"This isn't Ichinose-chan and Kanzaki, is it? So, have you found a base yet?"
"Sorry, Nagami-kun. There was a good spot up ahead, but Class B had already claimed it."
"Ah, what a shame. I'd expect nothing less from Ichinose-chan."
"Ichinose-chan, who's Class B's leader?"
"Huh? You're really asking me that so directly? Sorry, Nagami-kun, but I can't tell you. I have to do what's best for Class B."
Ichinose's mouth fell open in an O, and she stared at him in shock. Taken aback by Nagami's boldness, she shook her head and said,
"Even with our alliance between Classes B and D, we don't trust each other enough to reveal our leaders," Ichinose's follower, Kanzaki, said.
"Heh heh. I've already come up with a way to make sure no one can guess our leader. I can tell you because it's you, Ichinose-chan."
"Huh? Seriously? That's a pretty sneaky thing to say, Nagami-kun."
After Kanzaki turned him down, Nagami spoke to Ichinose.
[Besides changing leaders on the seventh day in a way that makes sense, there's another way to keep your leader from being guessed: you can buy a fake Leader Card from a teacher using points. It's just a shell, with no actual function.
To take that idea a step further, the rules say only the leader can check in. But how does the school verify their identity? Obviously, there are hidden cameras near every base to ensure the students' safety and that the rules are followed. So if you cover the cameras at your base, then even if someone else checks in, as long as the leader shows up nearby, the school can turn a blind eye.
If the rules don't forbid it, it's allowed. With all that put together, you could fool even the leader themselves.]
"Wow, sugoi! You thought of so many ways to work around the rules. Does that mean you're really smart, Nagami-kun?"
"I'm counting on you, Ichinose-chan."
"This time, everyone in Class B will definitely come in first."
[Sorry, little angel. Class D will probably still take first place, since Class A's mole is backing Class D.]
Meanwhile, at Class D's camp, Ike was the survival expert.
"Ike-kun, sugoi! You know so much about surviving in the wild! I don't even recognize most of these fruits," Kushida said.
"It's nothing, Kushida-chan. I just go camping a lot."
"You have to stand the firewood upright to get it going. Yamauchi, you can't just leave it like that."
The students got busy putting together the things they needed for camping: tents, a campfire, a fruit basket, and a makeshift toilet.
"Looks pretty good, Ike-kun. I'll leave you to put up my tent."
Ike was about to object, but when he saw Nagami speaking, his resolve crumbled.
"I'll hold your secret over you for the rest of your life."
Nagami whispered in Ike's ear, his voice like a demon's temptation.
"Sure! Helping a classmate is only right."
Nagami chuckled at that, then found a rock to lie on and rest.
"Oh, isn't that Ibuki? Did Class C kick you out? How pitiful."
"Save your taunts. I'm not in the mood to talk to you."
"Ah, which way is Class C? I miss Princess Shiina."
"What a lousy guy!"
Ibuki pointed north. If he followed the beach, he would find Class C's camp.
Before long, Nagami headed in the direction Ibuki had pointed. Tropical plants lined the way. As he neared the beach, he heard laughter.
Shiina was wearing a pretty swimsuit and reading Keigo Higashino's The Devotion of Suspect X intently from a beach chair. Her innocent smile shone like the sun. Nagami couldn't help smiling as he quietly approached.
"Ah!" Shiina spotted Nagami and jumped in surprise, then broke into a sweet smile. "Nagami-kun, what brings you here?"
"Of course I came to see you, Princess Shiina," Nagami teased.
Shiina gave a small nod, her cheeks flushing.
"Hey, this is Class C's base. Class D students, don't come here and cause trouble."
Ishizaki scowled as he tried to chase Nagami away, but Nagami calmly replied,
"You're not very considerate. See you on the ship, Shiina."
"Boss, he's got a point." Albert stood beside Ishizaki in his trademark sunglasses, his massive frame making them look like a wolf and a lamb.
Just as Nagami was about to leave, Albert invited him into the tent. Shiina looked at Nagami with some unease.
"Daijoubu. I'm surprisingly useful to Class C."
Nagami raised his forearm and gently reassured Shiina, who looked worried beside him.
A barbecue grill stood at the tent entrance, with skewers of meat and vegetables ready to go. In the corner was a small refrigerator stocked with all kinds of familiar drinks and fresh fruit.
A huge air mattress lay in the middle of the tent. It was thick and springy, with cotton sheets spread across it. It was a far cry from sleeping on the hard ground at Class D's camp.
Barbecue and cola—what a treat. But Nagami wasn't in the mood to enjoy any of it. He was trying to figure out why Ryuen had spent so many points.
(With the AC Alliance, Class C's extravagant spending must have left it with barely any points. There'd be no point in camping for the next few days, so it would have to withdraw.
Once Class C withdrew early, Class A would be left to hold out alone. That meant Class C must have offered Class A enough in return before withdrawing, or Class A wouldn't have agreed to the plan.
In the best-case scenario, Class A would get 324 points. More than 30,000 Private Points, and an even bigger lead over Class B. It would be as if Class C had handed over the Class Points it should have earned to Class A. Class C wouldn't take that loss without compensation, so there must be an agreement to transfer Private Points. But losing Class Points would widen the gap in the next Special Exam, so Class C would still come out slightly behind.)
Clearly, Ryuen wasn't the sort to meekly accept a loss. Once he realized that, Nagami understood Ryuen's plan.
(Assuming every class spends 150 points on living expenses, in the best-case scenario, Class B doesn't guess anyone's leader and no one guesses its leader, so it gets 150 + 24 = 174 points. Class D guesses two leaders correctly and gets 174 + 100 - 30 = 244 points. Class A's leader is guessed by all three classes, so it gets 150 points.
In the worst-case scenario, Class D guesses Class C's leader wrong and Class A's right, giving it 144 points. Class A has a mole, and a third of the class are moles. There's no way it can hide anything from everyone. Our agreement with Sakayanagi put Class A in last place, though. Unless Class C betrays Class A, and Class A avoids the 50-point penalty for having its leader guessed, it'll need to guess two classes' leaders correctly to earn 10 points and escape last place. 24 + 150 = 174.
With my strategy, no one can guess the leaders of Classes B and D, so we'll get 74 points. There's no way I can risk revealing either leader, or the class will panic and all sorts of things could go wrong. Looks like I can't avoid being Sakayanagi's dog for a while.)
(But this victory belongs to Class D.)
"Nagami-kun, you're finally here. I really like you. Class C needs someone as strong as you. After all, violence is the strongest force in the world.
Can you really get along with a bunch of monkeys in Class D? Sudo must have given you a lot of trouble."
Ryuen sneered.
"We can move up to Class A together."
"You've got the courage, but none of the sense, Ryuen. Thanks for the invitation, but I won't betray Class D. And I won't join Class C, either."
"Such loyalty. I like you more and more. One day, you'll come crawling to me."
"Then I look forward to that day."
(Some people die on the second day and don't get buried until the seventh. How ridiculous.) Nagami mourned inwardly.
Before you continue