Saturday passed in a strange atmosphere.
Though a light rain drizzled down, it did nothing to dampen the campus's excitement over the seventy-million-point prize pool.
Inside the library.
The joint study group of Classes A, B, and D continued as usual.
The scratch of pen tips across paper was often punctuated by hushed, excited discussions about the prize pool, the betting tiers, and the possibility of getting rich overnight. Even the usually unflappable Honami Ichinose occasionally gazed out at the rain with a faint ripple of unrest in her eyes.
Horikita Suzune was even more focused.
She was intent on reaching the goal Akiyama Shin had set for her.
Kushida Kikyo played her part perfectly as an encourager and peacemaker.
Meanwhile, Akiyama Shin watched it all with the calm patience of a director.
He maintained the study group's outward order while constantly fine-tuning the final script in his mind.
Time slipped by amid the turning pages and rain tapping against the windows, and Saturday was over in the blink of an eye.
Sunday arrived: the final week before the Midterm Exam, and the last countdown to betting on the Campus Betting Site.
Meanwhile.
On the top floor of the Artificial Island's Central Administrative District, inside an expansive office with elegant, imposing decor.
Chairman Sakayanagi, the chairman of Advanced Nurturing.
He stood before a huge floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the campus, still hazy after the morning rain.
In his hand was a tablet. The screen displayed the Campus Midterm Trivia Betting Site, and the staggering figure on it glowed silently.
Fine rain threaded down outside. The room was quiet.
After a long while, the chairman let out a soft sigh.
His low, reflective voice echoed through the empty office.
"The waves behind drive on those before, and the pupil has