Resounding

The cruise ship was a marvel of luxury, a floating palace upon the endless blue. The scent of salt mixed with faint traces of polished wood and expensive cologne, and the soft hum of the ship's engines barely disturbed the atmosphere of wealth and indulgence.

I made my way toward the teachers' lounge, hoping to find Chei Hoshinomiya. However, upon arrival, I was informed she wasn't available. Perhaps she, too, was enjoying the ship's many amenities.

"She's probably at the sauna," Chayabashira suggested, her tone indifferent.

I hesitated. "The sauna?" That sounded like a place I should avoid unless I wanted to be mistaken for a peeping Tom.

Just as I turned to leave, Chayabashira's voice stopped me.

"Lloyd Shinomiya, is that right?"

I turned back, meeting her sharp gaze.

"Chei mentioned you once before."

I offered a casual shrug. "Chei says a lot of things. I hope none of it was slanderous."

"Rest assured, it wasn't anything damaging to your image." She paused, her eyes lingering on me. "Just that you're a foreigner."

"I doubt I'm the only one in this institution," I replied smoothly. "There are a few others of my... reckoning."

"But of course..."

She let the sentence trail off, leaving an air of unfinished thoughts between us. Her gaze, however, didn't waver. She was scrutinizing me, as if trying to peel away my surface and see what lay beneath. I held her stare for a moment before turning to leave.

The sauna wasn't far. As I approached, I heard giggling and energetic conversation spilling out into the corridor. I stopped just short of the entrance, waiting as the voices grew closer.

Chei Hoshinomiya and Ichinose Honami stepped into view, their skin still glowing faintly from the heat, a slight flush on their faces. The light above reflected off the sheen of lingering moisture on their bodies, adding an almost ethereal effect. I took a brief glance at them—perhaps too brief, as they quickly caught my presence.

"Fufu~ Are you waiting for me, Lloyd?" Chei teased, her smile playful. "What brings you here?"

"Sensei!" Ichinose interjected, slightly exasperated.

"What? It's not like I did anything," Chei responded with a chuckle.

While their banter was amusing, I had business with Chei alone.

"Ichinose, Kozue has been looking for you," I said, my tone casual but slightly urgent. "Something about girl trouble, if you know what I mean..."

I let my words hang in the air just enough to suggest something private. My expression probably gave away a bit of enthusiasm, as if I were a messenger of scandal.

Ichinose blinked, then sighed. "I see… I guess I should go check on her."

With a wave, she turned and walked in the opposite direction, leaving me alone with Chei.

Chei hummed beside me, idly twirling a strand of her damp hair. "That was an obvious excuse, you know."

"Maybe," I admitted. "But it worked."

She smirked. "Alright, I'll humor you. Let's talk in my office."

---

Chei's office was in pristine order, shelves lined with neatly arranged books, the sleek black leather chair exuding an air of professionalism. Of course, that illusion was shattered the moment Chei herself plopped down behind the desk, radiating her usual carefree attitude.

"Lloyd, are you here for relationship advice?" she asked with a smirk.

A classic Chei response.

"I don't intend to get into a relationship," I replied evenly. "At least, not right now."

"Not interested in dating?" She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Well, what if I asked? Would you date me, cutie?"

Her voice dripped with amusement, but I knew better than to take her too seriously. Even so, I decided to play along.

"You're not worried about your reputation?" I asked, tilting my head. "If people found out you were dating a student, it wouldn't exactly be a small scandal."

"Who says anyone has to find out?" She winked, her tone still teasing, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes.

It was no mystery why she was admired by the boys in our class. And possibly the other classes, too.

"I see," I mused. "Well, I doubt you'd have any trouble finding someone. You're already a lot of guys' preference just based on appearance alone."

"How flattering," she cooed. Then, with a small pout, she added, "But it seems the one I'm going for isn't getting the signal."

"That's unfortunate," I said dryly.

Chei laughed, though it sounded more like an exaggerated sigh. "You're impossible."

"Thank you."

She rolled her eyes but gestured for me to continue. "Alright, cutie, what do you actually need?"

"Admittedly, it may sound selfish," I began, "but it's for the best of our class."

"As your homeroom teacher, I'm obligated to help my students," she said with a grin. "As long as it's within my power."

"Then I'll get straight to the point," I said. "I have reason to believe there will be a special exam after we disembark. The school has already invested resources into something, and the ship has been circling an island. It's unlikely to be a coincidence."

Chei's expression barely changed, but I caught the slight furrow in her brow.

"I want you to confirm if my assumptions are correct," I continued. "Or at the very least, add any details I may have missed."

Silence filled the space between us. She studied me carefully, her playful demeanor subdued.

Then she sighed. "You know I can't disclose examination details. School rules."

I expected that. The school had a strict hands-off approach. But rules, as I saw them, weren't always absolute.

"I figured you'd say that," I murmured, my shoulders slumping just slightly.

