COTE V10 - Chapter 6

The Other Classes’ Ideas

D-Class’ situation is the same as usual on the surface, from the exam was started to date.
Since the additional exam was announced, about 90% of the students’ thoughts in the class have an identical opinion.
Even on Friday, the day before the exam, their opinion was still the same. Let ‘Ryūen Kakeru’ drop out of school.
They didn’t speak out this matter, nor did they discuss it with each other, but most of the students have decided to do so.
Ryūen has led the class with dictatorial leadership policy so far. However, even for compliment, it can’t be said that the result was good.
In fact, they fell from C-Class and went down to the last place.
Most importantly, many students have been tormented by violence and intimidation because of his control.
He exploited the weak-minded students, and created a situation where they weren’t allowed to talk back. Ryūen Kakeru── the root of all evil.
If Ryūen never existed, even if they couldn’t go up to B-Class, the situation where they fell down to D-Class won’t be happened. Many students thought so.
By the third day of the exam, many students in D-Class have reached an agreement in secret.
The Criticism Vote must be written with Ryūen’s name. The remaining 2 votes should be scattered in order to avoid the situation where they were concentrated on one person.
Ryūen certainly will be dropped out of school just by that.
Although Ishizaki doesn’t really want Ryūen to be dropped out of school, but the difficult situation was the part where he has been promoted to high-up position, as the leading actor who brought down Ryūen on the surface.
Therefore, as the group’s central figure, he was in charge for the role to ‘Gather up the Criticism Vote’.
When Ryūen knew about the exam contents, he understood Ishizaki’s distressed and the tendency of his class’ sentiment at the same time.
Then he decided. He won’t fight against the situation where he has to leave the school in this exam.
That’s why he intended to enjoy the little time left until the additional exam was over.
Where and what he should do after leaving the school. He also has to think about it from now.
Therefore, he wasted no time for something as staying in the classroom after school.
Ryūen immediately left the classroom after that.
Ibuki who sent off his back like that was quietly thinking about how to spend her idle time after school.
She has been invited by Ryūen in many occasions so far, but now there’s none of it too.
A person’s figure appeared in front of Ibuki who was looking at Ryūen.
“You look gloomy. Do you dislike Ryūen-kun to drop out of school so much?”
“Huh…… It’s you again? Do you like to pick a fight with me that much?”
“Not at all. Perhaps I’m just worried about you and came to talk. It seems your presence in the class have become weaker since Ryūen-kun was brought down, isn’t it?”
The person who said such provocation to Ibuki was Manabe Shiho, her classmate. She is the central figure of the girls in D-Class.
Since the beginning of the school enrollment, Ibuki was the girl who she found it hard to get along with, and there were many incidents where they were conflicted with each other, but she also couldn’t speak out her complain satisfactorily about it, since Ibuki was supported by Ryūen.
Manabe felt very displeased in her heart over those incidents. That provocative act as if she vented her anger.
“Ibuki-san will definitely cast the Criticism Vote for me, isn’t it?”
“Who knows.”
“Please do vote for me. I will vote for you, it means we will vote for each other.”
“……Ah, so.”
Manabe felt slightly irritated by her unenthusiastic response. Because she wanted to see Ibuki to become very angry and agitated.
“Besides, isn’t Ibuki-san just relieved since you don’t have to be dropped out of school? Even if some people casted the Praise Ticket for Ryūen-kun, but it seems there will be remained more than 30 Criticism Votes──”
Manabe’s attitude became arrogant ever since Ryūen has been overthrown, but many other students also were acting similar like her.
Ishizaki got up from his seat.
The additional exam will begin tomorrow. There’s nothing else can be done if the exam has begun.
“Ibuki, keep me company for a moment.”
Ishizaki’s figure appeared in front of these 2 persons who were staring at each other like that.
“……I don’t mind, fine by me.”
Although Ibuki was so depressed, but she complied with Ishizaki’s words and they both left the classroom together after that.
She thought the situation would be better if she kept a distance from Manabe.
“However, it’s also good for you to be relaxed. Since you will be next, once Ryūen-kun dropped out of school.”
Manabe conveyed her arrogant remarks to Ibuki, as if she was D-Class’ leader.
“So, where are we going?”
They both went out to the hallway, and Ibuki asked him after they disappeared from Manabe’s gaze.
“Nowhere. I just simply wanted to talk to you a little. Concerning the Private Points held by Ryūen-san. How’s the progress?”
“There’s nothing about ‘How’s the progress’, that guy who keep it.”
“You haven’t retrieved them yet. The exam is tomorrow, right? The entire Points will be lost once he dropped out of school.”
“The first person who furiously said it somewhere that he won’t retrieve those Points, who it was.”
“That’s…… I wasn’t thinking about the Private Points at that moment……”
“If you wanted so much to pick it up, why don’t you personally bow down and retrieve the Private Points from him?”
“I can’t move around.”
Precisely because Ibuki knew that matter, and she was in bad mood to say that too.
“You pretended as the key person who defeated Ryūen for the class. You will be suspected if they found out that you recklessly came in contact with Ryūen── They probably thought that ‘You are a traitor’, I’m just kidding.”
For Ishizaki who wanted to prevent Ryūen from dropping out of school, that kind of development is what he wants.
However, if he did such a thing, Ishizaki will bear the risk of dropout of school this time.
Most importantly, the reason why ‘Ishizaki rose his position as Ryūen lost his power in the class’, and that means the fact that was fabricated will be ended. He couldn’t possibly do that.
His desire wanted to save Ryūen and his desire wanted to save himself.
He was distressed by these 2 opposite situations.
“I…… Damn it, I wonder what I should do……”
“Probably it’s for the best if ‘Ryūen dropped out of school’. I think you knew that too.”
“Are we really fine after that? I wonder if you believe we can win without Ryūen-san.”
