Chapter 326 The Undercover Spy in Shimizu's Group / The Baseline of Being Human
Tuesday, 6:10 PM.
Shimizu Akira arrived at the cafeteria. Before he could even grab a tray, he spotted Horikita Suzune already sitting in his usual spot, looking around restlessly. He walked over and sat beside her.
"Suzune, I told you the meeting spot two days ago. Why haven't I seen you once?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, blinking.
"Eh? Didn't I have Sakura Airi pass you a note last Friday?"
"What note? Sakura-san never approached me." Suzune's eyes widened. "I only got Karuizawa Kei's message yesterday, telling me to find you here."
"..." Akira's lip twitched as the realization hit him.
No wonder she hadn't shown up. She never got the note. Given Airi's personality, it was unlikely she lost it.
'Did Kikyo intentionally withhold it?'
Did she decide it wasn't important and just... forgot to pass it on?
He retracted his previous thought—it seemed his girlfriend wasn't just purely doting on him; she still had her little schemes.
Suzune ignored his internal monologue and asked bluntly: "So, did you call me here because you wanted to... be intimate?"
"What is going on in that head of yours!" Akira almost laughed.
"There's nowhere private in this exam facility, and it ends in two days. If I really wanted that, wouldn't I just invite you to my dorm? It has a bed, air conditioning, and actual privacy."
Suzune rolled her eyes. He had a point... Wait! Who said she was going to his dorm!
"I called you for serious business. Your brother will be here in a moment." Akira patted the back of her hand lightly.
"Brother?" Suzune's expression instantly sharpened.
Sure enough, four or five minutes later, Horikita Manabu walked over alone. He glanced at Akira and Suzune sitting side-by-side and chose to sit opposite them.
"Shimizu, what did you need to see me about?"
"Actually..." Akira got straight to the point.
"Tachibana Akane-senpai is having a rough time in her group. She's being bullied, likely by Nagumo Miyabi's design. I thought the three of us should brainstorm a solution."
Akira had thought about it all day and decided to tell the Horikita siblings directly. He was tired of the TV tropes where characters hide key info only to cause a tragedy. In reality, being transparent was the better move. Solving the problem was the priority; he'd worry about whether Tachibana would be upset with him later.
Manabu's expression didn't change, but his eyes turned icy.
"...Give me the details."
"Karuizawa Kei overheard a conversation in the restroom. Senpai is being woken up repeatedly at night and interfered with during study sessions. Her state is deteriorating."
Akira paused. "I suspect Nagumo is behind it."
"Nagumo..." Suzune gritted her teeth. "How despicable."
Manabu was silent for a few seconds.
"Akane didn't tell me."
"Maybe she didn't want to worry you or affect your exam," Akira noted.
"But if this continues, she might be crushed during the final exam, or even forced to drop out due to attendance issues."
"Suzune," he turned to her, "who is the leader of the 3rd-year group in your large group?"
"A senpai from 3rd Year Class B."
"Class B has already become Nagumo's pawns... which means he plans to have that leader 'self-destruct' and take Tachibana with them?" Akira analyzed.
"If that happens, 3rd Year Class A would have to pay 20 million points and 400 Class Points to save her..." Suzune asked worriedly. "Is that what Nagumo wants? Wait, Brother, do you even have that many points?"
"Horikita-senpai, if needed, I can provide the points," Akira interjected. Between their friendship and his current wealth, he could afford it.
"Don't be so tense, you two." Manabu adjusted his glasses.
"I don't go out of my way to earn points, but the rewards I've accumulated for improving school policy over three years total over ten million. Combined with the class's public reserves, gathering twenty million isn't difficult."
"And the Class Points? Won't Class A drop significantly?" Suzune pressed.
"No. If Class B self-destructs to take Akane, Nagumo will surely save his own student as well. Both classes will lose 400 points. Since Class A leads Class C by over a thousand points, the overall ranking won't be fundamentally affected."
"Thus, Akane's concerns were unnecessary from the start. I will save her no matter what. Even after saving her, we will still be Class A."
The former President turned to his sister.
"Suzune, since you're in her group, tell her for me: stop overthinking and just prepare to be expelled. If she can't sleep in the dorm, go to the infirmary. If anyone harrasses her at night, she should fight back. She doesn't need to attend training or even the final exam. Just withdraw."
