As I was heading to Room 4, I knocked on the door five minutes before 8:40 p.m. Shortly after, a female voice was heard from inside:
—Come in —the voice said.
—Excuse me —I said as I opened the door and entered. Upon doing so, I saw three people already present in the room.
—I didn't expect you to be the one missing —Kanzaki commented.
—Hello, Kayden —Mako greeted, waving her hand.
—Hello, Mako, Kanzaki —I replied.
—You almost arrived late —Kanzaki said.
—Almost, but not quite —I smiled as I sat down next to Mako.
The female voice I had heard earlier belonged to the teacher in charge of Class D, Chabashira Sae. It was the first time I saw her up close, and I must say she is truly beautiful. For some reason, she reminded me of Horikita-san, but as an adult.
—Now that everyone is here, I will begin. In this special exam, first-year students will be divided into groups based on their zodiac signs. The exam will be conducted within these groups, which consist of students from different classes who share the same sign. The objective is to assess your "thinking skills" —Chabashira said.
As expected, this meeting was for the revelation of a new special exam in which we will interact frequently with other classes. And if we are divided by zodiac signs, it means that classes will mix to form 12 groups based on the signs, right?
—Sensei, what do you mean by thinking skills? —Mako asked.
—I will not answer any questions at this stage —Chabashira said seriously.
—I understand. Please continue —Mako said.
—There are three fundamental attributes for functioning properly in society that need to be mastered: Action, Thinking, and Teamwork. These skills are essential for becoming successful adults. The previous test on the island focused on teamwork, while this one will focus on thinking. We will assess your ability to think critically, analyze situations, and solve problems. Creativity and determination to solve problems will be key in this task —Chabashira explained.
It's interesting to note that, since the previous test focused on teamwork and this one on thinking, it seems that "action" will be the focus of the next special exam.
—Therefore, this exam will be conducted with 12 groups divided according to zodiac signs and under these conditions —Chabashira continued.
—Any questions? —Chabashira asked.
—Sensei, could you explain how the 12 groups will be distributed? —Kanzaki asked, still uncertain.
—The three people present here will be part of the same group for the rest of the exam. There are other rooms with students receiving the same explanation as you. Some of those students may become part of your group later on —Chabashira answered.
—Sensei, I assume the assignment to zodiac groups is not based on students' birth dates, right? —I asked, as Mako's and my birthdays are completely different.
—Correct —Chabashira confirmed.
So, if the assignment is not based on birth dates, it means two things: the groups might have been formed randomly or the school selected them based on some specific criteria.
—So, our group will be assigned to one of the zodiac signs, and we will be interacting with other groups from different classes, right, sensei? —Kanzaki asked.
—Exactly. Now that everyone seems to understand, I will proceed —Chabashira said as she handed us a sheet with the names.
Group Dragon
Class A: Kayden Osawa, Amikura Mako, Kanzaki Ryuji
Class B: Katsuragi Kohei, Koharu Yano, Ryoko Nishikawa, Shinji Matoba
Class C: Kakeru Ryuuen, Takumi Oda, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Masashi Sonoda
Class D: Hirata Yousuke, Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyou
Wow, it seems I'm in a rather significant group. It's not a coincidence that we are together. The school has clearly formed these groups with a purpose. It's curious that Honami isn't here. Perhaps there's a hidden reason behind that.
—It seems Ryuuen will be in our group —Kanzaki murmured, his face darkening. —This could complicate things. I hope he doesn't cause unnecessary trouble.
—As you can see, you belong to Group Dragon. From now on, until the end of the exam, you will no longer be Class A, but Group Dragon —Chabashira announced.
Seeing that there were no more questions, Chabashira continued:
—This special summer group exam follows a format where students are divided into groups and must meet twice a day for one hour each time. The meetings are free in content, allowing students to discuss strategies. The main goal is to identify the VIP student within your group, which you must do between 9:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. at the end of the exam. Only one response per group is allowed, and it must be sent by someone other than the VIP through a provided address on the students' mobile phones —Chabashira explained.
Exam Start: At 8:00 a.m., students will be notified if they are the VIP of their group.
Exam Schedule: The exam will mainly take place between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Students have the freedom to act during the day.
Group Meetings: Twice a day, for one hour each time, groups must meet and discuss at their discretion.
Important:
The VIP must not send any responses.The response can only contain the identity of the VIP of the assigned group; any other response will be invalid.Exam results will be sent to students at 11:00 p.m. on the same day.
4 Possible Outcomes:
Successful Collaboration (Everyone Wins): The group correctly identifies the VIP student at the end of the exam. Result: All group members (including the VIP) receive private points. The exam ends in collaboration, and there are no penalties for any group.
If You Answer Incorrectly: If there are incorrect answers or unanswered questions from group members who are not the VIP, only the VIP will receive 500,000 private points.
Traitor Discovers the VIP's Identity:
Correct Answer: If someone who is not the VIP answers correctly before the allocated time, the traitor receives 500,000 private points. The traitor's class receives 50 class points. The class whose VIP was identified receives a -50 class points penalty. The exam for the identified group ends. If a member of the VIP's class answers correctly, the previous result is invalidated and the exam for that group continues.
Traitor Ignores the VIP's Judgment:
Incorrect Answer: If someone who is not the VIP answers incorrectly before the allocated time, the respondent's class receives a -50 class points penalty for each member. The VIP receives 500,000 private points. The VIP's class receives 50 class points. If the incorrect answer is given by a member of the VIP's class, the answer is considered invalid and does not affect the exam.
