Tangben Yishan was the first to break the awkward silence:
"Why is everyone so quiet? Didn't we come here to discuss things?"
Hashimoto Masayoshi of Class A leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head, looking utterly unconcerned as he crossed his legs.
Kamuro Masumi of Class A played with her phone, her expression indifferent.
Himeno Yuki of Class B rested her chin in her hands, sucking on a lollipop as she casually looked around at everyone.
Nishino Takeko of Class C stared at Yi Chen with lovestruck eyes.
Airi and Sato of Class D sat frozen in their seats, looking nervous.
Ken Sudō looked as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
The rest, like Shiina Hiyori, quietly watched everyone in the room.
Ken Sudō suddenly remembered that he was a VIP and was afraid to say too much. Nervously, he looked at Yi Chen.
Yi Chen remained as calm as ever.
Tangben Yishan said cheerfully:
"Everyone, let's all share our thoughts."
Shiina Hiyori spoke calmly, her expression composed:
"Yes, we've all been put together. As Yishan said, let's each share our thoughts."
The three students from Class A remained composed, waiting to hear what the others had to say.
Kanzaki of Class B said coolly:
"As long as we maintain the peace, the VIP just needs to reveal themself. Then we can all get 500,000 points."
"The VIP would get a million, too."
Tangben Yishan said enthusiastically:
"Sounds good, Kanzaki. Let's do that, everyone."
Ken Sudō glanced nervously at Tangben Yishan.
The three students from Class A continued to listen impassively.
Seeing how Ken Sudō was struggling to keep his composure, Yi Chen knew he couldn't keep a secret.
Yi Chen gave a light cough, drawing everyone's attention.
Looking at Yi Chen's impassive face, Ken Sudō remembered what he had said.
He decided to leave everything to Yi Chen after all.
Tangben Yishan looked delighted:
"Yi Chen, what do you think?"
Yi Chen shook his head:
"I just have a bit of a cough."
Tangben Yishan pressed on:
"Yi Chen, why don't you share your thoughts, too? We have three days to discuss this, after all."
"It'd be boring if we didn't say anything."
Yi Chen thought it over:
"I think Kanzaki's idea is pretty good. I support him."
Kanzaki looked at Yi Chen calmly.
Tangben Yishan looked excited:
"What does everyone else think? Class A, do you have anything to say?"
The students from Class A had nothing to say.
Tangben Yishan pressed them again:
"Hey, what's with you Class A students?"
"Why come here if you're not going to say anything?"
Hashimoto Masayoshi of Class A said lazily:
"The exam rules don't say we have to talk, do they?"
Kamuro Masumi continued playing with her phone, unconcerned:
"Exactly. Why are you getting so worked up?"
"Say whatever you want. We're not stopping you."
"I can't stand people like you who think the world revolves around them."
Yi Chen couldn't help laughing at that.
Tangben Yishan stared at the three students from Class A, dumbfounded.
He wanted to say something, but swallowed his words.
Ken Sudō watched Tangben Yishan get shut down and struggled to stifle his laughter.
Shiina Hiyori spoke gracefully:
"Yishan, I told you not to act so self-important."
"Why not apologize to them? It's true that the rules never said we all had to talk."
Tangben Yishan replied:
"What do you mean, Shiina? I just wanted everyone to talk together."
"I was trying to liven things up. How does that make me self-important?"
"I'm not apologizing."
At that, Kamuro Masumi stood up and left her seat, then stretched out on a sofa nearby:
"Ugh, I'm so tired. Why did I get put in this group?"
Tangben Yishan was furious, but Shiina gestured for him to calm down.
Tangben Yishan reluctantly fell silent.
Shiina Hiyori said calmly:
"Now, do the three classes have any objections to this?"
Kanzaki watched the others.
Beppu Ryota and Himeno Yuki were in the same class as Kanzaki, and they also came forward to support his suggestion.
Shiina Hiyori of Class C said she thought it was the best approach, too.
Albert, however, said nothing.
Tangben Yishan and Nishino Takeko decided to go along with Shiina's suggestion.
The students from Class D all looked at Yi Chen, who remained expressionless.
Yi Chen said calmly:
"Then let's do that."