“Although he also didn’t produce any decent results, but that guy wanted to be praised for it. I just couldn’t understand that guy’s actions, and they are entirely trickery actions, right.”
“He is certainly a gambler. But without that guy, then our goal to be A-Class is also nothing more than a dream.”
Ryūen also wary of Sakayanagi’s A-Class which has a high overall ability.
Ichinose’s B-Class which has high teamwork strength and has been maintaining stable achievements.
And then C-Class’ Ayanokōji who even has the physical strength to suppress Ryūen and also has immeasurable intelligence.
The differences in strength between classes are obvious.
There’s a strong impression in Ishizaki’s mind. They can’t deal with such monsters, if they don’t have similar kind of monster.
Ryūen Kakeru’s existence shouldn’t disappear like that now.
“Well, I don’t know what to say, but I admit that Ryūen isn’t normal.”
Ibuki also thought about something in her mind.
Even though he was defeated by Ayanokōji, but it’s strange that her own evaluation on Ryūen didn’t drop.
Only Ryūen who has something that both Sakayanagi and Ichinose don’t have.
Perhaps that ‘Thing’ is even enough to reach someone like Ayanokōji.
──She has that kind of thought in her heart.
“Damn it……”
Ishizaki was upset.
Ibuki was thinking while looking at Ishizaki who was upset with her eye corner. She wondered if there’s something that she can do in this exam.
Although Ishizaki is hot-blooded guy, but he was still struggling desperately in this exam.
However, she simply let Ryūen drop out of school, and only thought of ‘Saving herself’.
That’s right. Ibuki isn’t as calm as Ishizaki.
Even in the class, she realized that she is definitely one of the people who were hated.
If Ryūen really has gone, Ibuki will be chosen as the next target. Manabe’s remarks earlier weren’t a mere threat.
However, she will be safe this time if she stayed quiet. Or perhaps she will find some different ways after that.
That’s the most important factor that restrained Ibuki.
She recalled the remarks of ‘That guy’.
“This exam isn’t as easy as you can save someone simply by saying that you wanted to help.”
‘That guy’ knew what’s in Ibuki’s heart and her mindset. That’s why he also didn’t take the other party seriously.
“By the way, Ishizaki.”
“What……”
“You don’t want to let Ryūen drop out of school── is that really your true feelings?”
“……Yeah. I’m not lying.”
“I see.”
It’s absolutely impossible for a situation where someone else gathered more Criticism Votes than Ryūen.
“I don’t want to admit it, but I have the same opinion as you. You just have to remember it. Even if Ryūen has disappeared, after that I will be the next person.”
If Ryūen has gone, the next person will be Ibuki. She will face that reality once again.
“I will meet Ryūen tonight and retrieve those Private Points. Perhaps I can only do that.”
And those reserve Private Points will make a good use for D-Class’s situation.
The thing that they can do is taking over Ryūen’s regret and turning those Private Points into their benefit.
“Just as I thought, there’s no other way except that……”
“Probably that’s roughly the best thing that we can do.”
Ibuki made up her mind. She will retrieve all the remaining Private Points from Ryūen Kakeru.
If those Private Points will benefit D-Class, then that ‘Assets’ should be retrieved.

1
At night. Ibuki visited Ryūen’s room without asking his approval.
A crisp door knocking sound echoed lightly in the cold hallway.
After waiting for a while, the door opened.
“It’s you.”
“……You, what are you doing?”
His upper body was naked and he wore a piece of trunks on the lower body.
“Are you interested if I’m tempting you for lewd thing?”
“I’m going to kick your ball right now and go back to my room.”
“Ke ke. I just finished taking a shower, come in.”
It’s true that his hair is still wet, and he just finished taking a shower is a fact.
Ibuki entered into Ryūen’s room, even though she also became wary of his vulgar language.
For the first time she was in this situation during this one year period.
Various accessories were placed in his room, and her impression was different from her imagination of that guy’s room.
“You didn’t come to visit me because you wanted to spend the night with me before I drop out of school, did you?”
Ibuki didn’t intend to compromise his vulgar words for a long time and began to talk about her true intention.
“Give me all the Private Points that you have.”
“Eh? Didn’t you once refuse it and told me that you didn’t need it?”
Ryūen took out a plastic beverage bottle from the refrigerator while wiping his hair with a bath towel.
Instead of giving it to Ibuki, he opened the bottle cap and poured it into his own throat.
“You have no chance to survive in the exam this time. In other words, those Private Points will be lost, right.”
“That’s true. If I kept the Private Points and dropped out of school like this, the entire Private Points will be gone.”
The secret contract with A-Class will be expired, and there’s not even one profit remain for D-Class.
“Therefore, I’m going to take it and make a good use of it.”
“You talked shamelessly.”
“That’s your true intention too, right. If you have no intention to give it away, it’s not surprising even if you spent those Points to the end. But there wasn’t any sign of it. So as if you are saying to pick it up.”
Ryūen has been quite modest for the last few days. Obviously that he only used a few hundred or a few thousand of Points at most.
“Ke ke, I actually didn’t say that. Fine, take it. I don’t need those Points after all.”
Ryūen laughed in front of Ibuki.
And then he took the cell phone with his hand and began to process it.
Only a few steps of processing. All the Points held by Ryūen have been transferred to Ibuki’s cell phone.
“I can confirm it. Ryūen, you have served your purpose with this.”
Ryūen grabbed Ibuki’s arm that intended to turn off her cell phone and said such. And then he pushed Ibuki to the wall.
“Wait, what are you doing?”
Ibuki lunged at him and kicked at once, but Ryūen grabbed it with one arm and stopped it easily.
“I didn’t hate your hostile personality.”
“Huh?”
Ibuki showed her hostility to what he was doing, but Ryūen smiled and released her hand immediately.
