BEFORE THE SPECIAL EXAM started, I arrived at the restroom first and leaned against the door at the far end of the row of stalls, waiting for Ayanokōji.
With my arms crossed and my guard up, I decided to focus on the battle against Sakayanagi. The rules had just been disclosed, so I kept simulating in my mind with methods to fight her.
Since the representatives and participants were completely separated, most of the strategies I'd prepared in advance were unfortunately unusable, but Sakayanagi was under the same conditions. I didn't have the right to complain.
If it'd been a contest of academic abilities, the outcome would've been almost certain. It was safe to say I'd passed the first hurdle.
It was interesting precisely because there were no absolute guarantees.
After a while, I was enveloped by a sensation that prickled my skin.
It was a gamble, and if I lost to Sakayanagi in the exam, that was that.
If necessary, my revenge against Ayanokōji could even be carried over outside the school.
After a slight delay, he arrived.
His usual expressionless face, that eerie atmosphere surrounding Ayanokōji was something I couldn't sense back then.
But now, I could feel his abnormality all too well.
"I see you noticed my call."
"Get to the point. I don't have time to deal with you today."
Even with my pressuring, Ayanokōji didn't even twitch an eyebrow.
"During the special exam, I want to send a message to Sakayanagi through you."
"Huh? A message? Then say it yourself. Are you kidding me?"
Sakayanagi had been quiet in the waiting room from the group selection until just now.
There were plenty of opportunities to talk to her.
"It's a special message. I want it delivered only during the special exam."
A message that made sense only once my one-on-one with Sakayanagi was established.
"Hah! I don't get it."
"It's fine if you don't understand. The message just needs to reach her."
What was he planning?
It's unlikely, but could he be in cahoots with Sakayanagi?
"Don't worry. I'm not your ally, but I'm not Sakayanagi's ally either. I'm just a bystander."
He added that, reading my thoughts as I observed the situation.
"Are there any benefits in it for me for cooperating with something so troublesome?"
"Sorry, but not particularly. If you don't like it, feel free to refuse. Besides, if you end up defeating Sakayanagi, this message won't be necessary."
I wasn't inclined to cooperate with Ayanokōji, but his last remark wasn't something I could just ignore.
"You think I'd lose?"
"I didn't say that. This message is just a bit special."
He kept saying things I didn't understand.
"If you decide you can't win, just remember our current conversation then."
I didn't like what he said, but this guy has an uncanny ability to see ahead.
At the very least, this wouldn't be a meaningless action.
"I have no plans to lose, but I'll listen. What should I tell her?"
The content he wanted to convey to Sakayanagi through such a roundabout way piqued my interest.
But—
"The content of the message is only known to Hashimoto."
"What?"
Ayanokōji, once again, said something beyond my expectations.
"So, just tell Sakayanagi to hear the message from Hashimoto."
"Are you kidding me? How do you plan on letting them talk during the exam?"
"It's simple. Just make Hashimoto the traitor. That way, a one-on-one interrogation situation will arise."
He kept spouting such ridiculous nonsense.
"Don't make me laugh. Hashimoto is a backstabber that no one trusts. There's no way Sakayanagi would use his group in her match against me."
Using the right to select Hashimoto as the traitor seemed foolish, but even the premise itself shouldn't have been possible.
"It depends on the situation. Depending on how things unfold, it might not be that difficult."
Force it if you have to—he didn't seem to urge me quite to that extent but he still was an incredibly irritating bastard…
"It's a lost cause. Not sure if there will be any meaning at that point, but convey her that message yourself after the exam. There should at least be enough time for you to meet."
"It's a special message that only Sakayanagi can understand during the special exam."
"You're not planning to let me use the traitor rights?"
Sakayanagi probably wouldn't use Hashimoto, but in case she did, I had to keep the traitor rights available, or this message would become impossible.
"That might be the case."
"Don't make me laugh. That message will never reach Sakayanagi."
Thinking seriously about this made me feel stupid, so I pushed Ayanokōji's riddle to the back of my mind.
"Use it whenever you like if you want to. I won't force you."
Leaving those words behind, the man quickly finished up and left, and I clicked my tongue sharply.
"What kind of message is that? Damn it, making it unnecessarily difficult to convey to her."
Despite being forced into a tough battle, he made such an outrageous demand.