He checked and found that he was ranked first, but among the ten students behind him... Houtarou Oreki was nowhere to be found.
In other words.
The results proved that Houtarou Oreki had been fooling him, tricking him into working hard while Oreki himself had been shamelessly slacking off.
He then used his tablet to send an invitation to form a large group. Once the other party accepted, the two formed a large group.
And that confirmed the unpleasant result.
When a large group was formed, its members' scores were divided equally.
Rokosuke Kōenji watched his score plummet rapidly.
So Houtarou Oreki... really had been slacking off!
"I'm going back to the cruise ship," Kōenji said. "In six days, I have already finished my work."
"The rest is your business."
In other words, Rokosuke Kōenji... was going to withdraw from the exam.
"Then none of this has anything to do with me anymore~" Kōenji had come quickly, and left even faster.
Normally, even if someone withdrew, they would wait for the faculty stationed at the supply point to call over a boat and take the student back to the cruise ship. But he did not need that.
Because for him.
Swimming was no problem at all.
He really ran off fast.
Watching his retreating back.
"O-Oreki, shouldn't we hurry and bring Kōenji back?" Hiyori asked.
Kōenji was solo. Once he withdrew, his score would be reduced to zero.
Then... wouldn't betting on Kōenji be doomed?
And this news.
Was also reported back to the cruise ship.
More specifically, the staff aboard the cruise ship discovered that Kōenji... had actually swum back.
"Rokosuke Kōenji of Class 2-A has withdrawn."
"He returned to the cruise ship on the grounds of physical discomfort."
"Since he was solo, his Points will be reset