『』『』『』『』『』
Kumagawa looked at the time on his phone. 18:20.
He walked through the second deck just as the message had instructed. Even though he acted like he didn't care, Kumagawa considered himself a model student who always tried to follow the rules. And the rules stated that students must arrive on time. But to be an exceptional model student, Kumagawa arrived twenty minutes early.
There were several students wandering the usually empty deck. He saw some background characters he didn't recognize leaving a nearby room.
Then, he spotted Ayanokouji leaving Room 204 with three others. Two were people Kumagawa didn't recognize, most likely his classmates, but like the others, their features melted into the background. However, he did recognize the girl walking beside them.
Hirata's girlfriend. The one who had caused a mess during the island exam because of her stubbornness.
What was her name again?
『Was it Karu... Kara... Kurariraruizawa? No, that sounds wrong. Karui... Karisawara? Karuizawa! Yeah, that's it. I think.』
He nodded to himself, satisfied with his guess.
Before he could think any further, an irritated voice called out.
"What are you doing there, standing like an idiot?"
Kumagawa turned his head to see an unfamiliar face glaring at him. He tilted his head slightly, genuinely confused.
『Who? 』
"....."
The girl didn't say anything, but her deadpan stare carried enough irritation to make up for it.
『Why do you look all hot and bothered? You know, I've always had a soft spot for girls who get all flustered and worked up.』
He tilted his head slightly, a lazy grin on his face.
『But now that I think about it... the only person who actually knew about that particular preference of mine is Masumi Kamuro-chan. 』
His eyes narrowed in amusement as realization struck.
『Ah! Then you must be Masumi-chan, right? It's been a while since we've seen each other, betrayer-chan. How's life treating you? Good? Bad? Miserable? Oh, but I'm sure things are going great. Or maybe not. Actually, who cares? I certainly don't. 』
Masumi Kamuro expression instantly darkened.
"Ga ha ha ha you really are interesting man."
『Ah, the plain-looking named guy. Hashimoto, was it? Are you on a date with Masumi-chan here?』
Masumi's head snapped toward Hashimoto before she scoffed.
"Tch. As if. I'd rather die than waste my time with this guy.".
"Ouch, that's harsh. You say that, but weren't you the one who insisted on tagging along?"
"Hmph." Masumi turned away, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
Hashimoto's smile twitched, but he didn't seem particularly offended. If anything, he looked amused.
Kumagawa observed their exchange with mild interest before casually asking.
『So, were you two called here for one of the other rooms? 』
"Yeah, we got assigned to Room 203. We were about to grab a drink before heading in. What about you?" Hashimoto nodded.
『Room 202. 』
"Well, looks like we're neighbors, then." Hashimoto grinned.
A brief moment of silence passed before they exchanged a few more words of meaningless small talk. Nothing of substance, just idle chatter about the ship, the weather, and whatever random nonsense Hashimoto threw into the conversation. Masumi, meanwhile, looked like she'd rather be anywhere else.
Eventually, their paths split as Hashimoto and Masumi headed off in the opposite direction.
Kumagawa, without missing a beat, turned toward the door labeled 201 and stepped inside.
"Heya, Kumagawa-kun~!"
A bright voice greeted him the moment he entered. Hoshinomiya-sensei, the bubbly homeroom teacher of Class B, waved at him from the front of the room, her usual playful demeanor intact.
"My, my, aren't you early? I thought students usually showed up fashionably late to these things."
『I just like to be on time. It wouldn't be very model-student-like of me to show up late, right, Sensei? 』
Hoshinomiya laughed, resting her chin on her palm.
Well, I suppose that's true! I wish some of my students were as diligent as you."
『Ahaha, I'd love to entertain that thought a little longer, but sadly, I have responsibilities to uphold. 』
Without waiting for a response, Kumagawa casually walked over to an empty seat and sat down. Then, as if completely uninterested in everything around him, he pulled out a Weekly Shounen Jump magazine from beneath his uniform and flipped it open. His eyes scanned the pages lazily, showing zero intention of acknowledging Hoshinomiya any further.
"You know, most people would at least pretend to be interested in their beautiful teacher for a little longer."
『.... 』
The room settled into a quiet atmosphere, aside from the occasional sound of a page turning. Hoshinomiya, left with no choice, simply sighed and went back to whatever she was doing before he arrived.
After around ten to fifteen minutes, the silence was interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open.
Two people entered.
"Hmm? Kumagawa-kun? I didn't expect to see you here."
Kumagawa lazily lifted his head, his eyes meeting the familiar face of a girl with long brown hair and a pleasant expression.
