Special Exam for the Privileged

The twelve groups are named after the twelve signs of the zodiac, and each group contains a VIP, selected according to a specific pattern.

[The order of the twelve zodiac signs is: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.]

Starting at eight o'clock tomorrow, the school will send out emails to notify the students.

The exam will last for 3 days, with a total of 6 opportunities for group discussion, specifically from 13:00 to 14:00 and 20:00 to 21:00, to identify the correct VIP. There are four possible outcomes.

1. Win-Win Outcome: Everyone in the group correctly identifies the VIP. The VIP receives an additional 500,000 points on top of the base 500,000, and other members receive 500,000 points each.

2. Single-Winner Outcome: If even one person in the group answers incorrectly, only the VIP receives 500,000 points.

The above outcomes are achieved by emailing the school after the exam concludes on the third day.

3. Early-Bird Outcome: If someone in the group correctly guesses the VIP ahead of schedule, the guesser receives 500,000 points, and the guesser's class receives 50 points. The VIP's class loses 50 points. The exam ends early.

4. Blunder Outcome: If someone in the group guesses the VIP incorrectly ahead of schedule, the VIP receives 500,000 points, and the VIP's class receives 50 points. The guesser's class loses 50 points, the guesser loses 500,000 points, and the exam continues.

Class A: 3 extras; Class B: Ichinose, 2 extras; Class C: Ibuki, Manabe and her bullying trio; Class D: Nagami, Karuizawa, Ayanokoji, Yukimura.

The bathroom lights were soft, casting a warm glow. The surface of the tiles shimmered with faint reflections, and the floor was covered with gray non-slip mats.

The air was filled with a slight dampness and the scent of soap, giving a feeling of freshness and cleanliness. The faucet creaked slightly, and water sprayed from the showerhead with a soft splashing sound.

The intermingling of hot and cold water evaporated into tiny droplets in the air, drifting down slowly and landing gently on the skin, bringing a touch of comfort and ease.

There was a bit of mist on the mirror, reflecting a blurred figure, as if everything in this space were enveloped in a soft haze. The hazy mist made it impossible to see the figure in the bathroom clearly, until a girl with yellow hair wrapped in a bath towel wiped the mirror with her hand, revealing a clear image.

A long scar ran across her waist; no matter how many times she looked at it, Karuizawa could never get used to it, as it reminded her of bad memories from middle school.

"Hey, it's that person again, right? I really don't understand why the teacher keeps letting her into the class... She's completely unsociable, she feels like a spare part."

"Yeah, she sounds like a robot whenever she speaks; she doesn't know how to communicate with people at all. Every time I see her dead-eyed look, I want to drag her to the bathroom after class and teach her a lesson."

"How about we take off her clothes and take a picture? If she dares to talk, we'll post it online."

"She wouldn't dare to fight back anyway; everyone thinks she deserves it. Just think about it, who would want to be friends with someone like that?"

"This waist is so thin, I'm so jealous. What would happen if I made a cut here?"

"Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"No, help me, yamete!"

Karuizawa screamed for help, but no one saved her; the scar on her waist was the best proof of that.

Whether it was the scorching summer or swimming class, she never dared to wear clothes that exposed her waist.

Rabbits are, unexpectedly, one of the animals in the world that can endure the most pain. Because rabbits are very timid and do not know how to resist, they only remain silent when they encounter harm. They are very docile and make for good punching bags. They can withstand unimaginable pain; even if their bones are broken or their internal organs are injured and bleeding, they will still slowly remain silent until they reach death.

At 8:00 the next day, the email arrived on every student's phone as promised.

[After careful review by the school, you have not been selected as a VIP.]

(Sigh, 500,000 points just gone like that. I'll have to communicate properly at noon.)

"Yay! Hello. Kagami, I didn't expect us both to be in the Rabbit group. Let's work hard together from now on!"

After Ichinose entered, she greeted Nagami. Class A and Class C stood to the side without speaking, as if they intended to remain silent until the end.

"Ah! Speaking of which. Honami, tell me who the VIP for Class B is. I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Doki! What a bold thing to say!"

Ichinose's expression stiffened. Nagami made jokes like this from time to time; it was fine in private, but with so many people around, including Class B students, she felt it might lead to bad rumors.

(According to Kushida's information, Karuizawa is the VIP for the Rabbit group, she herself is the VIP for the Snake group, and Sudo is the VIP for the Tiger group. If I'm not mistaken, the VIPs seem to fit the stereotypical personality of their animals.)

(But why is Kushida in the Snake group? Could she be a 'pink-haired black-hearted' type? This exam is truly interesting!)

"That? Actually, I have a rough idea of what's going on, but I need some information to verify it."

Nagami explained.

(This is a total intelligence war now. The more VIPs I know, the better I can verify the pattern. Verifying the pattern will allow me to know even more VIPs—a virtuous cycle.)

"Wow! So fast, the VIP exam hasn't even been going on for half a day. I can't make the call on VIP information; I need to discuss it with my classmates."

(I understand, Honami. Actually, I didn't intend to tell you either. Class B growing too fast is really not a wise choice. Bleeding some points from Class A to maintain a delicate balance is the correct answer. Sorry, Honami.)

Class A seemed a bit restless. They had previously received Katsuragi's order to maintain a strategy of silence, but now there was a disruptor claiming to have mastered the VIP pattern.

It was unclear whether he was bluffing or if it was actually true.

"Does everyone have nothing to say?"

Not long after Nagami spoke, no one else in the group said anything. They fell into a strange silence.

"I brought a deck of cards, want to play?" Ichinose broke the silence.

"How about Blackjack?"

"Sure!"

Class D and Class B joined in for the card game.

Ichinose tried hard to fish for information, while the students from Class A and Class C only communicated within their own small groups on the side.

How honest, thinking that lying flat and waiting for points to roll in will lead to victory. That's equivalent to handing the initiative over to the enemy. Losing the initiative.

Don't they realize that as time goes on, the rules become clearer through constant testing and deliberation? By then, it will be too late to turn things around.

Katsuragi is only suited to be a mid-level manager, not a leader.

"The Monkey Group exam has ended. The Monkey Group exam has ended."

The announcement over the broadcast system signaled the end of the Monkey Group exam, which meant that Ending 3 had been reached and Koenji had correctly identified the VIP. If he had guessed wrong, the Monkey Group exam would still be ongoing.

"Was it luck, or was it skill? This Koenji is truly impossible to read," Nagami sighed.

With that said, the midday discussion time arrived.

"That Koenji is so self-willed. I hope he doesn't cause us to lose this exam."

Sudo walked out of the conference room and spoke up.

To be so stupid that he hasn't even figured out the rules—stay away from him, lest it be contagious. The exam only ends if the guess is correct.

Having said that, Nagami found an empty corner to make a phone call.

"Hello! Sakayanagi, it's me."

"Oh, so soon? Do you have a surprise for me?"

"200,000 points. I'll sell you information on a special exam VIP."

If you enjoy this book, please remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.