On the morning of the second day, as I woke from my drowsiness, Ichinose was already awake, grinning about something in my arms. Apparently she’d been watching my sleeping face, though I don’t think it’s that amusing.

Just as I thought that, Horikita messaged me, inviting me to breakfast. She’s probably going to report on yesterday’s surveillance of Karuizawa. Figuring I might as well, I brought Ichinose along and headed to the appointed spot, where we found Ryūen once again pestering Horikita.

“Are you insane? Checking everyone’s phones violates the prohibited actions. If someone reports you, you could be expelled, you know?”

“Come on. It clearly hasn’t become a problem, right? If it had, I wouldn’t be standing here. Do you understand what this means, Ichinose?”

He seemed fully aware of us approaching from behind, flinging his question at Ichinose beside me.

“You’re trying to say you’re the absolute ruler of Class C, aren’t you?”

“Exactly. Class C obeys my orders absolutely. So no matter what I do, it doesn’t become an issue. Even if I were to strip a girl naked.”

Saying that, he shifted his gaze to me this time.

“Still, I like chasing after women’s asses myself, but you’re something else. Yuki, Kikyo, Suzune... and now Ichinose next. What’s the deal with you sticking to a different woman’s ass every time, huh?”

“It’s no problem if the woman doesn’t mind. Besides, technically I’m Ichinose’s boyfriend.”

When I said that and put my arm around Ichinose’s shoulder, perhaps because I’d called myself her boyfriend to his face, the person in question looked a little embarrassed.

“Hah, so you two were having a good time.”

“Well, that’s about it. We came to eat because we were hungry, and found you bothering Horikita here. So we came over out of curiosity.”

Because I didn’t deny the words “good time,” Ichinose turned bright red. Seeing that reaction, Ryūen remarked, “Seems like you’re surprisingly active, Monkey Bastard,” changing my nickname from hanger-on to Monkey Bastard. Well, it’s not wrong.

“Whatever. You’re in the Dragon group too, if I recall. You must’ve heard the talk yesterday, and together with Ichinose, I’m expecting a good answer.”

With me and Ichinose arriving, it seemed we had interrupted his tryst with his beloved Horikita, and Ryūen hastily departed. Just in case, I checked under the desks and chairs, but it appears he didn’t plant his phone for eavesdropping like in the original story.

“...So, were you really with Ichinose-san?”

“Is there a problem?”

“You think there isn’t? There’s Chabashira-sensei, Kikyo—Kushida-san, Tsubaki-san, Kamuro-san, and now Ichinose-san. You’ve got quite the wide range.”

“In terms of order, you were the last, though. Yuki, Masumi, Kikyo, Airi, Ichinose, Chabashira, Ibuki, you... those are the current sex-friend members.”

Realizing there were even more members, and probably disliking the term “sex-friend,” both Horikita and Ichinose wore somewhat displeased expressions.

“...You really make women cry.”

“If you don’t like it, you can leave. I don’t mind. However, if you become hostile, I’ll crush you thoroughly.”

When I said that, Horikita sighed, “...My apologies, Master.” A declaration that she doesn’t intend to oppose.

“Ichinose-san, do you also have a weakness this DV (domestic violence) man is holding over you?”

“Um... well, no, I guess... something like that... maybe?”

Ichinose gave an evasive wry smile. In her case, she’s just my fake girlfriend; I’m not imposing anything special. She’s just a surprisingly closet pervert who can’t bring herself to leave me. Still, she probably can’t openly declare she accepts our current ambiguous relationship. She was skillfully deflecting.

“So, what’s the reason you called me out?”

It wasn’t exactly throwing her a lifeline, but I prompted her to get to the point. Horikita, too, replied, “Right,” and returned her gaze to me.

“It’s about Karuizawa-san’s actions, as you ordered. I went and asked Class C’s Manabe-san about the circumstances.”

Oh, so Horikita has acquired the communication skills to interact with others—well, she probably did it reluctantly because it was my order, but it’s growth nonetheless.

“So, what did Manabe say?”

“It’s only Manabe-san’s testimony, but apparently before summer vacation, Karuizawa-san pushed Class C’s Morofuji Rika-san from behind. I don’t know if it was intentional or accidental. But because Karuizawa-san didn’t apologize, Manabe-san was quite furious.”

It’s good that she can get angry about others’ problems as if they were her own, I suppose, but Manabe is too rash because she turns others’ anger into her own. Well, thanks to that, there are many advantages for us.

“What’s your take?”

“Karuizawa-san insists she knows nothing, so it’s hard to say. My impression, though, is that Karuizawa-san is just pretending not to know. She doesn’t want to apologize and is covering it up.”

As we talked, Ichinose was at a loose end. It seems she was trying not to listen in since it’s Class D’s business. It wouldn’t bother me if she heard, but to not waste her consideration, I tactfully ordered food.

The talk is important, but we came to eat. Ichinose had been hustling non-stop since after yesterday’s discussion, so she must be hungry.

“At the second discussion, she got Class A’s Machida-kun on her side and evaded Class C’s pursuit. I suppose Manabe-san couldn’t do much in that situation. There was nothing particularly problematic.”

