Epilogue: Each Person's Difference
The final day of the exam had begun. And unlike the time on the uninhabited island, time passes quickly in the luxurious ship. Furthermore, each day two hours of discussion time passed without much content actually being discussed.
While both Ryuuen's united front plan and Katsuragi's fortress plan proceeded as usual, Class B's Ichinose Honami spent her time without being able to come up with a counterattack against those strategies.
"Waah. I pulled it again! Maybe I'm just bad at Old Maid?" Ichinose says while scattering the cards in her hand in front of me. Despite this being the fifth discussion period we've had, Ichinose once again suggested playing cards. I would have questioned this approach, but it seems no one in Class A is willing to come forth for the discussion. So only a small group of people who thought it would be better to play than spend time aimlessly joined in the card games.
Manabe and the others' contact with Karuizawa was a bit worrying, but it seems the effect of sending her those images worked excellently. And now they're obediently steering clear of her. Karuizawa also believed in that and acted normal as usual.
On the other hand, looking it from Manabe's perspective, the mysterious person who sent the chat must have been either me or Yukimura who were both present at the emergency staircase incident. I did add in the chat that I received the images from a fellow classmate, but it's clear that either one of the two who were present there must have been the one to have taken the pictures.
Either that or those pictures must been spread around to the mysterious person who sent the chat as something interesting. Manabe must have gotten that sort of idea from all this.
As long as she cannot ascertain for sure that it was me who was responsible for that, she cannot take action against me. Because there's no point in figuring out the identity of the person who took those pictures after all.
"Is it ok for me to stay here like this?..."
Yukimura said that while sitting next to me with a gloomy, depressed expression.
"You're being gloomy, Yukimura-kun. This is where you play your heart out and shake out your anger. Rematch. Rematch!".
"I'll pass on that. I don't feel like it anyway. More importantly, is this fine, Ichinose-san? Ending the exam like this. I thought you were the one holding the reins to this group and guiding us all through the dialogue" Yukimura asks Ichinose.
And in response to that, Ichinose, whose hands had been holding the cards, briefly stopped.
"Isn't that being too convenient for yourself, Yukimura-kun? If you really want to win, don't rely on someone else to do it for you and use your own power to win" Ichinose retorts to Yukimura.
"...I understand that much. I understand" Yukimura replied.
The fact that he cannot afford having that responsibility thrust onto him, I'm sure Yukimura is also aware of that fact. But despite knowing, I suppose he still wanted to change this resigned atmosphere.
Yukimura, who holds top level grades, would be one of the most reliable ones if the exam were purely measuring our academic prowess. But just because you are gifted academically, that doesn't not always translate into raising people's spirits up. It's not like they can come up with novel ideas just like that. There are things in the world that cannot be done simply by memorizing words and equations.
Over the summer holidays, the two special exams we've had, even Horikita was forced to confront her powerlessness in the face of that.
I wonder whether in this stalemate of a situation, Ichinose and Machida and the others also feel this irritation.
However, even that frustration, as long as it does not end up breaking your spirits, can eventually be used to power you.
1
"And with the next meeting, the exam will be over. How are things on your side, Ayanokouji-kun?".
I am having my last meeting with Horikita. The world outside has already been enveloped by darkness. The records of our conversation remain in the chatlog. To avoid that, we are currently meeting face-to-face.
"No particular change on my side. It looks like the "target" will be able to safely escape. How about you?" I asked her.
I had thought I couldn't expect much from Horikita, but...
"I will win" she briefly replied like that.
"So you've found the "target" then?" I asked. "I don't know who's listening in on us where so I cannot tell you the details yet, but, I won't mind if you believe in me. Everything will go well" Horikita replied to me. From Hirata I've already heard that the (Dragon) group's "target" is Kushida. Of course, I'm sure Ryuuen and Kanzaki have already done everything in their power to figure her out. But it looks like Horikita has successfully navigated the way to safety and survived it.
