Paradise of Freedom

"So Result Two means someone concealed their identity and won alone, right?"

The Doctor pushed up his glasses and analyzed.

"If you expose the VIP before the exam ends, you get Results Three and Four."

Seeing that everyone had said their piece, the teacher spoke up.

"Let me check. Only Results Three and Four accept answers submitted within twenty-four hours during the exam, and also within thirty minutes after the exam ends. But in either case, a wrong answer incurs a penalty.

Result Three: Anyone other than the VIP directly texts the school and answers correctly. The answering student's class receives 500,000 class points, and the individual answering receives an additional 500,000 personal points. Exam ends.

Result Four: If you text the school but answer wrong, your class loses 50 class points, the VIP gains 500,000 personal points, and the VIP's class gains 50 class points."

After reading the rules, Karuizawa looked troubled and muttered dazedly.

"What is all this? I feel like I heard it but didn't really get it. Why is it so complicated!"

"This humble one is a bit confused too."

The Doctor rubbed his head.

"I'll explain later. Don't interrupt the teacher for now."

Yukimura said helplessly.

"Considering the anonymity of this exam, only each class's ranking and class point changes will be announced after it ends. Nothing else will be disclosed. Alright, I'm done. Dismissed."

After it ended, Kiyotaka walked alone to the deck, letting the sea breeze hit him as he thought about the exam format and sighed helplessly.

"Predicting others' actions, deceiving, concealing, or sharing information—human nature is sometimes the hardest thing to read. Especially when this competition is full of bait and misjudgments. Just hearing about it is already a headache."

At eight the next morning, Horikita and Kiyotaka, sitting in the open-air café, both received texts.

"I'm not the VIP."

"I'm not either."

"Need my help this time?"

"Hmph, I don't need it."

Just as they were bickering, a jarring voice cut in.

"What's got you two chatting so happily? Mind if I join?"

Ryuen gave a sinister smile as he walked over, flanked by Ibuki and his personal enforcer.

Kiyotaka glanced at Ibuki, narrowed his eyes slightly, and subtly mouthed.

"Later, come over."

Ibuki caught Kiyotaka's lip movement and immediately lowered her head, hiding her blush.

"Suzune, are you the VIP?"

"If I asked you, would you answer me?"

Horikita maintained her usual cold elegance.

"Haha, forget it. You got me last time, but this time, I'll make you leave in defeat!"

Ryuen didn't push his luck, dropped his threat, and left with his people.

"Suzune, you're blushing."

Kiyotaka said with a smile after Ryuen was gone.

"I don't need to say whose fault that is. Enjoying using me as a shield?"

Kiyotaka's gaze drifted downward, insinuating.

"Very much."

Horikita naturally noticed where he was looking and gave a light snort.

"Pervert!"

Just then, Kiyotaka's terminal buzzed. It was a text from Ibuki.

"I'm in the Mars Group this time too. The first discussion is about to start. Can I come after it ends?"

"Okay."

Kiyotaka replied briefly, then looked up at the tsundere Horikita and said.

"Time's almost up. Let's prepare and see what's what."

Horikita dropped her expression at that, nodded, and the two parted ways.

First discussion, inside the discussion room.

Karuizawa glanced again and again at the three classmates sitting across from her and couldn't help sighing.

"No matter how many times I look, it's still a terrible team."

"Huh?"

The Doctor let out a blank question.

As the discussion room fell silent, Ichinose, who had also been assigned to the Mars Group, clapped her hands and spoke.

"Hey everyone, how about we start with introductions? The school told us to do this too."

During the introductions, although Class A raised objections, Ichinose's guidance quickly extinguished them, and in the end everyone obediently introduced themselves.

"So what should we do next? If anyone thinks I'm not doing a good job hosting, feel free to take over."

Ichinose smiled at everyone, and after a long silence with no response.

"Since no one's speaking up, I think if anyone has questions, they can raise them first and we'll work them out. Any? If not, can I start with my question?"

Ichinose kept a smile on her face as she addressed the group.

"From my standpoint, I hope everyone can pass this exam together. In other words, I think Result One is the best outcome. What does everyone think?"

"I think that's fine."

"Agreed."

