Backstab

On the seventh day—the final day—the Uninhabited Island Special Exam had ended, and everyone was waiting for the teachers to announce the results.

Just then, a disheveled-looking vagrant crawled out of the bushes, startling the students and sending them scrambling backward. He smelled absolutely awful, as if he hadn't bathed in ages, and his clothes were torn and covered in stains.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Aside from the Class C teacher, the other teachers looked surprised too, but they quickly composed themselves and asked him.

If the teachers hadn't seen the school tracksuit he was wearing, they would've called security on the spot. Ryuen gave a cheeky grin.

"I've been living on this island the whole time. Surprised?"

Then he laughed to himself.

[According to Ryuen's plan, everyone thought Class C had withdrawn from the exam early, while he stayed behind to secretly occupy the base. If he correctly identified the leaders and backstabbed Class A, he could earn at least 176 points.

But he hadn't expected that once his simple disguise was seen through, the leader would be exposed with absolute certainty.

In the end, everything had been handed to Class D on a silver platter.]

[The exam results are as follows.]

Mashima, Class A's homeroom teacher, began the announcement.

Last place was a tie between two classes: Class A and Class C, with 0 points.

Second place, Class D, with 244 points.

First place, Class B, with 275 points.

(Oh, Class A spent points during the five days afterward too. They must've lost at least 250 points. Looks like the false information worked. It was worth telling Ichinose to deliberately reveal the leader's card and create an opening.

Ryuen's spy took the bait as planned and passed along false information, making Classes A and C lose everything. Now Katsuragi's faction is completely finished, and Sakayanagi will dominate Class A.

Still, I didn't expect Class A to get backstabbed by Class C too. Did they exploit a loophole in their agreement?

1. Class A's leader was guessed correctly by three classes and incorrectly by two. They spent more than 50 points over five days, so they got 300 - 250 - 50 = 0 points.

2. Class C's leader was guessed correctly by two classes and incorrectly by two, so they got 0 points.

3. Class D's leader was guessed correctly by two classes, so they got 300 - 170 + 100 - 30 + 24 = 224 points. They lost 30 points for withdrawing, earned 24 for checking in at their base for seven days, and spent 170 points on daily expenses.

4. Class B's leader was guessed correctly by two classes, so they got 155 + 100 = 255 points.)

"Katsuragi, what happened? Under your leadership, Class A only got 0 points, and Class B is about to overtake us. Are you still capable of representing Class A?"

Hashimoto Masayoshi spoke bluntly. Katsuragi had no rebuttal, and his expression darkened. The crushing defeat with 0 points drew criticism from most of his class.

They'd gone from heaven to hell in an instant, and the students couldn't accept the sudden reversal. Their discontent surfaced at once, and they began questioning Katsuragi.

"Someone like Yahiko can be a leader? Is he capable? You know he isn't! If this keeps up, we'll lose to Class B, then Class D, then Class C. After that, there won't be anyone left to lose to—we'll be D class ourselves."

Hashimoto pressed his advantage, giving Katsuragi no chance to respond.

Pushing through the noisy crowd, Katsuragi walked up to Ryuen and demanded an explanation.

"What's going on, Ryuen? Are you going to violate our agreement and get expelled?"

"Hmph! I didn't violate the agreement. Who said only someone from Class C could represent Class C in guessing the leaders?"

"You despicable coward!"

"You were just too naive, Katsuragi."

"Class C took a terrible loss, but so did Class A. It's better for both of us to lose than for only one of us to."

Nagami quietly looked over at the two students from Class A. He'd finally gotten revenge for their earlier boast, and he felt absolutely elated.

The jubilant cheers from Classes B and D rang out.

Most of the students didn't know what was going on, but seeing how many Class Points Class D had, they remembered all those zero-yen meals they'd eaten before and started cheering.

"Boo-hoo! Thank you, Horikita! You're my goddess. I can finally go back to school and have eel rice bowls!"

"Thank you! I can finally redeem my game console too."

"And me, and me! I can buy the newest The Only Boy in My All-Girls' High School! Here I come, XX-chan!"

"Ayanokoji helped me out a lot too."

"It was all Horikita's doing."

Ayanokoji protested. It seemed he only wanted to live a quiet life.

Standing on the yacht and gazing at the deep blue sea, he felt a wave of relief. The ocean was so vast and boundless, as if it could contain every scheme and conflict in the world.

Wave after wave rolled in, keeping time as they played a beautiful melody. For a moment, they made him forget his troubles with the world. His mind slowly sank beneath the sea, and everything dissolved into nothingness. He cast all worldly desires aside and found peace in the void.

After meditating for a long time, Chang Shui Jing reached a state of oneness with the heavens and the earth. He looked like an enlightened monk, as though he might pass away peacefully at any moment.

"Hello, Chang Shui. Thanks for the reminder. Without you, Class B couldn't have won so easily."

"Whoa!" Chang Shui cried, startled.

Ichinose smiled, her eyes curving into crescents and her lips lifting into a pretty arc. Shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks.

(Although you made me join the Student Council, I'll forgive you because you're cute.)

"I can't believe you even figured out Class C's leader. I deliberately kept that part hidden. Impressive, Honami."

"Wait, that nickname—did you learn it from Hoshinomiya-sensei?"

"I mean it from the bottom of my heart, Honami."

"Hehe. I'd been wondering for a while: if you could buy fake cards with points, could you use points to buy information about other classes too? After Class C withdrew from the Uninhabited Island, I came up with the idea."

"But information about the leaders definitely couldn't be bought—that would be too much of an unfair advantage. So I asked Hoshinomiya-sensei and bought information on whether Ryuen was on the island. That's how I came up with a bold theory."

(You're impressive, Ichinose. You immediately put that little loophole in the rules to good use. I'll need to be much more careful if we work together in the future. I take back what I thought before about you being big-breasted and empty-headed.

Although you made me join the Student Council, an opponent like you is worth the challenge. I don't dislike you. The days ahead certainly won't be boring.)

"You did great in this exam. I recognize you now."

"Let's get along from now on too, Kagami! As your opponent, I won't go easy on you."

The girl nodded emphatically, her face full of anticipation for their next challenge.

(Kagami? Isn't that a little too familiar? Women only slow down my punches.)

The sea breeze gently stirred the beautiful girl's waterfall of pinkish-gold hair, brushing it across her fair cheeks.

Her strands danced lightly in the wind, casting a dreamy glow around her. The ends of her hair fluttered in the breeze, carrying a faint scent of shampoo that mingled with the fresh air. The fragrance filled the space around them, as full of life as summer itself, stirring the heart.

(Oh no. Is this what falling for someone feels like?)

[Class rankings by Class Points after the Uninhabited Island Special Exam]

Class A 940

Class B 875

Class C 490

Class D 307