If she's this confident, I'm sure there's not much to worry about. We'll just have to wait for 500,000 points to roll in later on. It could even be described as a solid victory for us in that case. "Did you perhaps want to consult me?" she asks.
"There's no need for that. You make your move however you like" I told her. Even if she told me about the (Dragon) group, it's not like I can do much to help her anyways. "So, you said you needed to talk to me about something, what is it? I would like to avoid careless contact if possible" Horikita tells me.
Perhaps she's wary of the existence of Ryuuen who has been stalking Horikita...perhaps. I don't feel any kindness from her attitude, but it would be troublesome for me even if Horikita suddenly takes a kind attitude towards me.
"You can't afford to be terrified by Ryuuen's gaze forever you know" I told Horikita. "Judging from that tone, can I assume you have a plan?" she asks me.
But it looks like she wasn't expecting much from me, since she seemed surprise when I nodded in response to that. "I've pulled Hirata over to our side. I believe I can build a cooperative relationship with him in the future" I told Horikita.
"I don't really want any of that" she replies. "That's fine. I'm not asking you to get involved with Hirata personally. I will handle the talk with Hirata so just match my pace" I said. "...I don't like this. I don't like you moving around like that behind my back" Horikita told me.
I thought she'd say something like this.
"Then show your face when we discuss things then. Even if you can't force yourself to say something, you can keep up with the discussion so there's no problem there right?" I asked her.
"I....suppose so".
It still seemed as though she were dissatisfied, but if I give Horikita the option of participating or not participating, she can't refuse. Also, the existence of Hirata is a boon for the class, and after seeing his leadership on the uninhabited island, Horikita will surely understand that too. "Including Hirata too, there's a person I'd like to introduce you to. Please free up some time before the end of the exam" I told her.
"I still don't like it. Don't include more people than needed" she replies. "Please consider it a consequence of you standing on the front lines. Besides, that person will surely be useful to us" I told her. "I think I can more or less understand what's going on...but fine. Let's meet here right after the exam ends then" Horikita replied to me. After exchanging that promise, I look at the time on my phone. The last discussion will take place in 30 minutes.
"In this exam, I wonder how many groups will be decided by traitors?" Horikita said. "I wonder. I was surprised that the (Cow) group's exam suddenly ended, but I doubt something like that will be repeated. I think the likeliest outcomes will be the "target" escaping with the time of the exam running out" I replied. "I suppose so. I think that too".
And only for a moment, Horikita averted her eyes. That's an unconscious gesture humans make when they are concerned about something. "What's wrong?" I asked her. "Nothing. It's just, I just sensed something wrong with the way this exam developed. But there shouldn't have been any errors. I definitely shouldn't lose" she told me. It seems some of the anxieties she'd been storing up in her slightly leaked out. Even if I offered words of encouragement, I'm sure she'll see it as unnecessary trouble. So I decided to simply keep quiet.
2
The members of the (Rabbit) group, without having come any closer to making a breakthrough in the exam, entered the sixth and final discussion. Since I wanted to consider my idea calmly and rationally for a bit, I decided to leave the room where Hirata and the others were and started heading for the group discussion room. Since there was still around 30 minutes left until the start of the discussion, it was obvious that no one would be there yet.
But, those expectations were overturned by the unexpected existence of a person...
"...a prior arrival huh?"
It was the figure of a girl sleeping on the floor in a room when nobody was supposed to have been there yet. Even so, I wonder why her skirt tickles a man's heart so much. This is bad, bad. Since she was lying down, Ichinose's plump thighs were even more apparent than usual and towards the skirt which I cannot see the inside of, I found myself unable to take my eyes off them. If there was a man here who did not feel that towards Ichinose, then he's either gay or bisexual. This is a fate a healthy boy cannot escape from.
Even though I thought it was pointless, I couldn't help but look from her thighs to her feet, then to her face, then to her breasts, and then back down to her thighs. My gaze flickers between them. While feeling frustrated at this age, I was suddenly distracted by something further back to the back of Ichinose's head. Namely, the phone she must have been using prior to falling asleep.
