Holy crap, I'm in a group with Ichinose! Then, Karuizawa, act like we're strangers! (Continued)

Oh.

Then there shouldn't be any major problems.

In the original story, students were grouped according to the time of the exam notification; all Student Council notified at the same time would be grouped into one large group.

Just now, Ichinose called, and Nakano Yuu asked the same question; the other party said the meeting time was six o'clock.

Then, just like him, they will all be assigned to the same large group.

Horikita, Ryuuen, and Katsuragi all gathered at 8:40 AM, forming the same large group. This was a special group created by the school, bringing together the leaders of each class. The goal was probably to incite a test and competition between the class leaders.

But Nakano Yuu isn't here.

It's possible that Chabashira-sensei was somewhat biased.

Of course, it's also possible that Chabashira complied with his wishes and demoted him instead of expecting him to lead Class D.

All of these are consistent with the original work.

So it should still be the VIP Exam.

However, Nakano Yuu remembered that Ichinose had said she also needed to meet at six o'clock. So, was he going to be assigned to the same group Ichinose?

I was thinking of getting to know her, but I couldn't find the opportunity. Now the opportunity has come to me on its own.

What a coincidence!

Thinking this way.

[Has everyone received their exam notifications? Is anyone here to meet at 6:00? I'm meeting at 6:00.]

Nakano Yuu sent a message in the class group.

And very soon.

The students had all accepted that they would continue their vacation and have fun, but when they were suddenly told about the exam, they were a bit stunned.

Therefore, most students were paying attention to the information in the class group. When they noticed that Nakano Yuu had brought it up, they naturally joined the conversation.

[Kushida: It's 8:40.]

[Sotomura: It's six o'clock sharp, Nakano-kun, we're together.]

[Yukimura Teruhiko: Me too, it's exactly six o'clock.]

[Karuizawa Megumi: Me too, it's 6 o'clock sharp.]

In this way.

Aside from Nakano Yuu's group reconciling accounts and Kushida already knowing there was another exam, Nakano Yuu chose to reveal her information after needing her help.

The other students also began searching for their group members.

After confirming that the list was largely consistent with the original work, Nakano Yuu immediately messaged Karuizawa privately.

[Nakano Yuu: You and I are both meeting at 6 o'clock to go to Room 204?]

[Karuizawa: Yes.]

[Nakano Yuu: That's right, this exam requires your cooperation.]

[Karuizawa: So, you mean the favor can be repaid?]

[Nakano Yuu:... Probably, so you'll have to cooperate with me for this exam.]

[Karuizawa: So what do you need me for?]

[Nakano Yuu: Yeah, first of all, be a little cold towards me during the exam. For example, ignore me or something.]

[Karuizawa:...]

[Karuizawa: No, what are you thinking?]

Yeah. What were you thinking?

Karuizawa assumed that Nakano Yuu wanted her to cooperate with the exam, so in order not to make the action seem abrupt, she even took the initiative to approach him.

So now they want to break off the relationship?

But what could Nakano do? He was desperate too.

[Nakano Yuu: One of the girls I like is in this group. So I don't want her to see me being too close to other girls.]

[Karuizawa:...]

I see. If that's the case, Karuizawa can't refute it.

But who is the girl he likes?

Today, the students who are grouped and meeting at 6 o'clock to go to room 204, are they not her, Nakano Yuu, or are there also Sotomura and Yukimura?

Or does he like her?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked her to keep her distance and act coldly towards him.

This cruise ship has nine decks in total, five Banjo and four below deck.

The building has five floors; the first floor contains a lounge and a banquet hall, which are public areas.

The second to fifth floors are all guest rooms.

The boys live on the third floor, and the girls live on the fourth floor.

The teacher lives on the second floor.

The fifth floor houses luxury guest rooms, the most upscale type.

Although this arrangement exists, it does not prohibit male students from entering female floors.

The three floors below house various entertainment facilities.

Such as cinemas, opera houses, etc.

