If the VIP wasn't in Class A or Class D, this desired outcome might be the best option.
She knew the Rabbit group's VIP wasn't in her class, and Class C's Class Points would drop further after returning to school — making it a safe range for their class.
With only three Class B students in the Rabbit group, the 500,000 points per person would amount to 1.5 million. That was acceptable.
They couldn't verify whether Houtarou was telling the truth about the VIP not being in his class. However, with two meetings scheduled each day, they had time to observe everyone's words and actions to gather VIP information.
So Honami nodded gently.
"In that case, I also agree our Rabbit group should go for this outcome. Then we from Class C agree too." Shiho and her classmates, who had been waiting for this chance, quickly said.
Now that Class A and B students were participating, the others would naturally join too. If everyone chose Outcome 1, they'd receive huge point rewards when the exam ended — a valuable opportunity.
"If that's the case, then we from Class D... well, we few agree..." Teruhiko turned to look at the other two boys.
Hideo and Akito nodded. No one would refuse points.
But there was still one person who hadn't stated their position.
"Karuizawa, you think so too, right!" Teruhiko called out the name of the fourth Class D student in the room.
Kei Karuizawa.
"Ah... me? Whatever, there's nothing wrong with getting more points." She said while looking at her phone.
This careless, uninvolved attitude drew attention.
"By the way..." Shiho noticed this blonde girl had been looking at her phone since entering the room, "Are Class D phones like this? Ours are all white, why are yours black cases?"
She said this because the phone Hideo from Class D was holding was also black.
"…? These are backup phones, Horikita collected our phones before eight o'clock." Kei explained calmly.
This scene left Honami feeling dazed.
"Hm…"
With a student from Class A like Houtarou present, it was difficult to probe for information. She felt she could only continue investigating.
But currently, Class D students not only didn't know about their class's VIP situation — they didn't even know if they themselves had been chosen as VIPs.
This unified strategy meant Class B students in other groups must be troubled as well.
Had Class D participated in the exam?
They had, but it was essentially the same as forfeiting. They couldn't obtain any useful information.
And so, this VIP exam had reached a deadlock.
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[Discussion ended.]
At 10 o'clock, Tomonari's announcement came over the ship's broadcast.
The group members had two mandatory discussion periods each day — from 9:00 to 10:00 AM and from 9:00 to 10:00 PM. The next discussion would be in the evening.
The first discussion had revealed information that complicated matters, leaving Honami troubled. Her classmates felt equally helpless — they couldn't extract any information from Class A, while Class D appeared to know nothing at all.
"I believe choosing this outcome is the best option, not just for our Rabbit group but for all groups." Houtarou said, "If we cooperate, everyone can earn a substantial number of points."
"Oh." She nodded.
But that was all she could do. As he pointed out, Outcome 1 would grant each group 7-8 million points. With 12 groups total, the school would distribute 80-90 million points at once — an enticing prospect.
However, this option would leave Class Points unchanged. Wasn't this precisely what Class A and Class D wanted?
Honami strongly suspected Class A and Class D were collaborating again.
Class D's behavior seemed particularly suspicious — this strategy seemed beyond their usual capabilities.
Houtarou's push for Outcome 1 suggested that next year's special exams might not offer many points, making it difficult for Class B to advance.
Even with three full years ahead to work together, starting with such an insurmountable gap would crush everyone's spirit. This wasn't an outcome she could accept.
Honami sighed softly.
"Where are you heading next, Oreki-kun?"
She noticed him walking toward a corridor after Teacher Tomonari announced the end of discussion and the Class D students departed.
His direction appeared to match hers...
"Going to pick up Horikita." Houtarou said.
"Pick up Horikita..." Honami blinked gently, "Does that mean you two are dating..."
"We're cooperating for this exam." He said, "We're both going for Outcome 1."
Honami: "..."
So it was like that after all?
She gently pressed her forehead and followed him to Room 203 where the Dragon group was.
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With the Dragon group's formation, it was clear that representatives from each class had gathered here.
Class A: Kōhei Katsuragi, Ryōko Nishikawa, Shinji Matoba, Koharu Yano
Class B: Sayo Andō, Ryūji Kanzaki, Hitomi Tsube
Class C: Takumi Oda, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Masashi Sonoda, Ryūen Kakeru
Class D: Kikyō Kushida, Yōsuke Hirata, Suzune Horikita
"By the way…" Houtarou said, "Why wasn't Ichinose-san assigned to the Dragon group?"
"Hm? Can we choose our own groups?" Honami blinked gently, "Ah, you mean how Ryūen, Katsuragi, Kushida, Hirata, and Horikita were all assigned to the Dragon group? I'm also curious, since it seems like all the leader-type figures from each class were arranged into the Dragon group."
"Then why aren't you there?" He said.
"But you're not in the Dragon group either, Oreki." She blinked cutely, "Besides, I'm just one of many in Class B — everyone is excellent."
This angel appeared very modest.
This VIP exam had a pattern, with class representatives gathered together to compete against those of similar ability.
Houtarou believed the school wanted them to compete and improve together.
As for himself, he figured Tomonari knew his personality, so putting him in this kind of peripheral group made him comfortable.
But Honami being assigned to the Rabbit group was problematic. Perhaps her homeroom teacher had something in mind.
While thinking this, he noticed an argument going on in the Dragon group. Standing at the doorway, they could see the scene inside.
Five or six members of the Dragon group remained. The Class A students had all left, but all three Class B students were still there. From Class D, only Suzune remained.
Kakeru was seated while Ryūji showed an angry expression.
The two female classmates behind him appeared to be crying. Something unpleasant seemed to have happened during the discussion.
Looking at this situation alone, Ryūji was clearly no match for Kakeru. If the Dragon group's VIP was in Class B, they would likely be exposed.
Wouldn't Class B's homeroom teacher have seen this coming? The teachers were also focused on ability, after all.
When Honami approached, Kakeru immediately went on the offensive.
"Ichinose, you're all so devious, constantly trying to get information about our class's VIP."
"During the island exam, weren't you the one who sent Kaneda and Ibuki to gather information about our Class B leader? Consider this payback." She said calmly, regaining her composure after feeling deflated from her discussion with Houtarou.
Kakeru: "..."
Nonsense. He had only sent Satoru, not Mio — and that girl had already been transferred to Class A when Houtarou handed her over to Honami.
During the recent discussion, Kakeru had employed underhanded tactics to verify that the Dragon group's VIP wasn't from Class B.
But something bothered him. He had noticed Yōsuke and Kikyō using black backup phones, which made him suspicious about what was happening with the Class D students.
Now, watching Houtarou standing at the doorway simply wave his hand and seeing Suzune walk over to him, he finally understood.
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