"I'm sorry to disappoint, but it's not within my power."

"But sensei, there's no reason to deny me this information," I countered. "I already have the exam figured out. You just don't want to admit it, do you?"

Chei's eyes flickered with something—anxiety, maybe. She looked away, feigning disinterest.

"You don't need to pretend," I continued. "Even if you gave me information, I wouldn't share it. And honestly, even if everyone had the same intel, not many would know how to use it effectively."

"Lloyd," she said, her tone firm, "I can't break the rules for you."

Here's your refined version with improved grammar, better flow, and a more polished tone while keeping the original content intact:

---

Chei's expression dropped, anxiety creeping into her features as her eyes darted away, pretending to focus on something else.

"There's no need to act as if my assumptions were off the mark," I said casually. "This exam has already been laid bare. And even if you gave me the information I need, I wouldn't share it with anyone else."

Chei sighed, her gaze still averted. "Lloyd, I'll assist my class where I can, but what you're asking is against school rules."

"Don't worry about school rules. Even if they suspect I know more than I should, you could always pin it on the rumors spreading in the school forum. Those predictions were spot on, after all." I let my words settle before adding, "Besides, even if everyone had the same intel, most wouldn't be able to act on it. This is a physically demanding exam."

Chei remained silent, her narrowed eyes now laced with suspicion. "And what exactly do you want me to do about the rules? They aren't meant to be broken. If I give you information, there will be severe consequences—not just for me, but possibly for your class as well."

"I'm not asking you to break the rules," I said smoothly. "Just bend the narrative. If you validate my deductions, I can solidify my strategy. And with that, your class will get a head start as well."

She bit her lip, her gaze flickering with hesitation. I could practically hear the gears turning in her head, weighing the risks.

"This is within your power, Chei-sensei," I pressed. "Class B needs all the help it can get."

She exhaled sharply, clearly caught in a dilemma. She knew the risks—exposing exam details was a serious offense. And yet, here I was, asking her to confirm what I already suspected. Still, if I played this right, maybe I could squeeze out even more intel.

"Lloyd, I understand that you're doing this for Class B," she finally said, her voice firmer than before. "But the answer is still no."

Sigh. Adults, am I right?

"Well, that's unfortunate," I murmured, reaching into my pocket.

I pulled out my phone and held it up for her to see.

The moment she registered what I was showing her, her face darkened, her expression shifting from anxiety to something closer to disdain.

Her gaze snapped to me.

"If you're wondering," I said casually, "this is a recording of our conversation. Including the part where you were flirting inappropriately with an underage student." I let that sink in before adding, "And just in case that's not enough, I also recorded our discussion about the special exam."

Chei shot up from her chair, a storm brewing behind her eyes. The shift in her demeanor was unsettling—gone was the playful, flirtatious teacher the class was familiar with. Now, she radiated something far more dangerous.

Swoosh!

She lunged, trying to snatch the phone from my grasp.

Instinct took over, and I took a step back, easily avoiding her reach.

"Tsk, tsk," I mused, waving the phone slightly. "You do realize your entire career is on the line, right? A beloved, talented teacher, naturally admired, caught doing what? Asking for a relationship with a minor?"

"You—!" Her jaw clenched. "I never took you for a crafty bastard."

"Flattered," I said smoothly. "And for the record, the phone is still recording. So unless you want to keep digging your own grave, I'd suggest you stop talking smack."

"Screw you, Lloyd."

"The feeling is mutual," I replied, smirking. Though, if circumstances were different… who knows?

"You want the exam information?" she asked, her voice now dangerously calm. "Then delete those recordings first. You'd do that much for your dear sensei, wouldn't you?"

"No," I said without hesitation. "Payment before service. In this scenario, you're the buyer."

"Dammit," she muttered under her breath.

To my surprise, she didn't lash out. Instead, she sighed, picking up a notepad and scribbling something down. Her expression remained neutral, though it was clear this situation irritated her beyond belief.

After about two minutes, she finished and handed me the note.

I glanced at the contents, reading through the details carefully.

"Here's my students card. For the coming future."

I slide the card on her desk to her, with a skeptical face she looked at me gauging my intention.

"And what's this for?"

"I don't know, but I have a feeling I'll be needing it in the upcoming event, the pin is 2139. Do any funny business, I know the total amount."

Chei sensei looked at me, a small smile playing on her face, a subtle nod assured me she understands the implications.

"Pleasure doing business with you," I said, pocketing my phone. "Though I suppose blackmail isn't exactly a noble method... still, necessary."

I turned to leave, but just as I reached the door, her voice stopped me.

"You're capable, Lloyd," she said, her tone unreadable. "I assume you'll use your abilities to push Class B to the top?"

I smirked but didn't turn around.

"You assume that," I murmured. "But in reality, I'm just another student loitering around."

With measured steps, I exited the office.

It will be starting soon.