This Is What They Call a Dream Team / Seven Days-Bring It On!

Kitagawa Ryo offered a few words of comfort to the somewhat dejected Karuizawa Kei:

"However, appropriate fitness and exercise are definitely fine. I'm also planning to create a special exercise plan for Arisu once I return to school."

"Is that so...?"

Karuizawa Kei murmured something to herself, then immediately put down her sandwich and picked up her phone.

"What's wrong now?"

"I'm planning to add a private gym session to today's itinerary; I remember the cruise ship has that facility."

"Um, I think it's best for Hui to avoid the gym right now, even the pool seems better than..."

Before Kitagawa Ryo could even voice his dissuasion, Karuizawa Kei had already given him a charmingly coquettish glare.

"I'm not going to the gym to work out. Don't you want to see leotards, yoga pants, and..."

"I'm fully prepared to guide Hui Fitness!"

Amused by Kitagawa Ryo's suddenly righteous and serious tone, Karuizawa Kei couldn't help but poke his forehead with her finger and wave her phone at him.

"Alright, everything's been communicated and booked. Let's finish eating and head out. Our first location this afternoon is a private cinema—um, it's on the second floor."

"A private cinema? What movie is Hui planning to watch? A horror movie?"

Upon hearing Karuizawa Kei mention the "private cinema" facility, Kitagawa Ryo instinctively recalled countless romantic stories where the male and female protagonists would huddle together in the dark to watch a horror movie, and then naturally huddle together for warmth as the plot unfolded.

"No, and we don't need any horror movies as a trigger between us. Anyway, if Ryo wants to hug me, I'll hug her. But lying on my side on Ryo's lap while watching the screen seems like a nice position... Let's talk about it later."

After quickly finishing the last bit of lunch on his plate, Karuizawa Kei stood up and, together with Kitagawa Ryo who had finished eating a little earlier, threw the packaging bags and other trash into a nearby trash can. After returning the cutlery and tray to the restaurant, they started walking together toward the private cinema on the second floor.

"Hello, I'm Karuizawa Kei, who made a reservation in advance. The video on this USB drive will be played on the big screen in a moment."

Upon arriving at the location, Karuizawa Kei proactively approached the receptionist and handed her a small USB drive from her bag.

"Okay, please come in. If you need to order food or have any other services, please press the bell at any time. The button is on the table in the room, and we will take care of it for you as soon as possible..."

After confirming their identities, a staff member immediately and attentively welcomed Kitagawa Ryo and Karuizawa Kei inside, while another staff member, who had taken the USB drive, plugged it into the computer, preparing to play the video inside as requested.

The USB drive contains only a document titled "Large-scale Championship Documentary." Clicking on it reveals:

"<[K&K | Dual Perspective Dialogue Mashup | Extra Long Warning] In the Book of Fate, we are finally on the same line of text>... wait, what is this?"

Chapter 244: This is what they call a ace team!

Just as Kitagawa Ryo and Karuizawa Kei entered the private cinema and began to comfortably watch the long video that was edited and provided by an anonymous and enthusiastic man from Class 1-A, three homeroom teachers from the First Year, who had a past relationship with each other, also took a break from their busy schedules and gathered at the adult-only bar on the upper floor of the cruise ship.

"... On the first day of the students' holiday, we were actually dragged to help with some kind of test. I'm so tired."

The newly appointed Class A homeroom teacher Hoshinomiya Chie, was leaning on the bar counter, her eyes glazed over as she fiddled with the wine glass in her hand. Although she was complaining, anyone could tell she was in a good mood.

"Come on, I heard you drank in your room almost all night last night, and the cleaning staff had to hold their noses when they went in."

Upon hearing this, Mashima Tomoya sharply exposed her lie, and the class's advancement made him stand up straight with a realistic sense of pride.

"You're not sleeping in my room, so why are you bothering me? Of course, Mashima is willing to come over, I'll definitely clean it up beforehand, okay?"

"I'm not interested in you at all, and besides, I remember you just got a new boyfriend two months ago. Aren't you afraid of people finding out when you say that?"

"That's all in the past. We dumped him before the special exam on the Uninhabited Island even started, so now's the perfect opportunity to take advantage of his weakness. Aren't you tempted?"

"... I'm too lazy to talk to you anymore."

