บท 5: Strategy
A week had already passed since the heated fight for leadership that took place in Class C. The rooftop of the school, often a quiet haven away from prying eyes and ears, became the perfect meeting spot.
I was seated there now, with Ryuen, Ibuki, Ishizaki, and Albert gathered around me. The crisp afternoon air was cool, a subtle reminder of the passing time. For the past week, we had let things simmer, allowing the tension in the class to ease. Now, it was time to regroup and discuss the strategies that would shape our class's path forward.
Ryuen leaned casually against the railing, his ever-present smirk making it hard to read whether he was taking this seriously or just indulging in one of his games. Ibuki stood with one hand on her waist, her sharp eyes scanning me, trying to figure out my angle. Ishizaki stood awkwardly to the side, scratching his head, while Albert remained his usual silent self, standing tall and imposing.
Ryuen broke the silence, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of mockery. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
I straightened up, my expression calm but authoritative. "I asked you all on the first day to explore the entire school and see if you could find anything interesting. Were you able to do that?"
The school was enormous, spanning over 600,000 square meters. Even if they hadn't been able to cover every inch of it, I expected them to have gathered some useful information.
Ryuen chuckled, his smirk widening. "We didn't get around to exploring the entire school, but we did come across some interesting things. Isn't that right, Ishizaki?"
Ishizaki's face lit up with nervous energy as he scratched the back of his head. "Uhm… yeah, Ryuen-san's right. There are a few places in the school where there aren't any cameras. Pretty weird for a place like this, huh?"
My interest piqued at this revelation. Places without surveillance in a school like this? That could be a game-changer. "I see," I said thoughtfully. "Good work. Now, how about all of you sit down?"
They exchanged glances, clearly unsure of where I was going with this, but they complied. Ryuen slid into a casual sitting position, leaning back on his hands like he owned the place. Ibuki scoffed, her usual disdainful expression firmly in place, but sat cross-legged, clearly curious despite herself. Ishizaki plopped down with all the grace of a boulder, his enthusiasm lighting up his face. Albert, ever the silent shadow, settled next to him without a word, his stoic gaze fixed on me.
They all looked at me expectantly, the dynamic mix of intrigue and skepticism hanging in the air.
Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a deck of playing cards. The glossy cards glinted in the sunlight as I shuffled them effortlessly, the faint snap and rustle of cards filling the quiet rooftop. My movements were deliberate, calculated—a subtle show of control to hold their attention.
"Who here knows how to play card games?" I asked, my tone casual but carrying an edge that hinted at something more.
Ishizaki's hand shot up immediately, his enthusiasm almost childlike. "Oh! I know a few!" he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
I quirked an eyebrow at him, suppressing a small smile. "What do you know?"
"Oh, you know, the usual stuff—poker, blackjack, crazy eights," he rattled off proudly, as though listing a personal résumé of accomplishments.
I nodded faintly before glancing at the others. "What about the rest of you?"
Ryuen shrugged lazily, his expression unreadable. "Not much," he said, though his tone suggested he'd rather die than admit ignorance outright.
Albert simply shook his head. "No," he said curtly, his deep voice adding weight to his brevity.
Ibuki, true to her blunt nature, rolled her eyes. "No," she replied flatly, her arms crossed as though she already regretted sitting down.
"Well then," I said, my voice dropping slightly, "how about we play Cheats?"
The name hung in the air like a challenge. I saw the faint flicker of curiosity spark in their eyes.
"Cheats?" Ishizaki tilted his head, his expression a mix of confusion and excitement. "What's that?"
I leaned back, crossing my arms as a mischievous glint flickered in my eyes. "It's a card game. Simple enough to learn but requires a bit of... cunning." I let the word linger, watching how it affected them. "It's all about deception and seeing through other people's lies."
Ibuki scoffed, a skeptical frown tugging at her lips. "Sounds dumb."
"Sounds fun!" Ishizaki said, grinning like a kid who'd just been handed a new toy.
Ryuen chuckled low, his sharp gaze locking onto mine. "A game about lying, huh? Figures you'd bring something like this to the table," he said, his tone laced with amusement—and a touch of challenge.
"Naturally," I replied, meeting his gaze with calm confidence. "Think you can handle it, Ryuen?"
His smirk deepened. "I guess we'll find out."
Albert, who hadn't said much so far, finally spoke up. "Rules?" His tone was steady, but there was a subtle note of interest in his otherwise stoic demeanor.
I shuffled the cards again, the movements fluid and precise. "The goal is to get rid of all your cards. Players take turns placing cards face down in the center and declaring what they are. For example, I might say, 'two queens.' The catch is, you don't have to tell the truth."
I paused, watching as the realization dawned on them. "If someone thinks you're lying, they can call out 'cheat.' If they're right and you were bluffing, you pick up the entire pile. But..." I let a sly smile curve my lips. "If they're wrong and you were telling the truth, they have to take the pile instead."
