For Class A, there was no need to discuss this special exam further.
When Mashima asked if there were any questions, no one raised their hand—not even Katsuragi, who seemed indifferent.
From start to finish, Sakayanagi Arisu remained silent, as if she had anticipated this outcome.
Thus, the homeroom session concluded.
Kamuro propped her cheek on her hand, watching Mashima leave the classroom with boredom.
Having narrowly avoided disaster, the atmosphere grew lively as everyone celebrated their past decision.
Hah.
She thought it had little to do with that decision.
Even if it were Class B, they couldn't have produced 20 million Personal Points all at once.
It wasn't that others didn't value Personal Points—it was that someone had propelled Class A to this position.
Their points now equaled the combined total of the entire grade besides themselves.
The fundamental reason for all this was that Class A of the first year possessed substantial capital.
It was said that Nagumo Miyabi had once dominated the entire grade in the same manner.
Kamuro glanced at Kaoru beside her. What was he thinking about now?
Kaoru was playing with his phone.
Or rather, he was messaging someone, completely unaware of Kamuro's surreptitious gaze.
"Worried about someone?"
Kaoru looked up to see Kamuro watching him nonchalantly. Her slightly aloof, pretty face no longer carried the flushed redness from days before.
It seemed their relationship hadn't progressed further despite that incident.
Perhaps it didn't need to progress further—this was simply her usual attitude.
"Unlike us, others aren't so fortunate."
Kaoru turned his phone screen toward her, allowing her to see his chat history.
Kamuro was slightly taken aback. Was he really this comfortable showing her such things?
Though feeling somewhat peculiar, Kamuro didn't feign reluctance and took a brief look.
[If it's about the additional exam, I can help.]
[How many points are you short right now?]
[This isn't between classes—just my personal assistance to you. You can treat it as borrowing points, since that's how it was before.]
These were the messages he had just sent to Ichinose Honami, making Kamuro's feelings even more complicated.
[Sorry, I just saw your message.]
[I'm happy that you're willing to help me, Kaoru, but this would trouble you too much.]
[I understand your intentions, but this isn't just my personal matter. I feel too ashamed to keep seeking your help, especially since I haven't even repaid all the previous points yet.]
Was she reluctant to accept his help because it involved class matters?
While it's natural for a boyfriend to help his girlfriend, they were technically opponents from different classes.
If people thought Kaoru was helping his girlfriend during this exam, would they suspect he might continue assisting her in future exams, betraying his class?
Ichinose Honami had likely considered this and thus declined her boyfriend's offer.
At the same time, Kaoru had anticipated she would think this way, which was why he added that final line—yet she still refused.
"What a troublesome woman."
Kamuro offered her assessment.
"After all, this isn't a small amount—over ten million personal points. Not everyone can produce that."
Kaoru operated his phone, continuing to reply to her messages.
"What about the previous points?"
Kamuro seemed somewhat concerned. "You helped her before?"
"Just lent her a few million."
Kaoru nodded.
This was the result of when Ryuen had tried to target Class B of the first year, and he had fueled the situation.
Kamuro fell silent for a moment. "Now I understand her perspective. You should reflect on yourself, Mitoma."
"..."
Kaoru stopped thinking.
So it was his fault?
...
Meanwhile, Class D of the first year was also engulfed in heated atmosphere—though theirs was filled with arguments.
"Stop it! This is literally the worst exam possible!"
"Quiet down, boys!"
"You're probably planning to cast your Criticism Vote on me, aren't you!"
Horikita Suzune calmly observed the scene—boys and girls regarding each other with hostility, forming separate groups, their disputes fueled by distrust echoing incessantly.
She had thought that after a year of effort, the class atmosphere would be better than before, but it remains just as disappointing.
Surprisingly, she no longer felt any anger at all.
What puzzled Horikita Suzune now was that although both Kaoru and Horikita Manabu had taught her to value interpersonal relationships, the moment she heard Chabashira Sae mention the additional exam—
She realized she felt completely unperturbed, even accepting the reality immediately: someone had to be expelled.
Horikita understood that interpersonal relationships were indispensable tools.
She had come to know Kushida, Ayanokoji, Sudo, and others, but when it came time to make decisions, these were also people she could consider abandoning if necessary.
Thus, Horikita Suzune felt confused—was she somehow different?
From the class's perspective, someone was bound to be expelled in this exam.
Class 1-D had no contingency measures, and no one would step up with 20 million points to save them.
In that case, they had to cut their losses to survive.
Horikita Suzune thought this was entirely correct, yet she felt a slight unease.
After a while, she figured out where this unease came from.
She was merely pretending.
Pretending she could be like her brother—or even surpass him—but her true nature had never changed.
[Suzune, you don't have to force yourself to accommodate others. My experiences and lessons can't solve your problems. Others are just others; they can't help you. You have your own path.]
[But, Brother, didn't you want me to make friends and have a normal high school life?]
[Enjoyment means finding joy in what you do. As long as you can find joy, isn't that the best high school life?]
That conversation in the office still left a deep impression on Horikita Suzune.
What was her high school life like?
Horikita Suzune pursed her lips.
Before this, she had only thought about how to catch up to her brother.
Now, after Kaoru's influence, her mind was filled with rising to Class A.
But was rising to Class A enough?
She touched her stomach. Not just now—where should her future life go?
Just then, her phone vibrated a few times.
[Are you okay with this exam?]
Seeing Kaoru's message, Horikita Suzune was slightly taken aback, then suppressed the corners of her lips from curling up.
[Hmph, I don't think you need to worry.]
[The best outcome is that none of you get expelled.]
[In your eyes, everyone else is just disposable sacrifices?]
[I care about the people I like. Why should I care about those who have nothing to do with me?]
[I see.]
So this was his interpretation of interpersonal relationships.
Horikita Suzune held her phone, feeling that her earlier worries and unease might have been an overreaction.
Because they were people she liked, they couldn't be expelled.
Horikita Suzune smiled faintly.
She had just put down her phone to think of countermeasures but couldn't resist picking it up again to see if he had sent any new messages.
Finding none, she frowned, set it down, yet still couldn't help picking it up once more.
She edited a message and sent it to him.
[Don't wear it anymore from now on.]