I'm Filing a Complaint!

Watching Uesugi Gen grin like a conniving little villain who'd gotten away with something...

Was he really not just getting back at me for what happened earlier?

Hoshinomiya silently wondered.

Regardless, in the end, Hoshinomiya handed Uesugi Gen the key card bearing Kanzaki Ryuji's name.

A little more time passed.

Since they'd assigned the work in advance, everyone in Class B had a task, and they soon finished setting up camp.

"We've almost finished everything that needs doing."

Uesugi Gen turned to Kanzaki Ryuji, who was resting beneath a tree, and asked,

"Do you know where Class D's camp is?"

"Unfortunately, no. Or rather, they still haven't decided where to set up camp."

Kanzaki Ryuji spread his hands helplessly.

"Apparently, they're still arguing over whether they should buy a toilet."

"It's a wonder Miss Horikita can stand being in the same class as those people."

Uesugi Gen had given up on Class D entirely. He stood up.

"Come on. If they can't decide for themselves, I'll decide for them."

"Even so, I can't accept you planning to spend points that belong to the boys without permission. If you want a portable toilet, I hope you'll at least get the majority to agree."

"I... I'm just fighting for something girls have every right to need. What does that have to do with the boys?!"

"A need you have every right to, and nothing to do with the boys? I don't understand. Isn't that blatant preferential treatment?"

"Preferential treatment?... Ah—my head's starting to hurt..."

Class D was arguing fiercely over whether to buy a toilet worth 20 points, with the boys and girls each insisting on their own position.

"In that case, I'll help you settle this problem."

A voice cut straight across their argument, forcing them to stop.

The students of Class D turned to look for the speaker and saw Uesugi Gen approaching with a large group of people.

"I have to say, you're easy to find. I could hear Class D from way off."

"Uesugi, what are you doing here? The exam has only just started. Even if you plan to attack us, there's no need to do it now."

Horikita Suzune stepped forward to ask. They were rivals now, and she wasn't about to be polite to Uesugi Gen.

"Attack you? Miss Horikita, why would you think that? I came to help you."

Uesugi Gen spoke with a tone of boundless compassion.

"Help us? You think I'd believe that?"

Horikita Suzune scoffed. There was no way she'd believe anything Uesugi Gen said.

"That's right. I came to help. You're arguing so fiercely because you have too many points. Cut them in half, and you definitely won't have enough to argue over."

Uesugi Gen spread his hands with an exasperated look. Kanzaki pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and unfolded it for them to see.

The expressions of all the Class D students changed the moment they saw the paper.

"Remember? One condition."

"Three hundred points is still too much for you. You're even arguing over how to use them. Let's split it down the middle. Give Class B 150 points' worth of supplies."

The Class D students looked at the contract with grim expressions.

One hundred and fifty points. Half their supplies, gone just like that. They'd barely have enough to last a week. If they lost any more points, Class D might as well raise their hands and surrender.

"Impossible! I won't accept those terms. Why should we hand over supplies worth 150 Class Points just because of those three useless failures?!"

Though Yukimura looked intimidated facing Uesugi Gen, he still mustered the courage to challenge him for the sake of those 150 Class Points.

"Exactly. You signed the contract with Horikita and Hirata. Why should we have to pay?"

Once someone had spoken up, the other Class D students joined in.

"Don't get the wrong idea. From the start, I never expected people like you, who only know how to fight among yourselves, to hand over your supplies."

Standing in front of his Class B classmates, Uesugi Gen looked at the Class D students with contempt.

Then he shifted his gaze to Horikita Suzune, who stood silently nearby.

"Miss Horikita, you'll hand them over, won't you?"

"Yes. I'll hand over all 150 points' worth of supplies, exactly as agreed."

Horikita Suzune's calm voice held firm resolve.

"Hahaha!"

Uesugi Gen burst into unrestrained laughter.

"I knew it. That's why I specifically chose to sign a contract with you. No, even without a contract, all I'd have to do is ask, and you'd hand over those 150 points' worth of supplies."

For once, Horikita Suzune didn't argue with him.

That was right. Since she'd agreed to Uesugi Gen's terms, as long as they didn't violate her principles, Horikita Suzune would always keep her word.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be Horikita Suzune.

Then Uesugi turned to the Class D students who stood rooted to the spot.

"By the way, any student in the class can request the class's supplies. So what are you going to do for the next week? Keep watch on Miss Horikita every second to stop her from requesting supplies and handing them over to me?"

The thought made Uesugi Gen laugh at how foolish Class D was.

"Pathetic. This is a Special Exam. Instead of uniting against your opponents, you're verbally attacking the only person in your class capable of leading it. No wonder you were all sorted into the same defective class."

