The morning after the shipboard exam came to an end.
I rose from bed, drew back the curtains, and the sun greeted me with its usual aggressive hospitality.
After washing my face, brushing my teeth, and getting ready, I left the room to get breakfast.
My roommates showed no signs of stirring. With the exam over, the original schedule had fallen apart, leaving everyone with extra time.
That time was now ours to spend freely aboard the luxury cruise ship.
We could enjoy ourselves however we liked—meaning we could wake up or go to bed whenever we pleased.
It was currently seven o'clock. My roommates, who'd stayed up late into the night, were now devotedly catching up on sleep.
The place was a café called Blue Ocean. I headed straight there.
"Welcome."
The same staff member from yesterday greeted me in the same way.
I returned a slight bow and took a seat with good shade from the sunlight and a beautiful view of the sea.
I opened the menu, chose a different breakfast from yesterday's, and placed my order.
Once that was done, I checked the email that had arrived from the school the day before.
It was the official notice of the exam results, including the point transfers between classes.
Class C had taken a hit of −100 class points from this exam.
Our total after summer vacation would be 580 CP.
We'd gained 100 CP on the uninhabited island test. Combined, the two exams left us at net zero. Class C had fallen one step behind the others.
"Yo."
A wild beast entered the refined atmosphere of the café.
Without hiding his intensity or baring his fangs, the predator stood in front of my seat.
"Good morning, Ryuuen-kun."
Ryuuen Kakeru, king of Class C.
Even his belt—worn deliberately low—and the way his dress shirt hung untucked over it screamed intent. His tie was loosely knotted. His blazer was completely unbuttoned, as if buttons were beneath him.
Delinquent. No other word fit.
"Kuku, calling me out first thing in the morning takes some guts. When I saw that message yesterday, I seriously considered killing you. But fine, I'll let it slide."
Ryuuen-kun sat down and crossed his legs.
He was saying dangerous things, yet his mood seemed surprisingly good. Yesterday, though, he'd been in a foul temper—especially right after the exam ended.
He'd been pumped to turn a hopeless situation around by teaming up with the other two classes and screwing us over, only for the exam to end abruptly.
Talking to him yesterday, when he was too furious to see straight, would have been a waste of time. So I'd suggested changing the day and discussing the exam's conclusion then.
He'd somehow agreed and shown up right on time at the café.
"I figured you'd need time to think things over. It's faster to talk once everything's settled, wouldn't you say?"
He accepted the menu I handed him and quickly placed his order.
When he finished, he looked at me with a grin.
"So, what was that exam result about? How exactly are you planning to explain it to me?"
"Horikita Suzune worked hard. She showed remarkable growth during that exam."
"I'll give you that—Suzune's growth was impressive. Fine, I'll admit it.
But you know damn well that's not what I really want to hear."
Ryuuen-kun waited for my next words with his distinctive laugh.
He folded his hands on the table, striking a pose like some mind-reading performer. In anything but a school uniform, he'd look exactly like a debt collector.
"First question is who made Suzune grow like that? Sure, she completely outplayed me. But during the uninhabited island test, she was just small fry.
Then suddenly she turns into this troublesome, capable woman. Why?"
"Extreme situations make people grow. That exam was the one where Horikita Suzune broke out of her shell. Isn't that explanation enough?"
"And who created that extreme situation?"
"Me."
"Good. That settles the first question."
Ryuuen-kun was in high spirits, as if savoring a rare delicacy.
His beaming smile—complete with an almost audible nico nico—would strike most people as creepy.
Our orders arrived. He accepted his with the same smile and even carried my dishes over for me.
A textbook example of perfect service.
We each took a sip of our coffee before resuming.
"Second question. You knew the VIP rules and had the closest view of the Dragon group's situation. So why didn't you do anything when things started looking suspicious?"
"I tried. I was about to make a move, but Horikita-san had apparently read everything up to that point, and I couldn't do a thing."
"If you're going to lie, at least make it believable. Your actions during the exam were plain as day."
After the chaos I'd caused, word had spread throughout the grade. Gathering information would have been easy.
But the reason he knew my actions in detail was because there'd been an informant in the Dragon group.
Suzuki-kun. He'd told me straight to my face that he'd report everything. I'd left him alone because his courage deserved respect.
"So who was it that wrecked the exam just to create an unpredictable future?"
"Me."
"Good. That settles the second question."
Ryuuen-kun continued speaking with the same smile.
The sadistic glint gradually filling his expression was starting to look like his signature charm.
He took a bite of his food and went on.
"Third question. That broadcast after the Dragon group ended—that was you, right?"
