Though late February still carried traces of winter's chill, many fashion-conscious girls at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School had already shed their thick winter coats. Clad in brightly colored spring outfits, they fully embraced the vigor and vitality of youth, despite the occasional sharp breeze.
With winter retreating and spring arriving, the changing seasons also marked the approach of the academic year's end. For third-year students, this meant the onset of graduation season.
However, unlike other schools where this season brought nostalgia, uncertainty, or anticipation, Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School was instead shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere of tension, solemnity, and pressure. This year, that oppressive mood had reached its peak, felt even by the underclassmen.
Because this year's graduating class still hadn't determined its final victor.
Class 3-A and Class 3-B were neck-and-neck, with only 73 class points separating them.
This meant that the title of "Class A graduate"—a status granting immense post-graduation advantages under the school's winner-takes-all system—remained undecided until the very end. While "Class B" might sound close to "Class A," the gap in treatment after graduation was nothing short of enormous.
Everyone had fought too hard to give up now.
Especially Class 3-B, who had battled their way to the brink of victory.
Under the absolute leadership of Tomoda, Class 3-B had, since the last cultural festival, methodically closed the gap, step by step catching up to Class A. Their nearly three years of teamwork and the nearness of victory made them seem unbeatable. Every student believed they were destined to reach Class A.
According to Tomoda's calculations, aside from the graduation exam, there would likely be one more special exam at the end of the month. If they performed well, they could decisively surpass Class A.
And beyond his class, Tomoda had found something else.
Since the last cultural festival, prompted by a subtle comment from Hoshinomiya Chie, Tomoda had begun to notice Chabashira Sae's feelings for him. And once aware of it, his emotions bloomed uncontrollably. Before he knew it, he had asked her out alone.
Although he regretted not waiting for the cherry blossoms to bloom, on a twilight evening marking the transition from winter to spring, he stepped forward and offered his hand:
"I like you."
"Please... take care of me."
And from that moment, he and Chabashira Sae became a couple.
Clap clap clap.
Sakayanagi Arisu watched the confession scene before her, clapping softly with a touched expression.
Beside her, Kitagawa Ryo raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected to witness the ever-serious Chabashira Sae tearfully accept a confession. In his impression, she always wore the expression of someone owed three million yen. This contrast was truly surprising.
Though the school generally didn't allow outsiders except during events like the cultural festival, the passing students ignored Ryo and Arisu. That's because three days ago, the school had announced that the latest episode of "Daily Lives of Geniuses" would be filmed on campus.
From last November until now, "The Ultimate Genius," which featured Ryo and Arisu, had gained massive popularity nationwide, boosted by clever marketing. Unlike the more intense main show, its behind-the-scenes spinoff "Daily Lives of Geniuses" had become especially popular among housewives and students. Carefully edited interactions between Ryo and Arisu had earned them many passionate fans, to the point they were dubbed a national CP (couple pairing).
With both the White Room and Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School riding the wave of popularity, their backers, Ayanokouji Atsuomi and Kijima, had seized the opportunity to boost their brands and influence. That's how this shoot ended up on school grounds—and with rumors swirling that the next shoot would be inside the White Room.
"If I remember right... that's the leader of Class 3-B, isn't it?"
After enjoying the high school confession spectacle, Arisu's excellent memory recalled Tomoda, whom she had seen months ago during the cultural festival. Had Class 3-A's quiz tournament not stolen the spotlight, his maid café would've likely won first place. After all, their maids were top-tier.
"Yeah, and the girl he confessed to was one of those maids."
Ryo answered casually. So far, Class 3-B was proceeding normally. But with less than two months until graduation, the incident that would ruin the class and cause lasting trauma for Chabashira and Hoshinomiya was likely close.
"By the way, after tomorrow's filming, we'll have some free time. Want to go exploring with me, Ryo?"
"Didn't Chairman Sakayanagi say not to interfere with normal classes?"
"It's fine, it's fine."
Arisu waved her hand nonchalantly. After months of working together, she and Ryo had grown even closer:
"I already asked my dad. Tomorrow, the third-years have a special exam. They'll all be locked in their classrooms."
"A special exam?"
Ryo's thoughts stirred—he had a feeling this was the incident.
