“W-we... we just... came to meet A-Ayanokoji…”

“It’s Ry-Ryūen’s order... t-tell her to come quickly... damn it...”

Just remembering my name seemed to terrify them and they looked pale as if they wanted to run back right away.

I walked straight up to them.

“So Ryūen called for me?”

“Y-yes... Ry-Ryūen said... if you want to enjoy summer vacation... come to the beach right now... Shiina is with us too, so come and have fun... he said...”

“He said he’ll... share a dreamlike time... so you must... bring her... no matter what... if this is okay...”

The moment they saw me they trembled even harder than before and handed me a bag containing a carbonated drink and potato chips.

I refused the drink and took the potato chips, then opened them immediately.

“I was going to go meet him anyway, so guide me.”

“U-understood. Um, but...”

“The video... by any chance... did you... delete it?”

At that hopeful question I ate potato chips and replied without changing expression.

“Because of storage issues I deleted the ‘original.’ But if my mood turns unpleasant I might end up looking for the ‘copy’ I hid somewhere deep in a cloud folder, you know?”

“R-right away... We’ll guide you right away!”

“Please just follow us!”

“Then Horikita and I will go to Class C so everyone manage things properly.”

Seeing the basketball guys who were cocky just months ago treat me like they treat Ryūen made even Sudō and all of Class D wear complicated expressions.

But Horikita was looking at me with tense eyes.

She probably thinks I might have the same kind of dominance as Ryūen.

Just as my heart felt light, Horikita's felt heavy as we headed to the beach where Class C was waiting.

* * *

The state of Class C that Horikita and I saw after following Komiya and Kondō was beyond imagination.

“Insane... you’re telling me it’s this full-on?”

“Well, Ryūen is that kind of guy.”

Just as Ibuki said, Class C was freely wasting points.

A temporary toilet and shower rooms were installed separately for men and women and they had sun-shading canopies, a barbecue set, chairs and parasols, snacks and drinks.

They had everything needed for entertainment.

The smell of grilling meat and laughter, out on the sea a jet ski cut through the water and Class C students enjoying the ocean shouted and had fun.

Just what I can see right now is almost a hundred.

I never thought they’d play this hard.

“Oh my, Aoi is here?”

Hiyori, who had been sitting at a table, appeared and welcomed me.

Hiyori was also wearing a vacation outfit over her swimsuit and looked fully in a vacation mood.

“I’m glad you look well. This is Ryūen’s plan, right? It’s bold, just like him.”

“I knew you would notice. He’s waiting for you over there right now.”

“Then let’s see his face. Come on, Horikita.”

Still in a swimsuit I approached the man who ordered this luxurious life and was lounging on a beach chair enjoying sunbathing.

He showed his white teeth when he saw me.

“It really is a bold and flashy strategy. I could never do this.”

“Hehehe, considering Class D’s situation where points are falling it’s impossible for you.”

“Did you completely give up on the exam? If so, it's no fun.”

“Are you sending salt to the enemy? We’re just enjoying a summer vacation, you know?”

The savory smell of meat and the fresh sea breeze hit my nose and I once again realized this wasn’t just a little vacation.

Ryūen will spend all the points and then everyone will retire from the exam together just like Ibuki said.

But from there your plan truly begins, right?

Unlike me, who was predicting the future, Horikita looked dumbfounded.

Since he was an opponent who once drove her to despair she might have felt disillusioned seeing him look incompetent.

“Looks like your servant is pretty disappointed.”

“You’re misunderstanding something. I’m not really this woman’s servant.”

“Right, Ryūen. Horikita is actually my exclusive servant. She’s treated way better than some ordinary servant. Like the difference between an intern and a full-time employee.”

“.......”

At my half-serious joke, Horikita glared at me sharply and Ryūen just laughed and picked up a water bottle next to his radio.

“More importantly you had your underlings try to win my favor but you chose wrong. I don’t like cola. It’s iced coffee. Remember that.”

“Hehe, is that so? Hey, Ishizaki! Bring me chilled water and coffee.”

He tossed the half-full water bottle onto the sand and called Ishizaki who had been playing beach volleyball nearby.

The moment Ishizaki saw me with Ryūen he turned pale and rushed into a tent and opened a cooler.

“As you can see I’m just enjoying a summer vacation. Meaning this exam can’t become our match. Right, Aoi?”

If you act this openly blatant then it’s impossible not to suspect you.

He’s probably saying it for Horikita’s sake so should I play along a bit?

