Snake Group

Night deepened. Takahashi Ren stopped outside room 203 half a minute ahead of schedule.

There should not have been any students on this floor at this hour, yet figures were scattered here and there. Some were slipping into nearby rooms, while others stood at doorways in twos and threes, speaking in hushed voices.

Takahashi Ren raised his hand and knocked.

"Come in."

When he opened the door, Class C's teacher, Sakagami, was sitting inside in a crisply tailored suit, looking more formal than usual.

Two male students occupied the chairs in front of him.

Both were familiar faces-Shijo Taiga and Satonaka Satoshi from Class A.

Takahashi Ren was not particularly close to either of them, but they were classmates, after all. As he entered, their eyes met briefly, and each nodded in greeting.

"Have a seat."

Takahashi Ren sat down beside the two.

"All right, everyone's here. I'll now explain the exam. Please listen quietly," Sakagami said.

"For this special exam, the school will divide all first-year students into twelve groups corresponding to the zodiac signs. You'll take the exam within these groups. The purpose of the exam is to test your thinking skills."

"The zodiac?" Toba Shigeru paused. "You mean Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, and so on?"

"Correct." Sakagami continued.

"The basic abilities required of working adults fall broadly into three categories: action, thinking, and teamwork."

"Only those who possess these abilities qualify to become outstanding adults. The previous uninhabited island exam focused on teamwork. This time, the focus is on thinking."

"Does anyone have any questions so far?" Sakagami asked.

"Will our group consist of just the three of us?" Shijo asked.

"To start with, the three of you are indeed in the same group," Sakagami said. "But the members who will be joining your group are receiving the same explanation in other rooms."

"They aren't from Class A, are they?" Takahashi Ren asked.

"Correct. Each group consists not of a single class, but of roughly three to five students gathered from each class. Without an explanation beforehand, there could be confusion when the time comes."

"So this exam also requires us to think about how to cooperate with other classes," Satonaka Satoshi said thoughtfully.

"You have been assigned to Snake."

Sakagami handed them a postcard-sized sheet of paper. It listed the group's name and fourteen names in total.

Takahashi Ren glanced at the list. Aside from the three of them, every name belonged to a student from another class. He quickly read through it, but none of the names were familiar.

"As a fundamental premise of this exam, please set aside the framework of Classes A through D for now." Sakagami raised one finger. "Remember that first. It will be the quickest route to passing."

"From this point onward, you will act not as Class A students, but as the Snake Group. Whether you pass the exam will be determined separately, entirely on a group basis."

"There are only four possible outcomes for each group in this special exam. The exam itself is designed to lead to one of these four outcomes without exception."

Sakagami handed over three more copies of the materials. The edges of the paper curled slightly, clearly having been leafed through more than once.

"The basic rules are written here. Please read them carefully."

The three took the materials and quickly scanned the pages.

[Summer group special exam] Rules overview

· Each group has one VIP. Identify the VIP and submit your answer according to the rules to obtain the corresponding outcome.

· At eight a.m. on the day the exam begins, the school will send out emails to everyone. The VIP will be notified that they have been selected.

· The exam lasts four days, including one free day. Twice each day, report to the designated room at the designated time for a one-hour discussion. Each group may decide what to discuss.

· Answers may only be submitted between nine thirty and ten p.m. on the evening the exam ends. Each person may answer once, using their own phone to send it to the designated email address. Answers concerning other groups will be considered invalid.

· The VIP may not submit an answer.

· Exam results will be sent by email at eleven p.m. on the final day.

After a while, Takahashi Ren looked up.

"Each group has a 'VIP,' and our task is to identify that person?"

"Yes." Sakagami nodded. "But it isn't just about identifying them. There are also four different outcomes, each with its own rewards and penalties."

Sakagami motioned for them to turn the materials over.

"Outcome one: if everyone other than the VIP and group members from the VIP's class correctly identifies the VIP, every group member receives personal points. The VIP receives one million points, and every other member receives five hundred thousand."

"Outcome two: if even one person other than the VIP and their classmates fails to answer or answers incorrectly, only the VIP receives five hundred thousand points. Everyone else receives nothing."

"Outcome three: if someone other than the VIP reports the VIP's identity to the school before the exam ends and answers correctly, the reporting student's class receives fifty class points, and the student personally receives five hundred thousand points. The class of the VIP whose identity was exposed loses fifty class points. The exam ends immediately at that moment."

"Outcome four: if someone other than the VIP reports an identity early but answers incorrectly, the reporting student's class loses fifty class points. The VIP receives five hundred thousand personal points, and their class receives fifty class points."

All three drew in a sharp breath.

Takahashi Ren considered it silently. The difference between outcomes one and two is whether the VIP voluntarily reveals their identity.

Outcomes three and four introduce the concept of a 'traitor.' As soon as someone correctly guesses the VIP early, the entire exam ends ahead of schedule.

The school's rules included prohibited acts. Anyone caught stealing a phone, making threats, or using someone else's phone without permission would face expulsion.

Falsely claiming to have been threatened would likewise result in expulsion. The school would conduct a thorough investigation behind the scenes.

"Starting tomorrow, assemble punctually in the room designated by the school at two p.m. and seven p.m. A sign bearing your group's name will hang outside the door. At your first meeting, you must introduce yourselves inside the room."

"Once you enter the room, you are generally not permitted to leave during the exam period. Please use the restroom beforehand. If you truly cannot hold it or feel unwell, contact your homeroom teacher immediately."

"Does each discussion last one hour?" Takahashi Ren asked.

"Yes. After one hour, you may remain in the room to continue talking or leave as you please."

Sakagami paused for breath, then added, "To ensure fairness in the exam, the school will carefully adjust the selection of VIPs in each group. Once the selections are finalized, no requests for changes will be accepted, whether you were selected or not."

"Also, all copying, forwarding, or alteration of school emails is prohibited."

He lowered his gaze to his watch.

"That concludes the explanation. You may leave. Please leave the materials on the table."

The three stood and placed the materials back on the table.

By the time they left the room, more than half the students in the hallway had gone.

On his way back to his quarters, Takahashi Ren murmured to himself, "This exam seems even more complicated than the uninhabited island one."

"Takahashi, wait a moment."

A voice came from behind him. He stopped and turned around to find Satonaka Satoshi hurrying to catch up.