Mashima Tomoya shook his head helplessly, then turned to talk to Chabashira Sae, who hadn't said much since earlier and had just been drinking alone in silence:

"Chabashira, don't be too discouraged. After all, it's only the First Year. You've only spent one-ninth of the three years of high school. Every class still has a chance to turn things around."

As a prime example of achieving a turnaround through this Uninhabited Island Special Exam, Mashima Tomoya's words are quite convincing. Moreover, unlike Hoshinomiya Chie, he doesn't have a love-hate relationship with Chabashira Sae, so his words of comfort don't sound sarcastic.

"It's nothing. Besides, after this failure, I've figured some things out overnight."

Somewhat to Mashima Tomoya's surprise, Chabashira Sae didn't appear particularly dejected. Instead, she rested her chin on her hand, as if in deep contemplation, and spoke earnestly:

"It's not just the students; from my perspective as a class advisor, all the class advisors from Class A to Class D are actually in a fiercely competitive position. To put it simply, it's like the four of us are playing Monopoly."

(Note: Daifuka is a Japan poker game, somewhat similar to our local Dou Dizhu.)

"A tycoon?"

Perhaps it was the serious and earnest tone of Chabashira Sae's speech that made Hoshinomiya Chie, who had been seemingly drunk, become somewhat sober, and she murmured and repeated it.

"That's right. The students in the class are like our individual cards. We, as class advisors, are just using the cards we're given to compete for first to fourth place over three years, striving for the top spot, the 'Millionaire' position."

"The rules of the game 'The Tycoon' are simply to play cards numbered 1 to 13, right? Leaving aside local rules and special variations, generally, the higher the number, the stronger the card, and the lower the number, the weaker the card, right? If a student with a number 3 faces a student with a number 6, obviously the student with the 6 will win. According to the school's class assignment conventions, the original Class A students would have the strongest cards, starting with more 9s or 10s. Conversely, Class D would be dealt more 3s or 4s, which is why several students dropped out in the first semester, and their Class Points remained at zero."

As she spoke, Chabashira Sae continued to explain her logically consistent thinking, which she had only figured out in the last two days:

"However, students will naturally change over time. It's normal for a student who is a 3 or 4 to grow into a 9 or 10. If they're even more outstanding, they might become the strongest 2. Then, quantitative change leads to qualitative change, resulting in a change in the class ranking and allowing the lower-ranked classes to move up."

Then, she looked sharply at Mashima Tomoya:

"But the most important thing is fair competition. No matter what kind of class it is, they should compete against each other using numbers from 1 to 13 to determine the winner."

"However, this doesn't explain everything that's happening right now. Mashima, don't you think there's a card that shouldn't be here in our class?"

"A card that shouldn't have been mixed in... you mean Kitagawa?"

Mashima Tomoya followed Chabashira Sae's line of thinking, scratching the back of his head and casually remarking:

"But I really don't think this kid should have been assigned to the original Class D. There's nothing wrong with his abilities or personality... Does having a lot of ambiguous girlfriends count?"

Chabashira Sae ignored Mashima Tomoya's last muttered remark and, seeing that the other party had admitted it, immediately pressed her advantage, saying:

"Right? Class D has suddenly acquired a wild card, so it's not unreasonable to complain a bit. We racked our brains to fight, but the situation was easily turned around by this one card. And the current class competition is even more brutal than the game of Monopoly, because in Monopoly you lose the cards you've used, but this card can be used again and again."

"This is a completely unreasonable and unfair situation, how could we possibly win?"

For a homeroom teacher to say something like that is practically announcing the defeat of their class. If the students heard it, the class's morale and atmosphere might instantly plummet.

But Chabashira Sae's speech didn't end there; she continued to mock Mashima Tomoya and Hoshinomiya Chie:

"Mr. Mashima was just lucky to draw the ace. Chie, you even borrowed the ace from his class to get into Class A. There's nothing to be so happy about and brag about, is there?"

Hoshinomiya, upon hearing this, seemed to sober up instantly and retorted just as defiantly:

"But the result is that I've been promoted to Class A, while you, Sae, have been relegated to Class D... You'll never have another chance to be promoted to Class A again, that's the truth."

"See, you didn't refute my point at all, because you yourself think it's correct. Doesn't that make the competition much easier? I just need to let my class get this trump card too."

"Huh? Don't you want to listen to what you're saying...?"