In the phone assigned by the school, quite a bit of information is recorded. And not only does it play an important role in this exam, but it also allows you to determine each individual's points. Naturally to confirm this, things such as a personal ID and passwords are required, but to avoid the hassle of having to log in every time one wishes to check this, there are many cases of students storing such information on a mobile terminal as well. That means, in other words, if I can steal Ichinose's phone right now, I would be able to ascertain Ichinose's living standards and the amount of points she holds. A while ago, I've already determined that to bypass her ID and password, Ichinose also stores her information on a mobile terminal.
If that situation has not changed, I will be able to gain information. Slowly and cautiously, I approach her.
"...uuuuu".
"Woah"
As the distance between us closes, perhaps the atmosphere changed and she sensed another person's presence, but Ichinose slightly stirred. But then she immediately fell asleep again. It seems I've managed to make it without waking her up. I close our distance again.
"...nnn".
I wonder what I'm even doing. Even though it's for the sake of gathering information, if anyone sees this, they would only see me as a pervert. What if Ichinose wakes up while I have my back to her? I feel like I'm doing something I shouldn't be doing.
Since the discussion starts in 30 minutes, there's no problem even if I came early, but if so, shouldn't I be calmly waiting inside the room? If there's nothing I should feel guilty about, I should act normal. Step by step, I close my distance with Ichinose.
"...nnnnn...munyumunyu".
This is impossible. Every time I make a move, Ichinose constantly shows signs of waking up. To test this hypothesis, I try moving my feet on the spot without actually moving. If Ichinose responds to this, I can infer from that that she's a light sleeper. It's said that people who are light sleepers cautious people...
...this is pathetic
Why am I sneaking around like this? But strangely, she doesn't talk in her sleep though.
But if anyone sees me now, all they would see is the word pervert.
Having recognized my own behaviour as a stupid endeavor, I gave up on stealing her phone and took my distance from her again.
Then I sat down at a far distance from Ichinose.
From this vantage point, there's no risk of accidentally seeing the secrets hidden up her thighs.
And I won't accidentally make contact with her as well this way.
More importantly, since it's quite early. I wonder when exactly Ichinose arrived here.
Then, around 20 minutes before the discussion was due to start, cute music rang out in the room. It came from Ichinose's phone.
"...nnnn"
While still keeping her eyes closed, she reaches out for her phone and operating her phone's screen, she stops the music. It seems the music came from the alarm she had set. While still looking sleepy, Ichinose raises herself off the floor and notices the foreign presence, namely my existence, in the room.
I was wondering what to do if she made a disgusted face towards my presence, but she wasn't even worried about it at all.
"Goooood morning, Ayanokouji-kun. Sorry, did my alarm startle you?" she asked.
"No. Not particularly. Looks like you slept well".
"Ahahahaha. Sorry sorry. I just suddenly fell asleep. You're early, there's still 20 minutes left".
"Same to you. Since when have you been here?"
"Since an hour ago. I just wanted to spend some time quietly. If it's in my room, it's quite rowdy with my friends going in and out after all" she replied.
It seems this was the best place for her to take a nap.
"Besides. I wanted to collect my thoughts too"
More than being refreshed from her sleep, her face seemed more as though she's had a flash of insight.
"Did you get any results?" I asked.
"More or less"
Then standing up, Ichinose for some reason, walked across the room to me and sat down beside me.
A room with only two people present, and an ever closing distance. I couldn't hide my nervousness in this situation but it seems Ichinose hasn't noticed at all.
"There's still time left before the exam so shall we have a little chat? If I'm not annoying you, that is" she asks.
"No. It's not annoying in particular. If you're ok with it, I'm down to chat" I replied to her.
"Then it's decided. The truth is, there's something I wanted to ask Ayanokouji-kun. I've also asked this of all my classmates, including the boys like Kanzaki-kun too. But I haven't heard the opinions of the other classes too, so I got curious. Ayanokouji-kun, have you ever strongly wanted to rise to Class A?" she asks me.
I was wondering what question she would choose to hit with me, but it was a surprisingly common question to be asked.
