Day 4 after the special exam.The mood in Class D is strangely relaxed. The students, proud of their victory, laugh and talk about Salia’s exploits. No one knows she was kidnapped, or that it was Win
Day 4 after the special exam.
The mood in Class D is strangely relaxed. The students, proud of their victory, laugh and talk about Salia’s exploits. No one knows she was kidnapped, or that it was Winner who saved her. No one knows he defeated Kenta in the shadows.
No one… except him.
> Narrator (Winner – inner thoughts):
They’re smiling. Already letting their guard down. Their memory is as short as their ambition.
But in this room, there’s dead weight.
And I hate what weighs down the void.
Winner’s gaze locks onto Naoto Ishigami, a student from Class D.
Talkative, useless during exams, always the first to complain and ruin collective strategies.
> Winner (thoughts):
He’s weak. But worse than that… he’s unpredictable.
I don’t need static noise in an orchestra of shadows.
Salia, sitting nearby, notices his silence. She subtly turns her head.
> Salia (quietly):
“Thinking about the exam? Or something else?”
> Winner (calmly):
“I’m thinking about what comes next.”
---
A few hours later – Inner courtyard of the high school
Winner is calmly talking with two other students: Shira and Okabe, both secondary members, easily influenced.
> Winner:
“Did you notice Naoto? During the exam, he almost gave away the hiding spot of the cards. And that… because of a little pressure from a Class B student.”
> Okabe (hesitant):
“It’s true… if he had cracked… we would’ve lost everything.”
> Shira:
“You think we should… do something?”
> Winner (in a low voice):
“I’m just saying we can’t aim for Class A with dead weight holding us back.
The administration is watching.
All it takes is one strong signal to clean things up.”
---
Two days pass.
Little by little, whispers spread through Class D.
Some begin to doubt Naoto. Looks change. Groups reform without him.
> Naoto (confused):
“Why is everyone avoiding me? What is this crap?!”
> A female student:
“We just want to work with people we can rely on.”
> Naoto (raising his voice):
“Reliable?! I did my best during the exam!”
> Okabe (coldly):
“Your best could’ve cost us everything.”
Salia, meanwhile, starts putting the pieces together. She watches their words, the glances, the silences…
Everything is too well orchestrated.
> Salia (thoughts):
This whole atmosphere… it’s no coincidence.
Someone’s pulling the strings.
And I’m starting to figure out who.
---
End of the day.
Naoto is summoned to the administrative office.
> Administration’s voice (on the phone):
“Your involvement within Class D is under review. Several indicators suggest problematic behavior during recent exams. A decision will be made shortly.”
Naoto, stunned, clenches his phone. He looks back at Class D… and everyone lowers their gaze.
Everyone except one.
Winner.
Silent. Expressionless. Sitting with a book in hand.
> Winner (thoughts):
One weak pawn down.
One step closer to Class A.