Parasite

"So, the second outcome means that one person kept their identity secret and won on their own, right?"

Doctor pushed up his glasses as he analyzed the rules.

"If we don't wait until the exam ends and reveal the VIP's identity beforehand, we'll get the third or fourth outcome."

After everyone had said about all they could, the teacher began to speak.

"Let's see. Only the third and fourth answers can be submitted during the exam, within the twenty-four-hour period, or within thirty minutes after it ends. But in either case, a wrong answer will bring a penalty.

"In the third scenario, if anyone other than the VIP sends the school a text and correctly identifies the target, that student's class will receive five hundred thousand Class Points. In addition, the student who answered will receive an extra five hundred thousand Personal Points, and the exam will end.

"In the fourth scenario, if someone texts the school but identifies the wrong target, their class will lose 50 Class Points. The VIP will receive 500,000 Personal Points, and the VIP's class will gain 50 Class Points."

Karuizawa looked troubled as she listened to the rules, then spoke in confusion.

"What even is all this? I feel like I listened, but somehow didn't understand a thing. Why is it so complicated?"

"Even this humble scholar found it a little confusing."

Doctor rubbed his head.

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

Yukimura said helplessly.

"To preserve anonymity, after the exam ends, only each class's ranking and the changes to its Class Points will be announced. Nothing else will be made public. All right, that's all I have to say. You're dismissed."

Afterward, Kiyotaka walked alone to the deck and stood in the sea breeze, thinking about the exam. He sighed helplessly.

"Predicting other people's actions, deceiving them, hiding information, or sharing it... Human nature can be the hardest thing to figure out. And this exam is full of bait and false assumptions. It already sounds like a pain."

At eight the next morning, Horikita and Kiyotaka were sitting in the open-air café when they received text messages at the same time.

"I'm not the VIP."

"Neither am I."

"Do you need my help this time?"

"Hmph. I don't."

Just as the two were bickering, an incongruous voice interrupted them.

"What are you two chatting about so happily? Mind if I join in?"

Ryuen walked over with a wicked grin, accompanied by Ibuki and his personal enforcer.

Kiyotaka glanced at Ibuki, narrowed his eyes slightly, and silently mouthed,

"Come over later. Remember."

Ibuki noticed Kiyotaka's lips move and immediately lowered her head so no one would see her blush.

"So, Suzune, are you the VIP?"

"If I asked you the same question, would you answer me?"

Horikita replied with her usual cool composure.

"Ha! Forget it. You got the better of me in the last exam, but this time, I'll make sure you go down in defeat!"

Ryuen didn't press the matter. After leaving them with a threat, he took his group and left.

"Suzune, you're famous now."

Kiyotaka said with a smile once Ryuen was gone.

"You don't need me to tell you whose fault that is. Are you enjoying using me as a shield?"

Kiyotaka's gaze drifted lower as he spoke with pointed meaning.

"I am."

Horikita noticed his gaze and gave a quiet snort.

"You pervert!"

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

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

"Okay."

Kiyotaka sent a brief reply, then looked up at the haughty Horikita.

"Time's almost up. Let's get ready and see what happens."

Horikita's expression sobered at his words. She nodded, and the two of them went their separate ways.

The first discussion, in 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, this team is still a disaster."

"Hm?"

Doctor asked blankly.

Just as the discussion room had fallen silent, Ichinose, who was also in the Mars Group, clapped her hands.

"Hi, everyone. Why don't we start by introducing ourselves? The school asked us to do that, too."

During the introductions, the students from Class A raised objections, but Ichinose guided the conversation and quickly settled them down. In the end, everyone obediently introduced themselves.

"So, what should we do next? If anyone thinks I'm not doing a good job leading, you can take over."

Ichinose smiled at everyone, but no one spoke, even after she waited a long time.

"Well, since no one's volunteering, I think anyone with a question can raise it, and we can work it out together. Does anyone have one? If not, may I start by raising a question of my own?"

Ichinose kept smiling as she addressed the group.

