Sakayanagi's apology was clearly well-received. On top of her already cute appearance, students in her class immediately came forward to comfort her.
"This isn't your fault. We didn't even think of that either."
"Exactly! Sakayanagi, it's already a lot of work for you to create the questions and tutor us. Please don't worry about this incident."
"Winning and losing is a part of war. We'll definitely win next time!"
…
In just a few words, Sakayanagi reignited her class's fighting spirit and even gained more support.
Meanwhile, Class B was in a state of celebration.
"We're only 18 points behind Class A now. If we keep this up and play it steady, we might even surpass Class A next time!"
It wasn't surprising that the Class B students felt this way. Ever since the summer break, Class B had performed better than Class A in every special exam.
Whether it was the deserted island, the sports festival, or this Paper Shuffle, Class B was steadily gaining more class points.
In every instance, they were the victors against Class A.
This gave them the feeling that as long as they worked hard, they were sure to win.
As for Class D, most students had one thought: not being expelled was a success.
After the exam ended, the students of Class C felt a temporary sense of relief because the board had clearly informed them that there would be no more exams before the winter break.
It was currently early December, with a little over two weeks until the winter break.
This period would be a good opportunity for students to relax and recover from the fatigue accumulated from studying.
Ryuen's actions were becoming increasingly reckless, as he directed students of Class C to gather information everywhere.
This guy, he could have just called Ayanokouji out for a beating, but he didn't. Kamio Tatsuya could guess the reason.
He not only wanted to find the person who was using his name, but also wanted to push them to their mental limit, to see their flustered expressions.
But this was undoubtedly impossible, because even Kamio Tatsuya had never seen Ayanokouji show a flustered expression.
If he could see it this time, it might be considered a gain.
As for Kamio Tatsuya, outside of school hours, he was either on dates with Shiina in the library or on dates with Kamuro in rooms or elsewhere.
Of course, his student council duties and his workouts on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were not neglected.
"Speaking of which, junior Kamio, your class's performance in this exam was quite surprising."
In the student council office, Nagumo was working while chatting casually with Kamio Tatsuya.
"Ah, we just promised to give Class D some points, and they agreed. Because Class D had a decisive gap with the other classes in this exam."
Kamio Tatsuya was quick to respond when facing Nagumo. Although Nagumo treated him well, it didn't mean he had to tell him everything.
Nagumo naturally understood Kamio Tatsuya's meaning. The class difference in this exam was a difference in strength.
"Right, I remember Horikita Manabu's younger sister is in Class D, isn't she?"
"Yes, that's right."
"How is she? Did she inherit her brother's strength?"
"Not at all. Otherwise, Class D wouldn't still have zero points by now."
Nagumo pondered and felt that it made sense.
"But Class D does have a very capable person."
This piqued Nagumo's interest.
"Oh? You're not going to say it's you, junior Kamio, since you were in Class D at first, are you?"
"Of course not me." Kamio Tatsuya immediately denied it. "Besides, you've probably met this person before."
"I've met him?"
Nagumo began to think about the first-year students he had met, specifically from Class D.
"Are you talking about that guy who raced with Horikita Manabu during the sports festival?"
"That's right, him. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."
Kamio Tatsuya threw Ayanokouji under the bus without any guilt.
"It's really him?" Nagumo's interest grew higher. "But what's your basis? I remember that kid didn't have any particularly outstanding traits besides running fast."
"Of course I do. After I joined the student council, I checked Ayanokouji's entrance exam scores, and his scores on the first semester's three exams were all exactly fifty points each time."
"That's not a big deal. It's either good luck or he's controlling his score, something I could do easily."
Nagumo wasn't bothered by this at all, and convincing him with this was clearly impossible.
Kamio Tatsuya thought for a moment and continued, "Senior Nagumo, you must have also taken a mini-exam about a month after you enrolled last year, right?"
"That's right. It's the same as your year."
