Class 1-B: One Student Absent

Even after graduating from high school, you still need to rely on yourself to find a way to get into a university.

After venting his emotions with a loud shout, Sudo went a step further and deepened his understanding.

After calming down a bit, the roll call for Class A gradually came to an end.

Ichinose Honami returned to the negotiating table.

"Now, let's talk about what price to quote for these supplies."

With a charming smile, Ichinose Honami said this.

"We can offer two options." Ichinose Honami held up two fingers. "You can discuss which one you want to accept."

"Hirata, we'd also like to remind you of something."

"It's not just our class that chooses to buy most of the necessary supplies on the first day," she said.

Equipment is equipment. The exchange list provided by the school is clearly priced. Except for consumables which can be exchanged once a day, it's generally better to exchange for other items as early as possible so you can enjoy them sooner.

If it weren't for the situation in Class D, probably no one would have thought that a late change could be given away for free.

This is clearly a very well-intentioned reminder.

If Ichinose Honami hadn't said it sooner, they might have belatedly realized this only after everything was over.

Although it's already very late, it's clear that the later it gets, the less help they can offer to other classes, and the less convenience they can gain in return.

"Ichinose, thank you so much!" Hirata Yosuke with utmost sincerity, his expression filled with gratitude.

Without hesitation, he turned his head and bowed to Kushida Kikyo and Horikita Suzune:

"So, Horikita- san, Kushida, thank you for your help!"

He didn't trust anyone else at all; if he wanted to exchange his supplies, he could only place his hopes on these two girls.

Horikita Suzune: "..."

Kushida Kikyo: "..."

Ha...

Kushida Kikyo seemed to want to breathe on herself.

Why are you putting this task on me again?!

Am I some kind of model worker? Why do so many people suddenly turn their attention to me whenever something happens? Don't they know how stressful it is to have their hopes pinned on someone else?!

Yes, I want to gain your trust. I want to be the most important and superior person in your hearts.

But that doesn't mean I want to take over the responsibility of being the babysitter for Class D.

The only consolation was that Horikita Suzune was also suffering alongside them.

I really want to see how stupid this woman looks when she negotiates with other classes.

Unfortunately, Class B and Class C will definitely have to split up.

"I understand." Although she was internally complaining, Kushida Kikyo nodded slightly and accepted the task.

Horikita Suzune hesitated for a long time, but after seeing Kushida Kikyo nod, she also nodded somewhat stiffly.

"... I see."

Negotiate?

Recalling her experiences since entering university, Horikita Suzune felt inexplicably guilty.

Can I really do it?

No, I can definitely do it.

That's the only way she could trust herself.

Carrying a list of supplies worth a total of 150 reward points and divided equally among them, Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo took the flashlights they had obtained, took a deep breath, and prepared to head towards the two class outposts that Class D had found in the dark jungle.

"Hey." Suddenly, Asakusa Toru Tetsu, who hadn't said much and had just been watching the Class D's commotion, called out to the two who were about to leave, "It's too late, let me take you home."

Admittedly, the Uninhabited Island is Advanced Nurturing island owned by the school; it may look deserted, but it has nothing to do with deserted islands at all.

In addition, everyone is given a wristband to monitor their heart rate upon disembarking to ensure safety, so even if someone is alone, there is probably not much danger.

But leaving a girl alone in the woods at this hour is really a bit thoughtless.

"Heh heh..." Kushida Kikyo turned her head back and let out a soft chuckle.

Night, bushes, farewell.

Does this guy really not have any particular ideas?

But...

There's also a Horikita Suzune to send as a gift.

"... No need." Horikita Suzune refused calmly, "I'm not so weak that I can't walk alone at night."

"I don't think Kushida needs it either, right?"

As she spoke, she turned to look at Kushida Kikyo.

"Hey hey..." No, it's not my sister, don't drag me into this.

Feeling Horikita Suzune's gaze, Kushida Kikyo casually looked away.

"Well... it's hard to say."

But as soon as she said that, the boys in Class D started to stir.

"--Me! Me! Me!"

"I'll take Kushida! I can take Kushida to school and protect Kushida!"

"Protecting the safety of vulnerable young girls is our duty!"

"It's not up to Class A to escort the girls from Class D!"

Kushida Kikyo expressed a slight willingness to accept the escort, and immediately a chorus of voices erupted from Class D.

Looking at the oddballs like Kanji Ike, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sotomura Hideo, who were raising their hands as if they were incredibly energetic, Kushida Kikyo maintained a smile on the surface, but inwardly she wanted to curse them.

Who are you?

