Extra

"Last time I stayed over at your place, I spent a few points to get a spare key from the dorm manager." Kushida said with a smile to Takahashi. But Takahashi felt she was about to explode.

"Click."

Sure enough, the moment Takahashi closed the door, Kushida charged forward and crashed into his chest. "You bastard."

"Hey, shouldn't you be venting at Horikita?"

"Of course I'll get to her too. That bitch should die too, damn it. You should die even more—why are you so close with Sakura?" Kushida pounded Takahashi's shoulder as she spoke. "If you don't cut ties with Sakura, I'll make sure both of you get expelled."

Takahashi: "..." (ー ー゛)

"Still drooling?" Takahashi asked.

"Huh?" Kushida stopped hitting him.

"Drooling is normal for brain-dead patients."

"You..." Kushida was so angry she couldn't find words for a moment.

"Staying the night?"

"No."

...The following is bonus content (basically scrapped drafts, feel free to read; the resort island arc starts tomorrow).

Sunlight streamed through the classroom window, casting mottled shadows on the blackboard. Horikita Suzune stood at the podium, tapping the curled exam notice with her fingertip: "The Intelligence Offensive and Defensive Battle—you've all read the rules, right? 1. Each class must obtain other classes' 'weakness information' (such as student secrets, exam cheating evidence, etc.) within 72 hours through 'intelligence trading' or 'field investigation.'

2. Each valid piece of intelligence can be exchanged for class points (base 10 points per piece, double for important intel).

3. Classes whose weaknesses are exposed will have corresponding points deducted and must provide a public explanation.

4. The class with the highest final points will receive a 'Campus Privilege Card' for all members, and the last-place class will have one student randomly expelled."

Horikita's gaze swept over Sudo Ken, who was slumped at his desk, poking an eraser with his pencil, producing a faint "thump, thump."

"In short, it's just airing each other's dirty laundry." Kushida twirled her pen, a sweet smile on her lips. "But everyone, do your best—don't let the other classes look down on us." She was best at controlling intelligence.

Sitting in the back row, Takahashi nonchalantly shook his lot stick: "I think we should first set up an intelligence team to divide the work and gather info on the other classes. For example, Hirata is good at socializing, so he can handle contact with other classes; Sudo has a strong build, so he's suited for field investigations."

"Hey, why do I have to do such a troublesome thing?" Sudo frowned, slamming his fist on the desk.

"Because Sudo failed math on the last exam and needs to contribute to the class." Takahashi still smiled gently, pulling a notebook from his bag. "I've already compiled possible weaknesses for each class. For instance, Class C's Ryuuen is said to often act alone—maybe we can start there."

From the back of the classroom came the soft rustle of pages turning. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka glanced at the notebook in Takahashi's hand, noticing three small circles drawn next to the name "Ryuuen Kakeru"—he had seen Takahashi writing that in the library yesterday, pretending to read Basic Math Solutions while actually jotting things down in the notebook.

The library's air conditioner hummed faintly. Hirata Yosuke walked through the literature section carrying a stack of reference books when suddenly, with an "Oh no," a booklet titled Math Formula Quick Reference slipped from his arms and landed right at the feet of a Class C student in a red hoodie.

"Hey, is this yours?" The other student bent down to pick up the booklet, flipping through a few pages casually, then his pupils suddenly contracted—the inner pages were stuffed with dense formula cheat sheets, along with several questions marked as "exam focus."

That evening, Class C classroom.

Ryuuen Kakeru tapped his fingers on the cheat sheet: "Those idiots in Class D want to cheat? Perfect timing—let's make them taste expulsion this time." He turned to Ishizaki Daichi, standing by the window. "First thing tomorrow, hand this to Teacher Chabashira and say you found it in the library."

The next day during lunch break, Teacher Chabashira Sae's voice rang out over the intercom: "After investigation, Class D is suspected of exam cheating. 200 class points will be deducted." The classroom erupted instantly; Sudo slammed the table and stood up: "Are you kidding me! We didn't cheat at all!"

Takahashi gently pressed Sudo's shoulder: "Calm down first—maybe there's a misunderstanding." He turned to Horikita. "Want to go ask the teacher? Maybe the evidence is flawed."

Horikita stared at Takahashi with a frown, suddenly remembering seeing him whispering with Teacher Chabashira outside the faculty office yesterday evening. But before she could speak, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had already stood up: "I'm going to the restroom." As he passed Takahashi, their eyes briefly met.

Anonymous posts on Class D's forum spread like wildfire. Under the title Shock! Class C's Boss Does This Kind of Thing, the number of replies surged every minute:

- "Ryuuen threw a classmate's point card into the pool last week!"

