Key Plot Points and Events

• An anonymous message appears on Class D's shared page, stating that "The Honored Person is not where you think" and "Someone has already entered the answer into the submission field."
• The page changes, with a new note appearing: "Someone has already tested it for you."
• A system notification announces that "A member has attempted submission" with 14 minutes remaining in the answer window.
• An anonymous note appears, stating "The first person to press it has already chosen for you."

Character Developments

• Gu Heng, the class representative, chooses not to make a unified decision for the class, instead encouraging individual judgment.
• Horikita Suzune, the class president, initially tries to maintain a unified stance but later withdraws her support for a class decision.
• Karuizawa Kei takes control of her own representation on the page, deleting any unauthorized designations related to her.
• Hayakawa, initially a relay point for information, decides not to forward the next sentence of an anonymous reminder.

Significant Themes

• Individual Responsibility vs. Collective Decision: The class grapples with whether to make a unified decision or let each student decide individually.
• Information Control and Interpretation: The anonymous notes and page changes highlight the power dynamics of information control and how interpretations can be manipulated.
• Consequences of Actions: The chapter explores the potential consequences of pressing the answer, both for the individual and the class as a whole.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Yukimura work together to document the page changes and timestamps, trying to maintain an objective record.
• Horikita and Gu Heng have a tense exchange about the class's stance on submitting the answer.
• Karuizawa takes control of her representation on the page, asserting her authority over her own information.
• Hayakawa decides not to forward an anonymous reminder, asserting his independence from the information relay chain.

Chapter Summary: “Someone Had Already Tried”

Key Plot Points and Events

• With eleven minutes left in the answer window, Class D discovers that its responsibility statement has been selectively truncated. The original sentence—“I will bear responsibility for the parts entered under Class D’s name”—is reduced externally to “I will bear responsibility,” making Gu Heng appear more personally accountable.
• An anonymous message accuses Class D of waiting for someone else to decide for them. Yukimura proposes restoring the full statement, but Gu Heng refuses to do so through Class D’s shared page because that would reveal their monitoring of page versions.
• Horikita offers to restore the text herself, but Gu Heng insists that responsibility must remain attached to the individual who wrote each statement. Horikita withdraws the registration request for two members’ viewing times, causing two useful comparison records to disappear.
• Rather than ordering the members to resubmit, Gu Heng accepts the loss. Yukimura preserves the withdrawals and the members’ reasons in the Cold Backup, but Gu Heng prevents those reasons from being used as public explanations.
• Hirata asks whether individual actions remain personal without a unified class recommendation. Gu Heng answers that they do, but changes his wording from “bear it yourself” to “take responsibility yourself” to avoid sounding punitive.
• Hayakawa reveals that he received an anonymous warning—“Don’t trust the first person to press it”—but refuses to verify its authenticity. Gu Heng records both the warning and Hayakawa’s refusal to become responsible for its transmission.
• Kushida offers a seventeen-second time difference between two versions of the external quote, but only if Gu Heng records her act of covering a name rather than interpreting her motive. He accepts, maintaining suspicion without declaring a conclusion.
• Karuizawa independently covers the form of address in her own statement while preserving the time and refuses to have Gu Heng explain her motives. Gu Heng records this as an act of voluntary self-definition.
• Ayanokoji observes the altered documents and remarks that the omitted portion is often more useful than what remains. Gu Heng preserves both versions separately rather than adding Ayanokoji’s interpretation to the shared record.
• With seven minutes remaining, Gu Heng closes Class D’s external response field to prevent further selective editing. This makes the class appear passive, but protects its statements from additional manipulation.
• A final anonymous message claims that silence means accepting the first person’s position. Gu Heng does not respond, expecting another revision before the deadline.

Character Developments

• Gu Heng increasingly prioritizes individual accountability and accurate records over maintaining a unified class position. He accepts losing information rather than coercing members into providing it and refuses to speak for others.
• Yukimura acts as Gu Heng’s careful recorder, preserving withdrawals, explanations, timestamps, and page versions without turning them into a misleading narrative.
• Horikita demonstrates a willingness to defend Class D publicly, but Gu Heng’s resistance exposes the conflict between collective representation and personal responsibility.
• Hayakawa establishes a firm boundary: he will pass along an anonymous warning but will not authenticate or take ownership of it.
• Kushida bargains for control over how her actions are recorded. She deliberately offers evidence without surrendering her motives, reinforcing her ambiguous and strategic position.
• Karuizawa becomes more independent, controlling her own statement and refusing explanatory representation by Gu Heng.
• Ayanokoji remains detached but perceptive, identifying the significance of the missing text and reinforcing Gu Heng’s decision to preserve conflicting versions rather than impose an interpretation.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility versus representation: The chapter repeatedly questions whether one person or a class should speak for others.
• Records as instruments of pressure: Viewing times, edits, withdrawals, and explanations can become evidence or coercive tools depending on how they are presented.
• The danger of selective information: Truncated statements and revised quotations distort meaning, making the omitted portions as important as the visible ones.
• Boundaries and personal agency: Several characters insist on controlling what they reveal and refuse to let others explain their motives.
• Suspicion without certainty: Gu Heng gathers evidence while deliberately avoiding premature conclusions, recognizing that suspicion is not proof.
• Silence and manipulation: The anonymous messages attempt to frame silence as agreement, forcing Gu Heng to resist externally imposed interpretations.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Horikita clash over whether Class D should restore its complete statement publicly. Their exchange centers on the difference between collective defense and individual responsibility.
• Gu Heng and Yukimura work together to preserve an accurate but non-coercive record, with Yukimura repeatedly asking how much information should be retained or displayed.
• Gu Heng and Hayakawa establish mutual limits: Hayakawa supplies evidence but refuses to validate it, while Gu Heng records that refusal without forcing him further.
• Gu Heng and Kushida negotiate an exchange in which she provides timing evidence while retaining control over her identity and motives.
• Gu Heng and Karuizawa move toward greater independence on her part; she no longer relies on him to explain or defend her actions.
• Gu Heng and Ayanokoji share a brief but meaningful exchange about altered evidence, after which Gu Heng preserves both versions without adopting Ayanokoji’s interpretation.

