The Optimistic Class A

"Honami, this is a se-cret just between the two of us. It's a promise, okay?"

Nagami winked with his left eye (⌯＞ᴗo⌯), putting on the expression and voice of a beautiful girl whose secret had just been discovered. He'd learned that cutesy voice over years of online dating.

"Kagami, have you been possessed by a ghost girl?!"

Ichinose waved her hands awkwardly.

Beep! Beep! Beep! A phone rang. Mori Nene was calling, breaking the awkward silence.

"Sorry, I got caught up chatting and kept Nene waiting."

Ichinose sighed, feeling like she'd been rescued.

Since they weren't far away, the two of them soon returned to Class B's camp.

"Come on, Nene. We should go find a stronghold. Bye, Honami." "Bye, Kagami."

After the two said their goodbyes, Mori Nene grew curious.

"Nagami, all your friends are popular, beautiful girls."

As she spoke, her head dipped unconsciously. She felt like she didn't matter at all.

"Nene, are you complimenting yourself?"

"Huh? I'd never do that."

Nene's cheeks reddened. She waved her little hands, vehemently denying it. For some reason, the conversation had turned to her.

"Oh, Nagami. And, Nene, why are you following him?"

"Karuizawa, Ayanokoji."

The two girls happened to run into each other on the path and struck up a conversation. They seemed to be looking at each other strangely.

"Alone together!" "Alone together!"

They spoke in unison.

"We weren't!" "We weren't!"

Their gestures were almost identical, too.

"Are you two twins or something?"

Nagami quipped.

"Did you come from another class's camp, Nagami? Karuizawa and I came from Class C's. Most of their strongholds have been taken."

Ayanokoji stepped forward, interrupting the sisters' bickering.

"Yeah, that's right. I just came from Class B's camp, and it's the same over there. So Class C split into two camps? That's just like the Lilliputians."

"I know the way to Class A. Want to go together?"

The two nodded in agreement with Nagami's suggestion.

"By the way, Nagami, you're really popular. I ran into a Class C girl on the way who asked me your name. What do you think, Nene?"

Karuizawa asked, sounding a little jealous.

"Nagami, does that bother you?"

Nene looked at Nagami.

"Oh, really? I'm honored."

Nagami didn't think there was anything wrong with being popular, as long as it didn't get in the way of his everyday life.

"Ugh. What a sleazy thing to say."

Nagami ignored Karuizawa's jab. The group chatted as they headed for Class A's camp.

Before they even got close, they heard laughter and cheerful voices. When they reached the camp, they saw Class A's students sitting around on rocks, playing cards together.

In the distance, some students were turning sizzling, glistening skewers beside a barbecue grill. The aroma drifted through the air on the breeze.

"Wow, they look so relaxed."

Nagami couldn't help commenting.

"Exactly. There aren't even any footprints on the strongholds along the way. Is Class A so rich they don't care about ten thousand points anymore?"

"It's infuriating!"

Karuizawa, who'd been scrimping and saving since the start of the school year to buy makeup, finally snapped.

"Isn't that Nagami from Class D? We owe you one for the Sports Festival. Thanks to you, Class A didn't lose by quite so much."

Hashimoto spotted them and came over.

"You seem to be in a good mood. You haven't spent all your Class Points, have you?"

Up close, they could see more details. By the bonfire, there was more than just a barbecue grill and a few simple pots. A row of gleaming, modern camping appliances stood there, as if a luxury hotel had been brought into the wilderness.

The first thing that caught their eye was a coffee machine made for outdoor use. Its all-metal body gleamed coldly in the morning light.

The heating plate at its base kept the water at an even temperature, while freshly ground coffee beans gave off a rich aroma.

Beside it, a matching milk frother hummed softly, sending up clouds of steam. It made the place feel like an elegant café.

Not far away stood a smart portable oven, a little larger than a standard microwave. Its digital touchscreen hinted that it could do far more than one might expect.

Seeing Class A's extravagant appliances, Nagami couldn't help thinking how nice it was to be rich.

"Hahaha, it's not that exaggerated. Anyone would be happy to get a hundred thousand points for free during an exam. There's no reason Class A should lose this exam."

"Feel free to look around. Just don't go into the girls' tents. There are no secrets anywhere else. I'll leave you to it."

"Hey, Hashimoto, did you find any wild vegetables? The meat's almost done."

A voice called from behind. The students tending the barbecue were hurrying Hashimoto along.

"Coming."

"Want some coffee? If it's for you, Nagami, everyone in Class A would be happy to welcome you."

"Thanks for the offer, Hashimoto."

Nagami declined, afraid that if he got too comfortable with Class A, he'd be tempted to quit the exam in the days to come.

"Class A's treating this Special Exam like a paid vacation."

The whole group was a little envious of Class A.

"The way they're relaxing is infuriating. It's like they can eat, drink, and have fun their way to first place."

Karuizawa complained.

Indeed, in theory, there was no chance of Class A losing members unexpectedly this time. The exam was expected to award them at least three hundred Class Points, making the already wealthy Class A even more extravagant.

Class C and Class D, on the other hand, couldn't rule out someone taking a reckless gamble and making a big scene on impulse.

Given Class D's current bonds, it was hard to imagine a traitor who would turn their back on everyone.

To gain enough from betraying the class, the person would have to be someone important. It was hard to imagine someone trusted with so many cards betraying their class.

"Am I overlooking something? This exam feels eerily quiet."

"Is there even a point in testing them further?"

Ayanokoji looked at Nagami.

"Come on. They've already given up. Let's head back to Class D and rest."

Nagami walked in the opposite direction. The Class D group, waiting where they were, looked at him in confusion. While no one in Class A was paying attention, he'd secretly swiped a piece of frozen beef and slipped it into his bag. His hands weren't exactly clean.

"Nagami, isn't that a bit..."

Before Nene could finish, Nagami cut her off.

"This is Class A's personal compensation to me."

The group stared at him, black lines hanging over their heads. Their awkward expressions said it all.

They hadn't gone far when they heard someone from Class A behind them.

"Isn't there one less piece of beef?"

Nagami stopped in his tracks, and the others tensed up.

"Hashimoto and the others probably took it. They never tell us when they grab things."

The students from Class A started making excuses for one another.

"Nagami, you're sure you won't get us into trouble?"

Karuizawa complained.

Nagami just shrugged nonchalantly and whistled.

All he knew was that dinner was taken care of. He wondered what side dishes would go well with it.