『Matsushita-san? 』
"Wow, you actually remembered my name?" Matsushita blinked in mild surprise.
『Ahaha, well, I do make it a point to remember all the cute girls in my class. Unfortunately, that includes you.』
"What a weird way to compliment someone."
Kumagawa's attention shifted to the girl standing behind Matsushita. Unlike her, this one had a more reserved aura—like someone who naturally blended into the background, hesitant to step forward.
『And you must be Inogashira Kokoro-san, right? I remember your introduction on the first day. Your stuttering reminded me of my dead hamster.』
Inogashira stiffened instantly.
"That's... an incredibly concerning comparison." Matsushita blinked.
『No, no, I meant it in a good way. He was a very beloved hamster. Though, well, he didn't last long. 』
Inogashira visibly shrank, clearly unsure of how to respond.
Thankfully, before the awkwardness could stretch any further, Hoshinomiya clapped her hands together, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, alright! Let's not make things weird before we even start. Go ahead and take your seats, you three. We'll be starting in just two minutes." She flashed a bright smile.
Matsushita and Inogashira quickly found their places beside Kumagawa, while he remained as relaxed as ever, flipping idly through his Weekly Shounen Jump as if nothing had happened.
Hoshinomiya cast a glance at the clock. The second the hands struck 18:40, her expression subtly shifted into a more serious one.
"Kumagawa, Matsushita, and Inogashira, from Class D Without further ado, I will now explain the special test."
Though there was still a certain playfulness to her tone, it was clear that she had stepped fully into her role as a teacher.
"One more thing," she added.
"I won't be answering any questions until I decide it's time, so don't even try~"
Kumagawa glanced at Hoshinomiya and couldn't help but compare her to their homeroom teacher, Chabashira.
It was a night-and-day difference. Unlike their indifferent, cold, and emotionally detached homeroom teacher—who barely provided any support to her students—Hoshinomiya was far more lively and approachable. She had an easygoing presence, the kind of teacher who'd joke around with her students
Not that Kumagawa had any issue with Chabashira's attitude. In fact, her detached demeanor had its own kind of charm. Maybe it even made her a little... sexy?
Hoshinomiya began, clasping her hands together
"In this special test, all first-year students will be divided into twelve groups based on the signs of the Zodiac. Everyone will participate within their respective group. And the purpose of this little exam is to see just how good you all are at thinking."
"U-Um... What do you mean by that...?"
"Ah ah~! Didn't I just say? No questions yet. Just sit tight and let me finish, okay?" Hoshinomiya wagged a finger at her.
Inogashira quickly shrank back into her seat.
"Society needs three fundamental qualities to keep moving forward: action, thinking, and teamwork! Last time, during the deserted island test, we really drilled you on teamwork. This time, we're focusing on thinking—and we'll be testing it in four ways."
She held up four fingers.
"One! Your ability to properly process information —super important, since, you know, you don't want to be the person who just blindly follows whatever nonsense they hear. Two! Your ability to actually analyze your situation and figure out what's important instead of panicking. Three! Your ability to solve a problem once you've figured out what's wrong. Four! Creativity! The ability to think outside the box and come up with new ideas instead of just regurgitating whatever's already out there.
She clapped her hands together again, smiling brightly.
"And that is what you'll all be tested on in this exam!"
Kumagawa leaned back slightly in his chair. That was definitely a textbook explanation, no doubt about it. But that really didn't explain anything.
Sure, Hoshinomiya had broken it down in a way that sounded fun and engaging, but in the end, all she had done was throw around vague, idealistic concepts like "analyzing information" and "thinking outside the box." None of that actually told them what they were supposed to do in this exam.
It was like being told, "To win this game, all you have to do is be good at games!"
"Alright! Any questions so far?"
Matsushita raised her hand.
"I do have one. If this exam involves twelve groups, why are there only three of us in this room? Shouldn't the entire group be gathered together?"
"Ah, good question~! The other students in your group are in separate rooms, receiving the same explanation from other teachers. This is neither a conspiracy against the students, nor is it harassment. It's actually quite simple! The groups don't just consist of members from one class—they're made up of about three to five individuals from each class. If we didn't explain things in advance, it'd be utter chaos trying to get everyone on the same page, don't you think?"
"I-I also have a question," Inogashira hesitantly raised her hand.
"Go on~"
"U-Um... You said our groups are made up of students from different classes, b-but... How exactly were the groups decided? Was it random?"
"Fufu~! Another good one!" Hoshinomiya nodded approvingly. "But nope, the groups weren't made randomly. The school carefully selected the members based on a variety of factors, though I can't tell you what those factors are. Just know that each group was designed with a purpose."
