A TEN-MINUTE COUNTDOWN set for the recess interval began.
The seconds on the digital timer ticked down one by one on the monitor.
Having defeated Hamaguchi without a scratch, Horikita was now waiting in her chair for their middle guard, Kanzaki.
Even if Kanzaki arrived within the next 10 minutes, until the count reached zero, this period effectively served as a break. During this time, Horikita was reviewing the rules of the special exam in her mind.
The amount of lives given to the middle guard was seven. Apart from the reductions caused by the opponent's own mistakes, the maximum lives that could be reduced at once was three.
While it was natural to want to take the initiative, nominating someone early on came with risks.
However, it was true that continuously passing would also put her on the defensive.
In reality, Hirata's defensive approach led to his defeat.
Horikita imagined what type of player Kanzaki Ryūji might be.
He seemed to prioritize defending, much like Hirata or Hamaguchi...
"But, there's also a good chance he might go on the offensive to change the flow..."
The words in her mind inadvertently slipped out.
If the opponent decided to continuously nominate, ready to harm themselves, it would be difficult to avoid any consequences.
That would make the fight against the general even tougher.
Horikita tried to come up with ideas to defeat Kanzaki without getting inflicted with any damage.
But no matter how much she strategized, her options were limited.
In the end, is it all about having the eye to recognize the roles first?
Or perhaps, if I can cleverly lead him to keep on passing...
As she hadn't settled on a strategy for the next battle, the classroom door opened, and Kanzaki appeared.
The timer had just under four minutes left.
Kanzaki silently surveyed the classroom, then sat down in his seat and took a breather.
"I'll be in your care"
Horikita tried to offer a basic greeting, but Kanzaki looked at her sternly.
"Whose idea was it to put Ayanokōji as the general?"
"That's quite a sudden question."
"You, Horikita? Or was it Ayanokōji himself? Why did Ayanokōji accept it? When was it decided?"
He stared intently, his questioning beyond the limits of mere inquiry
"Whoever decided to make him the general, for what reason, and when, is our choice to make, isn't it?"
"The Ayanokōji I know isn't the type to put himself forward. Someone must've put him up for it."
"Maybe. Perhaps even he's changing little by little."
Though not explicitly mentioned, Horikita, sitting as the middle guard, had accepted Ayanokōji's wish and proposal to be the general. Of course, this included his desire not to stand out later, so it wasn't far from the Ayanokōji that Kanzaki knew.
"Are we done here? I'd like to focus on the exam."
"...Right."
As the announcement signaling the start of the discussion played, Horikita looked down at her tablet.
Then, she selected a new group from the ones that had been formed.
As rounds progressed, it was natural for the participants' roles to be revealed through discussion, but the more skilled and capable students were also better at hiding their roles.
On the other hand, the opposite was true for students who were bad at lying or weren't good at discussions. Whether to choose a student hard to read or deliberately choose one that was easy to read varied per representative.
The game began with the selection of which seven-member group to participate.
[First Discussion]
Participants:
2nd Year Class B
Ijūin Kou, Sudō Ken, Miyake Akito, Ichihashi Ruri, Onodera Kayano, Nishimura Ryūko, Matsushita Chiaki
2nd Year Class D
Norihito Watanabe, Yonezu Haruto, Sumida Makoto, Aragaki Itsuki, Iguchi Mashiro, Himeno Yuki, Ninomiya Yui
Horikita chose students who were calm, bold, or had a poker face—seven members suited for a battle of discussion.
On the monitor, following the instructions, the 14 participants sat down at the round table.
The tablets on the desk now displayed the roles assigned to each participant.
Both representatives kept a close eye on the entire monitor, checking for any students who behaved suspiciously or made eye contact with specific participants.
However, no student showed any overt behavior; they all acted cautiously, observing their surroundings with a serious look on their faces.
Horikita suddenly felt pleased seeing Sudō, who maintained his composure on the screen.
He wouldn't have even been a candidate for a group like this in the past.
