The twelve representatives first moved to a classroom to wait and rest. Naturally, the conversation shifted to the topic of the special exam on the way. Horikita and Yōsuke were discussing the rules for participants.
"We won't be directly involved with them until the exam is over, but the burden is greater than imagined, and even the students who aren't representatives have been given important roles."
"That's right. In fact, without the cooperation of the participants, we representatives wouldn't be able to win."
If they participated in the discussion without thinking and were easily led by the opposing class, there was a possibility that their roles could be discerned by the opponent's representative, and our lives could be reduced.
It was conceivable that there'd be a case where the discussion was neglected, so we wouldn't be able to get the information needed on the participants. Consequently, we wouldn't be able to nominate and reduce the opponent representative's lives.
Or, without any hints, the outcome might just have to be trusted to chance.
Excluding classes that weren't all too confident, this would be an unwanted development.
"However, I'm still worried about how much Ike-kun and the others can understand."
Horikita seemed anxious about whether they could fulfill their roles as participants.
If possible, she would want to explain things to them directly and in detail.
Things that would normally be natural weren't allowed on this big stage.
"I'd be lying if I said I'm not worried, but that should be the same for the other classes."
Yōsuke, walking at the end of the line, muttered this while looking at the nine people ahead.
"That's right. The conditions are the same for everyone... It's everyone's first experience with such a discussion."
"It probably won't go smoothly right away. Since it's a clash between classes, it might seem like a seven vs seven situation, but in reality, there are many cases where people with the same roles become allies. The idea of collaborating with other classes in the final exam was a surprise to everyone."
Even if they were suddenly told to team up, it normally wouldn't go so smoothly.
"Honestly, I can't even imagine how it will go."
Yōsuke seemed to have tried to imagine the situation but quickly gave up as the image didn't form.
As they continued the conversation, we soon arrived at our destination.
The waiting room they entered had two monitors, unlike the previous classroom.
The rest of the room was nothing but twelve empty seats.
"Students waiting here can check the status of the exam in real-time on this monitor. However, they can only see the changes in the representatives' lives and the outcomes of the matches. As I explained earlier, it will not be possible to know what's happening within the exam itself."
A sample text appeared on the left side of the two monitors.
Results
2nd Year B Class Vanguard Representative Name 〇 Remaining Life 0
2nd Year D Class Middle Guard Representative Name 〇 Remaining Life 4
2nd Year B Class Middle Guard Representative Name 〇 Move Promptly
Interval Remaining Time 10:00
"When a decision is reached between representatives, it will be displayed on this monitor. In the actual exam, the circle where the representative's name is will display each student's name. The other monitor will only show the results between Class A and Class C."
There was little to learn from this monitor, and it wouldn't be able to provide hints for strategizing on the exam.
"Also, you representatives are forbidden from leaving this floor until the exam is over. You may use the restroom freely while waiting, but if you exceed the time allocated for movement during rounds, a separate penalty will be imposed. Be careful."
It seemed to be a measure to isolate the representatives and the participants. The confiscation of cell phones, the body checks, and the ban on moving floors were all part of not giving any information to the participants. Even if you tried to find a way to communicate, you were almost certainly being thoroughly watched. It would be better not to take any suspicious actions beyond what was necessary.
"From now on, I would like the three representatives of each class to have a discussion and select 35 students to divide into 5 groups. You have one hour."
I walked towards Horikita with Yōsuke under Mashima-sensei's instructions. At the same time, Ichinose's class also formed a small circle of three people. However, Sakayanagi and Ryūen's classes, although they had closed the distance between themselves, showed no signs of discussion.
"Those two seem to be making all the groups by themselves."
Horikita muttered without much surprise.
"They probably never intended to listen to their classmates' opinions from the start."
Yōsuke, who was somewhat taken aback but still had a smile on his face, said in agreement.
"I would like to incorporate any advice if there are any, so what do you think?"
Horikita, still grasping to see how to distribute her classmates, asked for my honest opinion.
"I think we should create a group consisting of only excellent students. Even though a group can only participate once before they must rest, they could still become a trump card."
Here, 'excellent students' didn't refer to academic ability.
It meant students who could think quickly, read the atmosphere, and had good communication skills. Preferably, those who wouldn't negatively attract attention.
"Kushida-san might've been more suited for this special exam than I am."
"That can't be helped. It was a decision made solely on the information disclosed beforehand."
It was the same for all classes. Every class would've made better selections if they had all the information.
"In any case, we should count Kushida as an excellent student."
"Yes, I think Kushida-san will definitely be able to deliver results individually."
Yōsuke, who made the suggestion, nodded towards Horikita.