“You’re right. If you play to your heart’s content and then all go back to the ship it becomes impossible to ever know who the leader is. No one would be crazy enough to try to name Class C’s leader.”

“Hahaha! Did one of the ones I kicked out go to your side? I thought you’d obviously kick her out.”

“I’ll spoil her plenty so tell your classmate not to worry.”

“So it’s Ibuki. Planning some intense lesbian play between you two?”

“Who knows? Ibuki has a pretty boyish charm too so it’s possible I won’t let her off easy.”

At our high-level filthy conversation Hiyori just smiled brightly and Horikita frowned and pressed her forehead as if she had a headache.

“I knew you two were crazy but I didn’t know you were this level of freaks. I was an idiot for coming along so obediently as ‘caution.’”

“An idiot? Then which one is the idiot between you and Aoi, or me?”

Ryūen returned it with an easy expression instead of taking it as an insult.

Then Ishizaki came running back drenched in sweat with a new bottle of water and a can of coffee.

The moment Ryūen and I received them we threw them at Ishizaki’s body.

“Didn’t you hear me say it should be chilled? This is lukewarm.”

“I was so angry I almost did something. Like a video, for example...”

“I-I’m sorry! I’ll bring it again!”

Hit by the sharp snake-like gaze from Ryūen and me Ishizaki picked up the bottle and can and ran back to the tent.

Seeing us snickering, Horikita shook her head.

“...This exam is an exam of enduring, thinking and cooperating. Sure, this kind of method can be a strategy but thinking about the future it’s the judgment of a foolish leader.”

Ugh, her thinking is really shallow.

It’s impressive she still hasn’t noticed this sense of wrongness.

Ryūen and Hiyori probably feel the same as me.

“Cooperation? Humans betray and lie easily. The only thing you can trust is yourself. If your recon is done why don’t you go now? Of course I could welcome Aoi. Eat meat with Hiyori or ride the jet ski, have fun however you want. If you want different fun from me I’ll even prepare a private tent.”

“I wonder? I’m not sure your precious toy can endure my rough playground.”

Most girls would frown or turn red at a sex joke like that but I responded calmly.

Horikita looked disgusted and Hiyori looked surprised but her eyes sparkled.

“Puhaha, you’ve got a talent for jokes. You really are a waste to be stuck in Class D.”

Ishizaki returned again with an expression like ‘this time for sure’ and offered the bottle and can.

We took them and guzzled them down with satisfied faces.

Ahh, maybe because it’s coffee for the first time in almost twenty-four hours it feels like my head is clear.

Having to endure five more days without this... this exam really is the worst.

“By the way, you sweating while going around to see other classes, you’ve been through a lot.”

“Unlike you who hates effort, I enjoy the results gained through hardship more. The process itself doesn’t really mean anything though.”

“It’s pretty boring in a way but not bad.”

“I’m kind of in a strategist position in my class. I’m leaving now. Take care of Hiyori for me.”

“Don’t worry. In this class Hiyori is no different from you.”

I placed the empty can next to Ryūen’s radio and said goodbye to Hiyori.

“It’s a shame we can’t stay together longer. Once the exam ends let’s go straight to the spa.”

“Okay. I’ll be hoping you can get the result you want in this exam.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll win no matter what. Let’s go, Horikita.”

Horikita looked like she’d been waiting for those words.

“I was waiting for you to say that. If we stay here any longer it’ll just make me feel worse.”

“Then see you again, Aoi, Suzune.”

“Wait. I don’t know where you learned it but I don’t know about her, still don’t just call someone by their name without permission.”

Seeing him call her by name so casually Horikita must have caught Ryūen’s interest to some extent.

Maybe he’ll poke at Horikita to make things hard for me.

“You’re less charming than Aoi but I don’t dislike a useless woman with a strong pride like you. Someday I’ll make you submit in front of me. Then I’ll let you taste the best feeling.”

Ryūen brought his right hand between his legs and groped over his swimsuit as a provocation.

At that grotesque and shocking sight I smirked while covering Hiyori’s eyes and Horikita looked down at Ryūen with a gaze full of contempt then turned and walked away.

I briefly said goodbye to Hiyori and Ryūen and followed Horikita.

Before leaving I looked at the tent on the beach where they had stockpiled food.

It seems... Ryūen intends to thoroughly mock these rules.

This is what I wanted, Ryūen.

My strategy and your strategy.

Let’s go insane competing to see which of us can shatter the rules into finer pieces.