章節 14: Pawns in Action

Mashima: —Now that everyone is here, I will announce the results of the special exam —Professor Mashima said firmly, while classes A, B, and D were assembled. The students of class C had abandoned the competition on day 3, except for Ibuki and Kaneda, who had sought refuge in other classes... or at least, that's what everyone thought.

???: —Don't tell me you're starting this party without me? —interrupted a voice. A student approached slowly towards where everyone else was gathered. His tattered and dirty appearance reflected better than anyone the harshness of surviving on the island.

—Ryuuen?! —a red-haired student from class D shouted in surprise, immediately recognizing the newcomer: Ryuuen Kakeru, the leader of class C.

Ryuuen: —Hello, losers —he greeted with his typical sinister smile.

—It can't be! What is Ryuuen doing here?

—Look at him, he looks like a beggar!

—Why did he stay until the end?

Whispers and comments of astonishment began to fill the air. However, Ryuuen's sudden appearance did not alter Professor Mashima's stance, who continued with the announcement.

Mashima: —Well, now I will reveal the results. In last place... class C, with 0 points.

Laughter immediately erupted.

—Hahaha! 0 points! Who's the loser now? —Sudo laughed uncontrollably, mocking Ryuuen. But Ryuuen, instead of his usual arrogance, remained still, incredulous. He couldn't understand what had happened. He was convinced he had secured the victory... or at least, he thought so.

Mashima: —In third place... class B, with 20 points.

Another shockwave hit the students. The murmur of confusion was immediate.

—What does this mean?

—Explain yourself, Katsuragi!

—Weren't we supposed to win? We followed you for that!

The students of class B did not hide their frustration, and their accusing glares were directed at Katsuragi, who had led their decisions. However, Katsuragi, instead of responding, fixed a furious gaze on Ryuuen, looking for a culprit. But Ryuuen, showing no sign of alteration, smiled disdainfully.

Ryuuen: —Don't look at me like that, bald guy. Even I don't know what the hell happened —he mocked, although internally his confusion was evident.

But there was still more to uncover.

Mashima: —In second place... class D, with 225 points.

The news struck like lightning. Class D, considered by many as the worst, had surpassed all expectations. The astonishment was palpable on the faces of everyone present.

—Even the class of "defectives" beat us! —murmurs of disbelief were heard among the students.

And then, the most important revelation arrived.

Mashima: —And the first place goes to... class A, with 405 points —Professor Mashima announced, revealing the most surprising result of all.

—405 points?! —someone exclaimed, clearly shocked.

—That's insane!

—How did they achieve that? —they asked, perplexed and completely impressed by class A's performance.

The murmurs intensified as students tried to process the surprising figure. Class A had accumulated such a high number of points that it seemed almost unreachable. Ryuuen and Katsuragi, observing the result, quickly concluded that class A had played a crucial role in the defeat of the other classes, just as class D had exceeded expectations.

Tension was palpable in the air as everyone wondered the same thing: how did this happen? How did this surprising situation come about? Although class A had demonstrated absolute dominance, the enigma of how they achieved such a feat remained unanswered.

Despite the surprise and astonishment filling the air, there was one boy in class A who could not hide his satisfied smile. His expression revealed that, despite the unexpected variables, the result he had meticulously planned had come to fruition with a small adjustment that, rather than hindering, had benefited his team.

As his classmates celebrated the unexpected triumph with joy, they also shared the general surprise at the impressive performance of class A. The victory not only surprised them but also reaffirmed their confidence in their teammate who, at that moment, stood out not only as a leader but as a strategic genius: Kayden Osawa.

The impact of his smile did not go unnoticed. It was evident that Kayden had executed a key maneuver, something that no one in the other classes could fully understand. Kayden's classmates knew there was something more behind the success, but the precise detail remained a mystery to them, just as it did for the other students.

The result of this special exam had a much more complex and strategic story behind it, and it all began to unravel from the first day of the test, right after the rules of the special exam were explained.

Flashback: The First Day of the Special Exam

—Hoshinomiya-sensei, would it be possible to acquire another access card using private points? —I asked, seeking a solution.

Hoshinomiya: —Another access card? —Hoshinomiya-sensei repeated, visibly surprised.

Kayden: —Yes, it's possible.

Hoshinomiya: —Um, yes, it's completely possible. It costs 10,000 private points —she said, recovering from her surprise.