"Of course, I do think about that. No...More than wanting to rise to Class A, it's more that I 'have' to aim for Class A. That would be a more appropriate way of putting it" I tell her.
"In other words...because of the guarantee of a good career and job placement?"
In this school, students are divided into classes A to D and made to compete. But the maximum privilege of being able to go to any university and gain any employment after graduation is only afforded to Class A. It was written ambiguously on the school pamphlet so it might seem like fraud at first though.
"In this day and age, after graduation you won't be able to keep up with your life and job, especially when it comes to being employed" I said.
"I suppose that's true. I think so too. But having too much faith in the system is also dangerous, don't you think? In 99.9% of the words they say, there are invisible pitfalls that our eyes cannot see" she said.
Of course the pitfall that Ichinose is talking about is likely the '99.9% guaranteed employment rate and educational advancement' touted by the school. For instance, if I wanted to become a professional basketball player yet lacks the necessary experience, the school would attempt to find me ways to push me up to the professional level. Furthermore, this school is also a breeding ground for interpersonal connections. But just because you play basketball regularly, or have graduated from a famous university or school, does not necessarily guarantee your future.
The people who achieve the dreams they've stated from the start, are only a small fraction. According to certain statistics, only one out of six elementary school students achieve their dreams.
At first glance, this seems like a high probability but the data is ambiguous at best and the standards of the statistics are blurred. Becoming a professional basketball player successfully does not mean you become a first-rate player. Players belonging to professional basketball for instance, including trainees, will number around 900 or 1000 people. However, only by playing on the regular and competing against and winning against your rivals can one achieve their dream. In the end, only 100 of those people will have successfully achieved their dreams.
In order words, aiming for your dream and successfully accomplishing it has a very low probability. In any case, achieving a dream is extremely difficult to do. Many students simply repeat their boring lives over and over while speaking vaguely of their dreams. But if one seriously desires to make their dream come true, they would need a lot of effort and luck.
"But even so this school...if you think about it, has massive influence doesn't it? And many people have succeeded in life because of its assistance. Or are you saying you're not interested in it, Ichinose?" I asked.
"No such thing. Even I have a dream, to graduate from Class A. And also a dream I want to fulfill" Ichinose said. And even though she said it with a smile, I could see an unwavering, strong feeling in her eyes.
"The school system is good and all, but if you cannot graduate from Class A, your prospects are dim. Because the school operates on realism, if you cannot win using your own talents, there's nothing you can do about it. And most importantly, students are assigned to classes based on their merits so right now, between me and Ayanokouji-kun here, only one of us could achieve their dreams by moving to the top. Aah, but there are also cases where neither of our dreams can be fulfilled though" she continued.
In other words, even though we are sitting here and chatting like friends, only one class can be the winner in the end. The remaining three classes won't share in those rewards.
"Did you hear there are also exceptions to those rules?" she finally said.
"Hmm? Is that where individuals accumulate 20 million points?" I asked.
"Yep. It seems no one has achieved something like that in the history of the school, but there are Ultra C's like that too" Ichinose replied.
"Yeah, yeah. If we factor that in too, it's possible that the two of us can both graduate from Class A" Ichinose said.
"The problem is whether you can save up 20 million points or not in the first place, even if you save up points in the exams, the system's already set so it won't reach 20 million" I replied.
If we only look at this special exam, depending on your actions throughout it, it is possible to receive a large amount of points. And only two such exams have been conducted so far. From this point onwards, it's possible for both the amount of points that can be earned to be narrowed down and for them to be eaten up by large penalties.
"I suppose that's right. If you start saving up your points, by only reaching half of that amount, you would already raise suspicion" Ichinose said.
"That's true. The financial situation in Class D, especially, is terrible. Even though Horikita is doing her best for us, the points earned from the uninhabited island is still far off. No, it's even possible that we may lose those points in this exam. Ichinose, are you saving up points? It doesn't seem to me like you're the type to work hard on getting points" I asked her.
