chap 8

Katsuragi did his best but only managed to reduce

Sakayanagi's total life points to 9.

There were about five minutes left in the interval when

Ryuuen entered the room.

— So, you've arrived. Please, take a seat.

Sakayanagi politely greeted her opponent.

Ryuuen only gave Sakayanagi a contemptuous look. He

sat down, crossed his legs, and remained silent.

— Today is your last day at this school. Make sure to

remember it well.

— Not mine, Sakayanagi. Yours.

The two representatives immediately exchanged

"pleasantries."

— Let's assume you manage to defeat me. But can you

be a worthy opponent for Ayanokoji-kun?

— There's no one better suited than me for that. Because

to defeat him, you have to be willing to resort to evil

without hesitation.

— Oh, I see. So, you fancy yourself an antihero?

Characters who play a fundamental role in a story are

called "heroes." A hero, by definition, is a moral concept

based on high ethical standards. He helps the weak and

punishes the wrongdoers. He embodies all the good and

justice that exists in human society. But sometimes,

among "heroes," there are those who possess an

opposite, evil nature. And even though, by definition, they

still remain heroes, their principles are far from the ideals

by which any other hero lives.

— You know, antagonists always face defeat at the end of

any story. But if you consider yourself an antihero, you

probably believe you are invincible.

Sakayanagi explained to Ryuuen in a somewhat

roundabout way:

— But let me clarify something. You're not suited for the

lead role.

— Are you comparing yourself to the heroine of some

story?

— Not a heroine. I'm the main character.

This part of their dialogue was more like an extended

greeting than a constructive conversation.

— Do you think you got lucky with this exam or not? I'm

glad that Hashimoto-kun, whom you use as your personal

spy, doesn't have access to information about the exact

rules of the exam, so he won't be able to pull off any tricks.

And you seem to like the fact that this exam doesn't

require any academic knowledge, don't you?

Hearing Sakayanagi's words, Ryuuen suddenly changed

the subject:

— You mentioned before that you knew Ayanokoji as a

child.

— It's hard for me to imagine what he looked like when he

was younger. What kind of child was he?

Ryuuen had thought about this a lot, but he still couldn't

piece together a coherent image in his mind. This child

must have not only had immeasurable combat potential

but also a speed of thought far beyond that of an ordinary

person. Moreover, he must have been willing to do things

that no one else would dare to do.

— It's no surprise that this bothers you. Ayanokoji-kun is

an extraordinary person, — Sakayanagi squinted her eyes

in admiration. She seemed even happier than if Ryuuen

had praised her directly.

— But I won't tell you about it. It's a highly important secret

that belongs to me alone.

Ryuuen looked intently into Sakayanagi's eyes, as if trying

to understand why she refused to answer him.

— Compared to him, I find it surprisingly easy to imagine

your childhood. You rebelled against the world, mistakenly

believing you were the center of the universe. You decided

that you could control those around you through violence

alone, rejecting reason as something meaningless. You

lost countless times, betting on a big win in the end.

— That's right.

— Fufu... I'm not saying that's bad. It just explains why

you're so eager to challenge Ayanokoji-kun. An ordinary

person, whose heart could be broken by any careless

word, would never attempt such a thing. But your spirit of

defiance won't let you rest, so you keep trying.

— So, what's your point? Are you trying to say that you

can beat Ayanokoji? That's nonsense.

— You may evaluate our chances differently, but I believe I

surpass him. And to prove it, I must first get rid of the

pesky fly in the form of you.

Sakayanagi looks down on Ayanokoji, while Ryuuen looks

up to him. They are in diametrically opposite positions.

Looking at the list of groups, Sakayanagi immediately

noticed the one she wouldn't touch. Of course, it was the

group in which Hashimoto Masayoshi was playing. Before

the exam, Sakayanagi had also instructed her "vanguard"

and "main forces" not to choose his group. Hashimoto

undoubtedly wanted to betray her. But he wouldn't be able

to do so if he couldn't participate in the discussion. From

this perspective, the exam was unfolding very favorably for

Sakayanagi.

— I will use my right to the "traitor."

Right in the first discussion, Sakayanagi decided to utilize

the "traitor."

Judging purely by the numbers, Sakayanagi currently had

9 life points, while Ryuuen still had all 10. Perhaps

Sakayanagi wanted to close this gap quickly? Or was

there another motive behind this decision?

Either way, she intended to take advantage of the fact that

Ryuuen hadn't yet played a single game and didn't know

exactly how the discussion would unfold.

— Ku-ku-ku... You've played before, haven't you? Eager to

get this over with?

— There's no reason for me to delay. The outcome of our

battle will be decided during the first discussion.

— You don't seem to understand, do you? Those who

waste their trump cards at the start of the game usually

end up losing.

— In that case, our fight will be an exception to that rule.

Without any hesitation, Sakayanagi shifted her gaze to the

monitor, where the discussion was about to begin.

Part 1

"First Round of Discussion"

Participants:

Class 2A:

Yanagibashi Motofumi, Yusuke Ishida, Shimazaki Ikkei,

Toba Shigeru, Tamiya Emi, Morishita Ai, Takanashi Ko

Class 2C:

Ishizaki Daichi, Kaneda Satoru, Komiya Kyogo, Nakaizumi

Shohei, Suminokura Mami, Takarajima Miko, Hatate Kaoru

The fateful clash between the two "Generals" had begun.