Matsushita and Inogashira exchanged glances, clearly trying to figure out what kind of 'purpose' the school might have had in mind.
Hoshinomiya then turned her gaze toward Kumagawa, who had been silent the entire time.
"And what about you, Kumagawa-kun? Any questions?"
Hoshinomiya turned her gaze toward the student named Kumagawa Misogi, who was completely engrossed in the manga in his hands, flipping through the pages with a relaxed, almost disinterest expression.
『.... 』
"....."
She had heard about him from Ichinose. His actions during the island exam had apparently been chaotic, dragging down the scores of the other classes. Ichinose hadn't been able to explain the details, only mentioning that it had something to do with his sudden retirement from the exam.
His reputation at school was similarly messy, though no one seemed to fully understand what he was thinking.
Still, it wasn't often that a student outright ignored a teacher during an important explanation.
"Earth to Kumagawa-kun~You're not gonna ask anything?" Hoshinomiya playfully tapped on his desk.
『None for now, sensei. Please continue. I love listening to the sound of your voice. 』
"....."
'Creepy...'
A small shiver ran down Hoshinomiya's spine. She didn't usually get this kind of feeling from students, but something about him was just off.
She wasn't the type to get annoyed easily. If anything, she liked to think of herself as laid-back, good with students. Yet, for some reason, Kumagawa's attitude—his words, his tone—rubbed her the wrong way.
It was weird. She didn't want to be bothered, but somehow, she was.
Shaking the feeling off, she continued.
"Your group assignment is 'Snake. Here is a list of the members. You will be required to return this list when you leave the room. If you feel it's necessary, I would recommend trying to memorize it now."
Hoshinomiya passed over a small, postcard-sized piece of paper. On it were thirteen names, listing the students assigned to their group. As Hoshinomiya-sensei had told them, apart from them three, all the others were from Classes A, B, and C.
Class A: Masayoshi Hashimoto, Masumi Kamuro, Totsuka Yahiko.
Class B: Himeno Yuki, Amikura Mako, Shibata sho.
Class C: Shiina Hiyori, Yamada Albert, Kinoshita Minori, Nishino takeko.
Class D: Kumagawa Misogi, Matsushita Chiaki, Inogashira Kokoro.
Kumagawa took the list and gave it a quick glance. Some names were familiar, while others meant nothing to him. He recognized most of Class A and only one from Class C—Shiina Hiyori. The rest? They might as well have been strangers.
"From this point on, you are no longer acting as members of Class D, but rather as members of the Snake group. Whether you pass or fail this test depends on each group."
Matsushita raised her hand slightly. "Um, sensei, does that mean—"
Before she could finish, Hoshinomiya smoothly cut in.
"Okay, okay! I know you must have a lot of questions, but let's not get ahead of ourselves!" she said in a light, cheerful tone.
"There are four possible outcomes in this special test—no exceptions! We've prepared these handy-dandy handouts to help you understand everything better! But! You're not allowed to take them with you, snap any pictures, or anything sneaky like that, okay? So make sure to check everything carefully right here and now!"
She then handed out a sheet of paper to each of them.
It contained the basic rules of the exam.
Kumagawa flipped through his copy, skimming past the meticulous details. The sheer amount of rules made it clear—the school had gone out of its way to eliminate any potential loopholes students might try to exploit.
The gist of it was simple: each group had a "VIP" selected by the school, and the chosen student would be notified tomorrow at 8 AM. The exam would last for three days, during which each group would gather in a designated room for discussions—twice a day, for an hour each session.
By the end of the exam, between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM on the final day, each group had to submit a single answer.
The identity of the VIP student from another group.
Only one response per group was allowed, and it had to be sent to faculty members through a specific address provided to their mobile phones.
However, there was a catch. The VIP student themselves couldn't submit the answer. And more importantly, they could only submit the name of the VIP from the group they were assigned to. Any other response would be considered invalid.
Once the exam ended, the results would be sent out at 11:00 PM on the final day.
When boiled down, it was just a glorified guessing game.
But what really caught Kumagawa's attention were the potential outcomes of the exam.
Outcome One: If the group submits the correct answer between 9:30 and 10:00 PM on the final day, all group members, including the VIP's classmates, receive private points.
Outcome Two: If a group failed to submit an answer between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM on the final day, or if someone other than the VIP and their classmates submitted an incorrect answer, then the VIP would be awarded 500,000 private points.
"This exam has one simple goal: find the VIP in each group. There's only one VIP per group, and your job is to figure out who it is. For example, if Inogashira is the VIP of the snake group, then the correct answer for that group is simply 'Inogashira.'"
