After Amane dealt with Kanzaki, she didn't immediately pick up Class B's key card to check the name on it.
Amane's gaze turned towards the silent tent area not far away.
"Classmate Shibata, since you're already here, why are you still hiding? If you don't come out, I'll take the key card, you know."
Amane's voice was perfectly controlled.
Shibata, who had been holding his breath behind the tent, could only force a bitter smile and emerge from behind the tent when he heard Amane call him out by name.
Actually, he had already arrived at the scene when the two were still fighting over the key card. If he and Kanzaki had teamed up, even if they couldn't match Amane in terms of brute force, snatching back the key card under Amane's foot wouldn't have been an impossible task.
However, Shibata didn't do that. The reason he was standing there now was to bring about Ichinose and Kanzaki's failure.
Only then could he truly lead Class B, allow everyone's tense nerves to relax, and let everyone rediscover their individuality, rather than being template-like tasks.
In some respects, Amane and his goals were the same, but at this moment, Shibata couldn't openly express his thoughts.
"Classmate Miyako is still as cautious as ever. I don't wish to conflict with you. Could I ask you to return the key card to us?"
Shibata tried his best to soften his tone, so as not to sound aggressive towards Amane. After all, their goals were consistent, and even as an internal spy, Shibata wouldn't be foolish enough to insist on getting beaten up first.
Was his request to Amane reasonable? Of course, it was. The key card originally belonged to Class B. But would Amane return it to him? That was simply a pipe dream. Oh, perhaps Amane might return the key card after seeing the name on it, but even if she didn't, Shibata would be helpless against Amane. So why would he make such a request that he knew would be refused?
The answer, of course, was to go through the motions. He asked for the key card, Amane didn't give it, and he couldn't beat Amane. So, whether Amane took the key card or looked at the name on the back of the key card, it had nothing to do with Shibata. Kanzaki, who provoked Amane with the key card, was the one to take the blame.
Shibata's little scheme naturally couldn't escape Amane's notice.
Amane had considered cooperating with Shibata, but she quickly thought of another interesting game.
"Of course I can return it to you, as long as you kneel and beg me. How does that sound?"
Amane directly retorted Shibata with an even more outrageous request.
Shibata's face immediately turned ugly.
Kneeling to beg, although somewhat humiliating, wasn't an impossible thing to do. However, if Shibata chose to refuse, even though everyone in Class B would understand him, Kanzaki would definitely blame him for not trying his best to get the key card back, shifting some of the responsibility onto him.
"Classmate Miyako, your request is a bit excessive. Can you change it...?"
"Change it? Of course, you can. Then wake everyone in Class B. No one will get a good night's rest tonight."
Amane's second request made Shibata feel even more overwhelmed.
If he woke everyone, he would no longer have any room to maneuver. Under everyone's watchful eyes, any action that didn't fit his identity would arouse suspicion from others.
Should he tell Amane that he was actually an ally with Horikita-san?
Shibata glanced at the still unconscious Kanzaki, intending to introduce himself, but then he feared that Kanzaki might be faking it. If Kanzaki stood up and accused him, there would be no place for Shibata in Class B, and the reputation he had painstakingly built would be destroyed in an instant.
So, what should he do?
Just as Shibata was in a dilemma, a rustling sound came from behind Amane.
"Amane? Classmate Shibata, what are you two doing?"
Ichinose, rubbing her eyes, walked a wide circle around the stone platform before coming down, looking at the two with sleepy eyes.
"Classmate Ichinose, just now, Classmate Kanzaki provoked Classmate Miyako with the key card, and a quarrel and fight broke out between them. Finally, Classmate Kanzaki was knocked unconscious by Classmate Miyako, and the key card is now under Classmate Miyako's foot."
Upon seeing Ichinose awaken, Shibata immediately acted as if he had found a savior, pushing the problem onto Ichinose to handle.
"Eh? Did so much happen while I was asleep? Is Classmate Kanzaki alright?"
Ichinose quickly jogged a few steps to Kanzaki's side.
She only breathed a slight sigh of relief after seeing that Kanzaki's side face was only a bit swollen.
However, Kanzaki was completely unconscious, and leaving him like that was definitely not an option. But at the moment, the conflict didn't seem to be resolved. On Amane's side... Ichinose looked at Amane's feet and could indeed see something like a key card being stepped on in the mud by Amane.
"Amane, since Classmate Kanzaki has already learned his lesson, do you think you could let him off this time?"
Ichinose also had some discernment. The fact that Kanzaki's injury was only on his face indicated that Amane most likely knocked Kanzaki unconscious with one punch. How much force would that require? There must have been a conflict that she didn't know about.
Recalling Kanzaki's attitude towards Amane, Ichinose wouldn't be surprised even if Kanzaki had deliberately provoked Amane.
"I'm not interested in him. You can take him away, but the key card needs to stay."
Amane-san's words left Ichinose slightly disappointed, but she still nodded.
"Classmate Shibata, please take Classmate Kanzaki to the tent to rest first. Then… if Classmate Kanzaki isn't awake by daybreak, go find Hoshinomiya-sensei."
Ichinose glanced at the sky. Although it had just rained, it was still pitch black outside. Even with a flashlight, visibility was poor. If she asked Shibata to rush to find Hoshinomiya-sensei, she was afraid Shibata might encounter an accident. So she told him to go tomorrow, while she continued to confront Amane-san, looking for a way to solve the problem.
"Kanzaki is in my hands."
Shibata helped Kanzaki up, intending to leave.
"Classmate Shibata…"
Ichinose suddenly called out to Shibata, but said nothing more.
Shibata was startled at first, then quickly lowered his head.
"Miyako-san hasn't had a chance to see the name on the key card."
Ichinose smiled.
This was the unique unspoken understanding among everyone in Class B.
If Amane-san had already seen the name on the back of the key card, then her confrontation with Amane-san here would be completely meaningless.
The current situation was that Amane-san had defeated Kanzaki but hadn't had time to check the information on the back of the key card. This meant there was still a lot that could be done.
"Ichinose, come here for a moment."
Seeing Amane-san reach out to her, Ichinose subconsciously went to Amane-san's side.
"Amane, what do you… Mmph!"
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