Just like that, our long exam day ended. The group, no, the entire student body is exhausted. Our group will definitely rank far higher than what we expected it to rank at the beginning.

As long as the average score favors us, our group will definitely stand more than a good chance. The rest depends on how well Nagumo’s group and the 3rd year group perform.

At the very least we should be above the average. Just like our first day here, all the boys assembled inside the gymnasium. Afterwards, the girls also began assembling. The results of the special exam for both the boys and the girls will probably be announced now.

It’s almost 5 o’clock in the evening. It’ll probably be late night by the time we get back to the school.

“You all did well in the last eight days of this training camp. The contents of the exam are different of course, but this is a special exam that occurs every few years. Overall, you all did better than the students who took this special exam last time. I suppose you could attribute that to all of you having better teamwork”.

The elderly man I haven’t seen before announced all that with a constant smile on his face. Looks like he’s the one in charge of this training camp.

“First of all, I’ll be announcing the results. For the boys, all groups are above the average set by the school and so there will be no expellees”.

The moment that was announced, I could hear the boys breathe a sigh of relief.

“I see, so no expellees……”.

Patting himself on the chest, Keisei sighed. Ishizaki lightly taps him on the back.

“Never once thought we’d be expelled. Because we were aiming for 1st place after all”.

“Yeah”.

No matter what your feelings are, the fact that we’ve avoided expulsion is a significant one. However, something about the way that elderly man phrased it seemed off. If there are no expellees among the entire student body then there’d be no reason to say ‘boys’ in particular. In other words—

“As for the boys’ group that placed first, I’ll only be announcing the name of its 3rd year leader. For the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years of that group, your rewards will be handed out to you at a later date”.

After explaining that, the elderly man slowly read the name.

“3rd year, Class C. Ninomiya Kuranosuke-kun’s group placed first”.

That announcement caused a portion of the 3rd years to celebrate. I didn’t know which group it was for a moment, but I immediately realized that it’s the group the older Horikita is in.

It appears the older Horikita has dominated the battle against Nagumo.

“You did it, Horikita. As expected of you”.

Afterwards, groups starting from 2nd place to last place were announced but for the seniors that’s merely a bonus. Fujimaki, paying it no attention, praised the older Horikita.

“Oi, Yukimura. We’re 2nd. We did it!”.

“Yeah, that’s a relief. That’s really a relief”.

I don’t know by how much since they didn’t announce the difference in points but Nagumo’s in 2nd place. That means it was close but he lost. Even if he placed 2nd, it still means Nagumo lost so he’d somewhat quiet down. That’s what everyone thought. To be honest, I couldn’t tell whose tactics would triumph in this fight. Why? Because I wasn’t particularly interested in it.

However, Nagumo’s been smiling constantly beside me without showing any sign of being agitated.

This isn’t a man who defiantly made his challenge and lost. I suppose that’s to be expected. Because this man’s been doing something ridiculously ‘wicked’ behind the scenes.

“1st place secured. Congratulations, Horikita-senpai. As expected of you”.

Nagumo raised his voice and congratulated the older Horikita. The older Horikita neither replied nor celebrated, remaining silent for the remainder of the announcement.

No, perhaps he’s starting to feel something off about this.

“You lost, Nagumo”.

The 3rd year Fujimaki, who knows nothing, said that to Nagumo. Perhaps he feels like he’s just humbled an upstart junior.

“Let’s see, the result announcement has just begun”.

“Oh please, the fight’s already over”.

“Sure, it’s over for the ‘boys'”.

“Boys? Girls have nothing to do with this. Nagumo, that was the rule, right?”.

“Yes, they have nothing to do with this. Nothing to do with my fight against Horikita-senpai, that is”.

Fujimaki’s expression turned grim upon hearing those cryptic words from Nagumo. He quietly observed Ishikura from the 3rd years’ Class B from beside him.

“Now then…..next up I will be announcing the results of the girls’ groups. The group in 1st place is the group led by 3rd year Class C’s Ayase Natsu-san”.

This time around, a portion of the girls start celebrating. The small group that’s a part of the 3rd year Ayase’s large group is the one built around Class C’s Horikita and Kushida. They may have just won quite a lot of points for themselves. But after the joy comes the problem.

“Umm…..this is truly unfortunate but there is one small group that has fallen below the average”.