Concise Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• With three minutes left before the answer window closes, Gu Heng receives evidence that Class B saw the same system notification as Class D.
• He carefully distinguishes verified facts from assumptions: Class D’s page contains an external note followed by the notification, while Class B’s page shows only the notification. He rejects the claim that the two incidents were identical or necessarily connected.
• Gu Heng preserves Class B’s original page as an external fact rather than copying it into Class D’s Cold Backup, protecting the evidence from contamination.
• He shifts “speed” from a potential judgment criterion to a risk factor, recognizing that rushing could spread an incorrect explanation.
• Ichinose confirms that she did not tell Class B what answer to submit, only instructed them to preserve timestamps. Gu Heng records this boundary without treating it as Class D’s evidence.
• Two Class D members withdraw. Gu Heng refuses to delete their timestamps, instead preserving the fact of their withdrawal while keeping them outside the permission structure. Their identities remain anonymous in the Cold Backup.
• Class D closes its public response field to prevent outsiders from manipulating or rewriting its statements. The closure sacrifices public explanation but preserves a verifiable timeline.
• Karuizawa accepts that her masked record may expose her ability to alter pages, choosing to preserve the timestamp because deleting it would damage the evidence.
• Kushida provides a sequence of page changes: the first note preceded the system notification, a second rewrite came seventeen seconds afterward, and a third version removed Class D’s responsibility statement after the response field was closed. She withholds her source, and Gu Heng accepts those terms.
• Ayanokoji observes that Gu Heng has “closed the exit,” but Gu Heng clarifies that he has only prevented others from speaking for Class D until after the settlement.
• Gu Heng records that there is no unified submission recommendation and accepts personal responsibility for the wording risk. This becomes Class D’s final decision before the window closes.
• An anonymous message appears, warning them to investigate who caused them to believe someone submitted rather than immediately searching for the submitter. Its punctuation matches the first note, but Gu Heng refuses to identify a culprit without stronger proof.
• The window closes. The page displays only that the answer window is closed and the settlement record is being generated; the submitter, answer, and class affiliation remain unknown.

Character Developments

• Gu Heng becomes more cautious and methodical, prioritizing evidence integrity over speed, consensus, or a quick answer. He accepts personal responsibility while refusing to impose his interpretation on others.
• Hirata supports Gu Heng’s standards by recording disagreements, permission closures, and timelines separately rather than turning them into endorsements.
• Ichinose demonstrates restraint, preserving Class B’s autonomy and refusing to make decisions on its behalf.
• Karuizawa acknowledges the danger of exposure but chooses to preserve an incriminating timestamp rather than falsify or erase evidence.
• Kushida maintains control over the information she provides, withholding her source while offering precise timing data. She recognizes that Gu Heng is learning to respect limits on what he can demand.
• Ayanokoji remains observant and detached, testing Gu Heng’s reasoning without revealing his own conclusions.
• Yukimura helps formalize Gu Heng’s personal responsibility, despite recognizing the danger of making Gu Heng the obvious target.