He then looked at Akira.
"Shimizu, I'll handle Akane's situation. Focus on your own exam. I owe you one for the heads-up. I'm going to find out exactly which girls are in her group."
He stood up and left with a dark, determined expression.
"That's the first time I've seen my brother that angry..." Suzune watched him go.
"Well... Nagumo really knows how to push his buttons." Akira noted.
Manabu's solution was solid. If their rank was safe, Tachibana could just "quit" early and stay in the infirmary where there were cameras and staff.
"If you ever get into trouble, tell me directly," Akira told Suzune.
"Your worry is misplaced. I'm not as foolish as Tachibana-senpai."
Suzune thought to herself that Akira really did like her. She wasn't easy to bully—if pushed, she'd be fighting back with a compass in one hand and a protractor in the other. She only held back around Akira.
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Wednesday. The day before the final exam.
In the afternoon, the school provided time for public speaking practice.
"Seriously! I feel like I'm in a monastery! I see men every time I open my eyes. I've almost forgotten what girls look like!"
"I want to see girls! I want my phone! I don't want to see you guys anymore!"
"Hurray for the end!"
Ike Kanji's exaggerated performance on stage drew roars of laughter. Akira shook his head; the guy actually had a talent for public speaking. At least he didn't have to worry about Ike's score.
"Shimizu, a word?" Katsuragi Kohei approached him.
They moved to a quiet corner.
"Before this exam, Ichinose-san invited me to join Class B. You're the most grounded person I know, so I wanted your opinion."
"...How many people are left in the 'Katsuragi Faction'?"
"Besides me... only Totsuka Yahiko."
"Is Sakayanagi Arisu still targeting you both?"
"She was before, but not lately." Katsuragi smiled self-deprecatingly.
"She probably lost interest."
"It's not that she lost interest," Akira said seriously.
"It's because Ichinose Honami stepped in. Remember the Paper Shuffle exam? Along with the 3 million point bet, she had one 'modest' request. Her condition was that Sakayanagi stops targeting you."
Honami had told him this in the utility room. His girlfriend was doing good deeds in secret again; as her boyfriend, he had to make sure the beneficiary knew.
"Is... is that so? Ichinose-san actually..."
"That's just who she is. I'm telling you, Class B is a good choice. In this school, only Ichinose Honami would drop 20 million points without hesitation to save any classmate from expulsion."
"I can't deny that," Katsuragi whispered. "If I move to Class B, Sakayanagi likely wouldn't bother Yahiko anymore either..."
"Exactly. So, have you decided?"
"The temptation to be in a class with total mutual trust is huge. But... I want to wait until next year to make a final call." Katsuragi looked up.
"Leaving now feels like running away. I want to resolve Ryuen's unfair contract before I go. Also, Nagumo's style of 'meritocracy' suggests there might be exams designed to force expulsions. If I move to Class B now without any points, I might leave Ichinose-san vulnerable if she has to save me."
"I see." Akira nodded.
"That's very well thought out."
Before leaving, Katsuragi added, "Shimizu, thanks again for showing mercy to Class A on the island. I'll give my all for this exam. But regarding Hashimoto Masayoshi... I don't understand his motive for joining this group. I suffered a huge loss because of him on the island. Please be careful."
'Hashimoto Masayoshi...' the "friend" who gave him a flashlight. He was always smiling and polite, but every step he took seemed precisely calculated to align with the winning side.
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Dinner time. The cafeteria was louder than ever, students vibrating with the excitement of tomorrow's liberation.
Akira had just sat down when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see the familiar sunflower pattern—Asahina Nazuna was smiling at him as she sat down.
"Kouhai-kun, why haven't you reached out to me~?" the bubbly senpai teased.
"Because you said the Student Council was busy, Senpai. I didn't want to disturb you."
"Tch, you always have an answer." Asahina pouted, then turned serious.
"Kouhai, do you still have your lucky charm?"
"I do, I do~" She patted her pocket. "I keep it with me."
"Oh! Right! I didn't come here to chat~" Asahina slapped her forehead. "Kouhai, I heard you bet eight million points against Miyabi?"