Seeing the two "plastic besties" arguing again in front of him, Mashima Tomoya shook his head helplessly, stood up, and casually said goodbye to them.

"I'm leaving you two alone."

After saying that, he simply left the bar and headed towards the gym on the lower deck.

As a fitness enthusiast, Mashima Tomoya has always had the habit of working out in his spare time; otherwise, he wouldn't often be mistaken for a physical education teacher.

Recently, besides going to the gym, he's had some other thoughts on his mind. To be more frank, he actually has some romantic feelings for Ms. Akiyama, the school staff member who works at the gym's reception desk.

Despite spending his days with his two beautiful and charming homeroom teachers Chabashira Sae and Hoshinomiya Chie, and often drawing envious glances and whispers from his colleagues, Mashima Tomoya knows their true nature best precisely because he has known them for a long time.

To be honest, he never really considered them as proper women. If he had to summarize the reason simply, it would be that Hoshinomiya Chie too frivolous and casual, and Chabashira Sae was too serious and morbid. He simply couldn't imagine being with them as lovers.

After shaking his head slightly to clear his mind of the two women, Mashima Tomoya glanced at the time on his phone. He usually went to the gym around 4 p. m., but he had just received a text message saying that the gym had been booked since 3 p. m. and that he should arrive earlier if he had any gym plans for the day.

To be honest, Mashima Tomoya really didn't expect that a student would book the entire gym, especially on the first day of their holiday. Wouldn't a large and beautiful private pool be more appealing? He was even planning to show off his 80-kilogram bench press to impress Ms. Akiyama at the front desk.

Because of time constraints, Mashima Tomoya and still felt unwell, was politely asked to leave by the gym staff. With a slightly disappointed sigh, he waited curiously at the gym entrance, wondering who had booked the entire place.

A short while later, Mashima Tomoya caught a glimpse of one of his ace players Karuizawa Kei, the class president of Class A, walking hand in hand, chatting and laughing as they arrived at the gym entrance and began communicating and confirming with the receptionist.

Watching Karuizawa Kei Kitagawa Ryo, a student in his class, effortlessly whispering secrets to Karuizawa Megumi beside him, making her blush within ten seconds, Mashima couldn't help but think of the various rumors circulating about him, such as "How many girlfriends does Kitagawa from your class have?" In the next instant, he rushed over:

"Beichuan--"

"Mashima class teacher?"

Kitagawa Ryo turned around, a little confused, upon hearing the sound, and saw his homeroom teacher reach out and grab his shoulder.

"I have something I want to talk to you about, could you come over for a moment?"

"Okay, Hui, wait for me a moment, I'll be back in a bit."

After saying this to Karuizawa Kei beside him, Kitagawa Ryo followed Mashima Tomoya to the side, and asked with a smile:

"What's up, Mashima?"

Please stop talking to me about the Special Exam, just let me have a proper vacation.

Perhaps having heard his innermost wish, Mashima Tomoya hesitated for a moment before deliberately lowering his voice as well:

"Actually, it's some personal stuff."

"Please tell me, if there's anything I can do to help."

Hearing this, Kitagawa Ryo also breathed a sigh of relief; at least they weren't here to talk about exams.

"The staff member who greeted you at the front desk was Ms. Akiyama."

While Mashima Tomoya was still organizing his thoughts, Kitagawa Ryo had already snapped his fingers in a split second, understanding instantly, and quickly but clearly repeated:

"I understand. I will find out for you whether she has a boyfriend, her type, and her hobbies."

"Perfect score! I'm so lucky to have a star student like you!"

Looking at Mashima Tomoya, who was completely different from his usual calm and composed self, Kitagawa Ryo couldn't help but chuckle. However, he found it quite interesting to learn about this side of Majima in private.

After blurting out the word "ace, "Mashima Tomoya clicked his tongue, unsure whether to recount the entire conversation he had overheard between Chabashira Sae and Hoshinomiya Chie. After a moment's thought, he finally spoke:

"I talked to Chabashira and Hoshinomiya about you today. Chabashira said you're like the ace among the big shots, and I think that's quite accurate."

His reason for saying this is actually based on the core 'revolution' mechanism in the rules of the game "The Tycoon". When a player plays four of the same cards or two Kings, it is considered to have started a 'revolution'.