Significant Themes

• Evidence versus interpretation: Timestamps and page versions are treated as facts, while conclusions about shared sources or submitters remain provisional.
• Responsibility and consent: Preserving someone’s action does not mean endorsing their judgment; Gu Heng avoids speaking for others without permission.
• Information control: Closing the response field limits public communication but prevents outsiders from manipulating Class D’s words.
• Speed versus accuracy: Acting quickly may secure an answer, but it can also allow false explanations to spread across multiple records.
• Trust and boundaries: Characters exchange information under clearly defined limits, and Gu Heng increasingly respects what others refuse to disclose.
• The danger of altered narratives: The page has been rewritten, but the timestamps remain intact, making the sequence of alterations the central surviving evidence.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Hirata collaborate on separating facts from conclusions and maintaining an impartial archive.
• Gu Heng and Ichinose establish a boundary between preserving Class B’s records and deciding for Class B.
• Gu Heng protects the withdrawn members from having their identities exposed while still recording their withdrawal.
• Karuizawa confronts Gu Heng about the risks of preserving her masked record, ultimately choosing evidence preservation over concealment.
• Kushida negotiates an information exchange with Gu Heng, providing timing data while keeping her source secret.
• Ayanokoji challenges Gu Heng’s decision to close the response field, prompting Gu Heng to distinguish between preventing others from speaking for Class D and suppressing Class D’s own voice.
• Yukimura helps save Gu Heng’s personal responsibility statement, formalizing that the final position is not a unanimous class recommendation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the answer window closes and the final settlement is generated, Gu Heng reconstructs the timeline of all page versions rather than immediately checking his personal results.
• He identifies several important discrepancies:
  • An annotation appeared before the system prompt.
  • The phrase “The first person to press it” appeared afterward.
  • Class D’s responsibility statement was cut off when its response portal closed.
  • A later anonymous message followed the punctuation pattern of the first annotation.
• Gu Heng separates the records into three independent layers:
  1. The official settlement column
  2. Class D’s response portal
  3. The public annotation layer
• The page instructions confirm that annotations cannot alter submissions, scores, or identities, and that Class D’s portal closing does not close the external annotation layer.
• Gu Heng preserves every version through separately numbered Cold Backups, ensuring later changes cannot erase earlier evidence.
• Kushida provides Gu Heng with a timestamp and screenshot showing the phrase “Confirmed before settlement,” but demands that her identity remain absent from the public record. Gu Heng accepts, preserving the evidence as anonymous external material.
• Hayakawa receives a warning not to open specific results and disables forwarding. Gu Heng records the shutdown but avoids claiming that Hayakawa’s action proves the transmission chain ended.
• Karuizawa preserves an original page containing someone’s name alongside a later concealment record, but refuses to submit it to Class D.
• Ayanokoji warns Gu Heng that not opening a result does not mean no result exists.
• Once the final settlement is generated, Gu Heng still delays viewing his own results so that personal-page information will not contaminate Class D’s timeline.
• A new annotation appears after settlement: “You checked the wrong thing.” Gu Heng preserves it but refuses to infer that its author knew the result.
• The chapter ends with Gu Heng shifting the investigation away from identifying who pressed the confirmation button and toward determining who still has writing access to the public annotation layer.

Character Developments

• Gu Heng becomes even more methodical and cautious. He distinguishes verified records from hypotheses, refuses to turn judgment into fact, and accepts personal losses—such as giving up access-time evidence—to protect the integrity of the investigation.
• Yukimura functions as Gu Heng’s verification partner, helping preserve and compare page versions without prematurely interpreting them.
• Horikita clarifies the legal and structural separation between the three page layers. Her preservation of the instructions marks an initial, evidence-based definition of Class D’s responsibility.
• Kushida demonstrates her willingness to trade information while controlling how much of her involvement becomes public. She remains useful but deliberately opaque.
• Hayakawa chooses to stop forwarding notices, accepting that he may lose future information. His action narrows—but does not conclusively eliminate—one possible transmission route.
• Karuizawa protects the original evidence while refusing to endorse the judgment attached to it, showing caution and independence.
• Ayanokoji remains unreadable. His refusal to open his results offers no clear explanation, reinforcing the danger of interpreting silence as evidence.

Significant Themes

• Evidence versus interpretation: Gu Heng repeatedly insists that suspicions must not be presented as factual records.
• Layered responsibility: The chapter stresses that the official settlement, Class D’s response, and public annotations are separate systems with different permissions and responsibilities.
• Preservation of records: Cold Backups and page-version tracking prevent later edits from overwriting the past.
• Information control and anonymity: Characters exchange evidence while negotiating what may be publicly attributed to them.
• Limits of negative evidence: Not opening a result, refusing to forward a notice, or closing one portal does not prove that information or access no longer exists.
• Reframing the investigation: The central question changes from identifying the person who pressed “confirm” to identifying the remaining writable access point in the annotation system.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Yukimura collaborate on reconstructing and preserving the timeline.
• Horikita challenges Gu Heng to distinguish Class D’s responsibility from activity on the external page.
• Kushida bargains with Gu Heng, exchanging timing information for anonymity.
• Hayakawa informs Gu Heng of the warning and independently disables forwarding.
• Karuizawa discusses whether to reveal the preserved page but ultimately withholds it from Class D.
• Ayanokoji gives Gu Heng a cryptic warning that complicates the meaning of unviewed results.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class D's official settlement is completed, resulting in a -50 deduction for the class.
• The class's internal terminal reveals that one incorrect submission caused the deduction, but it's unclear who submitted it.
• Class D decides not to disclose personal results, only acknowledging the class's -50 deduction.
• Class B suspends delivery of the previous page timestamp due to Class D's decision not to disclose personal results.
• A screenshot from Kushida confirms that an annotation was added after the settlement, but Class D still refuses to use it as testimony.
• Several class members (Hayakawa, Karuizawa, Ayanokoji) keep their personal results private, only confirming they have retained their original records.
• The public annotation layer remains active, potentially allowing others to change how the -50 deduction is perceived.

Character Developments

• Horikita takes responsibility for Class D's decision not to disclose personal results, acknowledging the class's -50 deduction but keeping personal results private.
• Gu Heng records and analyzes the events, noting discrepancies and risks, but doesn't make decisions for the class.
• Ayanokoji points out that the remaining results can't be used to blame any one person for the -50 deduction.

Significant Themes

• Privacy vs. transparency: Class D members struggle with whether to disclose their personal results, weighing the potential benefits and drawbacks.
• Responsibility and accountability: Horikita takes responsibility for the class's decision, while Gu Heng records and analyzes the events without making decisions.
• The power of words and perception: The active public annotation layer allows others to change how the -50 deduction is seen, highlighting the influence of language and interpretation.