Moreover, in the first discussion, Class Ryuuen already

had a "traitor." And as none of the group members initiated

the conversation, Morishita Ai from Class A decided to

speak first.

— Daichi Ishizaki, first of all, could you prove to all of us

that you are not the "Honor Student"?

— Why me all of a sudden?!

— I may not have the "Graduate" role, but I can certainly

recognize suspicious behavior.

Morishita knew from the monitor's information that there

was a traitor in Class C, but she didn't mention it.

Everyone in the discussion room, including Morishita

herself, immediately focused their attention on Ishizaki.

— You're lying... I'm not the "Honor Student"!

— Still, I asked you to prove it to us.

— I can't do that! How am I supposed to prove it?!

— So, you're refusing to defend yourself?

— Wh-what...?! You don't understand anything!

Ishizaki was thrown off by Morishita's aggressive

questioning until Kaneda suddenly intervened.

— Wait, Morishita-san. Ishizaki-kun, you don't have to

answer that. We can't use such aggressive methods.

Remember, we need to keep the discussion as productive

as possible. So, first, I'd consider Morishita-san's own

accusations to be suspicious. Morishita-san, can you

prove to us that you're not the "Honor Student"?

Kaneda adjusted his glasses and shifted everyone's

attention from Ishizaki to Morishita.

— According to the rules of this discussion, I can't prove

my innocence conclusively.

Morishita's response was quite different from the demands

she had just made of Ishizaki.

— Does that mean you were trying to impose an

impossible task on Ishizaki-kun?

— But he had such a dumb look on his face when he tried

to defend himself…

— Who are you calling dumb?!

— Please, everyone, remain calm. To defeat Sakayanagisan, we will need to make a considerable effort. The same

effort will be required for Class A to defeat Ryuuen-kun.

Morishita-san tried to provoke us into making a careless

mistake. But if we want Ryuuen-kun, who's watching us

now, to win, we must stay calm, no matter what the other

class tries.

Kaneda quickly moved to calm the enraged Ishizaki.

— I've observed other discussions, and it seems to me

that "Honor Students" often make eye contact with each

other. Komiya-kun, Takanashi-san, did you two exchange

meaningful glances at the start of this discussion?

Tamiya from Class A was quick to share her suspicions.

— Yes, yes! I noticed that too!

Nakaizumi said, nodding repeatedly in agreement.

Classes A and C were opponents, but in this room, they

were divided not by class but by the roles they had.

— And I noticed that when everyone focused on Ishizakikun, Komiya-kun sighed in relief.

Tamiya continued to press her point. It was left to be seen

whether she was speaking the truth or trying to deflect

suspicion from herself.

Even though these students were participating in a

discussion for the first time, they were handling the

dialogue with remarkable skill.

And while there was still a "traitor" among them, the

participants couldn't know what role they played in the

broader exam system, so they didn't overly strain

themselves trying to find them.

Part 2

The five-minute discussion, which began with Morishita's

sudden attack, finally came to an end. It was time for the

nominations.

— That was quite a heated discussion, wasn't it?

— Something like that.

The representatives began sharing their impressions of

what they had observed.

— What are you planning to do, Ryuuen-kun? There were

a few hints to pick up from the discussion.

Receiving information from her "traitor," Sakayanagi was

already a step ahead of Ryuuen. However, even in this

situation, Ryuuen could discern clues in the participants'

statements that might provide him with a foundation to

build upon.

Komiya and Takanashi exchanged glances at the

beginning of the round, and Tamiya and Nakaizumi

pointed it out eagerly. It's possible that one of these pairs

might be the "Honor Students."

However, jumping to conclusions could be dangerous. The

first round of discussion only provided hints—nothing

more, nothing less.

Yet, if Ryuuen chose to pass, Sakayanagi would

immediately receive information from her "traitor" about

one of the students' roles. To prevent this, Ryuuen needed

to engage in dialogue and eliminate the "traitor."

Moreover, correctly identifying the "traitor" would give

Ryuuen a long-term advantage, but if he guessed wrong,

he would lose 2 life points, and Sakayanagi would regain

the right to appoint a "traitor" in the next round. If that

happened, the situation would take a turn for the worse for

Ryuuen.

He remained silent, recalling all the details of the previous

round. For the past two years, he had felt like the king of

his class, but now his worth was being questioned.

When the time for nominations had been fully used up, it

was finally time to see if his judgment had been correct.

— Ryuuen-kun made an incorrect nomination and lost 1

life point.

Sakayanagi decided to pass, while Ryuuen chose to

nominate Tamiya as the "Honor Student." However, his

risk did not pay off, and he lost a life point.

— That doesn't make much of a difference. But you,

despite flaunting your power, decided to pass, huh?

— Fufu, maybe so. But what's the rush?

Sakayanagi didn't deny her actions, but she also showed

no sign of concern. In a sense, she preferred to avoid

making nominations for as long as possible. A rapid

progression of the discussion didn't benefit her.

However, in the first round of discussion, two pairs of

students who could potentially be the "Honor Students"

had already emerged. A correct nomination of one would

automatically put the other under suspicion. In that case,

the chances of a draw would increase significantly,

something Sakayanagi wanted to avoid, as it would render

her "traitor" right useless.

