Chương 53: Chapter 53 - Quitting Gambling

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If you don't give me your powerstones I'll...

Be very sad, so please send them my way; as always, I appreciate comments and reviews as well; I love hearing everyone's thoughts.

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"If my actions serve a purpose, if they align with my goals, then regret doesn't even cross my mind. How can an action be wrong if it's necessary for what I aim to achieve, and what I aim to achieve is right?" ~MwA (Yes, I'm quoting myself again; I was too lazy to search for quotes, and it fits. Plus, it's one of my favorite recent quotes.)

"Are these really the final results?" Mashima asked, his expression unreadable as he reviewed the data with the other teachers.

"Why do you look so surprised?" Sakagami questioned, leaning back in his chair. "We've been watching the exam progress day by day. The results were predictable."

"That doesn't make them any less surprising to see on paper," Mashima replied, his tone firm but contemplative as he adjusted the microphone in front of him.

Taking a deep breath, he addressed the students through the loudspeaker. His voice carried across the campus with a calm authority that demanded attention.

"As you all understand, the second special exam—the High-Stakes Gambling Exam—has come to an end. I will now be announcing the results. Many of you should be proud of your accomplishments in this exam, but let this be a reminder: success should never lead to complacency. And for those of you who performed poorly, I can only hope you take this as an opportunity to learn from your mistakes."

The pause that followed added weight to his words, the anticipation thick among the listening students.

"I will begin. In last place, with a net total of negative 178 class points, is Class D. I'll repeat that, because the sheer magnitude of this loss is, frankly, staggering: NEGATIVE 178 points. This loss is primarily attributed to the performance of their high rollers—Kikyo Kushida, who managed three losses and a tie, and Suzune Horikita, who earned two wins and two losses. Together, they lost 150 class points from high-stakes games alone.

"In low-stakes games, Class D's record stood at 19 wins, 34 draws, and 47 losses, resulting in a further loss of 28 points. Overall, their performance was abysmal."

Mashima allowed a moment of silence to let his words sink in.

"Now, in third place, is Class C with a net total of negative 130 class points. Once again, that is negative. Their high rollers, Ryuji Kanzaki and Honami Ichinose, had lackluster performances. Kanzaki recorded two losses and two ties, while Ichinose achieved three ties and one loss, amounting to a loss of 150 class points in high-stakes games.

"On the other hand, in low-stakes games, Class C performed moderately well, achieving 44 wins, 32 draws, and 24 losses, which gained them 20 class points. While their efforts in low-stakes games helped offset some of the damage, their overall performance remains disappointing."

Mashima's voice remained steady, but there was a subtle shift in his tone as he prepared to announce the top two results.

"In second place is Class A, with a net gain of 93 class points. Their high rollers, Kohei Katsuragi and Ai Morishita demonstrated decent performances. Katsuragi recorded one win, one loss, and two draws, while Morishita managed two wins, one loss, and one draw. Together, they earned 50 class points from high-stakes games.

"In low-stakes games, Class A outperformed all other classes, achieving the best record with 56 wins, 31 draws, and only 13 losses. This effort added a significant boost to their overall points."

Mashima paused for a moment, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty as he moved to the final announcement.

"Now, in first place…" He hesitated as if confirming the results one last time. "Class B, with a net gain of 215 class points. Kakeru Ryuen recorded two wins, one draw, and one loss, while Light Yagami achieved an unprecedented clean sweep, winning all four of his games. As a result, Class B earned a staggering 250 class points from high-stakes games.

"However, in low-stakes games, Class B struggled, achieving only 18 wins, 29 draws, and 53 losses—the worst record of any class in this category. Despite this, their dominance in high-stakes games secured them a decisive victory."

The tension in Mashima's voice eased slightly as he delivered the final summary.

"With these results, the class rankings remain unchanged, but the gap in class points has shifted significantly. Class A retains the top position with 1,217 points, followed closely by Class B with 1,028 points. Class C now lags behind with 673 points and at the bottom of the rankings…"

Mashima paused again, and the silence that followed was deafening.

"Give me a moment…" His voice grew distant, as though he were speaking to the other teachers. "Is this correct?" A longer pause followed, and the rustling of papers could be faintly heard in the background. Finally, his voice returned to the microphone.

"In last place is Class D, with a total of… zero class points."

"And that concludes the results of this special exam. I hope you all take the lessons of this exam seriously and apply them to future challenges."

With that, the microphone clicked off, leaving the students to process the results.

"Things aren't looking good for your Class D, Sae-chan… How funny, considering you were so confident in them at the start of the year. What happened?" Hoshinomiya teased her voice, a mix of playful and mocking. "At this rate, they might just go down as the worst Class D we've ever seen."

Chabashira turned away from Hoshinomiya, clearly intending to ignore her. However, with Sakagami and Mashima's curious gazes now fixed on her, she hesitated before responding quickly. "I made a miscalculation," she admitted, her tone tinged with frustration. "Class D has potential—a lot of it—but they haven't had the chance to grow yet."