"Ummm...I wonder. I don't know about the others, but I use points sometimes and save them too sometimes I guess. Even though I'm in Class B, I still don't have that many points you know" she said.
In response to my question, Ichinose responds in a very natural tone with no indication that she's hiding something judging solely from her behaviour.
"Ayanokouji-kun"
"Hmm?"
In the next moment, Ichinose suddenly closes the distance with me and turns to face me while staring at my face.
"Looks like you saw it after all, that time"
Beautiful eyes that seem to be sucking me in looked at me without letting go. It seems Ichinose is far smarter than I expected, she's seen through my plans.
"...sorry. While you were using your phone earlier, I just happened to see the screen. I got curious and just wanted to ask you" I replied.
"Ahaha...it's not like I'm blaming you for it. Certainly that's a large amount of points, right?" Ichinose said.
That's right. Before even the end of one semester, Ichinose had already accumulated a large amount of points. Even if I save every point assigned to me monthly every day without usign a single point, I still wouldn't be able to save up that much.
"Don't worry. I haven't told anyone else. There's also the possibility that I saw wrong after all. I won't investigate further" I told her.
Even if I investigated, I doubt I would be able to get a satisfactory answer.
"Have you been able to find a way to win?" I asked.
"Ummmm...I guess so. I think I've found a hint".
I thought there was no way she would answer honestly, but whether it be due to her confidence, Ichinose answered in a relaxed tone. It seems like Ichinose is the type to act on her convictions without wasting time after all.
"Then this fight...it becomes a battle to see whether A will win or B will end" I said.
"I won't know that until the curtains fall. The victory I'm aiming for is---"
But before she could finish, as the time for the group discussion to begin draws closer, members of the group started appearing one after the other. The Class A students were the first ones to arrive, however, without so much as exchanging a greeting with us, they simply took their seats.
"What? You're already here, Ayanokouji?"
"Together with Ichinose-dono. Just the two of you. What kind of secret rendezvous were you planning here?".
Both Yukimura and Sotomura bombarded me unilaterally with those questions as they entered the room together. I couldn't register either anxiety nor depression on their faces, so perhaps they have already given up on victory at this point. On the other hand, the students of Class B seemed almost relaxed.
"This is the final one, huh? Have you found any hints?" Hamaguchi asks me after having quietly waited for the group discussion to start in earnest. "Honestly, I have no idea. We haven't been able to establish proper dialogue at all" I answered him.
I did say that, but I have already executed the strategies I had planned out from the start of the exam. It was by using the mail the school had sent to our phones that the "target" had been successfully camouflaged. The (Dragon) group's "target" is Kushida, but what happens if, for instance, Kushida and Horikita were to swap their phones. When looking at that phone, anyone would only suspect Horikita of being the "target" instead.
And if there were a traitor who learned of this fact, by submitting Horikita's name as the "target", they would make a mistake and victory would be achieved that way.
"Good evening, let's get along". Having briefly said that, Ichinose resumes her stance and smiles as usual. But it's still too soon, because there's still no telling what the other members are hiding and planning.
Besides, if everyone were to focus on the subject at hand, it would become increasingly difficult to camouflage the "target". I had been waiting for Ichinose to continue speaking earlier, but I decided to cut in now.
"If everyone's ok with it..."
"There's something I'd like to say"
Oddly enough, both me and Hamaguchi spoke those words at the same time. "Excuse me, please go on ahead Ayanokouji-kun" he says. "No...by all means, you first. I'm fine speaking later" I replied.
I never expected this coincidence with this timing. A terrible coincidence. My plan itself has no flaws, but if an unexpected problem like this occurs, the effect of my plan may become unstable.
I suppose I can listen to what Hamaguchi has to say first before timing my speech and trying again. In response to me who had been thinking along those lines, Hamaguchi destroyed my expectations in an unexpected manner.
"Then, with your permission. For the past three days, I've been constantly thinking on how best to achieve the first outcome". Hamaguchi then starts speaking of his plan to the others of (Rabbit) group.
Surprisingly, the contents of his proposal were strikingly similar to the strategy I had planned.