"Me."
"Good. How do you plan to make up for it?"
Ryuuen-kun propped his cheek on the back of his left hand, as if covering his face.
The smile vanished, replaced by his usual expression.
Class C's crushing defeat in the shipboard exam was due to Horikita Suzune… because she'd grown amid the chaos that had been thoroughly stirred up.
In other words, because I hadn't immediately guessed the VIP even though I knew who it was.
Of course, it was all my fault.
"I was prepared for you to be angrier."
"I let you run free in that exam to begin with. Part of the responsibility for this outcome is mine—I didn't foresee it."
That sense of honor and loyalty. Looking at him, the image that came to mind wasn't the Ultimate Yakuza so much as a kid overflowing with old-school chivalry.
I recalled the New World Program version of him—contrary to his appearance, he'd been brimming with that same manliness.
"Besides, if I can use this failure as an excuse to put a leash on you, it's a cheap price."
"Is that so? I was already planning to follow your orders in the next exam anyway."
"Hah? What's with the sudden change of heart? Feeling responsible or something?"
"Responsible? After something as wonderful as Horikita-san's unexpected growth? I could never feel responsible for that."
"I'd love to call you a massive pain in the ass… kuku, but I'll give you credit for helping Suzune grow."
So why? he continued, steering the conversation back himself after derailing it.
"It's simple. Class unity is necessary, isn't it?"
"That makes even less sense."
"Right now you're the leader of Class C, and my position is more like an equal advisor who can voice opinions to you."
"So what? Even if we're equals, I'm on top and you're below. Even the idiots know that."
He frowned at one eyebrow, unable to see the answer to this riddle.
To someone who believed he could never lose, it was no wonder he didn't notice.
"For a class ruled by violence and fear, if someone starts standing out too much, the others will begin to see that person as hope.
The common people would rather have a hero who works for them than a king who taxes them heavily and rules through power and violence.
And what ordinary people would think next is easy to predict, isn't it?"
"…Hah! So that's it. Eventually they'd start following you, and we'd split into factions like Class A."
Now understanding, Ryuuen-kun threw his head back and laughed.
Class C was ruled by Ryuuen-kun, but it was full of strong personalities and stubborn types.
There were still plenty of students who wouldn't obediently follow him.
For example, Ibuki-san—she'd flatly reject anything she didn't like.
For example, Sonoda-kun—he seemed to see more potential in me than in Ryuuen-kun.
If someone with overwhelming ability appeared who used neither violence nor fear as a new leader figure?
The class would inevitably split into a Ryuuen faction and a Kamukura faction.
Opinions would never align, and we'd be unable to bring out even half our strength. We'd fall behind in every future special exam.
"That's why I'll use this failure. In the next special exam, I'll make them believe I've completely submitted to you. Well, it'll only buy time."
"So the failed Kamukura Izuru has finally joined my ranks—that's the scenario.
Not bad. The fact that even someone with your ridiculous talent became my subordinate would save a lot of unnecessary trouble."
The issue of leadership that had left us trailing Class B would disappear.
Even so, my stance wouldn't change.
To the masses, it would only appear that way. In the end, I'd remain a bystander. What I did wouldn't change from before.
All for the sake of finding an unpredictable future.
"Kuku, but that situation sounds pretty interesting too. It'd be the perfect chance for a rematch with you."
"If the time comes when we can have a proper rematch, I'll look forward to it."
"You've got some mouth. Then I'd better finish the other courses before the main dish arrives."
Ryuuen-kun stood to leave.
I planned to linger a bit longer and was about to call the staff for another drink.
But then I remembered something important.
"Ryuuen-kun, I forgot to mention something."
Uncharacteristically, I stopped him with a serious expression and tone—though both were the same as always.
More importantly, this was a life-or-death matter.
If I didn't rely on him, I might face the greatest crisis of my life.
Ryuuen-kun turned back and waited for my words.
"Ryuuen-kun, please lend me some points."
Ryuuen-kun's face went comically blank. He clearly hadn't expected that at all.
I explained why I'd ended up completely broke.
And he turned down my request.
"It's your own fault for blowing it all. Use your money more wisely. Consider this a lesson."
He even hit me with flawless logic.
Gazing at the cloudless blue sky visible from the deck, I temporarily pushed the point issue out of my mind.
***
Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well. I just wanted to let you know that right now I'm working on a really good and promising fate fanfic. If you're interested in reading it, feel free to give it a try:
[Fate/Max Level Returner]
Synopsis:
What if you took your max-level account and replayed the entire story from the beginning?
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