"We've made many sacrifices to keep her. I'll need to have her perform well."
With that in mind, we started creating a specific group of reliable students on the tablet.
Occasionally, she sought advice from us, and Yōsuke also racked his brains to respond.
I mostly refrained from voluntarily speaking, continuing mainly to observe.
It was necessary to let Horikita, who was settling into a middle guard position, form the groups she thought best to resolve things on her own.
"By the way... now that you've heard the rules, what do you think about this special exam, Horikita-san?"
Yōsuke must've had his own thoughts after hearing the teacher's explanation.
As if looking to verify his own answer, he turned such a question to Horikita.
"I didn't think that academic or physical abilities alone would directly correlate to the results of the exam, but this was certainly unexpected. In truth, what could be said as to what decides the difference between winning and losing... Even if you say to create the ideal group, what exactly is the ideal?"
"Yeah, I also feel a strong sense of uncertainty. Even if we group students like Kushida-san together, will that be the thing that'll end up leading our class to victory?"
The stage was set for the representatives to fight, and the participants for the discussion were gathered from two classes.
Moreover, the participants weren't fully informed about the representatives' conditions for victory, so they could only engage purely in discussions, and the representatives couldn't expect any assistance from them.
In other words, whether the group's students were excellent or not could be seen as a minor issue.
The important thing was which representative could quickly identify roles such as honor students from the combined discussion of the 14 participants.
"At least, the representative needs to have good insight, the ability to see and discern people."
"...I guess so. But then again, maybe our opponents are more troublesome than we thought."
Horikita said, glancing stealthily towards Ichinose. Fortunately, they were already seriously discussing the group formation and weren't looking our way.
"Unfortunately, she might understand things about our class better than both you or me, Horikita..."
"Yes..."
I found this special exam quite interesting.
A point I wanted to especially acknowledge was how several possible means of victory had been prepared for the representatives.
In most cases, during the stage where the exam contents were announced, a bias on who would win would already seem to be evident, but with one particular method, Horikita, Ichinose, Sakayanagi, and Ryūen all have a chance to win the exam. It wouldn't be strange for any of them to win.
Under Horikita's leadership and Yōsuke's assistance, the group formation was underway.
While observing the two, there was one thing I needed to confirm and request.
After deciphering the rules for this special exam, I realized that there was something that I felt was necessary.
"Let me talk about something unrelated to forming groups first. It's about the right to designate a traitor. Could you let me have it?"
When I conveyed this, as the one holding the tablet, Horikita's fingertips stopped.
"That's quite an unreasonable request. You're the one who imposed the conditions on me. I thought this was an indispensable trump card for me to gain the upper hand as a middle guard?"
Indeed, Horikita was prepared to take down the opponent's leader as a middle guard.
She wanted to exercise the right to select the traitor herself, as it could serve as a powerful weapon.
That was why I brought it up at this moment.
"Still dissatisfied? Then, you won't give it to me?"
"It depends on the situation. First and foremost, is it something you really need?"
Can you win without using it? This was also a way of confirming that.
"The opponent is Ichinose. As far as what I could decipher from the rules this time, she'd be quite the formidable enemy. It would be helpful if you could decide the match as a middle guard, but if you lose after using the right, it will become a risky endeavor. It's safer to keep it for emergencies."
"I understand what you want to say. Indeed, that might be the case. But then, you'll have to ease your conditions a bit before I can agree."
If she were to give up the right to select the traitor, Horikita would have to defeat Ichinose, who holds the right to select the traitor. In addition to the difference in the amount of lives, this handicap would also be heavy.
"Then, let's do this. If I lose after receiving the right, I will fully cooperate with our class until graduation. If you wish, I will take on any role at any time. How about this?"
"You're retracting that stingy half-year proposal?"
"That's right."
"It's not often you show such a cooperative attitude. It seems you're confident you won't lose if you have the right to select the traitor... Let's settle on that."
I had initially proposed a shorter period of half a year, and it turned out to bear fruit in this way.
"If I can get that much cooperation, perhaps it's okay to lose. Maybe I should hold back this time?"
Having said that, she flashed a slightly malicious smile. Of course, Horikita would never actually hold back. The time given for group formation was one hour, but no particular class struggled. All classes finished their tasks in about 40 minutes, then returned the tablets to Mashima-sensei. All that was left was to sit in any available seat and wait for the signal to start the special exam...
Even now that all the rules had been disclosed, the basic ideas hadn't changed.
However, following the one personal desire I had, I decided to leave traces of that here.
For that purpose, I sent a glance toward Ryūen. Soon our eyes met, and I conveyed that I wanted to meet him in the hallway.
Ryūen seemed to understand the signal and left the classroom ahead of me.