"Sounds interesting. Can we go watch it?"
"Hmm, if it's just the two of us without cameras... should be okay."
Arisu thought for a moment, then nodded hesitantly.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow we'll watch the special exam together."
"Mhm."
Just as they finished speaking, an excited first-year student ran up to them.
"Excuse me, are you really Ryo and Arisu?"
Seeing the two nod, the girl's eyes lit up:
"Can I take a photo with you?"
"Oh, sure."
"Of course."
After months of filming, Ryo, once a child actor, had long since mastered the art of camera work. Even Arisu had perfected her business smile, and the two cheerfully agreed.
"Could you two make a heart with your hands?"
Blushing slightly, the girl handed her phone to a male classmate and looked at them expectantly.
Ryo chuckled and held out his left hand, curling his fingers into a C-shape.
Arisu matched with her right hand, forming a heart. She tilted her eyebrows playfully toward the camera.
After the photo, the girl wisely thanked them and left. But only a few steps away, she and her friend couldn't help squealing, exclaiming things like, "They're locked in forever! I swallowed the key!" and "I'm shipping them to the heavens!"
Left standing there, Ryo and Arisu looked at each other, stunned—then burst into laughter.
-------------------------------------
"This time, you will be facing a Special unanimous Exam."
A sudden ambush. Class 3-B, completely unprepared, was abruptly informed of the exam by their homeroom teacher.
As murmurs filled the room, the teacher quickly spoke in a stern tone:
"Since the rules for this exam are simple, the school deemed it unnecessary to announce in advance."
"The rules can be summed up in a single line: For each of the five prompts provided, the class must reach a unanimous decision. If all five prompts are cleared, the class earns 50 class points."
For Class 3-B, the term "class points" was undeniably the sweetest phrase imaginable. The classroom instantly fell silent, every student turning their attention to the teacher with hopeful eyes.
"First, let's go through a sample question to help everyone understand the exam format."
The teacher distributed tablets to each student and projected the sample question on the whiteboard:
[Lose 5 class points. Each student gains 10,000 private points.] [Agree / Disagree]
"There will be no discussion. Please select your answer within 60 seconds."
Most students voted without hesitation. At this stage, every single class point was critical—10,000 private points couldn't compare. The results appeared quickly:
[Agree: 0 votes / Disagree: 34 votes]
As expected.
The teacher nodded and continued:
"The format remains the same for the actual questions. Anonymous voting. 60 seconds to decide. If the class isn't unanimous, there will be a 10-minute discussion period followed by another vote. This repeats until a unanimous decision is reached, or time runs out."
"You have 5 hours total. If the class fails to clear all five prompts within the time limit, 300 class points will be deducted."
The unprecedented penalty made the students of Class 3-B collectively gasp.
"Also, any student who fails to submit an answer within 60 seconds will be considered as timed out. If the delay exceeds 90 seconds, that student will be expelled."
With the rules swiftly explained, the All-Agree Special Exam officially began.
The first four questions were relatively easy. Minor disagreements were quickly smoothed over by Tomoda. In less than an hour, Class 3-B had achieved four unanimous decisions.
Just when they thought they were about to effortlessly secure 50 class points, the fifth question dropped like a bomb:
[Expel one classmate. In exchange, gain 100 class points.] [Agree / Disagree] [If unanimous agreement is reached, the class must then vote on who to expel.]
At that moment, Kitagawa Ryo and Sakayanagi Arisu arrived at the door of Class 3-B. With everyone's attention locked on the prompt and the curtains drawn, no one noticed their presence.
Due to the rules, no one could speak before the first round of voting. Silence fell over the class as they submitted their votes.
[Agree: 5 votes / Disagree: 29 votes]
Not unanimous. The discussion phase began, and chaos erupted.
"How could anyone vote to agree? Haven't we worked this hard together? We're all comrades!"
One boy clutched his head in disbelief.
"But... it's 100 class points..."
A girl muttered.
Currently, the gap between Class B and Class A was 73 points. If Class A rejected the prompt and Class B accepted it, they could finally surpass them and become the new Class A.
"If we reject it and they accept, our gap will widen to 173 points."
Another student chimed in.