Character Interactions

• Horikita and Gu Heng discuss and agree on keeping personal results private, with Horikita adding a line to separate class results from personal results.
• Kushida offers a screenshot as evidence but respects Class D's decision not to use it as testimony.
• Hayakawa, Karuizawa, and Ayanokoji keep their personal results private, only confirming they have retained their original records.
• Ayanokoji briefly interacts with Gu Heng, pointing out that the remaining results can't be used to blame any one person.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The public annotation layer's editing status remains valid.
• Class D's response portal is still closed.
• Official settlement column shows no changes.
• Class D account attempts and fails to write to the annotation layer.
• Class D's inability to write is confirmed, but the number and source of editors remain unverified.
• Class B stops providing external versions to Class D.
• Class D decides to keep the response portal closed, bearing the annotation layer's one-sided interpretation.
• The annotation layer adds a new line, misinterpreting Class D's silence.
• Class D confirms Horikita's decision to keep the response portal closed.

Character Developments

• Horikita: Shows leadership by making decisions for Class D, bearing the reputational damage caused by silence.
• Gu Heng: Demonstrates analytical skills by investigating the annotation layer's permissions and proposing the next steps.
• Yukimura: Assists Gu Heng in investigating the annotation layer's permissions and records the results.
• Kushida: Provides information about the annotation layer's changes but keeps evidence to herself.
• Hayakawa: Loses an observation line but maintains that the silence does not prove the channel has been cut off.
• Karuizawa: Provides information about the annotation layer's presence on her page but keeps her own designation and page contents private.
• Ayanokoji: Confirms that Class D cannot change the annotations and leaves without further explanation.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between Class D and the external page, with Class D bearing the reputational damage caused by silence.
• The investigation into the annotation layer's permissions and editors.
• The consequences of Class D's decisions and their impact on the class's reputation.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Yukimura: Collaborate to investigate the annotation layer's permissions.
• Horikita and Gu Heng: Discuss the implications of reopening the response portal and decide to keep it closed.
• Kushida and Gu Heng: Exchange information about the annotation layer's changes, with Kushida keeping evidence to herself.
• Hayakawa and Gu Heng: Discuss the loss of an observation line and the implications of silence.
• Karuizawa and Gu Heng: Exchange information about the annotation layer's presence on her page, with Karuizawa keeping her own designation and page contents private.
• Ayanokoji and Gu Heng: Ayanokoji confirms the investigation's findings and leaves without further explanation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class D's public page remains unchanged at -50.
• A new set of fields appears in the public notes section, with a public source ID of PUB-1.
• Gu Heng and Yukimura analyze the page structure, identifying three layers: official settlement, Class D response, and public notes.
• Class B and Kushida provide limited information about their pages, with Class B confirming they have a page from PUB-1 but no Class D note, and Kushida revealing an application ID, public source, and version change but not the page ID or manual write identity.
• Hayakawa confirms that the Class B information didn't come through the anonymous alert.
• Karuizawa's timestamp is moved to the personal retention column, removing one time difference.
• Ayanokoji confirms that a page ID is not a holder ID and that an entry version is not proof of a manual write.
• The public source refreshes, with PUB-1 / D-03 / 17-2 remaining unchanged and P-02 still at 17-1.

Character Developments

• Gu Heng becomes more cautious in his analysis, realizing that a single application might only change one entry or leave behind only the processing status.
• Horikita maintains a firm stance on not trading an anonymous person's name for speed.
• Kushida keeps leverage for future deals by not revealing the full page distribution.
• Karuizawa maintains her boundary, not revealing the private content on her page.

Significant Themes

• The complexity of the page system and the difficulty in tracking changes.
• The importance of caution in drawing conclusions from limited information.
• The value of maintaining boundaries and privacy.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Yukimura work together to analyze the page structure.
• Gu Heng interacts with Kushida, Class B, and Karuizawa to gather information, but they only provide limited details.
• Horikita makes a decision about trading information with Class B.
• Ayanokoji provides a brief interaction, confirming the complexity of the page system.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A girl from a previous chapter didn't enter Class D's shared page, but her page number and name remained in the intermediary's records.
• Gu Heng could only test the public annotation entry belonging to her.
• The girl confirmed the page fields and entered a neutral sentence into the application box, generating an application record (A-03) but not changing the public annotation.
• Class B confirmed receiving A-03 but didn't confirm the applicant's identity.
• After processing, A-03's status changed to "processed," and a new sentence appeared above the public entry.
• The girl withdrew permission for further additions and stopped submitting applications.

Character Developments

• The girl became more cautious after seeing the added sentence, suspecting it would incriminate retention time submitters.
• Karuizawa withdrew Class D's authorization to use her page for external comparisons.
• Hayakawa distanced himself from the situation, refusing to monitor closed doors.
• Ayanokoji provided limited cooperation, confirming that not all pages refreshed at the same time.

Significant Themes

• The theme of trust and cooperation is explored as characters share information selectively and protect their pages.
• The concept of "write access" is discussed, with characters differentiating between eligibility to apply and actual submission or public source changes.
• The chapter highlights the complexity of proving causality and identity in the page system.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Horikita work together to test the page system's limitations and responses.
• The girl interacts with Gu Heng through the intermediary, confirming page fields and submitting an application.
• Class B interacts with Class D through messages, confirming A-03's receipt but not the applicant's identity.
• Ayanokoji provides limited information to Gu Heng, refusing to open his own page or provide specific details.
• Karuizawa and Hayakawa express their disinterest in further involvement, withdrawing Class D's authorization to use their pages.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class D saves a response (R-02) distinguishing class facts, personal choices, and public entries to earn a field exchange from Class B.
• The public source (PUB-1) interprets Class D's response as refusal to explain who pressed confirm, adding a new entry (17-3).
• Class B returns a field showing a delay in refreshing the public source, confirming that not all pages update simultaneously.
• Kushida shares an external field showing another page displaying 17-3 nine seconds after R-02, without revealing the page's identity.
• Ayanokoji crosses out his page number from Gu Heng's comparison table, confirming the delay in public source refresh but not providing his personal result.

