By the day of the partner written exam, all classmates… more precisely, all second-years had already decided on their partners.

A few days before the exam, I called Chiaki to my room.

I put on a cheap paper hat bought from a dollar store and prepared party crackers.

I even laid a sheet at the entrance to make cleaning easier so everything was ready.

Ding-dong, the doorbell rang.

“It’s open, come in,” I called out and Chiaki replied as she opened the door.

I pulled the cracker string.

Bang, a crisp sound rang out and decorative paper scattered.

“Wah, that surprised me.”

“Chiaki, happy birthday.”

“Thank you, Kiyotaka-kun.”

Letting out a cheerful “yaa,” Chiaki took off her shoes.

While she did that, I collected the sheet and cleaned up the cracker contents.

That’s right, today is April 25.

Chiaki’s birthday.

I had prepared in advance so today was the day to show the results.

I had her sit on the floor chair and handed her the present I prepared.

“Wow, a tea set?”

“You like tea. You gave me a coffee maker before so I thought this would be good.”

“Thank you, Kiyotaka-kun! I’m really happy. Can you make some right away?”

“Yeah, leave it to me.”

I brewed tea and also took out the cake from the fridge.

“And this, chiffon cake.”

“Eh, could it be… handmade?”

“Yeah. I looked up a recipe and made it. Like on White Day, it’s surprisingly fun, making sweets.”

“Are you getting into it? Maybe you could become a pâtissier someday.”

Me, a pâtissier.

Imagining myself wearing a tall white chef hat made me laugh a little.

While I was thinking that, click, Chiaki took a photo.

“Sorry sorry! It’s rare to see you smiling so I wanted to capture it.”

“I don’t mind. Let’s count that as part of the present.”

“Thanks. Wow, I got something good. Maybe I’ll make it my wallpaper… no, I don’t want others seeing it…”

While she seriously pondered what to do with my photo, I took a bite of the sliced chiffon cake.

As I thought during the taste test, it was quite good.

Maybe I do have talent for cooking… can I be a little proud of that?

“…Kiyotaka-kun, about what Hōsen said the other day… are you really okay?”

While enjoying the cake and tea, Chiaki asked that.

I thought her expression seemed a bit clouded despite celebrating, so that was it.

“Yeah. The chances of Hōsen teaming up with second-years are low. The same goes for the other first-years.”

Sakayanagi, Ichinose and Ryūen would all reject that kind of exam for their own reasons.

Sakayanagi and Ryūen would want to defeat me with their own strength and Ichinose would reject it due to her sense of justice.

Even if I am wrong, if they team up with first-years to defeat me then that is fine.

I will just observe that strategy.

“But in this exam, you can’t clear it alone, right? The border is 501 points. Even if you score high, if your partner deliberately gets zero, you’ll be expelled.”

“A suicide tactic. It’s troublesome but I already handled it.”

“Eh… when?”

“From the first day. I don’t intend to be expelled so I took measures early.”

“Ugh, I didn’t notice… wait, don’t tell me the answer. I’ll think about it.”

Watching my cute girlfriend eating cake while desperately thinking, the pleasant time passed.

* * *

And then came the exam day.

Chiaki paired with a student chosen by Horikita from Class D and I paired with Yagami from Class B as previously arranged.

Today is the results day.

Chabashira-sensei stood at the podium.

“First, the class results. They will be displayed on the board and your devices.”

When she operated her tablet, the rankings appeared.

1st: Class C ‘Ichinose Class’
2nd: Class B ‘Sakayanagi Class’
3rd: Class D ‘Ryūen Class’
4th: Class A ‘Horikita Class’

Expulsions: None

Ichinose’s class took first and ours was last.

It was expected but still an unusual result.

“That’s unfortunate this time. Well, at least no one was expelled. Next are individual results, check them yourselves.”

Even as she said that, Chabashira-sensei looked at me with satisfaction.

Checking, first place was the pair of me and Yagami.

A total of 962 points, overwhelmingly high.

My worries were unnecessary.

Furthermore, individual scores were visible and when sorted, my name was at the top in every subject.

Because I got full marks in all subjects.

“A-Ayanokōji, what kind of studying lets you solve those problems!?”

