The cross-class message from Class C had been hanging on the public page for several minutes.
There was no signature, but the sender was obvious enough.
Ike Kanji looked toward Gu Heng first.
Yamauchi tightened his grip on the water pouch he had just set down.
"They know?"
"They only know one possible explanation," Yukimura said. "That doesn't mean they know the name of the final-phase leader recorded by the school."
Horikita did not let everyone crowd around Gu Heng.
She forwarded the public page to everyone.
"First, look at what this message has caused. Don't focus on who it wants to anger."
Several replies had already appeared below the message.
Some asked whether Class D had changed to a new commander.
Some asked why Horikita had still needed to confirm the public representative earlier.
Others asked outright: `If Gu Heng is the leader, why not let him come forward?`
Kushida stood before the girls' group, her fingertips hovering at the edge of her terminal.
"I can gather who is willing to cooperate beside the public representative."
"Only gather that," Horikita said. "Don't let this message become an opening for asking about the final-phase leader."
Kushida looked at the public page, her smile faint.
"Then Class C will say we're hiding."
"What they say doesn't change what I'm responsible for."
Horikita raised her terminal and sent a reply to the public page.
`Class D's public representative confirmation remains valid.`
`The public representative bears the visible responsibility of the final phase; this does not equate to the name of the final-phase leader recorded by the school.`
`If Class C has a guess, submit it according to the final-phase rules. Do not treat public opinion as the school's conclusion.`
After the message was sent, Gu Heng glanced at her.
"You didn't answer