"Do you remember the last three questions of that mini-exam?"
Mentioning this, Nagumo's expression darkened.
"Of course. Those questions were very difficult. Even I couldn't solve them."
"But Ayanokouji solved them." Kamio Tatsuya smiled. "A student who could solve those questions only scored fifty points on that mini-exam."
I see. Nagumo nodded. If that were the case, it was indeed very suspicious.
"Do you have any other evidence?"
"Other evidence." Kamio Tatsuya touched his chin. "You know that I've been training in martial arts with Horikita Manabu recently, right?"
"Yes, speaking of which, I'm quite envious that you can receive training directly from Horikita Manabu." Nagumo said, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
However, Kamio Tatsuya took it as a joke.
"Actually, not long after school started, Horikita Manabu had a spar with Ayanokouji. I happened to be passing by…"
"Wait, you're saying they fought? Who won?"
Nagumo seemed very concerned about this matter and became quite agitated.
"Uh, they only exchanged a couple of moves. But Horikita Manabu told me privately that if it had gone all the way, he probably wouldn't have been Ayanokouji's opponent."
Nagumo's mouth hung open. He instinctively wanted to argue, but he also understood that Kamio Tatsuya had no reason to lie to him, as he could simply ask Horikita Manabu about it.
Horikita Manabu was not someone who couldn't handle losing, and would never lie about such things.
However, this only increased his interest in Ayanokouji.
"Your Class D this year is truly interesting. Not only has a talent like you emerged, but there's also Ayanokouji, who is even more of a mystery."
"Senior Nagumo is too kind."
Nagumo glanced at the humble Kamio Tatsuya and then took out a stack of documents from beside him.
"After you finish what you're doing, please deliver this to the principal's office."
"Documents?"
"Yes, this is a project I'm planning to implement next year. It's fine if you want to take a look in advance." Nagumo said magnanimously.
A project to be implemented next year.
"Could it be that?"
"That's right."
Kamio Tatsuya nodded, then finished his work and picked up the stack of documents from Nagumo's desk.
Taking out the documents, he saw English words written on the top cover – Over ll bility.
Over ll bility, Comprehensive Ability.
Was this the finished product of Nagumo's planned meritocracy-first initiative to be implemented next year?
Heh, he felt a sense of anticipation.
After bidding farewell to Nagumo, Kamio Tatsuya headed to the special educational building with the documents. He had been to the principal's office not long ago and had met the school's chairman there.
Then, as he went to the principal's office again today, he encountered Chairman Sakayanagi once more.
"Kamio-kun?" Chairman Sakayanagi looked surprised, then saw the documents in his hand and understood. "You're here to deliver documents, aren't you?"
"Yes, it's President Nagumo's policy for the next academic year."
"I see." Chairman Sakayanagi nodded. "However, the principal is not here right now. Although I can forward them for you, I'm also a bit tied up at the moment. Could you please wait here for a moment?"
Kamio Tatsuya nodded, having no objections.
Moreover, the current situation clearly indicated that something had happened.
Thus, the two walked to the outside of the principal's office, where he saw an acquaintance, the homeroom teacher of Class D, Chabashira Sae.
Why was she here?
Had something happened?
"Chairman Sakayanagi?"
Upon seeing Chairman Sakayanagi, Chabashira Sae immediately stepped forward to greet him.
"Thank you for your hard work, Chabashira-sensei." Chairman Sakayanagi greeted her warmly. "Please wait here for a moment, Tatsuya."
Uh, have we only met once and he's already calling me by my name?
However, when he saw the uncertain and surprised expression on Chabashira Sae's face, he immediately understood. This was a jab at Chabashira.
"Yes, Uncle Maki."
Hearing this, Chairman Sakayanagi gave Kamio Tatsuya an appreciative look, then knocked on the principal's door and pushed it open, entering inside.
"Excuse me."
As the door closed, silence returned to the corridor outside.