It was Ryūen’s style for his last farewell speech.
“You are tough, but you also have many openings if you ask me. So you can’t win against Suzune.”
“Mind your own business.”
“Goodbye, Ibuki.”
Ryūen has already lost his interest and turned his gaze away from Ibuki.
And then he went to the entrance in order to drive her out.
A moment of silence emerged while she was wearing the shoes.
“Did you enjoy being at this school?”
Ibuki asked such question to Ryūen with her back was facing him.
“Eh?”
“Never mind.”
She could sense that matter if judging from Ryūen’s habit. There’s no way Ryūen felt satisfied.
And he will be leaving this school quietly without being satisfied.
She stood up and opened the door, and the cold air was blown in.
“Farewell.”
Ibuki left a farewell remarks and closed the door.
There’s no one in the hallway at midnight.
A huge sum of Private Points was displayed on her cell phone’s screen.
She turned off the display screen, because it only made her felt empty.
Ibuki made a phone call as she was walking down the hallway.
She didn’t know if the other party was sleeping.
She intended to leave a message and hung up if the other party was asleep.
However, the other party has answered the phone call even before she made the second phone call.
“It’s me. I have retrieved all Ryūen’s Private Points.”
She has reported it to that person who should be informed that her task has finished.
That guy said over the phone that he wanted to meet and talk directly to her.
“Fine, but……”
Anyway, since she has gone out.
Ibuki agreed to it and decided to go to that guy’s room.

2
At the same time on Friday, the day before the additional exam.
B-Class’ students remained in the classroom even after school. Without missing anyone, every student was there.
The person who stood on the podium wasn’t the homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya, but Ichinose Honami.
“Everyone, thank you for giving me your support in the same way as usual to date. I’m honestly feeling grateful to you for accepting my selfish request.”
Ichinose conveyed one thing to her classmates after the additional exam was announced.
“I hope that everyone try to get along well and live a normal daily life after school to the day before the exam.”
That’s all. She only conveyed that to them, and she didn’t talk about the detailed strategy.
There’s nothing to gain if they have a strained atmosphere to each other. Since it’s obvious that someone have to be dropped out of school in this exam.
It’s not surprising even if they became anxious, but B-Class’ students maintained it faithfully. They obeyed Ichinose’s words.
──Since they have learned a lesson in this one year period that this situation will be an advantage for B-Class.
As a teacher, Hoshinomiya who was listening to Ichinose’s speech as the homeroom teacher felt slightly concerned.
As one of the teachers who felt that this special exam was unreasonable thing, she had a strong feeling that she wanted to apologize for forcing B-Class into hardship.
Right now, the class is strong and bright, since they could stick together and there was no student dropped out of school.
If unexpectedly there was a student who dropped out of school this time, it will cast a shadow over the class.
“I suppose I have made everyone so anxious. However, I want everyone to rest assured. I won’t let anyone from among us dropout of school.”
Ichinose clearly stated so while everyone was feeling anxious in their eyes.
That was good news, but at the same time it will also raise doubts.
“Ichinose, is there any problem? Just say the fact clearly.”
If she intended to lie to the classmates, then it would be better to stop it at this point. That’s because Kanzaki was concerned.
“It’s alright, Ichinose. Since we have prepared for the worst.”
She won’t be blamed even if she lacked of countermeasures── Shibata showed such attitude.
However, Ichinose repeated it once again.
“No problem. Kanzaki-kun, there was something that you taught me, right. ‘It’s a foolish thing to do if someone who has the ability, but didn’t make use of it’. Therefore, I have thought about it in my own way.”
Everyone in here won’t be dropped out of school. She was convinced.
“……Then, please tell us, how you will prevent us from ‘Dropping out of school’.”
However, if she can’t express the reason, then that’s nothing but Ichinose’s delusion.
“There’s only one way for everyone to survive in this additional exam, right?”
“Yeah, only 20 million Points can be used to cancel the dropout crisis.”
“Therefore, I want all the classmates to entrust the Private Points that you have now to me. We won’t have any Points until April, but everyone can be saved because of that.”
“But, if I’m not mistaken, we can’t gather up to 20 million Points, isn’t it?”
Her classmate, Shibata, said that while looking around at everyone.
They have discussed it many times, but there’s nothing they can do about it.
The shortage was several million Points, and that’s a huge gap.
“I agree to it. Since Honami-chan said so, I will send it.”
The girls immediately began to send the Points to Ichinose even without listening to the details.
They got used to that procedure, since they have been sending their Points every month.
“Well, that’s also true.”
Shibata also immediately agreed and began to process it.
Ichinose who was strongly trusted by her classmates, immediately held all the Private Points entrusted by everyone.
The total sum displayed on the cell phone was a little less than 16 million Points.
“Um, as expected, the shortage is about 4 million Points just as our calculation.”
“How will you cover up the shortage Points? I don’t think other classes or other grades will send such a huge sum of Points to us.”
Kanzaki is a calm person, and he requested an answer while sending the Points.
When Ichinose borrowed the Private Points from Nagumo, she promised that she wouldn’t tell this matter to other people.
But, she can’t continue to conceal this matter from her companions at this point.
For that reason, Ichinose got the permission from Nagumo a day earlier, so that means he didn’t mind if she mentioned about the part of their agreement, except for the dating terms.
“From the Student Council President Nagumo. When I consulted this matter with him, he told me that he would help me with the shortage.”
“The Student Council President? Can he cover up such a huge sum of Points?”
“Um. He also showed me the Points that he actually has.”
Ichinose also certain that he owned it after she obtained the proof.
“Of course, I will have to return it afterwards.”
“How much is the interest rate and the repayment plan to pay to the Student Council President Nagumo?”
“I wonder if that will affect the outcome.”
