Then, Majima Tomoya explained the exam's core rules with astonishing efficiency:
A separate CP (War Points) system, AP Action Limits, Resource Point contests, alliance and betrayal mechanics, and the three possible Final Battle Modes.
As he spoke, the giant projection screen displayed the key points and initial CP allocations:
Class A: 1000 CP
Class B: 750 CP
Class C: 500 CP
Class D: 250 CP
"Your starting points are based on your overall performance since enrolling," Chabashira added, her gaze sweeping over Class D with pointed meaning. "This is the starting line of the war, but by no means the finish."
A commotion rippled through the audience, especially among Class D. 250 points? Not even a quarter of Class A's!
"Are you kidding me? How are we supposed to compete?" Ken Sudō blurted out.
"That's so unfair!" Kanji Ike chimed in.
"Quiet!" Chabashira's stern voice overpowered the uproar. "The rules are the rules. Think it's unfair? Then use your strength to overturn them. Remember, everything at this school is a reflection of ability."
Hoshida No listened in silence, quickly processing the flood of information.
The separate CP system meant the points were isolated from their existing Class Points, undercutting the slight psychological advantage Class D had recently gained from the midterms.
AP Limit: 10 points a day. This was a key resource and had to be carefully calculated.
Resource Point contests were the main source of CP, but claiming them required manpower and AP. It would be a major challenge for Class D, whose unity was only decent on the surface.
The alliance system... was an opportunity, but also a trap.
The first-place class would choose the Final Battle Mode. That meant even if they fell behind early, as long as they could reach first place on the day of the final battle, they could choose the mode most advantageous to them.
His eyes shifted slightly, and for a moment, he met Ayanokoji's gaze as the latter glanced back from a seat diagonally ahead. They saw the same calm assessment in each other's eyes.
The rules continued, covering donations of Personal Points (at a donation rate of 100:1).
Hoshida's brow lifted slightly. He had over four million Personal Points in his account, which could theoretically be converted into nearly 4,000 CP. But that was his trump card. Revealing such a vast fortune too early would draw unwanted attention and make him a target.
"From 19:00 to 21:00, each class will hold an internal strategy meeting.
"Before 21:00, each class must submit, through the 'S' system, a list of commanders elected by its students: one Overall Commander and two Deputy Commanders.
"The commanders will have the authority to make tactical decisions and will represent the class in negotiations with others."
Majima concluded with emphasis, "Choosing your commanders is crucial. Pick the wrong people, and your class may plunge into an even deeper abyss seven days from now."
"Now, the meeting is adjourned. The war has already begun the moment you step out of this auditorium."
The moment they returned to the Class D classroom and the door shut, the pent-up chaos erupted.
"Only 250 points! What's the point of even trying?"
"Exactly! The school is obviously targeting us! Why does Class C get 500 points?"
"Everyone, please calm down!" Hirata Yousuke raised his voice, trying to restore order. "Complaining won't solve anything. The most important thing now is to choose our commanders and work out a strategy."
"Commanders? Do we even need to vote? Obviously, it should be you, Hirata!" someone immediately called out.
"I agree! Hirata is the most dependable!"
Quite a few classmates voiced their support. At a time like this, Hirata Yousuke's affability and sense of responsibility made him a natural focal point for the class.
But not everyone agreed.
"I believe a commander needs exceptional strategic insight and decisiveness." Horikita Suzune's cool voice rang out.
She stood up and surveyed the room. "Hirata is good at bringing everyone together, but in a complex strategic contest like this, he may not be the best choice. I propose that we assess everyone's abilities before deciding."
"Horikita, what are you saying? Do you think you're more suited to the job than Hirata?" Yamauchi asked indignantly.
"I'm just stating the facts. We won't win this war just because someone is popular." Horikita didn't back down.
"Um..." Kushida Kikyo spoke gently, wearing her usual smile. "Hirata and Horikita are both very capable. But shouldn't we hear what Hoshida thinks, too? After all, Hoshida is quite capable as well..." She trailed off at just the right moment, directing everyone's attention to Hoshida, who had been sitting quietly by the window.
Hoshida felt the complicated gazes gathering on him, including Horikita Suzune's sharp scrutiny and the glint beneath Kushida's perfect smile.
He spoke slowly, his steady voice rising above the faint murmurs. "A commander's duties include external negotiations, internal decision-making, resource allocation, and crisis management. The role requires all-around ability, but above all, the ability to withstand pressure."
He paused, his gaze passing over the three of them as he weighed his thoughts: Hirata wasn't decisive enough and was too gentle; Kushida seemed devoted to the class on the surface, but might be fickle and unreliable; Horikita was decisive, but lacked the ability to cooperate and communicate.
His gaze fell on Ayanokoji, then moved away.
"My suggestion," Hoshida continued, "is to divide the responsibilities. The Overall Commander will make the final decisions and handle external negotiations, so that person needs prestige and sound judgment. The two Deputy Commanders should have separate focuses: one on strategy and intelligence analysis, the other on internal coordination and carrying out tasks."
It was a relatively rational proposal. It reduced the risk of one person ruling alone while allowing people with different strengths to contribute.