"From my perspective, I hope everyone can pass this exam together. In other words, I think the first outcome would be best. What does everyone else think?"

"I'm fine with that."

"Agreed."

"That would be best. I'd like some Personal Points, too."

Just as everyone was voicing their agreement, someone spoke up.

"Our Class A has decided to remain silent throughout the exam. Fairness is the basis of every exam. Only by keeping silent can we prevent a traitor from appearing."

Machida Koji of Class A said expressionlessly.

His brief speech plunged the discussion into silence once more.

Ichinose thought for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"Machida, the only reason you can talk about everyone acting in unison is that you're in Class A. For the other classes, who are in a lower position, that means giving up their chance to turn things around and climb higher. Even I want to be in Class A."

Ichinose openly shared what she thought.

"Whatever. We'll keep quiet. Do whatever you want."

The first discussion ended in silence.

"That discussion was completely pointless."

Inside Kiyotaka's room, Kiyotaka lay on the sofa and spoke casually.

Ibuki was below him, working hard. There was no denying that her technique was improving. Kiyotaka found himself reaching inside and squeezing one of her soft breasts hard.

"Mm~"

Ibuki let out a muffled cry of pain and squirmed, but didn't stop moving, bobbing her head like a pecking chick.

"Ibuki, are you the VIP?"

Kiyotaka asked as he watched her work.

At his question, Ibuki shook her head without hesitation.

"Is that so? So it isn't you."

Kiyotaka hadn't expected much, so he wasn't bothered.

Then Kiyotaka looked Ibuki over carefully and suddenly said,

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

Ibuki froze at his words. She gave Kiyotaka a strange look, then mumbled,

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

"Is it weird? I just think it would suit you. I bet you'd look good in one."

Ibuki didn't want to argue with Kiyotaka about it. She quietly filed the remark away and began to pick up the pace.

After five minutes of hard work, Kiyotaka suddenly pressed Ibuki down with force. A pungent, flowery scent filled her nose.

"Glug."

After struggling to swallow, Ibuki wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and asked in confusion,

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

Kiyotaka smiled at Ibuki as he answered.

"This is the best nourishment there is. Don't be ungrateful."

"Tch."

Seeing that Kiyotaka was in a good mood, Ibuki rolled her eyes at him with a little more boldness.

Kiyotaka patted her pert bottom and looked at how much more natural she seemed.

"You're getting more and more comfortable with this."

"What else can I do? I'm already in your hands, so I can only accept it. But if you expect me to lie and say I've completely surrendered and become devoted to you, that's impossible. I can't do it."

Kiyotaka nodded.

"That's fine. I don't like insincerity either. I actually like your personality. I believe you'll really be able to help me someday. Besides, you're very important to me."

Ibuki's heart fluttered. She didn't know if Kiyotaka was just saying it to placate her, but his words warmed her from the inside and made her feel very comfortable.

Parasite

After the first discussion ended, there had been a little incident. Kiyotaka had already reached the door when he spotted Karuizawa sitting nearby, scrolling through her terminal. The three-person group led by Shiho Manabe of Class C was slowly approaching her.

"Ah... This doesn't look good."

Kiyotaka murmured to himself.

"Karuizawa, could we talk somewhere else?"

Just as Kiyotaka had expected, Manabe addressed Karuizawa.

But Karuizawa acted as if she hadn't heard and kept looking at her terminal.

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

"What?"

Karuizawa looked up and replied impatiently.

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

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

"She's in our class. A girl with glasses. She said that when she was waiting in line at the café, you suddenly cut in front of her and knocked her over. She said the girl was from Class D and had her hair tied in a ponytail. That's you, isn't it?"

Karuizawa's unconcerned expression only brought a hint of anger to Manabe's face.

"Huh? What are you even talking about? I don't know her. I don't remember anything like that."

Karuizawa kept scrolling through her terminal without even looking up.

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

"If you really don't remember, we can check."

As Manabe spoke, she took out her terminal and prepared to take a picture.