Yukimura blurted that out.

Even for someone good at studying like him, it was puzzling.

The high-difficulty questions went far beyond high school level.

I wish they wouldn’t put those on a high school test.

Was it Tsukishiro’s harassment?

No, there were difficult questions even in the April midterms so it might just be school policy.

“You didn’t cheat or something?”

Yamauchi, as usual.

But I understand why he would think that.

Some others were also suspicious.

“If there was cheating, the school wouldn’t overlook it. This is Ayanokōji’s pure ability. Be proud, it is unquestionably the top score of the year.”

Chabashira-sensei praised me like that.

In this exam, the top five pairs receive 100,000 private points.

Besides me, Sakayanagi, Ichinose, Kanzaki and Sanada’s pairs got it.

Chiaki also ranked in the top 30% so she received 10,000 points.

“Kiyotaka-kun, congrats on first place.”

“Yeah. Congrats to you too for ranking high.”

Still, that was good.

There was a chance Chiaki’s partner could have been an attacker.

I prepared 20 million just in case but it was unnecessary.

As I told Chiaki, I had no concern for myself this time.

From the start, I asked Chabashira-sensei to sell me 1 point.

With a perfect 500 plus that 1 point, it becomes 501, exceeding the border.

Even if a White Room student paired with me and scored zero intentionally, only they would be expelled.

It secured my safety and also served as a counter if they acted.

But they did not make a move this time.

Maybe they never intended to or maybe they saw through my plan.

From this alone, I cannot conclude whether Yagami is from the White Room.

However, he scored over 450 and solved several high-difficulty questions.

Regardless, he is capable.

By the way, when I asked to buy a point, it only cost 30,000.

Apparently the price changes before and after the exam.

Naturally, the value of a point changes depending on whether expulsion is decided.

It only cost 30,000 to secure myself but Chiaki is different.

Considering she could be targeted to damage me, I kept 20 million ready for rescue but it was unnecessary.

The talented students gathered by Amasawa and Yagami were given to Ichinose’s class.

Ichinose gathered many low-performing first-years but would also want strong ones.

To avoid expulsions and aim for the top.

As a result, Ichinose’s class took first place.

Both Amasawa and Yagami even gathered several A-rank students.

Ichinose’s class must be celebrating.

In return, I requested a loan of about 3 million points without interest.

If no one fell below the border, repayment was due by May 1.

If someone failed, then by the end of summer break.

I quickly sent a message and returned the 3 million.

I appreciate it this time. No one was expelled but having insurance helped me focus.

No, thank you! Thanks to you we won! Everyone is really happy!

That’s good.

But you’re amazing. Full marks in all subjects.

I told you, it’s thanks to your loan. And your class won through overall strength. Be proud.

And with that exchange, the exam ended.

Still, no move from the White Room.

It’s too early to call it a bluff.

Just then, after homeroom ended, Chabashira-sensei called me and said Tsukishiro wanted to see me.

It must be about the bet.

I headed to the chairman’s office.

“How is it, Ayanokōji-kun. Have you figured out who the White Room student is?”

“No, I haven’t reached certainty. They don’t feel like one either. Their disguise is good.”

“Oh? You have no risk so you could just name someone at random.”

Tsukishiro said that.

Currently, Amasawa and Yagami are suspicious but there could be more.

If I name them, I reveal I have no information beyond them.

I also won’t reveal what I know.

“No, guessing randomly wouldn’t be interesting.”

“Fufu, interesting child. You almost sound like you’re enjoying this.”

“Well, it is stimulating.”

“Your father would be pleased to hear that. He might want you back sooner.”

Pleased? That man?

I can’t imagine it.

“Thank you for the report. You may leave.”

“Excuse me.”

As I reached for the door, I decided to ask something.

“Chairman Tsukishiro. You are trying to expel me under my father’s orders, correct?”

“…And?”

“You allow the White Room students to act freely so I thought you were rather hands-off.”

And too relaxed.

As I thought before, he is highly skilled.

Yet he left it to them.

“Yes. While I don’t mind corporal punishment if necessary, I value student autonomy.”

There was no lie in his words.

But I felt something hidden beneath as I bowed and left.