Chapter 8: The Anomaly Hunt (Part IV) – Connections & Trust
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"Even the sharpest mind falters when it plays by someone else's rules."
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Day 4: Event Announcement – The Unity Test
The school announced a new psychological trial: The Unity Test.
Each student would be placed into small randomized groups and given one simple task: Create and deliver a five-minute team presentation on "The Value of Trust."
It was meant to be symbolic, emotional, and above all, collaborative.
Easy for most.
But not for Kuroyami Rei, who had avoided relationships and kept his distance from everyone.
The system had found the one thing Rei never cultivated:
Connection.
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Rei's Group: Sena, Arata, and Kai.
It was a perfect trap. Each of them was highly social, manipulative, and most of all, suspicious of Rei.
Kai (smirking): "Looks like we're stuck with the silent ghost. Let's hope he knows how to speak."
Sena: "Let's give him the conclusion part. He won't mess that up, right?"
Arata: "Actually, let's just have him handle the visuals."
Rei silently nodded.
"So this is the angle. Alienate me into failure."
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Behind the Curtain
Unbeknownst to Rei, the others had planned more. They would intentionally leave their segments vague, sabotage flow, and push the blame onto him when the presentation collapsed.
The Unity Test was secretly scored individually based on audience impression.
Rei would take the fall. His score would plummet. His position would become indefensible.
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Day of Presentation
Kai spoke with flair. Sena smiled with false warmth. Arata delivered a dramatic example.
Then came Rei.
The audience was cold. He stepped forward. No slides appeared.
Arata (mock whisper): "Oops. Must've been Rei's part."
Vice Principal: "Proceed."
Rei stared at the audience. His voice barely above a whisper.
Rei: "Trust is..."
He faltered. His eyes dimmed. His usual confidence buried.
Rei: "...when they expect you to fall. And you let them. Because it makes them feel in control."
The room shifted slightly. Still, he failed to meet the standard.
His score was lowest.
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Post-Presentation: Near Collapse
Back in his room, Rei felt the weight. No escape. No strategy. He had no one to manipulate this time.
*"I created no ties. Built no shields. All by design. But now... they use that to strike."
"I lost."
He stared at the ceiling.
Until...
He remembered.
A loophole.
The event required "group submissions." But it never stated when those had to be finalized. A clause in the rulebook allowed one late edit submission if the group unanimously agreed.
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The Turnaround
Rei approached them with something new: an edited visual piece that played after their original presentation.
At first, they laughed. Until they saw it.
It was a silent montage. Each of their smiles, betrayals, and subtle manipulations caught through hidden camera angles Rei had quietly activated weeks ago.
Text faded in: "Sometimes, the silent one listens best."
The class gasped.
Kai: "You... filmed us?"
Rei: "The rules allow a single correction. This is ours."
The class roared in stunned admiration.
The instructors? Silent.
Then a nod.
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Aftermath
Rei's score? Re-evaluated. He passed. Not because he played well. Because he turned their game against them without ever breaking a rule.
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Final Monologue
"They cornered me in a game of unity, knowing I never trusted anyone. But now I see... the performance doesn't need applause. It needs silence. That's where power grows."
"From now on... I won't play support. I write the stage, cue the lights, and direct the applause."
"The lead role... is mine."