"And finally I came up with only one conclusion, that it's possible for the entire group to aim for the first outcome and a way to make it possible" Hamaguchi continued.
"Is that really true, Hamaguchi?". To the crestfallen eyes of Yukimura and the others who had given up all hope, a glimmer of hope had returned. "Of course. It's an idea I came up with after listening to everyone here, including Ichinose-san and Machida-kun" Hamaguchi said.
"Unbelievable. There's no way the first outcome can be achieved through dialogue alone". The one who objected to this naive, dream-like proposal was of course, Machida. "Let's hear him out first. Hamaguchi-kun isn't the type to speak before thinking". Ichinose followed up for Hamaguchi and created an environment conducive to discussion.
"I will now proceed to show you all my phone. Naturally, there is a mail sent to me by the school. I'm sure you understand what I'm getting at. Since it is prohibited to falsify or alter the mails from the school in any way, there's no risk of being deceived this way. That's why it's a simple matter, just by showing each other our mails, we can find who the "target" is, that is my way of finding the truth" Hamaguchi told us.
"This is stupid. Who would show their mails like this? We still don't know that someone won't betray us the moment we show our mails, there's no one who would go along with this". In response to this plan anyone could have thought up, but no one would agree to, naturally the onlooker Machida was flabbergasted.
"Indeed, because they know there is the possibility of betrayal, the "target" will not show the mail on their phone. But looking at it from the perspective of those who are not the "target", there is little risk in showing the mail. The exam will soon be over, if we don't make our move now, we will not win. If a class were to collaborate to protect the "target", none of them would show their mails. Through this, cornering the "target" is possible" Hamaguchi continued.
"Even if you know the identity of the "target" or the class they belong to, if somebody betrays us it's over. The problem won't be resolved. Are you planning to play the game where the quicker one to betray wins?". Using this strategy, it is indeed possible to figure out the "target"'s identity. But that's all it can do. In the end, it's not like everybody will play fair with each other and answer accordingly.
"Then please shut up. It'll be fine if Machida-kun doesn't participate after all" Hamaguchi said that while refusing to succumb to the uncooperative attitude of the others and proceeded to show us the mail on his phone.
"I agree with Hamaguchi-kun's idea. I'll show mine too". And Beppu of the same Class B also followed suit.
It seems this is not a random, isolated event but rather, without a doubt Ichinose's strategy in action. The development is the same as the strategy I had planned. But, I don't know how far they have thought this through. But if they think everyone will obediently believe those words and show the mails on their phones, that would be nothing but reckless...
"I think this is unexpectedly a good idea. I have no objections to showing my phone too" Ichinose once again smiled as if agreeing to follow with Hamaguchi's plan. Matching the actions of the others, Ichinose also reaches into the right pocket of her skirt to take her out phone.
"I've been pondering this for a long time now but, I finally understand now after hearing what Hamaguchi-kun's said. Sorry I've kept this hidden until now but..." and with those purposeful words, Ichinose brought out her phone.
I decided to strike now before Ichinose could complete her strategy.
"You're serious aren't you, Ichinose? If you're going to bet on that, then I'll take you up on that offer". Before Ichinose could disclose the contents of her mail, I offered up my own phone. But this was not my own phone but rather, one I had exchanged with a certain person. "Ayanokouji-kun...are you fine with that?".
"Yeah. After listening to Hamaguchi, I think there's no other way than this. Since I'm bad at communicating, the only thing I can do is show you the truth, so that's what I'll do" I told her. "Wait Ayanokouji. I object. There's no way this kind of blunt strategy is going to go well". Yukimura desperately tried to stop me, but I shrugged his words off and simply showed my mail.
And with that, I proved that I was not the "target". And a large amount of water had already accumulated in this invisible dam. If even a hole of 1 centimeter were to be opened, the dam would surely collapse and turn into a muddy stream. This action was the trigger to open that hole. "Hmm...certainly it seems Ayanokouji-kun isn't the "target" either". "Then I'll show mine too".