On the other hand, Ryuuen wanted to find the "traitor" as

quickly as possible and end the discussion. So, he was

faced with the crucial decision of whom to engage in

dialogue with.

Sakayanagi, of course, wanted him to waste as many

attempts as possible searching for the "traitor."

— Ryuuen-kun will now leave the exam room to engage in

dialogue.

Without much hesitation, Ryuuen chose the most

suspicious student.

— Well, good luck.

If Ryuuen made a mistake, he could lose even more life

points. Sakayanagi had appointed Takarajima Miko as the

"traitor," while Ryuuen decided to call Nakaizumi for

dialogue. He returned to the room just two minutes after

leaving.

To get the correct answer, all Ryuuen had to do was ask,

"Are you the traitor?" None of his classmates would

intentionally lie to him, considering the risk of being

expelled for lying.

Having confirmed that Nakaizumi wasn't the traitor,

Ryuuen kept his life points at 9. One of the discussion

participants had been chosen by the "Honor Students," but

thanks to the successful work of the "teacher," he wasn't

removed from the room.

At the end of the round, Sakayanagi received information

from her "traitor" on her tablet. Now she knew that

Morishita Ai was the "Graduate."

The "Graduate" wasn't safe from being removed by the

"Honor Students," so Sakayanagi was forced to nominate

her in the next round. The second round of discussion

began, and the representatives turned to their monitors to

identify other role holders.

When the round ended and it was time for nominations,

Sakayanagi immediately nominated Morishita as the

"Graduate." Meanwhile, Ryuuen also decided to nominate

Morishita but did so "blindly."

— Since Ryuuen-kun correctly "blindly" nominated

Morishita-san as a role holder and Sakayanagi-san

correctly nominated Morishita-san as the "Graduate,"

Ryuuen-kun loses 1 life point.

Both representatives made the right choice, but Ryuuen

still lost a life point because he couldn't determine

Morishita's exact role.

Sakayanagi didn't want to nominate students from Class C

to avoid making it easier for Ryuuen to find the "traitor."

After the second round, Ryuuen called Kaneda for a

dialogue, but, similar to the first round, he achieved no

results. The "traitor" effect once again worked in

Sakayanagi's favor. Now she knew that Shimazaki was the

"First-Year."

Sakayanagi was using a sophisticated strategy. She didn't

want Ryuuen to find the traitor too soon, as it would allow

her to extract maximum value from them, but leaving the

"traitor" in the room wasn't advantageous either, as the

remaining "traitor" could earn 50 class points for their

class.

At this point, only two students had left the discussion

room: Tamiya, who was wrongly nominated by Ryuuen,

and Morishita, who was correctly nominated. This meant

that there were still 12 students left in the room.

In the next, third round, Ryuuen correctly identified

another role holder. At the right moment, he "blindly"

nominated Shimazaki, while Sakayanagi determined his

exact role.

— Since Ryuuen-kun correctly "blindly" nominated

Shimazaki-kun as a role holder and Sakayanagi-san

correctly nominated Shimazaki-kun as the "First-Year,"

Sakayanagi-san restores 1 life point.

Sakayanagi correctly nominated the "First-Year," which

should have increased her life points by 2, but because of

Ryuuen's blind nomination, Sakayanagi also lost 1 life

point, so her total life point increase was just 1.

As a result, Sakayanagi's total life points now stood at 10.

After the third round of discussion, Ryuuen chose

Suminokura for a dialogue but once again achieved no

success. Sakayanagi, however, learned that Kaneda was

the "Third-Year."

After the fourth round of discussion, Sakayanagi

immediately nominated Kaneda as the "Third-Year." At the

same time, Ryuuen made the risky decision to nominate

Takanashi as the "Honor Student," as he had intended

from the beginning.

— Since Ryuuen-kun correctly nominated Takanashi-san

as the "Honor Student," Sakayanagi-san loses three life

points, but since Sakayanagi-san correctly nominated

Kaneda-kun as the "Third-Year," she regains 1 life point,

ultimately losing only 2 life points. Additionally, the correct

nomination of the "Third-Year" granted Sakayanagi-san

information on the roles of two random discussion

participants.

Sakayanagi's life points dropped to 8, but in return, she

gained information about two discussion participants. It

turned out that Komiya and Toba held no roles.

Now their life points were tied. The score stood at 8:8.

In the fourth round, Ryuuen finally correctly identified

Takarajima as the traitor. She didn't lie about it, so she

simply left the room.

After the fifth round, Sakayanagi correctly nominated

Yanagibashi as the "Honor Student," and Ryuuen correctly

"blindly" nominated Ishida. This reduced the number of

"Honor Students" in the room to zero, signaling victory for

the ordinary "Students."

One could say that Sakayanagi's bold decision to appoint

a "traitor" paid off, as by the end of the first discussion,

Ryuuen was left with only 6 life points, while Sakayanagi

had 8. She had successfully gained the upper hand.

— In the next discussions, I will be using the "traitor." It

would be wrong to leave them unattended.

Of course, the "traitor" system put the representative in a

favorable position, but for some reason, Ryuuen decided

to use this card only after Sakayanagi did. It was certain

that Ryuuen wouldn't ignore the "traitor" right.

