The VIP Exposed

"The evening discussion is about to start, so I'll get going."

"Um, I..."

Kushida watched Nagami's retreating back, wanting to say something, but her voice was too quiet for him to hear.

"I'm not good at gathering information for this exam. I've got my points anyway, so I might as well just sit back and relax."

Nagami put on his headphones, opened the latest gacha game, and started playing.

The dim room was unlit, and he didn't notice the person sleeping beside the sofa in the meeting room.

He only realized once he sat down.

"Oh~ It's Nagami."

He suddenly felt a weight pressing down on him. Ichinose rubbed her eyes.

"Why are you sitting on top of me? You're so heavy. Are you teasing me?"

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't notice there was someone on the sofa."

Honami's so cute, of course I'd love to tease her, but this time it really wasn't on purpose.

"You're so mean. Hmph!"

"Anyway, most of the students in my class voted that telling you who the B Class VIP is would be too risky."

"Even though you helped us a lot on the Uninhabited Island."

"It's okay. I don't mind."

Because I got a good price for the information.

The two stared at each other without speaking, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

"How much longer are you going to sit there? It won't look good if the others see us."

Her soft, plump legs were even softer than the sofa. It wasn't bad.

Just then, footsteps approached. Nagami darted aside like a cat.

Yukimura and Ayanokoji arrived. When they turned on the lights, they saw Nagami and Ichinose alone together.

"You two are here early, Nagami and Ichinose."

"Are you two having some kind of suspicious secret rendezvous?"

"We're good friends. Honami's my good friend," Nagami said.

"That sounded awfully intimate. It really is suspicious."

Yukimura gave them both a dubious look, then took a seat.

At exactly 8:00 p.m., everyone in the Rabbit Group began taking their seats.

"Everyone, listen up. Hamada has a suggestion."

"Yeah, I have an idea. The ultimate goal of this exam is to identify the VIP, right?"

"Of course. We've got nothing to talk about because we can't find the VIP."

"Instead of waiting until the exam ends, we could check one another's emails. The school's emails can't be faked. You don't have to show your phone if you don't want to, but if we check one another's phones, we can narrow down the possibilities."

"Then we'll be able to find the VIP."

"But if the VIP is a traitor, that'll be the end of it."

Machida Koji of Class A said.

"Of course I know that. But I'd rather make a mistake than do nothing."

"As the one making the suggestion, I'll show you mine first."

With that, Hamada displayed the email from the school on his phone for everyone to see.

Hamada's pretty capable. If the emails can't be faked, he's right. But the email only says 'you' in the third person. There's no name. So if we exchange phones, how will you handle that?

"I agree."

Ayanokoji and Nagami of Class D agreed to show their phones. Then Ibuki of Class C agreed too, and the mood in the room began to shift decisively. Even Class A's strategy of staying out of it had been affected.

"That just leaves Class A and Yukimura from Class D."

"Everyone, I'm actually the VIP. Please don't report me."

What an act. I hadn't noticed before, but Yukimura's a great actor. He's so convincing.

While everyone was still stunned that the VIP had been found so quickly, Ichinose called Ayanokoji.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Like the tolling of a death knell, Ayanokoji's phone displayed an incoming call from Ichinose.

The school-issued SIM cards were tied to the phones' hardware identification codes and couldn't be replaced.

So they were still one step behind? No, Karuizawa was the real VIP. Did Ayanokoji use points to unbind the school SIM?

Yukimura looked utterly shocked, his face so pale it was almost frightening. He looked as humiliated as someone whose stash of adult comics had been discovered in front of everyone.

"I called Ayanokoji."

Ichinose showed them who she'd called.

"What's going on, Class D? You actually resorted to these kinds of underhanded tricks?"

"So that's it. Ayanokoji is the real VIP."

Machida spoke, while everyone around them still looked stunned. It was a double-cross within a double-cross.

One handsome guy had already seen through everything.

"Nagami, why have you been acting like you had everything under control from the start?"

"Ah, because the VIP doesn't matter to me. As for why—sorry, Honami, I can't tell you yet."

"Hmm~ Sigh, I wish I could be as smart as you."

Ichinose said.

The hour passed quickly, and the people in the meeting room began to leave.

Will the people in Class A report the VIP? If my information is right, Katsuragi should've told everyone in his class not to report the VIP without permission.

On the third day, half an hour after the meeting ended, the students from Class D gathered in a café to discuss their next move.

Just then, the school's message came through. The Special Exam was over.

Class A: +50 Class Points, +4,500,000 Private Points

Class B: -50 Class Points, +2,000,000 Private Points

Class C: +100 Class Points, +5,000,000 Private Points

Class D: -100 Class Points, +1,500,000 Private Points.

Voices rose around them, filled with all kinds of emotion.

"Class C actually came in first. Class D really got crushed!"

"Damn it! Stupid Class C!"

Sudo slammed his fist on the table, venting his frustration. Asking a gorilla to keep his emotions in check was far too much to ask.

At that moment, Ryuen from Class C approached with his lackeys, wearing a malicious smile.

"Suzune, what a lovely expression. You look like a defeated wolf."

Ryuen had taken first place in this exam, restoring Class C's prestige. He was in an excellent mood, and all the gloom from before had vanished.

"As you can see, I found most of the VIPs."

"Don't say anything unnecessary. Save the taunts. Losing this Special Exam doesn't prove anything. Just wait until next time, when you get zero points."

"The VIP in the Snake Group was Kushida Kikyo, right? I figured it out long ago."

So little Kushida had done it too. That explained why Nagami had looked so calm when he lied to Kushida that he was a mole.

Horikita's pupils contracted when she heard that, and she looked at Ryuen.

She had to admit that she'd lost this exam without being able to do anything at all. The inexplicable defeat had dealt a heavy blow to her.

Compared with Ryuen in Class C, Horikita, who rarely socialized, had been at a huge disadvantage in this exam.

"Compared to Nagami, you're really weak. You don't even inspire me to fight."

"From now on, struggle all you want and amuse me."

"Hahahahaha!"

Ryuen laughed as he left with his lackeys.

Ayanokoji watched Ryuen's retreating figure, feeling a hint of suspicion toward Kushida.