The Exam Ends

As the midday sun shone down on the golden beach, there were only thirty minutes left before the exam ended.

The exhausted students from each class gradually began gathering to return to the ship.

Kind-hearted Ichinose Honami simply could not bring herself to investigate the leaders of the other classes. She did not think prying into others' privacy was honorable, so in the end, she could only discuss it with Shiranami Chihiro. "Looks like we can only take our chances."

Shiranami had no particular thoughts on the matter. "Sure."

"According to Hoshinomiya-sensei, only Ibuki stayed behind on the island from Class C, so let's guess Ibuki for Class C's leader."

Shiranami nodded.

"For Class D, Horikita seems very likely, so let's guess Horikita."

Shiranami nodded again.

"As for Class A, I don't really have any ideas. Chihiro, what do you think?" Ichinose felt embarrassed that Shiranami had been agreeing with everything she said. She hoped their final answer would be something they had discussed together.

"Hmm... Katsuragi from Class A, maybe? He seems pretty likely," Shiranami guessed.

Ichinose shook her head. "Someone as steady as Katsuragi probably wouldn't make himself the leader."

"Then what about that blond student next to Katsuragi?"

"You mean Hashimoto, right? Why guess him?" Ichinose did not quite understand.

"Just a feeling. That blond guy left a pretty deep impression on me, and I don't know anyone else from Class A." Shiranami tilted her head. They were guessing anyway, so it did not matter whom they picked.

After thinking it over, Ichinose nodded. She had no clue about Class A's decision either, so she decided to trust Shiranami's intuition for once.

And just like that, Class B's answers were decided. At the same time, Class A gave up on guessing the leaders.

Ayanokoji from Class D was hesitating. After saving Horikita last night, he had given her medicine. By then, Horikita had withdrawn from the exam, and the name on the Magnetic Card had been changed to Ayanokoji. Although he could now confirm the leaders of Classes A and B, he had no idea about Class C.

Ibuki had not been carrying a Magnetic Card, something Ayanokoji had confirmed the night before. Still, he could not rule out the possibility that she had hidden it somewhere. But if Ibuki were Class C's leader, there would have been no reason for her to flee last night. She could have simply stayed with Class D until the exam ended.

The only reason for her escape could have been to rendezvous with the other members of Class C.

Thinking through Class C's members rationally, the only ones physically capable of remaining on the island should have been Albert Yamada and Ryuuen. Albert was far too conspicuous, so that left only Ryuuen.

If Ayanokoji had continued following Ibuki last night, he naturally would have discovered that she was the leader. But he could not abandon Horikita there. In order to bring Horikita to Chabashira and change the leader, Ayanokoji had no choice but to give up tracking Ibuki.

Meanwhile, Ibuki finally arrived at the tree where she had agreed to meet Ryuuen. After digging up the pit, she found a Magnetic Card and a list inside. The card bore Ibuki's name, while the list contained Totsuka Yahiko, Shiranami Chihiro, and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

"Bastard! He dumped everything on me!" Ibuki took the Magnetic Card and tore up the list. On her way back, she also dug up Horikita's panties. They were filthy, their original white color turned blackish gray, damp from the soil. This was her gift for Ryuuen, and Ibuki had not forgotten it.

And so, the four classes' lists of guesses were finalized.

Teacher Mashima worked quickly. Once all four classes had handed in their lists, the results were officially announced.

Ryuuen also arrived with his classmates. The students of Class B had mostly recovered as well, and they followed him to stand before Mashima.

Everyone was present except Sakayanagi Arisu. When Ayanokoji saw Ryuuen stepping off the ship, his expression darkened.

"Now, the results will be announced!"

"Fourth place: Class A, 69 points." (100 points deducted for being guessed correctly by Classes C and D; 169 points remained after the class purchased supplies.)

Nearly everyone in Class A looked toward Katsuragi, but no one questioned him at that moment. That was simply Class A's sense of discipline.