"Second Discussion"

Class 2A:

Shimizu Naoki, Machida Koji, Yoshida Kenta, Shinobu

Fukuyama, Chikako Motodoi, Koharu Yano, Rokkaku

Momoe

Class 2C:

Kondo Reo, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Hiroya Tokito, Yuji Nomura,

Asagai Mai, Shiina Hiyori, Fujisaki Rinna

Ryuuen chose the group that included Shiina to take

advantage of the benefit for which he had refused to make

her the representative. There was a good chance this

would change the unfavorable situation.

However, contrary to expectations, when Sakayanagi saw

the group Ryu

uen had chosen, she merely smiled. She wasn't sure how

the situation would unfold, but now she had a chance to

use another trump card.

Part 3

The second discussion began. In the first few minutes, it

proceeded similarly to all previous discussions, but

everything changed after a sharp remark from Shimizu

from Class A.

— We don't really know how our actions affect the

representatives' results, so all we can do is discuss. By the

way, in the last discussion, Sakayanagi-san seemed to

use a "traitor." Don't you think that's strange? Tokito-kun

would have been a much better fit for that role, don't you

think?

— Because I hate Ryuuen? What does that have to do

with the discussion?

— I'm not saying it does. I just noticed that the role of

"traitor" would suit you well.

During the discussions, the students don't divide into

Classes A and C. They split into "Honor Students" and

"Students," so they must do everything possible to figure

out each other's roles. Yet Shimizu suddenly brought up

the topic of a non-existent "traitor," which had no

relevance to the current discussion.

— Shimizu, that's no longer relevant.

Fukuyama urged his classmate to stay on track. After all,

they had already participated in one of the discussions,

while the group from Class C was playing for the first time,

so starting quarrels was unnecessary.

— Still, it's a very interesting topic, isn't it? Tokito-kun

doesn't want Ryuuen-kun to win, right? Or are you just

going to quietly watch while he keeps bossing you

around?

Shimizu employed a simple provocation, which, however,

didn't violate the rules of discussion.

— Sorry, but I won't. This discussion allows freedom of

speech, so I can talk about what I find necessary to gather

information about your roles. No matter how you look at it,

you seem quite suspicious.

The discussion gradually descended into chaos. Tokito

was on the verge of falling for Shimizu's provocation and

lunging at him with fists. Motodoi from Class A, who was

closest to the two, jumped up from her seat to prevent a

fight, but Koji, also sitting nearby, gestured for her not to

intervene.

— And what exactly is so suspicious about me, huh?

Tokito, on the brink of moving from mere irritation to anger,

still tried to hold himself back. But Shimizu continued to

egg him on:

— Don't you get it? You argue with Ryuuen-kun too often.

— So what if I argue with him?!

Tokito, trying with all his might to get some answers from

Shimizu, found that his opponent had no intention of

engaging in a constructive conversation:

— And I've heard that Tokito-kun is planning to team up

with another class to overthrow Ryuuen-kun!

— Wha... Is that true, Tokito-kun?

Fujisaki, who had remained silent until now, could no

longer ignore Shimizu's words.

— It's obvious he's lying.

— Lying? Guys, if I were you, I'd keep an eye on him. Can

you even be sure he won't betray you?

— Shut up! And get back to the discussion.

— I never left the topic. I'm just asking a suspicious

student some questions.

— These questions have nothing to do with the

discussion!

Tokito nearly shouted. Sensing he had struck a chord,

Shimizu continued to provoke him. After that, a full-blown

argument erupted between them, consisting solely of

personal attacks. The other participants could only watch

in bewilderment. Not once during these five minutes did

anyone suggest returning to the discussion of roles.

Part 4

Sakayanagi smiled as she watched the chaos unfold

during the first round.

— So, Ryuuen-kun… Any thoughts? The first round is

already over. Maybe you've come to some conclusions?

Or will you choose to "pass"?

Sakayanagi deliberately avoided mentioning the conflict

between Tokito and Shimizu, trying to provoke her

opponent.

— And what about you, Sakayanagi? Don't worry about

me. You should go ahead and nominate someone

yourself. You seem to think it's easy.

— Why rush? The more participants we nominate, the

faster the room will empty. That wouldn't be any fun. Or

are you eager to get rid of those who are hindering your

observation of the discussion, hmm?

— Is Shimizu your pawn?

— Perhaps not just him. Before the special exam, I had a

conversation with a few people and hinted that Tokito-kun

might be your weak spot.

Shimizu's persistent attacks on Tokito had been

premeditated by Sakayanagi.

— Unfortunately, the rules don't allow us to communicate,

but right now, I'd like to commend him for such quality

work.

This situation indeed put Tokito in a difficult position.

— This won't affect my class, but what will the students of

Class C think in such a stressful situation? This is their

first time participating in the discussion. Could this

negatively impact their thinking?

In the first round, neither Tokito nor Shimizu displayed any

distinctive signs of having a role, so nominating them

would be baseless. However, trying to resolve the situation

by removing one side of the conflict from the room could

have been a sufficient reason to nominate one of them.

— That's why I'm not in a hurry to nominate either of them.

Sakayanagi, who had already made her nomination,

watched Ryuuen closely.

