And so, the next day during lunch break...

"～～～～～♪♪♪♪♪"

I, Ichika-chan, was passionately singing alone into a microphone at the karaoke box that Nanase-chan had designated as our meeting place.

'...Actually, they were the ones who called me out here, so why are they late~...'

Even after the meeting time had passed, there was still no sign of Hōsen-kun or Nanase-chan arriving.

Knowing Hōsen-kun's personality... maybe he intentionally came late to anger me and then use that to gain the upper hand in negotiations?

Well...

That kind of shallow trick won't work on Ichika-chan, who has received all kinds of training in the White Room.

'If they don't hurry... lunch break will end, you know~?'

Lunch break isn't unlimited.

If I finish one more song and the two of them still haven't arrived, I guess I'll just head back...

Just as I started thinking that—

"Yo! Sorry to keep you waiting... Amasawa."

"Amasawa-san, we're sorry for arriving after the meeting time!"

Finally, it seemed Hōsen-kun and Nanase-chan had arrived at the room I was in.

"You two are late~! I got tired of waiting and already sang three songs! If we had more time, I wanted to sing a duet with Nanase-chan too! But now we don't even have time for that!"

By the way, that was my genuine feeling.

I really did want to become closer with Nanase-chan.

"Huh? Really!? Ah... then I feel a bit bad about that... but Amasawa-san! If you're free after school today, would you like to go together?"

"Really? Then it's decided! By the way, Nanase-chan, what kind of songs do you like?"

"Um... I guess pop songs. And also..."

"The nerve you've got... chatting about pointless things while ignoring me... not bad, huh?"

Ahh...

I was having a great conversation with Nanase-chan about karaoke, but an annoying interruption had to ruin it.

You airheaded gorilla...

"Then hurry up and explain the main point, okay~? I'm not exactly free either."

"Fine, I'll say it. About this special exam... Amasawa, team up with us."

Yep, this is unfolding exactly the same as in the original world~!

"So... um... was it Ayanokōji-senpai? You're asking for my cooperation to make sure he gets expelled in this special exam, right?"

"Hah! Don't get the wrong idea. I'm teaming up with you because our interests happen to align. You should be grateful."

Yep, sorry to disappoint you~!

Right now I have absolutely no intention of getting Kiyotaka-senpai expelled.

Our interests don't align at all!

Yet he talks down to me like that even though he doesn't understand my thinking in the slightest...

Hōsen-kun, you really look ridiculous right now.

"Hmm, so? What exactly do you want me to do?"

"Hey, Nanase... explain it."

"Yes! Then Amasawa-san, I'll explain!"

The explanation Nanase-chan gave went like this:

① First, I would come up with some excuse to enter Kiyotaka-senpai's room and steal the petty knife in his room, then hand it to Hōsen-kun.

② Next, Hōsen-kun would lure Kiyotaka-senpai to a location without surveillance cameras.

③ Finally, Hōsen-kun would stab his own leg with the petty knife.

④ Since the knife would naturally have Kiyotaka-senpai's fingerprints on it, Hōsen-kun would accuse him of stabbing him and push him toward expulsion.

That was the entire plan.

And yes...

It was exactly the same as in the original world.

Unfortunately for them...

Kiyotaka-senpai would obviously see through such a gorilla-level plan immediately.

"Haa... hey, Hōsen-kun. Didn't you find something suspicious during the explanation of the special exam?"

"Huh!? Amasawa... what do you mean?"

"You remember how I accidentally said the wrong senpai's name at first? Look at how President Nagumo and Acting Chairman Tsukishiro reacted back then. They were clearly panicking."

When I said that, Hōsen-kun fell silent and Nanase-chan seemed to be thinking about something.

"And then when I corrected myself and said Ayanokōji-senpai's name... those two suddenly looked relieved, right?"

"So... what exactly are you trying to say, Amasawa-san?"

Nanase-chan asked, and I finally touched on the core of the matter.

"What I'm saying is this~. The whole thing about drawing lots from 157 second-year students was a lie. Those two actually wanted Ayanokōji-senpai to be expelled from the start."

"I see... so that's what those bastards were up to..."

Apparently Hōsen-kun had also been suspicious about their behavior, because he nodded in understanding.

"If the school itself wants him expelled... that means Ayanokōji-senpai must be hiding something far more frightening than we imagined."

"..."

"President Nagumo and Acting Chairman Tsukishiro probably started this special exam because they didn't want to dirty their own hands even a little... So tell me, Hōsen-kun, Nanase-chan. Even knowing that... do you still intend to participate in this special exam?"

If the two of them decided not to act here...

The burden on Kiyotaka-senpai would probably decrease at least a little.

Now then—

What answer will the two of them give to my persuasion?