Both the boys and the girls froze up at that announcement. The students who were celebrating also went silent.

Everyone did their best in the special exam and worked hard to ensure they’d be above the average. However, the results can sometimes be cruel. This would mean someone’s definitely going to be expelled.

The question is whether it’s going to be a 1st year or a senior student, or perhaps both. There’s no telling yet. The older Horikita looked at Nagumo as though he just realized something.

As though he’s trying to figure out the reason behind that constant warped smile on his face. But it’s already too late.

“Firstly, I’ll announce the lowest group…it’s the group led by 3rd year Class B’s Ikari Momoko-san”.

The boys all couldn’t tell who was in that group at first. But they could hear screams coming from some of the girls and they start to realize who belongs to that group. The bottom large group has been decided. Now it all rests on which small group fell below the average.

In the worst case scenario, there could be expellees from all three years at once.

“Now, as for the group that fell below the average…..”.

Silence fell upon the gymnasium almost as though we were in the midst of Zazen. Everyone, wanting to know the results as quickly as possible, focused on that man’s mouth.

“Same as before, 3rd year—“.

He read it out. And the gymnasium was divided into those who are starting to break out into a smile and those who are starting to get nervous.

“The group’s leader is—Ikari Momoko-san. That is all”.

The moment that was declared, Nagumo started laughing happily as though he had been restraining himself all this time.

Time that passed like we were in slow motion resumed again.

But a lot of the students have yet to comprehend the situation. Nagumo isn’t laughing because some student whose face he doesn’t even know just got expelled. All this means is that a student from the 3rd years’ Class B got expelled, that’s all…but he’s laughing because that isn’t all there is to it.

“What did you do, Nagumo!?”.

The 3rd year Fujimaki from Class A approached him as though he just realized what’s going on. The older Horikita didn’t follow suit but his expression turned grim.

“The announcement is still ongoing, senpai. Please calm down. Currently this has nothing to do with you, Fujimaki-senpai. A Class B got expelled, that’s all. In fact, isn’t it great that a rival of yours has fallen?”.

He answered with a scornful laugh.

“Umm, please remain silent. This is truly unfortunate but in taking responsibility, Ikari-san will have to be expelled. Furthermore, since the group can opt to go with joint responsibility, please consult me at a later. Moving on, I’ll announce which girls’ group took 1st place”.

Despite saying how unfortunate it was, the announcements continued on solemnly. However, the older Horikita no longer cared about having taken 1st place. He got caught up in it just the way he was meant to be. It’s precisely because he’s an outstanding and exemplary person that he got beaten by Nagumo Miyabi. An unexpected attack.

“Ayanokouji, why is Fujimaki-senpai so angry…? Like Nagumo-senpai said, the leader’s a student from Class B. Isn’t that great news for Class A?”.

Keisei whispered his doubts into my ear.

“No, it’s not about the leader. I think it’s about who’s going to get dragged down along with her”.

“Ehh?”.

We were ordered to disband and while they prepare the bus for the return trip, we are allowed free time to change our clothes. Nagumo stood boldly and called over a single girl.

“Ikari-senpai, please tell us. Everyone’s curious to know who you’re going to be dragging down with you”.

Ikari, from the 3rd years’ Class B and slated for expulsion, appears calm. On the contrary, the ones worried are the girls who share a group with her.

Ikari’s group consists mainly of Class Bs and Class Ds. There’s no doubt about it, since it’s information given by Asahina and Kei.

Also, among them…….there’s also the figure of the sole participant from Class A, Tachibana Akane.

I looked at the older Horikita. And I then addressed him slowly in my mind.

I understand. In order to ensure your graduation as Class A, in order to act against Nagumo, you instructed the students of Class A, both boys and girls alike, to not let a single one end up as the leader right?

Because if you maintain a steady score, you won’t be expelled after all. However, you knew that even that would not be an absolute defense.

That’s why you accepted Nagumo’s challenge and set the stage for a fair-and-square fight.

To hold ‘malice’ at bay.

And also you avoided making careless contact with the girls.

To lower the risk of Nagumo taking advantage of that opening and targeting the girls.

Amicably enough, you’ve exhausted all possible measures, I’ll acknowledge that.

But even so, Nagumo’s malice exceeds even that.

There’s no need to even talk about it at length. This special exam is a trap that Nagumo set without the school even realizing it.

The people caught in the trap are now beginning to realize their situation.