Shimizu, Tokito, a "pass." Or perhaps another option?

Ryuuen made his choice and set the tablet down on the

table.

— You chose to "pass," didn't you? Not brave enough to

nominate one of them yet?

— I won't fall for your cheap provocations.

— So, you did nominate someone after all?

Right after these words, an announcement was made.

— Sakayanagi-san and Ryuuen-kun have both

successfully "blindly" nominated Asagai-san. It's a draw.

— It seems you didn't miss a thing. Asagai-san's behavior

did change after the argument between Tokito-kun and

Shimizu-kun began. She seemed relieved that no one

even considered suspecting her.

Although Ryuuen couldn't ignore the quarrel between

Tokito and Shimizu, he was also keeping an eye on what

was happening around them. Sakayanagi had tried to

force him into using the "pass," but Ryuuen resisted the

temptation.

— In any case, that remaining pair might still cause

problems.

— Well, that depends on how you look at it…

Ryuuen smirked and turned his gaze to the monitor, as if

to suggest that the situation could resolve in the most

unexpected way.

Part 5

The second round of discussions began with more biting

comments from Shimizu directed at Tokito.

— You still seem very suspicious to me. Are you the

"Honor Student"?

— No...

During the brief break, Tokito managed to regain his

composure, so he was no longer shouting. However,

Shimizu showed no signs of stopping. Even when other

participants tried to steer the conversation in another

direction, Shimizu interrupted them and continued to focus

all attention solely on Tokito.

If the entire Class A had been involved in this, it would

have been tough for Tokito to handle, but it was only

Shimizu who was boycotting him.

— Enough, Shimizu!

— W-What?! Scary... I just find you suspicious, that's all.

— Then give a reason!

— A reason? Sure, a reason... Like the fact that during the

unanimous special exam, you tried to get Ryuuen-kun

expelled! No matter how much you hate him, isn't it weird

to try to kick out your leader?

— Who told you about that?

Asked Machida, a classmate of Shimizu. And while he

could probably guess who had passed on this information,

he was still curious to hear it directly.

— I can't say, but a lot of people in Ryuuen-kun's class

talk about it. You failed your rebellion but still kept coming

to school. I would be embarrassed if I were you.

— Stop it...

Reaching his breaking point, Tokito finally jumped up from

his seat. The chair toppled over, and Tokito began slowly

advancing toward Shimizu.

— This is a discussion, Tokito-kun. I'm just trying to find

out your role within the rules. You have no right to shut me

up.

Shimizu was scared of Tokito's anger, but even in this

situation, he didn't back down. On the contrary, Shimizu

seemed to want to provoke Tokito into violence, hoping to

worsen the situation for Class C.

— You'll be the next to get expelled. So hurry up and

betray Ryuuen-kun while you still can.

If words didn't work, perhaps the language of fists would. If

Tokito hit Shimizu, it could lead to sanctions against

Ryuuen, but right now, Tokito was less concerned about

that.

— Tokito-kun. Please lower your fist.

No one tried to stop Tokito. No one, except Shiina.

She stood up from her seat and gently stopped his

trembling fist with her hand.

— Shimizu's words drive me mad, but half of them are

true! I really do hate Ryuuen and want him to lose this

exam!

Tokito shot a fierce glare at Shiina, as if urging her to step

aside.

— In that case, you could push me aside with force.

— Is that... what you want?

— If you, Tokito-kun, are capable of that.

— Then...!

Even though Tokito clenched his fists tightly, Shiina

showed no fear. Tokito wanted her to back away on her

own, but her reaction was entirely different from what he

expected.

— Why are you...

— What did Ryuuen say...?

— We didn't end up in the same group by coincidence.

— I think Ryuuen-kun placed us in the same group for just

such an occasion.

Tokito let out a surprised gasp, and then, as if realizing

something, he said:

— Right... He never trusted me from the beginning...

That's why he sent you to keep an eye on me...

— Do you really think it was because of distrust? Maybe

he was just trying to prevent you from getting into trouble?

If he didn't trust you, he wouldn't have chosen a group

with you in such an important moment.

— That's...

Until now, Tokito had believed that if it were up to Ryuuen,

he wouldn't have allowed him to participate in the exam at

all.

— He needs you, Tokito-kun. But if you act recklessly right

now, you'll not only lose his trust, but also your place in the

class.

— Yes, your place. Now and in the future.

The fist that Tokito had clenched for a punch finally

relaxed. Considering what had just happened, Shimizu

was no longer in a mood to provoke, but he was still ready

to attack if Class C students suddenly turned against him.

— So, maybe Shimizu should apologize?

Asked Kondo, still puzzled.

— It's not about Shimizu-kun attempting a provocation. In

fact, it was likely orchestrated by Sakayanagi-san. It

wouldn't be fair to blame only Shimizu-kun for this.

Shiina decided to prevent any further insults directed at

Shimizu. After her words, neither Tokito, Kondo, nor even

Shimizu could say anything more.

— In any case, we still have some time left. Let's use it

wisely.

The tense atmosphere in the discussion room shifted to

one of calm. Without saying a word, Tokito bowed his

head in gratitude to Hiyori, then picked up his overturned

chair and returned to his seat.

