Seeing Ichinose Honami's roster, Sakayanagi Arisu finally felt a wave of incomprehensible anger.
She truly wasn't engaging in sacrificial exchanges—instead, she had staked all of Class B's chips without leaving herself any room for retreat.
What exactly was this person trying to do!
Sakayanagi Arisu realized things had once again exceeded her expectations, just like when Ichinose Honami had publicly confessed her past.
She simply couldn't predict Ichinose Honami's thoughts.
It was like snowflakes falling from the sky—you reach out to catch them in your hand, only to see them melt into water stains, while someone nearby gazes at the sky and marvels at how beautiful the snowfall is.
To Sakayanagi Arisu, this snow felt utterly hollow, something that would vanish completely once the sun emerged.
She shouldn't be snow.
As rivals, Sakayanagi Arisu truly couldn't understand.
Sacrificial exchanges! Didn't you say you wanted to defeat her? Quickly make those exchanges!
Clearly caring about winning this exam, yet wearing such an indifferent expression—was it because you knew you'd been seen through, and that's why you're adopting this attitude?
Or was it deliberately meant to disrupt her plans?
Sakayanagi Arisu pressed her lips tightly together.
She knew she shouldn't care so much about Ichinose Honami's reactions—this exam was her competition with Kaoru, and her opponent wasn't Ichinose Honami.
That's right, Ichinose Honami just wanted to help Kaoru win one event, so she didn't care whether her class won or not.
"The final score is 388 points to 351 points—victory for Class A."
While Sakayanagi Arisu was feeling unsettled, Chabashira Sae had already announced the results of the Modern Literature Exam.
"We lost. I thought we could at least win by a small margin."
Ichinose Honami had used her Command Tower authority to answer one question, but the result still fell short against Class A.
Sakayanagi Arisu snapped back to attention and stared intently at Ichinose Honami.
"You have no chance of winning anymore. Are you planning to help him win next?"
Ichinose Honami looked puzzled for a moment, then smiled.
"Sakayanagi-san really cares about him, doesn't she? Just as he said—your eyes only see winning and more winning."
Sakayanagi Arisu found this somewhat absurd.
If she didn't think about winning, was she supposed to become Kaoru's little maid?
Like Ichinose Honami, bowing her head, obediently kneeling at Kaoru's feet, learning to please him like a puppy?
How could she possibly do that? How could she ever be willing to share her man with others?
"The reason I care about him is because he holds secrets that interest me."
Sakayanagi Arisu said, "After I win, I'll slowly pry out his secrets, one by one."
"You're not denying that you care about him?"
Ichinose Honami seemed genuinely surprised.
Sakayanagi Arisu fell silent for a moment: "It's different."
She didn't specify how it was different.
Perhaps even she herself didn't know—it was just different, that's all.
"I won't interrupt your casual conversation, but the next event requires drawing lots."
Chabashira Sae interjected, "Or would any of you like to take a temporary break?"
"That's fine, please continue."
Ichinose Honami expressed her opinion.
Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to have noticed something, remaining silent.
Thus began the fifth event.
Chemistry Exam.
Unlike the Modern Literature Exam, both sides would send eight participants this time.
Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Class A's roster. Although they had reviewed for some time, eight participants...
She thought Ichinose Honami would trade pieces with her, so she planned to conserve strength by sending average performers to counter Ichinose's weaker ones.
But Ichinose Honami didn't do that.
Since Class B sent four top performers, she had to send four top performers as well.
They had nearly lost just now - the difference was only about thirty points, merely two or three questions apart.
Sakayanagi Arisu suddenly smiled, turning her gaze to Ichinose Honami.
"Dragging your opponent down to your level - that's your tactic, isn't it, Ichinose-san?"
With both sides sending eight participants, combined with previous events, about half of both classes' students had already been deployed.
Not only would this exhaust the top performers, but likely wipe out most of the average ones too.
"There's no other way," Ichinose Honami smiled apologetically. "In a direct confrontation, we stand no chance. If I used subtle tricks, you'd probably notice quickly."
"The only thing I never expected was Class A being this strong, capable of winning four consecutive matches."
Her strategy was clearly to forcibly drain Class A's combat strength, pulling both sides to the same level - she just hadn't anticipated Class A's formidable ability.
"If that's the case, why didn't you just fill all events with written exams?"
Sakayanagi Arisu suppressed her anger and a trace of unease.
Ichinose Honami froze for a long moment, her eyes seeming to say "Was that actually possible?"
"Heh, even if you had done that, I wouldn't care."
Sakayanagi Arisu said coldly, "As long as tasks are assigned properly beforehand, Class A students can defeat Class B."
She was bluffing. She knew this was impossible - winning seven consecutive events was extremely difficult to begin with.
If Ichinose Honami became desperate just to make her lose one event, she couldn't stop it.
Therefore, Ichinose Honami also knew she was bluffing.
"Sakayanagi-san, perfect people don't exist in this world, just as there are no people who never fail."
Ichinose Honami's gaze was complex, as if she wanted to say more but stopped herself.
"I'm not denying the possibility of my failure."
Sakayanagi Arisu said, "I just don't want to lose."
The two locked eyes, then each submitted their Chemistry Exam participant lists.
The competition lasted one hour - excruciatingly, unbearably long.
Sakayanagi Arisu stubbornly waited for the final result. After she announced the answer to the last question, the outcome was already clear.
"Final score: 711 points to 698 points. Victory goes to Class A."
Announcing this result, Chabashira Sae seemed surprised - even she hadn't expected Class A to win five consecutive victories.
Yet Sakayanagi Arisu felt no joy whatsoever.
She knew she was finished.
If the next event was the English Exam, she would lose.
If it was volleyball, she might also lose.
It had to be Memory Cards.
No, even with Memory Cards, she would still lose.
The first five events had already exhausted all her ammunition.
Who would have expected Ichinose Honami to engage in such a head-on battle of attrition?
"This is the fifth one. You're really strong, Sakayanagi-san."
Ichinose Honami spoke softly, "I heard you've been helping classmates review chemistry, English, modern literature, mathematics, and social studies. You've also been practicing tennis and volleyball. You're really working hard."
Sakayanagi Arisu fell silent.
While she was observing Ichinose Honami, wasn't Ichinose Honami equally observing her every move?
"You're not worried about sketching because of Kamuro-san, aren't you?"
Ichinose Honami smiled faintly, "What a coincidence. Chihiro-chan is also an art club member, just like Kamuro-san."
From the beginning until now, Sakayanagi Arisu had been holding back Kamuro Masumi, not fully utilizing her.
Even though Kamuro Masumi was merely a ghost club member in the art club, she still had some basic understanding.
"You trust Kamuro-san, and I trust Chihiro-chan."
Ichinose Honami said, "Shall we look forward to it?"
"I've always been looking forward to Ichinose-san's counterattack."
Sakayanagi Arisu stared stubbornly at her, her eyes conveying only one message: show me what you've got!
Thus, Ichinose Honami turned her gaze toward Chabashira Sae.
Understanding the cue, the latter pressed the lottery button.
"The next event: sketching."
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