Hoshinomiya explained in a cheerful tone, as if she were introducing the rules of a board game rather than a high-stakes exam.
Matsushita raised her hand.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, about Outcome One... How are the private points divided? I mean, Outcome Two is clear, the VIP alone gets 500,000 points. But if we get the right answer in Outcome One, does everyone split the reward? Or does each person get a smaller portion?"
It was a reasonable question. The second outcome explicitly stated that only the VIP would be rewarded, but the first outcome was vague.
"Great question, Matsushita-chan! In Outcome One, if your group submits the correct answer by the deadline, then every member of your group will receive 500,000 private points."
"Wait, everyone gets 500,000?" Matsushita's eyes widened.
"Yup! And that's not all!" Hoshinomiya added. "As a special reward for leading their group to the correct answer, the VIP will receive double that amount—1,000,000 points!"
Matsushita froze in shock, and even Inogashira's eyes widened slightly at the sheer amount of points involved.
"Next is Outcome Two! This one is pretty straightforward, so listen carefully, okay?" Hoshinomiya continued, keeping up her cheerful tone.
"If your group fails to submit an answer between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM on the final day, or if someone from the group other than the VIP and their classmates submits an incorrect answer, then the VIP will be the only one to receive a reward—500,000 private points."
"That...sounds a bit unfair." Matsushita frowned.
And she wasn't wrong. When looking at both Outcome One and Outcome Two, the VIP was practically guaranteed to benefit no matter what happened. If the group got the right answer, the VIP received 1,000,000 points. If they got it wrong or failed to answer, the VIP still walked away with 500,000. Either way, the VIP would win.
Seeing the concerned expressions around the room, Hoshinomiya clapped her hands lightly
"Now, now! Don't be discouraged just yet! Instead, let me ask—have any of you ever played Werewolf before?"
Inogashira gave a small nod, while Matsushita smiled.
"Yeah, I played it in middle school. It was a fun game."
"What about you, Kumagawa-kun?" She turned to Kumagawa.
Kumagawa's smile widened slightly.
『Of course, I've played before! But, you know, I never really got to play the game. I was either killed on the first night or voted out in the first discussion. So I don't really know if you'd count that as playing, but I definitely experienced it before. 』
He laughed, but for some reason, it didn't sound like a joke.
For a brief moment, silence fell over the room.
Somehow, the way he said it made him seem pitiful, like a kid who never even got the chance to join in on the fun. Even Hoshinomiya, usually so cheerful and full of energy, didn't know how to respond.
『Basically, it's like being invited to a party, but the moment you show up, everyone votes to throw you out before the music even starts. Or like getting a birthday present that turns out to be an empty box. You understand, right, Hoshinomiya-sensei?』
"No, I don't get it at all..."
She frowned slightly. What was this guy even expecting her to say?
『In that sense... I've both played and never played Werewolf at the same time. It's a paradox, don't you think? Like Schrödinger's Player—I exist in the game, but I'm never actually part of it. 』
That only made it sound even more depressing.
Hoshinomiya awkwardly cleared her throat, trying to move the conversation along.
"Well, let's try to shift gears a little! This exam is kind of like a Werewolf game too, don't you think? But... It's not really a game if it only benefits one side."
Werewolf was a battle of deception where both sides had a fair shot at winning. But in this exam, the VIP had guaranteed benefits in most outcomes, making it feel a little... lopsided.
"Anyway! Let's move on. Turn the page, and we'll go over Outcomes Three and Four."
Kumagawa lazily flipped to the next page, his eyes scanning the text.
Outcome Three: If anyone other than the VIP submits the correct answer before 9:30 PM, their class gains 50 class points, and they earn 500,000 private points. However, the VIP's class loses 50 class points, and the group's test ends immediately. But if someone from the VIP's own class answers correctly, the early answer will be invalid, and the exam will continue as normal.
Outcome Four: If anyone other than the VIP submits an incorrect answer before 9:30 PM, their class loses 50 class points. The VIP earns 500,000 private points, and their class gains 50 class points. The group's test ends immediately. However, if the wrong answer comes from the VIP's own class, it won't be accepted, and the exam will continue.
Hoshinomiya clapped her hands together, still keeping her usual cheerful tone.
"So you see, it's not all smooth sailing for the VIP! Just like in Werewolf, there's always the risk of getting found out. And on top of that, there are traitors—people who might betray their own group for their own gain."
She glanced around the room, watching for reactions. Matsushita looked deep in thought, while Kumagawa seemed oddly focused on the reward amounts.
"Well? Any questions so far?"
Matsushita hesitated for a moment before raising her hand.
"What will happen to the traitor?"
It was a fair question.