Character Developments

• Horikita understands the scope of authority in a sentence and takes responsibility for preserving Class D's response.
• Karuizawa decides to keep her withdrawn permission record, choosing not to let her past be dragged out through a page number.
• Ayanokoji provides limited cooperation by confirming the delay in public source refresh but not sharing his personal result.

Significant Themes

• Limited Cooperation: Characters provide information or cooperation within certain boundaries, protecting their interests while still engaging in the exchange process.
• Version Control: The importance of preserving different versions of information to prevent misinterpretations and maintain anonymity.
• Responsibility and Boundaries: Characters take responsibility for their actions and set boundaries to protect their personal information.

Character Interactions

• Horikita and Gu Heng work together to preserve Class D's response and protect the students' privacy.
• Kushida and Karuizawa collaborate to maintain Class D's anonymity while providing limited information to Class B.
• Ayanokoji interacts with Gu Heng, confirming the delay in public source refresh but not sharing his personal result, maintaining his mysterious demeanor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The public source refresh countdown is nearing its end (27 minutes left).
• D-03's page shows version 17-3, while Class B's page still references 17-2.
• An unpublished page displays 17-3 in nine seconds.
• Gu Heng removes all three records from the shared page.
• Ichinose sends a message stating Class B can provide more details but keeps the complete page withheld.
• Class D receives a message asking about Karuizawa's withdrawal permission.
• Karuizawa enters and asks Gu Heng to mark her old timestamps as non-citable.
• Ayanokoji confirms P-02 isn't Karuizawa's page.
• The public source refreshes again, and the third page remains unchanged.
• Karuizawa receives an external question about her withdrawal.

Character Developments

• Gu Heng: He demonstrates his commitment to fair investigation, respecting Karuizawa's refusal and not pushing for information. He also shows strategic thinking by deciding to deal with the pressure on Karuizawa first.
• Kushida: She reveals she told Class B about a page being withdrawn but didn't mention Karuizawa. She also shows understanding of Class D's investigation methods.
• Karuizawa: She shows determination to protect her privacy, asking Gu Heng to mark her old timestamps as non-citable. She also refuses to answer external questions about her withdrawal.
• Ayanokoji: He provides crucial information about P-02 not being Karuizawa's page, showing his observant nature.

Significant Themes

• Privacy and Refusal: The theme of respecting individuals' privacy and their right to refuse information is emphasized, with Gu Heng not pushing for information from Karuizawa or the anonymous page holder.
• Investigation and Evidence: The investigation focuses on gathering clear, verifiable information rather than pushing for quick results. The importance of external facts and refusal as evidence is discussed.
• Silence and Communication: The chapter explores different forms of silence (refusal, non-response, withdrawal) and their implications, as well as the power dynamics in communication between classes.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Kushida: They have a tense exchange about Class B's interpretation of Karuizawa's withdrawal permission and the value of refusals.
• Gu Heng and Karuizawa: Gu Heng respects Karuizawa's wishes and changes her timestamps' citation status.
• Gu Heng and Ayanokoji: Ayanokoji provides Gu Heng with crucial information, showing understanding of his investigation methods.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Karuizawa refuses to forward a new question to Class D.
• She meets Gu Heng in the observation corridor, expecting someone to ask her about a past matter.
• Kushida enters, asking about Karuizawa's withdrawal of comparison authorization.
• Ayanokoji intervenes, preventing Karuizawa from being pressed further.
• Karuizawa states her boundaries, refusing to hand over her private page for public verification.
• Class B accepts Karuizawa's boundary but misinterprets it as an admission.
• An anonymous message challenges Karuizawa's silence.

Character Developments

• Karuizawa: Stands her ground, refuses to hand over her private page, and draws boundaries to protect her past.
• Gu Heng: Acts as an intermediary, records boundaries, and later deletes a record to protect Karuizawa.
• Ayanokoji: Intervenes to change the direction of the questioning, preventing Karuizawa from being pressed further.
• Kushida: Presses Karuizawa for an answer, aims to make Karuizawa admit to being questioned in the past.

Significant Themes

• Silence and its implications: Characters grapple with the consequences of staying silent versus speaking out.
• Boundaries and control: Characters attempt to set boundaries to control the narrative and protect themselves.
• Interpretation and misinterpretation: Characters' words and actions can be misinterpreted, leading to unintended consequences.