Now who will follow up? From amongst the large crowd of people still laughing at Hamaguchi's strategy, one girl voiced her approval and consent. It was the person anyone would have least expected. Ibuki Mio. "Are you insane? There's no profit for us in doing this". It was Manabe who objected to Ibuki's risky actions.
But the words Ibuki said in response were indeed, well-reasoned ones. "The ones who are not the "target" themselves, nor belong to the same class as the "target", gain no advantage in keeping the status quo. Class B understands that too. If we do nothing, we will never catch up to the classes above us. That's why they are showing their phones. And I'm thinking the same thing as them. That's all" Ibuki said.
"But that's...".
"Or perhaps, are you the "target" then?" Ibuki said that to Manabe, who was supposed to have been her ally, in a hostile manner befitting an enemy. "N-no t-that's...".
"Then you should be able to show it too, your phone that is" Ibuki tells Manabe. In a way, her words could have been taken as threats to her own allies, but as though they finally understood, Manabe and the others also brought out their phones. The hunt for the "target" was underway. Karuizawa also takes out her phone with a strap on it, and hands it over in front of everyone.
"Karuizawa, you're also going with Ayanokouji? Are you going to follow this strategy too?" Yukimura asks. "I'm just doing this for myself, because I want private points too" Karuizawa replied. The mail from the school had said she was not the "target" too. Karuizawa was considered clear too.
"...ehhh. What should I do?" Sotomura mutters. "Think for yourself, Sotomura. This isn't a compulsory check but a voluntary one, you know". "Uuuu...just get it over with I guess".
In the situation where a lot of students have joined in, having judged that he has no other choice too, Sotomura also moves to show his phone. However, before he could, Yukimura quickly stopped him. "...do you really think showing it is the right move?" he asks. "Since a while ago, why are you butting in? Perhaps you're the "target" then?". In response to Yukimura who strongly objected to the strategy, Ibuki batters him with that question.
At that moment, everyone could see that Yukimura's expression hardened. "Uwa...you serious?". "No. Yukimura isn't the "target". I heard so earlier after all". I quickly followed up for him. But spontaneous laughter came from some of the students. "Do you really expect us to believe just your words? You might be lying". Manabe said that while casting doubt on Yukimura as a matter of fact.
Indeed, continuing to deny that he is the "target" here will only invite further suspicion on him. He should know that as well. But I cannot make a move here yet. Because Yukimura is---
"It's still too soon to draw a conclusion. Because Yukimura-kun also has a point". Ichinose, who had been watching the series of events unfold, said that as she once again brought out her phone from her left pocket. "I got caught up in the flow for a bit, but I'd also like to show my phone" she said as she once again proves that she is not the "target" to the group. "Wait, Ichinose. Earlier, you said there's something you wanted to tell us. You said you've been keeping quiet about it the whole time?". Not having forgotten about that statement, Machida presses the question onto her. "That? It's just the fact that I also always had the same idea too, that's all" she replies to Machida.
"...the same idea?". "I say the same idea, but as the leader of Class B, I was just regretting having been beaten to the punch by Hamaguchi-kun" Ichinose replies to Machida. In any case, it seems everyone besides Class A and Yukimura have proven themselves to the group that they are not the "target".
"........."
The students here aren't so imperceptive as to not understand the meaning behind Yukimura's silence. Machida and the other students of Class A too, at some point had approached Yukimura to stare him down. "......fine I understand. I'll show you. I just have to show you right?". No longer able to bear the peer pressure of everyone being directed at him, Yukimura broke and took out his phone as well. "But before I do so, I want you to promise me just one thing" he said. "Promise? What do you mean by that, Yukimura-kun?".
"That nobody here turn traitor. Everyone here. Especially Class A, I want you to take out your phones and place them where I can see them. No, everyone too. Everyone put your phones where I can see them" Yukimura said.