Part 6

Shiina's selflessness allowed Ryuuen to avoid penalties in

the second discussion. Sakayanagi immediately

understood that Ryuuen had anticipated this outcome from

the very beginning.

— Not bad. You predicted from the start that Tokito-kun

would act against you, and I would try to take advantage

of that, so you placed Shiina-san in the same group as

him.

— If Tokito had lost his temper, he would have been

extremely difficult to stop. Besides, everyone present only

fueled the fire. He was on the verge of snapping.

— And how did you know that Shiina-san would be able to

stop him?

— Ku-ku… He may be wild, but he'd never raise a hand

against a woman. I'm sure of that.

— Then why didn't you ensure that the rebel was kept

away from the exam beforehand?

— Tokito's outbursts are nothing more than childish

tantrums. It's not a rebellion.

— So, you're giving him room to grow? You're surprisingly

kind.

Helping others grow and develop is a tactic Ayanokoji

uses. Although Ryuuen and Ayanokoji are two completely

different people, Sakayanagi couldn't ignore the fact that

they had much more in common than she initially thought.

— But I would have preferred it if he shared a birthday

with me instead.

Ryuuen laughed at the baseless accusation.

— Ku-ku-ku… Well, that's not up to me. I doubt he had a

choice in when he was born.

Sakayanagi genuinely admired the strategy Ryuuen had

devised, foreseeing Class A's attempts to provoke Tokito.

Of course, not making Shiina a representative was risky,

but Ryuuen was never one to shy away from risk.

After this event, the competition between the

representatives began to gain momentum rapidly.

— Since both representatives decided to use the "Pass,"

let's move on to selecting the "Honor Students."

Ryuuen and Sakayanagi both used their "Pass," so only

Shiina, who was chosen as an "Honor Student," left the

discussion room.

In the third round, Shimizu tried once again to provoke

Tokito, but this time, he didn't react. His determination not

to disappoint Shiina was evident even through the monitor.

— Ryuuen-kun and Sakayanagi-san correctly nominated

Machida-kun as the "Honor Student." The result is a draw.

After the third round, the representatives were tied once

again. This was because Shiina's removal, who had

supported Tokito, led the participants to realize the

importance of a meaningful discussion.

— I think I'll nominate Shimizu-kun next time.

— I was thinking the same thing.

Exchanging brief remarks, the representatives entered a

new round.

— Sakayanagi-kun and Ryuuen-kun correctly nominated

Rokkaku-kun as the "Honor Student." The result is a draw.

Despite their previous statements, both representatives

correctly nominated Rokkaku instead of Shimizu. This

marked the end of the second discussion, during which

neither representative lost any life points.

Even as they moved on to the third discussion, the

situation remained unchanged. In the first and second

rounds, both representatives used the "Pass," and from

the third round onward, they switched to offensive

strategies that ultimately resulted in draws.

In the fifth round, Ryuuen correctly nominated the "First

Year Student," increasing his life points to 7. In the sixth

round, another draw occurred, bringing the discussion to a

close.

— I didn't expect you to be so tenacious.

— I underestimated you as well. You have much to be

proud of.

They praised each other for their resilience. During this

discussion, Sakayanagi played extremely cautiously, not

nominating anyone with their exact roles, which once

again led to minimal changes in life points.

Furthermore, the discussion ended in a victory for the

"Honor Students" for the first time in a long while.

Another break began.

During the break, Ryuuen abruptly addressed the

examiner with a sharp question. The examiner quickly

brought two bottles of water into the room and handed one

to Ryuuen, who drank half of it in one gulp.

— No surprise you needed to refresh yourself. It can be

quite exhausting to think with an unprepared mind.

Ryuuen paid no attention to Sakayanagi's sarcastic

remark.

— Do you really want to clash with Ayanokoji-kun in

battle? You know you can't beat him, right?

— Not now. But if I keep trying over and over, someday,

he'll lose.

— You can hope for that, but it doesn't mean Ayanokojikun will let you follow him around for that long.

Sakayanagi didn't delve into the details of what fate

awaited Ayanokoji after school.

— You're quite an unpleasant woman, you know?

— I'll take that as a compliment.

The time for the fourth discussion was approaching. Both

sides were ready to give it their all.

In this new discussion, Sakayanagi correctly nominated a

participant, while Ryuuen made a mistake, losing two life

points and bringing his total to four.

However, in the 4th and 5th rounds, both representatives

correctly nominated participants, resulting in two

consecutive draws. Then, in the 6th and 7th rounds, they

consecutively nominated two "Honor Students," bringing

the discussion to an end.

Over three hours had passed since the clash between the

"Generals" began. The fifth discussion was about to start.

— It seems so.

Ryuuen's life points stood at 5, while Sakayanagi's were at

8. Neither side wanted to give in to the other. But now, the

situation seemed to be taking a different turn.

In the second round of the fifth discussion, Ryuuen made

an incorrect nomination and lost another life point,

reducing his total to 4. His inability to deal any damage to

Sakayanagi frustrated him and clouded his judgment. The

reality was that he couldn't surpass Sakayanagi's insight.

Throughout all these discussions, Sakayanagi had not

made a single critical mistake, while Ryuuen gradually lost

his life points. He began to feel like he was standing on

the edge of a cliff.