“No, it won’t. I think that no matter how high the interest is, it can’t be replaced by our companion.”
Kanzaki also agreed with Ichinose on that point.
But he judged that it was necessary to grasp the details of that matter first. He took the role for ‘Asking the questions that other students won’t ask’.
Ichinose also felt very grateful for that.
He is a very important partner who asked the questions and spoke for other students’ thought.
“The repayment period is 3 months, and there’s no interest.”
“In other words, it’s great that we can borrow the sum of Points without any charge……”
If in this kind of difficult situation, it’s not surprising even if the other party requested several percentages.
The Student Council President Nagumo who lent it without interest, his existence will be seen as a savior for B-Class.
“I think everyone will be forced into inconvenience situation for a while…… I wonder, is that still acceptable?”
“Awesome…… As expected from Ichinose-san! I strongly support you!”
None of her classmates showed any unsatisfied expression.
For that reason, it’s definitely that dropout student won’t be happened.
That’s Ichinose Honami’s resolution who wanted to protect her friends.

3
In the evening on that day. Ichinose made one phone call to Nagumo.
It was the final confirmation in order to face tomorrow’s exam.
“Nagumo-Senpai, it’s me, Ichinose.”
“It’s you, Honami. Do you mean to call me for that matter?”
“Yes. I have talked to everyone in B-Class today. Therefore, I just thought that I should confirm that matter once again with Senpai this time.”
“I won’t change the terms that I have stated. You retrieve all the Points from all your classmates, and gather up the Private Points as much as possible. Since it’s unacceptable situation where everyone was suffering and should be saved without sharing the pain.”
“That’s true. I thought so too.”
He won’t approve to help them easily, and lend them the Points while they were keeping a small spending money for themselves.
That was one of the conditions that Nagumo stated.
Nagumo owned an enormous amount of Private Points close to 10 million.
However, he obviously won’t lend the whole amount of his Private Points.
It was Ichinose’s natural duty who should take the initiative without even being told, to reduce the loan amount even by 1 Point.
“How many is your Points shortage?”
“It’s 4,043,019 Points.”
“I see. If that amount, I merely have a minimum burden too. Even so, it’s inevitable situation that I will have to bear a considerable disadvantage in the future exam, you know.”
“Yes……”
Nagumo will bear a heavy burden.
For example, if someone from Nagumo’s class has to be dropped out of school in the next exam, then an action to nullify it will be initiated too.
At that time, there’s also a possibility that the rescue action of that dropout student will be tripped by the 4 million Points which have been loaned.
Ichinose realized it painfully how fortunate she was for the offer.
“I’m truly sorry for my selfish request.”
“It’s alright. You won’t abandon anyone── such a strategy is typical of you. Just one more thing, do you remember the terms for borrowing those Points?”
“……Yes. I, that’s…… that means I have to date with Nagumo-Senpai, right?”
“Um, if you accepted the terms, I even have prepared to transfer those Private Points to you right now.”
“……The time limit was today at 12 midnight.”
“You are still hesitating. You are the person who wanted to prevent a victim to appear from your class in the first place, right?”
“Of course. But, I also feel a bit uneasy.”
“Uneasy?”
Ichinose desperately endured and squeezed the difficult words out.
“Senpai, that’s…… eh, could it be that you like me?”
“What?”
“Ah, no eh. Forgive me for asking such impolite things…… But, since I used to think that the so-called dating should be based on such feelings……”
“I won’t state such terms if I dislike you.”
Nagumo replied without hesitation.
Although Ichinose was pleased with his words, but she still couldn’t hide her anxiety.
“If you agreed, I will send you the Points right now.”
“Please wait. I want to…… do my best till the last moment.”
“Haven’t you thought about it in the past few days?”
Every moment is drawing closer to the time limit with Nagumo.
“You couldn’t borrow it from 2ND grade or 3RD grade, could you? It’s even more so if it’s 1ST grade as an opponent.”
There’s no one else than Nagumo who can lend more than 4 million Private Points. Nagumo also knew that very well.
However, Nagumo didn’t question Ichinose deeply.
After all, since it’s obvious that Ichinose will depend on him if the time had come.
“Be careful. Since I’m a guy who is strict with time.”
“Yes. I certainly will contact you later.”
Ichinose exhaled a heavy breath after she ended the phone call. And then she leaned against the wall.
Protecting her classmates. That should be taken priority over anything else for Ichinose.
If Nagumo said he will help, then that condition should be accepted.
But, Ichinose has no love experience. She couldn’t possibly think that this situation is a natural thing for dating someone in this kind of way.
Most importantly…… her heart told her that it’s wrong.
It doesn’t make sense for a person to date someone else, if they don’t like each other. It’s meaningless if only one party who has that feeling.
But if she has already dated once, she couldn’t propose something like ‘Splitting up’ by herself.
“Huh…… be resolute, I should have made up my mind……”
At the moment is around 9 o’clock in the evening. Ichinose should give her answer within the remaining 3 hours.
She exhaled a heavy sigh.
However, her classmates can be saved if she can endure it.
If that’s the best and the only way……
But her heart started to be restricted to the very end.
If she has accepted that conditions, it seems she will no longer be herself. She has such a sad premonition.
“No. I can’t.”
Why did she repeatedly try to change her mind after arriving at this point?
If she didn’t finalize the deal with Nagumo this time, someone from B-Class will be dropped out of school.
“……Alright.”
‘Pa’ ──She lightly patted her own cheeks once.
“I will── protect everyone.”
Ichinose Honami who decided to be resolute, smiled quietly alone.

4
A few days ago before Ichinose made a decision to accept Nagumo’s terms.
We go back to the day when the additional exam was announced.
Unlike the other classes, this additional exam was something that should be gladly accepted for A-Class. Since they have reached the definite conclusion much earlier than any other classes.