Their expressions, even now, have paled to the point it seems like they’re about to collapse.

“Isn’t that obvious? You disturbed our group’s peace, Class A’s Tachibana Akane-san”.

As though to let everyone hear, Ikari spat that out aggressively.

“Nagumo…..the promise made with Horikita was that we wouldn’t involve a third party in this right!?”.

Fujimaki closes in, looking like he’s going to punch someone.

“Hold on please. I have nothing to do with this”.

“Shameless!”.

It’s obvious he’d get angry. No matter who looks at it, he’s involved, is the mood of transparency he’s creating himself.

“Then, I’ll be issuing the mutual fall notice”.

Saying that indifferently, Ikari headed over to the teachers.

At the same time, Ikari’s classmate Ishikura also followed as though they were sticking together.

Nobody could bring themselves to recognize that.

That includes the Hashimoto faction too.

“Tachibana-senpai slowed down Ikari-senpai’s group. As a result, the average score fell below the border, and she’ll be dragged down too. Isn’t it as simple as that?”.

Unlike Fujimaki, the older Horikita called out to Tachibana, who was standing stock still, before approaching Nagumo.

A portion of the 3rd years left with helpless expressions.

“Horikita-kun, I’m sorry…….!”.

“Tachibana, why didn’t you consult me earlier? You should have been able to notice the abnormality”.

“That’s…..because I knew it would only burden Horikita-kun……..”.

Tachibana apologizes while in tears.

In all likelihood she didn’t notice it at first. The fact that the trap was sprung from the moment the groups were established.

However, with the passage of time she must have felt it. The fact that the group she’s in is a group that’s meant to drag down ‘Tachibana’.

And Tachibana challenged the exam, hoping for a miracle. However, as expected, reality is cruel.

But Tachibana too, should have resolved to accept this as well. That even if she herself were to be expelled, it would end with the loss of just 100 class points.

“Beautiful friendship, or perhaps love would be a better fit. Congratulations, Horikita-senpai. Once again, please let me give my compliments. It’s my loss”.

Nagumo gave his compliments in a tone that hardly sounds like a loser’s speech. There probably isn’t a single person who would accept them gratefully.

“A fantastic idea, no, shall I say it was a strategy that was beyond the norm? There isn’t a single person capable of reading me. Horikita-senpai, that includes you too”.

Laughing heartily, Nagumo did not let up the attack on his injured opponent.

“Please do tell me, Tachibana-senpai. Carrying out your duties as part of the student council, and so close to your graduation as Class A of the 3rd years, how exactly does it feel to be expelled? Also Horikita-senpai, what are your current feelings? Surely you’re consumed by a feeling of irritation you haven’t felt before?”.

Having those words directed at him, the older Horikita silently breathes out.

“Why didn’t you target me?”.

“Even if I were to use a strategy like this against you, senpai, I’ve never considered expelling you. You could have stopped me with a strategy unforeseen and I was scared of that. But more than that, it’s not like I ever thought I wanted to expel you, Horikita-senpai. On the contrary, if you were to be expelled, we wouldn’t be able to meet anymore would we? And that’s why when I picked one out of many, it ended up being Tachibana-senpai. I wanted to see what kind of face you’d make when I got rid of her”.

 

He then laughed as though saying it was just curiosity, pure interest.

“My policies differed from yours but I did trust you. Regarding our competition, I thought you to be the kind of man capable of facing me head-on. Looks like I was wrong”.

Nagumo did not flinch in response to those words from Horikita.

“Trust is similar to experience points. You accumulate them and it gradually grows bigger and bigger. Its ultimate form, I believe, is family. If you’re out at night and you encounter a stranger, you’d be cautious. Yet if they turned out to be family then you’d let your guard down entirely. I’d say it’s something similar to that. During these two years, even though I’m certain Horikita-senpai did not like me, I did gain a certain degree of your trust. Our values were different but it’s all because I made good on my promises. In regards to our relationship, I obeyed your instructions and kept the rules. But even so, we’re talking about a senpai as sharp as you, it’s not like you trusted in me 100% right?”.

He should know at least that the older Horikita had given instructions for defense as well as the fact that he had been gathering information.

“But…..even if you doubted me, it’s not like you can afford to take the initiative in betraying me, senpai”.

It’s one of the harsh points of nonaggressive defense.