At his words, Ken Sudō and the others relaxed.
Sato breathed a sigh of relief:
"Then let's go with that for now."
Airi was too shy to say anything.
Ken Sudō still had questions, but he agreed anyway.
Kanzaki said calmly:
"Since everyone seems to accept this approach..."
"Let's all reveal who the VIP is."
Tangben Yishan was the first to hold up his phone and show it to everyone.
Tangben Yishan said evenly:
"Take a look. I'm not the VIP."
Albert and Nishino Takeko didn't reveal their identities.
The three students from Class A remained unmoved, too.
The students from Class B had proposed the idea, but they didn't reveal their identities either.
Everyone waited for the others to reveal theirs first.
Yi Chen of Class D said nothing, and the other three didn't reveal their identities either.
Seeing that he was the only one who had revealed his identity, Tangben Yishan looked at everyone in disbelief:
"Huh? What's going on with you? I showed everyone my identity."
"What about you?"
Kanzaki looked at Tangben Yishan, adjusted his glasses, and sighed.
He said calmly:
"Yishan, this is only the first exam. Not everyone here has agreed to this plan."
"If the VIP reveals themself now and someone else reports them to the school, our group's exam will be over."
Shiina Hiyori replied evenly:
"That's right, Yishan. You're getting ahead of yourself."
"We'll reveal our identities, just not now."
Tangben Yishan said unhappily:
"So I'm the only one who loses out here?"
Shiina Hiyori gave Tangben Yishan a gentle look:
"Don't worry, Yishan. You're the only one who revealed yours. As long as the VIP doesn't reveal themself now, we'll be fine."
The others listened quietly, beginning to analyze the situation.
For the rest of the time, everyone went about their own business.
Tangben Yishan came over to Yi Chen and started chatting with him and the others.
He shared his experiences during the exam over the past few days.
Sato and Ken Sudō weren't the unfriendly type, either, and chatted warmly with Tangben Yishan.
The first meeting ended quickly.
The students in the conference room dispersed. Tangben Yishan happily said goodbye to Yi Chen and the others.
It was a little after two in the afternoon.
Yi Chen and the others went outside to chat.
Ken Sudō said unhappily:
"Those Class A students are so arrogant. Who do they think they are, not saying a word?"
"Everyone agreed to this plan. Wouldn't 500,000 points each be nice?"
Sato chimed in:
"Exactly! I was so nervous at first, but I feel much better now."
"Those Class A students really are hard to talk to."
Airi stood beside Yi Chen without speaking, her head bowed as she stared at the ground.
Yi Chen said calmly:
"It's fine. Don't worry about them. Let's just take it easy and do whatever we want during the meetings."
Sato looked at him admiringly:
"Now that you've said that, Yi Chen, I feel much more at ease."
"But..."
Sato looked nervously around, seeming to want to say something.
Yi Chen noticed and gently placed a finger over Sato's lips before she could speak.
Sato blushed.
Airi looked at Sato enviously.
Yi Chen said calmly:
"Let's not talk about the exam in our free time. Just trust me."
Sato lowered her head shyly:
"Okay, Yi Chen."
Ken Sudō watched Yi Chen with a grin:
"You're flirting with girls again. Don't you already have Ichinose?"
Yi Chen shot Ken Sudō a glare.
Ignoring Ken Sudō, Yi Chen turned to Sato and Airi:
"Do you two have anything else to do?"
Sato and Airi shook their heads.
Yi Chen said:
"Since there's still some time before the next meeting, and it's too early to eat, let's each go do our own thing for now."
"Let's meet up this afternoon."
Sato and Airi both agreed. They said goodbye to Yi Chen and Ken Sudō, then left.
Ken Sudō looked at Yi Chen:
"So, Yi Chen, what should we do now?"
Yi Chen said calmly:
"We'll tell everyone our identities on the last day, like we agreed."
"For now, just relax. Treat it like you're still on vacation and have some fun."
Ken Sudō grinned and put an arm around Yi Chen's shoulders:
"Then I'm counting on you, Yi Chen. Should we go relax at the spa now?"
"I was so nervous just now."
Yi Chen said:
"No need. You go ahead. I'm going to get some rest."
Before you continue