"I'm going to the restroom for a bit."
I excused myself to Horikita and Yōsuke and headed out to the special building corridor.
As I stepped into the hallway, another person followed me out of the classroom.
"Ayanokōji-kun."
With a volume that wouldn't disturb the quiet atmosphere of the hallway, Hoshinomiya-sensei approached.
"Going to the restroom? Can I have a moment?"
I stopped and turned around, and Hoshinomiya-sensei closed the distance even more.
Close enough to touch her without stretching my arm.
"It's surprising to see you coming out as a representative today. I hadn't expected it at all."
"Is it that surprising? I participated in the special exam at the end of last year too."
When I brought up a suitable comparison, Hoshinomiya-sensei snorted a little.
"My class doesn't have another chance. We're Class D, you know? If you come out, our chances of winning will surely decrease. You'd understand my disagreement towards that, right?"
She bluntly voiced her thoughts without sugarcoating them. As a teacher, she seemed to have crossed a line she shouldn't have, but it was better not to touch on that point.
"I don't consider your class an easy opponent. Ichinose's class is a formidable enemy. From the impression given by the rules, I actually feel as if I'm at a disadvantage."
"Advantage or disadvantage, that doesn't matter. What's important is the result—the victory."
Clinging to uncertainties was indeed pointless.
"That might be true. All we can do is compete with each other—"
"Give me the win. I want you to discreetly hold back."
Hoshinomiya-sensei interrupted me and said that.
Kanzaki had said something similar, but this was far more direct.
"That's unreasonable. As someone entrusted as the general, I can't hold back."
"I'm not saying it's for free. What if I say I'll properly give you something in return?"
"A return that's equivalent to giving up the victory isn't something you can easily offer, right? Besides, Hoshinomiya-sensei, you're a teacher. Isn't it breaking an unwritten rule to intervene in a student's fight?"
While being cautious of our surroundings, Hoshinomiya-sensei stepped even closer.
"Sae-chan is the one I definitely can't lose to. For that, I'm willing to do anything."
"I see. You don't care about your position as a teacher."
"That's right."
"Then let me ask you, what kind of reward are you prepared to offer?"
"I'll do anything I'm able to. For example, if I get information about the special exams held during the third year early, I could secretly inform you in advance."
I asked the question expecting her to step out of her role as a teacher, but it was more than I imagined.
Right now, even if she didn't know that I wasn't carrying a recording device, she couldn't say such things, even as a lie.
"If you're willing to go that far, you should just leak that information to the class you're in charge of."
"Those kids are no good. They can't be corrupted. Even if I made such a proposal, they wouldn't be able to fully utilize it. Instead, they would try to protect me."
Even though Ichinose craved victory, she wouldn't easily resort to dishonesty.
She would undoubtedly stop Hoshinomiya-sensei, whose position as a teacher was at risk.
It seemed she understood that much.
"In that case, you might be different, right? You could surely make good use of the information."
"Thank you for the offer, but the risk is too great. I have to decline."
Hoshinomiya-sensei probably didn't expect me to accept such a dangerous proposal.
"Then what kind of reward do you want? Can't you suggest something, Ayanokōji-kun?"
"I don't have anything in particular in mind, so I'm waiting for your proposal."
"Ugh... then there's something else. Yes, something only I can do... or something like that."
Saying that, Hoshinomiya-sensei reached out with her right hand and gently touched my ear.
"Are you going to clean my ears?"
"Stop joking. You know what I mean, right?"
She was showing her resolve to do anything, no matter what it took. However, regardless of whatever she offered in return, teaming up with Hoshinomiya-sensei here was just a risk. It was easy to dismiss a foolish teacher who desired victory, but things weren't that simple. Her resolve to do anything for victory was undoubtedly genuine.
If that's the case, just like how spat-out saliva couldn't be swallowed, I have to consider that my statements could be picked up and used by her. It's necessary to consider various risks here.
(TL Note: That's a literal translation of a saying: 吐いた唾は飲めぬ with the meaning "words once spoken cannot be taken back.")
"You're looking at me with such unpleasant eyes, Ayanokōji-kun. It's like... you can see right through my mind."
"What you can do now is to believe in Ichinose's class's victory."
"No matter what, you really won't let me win, will you?"
I faced Hoshinomiya-sensei directly and took a step back.
"Of course not. Horikita's class and Ichinose's class are in completely opposite positions."
"Then you don't know what measures I might take, do you?"
"That's interesting. With that included, I'll be looking forward to it. Excuse me."
With that, I turned my back and started walking towards the restroom.
Hoshinomiya-sensei didn't call out to me any further, nor were there any signs of her chasing after me.