“You guys discuss it after this, and you should make a decision on the day of the exam.”
The homeroom teacher, Mashima has finished the explanation of the exam.
When he allocated the remaining time to the students, Sakayanagi began to speak without even standing up.
“In the exam this time, I’m thinking that Katsuragi-kun should be dropped out of school.”
Sakayanagi nominated him without hesitation.
Katsuragi closed his eyes while folding his arms, he sat still and didn’t move.
“What, what the heck was that, such an opinion is unfair, you know!”
The only person who expressed the rejection was Totsuka Yahiko, who admired Katsuragi.
“Yahiko, stop it.”
However, Katsuragi obstructed Totsuka.
“But, but Katsuragi-san!”
“I’m going to accept it.”
“It seems there’s no objection. It’s better to say that there’s no room to plead the objections, right.”
The majority of A-Class’ students have already joined Sakayanagi’s faction.
Certainly there are also some students who felt displeased with the situation, but that’s not something worth for them to revolt.
In order to be graduated safely and worry-free, they have chosen to become Sakayanagi’s allies.
Only Totsuka, the only person who blindly believed in Katsuragi, so he tried to oppose it.
Katsuragi understood the situation very well that his action is meaningless.
“So let’s take a vote by raising our hand. If you don’t mind Katsuragi-kun received the nomination, as the victim to be dropped out of school in the additional exam this time, please feel free to raise your hand.”
Her classmates raised their hands all at once.
Aside from Totsuka, Katsuragi, and Sakayanagi, all 37 students agreed to it.
Mashima quietly averted his eyes, as if he has anticipated the situation would be like this.
“The discussion related to the exam this time is over now.”
“Is that fine, such a decision.”
“Yahiko, it’s fine.”
Totsuka was trying to oppose it to the end, but Katsuragi also didn’t try to argue with Sakayanagi.
“The contract that I have signed is still in effect. For that reason, the Private Points from A-Class have been pointlessly flowing out to Ryūen of D-Class. I have to take the responsibility for it.”
“But, but we had gained the Class Points because of that! It doesn’t mean that we have been wasting it! Besides, since someone also has to be dropped out of school from D-Class, perhaps Ryūen will be chosen! In that case, even if Katsuragi-san doesn’t dropout of school, the contract will be expired!”
Totsuka desperately constructed the arguments.
“Don’t think that you can do anything just because you are the leader of this class!”
“That’s enough, Yahiko.”
Katsuragi controlled Totsuka once again, who was ranting alone.
His tone was also stronger than earlier.
“Katsuragi-san……!”
He tried hard and pretended to be calm, even in a situation where he was the person who should be suffering the most.
While being impressed by Katsuragi appearance, it seemed Totsuka was nodded and sat down on his seat again.
“For me, I don’t mind even if he continued. It was an interesting speech.”
“That’s fine. I have no objection to your plan of choosing me to drop out of school.”
“I see. Then, let’s accept Katsuragi-kun’s intention and do so.”
A-Class has reached the conclusion of the additional exam in less than 5 minutes of discussion.
As if such additional exam wasn’t existed, A-Class students spent their time as usual.
Katsuragi stood up from his seat and walked to the hallway in order to be alone.
After that, Totsuka came running up to him as usual.
“Katsuragi-san, do you really have no objection to be dropped out of school!”
“……It’s inevitable situation. In this exam, influential students in the class have an overwhelming advantage. Even if I struggled, I couldn’t overcome the Criticism Vote of Sakayanagi’s faction.”
“But, but, I think there should also be students who felt dissatisfied with Sakayanagi. Let’s gather up those people──”
“You have helped me many times so far. I’m very grateful to you.”
“Katsuragi-san……”
“But after I have dropped out of school, you should follow Sakayanagi. If you recklessly oppose her, the next person will be targeted is you, Yahiko.”
Precisely because Katsuragi knew that, he wanted to avoid the conflict between Sakayanagi and Totsuka.
“That’s the last instruction from me.”
“……Uh, oh……!”
Totsuka’s face was slanted in frustration, he couldn’t do anything but nodded his head desperately.

5
That day after school.
“Let’s go back to the dormitory, Masumi-san.”
“……Yeah.”
Sakayanagi called out to Kamuro and stood up from her seat.
“I heard that a café in Keyaki Shopping Mall has released a new beverage. Shall we taste it and go back to the dormitory?”
One student among their classmates will be dropped out of school on the weekend.
However, even though she was the person who has nominated that student, her appearance remained the same as usual.
“You.”
“What’s wrong?”
“……Nothing.”
Kamuro changed her mind since it’s just useless to ask.
Sakayanagi’s calm judgment has no compassion.
Precisely because Kamuro is also similar kind of person, she thought it was ridiculous to mention that.
A phone call broke the silence that surrounded between them both.
Sakayanagi took out the cell phone from her pocket.
Sakayanagi faintly smiled and answered the phone call so happily.
“How are you, Yamauchi-kun. I was thinking if it’s about time you could contact me any time now.”
“It’s weird……”
The situation where Sakayanagi was deep in conversation with Yamauchi in this way, wasn’t surprising recently.
It seemed they have been calling each other every day, and talked about meaningless things intensively and lively.
“Is it today? Yeah, I don’t mind. Ah, let’s meet up. But I have a little appointment at this moment and it’s inconvenient, so shall we meet up afterwards.”
Kamuro immediately found out that the phone call content was a ‘Love call’ from Yamauchi.
“I’m on the way right now, so I will contact you later.”
Although she seemed to talk for a few seconds, Sakayanagi has ended the phone call for the moment.
“So, I have decided that I will meet up with Yamauchi-kun in the evening.”
“It seems you and Yamauchi have been frequently communicating with each other, but what is your intention?”