Since the results of the exam would be announced on the last day, there was a chance that the traitor's name would be exposed. If that happened, it would undoubtedly be a bad day for them. No one liked being labeled as the one who sold out their group. Trust was hard to gain and easy to lose—once someone was branded a traitor, it would be difficult to recover.
Hoshinomiya smiled reassuringly.
"The school will take anonymity into account during this test. At the end, only the outcomes for each group and the increase or decrease in points for each class will be announced. In other words, we will not announce the names of the VIPs or those who submitted answers."
She paused, giving them a moment to process before continuing.
"Also, if you wish, you may have a temporary ID assigned to you, to which you can transfer points. It is also possible to divide points up and receive them that way. If you yourself remain quiet, there should be no fear of discovery after the test. Of course, if it's not necessary for you to hide your identity, you may receive your points openly. That is perfectly fine."
Matsushita sighend in relief.
Matsushita let out a small sigh of relief. The school had really gone out of its way to ensure that even traitors had a way to cover their tracks.
Kumagawa, however, let out a small chuckle.
『That's a nice little safety net. Almost makes betrayal sound fun, don't you think? 』
Matsushita shot him a confused glance, but he simply smiled, as if he had just made an innocent observation.
Hoshinomiya, choosing to move on, clapped her hands together.
"Okay, any other questions?"
『Hmm... I get it now.』
Kumagawa, who had been staring at the rule sheet in his hands, suddenly nodded to himself. He looked up, wearing an expression of realization.
『So, it's just a matter of randomly picking someone and seeing if they're the VIP or not— a one-half probability. 』
"..."
"..."
For a brief moment, silence fell over the room.
Kumagawa had just said something exceedingly stupid.
That probability calculation was the equivalent of admitting he had no critical thinking skills whatsoever. If someone completely misunderstood the concept of deduction, they might arrive at an answer like that.
Matsushita, who prided herself on her intelligence let out a small sigh before attempting to correct him.
"Kumagawa-kun, that's not really how it works. The probability of picking the VIP isn't as simple as that. There's more to it than that. As we gather more information, we can narrow down the possibilities—"
But before she could finish, Kumagawa doubled down.
『There are 13 people in a group, and one of them is the VIP. If I just close my eyes and pick someone, I have a fifty percent chance of being right. That's simple math, isn't it? And in the end, there are only two possibilities: either I get it right, or I get it wrong. A one-half probability. 』
Matsushita's mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
That was... unbelievably stupid.
His reasoning was so flawed it was almost impressive. In a single breath, he had managed to butcher basic probability to a degree that defied common sense. Even a child playing a guessing game would have arrived at a better conclusion.
Matsushita, looking almost concerned now, hesitated before speaking. "No... That's not... That's definitely not how it works..."
Matsushita suddenly felt like she had made a terrible mistake trying to explain anything to him.
Hoshinomiya look at Kumagawa.
In her years as a teacher, had come across students who struggled with math. Some had trouble grasping formulas, others made careless mistakes, and a few simply gave up halfway through a problem. But this...
Kumagawa's logic had taken basic probability and twisted it into something so absurd it almost felt intentional.
The actual math was simple: with 13 people in a group and only one VIP, the base probability of randomly picking the correct person was indeed 1/13. But probability didn't work the way Kumagawa was implying. It wasn't a simple binary of "right" or "wrong" that somehow reduced everything to a 50% chance.
By that logic, a person flipping a coin to guess a six-digit passcode would still have a 50% chance of getting it right—either they do, or they don't. Which was, of course, completely ridiculous.
That was an absurd level of oversimplification.
Matsushita looked like she was struggling between explaining properly and giving up entirely. Even Inogashira, who had been silent until now, subtly shook her head in disbelief.
That wasn't just disbelief, though—it was concern.
Hoshinomiya cast a pitying glance toward Kumagawa's classmates. She didn't know how he managed to get into this school with that level of mathematical understanding, but one thing was certain—she felt genuinely bad for Chabashira, who would have to deal with him in future exams.
『But still, it seems Outcome #1 is pretty much impossible if you work alone. 』
"What do you mean, Kumagawa-kun?"
Matsushita, who was pretty invested in the exam—likely due to the prospect of class points and personal points—seemed rather interested in his deduction. Though, deep down, she was half-expecting something stupid to come out of his mouth.
『How do I explain this so that an idiot can understand? 』
"...."
Although a little irritated by the remark, Matsushita remained silent and waited for his explanation.
『The exam ends at 9:00 PM on the third day, right? And between 9:00 and 9:30 PM, the school accepts any responses for the third and fourth outcomes. Then, from 9:30 to 10:00 PM, only the first and second outcomes can be chosen, meaning betrayal is no longer an option.』
He continued, his tone relaxed but his words strangely clear.