— What do you think, Sakayanagi?

— I always notice the same things as you, but sometimes

I also see what you don't. It's obvious. But you're too

patient. Isn't it time to use your "Betrayer" right?

Given that Ryuuen was gradually losing his life points, it

would be logical to say that he was in a disadvantageous

position. The quickest way to turn the tide would be to use

the "Betrayer" right.

But Ryuuen hesitated, causing Sakayanagi to be puzzled.

Ryuuen had already lost most of his life points, meaning

there was a chance he might lose without ever using

"Betrayer."

It would be natural to want to avoid that.

The fifth discussion was about to flow into the sixth.

Who among the remaining participants does Ryuuen

consider an "Honor Student"? Based on the information he

saw and heard, he could be certain of this.

— Ryuuen-kun correctly nominated Nishi-san as an

"Honor Student," so Sakayanagi-san loses three life

points.

Ryuuen successfully identified the first "Honor Student,"

taking the initiative from Sakayanagi. Ryuuen smirked,

trying to calm his racing heart.

— It seems so. You had a small chance of success, and

you took it.

Since the discussion involved many taciturn students,

neither representative had concrete evidence.

— I must say, surpassing your insight was very

challenging.

Ryuuen was always ready to acknowledge his

weaknesses. And while he won this round, the next one

turned out to be the exact opposite.

— Sakayanagi-san correctly nominated Hayashi-san as

an "Honor Student," so Ryuuen-kun loses three life points.

Using the information from Ryuuen's correct nomination,

Sakayanagi made successful deductions.

— You...

— Thank you. Thanks to you, I found the second "Honor

Student."

Without the information that Nishi was an "Honor Student,"

Sakayanagi wouldn't have been able to deduce this about

Hayashi. Ryuuen's brief joy turned to despair.

Sakayanagi's life points remained at 5, while Ryuuen was

left with only one life point. Even though both correctly

nominated "Honor Students," the final results were

drastically different.

Meanwhile, the fifth discussion ended with a victory for the

"Students." Another break began.

— Now you're finally in a situation where you can't afford

any more mistakes.

Since the next discussion would likely be a victory for

Sakayanagi, she could breathe a sigh of relief. Ryuuen,

however, continued to stare at the monitor, unsure of what

to think.

He had been forced to neutralize Sakayanagi's previous

move, but the successful nomination of an "Honor

Student" had gone to his head. He thought he could afford

to observe the discussion a bit longer. Now, however, it

was too late to change anything.

Is this really how it will end for him?

He had personally fought against Sakayanagi to later take

revenge on Ayanokoji, using every strategy he could think

of. But despite all this, he hadn't been able to close the

gap.

The next discussion would undoubtedly be the final battle.

Sakayanagi would likely go on the offensive, not worrying

about losing her life points. Maybe it was time to use the

"Betrayer"?

Ryuuen quickly dismissed the idea. Given Sakayanagi's

past successes, she would have no trouble identifying the

"Betrayer." He had nothing left to attack with.

All he could do now was hope for a miracle to discover the

"Honor Student" among

the 14 participants. He likely didn't have the time or

strength to find two "Honor Students" at once, but he had

no other choice.

Sakayanagi had always been one step ahead. Before the

exam, he occasionally wondered what it would feel like if

he were to lose. But to his surprise, all he felt now was

relief.

Ryuuen was forced to admit that the girl before him was a

person of extraordinary intelligence. Her ability to predict

others' actions, analyze participants' behavior, and

flawless defense played a cruel joke on Ryuuen.

While Ryuuen used bluffing and intimidation to achieve his

goals, Sakayanagi fought solely with her own abilities. He

realized that he still had much to learn from Sakayanagi.

— I didn't think it would come to this...

Ryuuen's remaining life points: 1, Sakayanagi's remaining

life points: 5. No matter how much Ryuuen stared at the

monitor, nothing could change that.

— You have nothing left to fight with, do you? Why not

finally use the "Betrayer"?

To maintain any chance of winning, Ryuuen was forced to

consider using the "Betrayer." But Sakayanagi wasn't

advising this out of kindness, and Ryuuen knew it well.

— If I use the "Betrayer," it won't help me. We've had

enough encounters for me to understand your tactics.

It was already too late for a trump card. It might seem that

the "Betrayer" was a lucky ticket to victory for Ryuuen, but

the truth was that to reap the benefits of the "Betrayer,"

they couldn't be discovered, and enough rounds had to

pass.

During this time, Sakayanagi would be able to nominate

even more participants, ending Ryuuen then and there.

But even if Ryuuen managed to obtain valuable

information from the "Betrayer," Sakayanagi would

manage to turn it into a draw.

She would destroy him no matter what forces he had.

Ryuuen's end was near.

— Well, it seems you haven't lost your foresight just yet.

All Ryuuen wanted now was to finish this exam as quickly

as possible. He felt incredible regret for all the

overconfident words he had spoken before.

— This battle... I lost.

Ryuuen made this sincere confession without waiting for

the end of the exam. It was difficult for him to force these

words out, but in the end, a heavy weight was lifted from

his soul. Now he understood that Sakayanagi far

outclassed him.

— It seems I've put you in checkmate.

— Yes. That's true.

— You fought bravely. I honestly acknowledge you as a

formidable opponent.