"But that suits me just fine. The contract I signed was with Horikita and Hirata. If they don't hand over the supplies on time, they'll be expelled. The only people capable of leading your class will be expelled by their own classmates. I couldn't ask for a more perfect outcome."

"As for the rest of you, stay in Class D until graduation."

With that, Uesugi turned and left with the Class B students.

"Two hours from now. One hundred and fifty points' worth of supplies. Here's the list. If I don't see them by then, they'll be expelled."

Uesugi Gen delivered his final ultimatum to all of Class D.

That guy...

Watching Uesugi Gen walk away, Horikita Suzune bit her lip, her feelings conflicted.

### I'm Filing a Complaint Against You!

"Hey, why did you speak up for me just now?"

Horikita Suzune walked over to Uesugi Gen, who was sitting beneath a tree and admiring the view, and asked him, looking down at him.

The Class B students had already gone back with the supplies. Horikita Suzune had stopped Uesugi Gen and called him over by himself.

"Even if you hadn't said those things, I'd still have given you those 150 points' worth of supplies."

Horikita Suzune sat beside Uesugi Gen and wrapped her arms around her knees, gazing ahead.

"I know. That's why I specifically made a contract with you in the first place. Didn't I just say that?"

Uesugi Gen didn't answer Horikita Suzune's question. Instead, he asked her another question with an interested look.

"How are things going in your class?"

"Because of you!"

Horikita Suzune glanced at Uesugi Gen and said irritably,

"Your speech just now humiliated them. There's still friction, but at least they've reached an agreement on the general direction."

"They actually know how to feel ashamed? That's incredible. Still, it must be hard for you. You hate those people, yet you have to lead them to Class A."

"It's nothing. Since I've decided to graduate from Class A by moving up through the ranks, I can't lack even that much resolve."

Horikita Suzune looked out at the distant sea, her voice full of determination.

Then she turned to Uesugi Gen and asked,

"You still haven't answered me. Why did you speak up for me? It would've made more sense for you to leave after talking to me, wait for me to give you the supplies worth 150 points, and then keep stirring up conflict between Class D and me. That would've served your interests better, wouldn't it?"

"Mmm, that's true, but somehow, that just wouldn't be fun."

Uesugi Gen looked up in thought before answering.

"Huh? What kind of reason is that? It wouldn't be fun?"

Horikita Suzune narrowed her foxlike eyes and leaned toward Uesugi Gen, as if she wanted to crack open his head and see what was inside.

"How should I put it?"

Uesugi rested his chin on his hand and pondered.

"Have you ever played a game?"

"No. Never."

Horikita Suzune answered instantly.

"What do you do in your dorm, then?"

Uesugi Gen was curious. The Accomplice Lady never went out to have fun when he invited her. Her daily life seemed unusually dull.

"I study for ten hours a day. I spend the rest of my time reading."

Horikita Suzune said it with a perfectly calm expression.

"How can you say something so terrifying with a straight face?"

Uesugi Gen was so shocked that he leaned back and shuffled away, trying to put some distance between himself and Horikita Suzune.

"You still haven't answered my question."

Horikita Suzune glared at Uesugi Gen in displeasure.

Uesugi Gen thought for a moment, then finally came up with an answer tailored to Horikita.

"Fine, um... I've got it. You like studying, right? If all you ever did was solve problems like one plus one, would you find it interesting?"

Uesugi Gen gestured toward Horikita Suzune with both hands.

"Huh? You mean fighting Class D is as easy for you as solving one plus one?"

Horikita Suzune understood what Uesugi Gen meant immediately.

"Ahem. You're not wrong."

Uesugi Gen scratched his cheek with a smile.

"Anyway, games are more fun with more players. Your Class D is too weak. You haven't even chosen a proper leader yet. Keep going like this, and you're sure to lose. Without your Class D, all I can do is play cards with Classes A and C."

That was Uesugi Gen's conclusion.

"I won't thank you. Don't regret not getting me expelled when you lose."

"Don't worry, Miss Horikita. I absolutely won't lose this game. So everything I'm doing now is just achievement hunting."

Unfortunately, Horikita Suzune, a gaming novice, didn't understand the implication of Uesugi Gen's words at all.

"I really don't understand what goes on in your head."

Horikita Suzune stood up and brushed the dust off her trousers.

"I won't go easy on you in this Special Exam. Our class doesn't have many points left, so we can only earn more by guessing the other classes' leaders. Your class had better watch out. Don't let me guess yours."

"Miss Horikita, if I beat your Class D cleanly this time, don't start crying afterward."

"Losers have to accept defeat."

After brushing the dirt off her clothes, Horikita Suzune turned to Uesugi Gen and said,

"Then I'll head back—"