“Because his existence has been on my mind, you know.”
“You said ‘Has been on your mind’, that means you like him?”
“Is it strange that I come to like him?”
Kamuro imagined Yamauchi’s appearance, then she shook her head left and right.
“You are joking, right?”
“Yes, I’m joking.”
“I say……”
“I was in the middle of training him, whether I can use him or not as my spy in C-Class.”
“You said ‘In the middle of training him’ ……I think it can’t be proceeded such easy.”
“But his circumstance isn’t really like that. The situation where an interesting exam has been announced, and I wanted him to act as an experiment subject.”
Sakayanagi told half-truth and half-lie to Kamuro.
Although Kamuro was her close underling, Kamuro wasn’t a companion who can be trusted completely, so she concealed the things that should be hidden while she was talking.
“Let’s meet up with him first today. You will understand a little of my plan.”
Sakayanagi imagined the situation in the near future, and she laughed happily.

6
In the evening. Sakayanagi and Kamuro met up with Yamauchi at Keyaki Shopping Mall.
In order to prevent other people saw that situation, they chose the meeting point in a karaoke room.
“Kamuro-chan, you…… are also here today.”
“I’m sorry. I’m still embarrassed to go on a date with only 2 people.”
“No, no, it’s totally fine! I’m just happy I can go on a date with you like this!”
Yamauchi, who has a strong desire for not being hated, frantically pretended to smile.
To be honest, he wanted to be with Sakayanagi, 2 people alone, and confessed to her.
He has been thinking that he will become an official lover afterwards, but he has to endure it with a lot of patience.
“Yamauchi-kun, do you have any problem with the additional exams this time?”
“Eh?”
“Nothing. It’s fine if you have no problem, but……”
She deliberately made a pause for just a moment.
“If Yamauchi-kun had to be dropped out of school, I also won’t be able to meet you like this. I, I really hate that.”
Kamuro felt disgusted at such a cutesy girl-like attitude, but she didn’t show it on her face.
That’s just Sakayanagi’s acting.
Besides, if she took everything seriously, then she can’t hold it in herself.
“I, I hate it too!”
“That means we feel the same way, right.”
Sakayanagi brushed down her chest gently in relieved.
“If there’s something that bothered you, you can consult it with me.”
“But──”
“Indeed, my class and Yamauchi-kun’s class are rivals, but the exam this time is different. There’s no element anywhere to compete with other classes, right?”
“That’s true……”
“However, perhaps we can turn it into cooperation instead.”
“What cooperation……?”
It crossed inside Yamauchi’s mind too.
“For example, I’m saying but…… if I cast the Praise Ticket that I have for Yamauchi-kun.”
Listening to that remarks, Yamauchi gulped his saliva.
The Praise Tickets from other classes── many people want it even for 1 ticket.
For the students who are in crisis of dropping out of school, that’s a crucial thing that they wanted so desperately.
“You, will you really give me an advice?”
“If you are in trouble, I will help you.”
Although Yamauchi was delighted with her gentle words, yet he pretended to be calm on the surface.
He had never talked so close with a girl like this situation in his life, but it was embarrassing to be known since he doesn’t have any love experience.
“Actually…… it seems I was being envied in the class. That’s, I wonder if those guys will cast the Criticism Vote for me, I’m worried.”
“Envy, is it.”
“I am the only person who can meet Sakayanagi-chan like this.”
“That’s true. I have no interest in other boys at all.”
He couldn’t say the reason why he was a dropout candidate because of his poor grades, even if his mouth was torn.
Yamauchi showed himself great, since he wanted to win Sakayanagi’s favor.
“I understand. So I will teach Yamauchi-kun a secret plan in order to be saved.”
“Secret, secret plan?”
“Yes. Please find and invite your companions, about half of your class. And then narrow down to 1 person as the target and force him/her to drop out of school.”
“Uh…… but, if I do such thing, perhaps I will be targeted……!”
“That’s true. Everyone is afraid to become a leader. Since if you carelessly behave like you tried to harm your companions, perhaps you will end up gathering the Criticism Votes instead.”
Yamauchi nodded.
“That’s why I will help you.”
“How, how to do that?”
“I have around 20 companions who adore me in A-Class. I will appeal to all of my companions to cast all the Praise Tickets for Yamauchi-kun.”
“Eh?”
“There should also be a considerable number of classmates who will cast their Praise Ticket for Yamauchi-kun, right? If we added those people up, even if you temporarily gathered up more than 30 votes of Criticism Vote, almost all can be offset. There’s hardly any chance that you will be dropped out of school.”
“You, are you seriously saying that?”
“Of course. However, even if you gathered up 20 votes, it can’t be said that you are absolutely safe. That’s why, I want you to be the leader and force 1 student to drop out of school.”
“Who, who is it?”
“That’s right…… Of course, I won’t act in order to get rid of useful students for C-Class. Masumi-san, is there any decent candidate?”
“……How about Ayanokōji?”
“Ayanokōji-kun, is it. I have heard that name before……”
“Ah, well…… he is a guy with a weak sense of presence. I wonder how I should explain it properly.”
“The details are fine. It seems he might just be the best candidate. It’s not like you are particularly close with him, aren’t you?”
“That’s not at all! He is just my classmate!”
“Then let’s choose that guy to become the victim.”
“But……”
The feeling that wanted himself to be saved and the feeling that he can’t sacrifice his own classmate are colliding with each other.
However, it’s not necessary to confirm that his feeling to protect himself is much stronger.
“I think we will be heartbroken to sever our relationship with any classmates. So, please let’s not think deeply. We choose the student properly, besides I think we just follow the school’s order.”
In that case, your heart won’t be in pain, right? ──And she smiled at him.
“Will you meet me up, 2 people alone next time, on next Monday after the exam is over? I have something that I wanted to say to Yamauchi-kun at that time. It’s a very important topic.”