“Because of that one curiosity you held, you’ve lost big time, Nagumo”.

“Things like trust, I’ve thrown them aside myself. In order to be understood by the senpai who cares for his kouhais”.

Keeping promises and having kept promises.

Nagumo easily painted over such foundations.

Trust and respect. To desire a fight that demolishes such fences. This is a challenge from Nagumo, who thinks that way.

“I’ve managed to understand your modus operandi well”.

“That’s a relief. Because this is, at the very most, a mere skirmish still”.

Saying that, Nagumo asks.

“If necessary, I just have to expel as many people as needed. That is the original modus operandi of this school”.

“You seem to be continuing this conversation on the assumption that Tachibana will be expelled”.

While his surroundings were panicking, the older Horikita alone calmly proceeded with the conversation.

“W-Wait, Horikita-kun!”.

Tachibana screams.

But the older Horikita’s eyes already showed a firm resolve.

“Heh. I figured it’d be a tie but are you really going to spit that out? With this timing, that large amount of money and class points, I mean”.

Cancellation of expulsion.

As long as the criteria are met, it’s the ultimate method available for use by anyone.

“Please stop, I beg you. My uselessness is my own responsibility……that’s why—-“.

Tachibana desperately tried to stop him.

However, it seems Fujimaki also shares the same opinion as the older Horikita, as he spoke to the students of Class A.

“Up until now, the reason why Class A was able to function as Class A is something the people in the class understand better than anyone else. Isn’t that right?”.

“That’s exactly right, Horikita. No need to hold back, use it, use it”.

His Class A classmates said that at the same time.

“Is that really ok, Horikita-senpai? For the 3rd years to ‘save’ an expellee with this timing means Class A would have to give up their seat you know?”.

“Even if we have to give it up once, we just have to take it back again. Using the modus operandi of this school you mentioned”.

“Is that so? Well, I suppose that’s fine too”.

In all likelihood, from this point onwards, Miyabi will pleasantly discuss the strategy he himself formulated.

There’s no need for me to listen to something I already know without even needing to ask.

I took my distance as though to leave this place. It’s because there’s nothing I can do even if I stayed here any longer.

Horikita was anxiously observing the situation, the whole story.

She was staring at her brother so intently she didn’t even notice my existence.

As I left the gymnasium without paying any mind to it, Kei was standing by the side of the entrance as though she had been waiting for me.

As I walked through the corridor, she started walking after me with a slight delay.

“It turned out exactly how Kiyotaka said it would. You seriously knew. That Tachibana-senpai would be targeted. Even though if we’re talking about expulsions, anyone other than Horikita-senpai could have fit the bill……..”.

“The rules for this special exam. As soon as I heard the student council was involved in their conception and formation, I thought that. Certainly anyone could have fit the bill if we’re talking about being targeted. But after going to the trouble of setting up this large scale trap. If he intends on giving a far more effective performance then the targets for that would be a limited few. The only female student who’s had extensive contact with him would be Tachibana after all”.

That was the conclusion I reached after connecting the dots from the information I acquired from Kei, Ichinose and Asahina.

The miraculous harmony between Nagumo and Ishikura from Class B of the 3rd years clearly hinted at the connection between the two.

Nagumo’s taken under his wing not just the entirety of the 2nd years but also the non-Class A 3rd years.

“The large groups all colluded together to come up with low scores and the members of the group that Tachibana belonged to must have been considerably holding back as well. By doing so, it’s an easy task to delineate the border”.

Was how I explained it but it seems like there’s still something Kei isn’t convinced of.

“But why did you use Class B? Even though it’d have been perfectly fine to have a student from Class D be the leader. Because you used Class B, ultimately Horikita-senpai’s still Class A right? If you wanted to drag him down to Class B isn’t that what you should have done?”.

Kei’s viewpoint is a good one. Certainly, that’s exactly right.

If I’m going to carry out this strategy with resolve then I should have had the leader be a student from Class D and lessened the gap between Class A and Class B that way. Is what I’d have considered normally.

“It’s precisely because it’s Class B that this was possible. If Tachibana were to complete the special exam’s assignments flawlessly then it wouldn’t be a simple task dragging her down. Unless the other three classes, excluding A, join hands, it’s not a viable trap. Consider Class D, who’s probability of making it to Class A is the lowest one at the moment, in order to ascend even by one class they may decide, at the very last moment, to drag down students from Class C or Class B. But if a student from Class B were to become the leader, that absolutely won’t be the case. Because it would be pointless to drag down students from a lower class at a time like this”.