Ishizaki's eyes lit up. "Oh, this is gonna be so good!"
Ibuki snorted, her skepticism giving way to reluctant intrigue. "So it's basically lying and hoping no one calls you out? Sounds easy enough."
Ryuen leaned forward slightly, his interest clearly piqued. "A game about bluffing, deception, and reading people," he mused, his smirk widening. "This might actually be fun."
Albert gave a single nod. "Straightforward," he said simply.
I dealt the cards, one by one, enjoying the mix of excitement, skepticism, and determination on their faces. "The question is," I said, my tone smooth, "can you lie convincingly enough—or spot a lie when you see one?"
The game began, and the rooftop's quiet was soon filled with the shuffle of cards, the sound of laughter, and the occasional outburst of disbelief. The tension, once an ever-present undercurrent in the group, began to shift. It wasn't gone—far from it—but it had transformed into something more competitive, a challenge between minds.
Ishizaki went first. He slapped two cards face down onto the pile with an overly enthusiastic grin. "Two eights," he declared, his tone a little too bright to be believable.
Ibuki immediately rolled her eyes. "Cheat." Her voice was flat, but there was a spark of amusement in her gaze.
Ishizaki froze, his grin faltering as he hesitated. "What? No way! I'm not—"
"Show us," Ryuen interrupted, smirking like a predator who had already caught the scent of blood.
Ishizaki reluctantly flipped the cards, revealing a two of spades and a king of hearts. He groaned dramatically as he scooped up the pile, while Ibuki smirked in triumph.
"Too easy," she said, leaning back with a smug expression.
"My turn," Ryuen said smoothly, picking up three cards and placing them on the pile. "Three sixes."
I watched him closely, analyzing his body language. His smirk hadn't wavered, and he seemed unnaturally calm. A bluff? Or was he genuinely playing it straight to bait us later?
Albert said nothing, his gaze steady but unchallenging. Ibuki stared at Ryuen, clearly debating whether to call him out. Ishizaki, still reeling from his loss, stayed quiet.
Finally, it was my turn. I tapped my fingers against my knee, letting the tension build. "Cheat," I said simply, locking eyes with Ryuen.
His smirk widened as he revealed his cards. Three sixes.
I raised an eyebrow, my expression betraying nothing as I scooped up the pile. Ryuen chuckled. "You're good at reading people, Takashiro, but even you can't get it right every time."
"Luck," I replied evenly, shuffling the cards in my hands before placing two on the pile. "Two queens."
The game continued, and the stakes grew higher with each round. Ishizaki's attempts at bluffing were laughably transparent, earning him the largest pile of cards. Ibuki, on the other hand, was surprisingly skilled at keeping a poker face, though her impatience sometimes gave her away. Albert's stoicism made him hard to read, but his reserved nature meant he rarely called anyone out unless he was sure.
Ryuen, of course, thrived. His natural charisma and penchant for deception made him a formidable opponent. He toyed with the group, throwing out bluffs and truths with equal ease, keeping everyone on edge.
But I had my own tricks. I let them think I was struggling, deliberately picking up piles when the stakes were low, playing the role of the underdog. It wasn't until halfway through the game that I began to turn the tide, strategically placing my cards and reading their reactions with precision.
"One ace," I declared, placing a single card face down.
Ibuki narrowed her eyes. "Cheat," she said, her tone confident.
I flipped the card, revealing the ace of spades. Her scowl deepened as she reached for the pile, muttering something under her breath.
Ryuen laughed, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Looks like you are finally warming up," he said, his tone dripping with amusement.
"Just playing the long game," I replied, my calm demeanor masking the thrill of the competition. "You should know all about that, Ryuen."
The game continued, each round revealing more about the players—their strengths, their weaknesses, and their limits. By the time the final cards were played, the pile was gone, and only one of us was left without cards.
I placed my last card on the pile. "Two fours," I said, my tone steady.
Ishizaki, desperate to redeem himself, blurted out, "Cheat!"
I flipped the cards, revealing two fours. The group groaned collectively as Ishizaki buried his face in his hands.
"Well," I said, gathering the cards and shuffling them back into a neat stack, "that was enlightening."
Ryuen leaned back, his smirk firmly in place. "Not bad. You've got a knack for this kind of thing."
"Just keeping things interesting," I replied, slipping the deck into my bag. "And maybe teaching a few lessons along the way."
Ibuki stood, dusting herself off. "If you think this game taught us anything, you're delusional," she said, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips.
"Maybe not," I said, standing as well, "but it gave me a better idea of who I'm working with. And that's just as valuable."
I dusted off my hands, letting my words sink in before continuing. "Now, let's move on to the main reason I called you all here."