“Uh……!”
That will be one finishing blow to entrap Yamauchi.
He casually began to develop his delusion, and he has taken it as a love confession from Sakayanagi.
In order to turn that into realization, Yamauchi have to prevent himself from being dropped out of school by all means.
Most importantly, if he didn’t execute successfully the strategy that has been suggested by Sakayanagi, perhaps he will be hated.
He was driven by such imagination.
“So first, let’s begin from identifying the people who are likely will reach Ayanokōji-kun’s companions. Since it’s best if we made him drop out of school quietly without letting that matter reach into his ears.”
“I, I understand.”
“But, Yamauchi-kun, I have to warn you first.”
“Warn me……?”
“Please don’t tell anyone else that we will cast the Praise Ticket for Yamauchi-kun. If you talked about it carelessly, you will be at risk of being hated by your classmates.”
“That’s obvious……”
If Yamauchi only who has been in the safe zone, it’s obvious that it will provoke jealousy and antipathy.
“I know that, I promise you.”
“Thank you, and you are welcome.”
“But…… ah, that’s.”
“What’s wrong?”
“That’s, it’s absolutely not because of I doubted you, but…… I wonder if you will really cast the Praise Ticket for me.”
“That’s, does that mean you wanted something like a written agreement?”
“After all, I’m worried……”
That situation was within Sakayanagi’s expectation if Yamauchi who has no conviction with verbal promise, became such anxious.
“Why would I betray Yamauchi-kun? There’s also no benefit to do such a thing. But if you said you absolutely can’t believe me…… let’s pretend that this conversation has never happened. If you can’t even believe in one promise, then I also will have to reconsider about meet up with you next week.”
“Wait, wait a moment! I believe you, I believe you!”
Yamauchi desperately tried to stop Sakayanagi who tried to leave.
“Forgive my manners who have doubted you……”
“It’s alright. Since I understand that you will feel anxious.
Sakayanagi smiled gently and told Yamauchi her last advice.
“And then…… if Yamauchi-kun conducted something against me like secretly recording or secretly taking my pictures in the future, our relationship will be severed at that moment. I will become Yamauchi-kun’s enemy.”
“That’s, that’s fine. Since I definitely won’t do such things!”
“Very well. So Masumi-san, please conduct a body check on him.”
“Eh, me?”
“Please.”
“……I understand.”
It seemed Kamuro said it reluctantly, and conducted a body check on Yamauchi.
“It has become interesting.”
That’s just acting.
The results have been decided from the beginning in Sakayanagi’s mind.
After Yamauchi returned to the dormitory, Sakayanagi and Kamuro continued to stay in the karaoke room.
“You don’t want to go back to the dormitory yet?”
That moment was around 8 in the evening.
Since the students have to enter the dormitory by 9 o’clock, and the store closing was also drawing near.
“Masumi-san, what do you think of my strategy this time?”
“What do you mean……”
“Ayanokōji-kun isn’t an ordinary person. You should have understood that, right?”
“Humph, your interest in Ayanokōji is amazing.”
“That’s not only me, right? Masumi-san who has observed him close, should have sensed it too.”
Even though she didn’t know him in particular, he was a student who has a mysterious and unpleasant personality.
That’s the impression of Ayanokōji that Masumi had.
“Is he formidable?”
“……So formidable?”
“Katsuragi-kun and Ryūen-kun, Ichinose-san and the like, they are no match for him.”
“Huh, then, what about you?”
“Humph. I wonder about that.”
“……It seems you are serious. I can’t believe you said like that.”
Kamuro was surprised since she had just thought if Sakayanagi would immediately say ‘I will win’.
“Of course, I can win. But the truth is I can’t see his limit. No…… that’s slightly incorrect. Perhaps there’s some part of me really wish that Ayanokōji-kun isn’t my enemy, as if I wanted him to be my companion.”
It was a mysterious feeling that she herself had never realized.
“I hope I can see his ability before he will end up dropping out of school. His true ability.”
Sakayanagi wished that from the bottom of her heart.

7
That was an incident on Tuesday.
And then, Sakayanagi also continuously received the reports from Yamauchi in the following days.
She personally has been teaching him how to behave and how to survive in this exam.
She placed those chess pieces in their own position while advancing her plan.
“I see. These are the people who will cast the Criticism Vote for Ayanokōji-kun, right?”
There are 21 people in total.
There were more supporters than she imagined, Sakayanagi was impressed.
If Yamauchi was alone, perhaps it wouldn’t have been developed conveniently to date.
“Yamauchi-kun.”
“What, what’s wrong?”
“Indeed, it seems it was right to ask Kushida-san to act as a mediator.”
She is the type of person who thinks and takes action for her classmates.
“Well, I guess so. It was exactly as Sakayanagi-chan said.”
That conclusion was based on Sakayanagi’s judgment that ‘Kushida can’t refuse it easily if she was being asked by Yamauchi’.
Most importantly, Sakayanagi also felt slightly concerned in relation to the information that Kushida was holding.
“Did you even burst into tears when you were asking for her cooperation?”
“I, I didn’t do such a shameless behavior thing!”
And it seems he had persuaded her with tears── Sakayanagi and Kamuro exchanged thoughts through their gazes.
“So it seems you negotiation skill was flawless.”
“I guess so……”
“Then I will contact you tomorrow about who you should draw into your group.”
“I understood.”
The crucial moment is tomorrow on Thursday.
Sakayanagi decided how to expand the movement hereafter, and when she has to draw those classmates into Yamauchi’s group.
When she has ended the phone call, Kamuro said.
“I can’t believe that person Kushida would actually cooperate to ‘Drop someone out of school’.”