"If that's the case, that's best. I want personal points too."

As a chorus of agreement rose.

"Class A has decided to remain completely silent. Fairness is the foundation of all exams. Only by staying silent can we avoid the emergence of traitors."

Machida Koji of Class A said expressionlessly.

Those few words instantly plunged the discussion back into silence.

At that moment, Ichinose made a thinking gesture, then spoke slowly.

"Machida-kun can say things like 'unified action' mainly because you're in Class A. For the lower-ranked classes, that means giving up the chance to overtake and climb. Even I want to be in Class A."

Ichinose frankly stated her own thoughts.

"Well... we'll just stay silent. Do whatever you want."

The first discussion ended in silence.

"What a completely fruitless discussion."

In Kiyotaka's room, he lay on the sofa and said flatly.

Below him, Ibuki was hard at work. Her technique was improving, and Kiyotaka couldn't help but reach in and give her softness a firm squeeze.

"Mm~"

Ibuki let out an involuntary whimper, her body twisting, but her movements didn't stop at all, bobbing her head like a chick pecking at rice.

"Ibuki, are you the VIP?"

Kiyotaka asked the hardworking Ibuki.

Hearing his question, Ibuki shook her head without hesitation.

"Is that so? Not you, then."

Kiyotaka hadn't held much hope anyway, so he didn't mind.

Then he carefully observed Ibuki's figure and suddenly spoke.

"I think you'd look pretty good in a maid outfit."

At those words, Ibuki froze. She gave Kiyotaka a strange look and said indistinctly.

"I didn't know you had such weird fetishes. I underestimated you."

"Is that so? Is it weird? I just think it suits you. I bet you'd look great in one."

Ibuki didn't want to dwell on this topic with Kiyotaka. She silently noted it in her mind, then began to pick up the pace.

After five minutes of intense effort, Kiyotaka suddenly pressed Ibuki down firmly, and she tasted the pungent scent of stone flowers.

"Gulp."

Ibuki swallowed with difficulty, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and said in confusion.

"How can anyone like this stuff? It tastes awful."

Kiyotaka looked at Ibuki and smiled.

"It's the best nutrition. Don't be ungrateful."

"Hmph."

Seeing that Kiyotaka's attitude was decent, Ibuki dared to give him a slight glare.

He patted her pert rear, watching her become more natural, and said.

"You're getting pretty comfortable with this now."

"What else can I do? I've already fallen into your hands, so I have to accept it. But don't expect me to lie and say I'm completely submissive or devoted to you. That's impossible. I can't do it."

Kiyotaka nodded.

"That's fine. I don't like hypocrisy either. I actually like this personality of yours. I believe you'll really be able to help me in the future. And you're very important to me."

Ibuki felt a sudden flutter in her heart. She didn't know if Kiyotaka was just sweet-talking her, but those words made her feel warm inside, incredibly comfortable.

Chapter 50: Parasite

After the first discussion ended, there was actually a small incident. Kiyotaka had already reached the entrance when, with nothing better to do, he spotted Karuizawa sitting not far away, scrolling through her terminal. The trio led by Class C's Shiho Manabe slowly approached her.

"Ah... this doesn't look friendly."

Kiyotaka muttered to himself.

"Karuizawa-san, can we talk for a moment?"

As Kiyotaka expected, Manabe looked at Karuizawa and spoke.

But Karuizawa acted as if she hadn't heard, staring at her terminal without acknowledging them.

"Hey, I'm talking to you. I have something to ask!"

"Ask what?"

Karuizawa lifted her head, speaking impatiently.

"Did you get into a conflict with Rika before summer break?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? Who's Rika?"

"A girl in our class, she wears glasses. You suddenly cut in line at the café and knocked her over. Rika said so herself—she said it was a girl from Class D with a ponytail. That's you, isn't it?"

Seeing Karuizawa's complete indifference, Manabe's face showed a hint of anger.

"Hah, what are you even saying? I don't know her. No memory of it."

Karuizawa kept scrolling through her terminal, not even turning her head.

"You don't remember? If you did it, we want you to apologize to her!"

"If you really can't remember, we'll just confirm it."

Manabe said as she pulled out her terminal, ready to take a photo.