"What is your relationship with Chairman Sakayanagi?"
Chabashira Sae looked at Kamio Tatsuya with an uncertain and surprised expression.
"Chabashira-sensei, are you scared?"
Seeing her reaction, a mocking smile appeared on Kamio Tatsuya's lips.
"Don't get too arrogant. Don't think just because you've attached yourself to the Sakayanagi family that I can't do anything to you."
Looking at the woman before him who was acting like a madwoman, Kamio Tatsuya didn't even bother to reply. He simply leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and rested.
Not long after, the principal's office door opened again, and a middle-aged man in his forties came out.
Based on his gait, Kamio Tatsuya could tell that the man likely had no fighting experience, but his face looked very fierce.
Judging by his facial features, this guy was not a good person.
And, he looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen this face somewhere before.
Where was it?
As Kamio Tatsuya was thinking, the principal's office door opened again. This time, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka walked out with him.
Why was he here?
However, upon seeing Ayanokouji's face, Kamio Tatsuya suddenly understood something.
No wonder that man's face looked familiar. Could that guy be Ayanokouji's father?
Wow, he doesn't seem like a good person.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Tatsuya. Just place the documents on the principal's desk. I'll speak with him later."
"Thank you."
Kamio Tatsuya walked around them and entered the principal's office. As the chairman had said, he placed the documents on the principal's desk.
After leaving the office, Chairman Sakayanagi and the others were gone. However, as Kamio Tatsuya reached the first floor, he saw Ayanokouji at the entrance.
"It seems you were waiting for me."
"Yes." Ayanokouji nodded. "There's something I hope you can help me with."
"Help, huh…" Kamio Tatsuya glanced at Ayanokouji. "That person just now, he was your father, wasn't he?"
"Why would you make that judgment?"
"Because he looked alike."
Ayanokouji was silent for a moment, then nodded.
I see. So that was the person in charge of the ability screening organization.
"What do you want me to do for you?"
"Please tell Ryuen that I will no longer work for Class D, so can he please leave me alone?"
This was the matter?
Kamio Tatsuya was immediately surprised.
"Did you get away from that Chabashira guy?"
"Sort of." Ayanokouji replied. "I just want to spend the remaining two years of high school peacefully with my friends."
If it were before, Kamio Tatsuya might have believed Ayanokouji if he had said these things.
But after learning about Ayanokouji's background from Sakayanagi, Kamio Tatsuya didn't believe a single word of it.
He even wanted to say: Are you kidding me?
Besides, you were the one who caused this in the first place. You can't just say you won't do it anymore?
What a joke!
"Sorry, I can't control Ryuen's affairs, so he will definitely come after you. You should be prepared."
Kamio Tatsuya refused Ayanokouji's request.
"Besides, I don't think you'll do nothing from now on. If you really don't want to cause trouble, then just obediently let Ryuen beat you up.
With Ryuen's personality, as long as you don't resist, he'll get bored and probably ignore you afterwards."
"Easier said than done. Getting hit hurts."
Ayanokouji immediately refused.
"Then how about you turn yourself in to the student council? Say that you were the one who falsely accused Ichinose using Ryuen's name a while back. How about that?
I can guarantee you, this small matter won't have any impact on you, at most you'll have to write a self-criticism and lose some class points."
"Wouldn't that make most of the first-year students dislike me?"
"Someone like you cares about that?"
"Even I care about that."
"Is that so? I thought someone like you would be entirely focused on how to pass the exams." Kamio Tatsuya's tone was filled with mockery.
But this statement made Ayanokouji's expression serious.
"Exams… where did you find out about me? From Chairman Sakayanagi?"
Although Ayanokouji's conclusion was not entirely correct, it was close.
"In any case, if you don't want to be bothered by Ryuen, then go and turn yourself in to the student council. Other than that, I have nothing else to say."
With that, Kamio Tatsuya left the special educational building.
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