"But Class A would never sacrifice one of their own. They're united."
A girl argued.
"Which is why we should agree! If they don't expel anyone, this is our chance to overtake them."
Tomoda stayed silent, attempting to calm the group. There was still plenty of time. He decided to observe one more vote.
The second vote results came in a few minutes later:
[Agree: 10 votes / Disagree: 24 votes]
More students now supported expulsion.
Anonymity and lack of risk had begun to stir dark desires. If someone else got expelled, they could become Class A.
"Is being Class A... really that important?"
Outside the door, Arisu muttered. Watching the growing hysteria inside the classroom, she nudged Ryo with her elbow:
"Hey, what would you choose, Ryo?"
"This isn't something one person can decide."
Ryo shook his head and stared at Tomoda, whose expression was becoming conflicted.
"American psychologist Philip Zimbardo once said that anonymity and deindividuation, plus group pressure, are key factors in turning normal people into villains."
"In situations like this, even a leader's influence can be nullified."
As if to prove his point, Tomoda stood and said that everyone should consider agreeing. While the opposition still had the majority, the supporters were now beyond reason.
This wasn't a majority-rule scenario. It was about whether the persuadable could outlast the unpersuadable.
Then came the next prompt:
[Who should be expelled?]
The room fell silent again. Everyone watched each other warily, eyes especially on Tomoda, dreading the possibility their name would be called.
And then, to everyone's shock, Tomoda smiled and said:
"Vote for me. I'll drop out."
No one spoke.
No one dared comfort him or object. It felt like voicing support would only make them the next sacrifice.
Perhaps only now did they realize: they were sad, yes, but more eager to reach Class A.
Because their own interests were at stake.
Class A students received all the school's resources, guaranteed university and job placements...
"Don't feel bad. This is what's best for the class."
Tomoda still tried to lighten the mood.
When the vote came, everyone chose him, apologetically but without hesitation.
It was Tomoda's wish, and they could at least grant him that.
An ugly excuse, hiding their self-interest.
But then came the shock.
[Agree: 33 votes / Disagree: 1 vote]
Someone had opposed.
The room exploded with outrage:
"Who was it?!"
"Tomoda agreed himself!"
"Don't ruin this for everyone!"
Ten minutes of fruitless arguing passed.
Another vote:
[Agree: 33 / Disagree: 1]
A single vote like a nail in the eye. Amid the chaos, someone mentioned they saw Tomoda confess to Chabashira Sae yesterday.
All eyes turned to her pale face, even her best friend Hoshinomiya Chie.
"It was you, wasn't it, Chabashira?"
"We know it hurts, but it has to be done."
Voices came from every direction.
Chabashira silently clenched her hands and voted against.
"Tomoda! Talk to your girlfriend!"
A girl screamed, but Tomoda simply shook his head. No one could force her.
"Vote her out then. If she wants to save Tomoda, let her go instead."
"I agree."
Having failed to persuade her, students began shifting strategy.
"Hey, Chabashira, want to save Tomoda? Then expel yourself."
Chabashira glanced at Tomoda. Remembering his sunset confession, she nodded.
She felt like a knight protecting a princess. This, she believed, was love.
[Agree: 33 / Disagree: 1]
But Chabashira wasn't expelled.
The lone vote now came from Tomoda.
As the class shouted in frustration and confusion, Chabashira felt like Don Quixote charging at windmills.
A meaningless metaphor, like why a raven resembles a writing desk.
Even when Hoshinomiya grabbed her in fury, Chabashira felt nothing.
She could no longer hear the accusations. She looked only at Tomoda and continued pressing the Disagree button.
Disagree, disagree, disagree...
Time ran out.
Class 3-B failed the exam. 300 class points deducted.
"I don't get it at all."
Watching from outside, Sakayanagi Arisu frowned.
"Is this what they mean by love making people dumb?"
Kitagawa Ryo, equally unimpressed, commented:
"Intense emotions don't prove love. They just show how lonely and bored those people were before."
"Chabashira and Tomoda won't last after this."
"Then what do you think proves love, Ryo?"
Arisu leaned in and whispered.
"...How should I know."
Ryo glanced at the hand Arisu was holding and repeated quietly:
"How should I know."
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