『Because of the way the rules are structured, the VIP can't reveal their identity after 9:30 PM. That means they'd have to do it during the exam, when betrayal is definitely possible. So realistically, there are only two outcomes: either someone betrays, or the VIP never reveals themselves and keeps all the benefits for themselves.』
The way the exam was designed ensured that any betrayals had to happen before 9:30 PM, while the VIP was still at risk. If the VIP waited too long and tried to cooperate only after 9:30, it would be pointless, they would no longer be able to influence the result. This setup forced the VIP to gamble, making betrayal not just possible, but almost inevitable.
『In other words, the rules make it so the VIP has to reveal themselves before 9:30 PM, but that's also the time when betrayal is still possible. It's a rigged game. 』
Matsushita took a moment to process the explanation. She hadn't expected that level of analysis from the lowest-ranked student in the entire school. In fact, she was a little creeped out by how thorough he was.
And she wasn't the only one.
Even Hoshinomiya looked at Kumagawa in amazement. Setting aside his horrendous math skills, it had taken him less than ten minutes to completely break down the structure of the exam.
Given how Ichinose often spoke about him, she wondered if Kumagawa was deliberately hiding his intelligence by playing dumb. His reputation certainly supported that idea. But Ichinose was her most promising student, so Hoshinomiya had taken her words seriously.
Yet after witnessing his earlier display of mathematical incompetence, she couldn't help but feel that Ichinose had overestimated him.
But with the level of analysis he had just shown, it seemed that it was Hoshinomiya who had underestimated him.
Deciding it was best to move on, she clapped her hands together, drawing everyone's attention back.
"Alright, let's get back on track! Tomorrow, you'll go to your designated room at 11:00 AM and again at 17:00 PM. Your group's name will be displayed on a nameplate outside. Be sure to introduce yourselves when you meet the other members for the first time. Once inside, leaving the room during the examination is not permitted, so please use the restroom ahead of time. In the event that you feel ill or can't endure it any longer, please contact your homeroom teacher immediately and make a request."
Kumagawa casually raised a hand.
『What if I feel ill? 』
Hoshinomiya stared at him. "That's literally what I just—" She sighed.
"It's written on the sheet. The discussion period is for one hour. Aside from self-introductions during your initial meeting, you're free to use that time however you like. Once the hour has passed, you're free to remain in the room or to leave."
『Ohh, I see, I see. That's a relief. It'd be a shame if someone missed such an important exam. 』
Clearing her throat, she continued, "The school will be completely impartial in how this exam is conducted. After the VIP has been selected, we will not accept any changes—not even if the VIP requests it. Additionally, copying, deleting, transferring, or modifying emails sent from the school is strictly prohibited. Understand these points clearly."
Kumagawa didn't believe in the concept of complete impartiality. Unless it was said by Tokemichi Choujabaru, it might as well have been a lie.
"Alright, that concludes the explanation. If you have any further questions, please ask your homeroom teachers later. You're dismissed."
With that, the meeting came to an end, and the students were told to leave the room.
As soon as Hoshinomiya finished speaking, Kumagawa turned on his heel and walked out without a word—without even acknowledging her existence.
Hoshinomiya felt a tiny prick of irritation at that, but as an adult and a teacher, it was her job not to get too riled up by a student's weird behavior. She let it slide with a sigh.
Outside, Kumagawa saw other students trickling out of their respective rooms one by one. There was a slight delay, but everything seemed to be running on schedule, probably because there were still other groups that needed to finish up their explanations. Given the nature of the test, it was only natural that some groups took longer than others
"Kumagawa-kun."
Matsushita's voice called out from behind him.
He turned to see her walking up to him. Inogashira trailed slightly behind her, though she didn't seem particularly eager to join the conversation.
"You don't seem too concerned about this exam. Do you already have a plan?"
Considering how thoroughly he had dissected the exam earlier, Matsushita couldn't help but wonder if Kumagawa had a strategy in mind. Despite all the bad rumors surrounding him, she had to acknowledge his sharpness.
But Kumagawa tilted his head slightly, as if the thought had never even occurred to him.
『A plan, huh? I guess you could say I have one... or maybe I don't? Sometimes, a plan forms in my head based on my mood. If I feel like I have a plan, then I have a plan. If I feel like I don't, then I don't. Does that make sense? 』
"That doesn't even make sense. You're saying that you don't have any plan at all?"
『Now, now, that's a horrible assumption to make about a classmate. I would never intentionally make things worse. That would be irresponsible of me. 』
Somehow, the way he said it made it sound even less convincing.
