“Ayanokōji. I’m glad we ended up in the same large group.”

“I am too, Manabu. Let’s get along for about a week.”

“Hey, first-year. Who do you think you are, talking to Horikita-senpai like that?”

A tense-looking male student cut in between me and Manabu as we shook hands.

From his tone, I could tell he was a second-year.

He seemed to respect Manabu quite a bit.

It was a perfectly valid point, so I couldn’t argue.

That really wasn’t the proper attitude toward a senior.

But Manabu didn’t seem to mind.

“Kiriyama, it’s fine. Ayanokōji is a friend. Mine and my sister’s.”

“B-but—”

“I understand what you’re trying to say. Ayanokōji, in front of others, use proper manners. It sets an example. You understand that without me saying it, right?”

“Understood, Horikita-senpai. And I apologize for my disrespect, Kiriyama-senpai.”

“…As long as you understand.”

He still didn’t seem fully satisfied, but Kiriyama backed down.

In the end, group formation was settled with Kanzaki yielding.

The group formed to take first place in the BCD alliance consisted of Ryūen, Yamada Albert, Kaneda, Ishizaki and two others from Ryūen’s class.

From Ichinose’s class: Kanzaki, Shibata, Hamaguchi and others totaling six.

One from Sakayanagi’s class and from Horikita’s class, Ike and I were assigned.

For large group selection, thanks to Nagumo’s proposal allowing first-years to draft upperclassmen, we selected Manabu’s group without hesitation.

Kiriyama, the student from earlier, was part of that group based on Manabu’s recommendation.

It seemed Manabu wanted to connect me with Kiriyama.

He expressed concern about Nagumo’s leadership as the new student council president and his intent to reform the school.

He asked me to help stop Nagumo if he ever went too far, together with Kiriyama.

Nagumo’s merit-based system sounded interesting in its own way…

I told him I’d be cautious, though I couldn’t guarantee anything.

For now, there was nothing left to do on the first day.

We had checked our rooms and met both our small and large groups.

Since the girls were in a separate building, I couldn’t talk to Chiaki until dinner.

What should I do…

“…Ayanokōji.”

“Kanzaki.”

While wandering outside with nothing to do, I was called out by Kanzaki Ryūji, Ichinose class’s strategist.

His gaze was sharp.

Well, I knew why. He had been wary of me since group selection.

Our Horikita class had been rising rapidly, while Ichinose’s class was struggling.

Kanzaki wasn’t particularly eloquent.

Though he stopped me, he seemed unsure how to start.

“What are you doing out here?”

“Just killing time before dinner. You?”

“My usual training. My father made me take lessons when I was younger. I still practice karate forms.”

“I see…”

It sounded like a convenient upbringing story like the ones I use.

But unlike me, he hadn’t been confined to a place like the White Room.

“I used to do karate too.”

“What? Really? You don’t seem like the type. Do you like martial arts?”

“No, same as you. My parents made me. Makes me feel a bit of familiarity.”

“The same… huh. Wait, Ayanokōji?”

Kanzaki touched his chin, thinking.

It felt like trouble was coming.

“Are you… Ayanokōji-sensei’s son?”

“…If you mean Ayanokōji Atsuomi, then yes.”

“I thought so! That explains it… I figured you weren’t ordinary.”

He nodded, as if everything finally made sense.

I found it slightly unpleasant, but there was no reason to worsen relations.

“Do you know my father?”

“My father runs a company called Kanzaki Engineering. We’ve met at industry gatherings. Now that I think about it, you never attended those parties, did you?”

“My father was strict. I was kept in isolated schools like this, doing various lessons.”

“I see… I suppose that makes sense given his position…”

Kanzaki seemed to respect that man greatly.

He probably put on a good face for sponsors.

Not knowing his true nature, Kanzaki was almost pitiful.

“No wonder you’re strong. Would you like to practice forms together? And tell me about your father?”

“Practice is fine, but… I rarely saw him. I can’t tell you much.”

“I see… sorry, that was insensitive.”

He looked awkward, but I reassured him.

We practiced karate forms for a while.

* * *

Dinner time, cafeteria.

