After confirming their spy, Class B began choosing which class to infiltrate.
Nakanishi Jiro declared with boundless enthusiasm, "Class C! It has to be Class C! I've wanted to teach that Ryuen guy a lesson for ages!"
Ichinose, on the other hand, analyzed the situation rationally. "That's true. If we rank the classes by how familiar we are with them, Class C is undoubtedly the best choice."
"Then let's pick Class C," Moriyama Sei said casually. As far as he was concerned, any class was about the same, since he knew he wouldn't be much help either way.
"Hm? So you've decided on Class C?" Hoshinomiya asked, puzzled.
When nobody objected, Hoshinomiya nodded. "In that case, I'll submit your choice."
She tapped at something on her phone. After a short while, she looked up at the class and stuck out her tongue.
"Hehe, looks like that won't work. Classes C and D chose each other."
"What?" Nakanishi Jiro wore a disappointed expression. "Guess I won't get to beat Ryuen to a pulp."
Moriyama Sei couldn't help making a scornful face.
"Hey, hey, Yamai! What's with that look?" Nakanishi Jiro had a sharp eye and noticed at once.
"It means I'm cheering you on," Moriyama Sei said, making the same scornful face again.
"Whoa? Yamai, are you challenging my manhood?"
"Jiro, you don't have much manhood to speak of."
"Hah! If you've got the guts, settle it with me in King of Fighters when we get back!"
"Bring it on! Who's scared?"
The two jokers started bickering.
"So, we can only choose Class A, then?" Shiranami Chihiro asked softly.
"Mm, that's right." Hoshinomiya nodded. "Classes A, B, and D all chose Class C, but Class C chose Class D, so there's nothing we can do."
"Class A, huh..." Horikita Etsuka considered their options.
He didn't know the people in Class A at all, so he was practically starting from scratch. During the Sudo Incident, Ichinose had brought Class A over to their side, so he'd have to ask her about them.
The final result was this:
Classes A and B would face off, and Classes C and D would face off.
After class, Ichinose, Horikita Etsuka, Kanzaki, and the others all arrived at the cafeteria as if by mutual understanding.
After exchanging glances, they carried their trays over to the same table.
Ichinose spoke first. "About the spy..."
"I'm the spy," Etsuka said without holding anything back.
Ichinose and Kanzaki looked at Horikita Etsuka, but there was no shock in their eyes—only acceptance.
The three of them were all quite popular in Class B, so if they were going to choose a spy, it had to be one of the three. And Etsuka's speech at the last moment had undoubtedly drawn more attention to him.
That had two benefits.
First, they could be fairly certain who the spy was and make sure no other class could buy him off.
Second, confirming the spy while maintaining the class's trust would allow everyone to take part in the free choice, strengthening the class's unity in the process.
"Ichinose, you've interacted with Class A. Can you tell us what they're like?" Horikita Etsuka asked.
"I haven't heard that much," Ichinose said, resting her chopsticks against her lips as she thought.
"As far as I know, Class A is split into two factions: the Sakayanagi Faction and the Katsuragi Faction. The Sakayanagi Faction currently has more members, though."
Ichinose picked up her chopsticks and put some food in her mouth.
"The Sakayanagi Faction favors offense, while Katsuragi advocates defense."
"I see..." Etsuka rubbed his chin, indicating he understood.
"But we'll be having mixed classes with Class A tomorrow. Any thoughts?" Kanzaki asked.
"Thoughts?" Ichinose blinked. "I guess we should start by trying to get to know them."
"I think we should take a look at this Anonymous Chat System first." Horikita Etsuka fiddled with his Student Terminal, then showed them the screen.
User 007: "You Class D trash, ready to tremble?"
User 439: "Who are you, acting all tough? Is there anyone like you in Class C? Why don't you give us your name?"
User 007: "I never change my name and I never change my story—Ryuen Kakeru of Class C. Eight thirty tonight, I'll be waiting on the sports field. If you're a real man, come and try to take me down!"
User 299: "007, are you trying to get yourself killed? You're impersonating Ryuen?"
User 007: "Oh? Want to find out?"
Ichinose and Kanzaki both looked grave after reading the messages.
"Is someone from another class trying to muddy the waters?" Ichinose asked.
Kanzaki frowned as well. "Class D is in the worst position in the entire year. I think they're the ones trying to muddy the waters."
Etsuka nodded.
"Actually, this Anonymous Chat System is the best way to disrupt the flow of information. Everyone only has a number, and nobody knows anyone else's identity. The numbers also change over time, so even if the whole class brought out their Student Terminals and tried to verify each other, it wouldn't work."
Etsuka slowly set his Student Terminal on the table and laced his fingers together, as though deep in thought.
"The outcome of this Special Exam doesn't just depend on who can protect the key. It depends on who can create trust—and use it."
Meanwhile, in the farthest corner of the same cafeteria, Nakanishi Jiro hunched over his Student Terminal, rapidly tapping the screen. He couldn't stop the drool from running down his chin.
"Hehe. Just you wait, little buddy. I'm gonna mess you up."
The next day, inside a fairly large conference room.
The students from Class B filed in. Some looked around the room, some nervously rubbed their hands together, and some tried to act calm. A few were even excited.
After all, mixed classes like this had never happened before. The chance to interact with new students from other classes was incredibly rare.
And the first lesson was art!
The students from Class B seemed to have planned it in advance: they left one empty seat between every two people. Even Shiranami Chihiro, who was rather shy, fought through her nerves and sat properly by herself.
Just before class began, the students from Class A started trickling into the room.
Leading them was a silver-haired little girl. She entered the room gracefully, leaning on her cane.
"So that's Sakayanagi Arisu?" Etsuka watched the silver-haired girl.
At the same time, Sakayanagi seemed to sense something. She raised her eyes and met Etsuka's gaze, as if the two of them had clashed in some unseen contest.
But a moment later, Sakayanagi looked away and surveyed the conference room's layout.
She wore a faint smile, seeming quite pleased with the way everyone was arranged.
"Yo, so that's Sakayanagi Arisu? She's so kawaii!" Nakanishi Jiro's eyes sparkled, but then he waved a hand. "Too bad she's not my type."
"Ugh." Moriyama Sei gave him a scornful look.
"Hey! You! Why do you make that disgusting face every single time?" Nakanishi Jiro protested. But given the situation, he didn't make a scene; he just grumbled in annoyance.
The students from Class A took their seats one by one. With Hashimoto Masayoshi and Kamuro Masumi beside her, Sakayanagi slowly walked in Horikita Etsuka's direction.
Etsuka discreetly watched the three of them.
Hm? Surely they're not coming to see me. Ichinose and Kanzaki are sitting in this direction too.
As the two groups drew closer, the other three walked right past Ichinose. Not one of them sat beside her!
"What's going on?" Etsuka wondered. Kanzaki was just as confused.
Ichinose, the one it was happening to, was even more bewildered. She hadn't imagined the other class would simply pass her over!
Before you continue