"Hello, Horikita, Ayanokoji."
At the Class B Base Camp, Ichinose Honami warmly welcomed the two visitors from Class D.
"I'm really sorry about Kanzaki and the others snooping for information this morning, Ayanokoji."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka shook his head, with nothing to say.
"Shiina, over here! Come quick." Ichinose spotted a silver-haired girl and hurriedly called to her.
Hiyori set down her bucket and walked over curiously. "Is something wrong, Ichinose?"
Horikita asked in puzzlement, "Isn't she Shiina from Class C? We met at the cafe before. Why are you in Class B?"
When they had signed the three-rule contract last time, there had been two other girls beside Tennoji Kaede. Ibuki was in Class D, while Shiina was in Class B?
What on earth was Class C up to?
Horikita couldn't make sense of it. She could feel a headache coming on...
"Well, Shiina was ostracized by Ryuen in Class C. She's staying with us in Class B for now under Tennoji's protection."
Ichinose excitedly linked arms with Shiina and snuggled up to her. "Aww, Shiina is just so adorable. I wish she could really join Class B."
"Ichinose..."
Hiyori was at a loss. She'd only been in Class B for a little over a day, but their enthusiastic atmosphere was already wearing her down.
Looking around, she couldn't see a single person who seemed like a genuine villain!
Hiyori had experienced firsthand the difference between Classes B and C that Kaede had told her about.
Ever since the Deserted Island Exam began, Horikita had been dispirited because of her health problems. "We'll look into Class C again later. Ichinose, what do you think of Class A?"
"Class A? They're holed up in a cave and won't let any outsiders near them. They've been acting mysterious, and we haven't gotten any information about them."
Horikita stole a glance at Ayanokoji, who gave a silent nod.
"I have important information about the leader of Class A. I hope we can trade it with your Class B on a class-to-class basis!"
Ichinose looked surprised.
"So the leader of Class A is either Katsuragi Kouhei or Tozuka Yahiko?" Ichinose mused.
Just moments ago, Class B and Class D had signed an agreement not to guess each other's leader. It was an equal contract with no exchange of benefits, perfectly in keeping with the natural friendship between the two classes.
And Class D, despite having initiated the agreement, had shared this important information with Class B.
Hiyori had also been at the signing and had learned about it.
Both classes had agreed to let her stay.
According to the information Horikita had received, Ryuen's group had also been present outside the cave at the time. Since Class C clearly knew about this, there was no need to exclude Hiyori, whom Class C had ostracized.
"Exactly. Classes B and D can work together and figure out a way to identify the real leader of Class A!" Horikita said excitedly.
"I'm sorry, Horikita." Ichinose spoke frankly, her voice apologetic. "In this Deserted Island Exam, Class B absolutely won't guess any class's leader."
Horikita was shocked. "What? Why?"
"To be honest, Class B hasn't occupied any locations except for the Water Well Check-in Point inside our Base Camp. Or rather, I don't even know whether we've occupied any other locations..."
So that was Class B's strategy. Ayanokoji understood now.
"Huh? What do you mean, Ichinose? The leader of Class B... No, wait!"
Horikita glanced at Shiina from Class C beside her and didn't continue, but her confusion was obvious.
Ichinose awkwardly traced a finger over her smooth cheek.
She said, "Actually, I don't know who the leader of Class B is, either. Nobody in Class B knows..."
"What!? Wait, does that mean you didn't elect your leader within the class, but had one picked at random?"
Horikita understood the truth. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Ichinose nodded. "When the Deserted Island Exam began, I instructed everyone to let Hoshinomiya-sensei pick our leader at random. Whoever was chosen wasn't to tell anyone in the class. And apart from checking in at the Water Well Check-in Point inside the Base Camp, we weren't to check in at any other location outside the Base Camp!"
"So Class B won't guess anyone's leader, either. Even if another class's leader's Keycard were right in front of me, I, Ichinose, swear I still wouldn't guess on the Seventh Day!"
Ayanokoji closed his eyes slightly. This was the ultimate defensive strategy.
Even if Shiina Hiyori were the spy from Class C, could she really spend twenty-four hours a day staking out the Water Well Check-in Point to spy on them?
Class B wasn't stupid.
And Horikita was the exam leader for Class D. Class B's perfect defensive strategy had left her utterly speechless.
"I understand."
"Don't be like that, Horikita. We've already signed a Peace Contract, and Class B is still willing to help Class D figure out a way to identify Class A's leader."
Horikita was very grateful. Afterward, she and Ayanokoji headed to the Class C Base Camp as agreed, to gather information about the last remaining class.
The sight of the beach carnival before them made Horikita freeze again.
"What is Class C... up to now?"
There was BBQ Equipment, Beach Volleyball, Chairs and Umbrellas, Snacks and Drinks, and even a Jet Ski.
From what Horikita could see, Class C was actually acting like they were on vacation!?
"Hey, Suzune... and your little sidekick. You really did show up. Come have a seat."
At the heart of the beach, Ryuen was relaxing under an umbrella and greeted the two of them warmly.
Horikita didn't feel intimidated in the least. The rules of the exam forbade violence in public, so she had nothing to fear.
"Has Class C given up on this exam?"
Ryuen sneered. "Unlike you, Suzune, I'm not going to run myself ragged for a mere hundred-odd Class Points."
"By the way, why don't you D-classers join the fun too? All we need is another Special Exam like last time, where the weaklings get special treatment. What's the point of working hard?"
"You're all crazy. Go ahead and sink into despair, Class C. Next semester, you'll be Class D."
Ryuen burst out laughing.
Ayanokoji noticed a wireless walkie-talkie on the table beside Ryuen.
And near the plastic table not far away, someone who looked like Tennoji Kaede sat alone, seemingly detached from the rest of the class.
Horikita had clearly noticed too. She frowned and decided not to say anything more.
"Wait, Suzune."
Ryuen suddenly called out, stopping the two of them.
"What do you want now?"
"Don't be so wary, Suzune. As a reward for bringing me so much joy during the Tian Shu Sha Exam, I'll give you a prize in this exam too."
Horikita was about to speak when a pale green card flew toward her chest.
Her reactions had slowed a little, but she managed to catch the card with her hand after it bounced lightly off her body.
Horikita's hand trembled. She knew this item all too well.
"Ryuen... Sho..."
She read the name displayed on the card.
It was the leader Keycard for Class C.
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