I sat across from Chiaki, enjoying mountain vegetables.

It was delicious.

Even though it was the same kind of food, it tasted completely different from the school’s free meals.

Maybe it was the presence of fried shrimp beside it.

“So the boys’ groups ended up like this. Ryūen and Matoba’s exchange was interesting. And Nagumo-senpai’s draft idea too.”

“Sounds intense but fun. Ours was chaotic.”

Apparently, the girls’ group formation took until afternoon.

“What about the upperclassmen?”

“Second-years had some movement. Students close to President Nagumo grouped together and…”

“Hey, Ayanokōji. On a date with Matsushita even here?”

Nagumo appeared at a perfectly timed moment.

I had barely spoken to him before.

His overly familiar attitude felt unnatural.

“No thanks.”

“Interesting. Not many turn me down, especially second-years.”

“You probably have plenty of friends and girls already.”

“You say that after being the sports festival hero? Watching your relay with Horikita-senpai was amazing.”

So he was irritated that I got in the way of his match with Manabu.

“You’ve earned Horikita-senpai’s recognition. I might become your fan. Let’s talk again.”

He said what he wanted and left.

“He seemed kinda sharp, huh?”

“He respects Horikita-senpai. Maybe he doesn’t like me.”

I glanced toward the second-years clearly watching us.

Chiaki understood immediately.

Forcing information would only get interrupted again.

Still, Nagumo made a mistake.

Interrupting exactly when we were discussing upperclassmen made it obvious that was sensitive information.

“You’re close with Horikita-senpai, after all.”

“…Yeah.”

We weren’t exactly close in the usual sense.

But there was mutual respect.

“How’s your group?”

“Good. Kanzaki does karate, so we trained together.”

“Ooh, Ichinose’s right-hand man, huh? He’s popular with girls too.”

“Should I keep my distance?”

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

She pulled my cheek.

I knew, I just said it anyway.

* * *

Our group leader was Ike.

Ryūen and Kanzaki refused to concede leadership, so it went to a Class D student.

It also reduced the chance of me being dragged down.

Ike initially resisted, but I convinced him.

He didn’t suggest I take the role, thankfully.

Probably too intimidated by Ryūen and Albert.

Activities included cleaning, meditation, classes and physical training.

Surprisingly, Ryūen participated normally.

“Ayanokōji… are we safe? Ryūen’s class is full of delinquents.”

“You’ll be fine. He doesn’t start fights without reason.”

“But what about Sudō?”

“That had a reason.”

It was part of his analysis.

“Then stick with me or Ichinose’s group.”

“I don’t wanna rely on that pretty boy either.”

He trusts me, apparently. Not bad.

“If something happens, tell me.”

“No, just protect me from the start.”

So I became his bodyguard.

“Ayanokōji.”

“Eek.”

He flinched before even hearing the name.

I went to Ryūen.

Albert and Ishizaki were with him.

Others were kept away.

“What do you want?”

“Can’t I call you without a reason? That’s cold.”

“That doesn’t suit you.”

Ishizaki avoided eye contact, sweating.

Understandable.

“How do you see this exam?”

“We’ve already won. Class A’s finished once drafting was introduced.”

Then he brought up Manabu and Nagumo.

“Horikita’s brother’s group is strong. Nagumo surrounded himself with weaklings… which means he has another goal.”

“This exam’s going to get messy.”

“You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?”

“Maybe. Is that why you called me?”

He fell silent.

Bingo.

Ishizaki stepped in to cover for him.

Loyal guy.

Ryūen finally asked.

“Can you earn 800 million points?”

So he was doubting his own goal.

“That’s not like you. Hesitating?”

“I just asked. Forget it.”

He turned to leave.

But Ishizaki and Albert hesitated, looking at me.

…Fine.

“A question for you, Ryūen. How do you view this exam?”

He realized.

Of course he did.

“HAHAHAHA… So that’s it. You planned this from the start? This just got interesting.”

Ishizaki and Albert smiled.

“Let’s go.”

“…Thanks, Ayanokōji.”

They left.

I may have just strengthened a dangerous opponent.

But… it didn’t feel bad.