In truth, Sakayanagi felt a tinge of regret that this match

was coming to an end like this. She felt a maternal instinct

of sorts, wanting to learn even more about Ryuuen's

potential. But even after Ryuuen's voluntary admission of

defeat, Sakayanagi did not lower her guard.

Noticing this, Ryuuen let out a loud laugh.

— Ku-ku-ku! You're truly one of those people who never

let down their guard.

— Of course. I won't relax until the school announces the

final results.

The final discussion was set to take place in three

minutes. Ryuuen had only one life point left and still held

the "Betrayer" right.

— Tsk...

Suddenly, he clicked his tongue loudly.

— What could that mean?

— Nothing much, just... That guy probably knew all along

how this would end.

As he replayed the day's events in his mind, Ryuuen

clicked his tongue once more.

— Yes. This morning, after the rules were explained, he

called me for a talk.

— I remember. You both stepped out to the restroom. I

thought you wanted to exchange some thoughts.

As expected, Sakayanagi had noticed everything.

— He asked me to pass on a message to you if I ended

up losing.

— I see. So he predicted this outcome.

Everything happened exactly as Ayanokoji had predicted.

— Then let me hear it.

Sakayanagi showed interest in the message, but Ryuuen's

response surprised her.

— I don't know it. All he told me was that Hashimoto

knows.

— Yes. And apparently, this message only makes sense in

the context of this special exam.

— If you choose the group Hashimoto is in, I could use the

'Betrayer' right so you could communicate with him.

Sakayanagi had refused to select the group Hashimoto

was in from the very start of the exam. And now, when the

outcome of the exam was almost certain, she was offered

a chance to hear Ayanokoji's message if she abandoned

her principles. Naturally, the proposal sounded strange.

— Are you saying you're still not giving up?

— Interpret it however you like.

Reducing her nearly 100% chance of victory would be

unwise. However, she was confident that Ryuuen wasn't

lying. That meant Ayanokoji truly wanted to convey

something to her.

— I don't like the fact that you've specifically saved the

'Betrayer' right until the end.

— As it turns out, I should have used it much earlier to

avoid this mess.

Originally, Ryuuen believed he could defeat Sakayanagi

without using the 'Betrayer,' but in the end, he decided to

save it for a last resort. Additionally, he was curious about

Ayanokoji's message, which made him reluctant to use the

'Betrayer' prematurely—a decision that had now backfired.

Ryuuen gave a self-deprecating smile.

— Who would have thought that the message would be

delivered through Hashimoto-kun... What is Ayanokoji-kun

even thinking?

— I have no idea. But I can guess it's a trap for

Hashimoto, to get him expelled.

If Ryuuen appointed Hashimoto as the 'Betrayer' and

Sakayanagi decided to nominate him, Hashimoto would

face a dilemma. If he confessed, he wouldn't lose

anything, but if he lied, Sakayanagi could easily have him

expelled.

— The kid probably doesn't think he'll be designated as

the 'Betrayer.' He likely assumes he won't even be called

into the discussion room.

— If I call him for a dialogue and he chooses to lie, I can

easily have him expelled.

If Sakayanagi had only one life point remaining, the

situation might have been different. But with five life

points, she could designate Hashimoto as the 'Betrayer'

without risking her victory.

— Well, I'll take your word for it. I'll do what's necessary to

ensure your meeting takes place.

Sakayanagi began considering the potential scenarios.

What if Ryuuen and Hashimoto had already made a deal,

and she was now walking into a trap? But since the

specifics of this special exam were only revealed that

morning, there was no opportunity for them to make a deal

like, "If you get caught, I'll save you." But Sakayanagi

couldn't stop thinking about it... What if Ryuuen had

learned the exam rules in advance? Or somehow

contacted Hashimoto? Sakayanagi firmly decided:

whether Hashimoto confessed or not, she would appoint

him as the 'Betrayer.' There was no turning back.

Just as she suspected, most of the groundwork was likely

laid by Ayanokoji rather than Ryuuen.

— Are we really doing all this just to hear Ayanokoji-kun's

message...

Sakayanagi selected the group with Hashimoto for the

discussion. Ryuuen also selected one of the groups and

used his 'Betrayer' right. All of this was just to find out what

Ayanokoji had planned this time.

The discussion began. But Ryuuen closed his eyes and

didn't watch the monitor.

— How delightful to see you refraining from using dirty

tricks and tactics.

— I'm not rejecting dirty tactics. I just can't believe I'm

doing all this because of Ayanokoji's sweet talk.

Ryuuen had initially agreed to the battle with Sakayanagi

only to get one step closer to avenging himself on

Ayanokoji. But now, all of this no longer mattered. The

outcome of their fight was clear. Sakayanagi, however,

continued to watch the discussion with undiminished

vigilance, mentally calculating which role each participant

might have.

Then, after the discussion ended, she scheduled a

dialogue. Holding her cane, Sakayanagi slowly left the

classroom. Watching her leave, Ryuuen threw his head

back and painfully smacked his knee. He regretted that he

couldn't surpass Sakayanagi and allowed her to win.

— Damn it...!

He absolutely did not want his story to end here. If it did,

his growth would surely stop. But the universe no longer

listened to his desires. Ryuuen was crushed.