On the other hand, looking at it from Class D or Class C’s perspective, if it would result in the students from Class A and Class B being expelled and them crumbling down, then naturally they’d happily cooperate.

And Ikari’s group, sharing a mutual destination, thoroughly laid the blame on Tachibana.

If anything happened, they probably harassed her maliciously. Tachibana was left unable to sleep at night from the commotion.

As a result of obeying Tachibana’s instructions, their grades did not improve. If you look only at the results of the special exam, despite it being mediocre, if they can frame her as having pulled their leg for the entire week then that’ll be more than enough to drag her down.

If there were pleas, then they would deliberate but if the entire small group collude together to assert that she had obstructed them in places where no one would see then there’d be no choice but to recognize that.

Of course, it would set a malicious precedent but the outdoor school’s special exam that will be taking place in a few years time should have some amendments made to its rules anyways.

And just like that, Nagumo’s elaborate strategy ensared her and succeeded in carrying out measures towards Tachibana’s expulsion.

“……but, like, how could he even come up with a strategy like this. If I were a Class B student, I absolutely wouldn’t be able to stand being expelled for the sake of my comrades. Where’s the reward in that?”.

“I don’t know what exactly the reward is but at the very least, Ikari won’t be expelled”.

“Ehh? But, she’s the leader right?”.

“They probably predicted that the older Horikita would utilize that. 20 million points and 300 class points. If they’re paid, you can cancel the expulsion. In other words, you can extend a lifeline. It’s because he’ll be utilizing that”.

“Somehow, I can’t tell if that’s a gain or not. Rather, wouldn’t it be a loss?”.

“It’s a blow having to spend class points but if Class A too, extends a lifeline, then a gap won’t form. Compared to that, they won’t sustain any damage as far as private points go”.

“Does that mean the 3rd years’ Class B is just that rich?”.

“No. The absolute condition that comes with Nagumo proposing this strategy would be that he’ll pay all the private points. If he won’t do even that then they probably won’t even cooperate with him”.

Probably, on the bus, Nagumo made contact with Ishikura and paid him 20 million points in advance. The proof lies in Ikari, who’s always calm, and Ishikura who acts alongside that Ikari.

“The 2nd years are united. If he raises money from the entirety of the 2nd years then he wouldn’t even need 50,000 points per person. Saving one expellee wouldn’t even be expensive”.

“What a messed up way of fighting. That’s absolutely not normal”.

“That’s how Nagumo Miyabi operates, is what it is”.

He didn’t think of the strategy after seeing the exam. He thought of the strategy first before creating the exam.

Class A, led by the older Horikita, would have to pay a total of 20 million private points as a single class.

You could say that it’s an extreme amount of damage.

Before one or two special exams which would likely occur prior to graduation, they had lost a tremendous amount of money.

If the older Horikita were to be expelled in the next exam, then in all likelihood, he wouldn’t have enough money left for himself.

The lifeline would misfire.

“We should split up”.

“One more thing, please tell me just one more thing”.

Perhaps there’s still something she’s curious about, as Kei stopped me.

“Nagumo-senpai’s way of thinking, it seems like there’s no way to stop the method he used to drive Tachibana-senpai to expulsion. How should I put it, a perfect trap? Is that why Kiyotaka didn’t make a move?”.

“There’s no doubt that it’s quite a formidable strategy. It’s already pretty much checkmate the moment he makes the enemy walk into it”.

He set a good predecent that private points can become powerful weapons.

“If I happened to be in a situation similar to Tachibana-senpai’s……..? If it’s a situation where even a lifeline can’t be used? As I thought, at a time like that, wouldn’t it be impossible to do anything?”.

Kei asks me that softly.

“You don’t even need to hear my reply, you already know don’t you? I won’t let you get expelled. No matter what method I have to use”.

After that, Horikita Manabu paid the class points and private points that Class A possessed and chose to extend a lifeline to Tachibana Akane.

And just as I had predicted, Class B’s Ishikura also extended a lifeline to Ikari.

An unusual scenario where two classes exercised the right to utilize a lifeline at the same time occurred. And also from this point onwards, one after another, expulsions will occur in the Advanced Nurturing High School from all school years.