The fourth basement level is the electrical distribution room, which is usually only visited by staff.

"Knock knock!"

At 5:55, Nakano Yuu arrived on the second floor and knocked on the door of room 204.

"Please come in."

A response quickly came from inside the door.

Upon entering, Nakano Yuu immediately saw the young man sitting in a chair facing him.

The former homeroom teacher of Class A, Mashima Tomoya.

There was a stack of papers on the table in front of him, probably the materials for the upcoming exam.

Nakano Yuu thought he had just arrived on time, but found that there were only two boys in the room.

Moreover, he knew both of them.

They are Sotomura and Yukimura, who are in the same class.

Sotomura was a poor student, but Yukimura was a top student.

These were students who were already known to be grouped together in the class group chat, so there were no surprises.

Nakano Yuu sat down next to Yukimura, but there was an empty chair next to him.

Moreover, he also knew who the empty seat was reserved for.

"It seems that only students from our class are gathering in this room at six o'clock."

Unlike Sotomura, Yukimura still enjoys using his brain.

"The exam is about to begin. Please keep your phone on vibrate or turn it off."

Mashima glanced at Nakano Yuu and said calmly.

"Okay, no problem."

Nakano Yuu nodded slightly, then turned on the [vibrate] function in front of Mashima- sensei, and then openly placed the phone on the table.

"..."

Mashima glanced at his phone, his brow twitching as he saw the 'Call in Progress' message displayed.

However, he couldn't unleash his power.

The rules are to keep the phone vibrating or turned off, but they don't say it has to be turned off, nor do they say students can't use their phones.

So actually, it doesn't matter what students do, even making phone calls, as long as they don't make any noise.

As for producing sound, there's no problem as long as you connect headphones.

"Is this even possible?"

Sotomura Hideo stared in disbelief, feeling a surge of excitement, and eagerly wanted to try taking out his phone Nakano Yuu.

He didn't want to make a phone call, but he wanted to play on his phone.

But with Mashima Tomoya in front of him, he didn't dare.

"Really."

Nakano Yuu understood perfectly well that there were always loopholes in the school's rules.

It's not that the school administration was careless in making the rules; rather, they deliberately left a loophole.

Their goal is precisely to foster cooperation and intrigue among students.

"Students from Class A, Class B, and Class C will likely bring cameras to such gatherings, and I think the original Class A students might also bring voice recorders."

Nakano added.

"..."

Mashima.

So Mr. Mashima remained silent. He neither said it would work nor it wouldn't. However, he didn't prompt Nakano to end the call.

"Tick-tock! Tick-tock!"

The music box-style grandfather clock ticked away in the room, and time passed second by second.

Because the teacher was sitting in front of them, everyone deliberately kept quiet and no one spoke.

The atmosphere was somewhat subdued.

Time ticked by, and it was six o'clock.

"Knock knock!"

A new knock sounded at the door, and Mashima Tomoya, as before, said calmly, "Come in."

"Excuse me."

A girl with a bright golden ponytail walked in, speaking politely but appearing nonchalant.

Seeing Nakano Yuu and the others, he looked somewhat surprised, "You guys actually all arrived."

"You're late, sit down right now."

Mashima Tomoya looked up at her and said in an extremely cold tone.

"Yes."

Karuizawa pouted and replied listlessly before sitting down in front of Nakano Yuu.

Then, as if feeling a little uncomfortable, he moved the chair away from Nakano Yuu's side.

This scene made Sotomura and Yukimura glance at them again. Were these two... so distant?

"Class D, Sotomura Hideo, Yukimura Teruhiko, Nakano Yuu, and Karuizawa, right?"

Mashima Tomoya glanced at their faces, then lowered his head as if checking the list, before finally saying, "Now that everyone is here, I will proceed with the Special Exam instructions."

Everyone was already mentally prepared, so they immediately fell silent.

"In this Special Exam, the school has divided all first-year students into twelve groups according to the Chinese zodiac. We will hold exams within these groups, and the exams will test their thinking abilities."