"Then... who should fill those roles?" someone asked.
The classroom fell briefly silent, then low whispers began to spread.
Hirata Yousuke took a deep breath and stepped forward. "I'm willing to handle coordination and execution. But we need someone more capable to serve as Overall Commander and develop our strategy."
His humility and practicality won him considerable goodwill.
Horikita Suzune looked straight at Hoshida. "Hoshida, everyone can see your analytical and academic abilities. You also proved your ability to gather information during the midterms. You're the best choice for Deputy Commander in charge of strategy."
Her words were direct, even somewhat forceful, but her judgment was based on ability.
Before Hoshida could answer, Kushida Kikyo immediately chimed in, her smile sweet. "I think Hoshida is a great fit, too! If Hoshida makes the plans, everyone will feel more at ease, right?"
She skillfully elevated Hoshida while placing herself in the safe position of a supporter.
Hoshida looked at Horikita, then glanced at Hirata's expectant expression and the other classmates' focused gazes.
"Sure," he finally replied simply.
The position was more flexible than Overall Commander's. It carried important responsibilities without putting him on the front line to shoulder all the pressure.
"Then, as for the Overall Commander..." Hirata looked at Horikita, then at the others.
"I'll do it." Horikita Suzune's reply was decisive and unapologetic. "I believe I have the decisiveness and perspective needed for the role. My goal will be to lead Class D to victory, and I'll see to it that we follow our strategy."
Her words brimmed with confidence, even a little domineering. But for Class D, which needed a morale boost at that moment, she was just right.
Hirata hesitated, then looked at Hoshida.
Hoshida gave the slightest nod.
"I agree that Horikita should be our Overall Commander," Hirata finally said. "I'll do everything I can to support Horikita and Hoshida and handle execution and internal coordination."
"Then we need to decide on our basic strategy for the next seven days." Horikita quickly took charge, turning to Hoshida. "Hoshida, what's your initial analysis?"
Everyone's attention focused on him again.
Hoshida walked to the whiteboard at the front of the classroom and picked up a marker.
"Core objective: rank first in CP seven days from now. Our options: increase our own CP, reduce our opponents' CP, or influence the choice of Final Battle Mode."
As he spoke, he wrote down the key points. "Our disadvantages: the lowest starting CP, class unity yet to be tested, and little trust from the other classes. Our advantage..." He paused. "Unpredictability."
"Unpredictability?" Horikita frowned.
"Class A is cautious, Class B is cooperative, and Class C is destructive. Their behavior is relatively predictable," Hoshida explained. "As for us, our position and internal complexities mean our actions may be harder to anticipate. That's a blind spot we can exploit."
He drew a simple timeline on the whiteboard. "Seven days, divided into stages:
"Days 1–2: intelligence gathering and resource scouting. Keep a low profile, learn each class commander's style, assess the value of Resource Points, and figure out the rules of the Information Trading Market.
"Days 3–4: selectively contest key resources and try to establish informal contacts, especially with Class B.
"Days 5–6: decide whether to pursue an aggressive strategy or a defensive counterattack based on how things have gone so far.
"Day 7: aim to finish in the top two, gain the right to choose the Final Battle Mode, or at least avoid finishing last and suffering a direct penalty."
He emphasized, "Avoid direct conflict with Class C early on. Ryuen Kakeru will deliberately stir up trouble. Don't bother with him; let him keep the other two classes occupied.
"As for contacting Class B, Hirata or Kushida can explore the possibility of cooperating. Stay friendly, but don't make any promises too early.
"I'll handle the main channels for intelligence gathering, but we need to form an auxiliary team of three or four people to sift through public information."
Horikita gave a slight nod when he finished. Hirata breathed a sigh of relief, glad that they now had someone to rely on.
They moved on to the tedious discussion of teams and assignments.
Hoshida delegated most of the specific tasks, keeping only core intelligence analysis and the development of key strategies for himself.
He specifically assigned Ayanokoji to the free agent role, on the grounds that he was "adaptable and could fill in wherever needed."
Ayanokoji didn't object. He simply nodded, expressionless.
As the meeting drew to a close, Hoshida had a brief private discussion with Hirata and Horikita.
At 21:00, Class D submitted its list of commanders:
Overall Commander—Horikita Suzune, Deputy Commander (Strategy)—Hoshida No, Deputy Commander (Execution)—Hirata Yousuke.
By the time Hoshida returned to his dorm, it was already late at night. He didn't go straight to bed. Instead, he opened the personal terminal on his phone and brought up a private interface.
He anonymously accessed the newly opened "Information Trading Market."
The interface was crude, clearly thrown together in a hurry, but a few listings of information for sale were already blinking on the screen, most of them little more than baseless speculation.
He browsed quickly, noting the prices and descriptions of several suspected smokescreens put out by Class A and Class C.
Then he sent encrypted messages to two numbers.
The first was for Chazhu Zuo Zhi:
Teacher, does the real-time exchange rate for converting War Points into Personal Points fluctuate in any hidden way? Or are there any special conversion channels allowed by the rules?
The second was for Shiina Hiyori:
How did Class C react to the initial point allocation? What was the general direction of Ryuen's first order? Let's exchange information.