Get out!

Despite cursing them in her heart, Kushida Kikyo still had to force a smile and face these fools.

"Hmm, I guess I'll pass. Just like Horikita- san said, I'm not so weak that I'm afraid to walk alone at night!" Kushida Kikyo clenched her fist.

Her fist hardened, becoming exceptionally hard.

"Ah..."

Disappointment...

"As expected of Kushida!"

Amidst his disappointed expression, Yamauchi Haruki, on a sudden impulse, tried to attract attention with words of praise.

Unfortunately, his brilliant idea went completely unnoticed.

Kushida Kikyo waved goodbye with a smile and turned away, then her face fell as she turned her back to everyone.

"What a bunch of Stupid Teacher," she muttered through gritted teeth.

After uttering those words, she felt a little better, then straightened her back, turned on her flashlight, and left.

She was responsible for negotiating with Class C, while Horikita Suzune was responsible for negotiating with Class B.

... Class C, they're probably a bunch of idiots too.

But no matter what, inferior products are better than scrap.

It's usable to some extent.

The tricky part is, if it's Ryuen from Class C... that guy definitely won't budge an inch on the issue of benefits.

Ultimately, the Zero-Point Strategy was a tactic devised by Ryuen Kakeru; conversely, selling him supplies...

To be honest, Kushida Kikyo didn't have much confidence.

But it doesn't matter. Even if she doesn't get a single point back, no one in Class D will dare to have any complaints about her.

The two women, who had split into two groups, disappeared into the forest with their lights. Asakusa Toru, who had been rejected, wasn't disappointed at all; he really just intended to give Little Kikyo a ride along the way.

It's already eight o'clock. Although he wasted some time finding this stronghold to guide the class, the stronghold he occupied will be reset soon.

If he doesn't intend to hand over those strongholds to other classes, he should probably go and clock in again for the next round.

After a tense and exciting map-hunting race, Asakusa Toru had basically figured out where all the outposts on the island were located.

With just a little planning, you can create the perfect, shortest route to all the must-see spots.

However, now is not the time to implement this route.

Now we just need to follow the order in which he checked in when he landed on the island and scanned the map.

The opportune time to use this route is 4:00 AM, eight hours from now.

Only at this time can we ensure the foolproof defense of the vast majority of strongholds.

If the other teams' bullies really timed it perfectly and tried to take over his stronghold at this early morning hour...

Then he'll have to resort to some other minor tricks.

Anyway, all we need to do is stop the person who's clocking in.

"Honami, I'm leaving now, it's almost time." With that thought, Asakusa Toru turned to Ichinose Honami and called out before heading in the direction Class D had come from.

He easily and accurately found the little huddled Sakura Airi leaning against a tree in the corner, and reached out to ruffle her hair in a messy manner.

"Ugh..."

After rubbing her until she whimpered and cried out, Asakusa Toru's figure disappeared into the dark bushes with two quick movements.

"Hoo hoo hoo..." Feeling the lingering warmth on her head, Sakura Airi let out a silly laugh.

Few people cared about Asakusa Toru's departure, and no one noticed Sakura, whose head he was rubbing.

Because just before he left, Ichinose Honami continued the previous conversation and stated the conditions that Class A could offer.

"First, there's the Private Points. Since this is a one-time, direct Private Points, it's impossible to estimate using Class Points. Please understand." Ichinose Honami, then stated the agreed-upon number:

"Therefore, if we settle the cost in Private Points, our bid can only be 'one million Private Points,' which, if divided equally among the forty students in the class, would be 25,000 points per person."

One million sounds like a huge number. If each person gets 25,000, that's a lot more than the 8,000 points they get each month.

But... compared to the Class Points they could convert from the 120 reward points they paid, it's really quite pathetic.

Even if these points can only help Class A save about thirty bonus points.

"The second one, the second one!"

Kanji Ike was behind them, quickly started shouting and urging them on.

However, Ichinose Honami gave me a slightly apologetic look.

"For the second one, we can only bid based on the expected savings."

"That is, a fixed transfer agreement of '3,000 points' per person per month," she said.

Chapter 205 First-Year Class B, one person absent.

"One million and... three thousand a month?"

Ichinose Honami's voice echoed through the calm, dark forest. The students of Class D couldn't help but ponder as they listened to the two conditions she presented.

Frankly speaking, both of these conditions are... too low.

The results were significantly lower than what they had originally expected from this Special Exam.

Their original plan was for Class D to win the exam by just barely making the cut-off score of 300 Class Points, becoming the class that won the most points, even if not the highest score.