He had grown so much in the past two years; Horikita was momentarily enveloped in a parental-like emotion. Watching over Sudō warmly yet sternly, she continued to observe the entire discussion as the five-minute countdown began.
With many composed students, few made mistakes even in their first discussion, and both Horikita and Kanzaki chose to pass. Rounds one and two saw little progress, resulting in only two students being dismissed by the honor students. However, they couldn't remain bystanders forever.
In the midst of this, round three began. Miyake, claiming to be a graduate, pointed out that Norihito was an honor student. Naturally, a debate ensued with Norihito denying it, leading up to the third nomination.
Passing here could carry high risks, but it also offered an opportunity.
Whether to trust Miyake, who claimed to be a graduate, would be the first focal point.
Kanzaki judged that Miyake was a graduate and nominated Norihito as an honor student.
Meanwhile, Horikita decided that Miyake was an honor student and Norihito was something else, nominating Miyake as an honor student. Both of their decisions to avoid passing were clearly divided.
'Horikita-san has successfully identified Miyake-kun as an honor student, so Kanzaki-kun will lose three lives. Additionally, Kanzaki-kun has made an incorrect nomination and will lose one life.'
A slight difference in judgment and their total lives changed drastically, from 7-7 to 7-3.
Miyake was an honor student, and Norihito wasn't. With this, only one honor student remained. The participants realized something about this discussion—unlike in similar games, announcing your role doesn't always lead to the expected outcome. The only risk for executive roles to come forward was the risk of being nominated. Furthermore, because it is extremely difficult for honor students to win, a different strategy arises where they can gain rewards if the representatives, or they themselves were to nominate someone with an executive role. Miyake seemed to have opted for the latter this time.
However, the main focus was still the special exam. The true goal was for the representatives to win, not just for participants to gain private points, and the executive roles coming forward spurred discussions and facilitated smooth progress.
This series of nominations greatly influenced the next round, as Miyake's departure visibly unsettled Ninomiya. Everyone, rather than thinking that this was an act, firmly believed that he was the other honor student. Horikita and Kanzaki, both convinced by his reaction that he was the other honor student, nominated him without fear of making a mistake. As expected, Ninomiya was revealed to be an honor student, and the discussion ended quickly with a victory for the ordinary students.
"...May I speak with you for a moment?"
Having lost four lives in the first discussion and moving on to the next, Kanzaki approached Horikita.
"Sure, what is it?"
Glancing briefly at the ten-minute recess interval countdown displayed on the monitor, she braced herself, considering that Kanzaki might be aiming to shake her up psychologically. Kanzaki, looking solemn, stood up from his chair and walked towards her.
"I have a favor to ask... I know it's strange to ask this, but I can't afford to be picky anymore. Could you possibly concede the victory of this end-of-year special exam to us, Class D?"
Horikita intended to calmly handle whatever words came her way.
However, the Kanzaki's request was unexpectedly and unimaginably strange.
"Are you serious? Sorry, but those words are difficult to believe."
Asking for the opponent to concede in a serious confrontation, a special exam that would determine the crucial class rankings, was a concept that even if easy to grasp, was hard to digest.
It wasn't a statement made with any real expectation of her accepting it.
Suspecting this, Horikita wore a stern expression.
"It may sound like an absurd request, but I'm serious. There's nothing left for us in Class D. If we lose this end-of-year special exam, there will be a critical gap between us and the upper classes. It's as if we've crossed the final line."
If Sakayanagi's class won and Ichinose's class lost, the gap with Class A would be depressingly vast.
Even with one or two sweeping victories within the special exams, the likelihood of closing that gap was slim.
"The good thing about this special exam is that the losing class doesn't lose class points. That means your class still has chances next year. Even if Sakayanagi wins as expected, a year is enough to close that gap."
Kanzaki, unable to afford any pretenses, pleaded, considering the high confidentiality of the situation, and discarded all his pride to prove his sincerity by bowing deeply before Horikita.
"Even if you bow, it's not something I can just agree to because you asked. If it were a matter between just us, maybe there'd be a slim chance. But this is a battle between classes. Just like you're fighting with your class on your back, I'm fighting with mine on my back too."