Character Interactions

• Karuizawa and Gu Heng: They work together to set boundaries and protect Karuizawa's privacy.
• Karuizawa and Ayanokoji: Ayanokoji intervenes to protect Karuizawa from further questioning.
• Karuizawa and Kushida: Kushida presses Karuizawa for an answer, trying to make her admit to being questioned in the past.
• Gu Heng and Ayanokoji: They discuss the implications of Karuizawa's answers and the direction of the investigation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The public source (PUB-1) does not update, keeping D-03 at 17-4, Class B at 17-2, and P-02's application record visible.
• A new note appears on D-03's page: "Karuizawa did not deny it, so Class D knows more."
• Class D locks the save permission for their response (R-02) to prevent misinterpretations.
• Class B provides a behavioral field (R-02-F-1) showing a member changed their mind before PUB-1's 17-3 update, but refuses to reveal the name or page.
• Karuizawa states she won't answer questions outside her private page.
• P-02's version changes to 17-3, stopping the application, but Gu Heng doesn't tie it to Karuizawa's statement.
• Class B offers an oral account from the member who changed their mind, without revealing the name or page.

Character Developments

• Gu Heng shifts the investigation focus from pages to behavior and choices.
• Horikita maintains the class's collective responsibility stance.
• Sudo seeks clarity on individual consequences.
• Ichinose protects Class B members while cooperating with Class D.
• Kushida influences Class B's choice and provides a field to Sudo.
• Ayanokoji guides Gu Heng to focus on the person who changed their choice.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics and limitations of public and private pages.
• The consequences of misinterpretations and misinformation.
• The importance of individual choices and responsibilities.
• The balance between cooperation and protection of individual interests.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Hirata discuss and manage Class D's response.
• Gu Heng and Sudo debate the class's responsibilities.
• Gu Heng and Ichinose exchange information about Class B's behavioral field.
• Kushida provides a field to Sudo and interacts with Gu Heng.
• Gu Heng and Ayanokoji discuss the investigation's focus.
• Gu Heng and Horikita discuss the class's collective responsibility.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class B's meeting place is the reading room at the end of the cabin, with an offline voice recorder.
• A Class B member provides an oral account of her actions regarding a card (R-02-F-1) given to her by an unknown person.
• She confirms she saw the card before PUB-1's D-03 reached 17-3 and withdrew her time window after reading the card.
• She reveals that after reading the card, someone asked if Class D would treat her as hiding the answer if she didn't hand over her time.

Character Developments

• The Class B member shows reluctance to be used and a loss of trust in the exchange terms, leading her to withdraw her time window.
• Gu Heng demonstrates understanding and respect for her choices, not pressing for her identity or personal results.
• Sudo shows understanding and acceptance of Gu Heng's methods, choosing not to participate in the investigation but providing a copied official settlement field.

Significant Themes

• Trust and honesty in exchanges and interactions.
• The impact of actions and choices on others.
• The importance of preserving personal choices and next steps.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng interacts with the Class B member, ensuring her comfort and preserving her choices.
• Sudo interacts with the Class B member from the doorway, respecting her decision not to participate in the investigation.
• Ayanokoji interacts with Gu Heng, questioning his approach and the existence of a handler.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ichinose shares a summary of Class D's actions with Gu Heng, excluding ORAL-B-01's original recording.
• Class B decides to no longer accept Kushida's secondhand fields until both parties' accounts confirm the source.
• Karuizawa meets with Ichinose to withdraw permission for public cross-verification of Class D's class settlement.
• Gu Heng records Karuizawa's direct meeting with Ichinose, excluding its contents from Class D's shared page.
• Kushida delivers R-02-F-1 to Gu Heng, changing Class B's willingness to exchange evidence but not their judgment of the exam.
• Class B sets new conditions for exchange: both parties must use their own accounts, provide only numbers and times, and either party can withdraw before delivery.
• Kushida loses the Class B channel and struggles to find a replacement.
• The ship's broadcast announces the preparation of archival materials for the identity exam.

Character Developments

• Ichinose demonstrates her strategic thinking by temporarily closing Class B's cooperation with Kushida and setting new conditions for exchange.
• Karuizawa shows independence by directly communicating her boundary to Ichinose, excluding Class D from the process.
• Kushida faces challenges in her manipulation tactics as Class B closes their channel and Class D members refuse to cooperate.
• Gu Heng adapts his investigation strategy, waiting for others to come forward instead of relying on Kushida.

Significant Themes

• The manipulation of information and boundaries for personal gain.
• The consequences of refusing to take responsibility for one's actions.
• The struggle for power and influence among classes.

Character Interactions

• Ichinose and Gu Heng discuss Class B's decision regarding Kushida's fields and the new conditions for exchange.
• Karuizawa meets with Ichinose to withdraw permission for public cross-verification, excluding Class D from the process.
• Kushida interacts with Gu Heng and Sudo, struggling to find a replacement for the closed Class B channel.
• Gu Heng and Horikita discuss the new conditions for exchange, with Horikita emphasizing the importance of both parties' accounts.
• Ichinose sends a new field to Gu Heng, separating Karuizawa from Class D and requiring the individual's separate consent for supplementary meetings.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Identity Exam archiving notice appears, revealing four types of settlement fields.
• Class D receives a -50 deduction, with no submitter or specific answer.
• Horikita locks save permissions for D-CLASS-REPLY and sets rules for the public note and personal results.
• Yukimura adds three non-identity fields to the archive section.
• A follow-up meeting with a Class B member takes place, with Ichinose denying additional submissions and revealing external pressure tactics.
• Kushida offers Class B's new condition for exchange restoration, but Gu Heng restricts her channel.
• Ayanokoji shows Gu Heng the school's grade activity arrangements, including the upcoming Sports Festival.
• Horikita, Sudo, and Hirata discuss and divide responsibilities for the Sports Festival, excluding Gu Heng from direct event organization.