Kayden: —I see. Then, sell me one.

Hoshinomiya: —Sure, but there's something you need to know. I can sell you another card, but this card will be useless, as only one card can mark the possession points and that's the one you present to the school as your official leader.

Kayden: —Understood, I expected something like that. Still, give me the card.

Hoshinomiya: —Alright. What name would you like me to put on it?

Kayden: —Put "Ichinose Honami".

Hoshinomiya: —Are you sure? Once I put the name, it can't be changed, and if you need to change it, you'll have to pay again.

Kayden: —No problem. And for the main card, write my name.

Hoshinomiya: —Sure, give me a moment. By the way, I need Honami-chan to be here to give you the card, after all, someone else has to know that you are the leader.

Kayden: —I don't have a problem with that —I said while quickly calling Ichinose.

Ichinose: —What's up, Kayden?

Kayden: —I'll give you this fake card. From now on, you will pretend to be the leader of class A while I will be the true leader.

Ichinose: —Fake leader?

Kayden: —Yes, the card is fake. From now on, you need to act as if you are the leader of class A. Every time we go to occupy a place, you need to play the role of marking the place. Don't worry about trying to hide it; you can do it in plain sight.

Ichinose: —I'm a bit confused right now.

Kayden: —Don't worry. Trust me, I'll explain more later. For now, just act as I've told you.

Ichinose: —Alright, I'll trust you.

Hoshinomiya: —Here's your card. Remember that only you can occupy the places from now on.

Kayden: —Thanks.

Moments later

I found myself completely alone next to the device. I looked around to make sure no one was watching and quickly passed the access card over the device. I then signaled Ichinose-san to come over. She noticed and approached hurriedly.

—Did you call me? —she asked.

—Yes, look at what's here —I said, pointing to the device.

—This is how the possession device works —Ichinose-san explained, immediately understanding.

—Exactly. You know what to do, right? —I asked her.

Ichinose-san nodded firmly.

—Yes —she confirmed, approaching the device. A moment later, she turned to me and said:

—Done.

Kayden: —Very well. As you noticed, I've marked the device. From now on, you should come every eight hours to "reset" it. The next reset will be at 4:30. You need to arrive exactly at 4:33; in those three minutes, I'll have already marked it again. And keep in mind something: every time you come, do it alone. It doesn't matter if someone from another class sees you during the week; just do it.

Ichinose: —Alright, but I'd like to know your long-term plan.

Kayden: —Of course, I'll explain it later. And I'm sorry if I seem a bit bossy.

Ichinose: —Don't worry, it's fine.

—Perfect, then. Now we need to decide how to use our points —I said as we walked towards Kanzaki with the product catalog.

Hours later that day

—Fortunately, this device is still available —I said as I looked at the possession device in the cabin. I marked it immediately and checked my watch. It was 4:05. Considering the distance from the camp to here, it would take me 7 minutes to get there. Well, it wasn't a problem; it wasn't far. At first, it took me longer because I couldn't find the place, but now I just had to follow what I saw on the mountain.

—I'm glad I have good eyesight —I said as I observed the antenna in front of me. But it wasn't the only thing I found; I also located another possession device. I quickly marked it as well. I checked the time: 4:16. It had only taken me 10 minutes to get here. Well, I guess that's one of the advantages of being on a small island. It will be exhausting to repeat this every eight hours, but the rewards will be worth the effort.

Third Day of the Special Exam, 11:40 AM

Kayden: —Hey, Kanzaki, I want to ask you for a favor.

Kanzaki: —A favor?

Kayden: —Yes, it has to do with Kaneda.

Kanzaki: —Kaneda? What's going on?

Kayden: —I hope you've already considered it, but I think Kaneda might be a spy.

Kanzaki: —A spy? I've been thinking the same, as it's odd that he wants to stay with us on the island and not on the comfortable boat. His excuse of not wanting to see his classmates doesn't convince me.

Kayden: —I'm glad you noticed. So, can I ask you for a favor?

Kanzaki: —Sure, what do you need?

Kayden: —Tonight, I'd like you to check Kaneda's bag for anything suspicious, like a walkie-talkie, cameras, or any other related device.

Kanzaki: —Walkie-talkies and cameras? I understand the walkie-talkie, as it would allow him to communicate with Ryuuen, but why would he need cameras?

Kayden: —I'm not sure, I just mentioned cameras because they're available in the product catalog.