In the game of "The Tycoon," the Jokers are not actually higher than the highest card, 2. Instead, they are wild cards used to replace other cards. For example, a 555 Joker is equivalent to 5555, allowing for a so-called "revolution."

In the game of the tycoon, the fourth-ranked poor must offer the first-ranked tycoon their two highest-ranking cards before each round. For them, the best chance to turn the tide is through a 'revolution'.

Because the effect of a 'revolution' is that small cards become big cards, and big cards become small cards. For example, originally 3 was the smallest and 2 was the largest, but after the revolution, 3 becomes the largest and 2 becomes the smallest card. If used well, it is not entirely impossible to jump directly from the fourth poorest person to the first richest person.

For Class D, which was originally ranked fourth, Kitagawa Ryo was indeed the ace that led the class to a comeback, a fact that everyone could see.

Thank you for your recognition.

After giving this very humble reply, and seeing that Mashima Tomoya seemed to have nothing else to say, Kitagawa Ryo took the initiative to say goodbye.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

"Hmm, are you here to work out with your girlfriend?"

"I just brought Hui here to learn a little about this and try out some simple movements."

"It seems you've already prepared in advance, Kitagawa. Well then, let me give you a few small suggestions. Trust me, these are the most valuable experiences I've gained from so many years in the gym."

Seemingly sensing Kitagawa Ryo's ulterior motives, Mashima Tomoya reciprocated by whispering a few gestures in his ear:

"Just do squats, jumping jacks, extensions, rope rows..."

"Perfect score! I'm so lucky to have such an amazing homeroom teacher like you Mashima!"

Chapter 245: Seven Days, Full!

Aside from swimming pools and public baths, gyms are probably the only Matoba people can confidently show off their good physiques.

The gym, located on the second deck, wasn't actually that big, considering that most passengers on Luxury Cruise Ship probably wouldn't choose to use such facilities. But though small, it was fully equipped with all sorts of fitness equipment. Karuizawa Kei, who rarely came to places like this, looked at the equipment with some curiosity.

The effect of booking the venue for one hour with 20,000 Private Points already small number of guests 30 minutes in advance, the staff and cleaners gave the entire venue a thorough cleaning. All kinds of fitness equipment shone with a clean and shiny silver luster, giving people an inexplicable sense of being fully prepared and ready for action.

While Karuizawa Kei was curiously touching the rowing machine here and the Roman chair there, Kitagawa Ryo was also seriously admiring Megumi's rarely seen workout attire.

Although the exposure was limited to her forearms and calves, far less revealing than a swimsuit, the light and form-fitting pure white leotard and yoga pants were, in a sense, just as alluring. Her hair, which she usually styled in a higher ponytail, had a natural, wavy curl at her fair neck, with the ends slightly curled inwards. This curve actually accentuated the curve of her neck, making her appear even more delicate and slender in the bright light streaming in from the window, causing Kitagawa Ryo's heart to skip a beat.

"Hmm... so what should we do first? Should we warm up?"

A short while later, Karuizawa Kei, who had explored all the equipment in the gym, casually found a large yoga ball, sat down, raised one leg and crossed it over the other, and asked Kitagawa Ryo in a lighthearted tone.

"Just do some simple muscle stretching exercises. Hui is only here today to familiarize herself with the equipment, and she should be quite tired, so the frequency and intensity don't need to be too high."

Faced with Karuizawa Kei's question, Kitagawa Ryo, having been educated by Mashima Tomoya, calmly gave his answer, speaking casually without blushing or skipping a beat:

"Just swing your arms and then do a free jump rope exercise."

As he spoke, Kitagawa Ryo stood in front of Karuizawa Kei, demonstrating and explaining the movements to her:

"Hui should know about arm swings. The last part, skipping rope without arms, is almost exactly the same as skipping rope. Just imagine you're holding a rope and jumping. Try to jump as high as possible so your body can get active and warm up quickly. Swing your arms in rhythm with the jumps. This is a full-body warm-up that relaxes all the muscles in your body. You can use this to train your jumping ability and balance even when you don't warm up properly. It's definitely a must-do warm-up exercise."

Thanks to her years as a theatrical Actor, Karuizawa Kei's physical condition has always been impeccable. Therefore, Kitagawa Ryo would never tell her anything like "chest out, stomach in, head up," because these stance exercises are basically one of the most basic skills for Actor like them.