The Command Tower Exam Ends

Although the nine Mizuhiki knots were scattered haphazardly, they were all finished pieces.

Matsushita looked down at her still-unfinished seventh Mizuhiki knot and couldn't help sighing.

"Thanks for the match," Lezheng said to Matsushita. Then he turned to the judge. "Sir, can we take these Mizuhiki knots with us?"

"One moment. Let me ask." The question had stumped the judge.

After a few minutes of waiting, the judge told Lezheng that they could take their finished Mizuhiki knots with them. Matsushita could take her half-finished one as well.

"Lezheng Youyan, you certainly live up to your reputation as the strongest first-year. I've learned a lot." Matsushita bowed.

"You flatter me."

When Matsushita returned to the spectator seats, her friends immediately gathered around her.

Sato said, "It's not your fault, Matsushita. You did great."

Karuizawa said, "Your opponent was too strong. We'll definitely win next time."

Mori Nene said, "Wow, Matsushita, your Mizuhiki knots are so pretty. Can I have one?"

The conversation gradually drifted off topic after that.

"Impressive, Lezheng. You've gotten this good in just a few days." Hashimoto came over to greet him.

"If you put your mind to learning, you could do it too." Lezheng patted his shoulder.

Although Class A had already secured overall victory in this matchup, Class D didn't concede outright. After all, they only had 200 Class Points, and surrendering would leave them with just 50.

If they lost another match, they would have to start from zero again. But this time, instead of backing down as they had on the cruise ship, they planned to give it everything they had.

In the sixth match, basketball, Sudo ultimately won by a narrow margin.

"Horikita, did you see me win?!" Sudo waved his arms and danced around excitedly in front of her.

"But we've already lost," Horikita said, as tactless as ever.

"Uh..." That shut Sudo right up.

"Horikita, you're very smart, but please don't say such discouraging things here." Kushida went on the offensive.

"Exactly. Weren't you the one who planned this whole lineup? Who else is to blame for our loss?" Shinohara joined in.

Chasuke looked back at his Class D classmates, who had started fighting among themselves again, and felt a headache coming on.

The final exam event, chess, took place in an enclosed room. Those in the spectator seats could follow the match on a screen.

"Come on, why the long face?" Hashimoto greeted him with easy familiarity.

"Maybe it's too cold, and my face has frozen stiff," Ayanokoji replied.

"Heh, that's pretty funny. Then could you tell me whether you're the one who's been working behind the scenes in Class D ever since the Uninhabited Island Exam, Ayanokoji?"

"I'm not that capable. It's all thanks to Horikita."

The chess match lasted an hour, but the Command Towers would step in during the second half. Since Ayanokoji had promised to face Sakayanagi, he spent the first half hour stalling.

Hashimoto did the same. Although he took a long time over each move, his mouth never stopped moving as he kept talking to Ayanokoji.

Neither side made much of an attack during the first half hour, playing pointless moves instead. By the end, both sides had even returned to their starting positions, which also meant the battle had begun.

The moves that followed were all aggressive, with both sides trading blows. In the end, however, Sakayanagi fell one move short and lost to Ayanokoji.

"Phew... so I lost after all." Sakayanagi walked out of the Command Tower control room.

"Didn't you guys win?" Ike asked curiously.

Sakayanagi ignored the idiot and slowly made her way to Class A's spectator seats with her cane, stopping in front of Lezheng.

"Although we won, it was only a narrow victory. If you had been the Command Tower, I'm sure it wouldn't have turned out this way. So I'll be counting on you from now on, Lezheng."

"Thanks for your hard work, Sakayanagi."

The match between Class A and Class D came to an end. Class B and Class C also finished their exam with a 4-3 victory for Class B. Since all the Command Towers were students with Protection Points, no one was expelled this time.

Class Points after the Command Tower Exam:

Class A: 2347

Class B: 1016

Class C: 620

Class D: 150

Afterward, it was only when Lezheng listened to Ichinose's complaints that he learned how Class B had narrowly defeated Class C.

Ryuuen had given the Class C students laxatives, leaving the students taking the exam unable to concentrate or even participate.

The end of the Command Tower Exam meant that winter break was approaching, and they would soon become second-years.

The weather was starting to warm up now. The cherry blossoms would probably bloom before long, too.

"Good morning, Lezheng. The library got a new batch of books recently." Shiina sat in a chair in Room 321.

"Good morning, Shiina. Give me five minutes. I'll be washed up in a moment." Lezheng rubbed his eyes as he walked toward the sink.

Shiina had clearly put some effort into her appearance today. Since students didn't have to wear their uniforms during the break, she had dressed in comfortable, casual clothes.

A hair clip adorned her silver-white hair, and a Mizuhiki knot was tied to the zipper of the shoulder bag she carried.

Although Shiina had mentioned the library's new books, the two headed to the mall first without needing to discuss it.

"Let's buy some spring clothes," Shiina suggested.

"Spring's almost here. We might as well get ready ahead of time," Lezheng agreed.

The two browsed the clothes in a clothing store.

Lezheng picked out a knitted cardigan and a French-style dress for Shiina. The cardigan was white, while he chose a gray-black dress.

Shiina already gave off a delicate, gentle impression, and with her love of reading, the outfit made her look like a literary young woman.

In return, Shiina picked out a long trench coat and casual trousers for him, personally measuring him for a shirt as well.

Both of their faces were very red. Sparks of love always came easily between teenage boys and girls.

"Miyabi, try this one too." Asahina's voice reached Lezheng's ears.

"Hey, President Lezheng. I don't think this was the girl you went shopping with last time. Got a new girlfriend?" Nagumo's attention was drawn to Lezheng.

"Nagumo, have you been taking tonics?" Lezheng shot back with a smile.

"I've prepared a little gift for you. I hope you'll like it when the time comes."

"Are you going to give me Private Points?" Lezheng finished paying for Shiina's outfit.

"Miyabi, why don't you leave them alone? You know how formidable he is now, don't you?" Asahina sounded a little worried.

"The strong have to challenge those even stronger." Nagumo watched Lezheng leave.

In a corner of the library.

"Ta-da! These are the new books that came in recently." Shiina set an armful of books down in front of Lezheng.

"Let me see what there is." Lezheng began looking through them.

Since it was the break, hardly anyone came to the library, so their occasional whispered exchanges wouldn't disturb anyone.

Reading with Lezheng really is the most fun. Shiina smoothed her hair.

Lezheng read quietly, occasionally exchanging a few whispered words with Shiina beside him.