"Third place: Class B, 86 points." (50 points for correctly guessing one leader; 100 points deducted for being guessed correctly by Classes C and D; 136 points remained after the class purchased supplies.)

The weight in Ichinose's heart finally lifted. Their third-place result was not because they had correctly guessed Ibuki's identity, but because some classmates had withdrawn during the exam, combined with the points they had bought from Ryuuen, leaving them with plenty of points remaining.

"Second place: Class D, 88 points." (100 points for correctly guessing two leaders; 50 points deducted for being guessed correctly by Class C; 38 special points remained after the class purchased supplies.)

The moment Ayanokoji saw Ryuuen step off the ship, he knew first place was beyond reach. Second place was not bad, but he still felt that he had lost—lost to Ryuuen, who had withdrawn from the exam midway through. The feeling was unpleasant, and it plunged Ayanokoji into deep thought.

"First place: Class C, 100 points." (150 points for correctly guessing three leaders; 50 points deducted for being guessed correctly by Class B.)

The students of Class C erupted in celebration. They had never imagined that they could still take first place after withdrawing from the exam. Although they normally were not particularly close to Ibuki, both the boys and girls of the class surrounded her now.

"That was awesome, Ibuki! How did you do it?" Ishiki grabbed Ibuki by the shoulders.

"Don't touch me. Get lost." Ibuki shoved Ishiki away in disgust, but nobody cared. Everyone could tell that Ibuki was happy too.

However, the school approached Ryuuen at that moment.

"Come with me." Mashima's tone brooked no argument.

Ryuuen nodded indifferently. Hiyori gave him a concerned look, but Ryuuen waved to show that everything was fine.

Ayanokoji, Horikita, Katsuragi, Ichinose, and Shiranami Chihiro—those who had dealings with Ryuuen—were all eager to know why the school had summoned him.

Mashima brought Ryuuen to an enclosed meeting room.

Inside sat a man in a finely tailored black suit. His neat hairstyle and meticulously trimmed beard made him appear mature and composed. His eyes carried an air of confidence and decisiveness, while his firm jaw gave him the bearing of a domineering corporate president.

After observing him for a while, Ryuuen roughly understood what was going on.

"This bottle is yours, isn't it?" Wearing white gloves, the man pulled out a cola bottle from beneath the table.

"You already know the answer, so why ask such a pointless question?" Ryuuen did not bother being polite. He crossed one leg over the other and sat down on the sofa. The instant the suited man produced the bottle, Ryuuen knew what this meeting was about. Fortunately, he had prepared for it long ago, so he was not flustered in the slightest.

"This is attempted murder. In Japan, it carries the death penalty." Apparently dissatisfied with Ryuuen's flippant attitude, the suited man's tone was far from friendly.

"Then I'll accuse you of framing me. I stayed on the ship the whole time. How could I possibly have committed murder?"

"The surveillance footage recorded you handing the bottle to Shiranami Chihiro."

"Then go arrest Shiranami Chihiro. The media will find out that the Special Exam held by Advanced Nurturing High School endangered students' lives. I'd like to see how the school handles itself then." Ryuuen had noticed the signs long ago.

If the school truly intended to punish him, they should have come for him on the day Class B's students were poisoned, not waited until the exam was over.

Besides, Shiranami Chihiro was the one who had actually poisoned them. If they were going to arrest someone, there was no way they should let her go. Since Shiranami Chihiro was fine, that meant the school intended to simply classify the incident as food poisoning.

"Let's get to the point. I don't like wasting time with men." Ryuuen glanced sideways at the suited man.

"No wonder you came first in the exam. I called you here because I want to cooperate with you." The suited man tossed the bottle into the trash can to show his sincerity.

"Cooperate? Then you'd better tell me how much benefit you can offer."

"You're not even going to ask what it is?"

"It can only be something I'm capable of doing. Since I can do it, we can discuss the benefits directly. As long as you offer enough, there is nothing I, as a businessman, cannot accept."

"You're very confident."

"Because I have the ability."