During the midterms, under the leadership of Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyo, Class D had contributed a large number of Personal Points to keep Ike Koji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudo Ken from being expelled, strengthening the class's unity in the process.
After that, Class D appeared to have become united.
However, that unity was extremely illusory.
Because if Fang Li had not explained to everyone that Ike Koji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudo Ken still had their uses, Class D, which did not think highly of those three, definitely would not have made that choice so readily.
In other words, there had been an element of self-interest involved.
But now, those interests were no longer aligned.
Some wanted to save points in order to earn as many as possible.
Others wanted to use those points for their own convenience.
When interests clashed, that unity would fall apart on its own.
"For a full seven days, these people have to live together, work together to sustain themselves until the exam ends, and still save a sufficiently large amount of points?"
Standing before the entire class, Fang Li gave Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyo a humorless laugh.
"No matter what you think, I'm not holding out much hope."
Fang Li's incomparably calm, mirthless laughter and emotionless narration were like sharp needles piercing every student. The classmates who had just been arguing gradually fell silent.
"...Sigh."
In that exceptionally quiet atmosphere, Horikita Suzune, who had silently watched everything unfold, let out a soft sigh. She seemed to think there was little hope as well, and to everyone present, it sounded especially grating.
"B-but... these aren't problems without solutions, are they?"
As though she wanted to ease the heavy atmosphere, or perhaps to prevent someone as hot-tempered as Sudo Ken from jumping out in anger