He had directed that statement at the representative of the group here, Machida, but Machida replies to him in an unamused tone. "I don't understand what you're getting at. What do you mean?" he said to Yukimura. "Exactly what I said. Nothing more and nothing less" Yukimura replies. "Fine. If it's just placing them there". Approaching Yukimura, all the students from Class A took out their phones and placed them in front of him. Having confirmed that fact, without even a cloud of doubt on his expression, Yukimura made his move. Yukimura pulls his phone out of his pocket and lights up its screen, then enters its required 6-digit password and logs into his phone.
Then he opens the mail sent to him from the school and lifts the screen up directly for everyone to see. "...I'm sorry for lying to you, Ayanokouji..." Yukimura apologizes as he opens up the mail sent from the school. The ones most surprised after seeing the sentence written in the mail would, of course, have to be the members of Class D. "I am the target..." Yukimura said. On the screen was a mail different from what everyone else had received. "W-what Y-Yukimura-dono was the "target" all along?" Sotomura looks at him with astonished eyes. This also means that we have effectively relinquished the 500,000 points that would otherwise have been given to Class D. However, this very Yukimura is the person who I have exchanged phones with in secret.
"If I knew things would end up like this, I would have talked from the start" Yukimura said. Karuizawa also seemed shocked from the bottom of her heart and her expression showed unease. Looking at the perspective of those two who would have never thought of Yukimura as the "target", it makes sense. Machida then stood up and peered at the mail on Yukimura's phone once more. "It seems the mail is real. All the other personal mails also seem to be Yukimura's without a doubt" Machida said after having checked even Yukimura's private chats without permission.
Towards the Machida who approached the situation with suspicion, Ichinose tried to explain the situation calmly. "There's no way it would be a fake. After all, you know the rules the school put in place. In regards to the mails sent by the school concerning the exam, copying the mail and transferring it are explicitly forbidden. As long as the mail is sent from the school's address, the possibility of it being fake is zero" Ichinose says. Exactly, from the start, fabricating information in this exam is expressly forbidden. Since the punishment known as expulsion awaits those who break the rule, everything that's laid out here has to be nothing but the truth.
Even if one overcomes this obstacle by lying here, the problem will still await them after the end of the exam hence the outcome would be the same either way. "That means it's definitely Yukimura-kun then". Manabe nods in agreement. The important thing here was the condition that Yukimura's mail be shown after all. Whether the person holding that phone is indeed the owner of that phone or not...is irrelevant. In other words, making a decision on whether the person in question owns the phone or not is a surprisingly difficult task.
Especially for students on guard during the exam, the idea that someone may have switched out their phones with another person is not a particularly unexpected hypothesis to make. However, casually entering the 6-digit password and unlocking the phone in front of them makes things different.
There's no way a student can know another student's password. They would inevitably draw such a conclusion almost unconsciously by assuming it would be so if it were their phone. This is not rooted in reasoning but rather a preconception that's been planted in their minds over many years.
"I'm sorry Yukimura-kun...I thought of this as a last resort...".
"No. I think this is the right thing to do. I tried to somehow lie my way out of this. But that was wrong. I'm sure Ayanokouji and Sotomura, and also Karuizawa would feel this is the right thing" Yukimura replied.
By saying that, he made himself out to look like the person who tried to safely secure points only for himself.
"...with this everyone should know the "target" is me. So you should've all arrived at an answer" he continued.
That's right, by clearing the exam together with everyone, the entire group can earn 500,000 points. The first outcome that seemed unachievable at first may be obtained now.
Ichinose nods her head once then once again, with more strength than before, she pleads with Class A.
"Please. Let's not waste Yukimura-kun's courage. Please cooperate with us. Don't betray us". "We were just following Katsuragi-san's instructions from the start. We won't do anything on our own" Machida replies to Ichinose.
He did say that, but before the end of the exam, there will be a period in which we will definitely have to disband as a group. Before the exam ends, for that blank period of 30 minutes, we must trust in not only our classmates but students of other classes as well.
"I want to believe...no, I believe in everyone..." Yukimura says that as if it were a wish. And every class receives that equally. I wonder if the students who spent the same time together over the past few days have gained something resembling a friendship.
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