—This is a whirlwind of information! —Mako said, covering her head with her hands and letting out a sigh of frustration. —Kayden, could you summarize it for me later? My brain is about to explode.
—Sure, no problem —I said.
—I understand, being the VIP is a double-edged sword —Kanzaki commented.
—Yes. Depending on how the VIP handles the situation, the result can be either favorable or unfavorable —Chabashira explained.
—How many VIPs will there be per class, sensei? —Kanzaki asked.
—There will be 3 VIPs per class —Chabashira answered.
The exam might seem complicated at first, but it's quite interesting. Now that we know there will be three VIPs per class and one per group, and considering that groups seem to be formed based on some specific condition we still don't know, at least in our case it seems the condition is to gather the main leaders of the classes, although with some exceptions.
Since neither Kanzaki nor I had further questions, the meeting concluded. I would explain everything to Mako later. Meanwhile, I had an idea in mind: to discover the "condition" the school used to form the groups. So, I sent a group message to Class A, asking them to send me the name of their zodiac sign group and the list of all their members. I also asked them to send me a private message with the name of the chosen VIP when it was selected tomorrow at eight in the morning.
If I could identify that "condition" or "pattern," the exam could be resolved much faster.
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While I was enjoying my breakfast peacefully in the back of the boat, my favorite spot to relax, I was mentally reviewing the names of the groups from the 12 zodiac signs that my classmates had sent me the day before. There were only 10 minutes left until 8:00 a.m., the time when the school would announce who the VIPs would be. I suppose that, just like the formation of the groups, the selection of the VIPs must follow some specific condition.
My thoughts were interrupted when I felt a small hand sliding down my back and slowly moving up to my neck. I immediately knew who it was.
—Good morning, Kikyou —I greeted without turning my head.
—Are you dead inside, or do you just not react to anything? Also, how did you know it was me? —Kikyou asked as she sat down in front of me with a curious expression.
—It was too obvious, Kikyou. I did the same thing to you yesterday, so I knew it was you. Besides, you're the only one I've spent time with here —I replied, and her surprise was evident.
—Hmph —Kikyou said as she took my croissant and brought it to her mouth.
—Hey, that croissant is mine —I complained, but she just shrugged as if she didn't care.
—By the way, Kikyou, it looks like we'll be in the Dragon Group together —I commented as I got up to get more food since she was stealing everything from me.
—Yes, what an unpleasant coincidence —Kikyou said, looking disdainfully at the sea.
—You're a really bad liar, Kikyou —I replied with a smile.
While we ate, our phones vibrated, signaling that it was already 8:00 a.m. and the selection of VIPs had been completed. I looked at the message on my phone which read:
[After a period of rigorous consideration, you have not been selected as VIP. Please organize yourself and challenge the exam accordingly. The exam itself will start from 1:00 p.m. onward. It will last three days from this point. If you belong to the Dragon Group, please proceed to the room marked as such on the second floor at 3:20 p.m.]
It seems I was right about there being a condition to be the VIP, as it says, 'rigorous consideration.'
—What a pity, it looks like I won't be the VIP —I said, resigned, while looking at Kikyou.
Kikyou looked at me and placed her phone on the table, where a message confirming that she had been selected as the VIP was displayed.
—It seems I was selected —Kikyou said while continuing to drink her coffee.
—Kikyou, why are you revealing to me that you're the VIP? You know I could report it right now —I asked, intrigued by her intention.
—I don't care —she replied indifferently.
—Don't you care that your class will lose 50 points? —I pressed.
—No, that's exactly what I want. I want Horikita to lose in all the exams so that no one trusts her and it's easier to expel her —she said, with a satisfied smile.
—I see, Kikyou. You're quite vindictive —I commented.
—Could be? But before you report me, could you do it after the meeting? —she asked.
—What makes you think I'll report you? —I asked, seeing her surprise.
—Don't you want to earn private and class points? —she said, astonished.
—Of course I want to earn points, but doing it this way would be boring and not my style —I replied.
—So, you won't do it? —she asked, hopeful.
—I don't think so. I'd prefer our group to achieve Result 1 so that everyone earns private points —I said with determination.
—And do you think it's possible with Ryuuen and Katsuragi there? —she questioned.
—Yes, it will be easier with Ryuuen. He won't be able to refuse half a million points. With Katsuragi it's a bit more complicated since he had a big failure in the previous exam, but I'll find a way to convince him —I said confidently.
—And don't forget Horikita. I doubt she'd want something like this. She prefers class points to private ones —Kikyou said with disdain.
—Since you're the VIP, it will be easier. If she doesn't agree, I'll just report you. Simple as that —I affirmed.
—I don't understand why you're making such an effort —Kikyou said, confused.
—And I don't understand why you're willing to betray your class in every exam just to expel Horikita —I questioned.
—I'll do whatever it takes to expel her —Kikyou said, with a seriousness that reflected her deep hatred for Horikita.
—Kikyou, you're taking a thorny path that won't end well. You're still in time to stop —I said, getting up to leave. I had more important things to do.
—I don't care. I won't be at peace until she's gone. I'm willing to pay any price to achieve that —she responded with cold determination. Seeing her firmness, I couldn't say anything more and walked away.
As I walked away, I couldn't help but think that Kikyou, unknowingly, was digging her own grave and wouldn't realize it until she was completely buried. At that moment, my phone vibrated again. This time, the messages weren't from the school, but from my classmates who had been selected as VIPs. I smiled as I saw the messages, knowing that now I had the information needed to advance in my quest to solve the mystery of the VIPs.