Inogashira, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke up.
"B-but this exam... it really is tricky, isn't it? Even though it looks simple at first, the moment you think about the possible betrayals and risks, it gets a lot more complicated."
Matsushita nodded.
"The fact that there's no clear 'best' move is what makes it so difficult. If we play it safe, we can aim for Outcome One, but that requires everyone in our group to cooperate. If just one person prioritizes their own gain, it could ruin everything. And then there's the matter of figuring out what the other classes will do..."
She trailed off, looking at Kumagawa as if expecting him to add something.
But it was her mistake to hope something positive respond from a minus.
『...Well, who knows? 』
"..."
Matsushita glanced at Inogashira before turning back to Kumagawa.
"By the way, would it be okay if we met up tomorrow after the discussion?"
Inogashira, who had been quietly listening, also nodded.
"I-I think that would be a good idea. We don't know how the other groups will act, so it'd be better to check in with each other."
Kumagawa tilted his head slightly, as if considering it, before giving a light shrug.
『Sure, that's fine. Not that I have anything valuable to contribute, but I wouldn't want to be left out of a friendly little gathering. 』
Matsushita looked somewhat skeptical at his wording but didn't push the issue.
"Alright. Then let's meet up tomorrow after the discussion."
『Got it. Well then, if you'll excuse me, have an appointment to adhere to. Wouldn't want to keep them waiting, after all.』
Before they could ask what kind of appointment he meant, he was already walking away.
For one reason or another, Matsushita couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
She glanced at Inogashira, but the girl didn't seem particularly concerned. Maybe she was just overthinking it.
"...It's nothing," Matsushita muttered to herself, brushing the thought aside.
For now, she decided to focus on the exam ahead.
『』『』『』『』『』
『Ah, Kushida-chan, you're late. 』
"..."
『Tsk, tsk. The message clearly said to meet here at 11:00 PM, didn't it? And if I recall correctly, the rules dictate that you have to be on time, right? Shame on you. 』
"Kumagawa-kun....can you not be annoying the very first second we meet?"
They were meeting on the second deck of the lower level, near the back of the ship. It was a secluded spot, away from the usual foot traffic of students exploring the ship
The sound of the ocean was more pronounced here, with only the occasional footsteps echoing in the distance. Given the nature of their meeting, it made sense to choose a place where they wouldn't be easily overheard.
Kumagawa, as always, seemed completely at ease. He leaned lazily against the railing, looking at Kushida in a way that immediately annoyed her. It wasn't a particularly intense stare, nor was it mocking, but something about it made her uncomfortable, but she couldn't exactly grab his face and rearrange it into something more pleasing, so she just had to live with it.
『Now, now, Kushida-chan. No need to be so cold. It's just the two of us here. Let's be friends, like we always are.』
"You and I both know that's impossible."
Her tone was absolute, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
『Although I would have been hurt by such a mean remark, since I'm here to be your personal relief toy, I wouldn't mind it this time. 』
For some reason, that made Kushida's stomach churn. Even though he said it with a bold smile, like he always did, it didn't make him any cooler. In fact, it just made her feel disgusted.
"Ugh, whatever."
She let out a long, frustrated sigh before finally getting to the point. She kicked the railing with her foot, the dull thud barely satisfying her irritation.
"Annoying."
『... 』
She spat the word like venom, her usual pleasant tone nowhere to be found. The moment it left her mouth, her irritation became palpable.
"She's seriously annoying. Why did I have to be in the same group as Horikita? Of all the people I could have been grouped with, it just had to be her. Aghh, she's seriously annoying. How can someone be so annoying? She doesn't talk much, but every time she does, she somehow ends up being the center of attention. Everyone listens to her, even though she's useless. Completely useless. She doesn't have any charm, she doesn't even try to be likable, and yet people naturally gravitate toward her. It's disgusting. She's like a magnet for attention without even lifting a finger."
Her words tumbled out in a rapid, unfiltered stream, her frustration only growing with each passing second.
"Even in this stupid exam, I have to deal with her. I hate it. I hate it so much. Why doesn't she just die, get shot, get drowned, get burned, get stabbed, get run over, get poisoned, get crushed, get strangled, get electrocuted, get thrown off the ship, get torn apart, get buried alive, get frozen, get set on fire, get blown up, get decapitated, get infected with a deadly disease, get erased from existence, get eaten alive, get struck by lightning, get thrown into space, get thrown into a volcano. Aghhhh, she's seriously annoying."
『... 』
Her breath was heavy by the time she finished, her chest rising and falling as if she had just run a marathon. The sheer intensity of her emotions had left her momentarily breathless.