Kanzaki: —I see. So, if you find cameras, what should I do?

Kayden: —If you find cameras, damage them with water. As for the walkie-talkie, leave it as it is since it seems water-resistant and damaging it otherwise could raise suspicion.

Kanzaki: —Wouldn't it be better to get rid of everything suspicious? If we have nothing to fear, why not make sure there's no danger?

Kayden: —You're right, but if Kaneda has a camera, he might be looking for proof of something, possibly the access card. If he has a walkie-talkie, just inform me, there will be no problem.

Kanzaki: —And why would he need a camera? Doesn't Ryuuen trust Kaneda's information? I highly doubt he would try to harm his own class.

Kayden: —Yes, but he might be looking for additional evidence for someone. Besides, the excessive amount of supplies that class B had makes me suspect there might be an agreement between class C and class B, where class C would supply them in exchange for something.

Kanzaki: —And what could that be?

Kayden: —If my assumption is correct, Ryuuen doesn't care much about private points, at least at this moment. It seems he's looking for private points through other means.

Kanzaki: —So, that could be his goal.

Kayden: —It could be. Although I might be wrong, it's important to stay alert. So, Kanzaki, will you do it?

Kanzaki: —Yes, I'll do it. I'll do my best to win.

Kayden: —Perfect. By the way, Kanzaki, could you tell me about class B?

Kanzaki: —What do you want to know?

Kayden: —I'd like to know if they have a leader, how they get along, and any other relevant information about the students.

Kanzaki: —Alright, I don't know much, but here's what I know: class B is in internal conflict. The class is divided into two factions: one led by Katsuragi, the one who took you out of the cave, and the other faction is under Sakayanagi's leadership.

Kayden: —I see. Sakayanagi, the girl Mashima-sensei talked about at the beginning and who took 30 points from class A due to her absence because of her disability.

Kanzaki: —Exactly. Besides, both factions are quite hostile towards each other. Sakayanagi's faction is larger than Katsuragi's, so it's likely she will surpass Katsuragi in influence soon.

Kayden: —It seems Sakayanagi is quite capable.

Kanzaki: —She is. Since she was young, she has shown to be a genius.

Kayden: —How do you know, Kanzaki?

Kanzaki: —Due to political meetings between families. Both the Sakayanagi and my family often attend these events, and I've been present from an early age.

Kayden: —I understand. Do you know who Katsuragi gets along with?

Kanzaki: —Not much, but there's one student who is always with Katsuragi. It's the same guy who wouldn't let us enter the cave. His name is Yahiko.

Kayden: —Anyone else?

Kanzaki: —No, he's generally only seen with Yahiko. He's his most loyal follower.

Kayden: —I see. Thanks a lot, Kanzaki. I hope to hear from you tomorrow based on what you find in Kaneda's bag.

Kanzaki: —Alright, I'll do it.

Fourth Day of the Special Exam

Kanzaki: —Osawa, I have something to tell you about yesterday —he said in a low voice.

Kayden: —What did you find out?

Kanzaki: —I only found one camera; there was no walkie-talkie. So, you might be right: they need proof, probably of the card, to show to class B.

Kayden: —Good, did you damage it?

Kanzaki: —Yes, I did exactly what you asked.

Kayden: —Great. Now let's see what they will do without the camera and without points to get another one.

Fifth Day of the Special Exam

—Girls, I need your help with something.

—What is it? —asked Amikura-san, curious.

—Sure, what do you need? —responded Honami with her usual willingness.

—Well, the thing is, Kaneda is a spy and will try to steal Honami's access card —I said firmly.

Amikura: —A spy? How are you so sure?

Kayden: —Amikura-san, didn't you ever think for a second that Kaneda could be a spy?

Amikura: —No, I hadn't really considered it —she said, holding her chin in thought.

Kayden: —You're too naive —I said, giving her a playful tap on the cheek.

Honami: —I didn't want to think about it, but you're right.

Kayden: —Then even you have doubts about him.

Honami: —I didn't want to, but Kaneda-kun has been watching me too much. At first, I thought it was just the usual attention from other guys, but there was something different in the way he looked at me, like he was constantly monitoring me —Honami commented, who must have become sensitive to stares given her constant attention due to her attractiveness.

Kayden: —Just as Honami says, Kaneda has been watching you. Today, after 12, Kaneda contacted Ryuuen about his situation and already knows that you are the 'leader.'