The group shifted their attention, their curiosity piqued but tempered by skepticism.
"Starting tomorrow," I said, my tone firm, "the entire class will have an assignment."
Ryuen tilted his head, his smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "And what exactly is this 'assignment'?"
I locked eyes with him. "From tomorrow onward, I want every student in Class C to gather as much information as possible about students from other classes. Names, habits, friendships, hobbies—anything you can pick up in passing conversations or casual encounters. Write it down in a notebook, save it on your phone, whatever works for you. Every detail counts."
I paused, gauging their reactions before continuing. "With 40 of us working together, we should easily be able to gather intel on all 440 students in three weeks."
Ibuki narrowed her eyes, folding her arms across her chest. "And what's the point of wasting our time on that?"
"The point is to gain an edge, Ibuki. Knowing names is just the starting point. From there, we can figure out who's connected to who, who holds power, and who's vulnerable. The more we know, the more control we have over any situation."
Ryuen chuckled, the sound low and amused. "You make it sound so simple, like gathering intel is just a matter of scribbling down names."
I nodded, maintaining my focus. "But it is simple—at least in theory. The advantage we have is that we're high schoolers. People our age crave social interaction, relationships, and friendships. It's easier to gather information when you're part of the crowd, just passing by someone and engaging in casual conversation. People are more willing to share snippets of their lives without realizing it."
Ishizaki leaned forward, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. "So, you're saying we can just blend in and pick up info like eavesdroppers? That's not too hard!"
"Exactly," I said, encouraging his eagerness. "But you have to be discreet. Listen, observe, and don't let anyone catch on to what you're doing. The more natural it seems, the better."
Ibuki uncrossed her arms, her skepticism softening just a bit. "And what if someone catches on? What then?"
"They won't, as long as you guys act natural."
"Well, you are right about that," she conceded, a hint of begrudging respect in her voice.
"Anyways, is that all you wanted to talk about, or do you have anything else?" Ibuki asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
I considered her question for a moment. "Well, since you guys already know where there are no cameras in this school, I want you to send that information in the class group. This way, if any students want to pick a fight with other classes, they'll know exactly where to do it."
Ryuen chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Kukuku, this is funny."
"And you're also allowed to pick fights with second and third years if you feel confident enough. However it doesn't really matter if you guys win or lose tho."
I could see their confusion as Ibuki's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"The goal isn't about winning; it's about sending a message."
"A message?" Ryuen echoed, leaning in with interest.
"Yes."
"And what message?" Ishizaki asked.
"It doesn't really matter for you guys to know, but the other classes will understand," I replied cryptically.
"Anyways, we're done here. You guys can leave," I said, gesturing for them to disperse.
As the others began to stand up, Ryuen remained seated, a knowing smile on his face. "Except you, Ryuen. You stay here; I still need to talk to you."
The rest of the group exchanged glances before filing out, leaving just Ryuen and me on the rooftop.
"What's on your mind?" Ryuen asked, his expression shifting to one of genuine curiosity.
I leaned against the railing, crossing my arms.
"You know why I asked you guys to fight the upperclassmen?"
"A little bit but not that much?"
"We're going to use this opportunity to gather as many points as we can from the upperclassmen. The third years will be leaving next year, so we need to capitalize on that. If we can negotiate contracts with each of the third-year classes, making them agree to give us at least one million points each, that would give us four million points a month for twelve months."
"That's 48 million points easily. We'd be the class with the most points among the first years," Ryuen said, catching on to the strategy.
"Now imagine if we can do this with the second years as well," I added.
"That would be a lot of points," he acknowledged. "However, it's going to be really hard to accomplish such a thing."
"Well that's what make it interesting. Wouldn't you say?"
"Kukuku, you are right."
"Also I am planning on putting a new policy in our class."
"A new policy?"
"Yes, every student in our class is going to be obligated to give 50% of their points each month for us to save," I stated confidently.
Ryuen's brow furrowed slightly. "Do you think they will agree to such a thing?"
"It's not like they have much choice," I replied, smirking. "Nearly all of them are afraid of us—especially me."
Ryuen chuckled darkly. "Kukuku... Well, who's going to manage the points? We need someone trustworthy for this."
"We'll hold a vote to decide who will take on that responsibility," I explained.
"Fine by me," he said, leaning back against the railing, his expression thoughtful. "But I have to admit, I'm curious about who you think will win the vote."
I grinned, enjoying the moment. "I already know who it will be."
"Oh? And who's that?"
"It's going to be a girl."
"A girl? Well, you know what? I'll wait to see what happens." Ryuen's eyes gleamed with intrigue.
"Fine by me," I said, crossing my arms.
"Well then, Takashiro, I'll take my leave," Ryuen said, pushing off from the railing.
As Ryuen walked away, I could already picture the steps I needed to take next.
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