Seems like even though the members changed, things are basically proceeding like the original. If so, Manabe should start making her move after today’s fourth discussion.

“Good work. Thanks for the next one too.”

I offered, and Horikita answered, “Understood.” At the same time, she changed the subject: “Now, about the main issue on my end—”

“Would you tell me about that email from Kushida-san?”

“Kikyo’s email?”

Huh, what’s that? Did she send a letter of challenge? If this were the original, maybe, but with the current power balance between Horikita and Kikyo, I’d think Kikyo would win overwhelmingly—

“The email about yesterday’s discussion results and the subsequent proposal from Class C.”

Realizing I truly knew nothing, Horikita showed me her mail screen.

On it was written: the proposal had been rejected by Class A at yesterday’s discussion; about the possibility of Classes B, C, and D forming a united front; and to continue refraining from carelessly sending the VIP email.

“Thank goodness Ryūen-kun came after I saw this. If I’d seen it before, he’d have seized the initiative and who knows what he’d have said...”

Horikita grumbled. She had been thoroughly provoked yesterday and probably couldn’t afford to show any more weakness to Ryūen.

Still, Kikyo explained the situation over email, huh. She likely judged it impossible to gather the free-spirited Class D students together again. And cleverly, by using text rather than speech, it was written to effectively stir hostility toward Class A.

“Kushida-san, you little devil~”

When I showed the mail to Ichinose too, she gave a wry smile. Text can sometimes convey emotions more strongly than words. Kikyo knew well how to move people.

“So, what’s the meaning of this? The plan was supposed to be that if Outcome 1 failed, we’d earn CP with Outcome 3, right?”

“It’s written in the mail, isn’t it? Right now, Class A is isolated. If the three classes concentrate their attacks on Class A here, it’ll be easier to set up a Class A versus B, C, D dynamic for a while.”

“Even so, just for a measly +50 CP or so, teaming up with Ryūen-kun who’ll betray us at any moment is far too risky.”

“There won’t be a betrayal. If anyone tries to get ahead here, the flow currently directed at Class A will turn toward Class C. Ryūen isn’t stupid enough to focus only on the immediate result and misread the big picture.”

Horikita must have understood that I was implicitly saying she was the one fixating on the immediate and misreading the big picture. She glared at me with a peeved look. I suppose I’ll explain it to her.

Like I told Ichinose yesterday, Ryūen will not betray us. The demerits of betrayal are greater. Even if he gained temporary CP, if the current dynamic shifted to C versus A, B, D, even Ryūen would find it harder to move going forward. On top of that, showing betrayal again right after the deserted island exam would make it impossible for him to form any proper contracts with other classes in the future—even if he could get 450 CP and 4.5 million PP, such gains would quickly vanish if he ends up isolated for the remaining two years.

If this were an exam near the end of the third year, it might be possible, but we’re still in the summer of first year. The remaining two years seem short but are long. Being colluded against by other classes would be tough even for Ryūen. That’s why, even in the original, Ryūen ends this exam merely by naming Class A’s VIP. If he wanted, he could’ve named the VIPs of all classes, but he knew that would put him at a disadvantage.

“Don’t get greedy. Class D still lags behind other classes in individual abilities and unity. Now is the time to lie low—it’s just right that we press Class A while generating a small gain.”

From Horikita’s perspective, she probably wants to earn 100 or 200 CP even if not 300 or 400, but in the current situation, that’s a poor strategy. Rather, an outcome where the classes don’t swap is exactly the best result I could wish for.

“...Fine. If that’s what you’ve decided, I have no choice but to follow.”

Reluctantly, Horikita seemed convinced. At the same time, the food we’d ordered arrived, so we had breakfast together with Ichinose.

Ichinose, needing to finalize her class’s stance before the third discussion, returned to her room once she’d finished eating. I, along with Horikita, headed to the boys’ room where Hirata and the others were waiting.

We’d reported to the class via email, but the discussion among the leaders still needed to happen. We had to talk in detail about whether to agree with Ryūen’s plan and what to do about Class D’s last VIP—though, since most of the members are my sex friends, the discussion would be in name only; it’d just be a place where I ram my opinion through.

* * *

In Hirata’s room—technically also my room—Hirata, Yuki, and Kikyo were already gathered. Yukimura appeared to be out, but unusually, Kōenji was present. Once Horikita and I joined, the talk immediately began about whether to agree with Ryūen’s plan.

That said, since I was basically in favor, all the women here would fall in line. Hirata isn’t so stubborn as to keep voicing opposition in this situation, and quickly Class D’s opinion settled on agreement.

Next came the matter of the last VIP who still hadn’t come forward, and how to handle that when disclosing VIP information. Here, I spoke up: “I may have figured out the pattern behind the VIPs.” It’s already the second day, so it’s about time to reveal it.

“You’ve figured out the VIP pattern! Is that true, Ayanokōji-kun!?”

“Yeah, though I have no proof. So I’d like you all to hear my hypothesis and consider if it’s correct.”

I replied, calming the surprised Hirata. Kōenji also seemed interested, chiming in, “Do tell, Holmes.”