Character Developments

• Gu Heng continues to investigate the Identity Exam, but chooses not to open personal result pages, respecting individuals' choices.
• Horikita takes charge of organizing the class's response to the Sports Festival, ensuring everyone's willingness and responsibility are considered.
• Sudo expresses his desire to participate in physically demanding events at the Sports Festival.
• Ichinose stands her ground in the follow-up meeting, protecting her class's interests while providing some information.
• Kushida accepts the restriction on her channel but hints at using other methods to influence the exchange.

Significant Themes

• Respect for individual choices and boundaries.
• The consequences of the Identity Exam and the need to address them as a class.
• The importance of willingness and responsibility in group dynamics.
• The shift in Gu Heng's investigative approach, prioritizing understanding over answers.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Horikita discuss the Identity Exam's impact and the Sports Festival preparations, with Horikita excluding Gu Heng from direct event organization to encourage class participation.
• Gu Heng and Ichinose engage in a follow-up meeting, with Ichinose providing limited information and Gu Heng respecting her boundaries.
• Gu Heng and Kushida discuss the exchange restoration, with Gu Heng restricting Kushida's channel and Kushida hinting at alternative methods.
• Horikita, Sudo, and Hirata discuss and divide responsibilities for the Sports Festival, ensuring everyone's willingness and responsibility are considered.

Chapter Summary: Archived Records Still Preserve Actions

Key Plot Points & Events

• An archival supplement notice appears on the Rabbit Group's shared terminal (Class D), revealing that a submission attempt was made during the closed answer window of the identity exam. The submitter, answer, and class remain hidden—only a process record exists. The official settlement is unaffected.
• Class B sends an exchange request: an anonymous member is willing to share one behavior field — she refused to hand over her personal terminal contents to any class, didn't confirm VIP status, and provided no answer/submitter information. She wants her refusal documented so silence isn't seen as concealment, but she won't say who she refused.
• Gu Heng accepts this as a restricted record ("Post-archive personal terminal boundary"), separating it from earlier delivery-related fields (R-02). He adds a condition: the field may only confirm delivery boundaries, not infer personal terminal contents.
• A recipient-less registration-order message arrives, offering to exchange the public registration order but not personal terminal contents. Since no equal counterpart exists, Gu Heng marks it "exchange not established."
• Before leaving, Kushida offers to help collect sports festival registration forms but is subtly blocked. She studies the form's structure, memorizing it.

Character Developments

• Gu Heng: Emphasizes preserving ambiguity over forcing conclusions. He repeatedly refuses to treat blanks, refusals, or non-registration as evidence of guilt. He draws firm boundaries around what can be shared and what cannot, even at the cost of lost observation avenues.
• Horikita: Rewrites "not registered" as "Choice not yet submitted" — a neutral framing that neither defends nor convicts.
• Sudo: Frustrated by the exam's inability to produce identities; struggles with nuance but ultimately accepts that guesses can't stand as answers.
• Ichinose (Class B): Maintains Class B's boundaries while keeping a channel open; accepts Gu Heng's conditions without overreaching.
• Kushida: Presents herself as helpful, but her memorization of the form's structure signals information-gathering rather than pure cooperation.

Significant Themes

• Privacy vs. collective accountability: The class bears the official settlement, but individuals own their choices. Cooperation ≠ full disclosure.
• Ambiguity is not guilt: Refusal to answer, blank fields, and silence cannot be automatically interpreted as concealment. Misreading ambiguity creates false suspects.
• Order preservation: The sequence of events matters — behavior before card delivery is treated separately from refusals after archiving.
• The pressure of public participation: Sports festival registration becomes a new vehicle for social pressure — what you volunteer for, and whether you step forward, reveals character.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Horikita work in sync, exchanging roles smoothly — he sets the strategy, she refines the wording.
• Sudo and Yukimura function as operational detail-keepers, pressing for usable conclusions.
• Ichinose and Gu Heng negotiate a minimal exchange: one behavior field, no identities, strict conditions. It succeeds precisely because neither side demands everything.
• Kushida approaches Gu Heng and Horikita to help collect registrations; they allow her to ask but restrict her scope. She leaves without conflict, but takes the form's structure with her.

Closing Note

The identity exam is settled, yet no individual's choice was surrendered to the class. With the harbor lights ahead, the upcoming registration process threatens to convert willingness to step forward into a new kind of pressure — and the orphaned message without a recipient waits for someone to supply its other end.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Horikita initiates the Sports Festival event registration process, excluding personal points and identity exam results.
• Students register for events (physical, logistical support, substitutes) simultaneously to avoid pressure from registration order.
• Class B receives an exchange request from Class B for total registration numbers, which Class D accepts.
• A mysterious sticky note is found, indicating someone's intention to withdraw from public events temporarily.

Character Developments

• Horikita shows leadership and fairness in the registration process, ensuring no student feels pressured.
• Gu Heng observes and analyzes the registration dynamics, choosing not to register yet.
• Kushida tries to manipulate the registration process to her advantage but is thwarted by Horikita and Gu Heng's strategies.
• Sudo shows willingness to participate but also understands the importance of boundaries in his involvement.

Significant Themes

• Fairness and equality in decision-making processes.
• The impact of order and sequence in registrations and decisions.
• The balance between personal choices and public responsibilities.
• The influence of private factors on public choices.

