Desperate Situation

"The special exam for Chang Shui Jing has ended. You have thirty minutes to report to your homeroom teacher to withdraw; those who exceed this time limit will be expelled."

A mechanical broadcast echoed from the base's speakers.

"Why am I able to use the Devour Permission? That's what you want to ask, right?"

"I don't mind telling you. I used Line to hide a Virus File within the bonfire party's planning documents, which everyone in the class downloaded."

"Sotomura, do you remember him? I specifically commissioned him to write the virus program."

"While everyone was immersed in the joy of the party, no one noticed that the passage of time had slowed down."

Ayanokoji explained. Why was Ayanokoji able to use Devour? This was the first thought that crossed Chang Shui's mind. Various possibilities flashed by, but Ayanokoji announced the answer directly.

"How strange. Ayanokoji, what benefit does doing this bring you?"

Chang Shui remained confused.

"The reason? Sorry, I can't say that yet."

A sudden betrayal would surely cause turmoil within the class. Was it worth it for a few tens of thousands of Trust Points? Besides, it wouldn't be easy to gloss over this; everyone would label him a traitor.

Now, the permissions on his own phone had been confiscated, making it impossible to send messages. He could only wait until after the exam to explain.

Explain after the special exam...

Explain? Chang Shui seemed to fall into a dead loop, muttering to himself, "Explain, explain, explain..."

The surroundings were silent, leaving only Chang Shui talking to himself.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Without any warning, Chang Shui burst into laughter, like a patient who had suddenly escaped from a mental hospital.

"Are you... insane?"

Ayanokoji looked at the laughing Chang Shui with suspicion.

"Interesting, truly interesting! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"

"I really didn't misjudge you, Ayanokoji."

"You're gambling! You're gambling on the fact that I can never explain this to my classmates, aren't you!"

Unless no one believed Ayanokoji had betrayed the class, the suspect's motive would be established!

If so, if I haven't guessed wrong, Ayanokoji, this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a long-planned scheme. I have been completely outmaneuvered by Ayanokoji.

Violence definitely wouldn't work; there wasn't enough time. Should I go to Class D to explain? But even if I finished explaining, who could guarantee I would make it to the homeroom teacher's office in time?

Moreover, the mastermind, Ayanokoji, was already holding a large amount of Trust Points; gathering 4 million points was impossible.

Ayanokoji wouldn't stop me from going to the Class D camp or the homeroom teacher's office, because no matter which path I chose, expulsion was already a foregone conclusion.

If expulsion was inevitable, would Chang Shui be the kind of side character in a hot-blooded manga who sacrifices himself to get the message to everyone in the class?

Cold sweat broke out on Chang Shui's back. Yes, he had guessed right; Chang Shui was definitely not that kind of selfless person.

"You're right. For now, I'm happy to answer most of your doubts."

Ayanokoji looked at Chang Shui, his expression complex.

Think, think fast. The longer this drags on, the more it favors Ayanokoji! Chang Shui struggled to think of a way to break the deadlock, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward the machine at the base.

The speakers—couldn't the people in Class D hear the speakers?

"Hey, you didn't forget that withdrawing from the exam triggers a school-wide announcement, did you?"

"Rest assured, I've already handled all the speakers near the Class D camp. No one in Class D knows that Chang Shui has already withdrawn from the exam."

Ayanokoji continued to explain patiently.

Chang Shui took a deep breath. "Hoo—"

A desperate situation? He had experienced far too many desperate situations in his life.

His thoughts drifted back to the time before he transmigrated.

"Hey, Uncle. Your weight-loss method is really effective!"

"Of course it is. Following my method, you're guaranteed to win this featherweight match."

This was the result of his coach, Onoe Dantu, being bribed to "cheat" on the scale.

As Chang Shui's coach, the man was both a mentor and a friend. From the moment he first started boxing at the gym, he had been by his side.

Chang Shui recalled the countless days spent sweating in the training ring, never once questioning his coach, until the weigh-in ceremony.

"Chang Shui Jing, 0.5 pounds overweight."

At the weigh-in, Chang Shui's mind went blank; he forgot how he even stepped off the scale.

"Uncle, what is this! Wasn't the training scale accurate!"

Chang Shui glared fiercely at his coach.

"Calm down, Chang Shui."

"You can't win this match. Your opponent will KO you in three rounds. Can't you just be sensible and admit defeat!"

"Damn you!"

Nagami and the coach wrestled together until the others pulled them apart.

"I'm sorry, Nagami, but I have a family."

"Hey! Where are you going, Nagami!"

"Leave me the hell alone!"

When the coach found Nagami, he had already drawn 200ml of blood.

"Are you crazy? Drawing blood? This isn't weight loss, this is suicide!"

The coach lunged forward and snatched the syringe away.

"This is enough."

"Listen, Nagami. It's just one match, do you really need to risk your life for it! If you keep going like this, you won't even have the strength to step into the ring."

"Then tell me, is there any other way!"

Nagami roared, his bloodshot eyes staring daggers at the coach.

The match arrived as scheduled, and the coach was wrong; it didn't even take three rounds before he was knocked into a parallel world. What a truly ridiculous life.

Under the moonlight, Ayanokoji raised his phone, continuing to exercise his authority.

"Activate, Monopolize Half the Points."

Perhaps out of a sense of reluctance before parting ways, Ayanokoji still told Nagami some of the reasons.

"Because of your existence, I cannot control Class D."

"It's that simple a reason; I know you can't understand it."

"I think so too."

Ayanokoji answered every question asked, and the unease in Nagami's heart reached its peak; he had to do something within the remaining 22 minutes! The less time there was, the more disadvantageous it became for him.

41, 43, 47—let's count prime numbers. Prime numbers are existences that no one can divide. Yet they are also filled with sorrow, as if they are forever alone on an endless journey, searching for some kind of truth.

Suddenly, Nagami thought of the only solution, which was also the most unreliable one, and he rushed off in one direction without hesitation.

(If this works, it will be the only way to turn the tables.)

Ayanokoji did not stop Nagami, because that was not the direction of Class D. It was also because he knew that after this special exam, Nagami would never appear in the class again; he would not give Nagami a chance to explain.

The bonfire burned fiercely, the flames leaping and illuminating the night sky with exceptional brightness.

Under the firelight, the scent of burning wood permeated the air, and the surrounding students gradually gathered together in laughter, forming a large circle.

As the music started, the cheerful melody drifted on the night breeze, as if summoning everyone's enthusiasm.

Everyone held hands and began to dance in a circle around the bonfire.

The footsteps were a bit chaotic at first, but they soon caught up with the rhythm of the music. Some hummed along, others laughed out loud, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heated.

"Shinohara, be my girlfriend!"

Ike's sudden confession in front of everyone shocked the crowd!

"Eh, there are too many people. It's too embarrassing!"

Shinohara covered her face, her entire complexion turning bright red, as if she had drunk high-proof shochu.

"Get together! Get together..."

Everyone started to jeer.

"I can't stand you! I agree."

"Woohoo!"

Ike celebrated loudly; as of today, he had officially shed his title of being single since birth.

"Kiss! Kiss..."

Others started to stir up trouble, enjoying the spectacle.

Shinohara took Ike and fled the scene of social death, drawing a chorus of boos.

The flames continued to burn, reflecting people's flushed faces and lingering laughter.

"Have you guys seen Ayanokoji?"

Karuizawa asked one person after another.