they looked so exhausted. Those two are so dedicated.
They were following the two class representatives for a secret meeting, but in reality, all we were doing was acting like a couple. It's no wonder they were so crestfallen.
"I'm sure Ryuuen-kun is getting an earful of our complaints right now... Well then, finally, we can talk, Tsugumi-kun."
With those words, the atmosphere around Arisu-chan completely changed. There were no more tails, and no one else was around. It was the best time to start.
"What kind of story will I hear?"
Feeling the prickling tension, I responded to the conversation not as a 'childhood friend' but as 'Saitou Tsugumi of Class D.'
"----, ----. ------"
"...Heh. That's interesting. Well then, I'll go back to my room to prepare. See you later, Arisu-chan."
The words that came out of Arisu-chan's mouth were different from what I had expected.
However, having grasped her intention, I began to move to prepare.
---------
────It was 8:30 p.m. The fourth discussion was about to begin.
============
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