"Of course, I understand."
"If you understand, then you shouldn't be making such an impossible request in the first place."
"I know, but I have no choice but to do it... Of course, I don't intend to ask you to hand over the victory for free. I'll definitely make up for it in a way that matches the cost. I'll support and cover your class in the third-year battles... Normally, you might not trust such a thing, but if it's Ichinose, you should be able to trust her."
Kanzaki mentioned his class leader's name as if it were a guarantee.
"Indeed, Ichinose-san might not be someone who easily betrays others. However, it only becomes effective when she herself asserts it in her own words, and isn't it inappropriate for you to negotiate on your own, using that trust? Did you even get permission in the first place?"
"That is—"
"If you lose, Kanzaki-kun, Ichinose-san will inevitably come forward. Your pleas would be far more likely to work if you discussed it then. Not doing so means that everything you're talking about now is just your own decision, right?"
Receiving a clear and explicit point, Kanzaki let out an audible reaction.
"You're not even the class leader, and yet you're unilaterally guaranteeing full support for next year. That's just too reckless. I can't trust that at all."
"Ichinose... regardless of what she truly thinks, isn't the type to ask her opponent to concede a win. But even though she doesn't say it, she must feel the same as me. With Ayanokōji coming up later, there isn't a single chance of winning...!"
If he wanted to pursue victory, Kanzaki had to defeat Horikita at all costs and reduce Ayanokōji's lives even a little.
However, currently, he was unable to inflict any damage on Horikita and was in a dire situation.
"You're giving Ayanokōji-kun quite a high evaluation."
"...Yes. Ayanokōji is formidable. That's why the outcome is almost clear."
"I don't like it."
"Don't like...? What don't you like? I'm just stating the facts."
"I'm not saying it's not a fact. But I don't like it."
Seeing Kanzaki already accepting defeat, Horikita felt both disappointment and anger.
It was true that the ally waiting behind her was strong.
It was also true that people being fearful because of it was welcomed.
Yet, Horikita put herself in Ichinose's shoes, thinking from the perspective of a classmate.
"You're underestimating Ichinose-san, who's the leader of your class. The moment the details of the special exam were announced, I thought she would be a formidable enemy more than anyone else. Her network and insight are not to be taken lightly. She might be a more troublesome opponent than Sakayanagi-san, Ryūen-kun, or even Ayanokōji-kun."
Kanzaki, who settled into the class strategist position, trusted Ichinose less than anyone.
Ichinose must've trusted Kanzaki and entrusted him with the middle guard position.
That was why Horikita disliked his attitude.
"If you ask me, the situation is still even."
"Even, even, huh…? I wonder."
Despite the explanation, Kanzaki didn't change his attitude at all.
"...Let's end this. Continuing this conversation is unpleasant."
Go back to your seat, she communicated with her gaze.
But Kanzaki didn't move, his feet still planted.
"That's not possible... If we lose, it really is the end for us...!"
"So you're continuing with the pointless whining?"
[ILLUSTRATION]
Horikita replied without raising her voice.
Yet, slight ripples stirred on the surface of her mind.
"I don't care how I'm perceived. I can't let our dreams of Class A be crushed here."
Other students would have looked on in dismay and anger, yet Kanzaki persisted.
He was fully aware that it was an unreasonable request.
Even if it added to his shame, Kanzaki couldn't back down due to the situation his class was facing.
"...Your resolve has certainly come across. Normally, you wouldn't want to bow your head and beg like this. However, I'm not interested in negotiating."
Horikita could sense how much courage this took.
A painful appeal. Although she was predominantly angry, she still felt some slight room for sympathy.
However, that didn't mean she would hesitate or compromise with Kanzaki, nor would she give out an overly optimistic decision.
No, it would be more accurate to say she couldn't.
"It's unpleasant to deny a request, no matter what it is."
"I know it may be bothersome..."
Kanzaki's head remained bowed, utterly still. He was trying to reform and gather students who weren't just captivated by Ichinose but students who were starting to take action. However, it would take time for those efforts to bloom.
