Day 4 of the mixed training camp, large cafeteria.

Just like the first day, I was having dinner with Chiaki, but there was a troublesome presence.

Nagumo.

This guy had been marking me since day one.

It seemed he was wary that information might leak to Manabu through me, since I had access to information from the girls’ side.

Proof of that came when he saw the letter Chiaki tried to give me, and took it away.

“President Nagumo, what are you doing?”

“Sorry, Matsushita. As someone who just became student council president, I can’t afford a scandal right away. If you’re arranging a secret meeting, I have to stop it. Sorry to interrupt your little romance.”

Ignoring Chiaki’s protest, Nagumo lined up excuses and began inspecting the letter.

“…Hmm. A surprisingly fresh and innocent love letter. Almost makes me sick with how youthful it is. Sorry for doubting you.”

He returned it to Chiaki.

I’d read it later, but Nagumo had chosen a very direct method to interfere.

Still, Chiaki handled it well.

She already knew we were being watched, so she avoided writing anything sensitive and instead prepared a harmless letter to test Nagumo’s reaction.

Impressive.

But reading someone else’s letter was too much.

Hearing the commotion, Manabu came over and confronted him.

“Nagumo. Even as student council president, inspecting someone else’s letter isn’t commendable.”

“Inspection? That sounds bad, Horikita-senpai. I’m just preventing problems before they happen.”

“Even so. There was nothing inappropriate in their exchange. Refrain from this behavior in the future.”

“If you say so, senpai. But if these underclassmen engage in improper relationships, you’ll take responsibility, right?”

“That’s not the student council president’s duty. But since I intervened, I will take responsibility if they do such a thing.”

I appreciated the trust, but…

Hearing words like scandal and improper relationships thrown around over our heads wasn’t pleasant.

After Nagumo and Manabu left, I continued eating with Chiaki.

But Nagumo’s subordinates were still watching us.

Direct action was blocked, but other interference was still possible.

Ideally, even the fact that I received information should remain hidden.

As I thought about how to pass information…

“Those upperclassmen are troublesome.”

Muttering that, Chiaki handed me the same letter Nagumo had read, with a wink and “see you tomorrow.”

I understood her message.

I slowly finished eating, waiting for people to leave—

“Hey Ayanokōji! What are you doing? If you don’t hurry, Ryūen’s gonna kill you!”

Before I could act, Ike dragged me away.

I’d retrieve it later.

* * *

On the final day, there would be a test determining rankings.

Whether we gained class points or fell to last place and caused expulsions.

Manabu and Nagumo’s groups would also compete directly.

It would be a complex exam.

Though details weren’t announced, what we learned during camp would be tested.

Notably: meditation, relay, speech and written exams.

Ryūen’s class might struggle academically, but could compensate physically.

And since we were in the same large group as Manabu, first place was almost guaranteed.

Nagumo’s group wasn’t particularly strong.

On the morning of day five, we had to preview the 18 km relay course.

Each person would only run 1.2 km in the actual race, so running the full course seemed excessive.

I was concerned about weaker students getting injured.

I finished the 18 km quickly and returned to the building first.

Before others returned, I had something to do.

I entered the empty cafeteria and checked under each trash bin.

From Chiaki’s letter, I had decoded an anagram: “under the trash bins.”

That was enough.

After checking several bins, I found a memo taped underneath one.

Inside was detailed information about group formations.

Chiaki had carefully documented upperclassman movements and group dynamics.

As expected, the target was Tachibana.

A dirty move.

Nagumo had lied about not involving others.

He likely realized he couldn’t beat Manabu fairly.

I waited outside the building.

As expected, Manabu returned first.

“Ayanokōji. That was fast.”

“Manabu.”

I raised my hand holding the memo.

We high-fived slowly, passing it to him.

“I’ll return to my room.”

He wanted to review it carefully.

I relaxed until lunch.

* * *

Final day.

The exam ended without issue.

Results were announced.

First place: Manabu’s group and ours.

Second: BCD alliance second group.

Third: Nagumo’s group.

Fourth: Class A alliance.

No group fell below the expulsion threshold.

“Congratulations, Horikita-senpai.”

“It’s our victory.”

“Is it? No one realized my true goal.”

Nagumo smirked.

Then the girls’ results were announced.

Horikita and Chiaki’s group took first.

“No groups fell below the threshold. No expulsions.”

“What?”

Nagumo muttered in shock.

He realized his plan had been exposed.

“…Impressive, Horikita-senpai.”

“I have no idea what you mean.”

Nagumo clenched his teeth.

He had coordinated with Class 3-B to target Tachibana.

Isolate her, sabotage her group and force expulsion.

The leader would nominate her as the scapegoat.

He had likely modified rules as student council president to enable this.

But Manabu reported suspicious behavior to the teachers.

With increased supervision, sabotage became impossible.

Tachibana couldn’t be falsely blamed.

The group avoided falling below the threshold.

“Nagumo. We won’t fight again.”

Manabu turned his back on him.

Nagumo’s trust and reputation collapsed.

The damage to him was immense.

I lost interest and approached Ryūen.

“Even the student council president looks pathetic.”

“But the information he revealed has value to you.”

“Yeah. He manipulated exam rules. That’s the student council’s power.”

“Correct.”

“If that’s true, joining the council is worth it. Manipulating rules to earn points… sounds fun.”

The key to 800 million points…

Was rule manipulation.

Legitimately earning that much was nearly impossible.

But creating systems to exploit loopholes could make it barely achievable.

“Nagumo’s finished. I’ll take over the student council.”

“That doesn’t suit you.”

“I know that myself. Don’t say it.”

“You won’t let me join anyway.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“Maybe. But beating you with your own rules sounds fun.”

Ryūen laughed and left.

Mixed training camp ended.

Class points were updated.

Sakayanagi Class: -5

Horikita Class: +9

Ichinose Class: +15

Ryūen Class: +15

Totals:

Class A: 869

Class B: 770

Class C: 615

Class D: 407

Reaching Class A within the first year seemed possible.

“Ayanokōji. You helped a lot. Thank you.”

Manabu spoke.

“No need. We’re friends, right?”

“…Indeed. But I won’t leave a debt unpaid. I’ll repay you someday.”

“If there’s time before graduation.”

“At this school, opportunities will come.”

“True.”

At that time, I didn’t know how soon that opportunity would arrive.