(Third Person's POV)
After Horikita finishes washing and returns, Ayanokoji notices her anxious expression. They move away from the camp to talk privately.
Horikita admits losing the key card and suspects Karuizawa and Ibuki.
Ayanokoji rules out Karuizawa and reassures Horikita, instructing her to keep an eye on Ibuki.
A fire breaks out in the camp, and Ayanokoji and Horikita rush to check.
They find the manual burned while Hirata attempts to extinguish the flames, wearing a dark expression. Ayanokoji comforts Hirata as the class atmosphere turns chaotic amid the rain.
Yamauchi notices Ibuki's disappearance, prompting the students to hurriedly secure their belongings.
Ayanokoji helps Hirata regain composure before realizing Horikita is missing and heading towards the beach.
After chasing Suzune, Ibuki feigns ignorance and attacks her.
Horikita defends herself while reflecting on her perceived shortcomings.
Ibuki reveals stealing the key card but denies burning the manual.
She's joined by Ryūen and Katsuragi, and they depart after Ryūen's inspection of the card.
Ayanokoji finds Horikita unconscious and retrieves the key card.
He consoles her, urging her to make allies and cooperate with the class.
After Horikita falls unconscious again, Ayanokoji carries her to safety and ensures her return to the ship, deciding to retire her. He then returns alone for the roll call, handing over the key card to the teacher.
It is here that Ayanokoji changes the leader of the Class D and makes himself the leader.
On August 7, the final day of the exam, the students gather at the rest area, awaiting the results. Ryūen appears as the lone representative of C-Class, causing tension to mount among the students.
Mashima arrives, signaling the start of the result announcement.
He announces the conclusion of the test and proceeds to reveal the results.
Mashima declares that C-Class has scored the lowest with 0 points. A-Class takes third place with 120 points, while B-Class secures second place with 206 points.
Surprisingly, D-Class emerges as the victor with 225 points. The announcement of C-Class's zero score leaves Ryūen perplexed, and Katsuragi faces intense scrutiny from his classmates.
D-Class erupts in a mix of joy and confusion at their unexpected victory, while B-Class celebrates their significant point increase and close competition with D-Class.
Soon after, everyone heads back to the cruise and settles down.
(Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's POV)
As twilight painted the sky with vibrant hues, I found myself drawn to the open deck. The vast expanse of the night sky, a canvas of twinkling stars, held a certain appeal.
A soft voice disrupted the tranquility. Ichinose, from Class B, approached me, her features etched with a mixture of gratitude and curiosity.
"Ayanokouji-kun," she began, her voice barely a whisper. "I wanted to express my sincere thanks."
Feigning confusion, I raised an eyebrow. "Thanks? For what, exactly?"
"For your hint about Kaneda-san," she continued, her words hesitant. "It's because of you that Class B was able to retain a significant number of points during the exam. And… also realize Ryuen's possible strategy by using Kaneda-san as a spy. "
While her deduction was astute, acknowledging it wouldn't serve my purposes. A carefully crafted facade of ignorance was my best course of action.
"I'm afraid you have me mistaken, Ichinose-san. Perhaps you're misinterpreting something you observed."
Her brow furrowed slightly, but her unwavering belief remained. "I may not have concrete proof," she conceded, "but I know, deep down, that you played a role. Consider this a token of my gratitude. If there's ever anything I can do to assist you, Ayanokouji-kun, please don't hesitate to ask."
The offer, laced with genuine sincerity, held a potential for future leverage. There was no harm in keeping my options open.
"Very well, I am not arrogant enough to assume that I won't ever need the assistance of a representative of the Class B like you Ichinose-san," I conceded, my tone neutral. "Should the need arise, I will take you up on that offer and seek for your assistance."
A satisfied smile bloomed on her face, a testament to the effectiveness of my calculated ambiguity.
~~
The twilight hues had faded, replaced by the inky blackness of night. My steps led me towards the secluded theater on the cruise ship. There, I awaited Chabashira-sensei, the present shadow looming over my existence.
As she arrived, her lips curved into a satisfied smirk. "Well done, Ayanokouji," she acknowledged, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "Class D's first-place finish was… unexpected, to say the least."
There was no need for false modesty. The outcome was a direct consequence of my manipulations. "I see," I replied, my voice a monotone.
"Two hundred twenty-five class points," she continued, her eyes glinting with something akin to approval. "They will be a significant boost for your class's standing."
I met her gaze impassively. "The climb to Class A," I stated flatly, "has only just begun."
A flicker of surprise crossed her features, a fleeting acknowledgment of my efforts. "Indeed," she conceded.
"Then consider this a reminder," I continued, my voice hardening slightly. "My continued cooperation hinges on your adherence to our agreement. You must deal with any attempts of someone using unfair means to expel me."
Chabashira's expression remained unreadable, a mask I wasn't prepared to penetrate at this point. Finally, a single, almost imperceptible nod signaled her acquiescence.
As I exited the theater, my mind churned with calculations. Helping Class D ascend the ranks was a temporary necessity, a means to appease Chabashira and maintain my precarious position within the school.
However, this agreement was far from a permanent alliance. The day would come when I would dismantle her ambitions and dreams of her Class D reaching the Class A.
This calculated manipulation extended beyond Chabashira. My subtle influence on Ichinose, for instance, was a safeguard against unforeseen circumstances. Her potential assistance, while currently unnecessary, could prove invaluable in the shifting power dynamics of this school.
The key to survival, I had learned, lay in cultivating a network of pawns across all classes.