Character Interactions

• Horikita and Gu Heng work together to ensure a fair registration process, countering Kushida's attempts to manipulate the situation.
• Sudo and Hirata discuss their roles and responsibilities in the events.
• Ichinose acts as a messenger between Class B and Class D, facilitating the exchange of registration total numbers.
• Gu Heng and Horikita collaborate to record and analyze the registration process, including the mysterious sticky note.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A student withdraws from a public event without leaving a name, citing personal terminal boundaries.
• Sudo volunteers to take on the coordinator role after the withdrawal.
• Class D decides to fill the vacant spot through alternates, with Sudo as the temporary coordinator.
• Ichinose's class confirms a withdrawal due to personal terminal boundaries but doesn't provide names or details.

Character Developments

• Sudo shows responsibility and willingness to take on more than just his own role.
• Kushida tries to use the withdrawal to her advantage but is thwarted by Horikita and Gu Heng.
• Horikita maintains a strict stance on privacy and boundaries.
• Gu Heng continues to protect privacy and maintain fair processes.

Significant Themes

• Privacy and Boundaries: The student's withdrawal highlights the importance of personal boundaries and privacy, which Gu Heng and Horikita are determined to protect.
• Responsibility and Willingness: Sudo's decision to take on the coordinator role showcases his growing sense of responsibility and willingness to take on more than just his own tasks.
• Fairness and Transparency: The class's decision-making process emphasizes fairness and transparency, with Gu Heng ensuring that no one exploits the situation for personal gain.

Character Interactions

• Horikita and Gu Heng: They work together to maintain fairness and protect privacy, with Horikita taking a more active role in decision-making and Gu Heng ensuring the process is fair and transparent.
• Sudo and Horikita: Sudo shows willingness to take on more responsibility, while Horikita encourages him to consider the implications of his decisions.
• Kushida and Gu Heng: Kushida tries to use the situation to her advantage, but Gu Heng refuses to let her exploit the withdrawal for personal gain.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class D receives a total registration of 5, while Class B receives 7 for the Sports Festival.
• The exchange page only confirms the totals, not the names or events.
• Class D decides not to fill in names for substitutes to maintain anonymity.
• A student who withdrew asks if they can reconfirm, but Class D decides not to restore their position.
• Class D schedules training windows and logistics together for Sudo, who volunteered as a temporary person in charge.
• Class D confirms voluntary participation within the class and decides not to dig further into other classes' totals.

Character Developments

• Gu Heng takes a more active role in organizing Class D's preparations.
• Horikita maintains a cautious approach, focusing on voluntary participation and not rushing to fill gaps.
• Sudo volunteers to take on more responsibility but is reminded that he's not responsible for finding people for every blank.
• Kushida tries to find out who withdrew but is met with resistance from the class.
• Ayanokoji suggests that digging further into other classes' totals may lead to more people taking responsibility for those numbers.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and accountability within the class.
• The importance of voluntary participation and not rushing to fill gaps.
• The tension between maintaining anonymity and finding out who withdrew.
• The balance between using other classes' totals for preparation and not being influenced by them.

Character Interactions

• Gu Heng and Horikita work together to organize Class D's preparations, with Gu Heng taking a more active role.
• Sudo volunteers to take on more responsibility but is reminded of his limits by Gu Heng and Horikita.
• Kushida tries to find out who withdrew but is met with resistance from Horikita and Ayanokoji.
• Ayanokoji advises against digging further into other classes' totals, suggesting that it may lead to more people taking responsibility for those numbers.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Identity Exam results page is now read-only, with no names or individual figures.
• A new notice appears on the class page stating that historical fields are for reference only and cannot be supplemented or modified.
• The first Sports Festival planning meeting is announced, with registration forms posted on the blackboard.
• Sudo takes charge of confirmed parts and refuses to sign anyone up for unconfirmed fields.
• Hirata collects voluntary events, available training times, and willingness to be a substitute.
• Horikita, Sudo, and Hirata take on responsibilities for event confirmation, training coordination, and external communication, respectively.
• Ayanokoji suggests adding a box for personal confirmation of responsibility changes.
• Chabashira enters with a school notice, stating that the complete events and groupings haven't been released yet.

Character Developments

• Sudo shows responsibility and boundaries by refusing to sign up unconfirmed fields and recommending Horikita for external communication.
• Horikita takes on event confirmation responsibility and shows caution by not locking in too many details before the school's full rules are announced.
• Gu Heng remains in the background, focusing on ensuring the form functions rather than competing for a spotlight.
• Karuizawa shows hesitation in her willingness to be a substitute but eventually agrees to confirm her own time first.
• Ayanokoji warns about the form becoming public and potentially being taken away by others.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and boundaries (Sudo, Gu Heng, Horikita)
• Caution and adaptability (Horikita, Gu Heng)
• Public vs. private information (Gu Heng, Ayanokoji)
• Hesitation and commitment (Karuizawa)

Character Interactions

• Sudo and Horikita exchange about external communication responsibility.
• Gu Heng and Kushida discuss the form's purpose and potential public use.
• Ayanokoji and Gu Heng discuss the form's adaptability to changes.
• Karuizawa and Hirata discuss logistics section registrations and willingness to be a substitute.
• Sudo and Hirata work together to find substitutes and ask about new registrations.