A major defeat along the way would render the reform meaningless.
He thought that if Ayanokōji didn't make a move in the end-of-year special exam, there still might be a chance.
But today, Ayanokōji came as the general.
"Please—!"
Kanzaki strained his voice. No matter how many times he pleaded, his proposal was unlikely to be accepted by the other party. He must've known that from the start.
Still, despite knowing that, Kanzaki continued to plead repeatedly.
"I won't hold back. I also value your abilities, Kanzaki-kun, and so does Ichinose-san. It's my job now to fight with all my might, no matter who the opponent is."
No one liked to bow their head willingly.
Yet, Kanzaki bowed his head for the sake of his class, and Horikita showed him the utmost consideration.
That meant fighting with all her might and responding with results.
"...I see..."
Only a bit of time remained in the recess interval. Kanzaki, with his head held low, returned to his seat.
Soon, the monitor lit up, and a new discussion was about to begin.
Horikita looked away from Kanzaki and back to the monitor. She couldn't afford to focus solely on Kanzaki any longer. What she needed to do now was to discern the participants' roles from the discussion unfolding on the other side of the monitor. The new discussion was beginning. Kanzaki seemed to be looking at the monitor, but his gaze wasn't really on it.
When the round ended, she chose to pass. Kanzaki also passed, his movements slow.
The discussion started once again, but Kanzaki still wasn't seriously engaged.
It seemed like he was just waiting to lose.
"Have you given up?"
Horikita asked, her voice piercing over the sound coming from the monitor.
"...No matter what results I achieve here, the outcome is already clear."
It turned out that Kanzaki had abandoned the idea of fighting seriously from the very start. Even if he had defeated Horikita, the middle guard, he realized that it would only mean negotiating with Ayanokōji instead of her.
Unable to stand his listless appearance any longer, Horikita stood up amidst the discussion and confronted Kanzaki.
"You were chosen as one of your class's representatives, weren't you? Then you should face this special exam with the resolve to defeat me and Ayanokōji-kun alone. That's the courtesy you owe your classmates."
"You're the one who's acting strange. Don't send salt to your enemy... just leave it be."
(TL Note: A Japanese idiom that means to show humanity even to one's enemy, or to help one's enemy during a difficult time.)
"...You're right. That's exactly it."
The match was decided. From this point on, the discussion and rounds proceeded without tension, just going through the motions.
Kanzaki continued to pass without nominating anyone, having completely given up.
Horikita reminded herself not to sympathize with him and resolved to make her second nomination without being careless.
'Horikita-san has successfully identified Mine-kun as an honor student, so Kanzaki-kun will lose three lives. As this brings his lives to zero, Kanzaki-kun, please leave the room.'
Even after the results were announced, Kanzaki didn't move right away.
Rather, it seemed like he hadn't heard the announcement.
"Kanzaki-kun."
Horikita called his name. For a moment, Kanzaki's eyes focused sharply, and he looked at her.
"...Ah, right. I just lost..."
He muttered as if it concerned someone else, then scooted back his chair and stood up.
Horikita hesitated to call out to Kanzaki as he left but stopped herself.
The winner and the loser—at least here, that had been decided. There was nothing she could say to Kanzaki now that would have a positive impact.
Up to this point, she had focused solely on her victory.
But behind every victory, there was a defeat.
Alone in the room, she stared at the monitor, displaying the now unoccupied discussion room.
"I'm fighting to move up to Class A. That's my goal..."
For Horikita, graduating from Class A held significant meaning.
Not for her future, but to gain recognition from her brother.
She wanted to be praised for leading Class D into becoming Class A—that was her greatest motivation.
What about Kanzaki? Was it to aim for a better future, like college or job prospects?
Or was it to bestow those benefits on his classmates?
As someone with little connection to him, she couldn't understand the true intentions behind the loser's desire to achieve Class A.
However, it's certain that he, too, has a strong reason. Just like me.
While waiting for her next opponent, Ichinose, to appear, she continued to ponder this.