"Oh? But this is already the second special exam. Surely by now, they should've shown us something, no? Or was your judgment misplaced?" Hoshinomiya pressed, her smile growing sharper.

"I think I understand what Chabashira is saying," Mashima interjected, his tone cutting through the tension. "Class D has certainly had moments of brilliance."

"Huh? Moments of brilliance?" Hoshinomiya raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Are we talking about the same Class D here?"

"Yes, certainly," Mashima replied with a slight nod. "Take the uninhabited island exam, for example. If it hadn't been for Yagami, Class B would've secured the lowest score and Class D the highest. Class D was correct in their initial assumption of Class B's initial leader and correctly identified Class A's leader. On top of that, they exploited the exam rules to switch their leader at the last moment. There are definitely masterminds within Class D. Unfortunately, Class B seems keenly aware of this fact and has acted accordingly."

"There's more," Sakagami added, leaning forward slightly. "For all their shortcomings, Class D's performance in this exam isn't as dreadful as it might seem—if you consider the circumstances, that is."

Chabashira visibly tensed at Sakagami's words, as if she already knew where he was headed. Mashima and Hoshinomiya exchanged knowing glances, their expressions hinting at understanding.

"It's not hard to figure out," Sakagami continued, his voice steady. "Class D has a traitor in their midst. Frankly, it's so obvious that I won't bother naming names. Not only that, but it seems they've lost the support of their mastermind in this exam. Without that pillar holding them up, their performance has suffered considerably."

Hoshinomiya's playful demeanor faltered for a moment, her lips pursing slightly. "Although it seems Horikita was able to turn things around by using the traitor to her advantage in the last game. She probably noticed something was off with Kushida losing so many games—or maybe someone tipped her off. Either way, it's obvious she came up with the idea to use Kushida's betrayal to her advantage after her match with Yagami. Yagami admitted to passing false information during his earlier games. Horikita isn't flashy like Yagami, but she seems to have taken a page from his book."

"Exactly. So even with all of that," Sakagami concluded, his tone steady and firm, "the argument for Class D's potential still stands. But these details also cement one undeniable fact—they're the most defective class."

"You should be the last one talking." Chabashira responds, "Your class started the year just one ranking above mine; anything is still possible."

"Is that what you think? Results define worth above all else. So, may I pose you a question? When someone ascends to a level of brilliance where their flaws no longer hinder them—where they achieve perfection through sheer capability—can they truly be called flawed? Or, in such a case, is the very concept of a defect itself flawed?"

***

"Huh? Why are you asking me that?" Ryuk responded, surprised by the sudden question.

"Nothing, Ryuk. Sorry, I was just thinking to myself," I replied while writing in my notebook.

I took a moment to glance over the names I had written: Arisu Sakayanagi, Honami Ichinose, Ryuji Kanzaki, Kakeru Ryuen, Suzune Horikita, Rokusuke Koenji, and lastly, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

As I scanned the names, Ryuk peeked over my shoulder. "Why are you writing names?" he asked, his tone casual but curious.

"The results of the exam were just released a few minutes ago," I explained, still focused on my notebook. "So I thought it would be a good idea to consider my likely future rivals—if you can even call them that."

"Hmmm," Ryuk hummed, staring at the list. "Why didn't you put the bald guy on the list? And why's your own classmate on here?"

"Katsuragi? The reason he isn't on the list is obvious," I said without hesitation. "He poses absolutely no threat. Of course, I don't trust him, even if we're 'allies' for now. But if Katsuragi did try to oppose me at any point in the near future, cutting off my support and leaving him to Sakayanagi would be more than enough to deal with him.

"And Ryuen… well, he's on the list because he craves control. He's power-hungry, and losing out to me in this special exam won't sit well with him—especially since it'll probably mean I'll gain more support in the class. He isn't exactly a threat, but I wouldn't put it past him to do something reckless. Luckily, he'll probably be busy dealing with Class D's so-called mastermind."

"I see. Speaking of Class D, why do you have three people from that class on your list? They don't even have any class points," Ryuk continued, his curiosity growing.

"It's not that they're direct threats or anything," I replied calmly. "Sometimes, the problem isn't about threats—it's about unpredictability. Those three individuals in Class D are hard to predict, especially Ayanokoji and Koenji. By association, Horikita is also a bit of an annoyance—though to a lesser extent. Even if Ayanokoji claims he's disinterested in Class D, I can't just take his word for it.

"As for Koenji, he's another wildcard. I might be able to work something out with him to keep him uninvolved in Class D's affairs, but that's not guaranteed. The point is, that class is unpredictable, and unpredictability is a concern in itself."

"I see, but that's all situational, right? You don't actually need to worry about any of those individuals right now, do you?" Ryuk questioned, his tone curious but casual.

"For the most part, you're correct. I don't," I replied simply, keeping my focus sharp.

"Then what are your plans for when we return to the school?" he continued, clearly trying to get more out of me.