Amikura: —Huh? How do you know?

Kayden: —Well, I'm the true leader of the class and was marking the device to restart the count when I saw Kaneda and followed him.

Amikura: —You're the leader? But Honami-chan has the card.

Kayden: —I have one too, but Honami's is fake; mine is the real one.

Amikura: —How did you get another one?

Kayden: —With private points.

Honami: —So, what are we going to do now that Kaneda-kun has told Ryuuen that I'm the 'leader'?

Kayden: —We'll have Kaneda steal the card.

Amikura: —Steal it?

Kayden: —Yes, we'll set up the perfect scenario for Kaneda to steal the card from Honami. That way, he can show it to Ryuuen, who will think it's real, since there's no visible difference between the cards, only one works and the other doesn't, according to what Hoshinomiya-sensei said.

Honami: —If Ryuuen-kun is still on the island, does that mean he could be the leader?

Kayden: —Correct. Ryuuen isn't the type to trust anyone, so it's safe to assume he is the leader.

Honami: —Alright, how do we set the stage for Kaneda-kun to steal the card from me?

Kayden: —It's quite simple. On the 6th day, at 6 PM, you'll ask Kaneda to help you move some things. You'll carry the bag where you keep your basic items and put the card in it. Since it will be the last day and we'll all be storing and moving materials, you'll do it in the farthest part of the camp, where the firewood is kept. It will be just you and him.

Honami: —Alright, but I think it will be difficult to be alone with him. Many people have offered to help.

Kayden: —That's where Amikura-san comes in.

Amikura: —Me?

Kayden: —Yes, you'll keep him busy with whatever you can think of: telling stories, moving objects, or anything else. Just make sure our classmates don't pay attention to the back.

Amikura: —Got it, I'll do my best.

Kayden: —But that's not all. When you see Honami with Kaneda nearby and no one around, you'll need to call Honami with any excuse so she 'accidentally' leaves her bag where she keeps the card. This way, Kaneda will have the chance to steal it.

Amikura: —Alright, I'll do it. But do you think it will work?

Kayden: —It will work, don't worry. It will be the sixth and last day; Kaneda will be desperate. Seeing the opportunity, he won't hesitate to take it without thinking.

Honami: —We trust you, Kayden.

Seventh Day of the Special Exam, 8:00 a.m.

Hoshinomiya-sensei: Today is the last day. The special exam will end at 12 p.m. I know everyone is tired and it's been tough, but I trust that you will achieve great results.

Hoshinomiya-sensei's encouraging words lift the students' spirits.

Hoshinomiya-sensei: Now, if you have been able to identify the leaders of the other classes, please write them on this sheet. Only the leader can do this.

Hoshinomiya-sensei hands the sheet to Ichinose as I approach her.

Honami: So, Kayden, should we write Ryuuen-kun's name?

Kayden: Yes, write it down. Also include Katsuragi Kohei's name.

Honami: Katsuragi-kun is the leader of Class B? When did you figure that out?

Kayden: I didn't figure it out; my decision is based on intuition.

Honami: Are you sure? We will lose 50 points and the bonuses if we're wrong.

Kayden: Don't worry. It's my decision, and I'll take responsibility if I'm wrong.

Honami: Alright. Anyway, even if you were wrong, no one would blame you. But I'm still curious about how you concluded that Katsuragi-kun is the leader.

Kayden: You know the situation in Class B, right?

Honami: Yes, about the division and the factions.

Kayden: Correct. Since Katsuragi has been losing ground, and with Sakayanagi's absence, he is in a position where he must secure a victory or at least show good results. If he doesn't, the few who still support him will join Sakayanagi's faction.

Honami: I see.

Kayden: Due to the lack of followers and Sakayanagi's steady growth, Katsuragi relies solely on Yahiko. However, Yahiko can't be the leader because he's not very astute; he would be easier to identify. Logically, Katsuragi is the only one left as the leader. I wouldn't trust anyone else, as if he named another student who could be an infiltrator from Sakayanagi's faction, that infiltrator could deliberately expose their identity, causing Katsuragi to lose and making no one trust him.

Honami: I understand now. I feel more at ease writing Katsuragi-kun's name.

Honami wrote down Ryuuen and Katsuragi's names on the sheet with determination and then handed it to Hoshinomiya-sensei. With everything ready, all that was left was to wait for the results.

End of Flashback