It took her a second to realize that Kumagawa hadn't said a single word throughout her entire rant.
『Feel better now? 』
His voice was light, almost playful, but there was an unsettling ease in the way he spoke, as if this kind of outburst was the most normal thing in the world. He tilted his head, watching her with a pleasant smile, as if he had just finished listening to a harmless little story instead of an unhinged death wish.
"....Yeah."
She had to admit—just letting loose like that did feel good. She hated Horikita. She hated that she existed. She hated that she had to see her face every day. And yet, there wasn't a single person she could say that to—no one except Kumagawa.
She glanced at him.
"I'll take you up on your offer, then. From now on, whenever I need to vent, you'll listen. You're not going to regret this and break your promise, are you?"
『Hahaha, of course. I've never once broken a rule in my entire life. Well, either way, if I do break my promise, I'll just act like it never happened and make a new one on the spot. And if that doesn't work, I'll just lie my way out of it until you believe me again. 』
The idea of Kumagawa never breaking a promise was so absurd that it was like claiming the sun had never once risen in the east. If anything, the only thing more reliable than Kumagawa breaking a promise was him pretending he hadn't in the first place.
"The way you say it makes you sound even less trustworthy."
『Huhuhu. That's because you underestimate me, Kushida-chan.』
Kumagawa smiled boldly, as if expecting applause. But when someone as fundamentally untrustworthy as Kumagawa acted smug about it, it didn't make him look cool—it just made him even harder to believe.
『I can see that you don't know that some of my fans call me Tokugawa Ieyasu himself. 』
"Huh...?"
Kushida blinked. It took her a second to even process the sentence.
It was her first time hearing that Kumagawa had fans at all, and it was definitely her first time hearing that he was compared to one of the most historically significant figures in Japan.
Who was even saying that? Who in their right mind would associate someone like Kumagawa with a shogun known for his patience and strategic brilliance?
She stared at him, half expecting him to burst out laughing and admit it was a joke. But he just stood there, completely relaxed, looking at her with an easygoing smile that made it impossible to tell whether he was being serious or not.
"...Anyway, what about you? You're in this exam too, right?"
『Of course. But rather than myself, I'd love to hear about your situation, Kushida-chan. Who's in your group?』
"Ugh, don't remind me...." She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Other than Horikita, there's Hirata-kun. From Class C, there's Ryuuen-kun and three others. Kanzaki-kun is representing Class B, along with two others. And from Class A, there's Katsuragi-kun, plus three more."
『Hmm. That's a lot of names left out. 』
"What?"
『You mentioned the more noticeable ones, but what about the background characters? The extras? Who are they? 』
"Why should I tell you?"
『... 』
Kumagawa didn't respond. He simply stared at her. After a few seconds, Kushida let out a sigh, clearly irritated.
"...:Later."
『Still, that's quite the lineup. It's basically filled with all class leader except for Ichinose. I can already imagine how those discussions are going to go. 』
"Hirata-kun is nice and all, but he's not the type to push back too hard. Katsuragi-kun's too rigid, and Ryuuen-kun—ugh, he's just going to do whatever he wants. And then there's her..."
She trailed off, her irritation bubbling up again at the mere thought of Horikita.
『Sounds like fun. 』
"Fun? You call dealing with those egos fun?"
『Well, it's better than having a group full of extras, right? I mean, Don't you love being the friendly, reliable classmate that everyone depends on?』
"Whatever. It's not like I have a choice. I just have to get through it."
『Push through the suffering Kushida-chan. Smile at the suffering. After all, that's what you're best at, isn't it?』
"There's a limit to how much I can tolerate, you know." Kushida clicked her tongue.
『Ahh, so you do have a limit. Good to know.』 Kumagawa smiled as if he had just learned something fascinating. 『Well, I'll be looking forward to your email. Don't forget now.』
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, waving him off.
Kumagawa turned to leave, his posture relaxed as always. The conversation was over. Or so he thought.
"Wait," Kushida suddenly called out.
He stopped but didn't turn around. She hesitated for a second before speaking again.
"You better not break your promise, Kumagawa-kun."
At that, he finally glanced over his shoulder, flashing a genuine smile.
『Don't worry, I'm a very trustworthy person. I would never do something so despicable like that.』
"Yeah, right." She scoffed, half-annoyed, half-exasperated.
Kumagawa chuckled and continued walking, disappearing into the distance without a care in the world.
She watched where he had gone, arms crossed, lips pursed in a complicated expression.
Now alone on the deck, Kushida was left with nothing but the sound of the waves and her own thoughts.
『END』
『』『』『』『』『』