The effects of the "butterfly effect" were common knowledge.
And Tennoji Kaede's arrival had made Kuroya Supreme Godwork—Yamauchi Haruki's expulsion—happen much earlier than in the original story.
It had also changed quite a few people's fates to some degree.
In the original story, during the First Year, there was a mysterious period known as the "missing June."
It was said that Ryuen Kakeru was supposed to attack Class B in June, causing Class B and C to lose a substantial number of Class Points. But no one knew exactly what he had done.
So why hadn't Ryuen Kakeru attacked Class D in June?
Because in June, Class D had jack shit for Class Points. They had zero...
Then why had Ryuen Kakeru suddenly started the "Sudo hitting someone" incident at the beginning of July?
By the same logic, in the original story, Class D had received 87 Class Points for free from the School Administration by then. They had points.
So Ryuen Kakeru had been pissed off.
The school was actually doing something as disgusting as "giving away points"?
He'd decided to test the school's rules again.
And while he was at it, he might as well kick Class D back down to its usual spot at the bottom with zero points!
That was Ryuen Kakeru's true mindset behind the ridiculous "Sudo hitting someone" storyline.
So why had the whole incident fizzled out in the end? Had Ryuen really been fooled by nothing more than a few cameras?
Quite the opposite. Ryuen hadn't cared about the incident at all. It was just a move he'd made on a whim to mess with Class D and test the school's rules.
But that had also planted the seed of suspicion that Class D had a "Mr. X."
After the Deserted Island Special Exam went badly, Ryuen had been able to quickly figure out that someone from Class D must have sabotaged him for exactly this reason.
He'd already been burned once!
So, looking at the first four months of Goyu 4567's First Semester as a whole...
On the surface, Class D was the worst.
But in reality, Class A had been tied up in factional infighting. Its Class Points had been far ahead early on, but barely increased over those four months.
It wasn't until Ryuen made his move during the two Special Exams in August that Katsuragi Faction officially fell, Yanagi Faction rose to power, and Class A's self-sabotage came to an end.
During the "missing June," Ryuen made his move, Classes B and C were both badly hurt, and Class A sabotaged itself.
In July, Ryuen made his move, Classes C and D were caught up in the "Sudo hitting someone" incident, and Class A sabotaged itself.
Late at night, in Dorm 501.
Tennoji Kaede, who had been recapping the plot, complained in exasperation:
"Put simply, all three of Classes A, B, and C spent the First Semester fighting among themselves, and their Class Points went down instead of up!"
"No wonder Class D could start with zero points and still crush you all in the Second Year!"
"Those teammates are all handing out free wins! Ryuen Kakeru and Katsuragi Kouhei are definitely Class D spies. They're both dyed-in-the-wool Rebels..."
Wait! Tennoji Kaede suddenly blurted out a curse.
Those two suspected traitors had ended up in the same class later on!
Yeah, and it was Kaede's Class C...
Haha, whatever.
He'd take care of it!
After some hard reflection, Tennoji Kaede decided he had to keep Ryuen's restless heart in check for the final two months of the First Semester, June and July, and wait until the two Special Exams in summer break to settle things!
"Bzz-bzz~"
A message came in. Tennoji Kaede opened his Student Terminal and saw:
"Ryuen Kakeru: As you can see, our Class C couldn't even beat Class B by copying answers on the Midterm Exam in May.
I've also gathered most of the information I need, so I'm planning to attack the Class B led by Ichinose this month.
Got any good ideas for how to attack them?"
Tennoji Kaede: ...
Damn it, Ryuen. He wanted to be Ayanokoji's stepping stone again...
Kaede wondered what good idea he could possibly have. Beat Ryuen up again?
"Tennoji Kaede: The gap between us and Class B is only 66 points. The School Administration's deduction standards are unclear, and testing them would come at too high a cost. It might cause a misunderstanding with Class D.
In any case, I'm confident I've got Class D's vital weakness in hand. Find a way to attack Class A.
As for Class B, as the saying goes, a gentleman may be deceived by reasonable means. You needn't worry about them!"
"Ryuen Kakeru: Interesting. So you really were behind what happened with Class D last month. You did a good job. I like it."
What did he mean, "behind it"? Kaede really had just been passing by!
He'd seen injustice and stepped in to help! Did Ryuen not understand that?
"Tennoji Kaede: What happened with Class D was a coincidence. I wasn't plotting behind the scenes!
I never lie. Sometimes I just tell half the truth.
They've got plenty of weaknesses right now, and you should know that. I just went with the flow.
But don't underestimate them. Class D has plenty of hidden talent. Something's definitely up with them!"
Ryuen Kakeru mulled it over in his dorm. Class D had another expert...? Could it be that Kouenji?
Tch. Judging from the intel, he was certainly a troublesome monkey, but surely not enough to make Tennoji this wary.
Who had Class D's vital weakness in hand...?
Kushida Kikyo?
Very likely!
That meant the woman would probably become his private property... He'd certainly acted fast.
No, there had to be someone else. But who...?
That bastard Tennoji was definitely hiding plenty of things from him. He wanted to smash that sickening, ever-smiling face of his!
Ryuen wasn't stupid. If Tennoji had said that much, there had to be some deeper meaning.
D > A > B > C?
Considering how much their opinions differed, that was the only conclusion he could draw.
"Heh." Ryuen let out a couple of cold laughs.
What utter nonsense.
Ryuen Sho: ...
Unaware that Ryuen had been slandering him behind his back, Tennoji Kaede finished his conversation with Ryuen and received a message he couldn't refuse.
He hurriedly gathered his things and headed to a dimly lit walkway near the School Building.
Tennoji Kaede looked around carefully. Walkways like this usually had special cameras, but this one didn't.
An ordinary student wouldn't easily notice details like this about the school's layout.
"You came, Tennoji Kaede." The person who'd invited him adjusted his glasses.
"Hello. It's been a while, Student Council President."
The person who'd invited Kaede to meet in a secluded place late at night was Horikita Manabu.
"Not much time has passed since we last met."
His relationship with Horikita Manabu had begun after swim class, when Horikita Manabu invited him to join the Student Council. Kaede had politely declined.
The reason he'd given was that the Sanda Club had a more relaxed atmosphere. His real reason was that he didn't want to see Miyabi Nagumo's ugly mug.
And besides, after Horikita Manabu graduated, he'd have to work under that incompetent, pretentious new Student Council President. That sounded disgusting. He wasn't interested.
Later, during the Yamauchi Incident, he'd gone with the flow: he asked Horikita Manabu to help clean up the mess, and recommended that Kushida Kikyo join the Student Council in his place.
After Kaede talked her into it, Kushida agreed to tell Horikita Manabu about her past, and him alone.
It hadn't actually been difficult.
For one thing, Horikita Manabu had a solid character and reputation, and he was about to graduate anyway. It didn't matter if he knew.
For another, Kaede had helped Kushida a great deal, easing many of her inner conflicts. In other words, she was quite willing to listen to him.
After learning about Kushida's issues, Horikita Manabu readily agreed to let her join the Student Council.
That was the kind of person Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President, was. He judged each student and gave them a chance.
His personality was the complete opposite of Miyabi Nagumo, the "Dream Emperor."
Horikita Manabu said, "There's something I need you to do. It concerns a new Special Favor Exam in June."
There was a new Special Exam!? Tennoji Kaede was stunned.
Was this the power of the butterfly effect?
And... who exactly was the school going to favor?
Before you continue