- "I saw him threatening a first-year with my own eyes!"

- "Class C is basically ruled by violence!"

"Who posted this?" Kushida stared at her phone screen, her fingers trembling slightly. "If this keeps up, something big will happen."

Takahashi leaned in, scanning the screen: "It might be someone from another class trying to stir up trouble." He pulled out a tissue and handed it to Kushida. "But Kushida, don't worry—I've already contacted Hirata to help delete the false information."

Meanwhile, in Class C's classroom, Ryuuen Kakeru slammed his phone onto the desk: "Trace the IP address! Find out who's causing trouble!" Ishizaki Daichi shrank his neck nearby: "Boss, the IP shows it's from the campus network, but the specific user can't be traced..."

"Bastard!" Ryuuen kicked a chair, then suddenly remembered the intelligence exchange agreement Takahashi had handed him three days ago, a cold smirk curling at his lips. "Those Class D punks think they can beat me with these little tricks?"

Late at night in the campus convenience store, neon lights cast cold-toned shadows on the glass. Class D student Sato Maya bit her straw, looking at the boy in Class C uniform across from her: "I told you, that Takahashi guy doesn't trust me at all. He won't tell me any intel."

"Tch, useless." The boy tapped the table impatiently. "Tomorrow, put this in Horikita's bag. If it works, I'll cover your points." He pushed a small paper packet across—inside was a miniature bug.

At three in the morning, a shadowy figure flashed across the surveillance footage of Class D's classroom. The next morning, Ryuuen Kakeru looked at the screenshot Ishizaki had sent, a smug grin spreading across his face—in the image, Sato Maya was stuffing the bug into Horikita's desk.

But when he stormed into the faculty office with the evidence, Teacher Chabashira handed him another video: in the footage, as Kobayashi Maya installed the bug, a note fell from her pocket, clearly reading "Class C Orders."

"Ryuuen, using private justice comes with serious consequences, you know." Teacher Chabashira shook the deduction slip in her hand, and Ryuuen's face turned ashen.

With twelve hours left until the exam ended, Class C's points had dropped to the lowest in the school. Ryuuen Kakeru stood in a corner of the playground, staring at Takahashi talking with Kushida in the distance, then suddenly pulled out his phone and sent a message.

"Takahashi, can you come to the rooftop for a talk?" The tone was completely unlike Ryuuen's style.

When Takahashi stepped onto the rooftop, Ryuuen was leaning against the railing, smoking. "Name your terms." Ryuuen crushed out the cigarette. "I know you have a way to keep Class C from being last."

"Ryuuen, you're mistaken—I'm just an ordinary student." Takahashi still smiled gently. "But... if Ryuuen is willing to trade personal points for intel, I do know a secret about Class A."

"How much?"

"Five thousand points for one piece of intel that'll cost Class A 100 points." Takahashi raised five fingers, a glint flashing in his eyes.

That evening, Ryuuen submitted the "intelligence" provided by Takahashi to the school authorities, only to be met with a cold laugh from Class A's homeroom teacher: "That was false information we deliberately leaked. I never expected Class C to actually fall for it." At the same time, Teacher Chabashira's voice came from behind him: "Also, Ryuuen-kun, I don't recall the exam rules allowing transactions between classes, do they?"

On the day the results were announced, Class C finished dead last with a negative score. Ryuuen Kakeru stared at the bulletin board, his knuckles white from clenching. Takahashi Shusuke stood at the back of the crowd, watching his back, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Takahashi-kun seems quite happy," Ayanokouji Kiyotaka said quietly, having appeared beside him without notice.

"I'm just happy for the class," Takahashi pushed up his glasses. "By the way, Ayanokouji-kun already knew Class C would take the bait, didn't you? After all, that method of installing the listening device wasn't something Sato-kun could have come up with."

Their eyes met, an unspoken understanding flowing through the air. In the distance, Kushida Kikyo was comforting a dejected Sudo, while Horikita Suzune frowned at the scoreboard.

"We'll continue cooperating in the next exam, Class D," Takahashi said, turning to walk back to the classroom. Ayanokouji watched his back, suddenly recalling the scene he'd seen in the library yesterday—in Takahashi's notebook, the circle beside the name "Ryuuen Kakeru" had already been crossed out, replaced by two neatly written characters: "Sakayanagi Arisu."

The wind lifted the curtains in the hallway, carrying the chill of late September. The smoke from this intelligence offensive and defensive battle gradually dissipated, but the story belonging to Class D was only just beginning.