“If he had burst into tears, I think she didn’t have any choice but to help him. However, she will also need to have some kind of conversation skill, in order to draw in so many students so far. It seems that student named Kushida-san is an exceptional smooth talker.”
Sakayanagi stared at Kamuro while holding the Queen’s chess piece.
“What do you think will be happened next?”
“If that situation continued on, Ayanokōji will gather up the Criticism Vote and drop out of school…… However, if he is even a formidable enemy as you said, how come he didn’t take any measures?”
“He even doesn’t know if he himself was being targeted, isn’t it?”
“But he doesn’t know this plan.”
“He is always on guard. Even though he doesn’t know now that he was being targeted, if he considered the true nature of this exam, he can’t rule out the possibility that he will gather up the Criticism Votes by some chance. If that’s the case, he should be thinking about it and take the initiative for the countermeasures.”
“……What’s that countermeasures?”
“That’s to show in front of everyone that there are students ‘Who are hindrance for the class’. It doesn’t matter whatever the reason, but the more incompetent that student, the more instant the effect.”
Sakayanagi imagined of the scene that perhaps will be held in C-Class in the near future.
“For example, Yamauchi-kun. He teamed up with me, and took an action and tried to drop Ayanokōji-kun out of school, who is one of his own companions. If such incident was exposed, he certainly will become the ideal target for it, right.”
“That means it doesn’t matter for you, whether it’s Ayanokōji or Yamauchi.”
Sakayanagi picked up the King’s chess piece with her other idle hand.
“No. The King has to remain to the end.”
Sakayanagi has been controlling the progress entirely to the end.

8
On Friday evening, the day before the exam.
Sakayanagi was in the karaoke room, in preparation for tomorrow’s exam.
“How’s the situation?”
The members were Kamuro, Hashimoto, and Kitō, 4 people.
“I heard everything have been exposed today. It seems Horikita-san found it out, and exposed the matter that I was teaming up with Yamauchi-kun. I wonder where on earth the information was leaked from.”
Sakayanagi picked 1 French fries and brought it to her mouth.
1 student informed her while looking at that circumstance.
“Sakayanagi, that source of information was Karuizawa. I have said it, right. In order to ascertain Ayanokōji drop out of school, it’s better we don’t pull Karuizawa into Yamauchi’s group.”
Hashimoto Masayoshi. He is one of Sakayanagi’s close underlings, a student who decided to observe Ayanokōji on his own judgment.
During that time, he saw Karuizawa was closely connected with Ayanokōji, and he gave a suggestion on the strategy this time.
Previously Sakayanagi agreed to that suggestion and didn’t pull Karuizawa in, but she had changed the plan on Thursday.
That outcome led to today’s situation.
“In order to accomplish the strategy this time perfectly, wasn’t that something we shouldn’t do, so that Ayanokōji himself didn’t realize if he was being targeted until the exam has ended?”
“That’s right. I have remembered your advice well. There’s a possibility that Ayanokōji-kun and Karuizawa-san have unusual relationships. In other words, if she knew it, there’s a high possibility that the information will certainly reach to Ayanokōji-kun’s ears.”
That’s why Sakayanagi consciously pulled Karuizawa into the group later.
She skipped Tuesday and Wednesday, and deliberately did it on Thursday.
And then from the development of the next day, she concluded there’s a high possibility that Karuizawa has leaked the information to Ayanokōji in that way.
“Sakayanagi, I think you made a mistake.”
Such remarks also came from Kamuro who was listening to the conversation.
Hashimoto tried to analyze why Sakayanagi made such a mistake.
“If we pulled in Karuizawa who is the center of the girls, the Criticism Vote for Ayanokōji will be gathered up at once. It’s possible to exceed the target of 20 votes and close to 30 votes. Your plan was a bit greedy.”
“I knew that they will conduct a class trial. The question is sooner or later.”
“But if this matter wasn’t being exposed, perhaps Yamauchi also has an escape route remain.”
Listening to each of their opinions, Sakayanagi couldn’t help but have fun.
“If they knew that they will be the victim, even herbivore animals will show their last resistance. But, that’s why I think it’s interesting. So I wanted to see what he will do in the remaining time and how he will struggle.”
“Did you deliberately leak the information to Karuizawa because you wanted to see that?”
“That means I also can ascertain if your advice was correct, right.”
“However, Ayanokōji has consulted it with Horikita, and she also has exposed it to their classmates in that development. That means the situation has become unpredictable. Even though Yamauchi won’t be dropped out of school since he will receive our Praise Tickets, but Ayanokōji definitely won’t be dropped out of school too. I can’t guess who will be dropped out of school anymore.”
“Wasn’t it also a mistake to let yourself restricted by verbal promise to the agreement of the Criticism Vote for Ayanokōji? How many people will withdraw from voting for Ayanokōji after knowing about today’s disclosure……”
The number of Criticism Vote for Ayanokōji will be drastically decreased, and the number of Criticism Vote for Yamauchi will be increased.
But Yamauchi will receive 20 Praise Tickets from A-Class, so he will escape from crisis.
If that happened, who will receive more Criticism Votes in the end will be unpredictable.
Listening to such analysis by Hashimoto and Kamuro, Sakayanagi laughed.
Sakayanagi has already seen the results.
Kamuro, Hashimoto and Yamauchi, they still can’t predict the result.
She has imagined the result in her mind.
Sakayanagi took out the cell phone which power has been turned off.
Once she turned on the power, relentless incoming call and e-mail from Yamauchi have arrived afterwards.
The conclusion of those many Praise Tickets that held by A-Class. Will those Praise Tickets really be voted for Yamauchi, it seems he couldn’t help but feeling that anxiety.
“There’s something that I had forgotten to tell everyone. It’s very important topic related to Yamauchi-kun.”
Sakayanagi said so, and she also calmly told them that she had forgotten to inform that matter.