"That's simple. I think I should get to know my senior, Miyabi Nagumo," I said, the thought already forming in my mind.

"Ohhh?" Ryuk responded, his interest obviously piqued. He seemed just as curious about Nagumo as I was, especially after hearing Manabu Horikita mention him. It wasn't a matter of if Nagumo would confront me, but when. My accomplishments so far and the fact that the first half of the school year was coming to an end made it inevitable. Manabu would likely announce his intention to make me vice president of the student council soon—a move designed specifically to oppose Nagumo. I had no doubt Nagumo would take notice.

I stood, stretched briefly, and prepared to leave my room.

"What is it?" Ryuk asked as he floated behind me while I made my way through the ship's halls.

"The results of the exam were just released. Considering my contributions, it would not make sense for me to stay inside all day," I explained as we continued walking. My tone made it clear I wasn't interested in elaborating further.

We headed toward the pool, where most of Class C had gathered. It didn't take long to reach the area. As I approached, the familiar sounds of loud chatter and laughter filled the air.

"Yagami!" Ishizaki's voice boomed as soon as he saw me. "Can you believe it? We got 215 class points!"

I internally sighed. Being surrounded by these idiots only reminded me of how far beneath me most of Class C truly was. I could have secured 200 points alone without needing their help. Somehow, they had still managed to lose 35 points during low-stakes games—games that shouldn't have required much skill or effort. Many were based more on chance than anything else. If I had been in Class A, securing 300 points would have been child's play. Still, at least Ryuen proved useful in this exam.

"Yes, it's quite the accomplishment. Everyone should be proud," I replied with a cheerful tone.

Before Ishizaki could bask in the moment any longer, Ibuki spoke up, her tone sharp and direct. "Don't be an idiot, Ishizaki. 'We' didn't actually do anything. If Yagami hadn't gone flawless and Ryuen hadn't done his job, 'we' would've been crushed."

Ryuen, unsurprisingly, followed up with his own remark. "Yes, frankly, you're all useless," he said without holding back. "Luckily, that didn't matter this time. And it won't matter in the future, either, as long as everyone does what they're told. If that happens, we'll reach Class A."

"How much longer do you think it'll take to reach Class A?" Ishizaki asked, his tone uncertain. Ryuen shifted his gaze to me, clearly expecting my input.

"Hmm," I began, letting my thoughts settle into words. "So far, we've seen two types of exams in this school. First, there are academic ability and intellect-based exams, like midterms and quizzes. Then, there are practical exams, like the ones we've faced during special exams."

I paused for a moment, observing the reactions of my classmates. Based on the student evaluations I've seen in the student council, it's easy to conclude that academic ability and intellect are the main focus of those academic exams. On the other hand, decision-making, cooperativeness, and, to some extent, intellect are what's tested in the practical exams. However, the only category that hasn't been thoroughly tested yet is physical ability.

"It wouldn't be surprising if future exams included challenges that relied heavily on physical prowess, especially since some students are clearly in this school simply for their athletic talents." I kept my explanation simple, withholding my deeper analysis for now.

"If the next exam is focused on academics, it'll be difficult for Class B to earn any class points." My gaze swept across the group as I continued. "I don't mean to sound critical, but while showing some improvement, most of you are still lacking in academics. As it stands, we're essentially competing with Class D in terms of academic performance, despite being in Class B. If we're forced to compete with Class A or Class C in an academic-focused exam, it could result in an inevitable loss for us, depending on how everything is set up."

Manabe chimed in next, her tone curious. "So, what do you think the next exam will be?"

"I'd guess it'll be a physical exam," I replied. "We just completed a practical exam, and before that, the school challenged us academically. If my assumption is correct and the next exam is physical, it's hard to say how many class points we'll be able to gain. While it's true that our class is strong athletically, the other classes aren't necessarily lacking in that area either. At the very least, I don't think there will be many points up for grabs in a physical exam."

Ryuen smirked. "I agree. If the next exam tests physical ability, it'll be hard to predict a clear winner. That said, when the time comes, there are ways to improve our chances of victory." His grin widened, exuding confidence.

"I'm not sure that's a smart approach," I said, meeting Ryuen's gaze. He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Even with whatever you're plotting, I doubt we'll gain enough points from a physical exam to overtake Class A. Closing the gap slightly could be useful, but it won't be enough to ensure we surpass them by a significant margin in the long run."

Ryuen chuckled, leaning back slightly. "Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what challenges the school throws our way. But when the time comes, you'd better be ready to take advantage of them."

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. "I agree. The key is to stay prepared for any scenario."

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I'd love to hear whatever you guys have to say next. We will be following Cannon, although I am planning a storyline with Nagumo. Give me your thoughts on that. Either way, I'm excited about the following chapters. They will take place at the school from now on.

Additionally, now that it is over, I'm really curious what you guys thought about the gambling arc. It was an original arc idea, so I didn't expect it to be popular since I just threw it in, but it seemed well-received?