With the new year, all students of Advanced Nurturing High School were set to face a new special exam.

A mixed training camp.

An exam held during what sounds like a fun forest school event.

This school really doesn’t seem to have any intention of letting students simply enjoy events.

How unfortunate.

The rules are as follows.

• Students are divided into six groups across the entire grade by gender. These are called small groups.

• Each group has 10 to 15 first-year students. There must be at least two different classes represented. Members cannot be changed midway.

• Each small group lives together for 7 nights and 8 days. A comprehensive test will be held on the final day 'details unknown at this stage'.

• Small groups from Years 1–3 combine to form six large groups by gender. Rankings are determined by the average score of the large group’s final test.

• Rewards per person in the large group are as follows.

1st: 3 class points, 10,000 private points

2nd: 1 class point, 5,000 private points

3rd: 3,000 private points

4th and below receive penalties.

4th: −5,000 private points

5th: −3 class points, −10,000 private points

6th: −5 class points, −20,000 private points

• Each small group selects one leader. Students from the leader’s class receive double rewards. Penalties do not increase.

• The more classes and members in a small group, the higher the reward multiplier. 3 classes = 2x, 4 classes = 3x. 10 people = 1x, 15 people = 1.5x.

• In the lowest-ranked large group, if a small group’s average score falls below a school-set borderline, the leader is expelled. The leader may also designate one group member to be expelled with them as joint responsibility.

“This is a troublesome exam…”

I muttered to myself.

Not only is it a joint exam with other classes and grades, but the test content and borderline average are unknown.

There’s no way to prepare properly.

For now, I should tell Chiaki to make sure she ends up in the same group as Horikita and push the leader role onto Horikita.

With those two, it’s unlikely they’d place last or fall below the average.

And Horikita wouldn’t drag Chiaki down with her.

Then there’s Kushida…

Since student terminals will be confiscated for a week during the exam, I should contact her now.

While I was using my terminal, Hirata organized the class.

“If anything comes up, boys can consult me or Ayanokōji. Girls can consult Horikita or Matsushita. It’s not mandatory, but what do you think?”

No one opposed Hirata.

* * *

All male students gathered in the gym to form small groups.

The first to act was Group A.

Not Katsuragi, who had lost influence, but a Sakayanagi faction student named Matoba stepped forward.

He proposed that Class A would take 12 members and one from each other class.

With Katsuragi as leader, they could maximize rewards.

They promised no expulsions and said remaining Class A members would follow other classes’ instructions.

So they wanted a straightforward class-based competition.

“I don’t like that.”

Of course, Ryūen wouldn’t accept it so easily.

“Don’t force your convenience on us. If you want us to accept your terms, accept ours too.”

“What conditions?”

“Wait, Matoba—”

“Stay quiet, Katsuragi.”

Matoba shut him down.

He seemed too emotional for a leader.

Ryūen smirked.

“Then here’s the condition. When forming large groups, Class A follows the policy of us three classes.”

“That’s unacceptable.”

“Then we won’t accept yours either.”

A strong move.

Matoba likely thought controlling large group composition mattered more than small groups.

So he rejected Ryūen’s proposal, but in doing so gave Ryūen justification to reject his.

And Ryūen wasn’t finished.

“If you accept another condition, I’ll consider your proposal. Leader of your 12-person group must be from another class. And the remaining three must all be from the same class.”

That would drastically reduce Class A’s rewards.

“So? Choose.”

Ryūen wanted priority in large group formation.

He always prepares for every outcome.

“…Fine. We accept your original condition.”

Matoba agreed.

“You heard him. Everyone here is a witness.”

Matoba clenched his teeth.

“Kaneda, Hirata, Ayanokōji, Kanzaki. Get over here.”

I was dragged into it.

* * *

“We’ll form two strong groups in the BCD alliance and block Class A from gaining points.”

I spoke first to take initiative.

“I agree, but we decide your class placements.”

“That’s unreasonable.”

“We don’t want your class gaining more ground.”

“I agree,” Kanzaki added.

Ichinose’s class hasn’t been performing well lately.

Something may be going on internally.

“I understand. So here’s my proposal.”

I laid it out.

“6 from Ryūen’s class, 6 from Ichinose’s, 1 from Class A, and 2 from Horikita’s class. I’ll join that group and aim for first place.”

They were surprised.

They know my ability.

If I join, that group almost guarantees first among first-years.

“On the condition no one is dragged down.”

“What are you planning?”

“I don’t want Class A pulling ahead. This is the best way to settle things. I won’t hold back.”

“Ryūen, we should accept,” Kaneda said.

Ryūen didn’t respond immediately.

He looked at Kanzaki.

“…You’re quiet, Kanzaki.”

“We’ve been outplayed too many times. I suspect a trick.”

“That’s fair. So I’ll add another condition. If you accept, Hirata will decide the composition of the remaining groups.”

Hirata briefly looked surprised but quickly composed himself.

“He’ll ensure no one gets expelled. Not just our class, all classes.”

“Ayanokōji…”

“When did you become a saint?” Ryūen scoffed.

“I’m not. The key points of this exam are two things. Keep Class A out of the top two, and prevent expulsions. But if only our class avoids expulsions, no one will accept it. This ensures fairness.”

If they accept, we can prevent Class A from widening the gap.

Ryūen and Kanzaki’s answer—