"Yes. Technically it started with Horikita-senpai, and Nagumo-senpai joined in."
"I knew it..." she muttered worriedly. "Can you really win? This isn't just physical like the sports festival; these exams are different." She glanced nearby and her face paled.
"Crap! Miyabi is coming... anyway, read this note, you'll understand!"
She shoved a slip of paper onto his table and hurried away without eating. Akira saw Nagumo and Kiriyama entering the cafeteria.
'She's quite adorable' Akira thought. A year older, yet so energetic and clumsy.
He opened the note:
There is a spy in your group! I don't know who it is exactly, but I heard it from Miyabi's classmates. To win, you must find them and make sure they take the exam seriously, or you'll definitely lose. I don't think your odds are great... but if you actually beat Miyabi, I'll have a reward ready for my cute Kouhai~
A spy... and another reward? The prize pool was really stacking up.
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8:30 PM.
Akira lay on his bed, surprised to see everyone in the dorm present. It was the first time they were all together since the exam started.
Hashimoto Masayoshi sat up.
"How about we play some poker? The exam is almost over, and we haven't hung out as a group yet."
The school provided cards during the exam, to be returned by 10 PM. Hashimoto had signed out a deck.
"We have eleven people," Katsuragi questioned.
"Even Old Maid would be boring with half the room watching."
"We're not playing Old Maid," Hashimoto shuffled expertly.
"We'll play High/Low. The loser has to confess a secret they've been keeping for a long time." He drew a card.
"Aw, bad luck. It's a 2."
"Anyone else afraid to play?"
"Hmph! You drew a 2, why would I be scared?!" Ishizaki Daichi joined in immediately.
"Ryuen-san?" He looked at Ryuen in the top bunk.
"Sure, I'm interested in your pathetic stories," Ryuen smirked, his eyes flickering toward Akira.
Akira looked at Ayanokouji, who nodded.
"Sounds interesting."
Soon, everyone except Koenji gathered at the table. Since everyone drew higher than a 2, Hashimoto had to go first.
"I played soccer in elementary and middle school," Hashimoto began.
"It was a powerhouse school; we went to nationals every year. I wasn't the ace, but I was a regular. Then I suddenly quit."
"Oh? Interesting," Ryuen's lip curled.
"Caught breaking rules and forced out?"
"I did smoke back then, but I hid it well," Hashimoto shrugged.
"I told the team: 'Everyone is united toward winning nationals, and I don't think I fit because I don't love soccer that much.' But that was a lie.
The real reason was that my analysis showed the team couldn't actually win. Even if we placed, my level wouldn't get me scouted by a top athletic high school. It was my third year, so I prioritized academics to benefit myself."
"You lied to all your senpais..." Ishizaki marveled.
"Sounds self-serving," Miyake noted, "but everyone has the right to choose their path. Maybe you wouldn't be in Class A otherwise."
The next round's loser was Yukimura.
"Actually... I don't like being called Teruhiko. I prefer Keisei. Teruhiko was the name my mother gave me... she was an irresponsible woman who abandoned my father, sister, and me when I was little. I've never moved past it." He sighed.
"That's why I obsessed over the toilet issue during the island exam. It wasn't for the class... it was because I don't trust women. It was my own selfishness."
He continued, "I'm only good at studying. My ankle is still bad, so I'll be a burden in the relay... I'm glad I'm not the leader, or I'd be crying tonight. Ishizaki-kun, Yamada-kun, I know you've been doing extra cleaning to cover for me... thank you."
"Tch..." Ishizaki looked away. "Don't thank me, just don't lag too much."
Albert patted Yukimura's shoulder, then his own chest, signaling he'd handle it tomorrow.
For the next hour, secrets were spilled.
Miyake was a former delinquent; Katsuragi chose the school for the low tuition and regretted not being in the Student Council.
Ayanokouji claimed he came here to "understand the meaning of freedom and equality," which made everyone laugh.
"So..." Hashimoto lowered his head. "Could I ask everyone to give their all tomorrow? I... I've never really tried my best at anything. But for the first time, I think this is a good group. I want to leave a good result."
"Fine!" Ishizaki waved. "I don't want to get expelled, and neither does Ryuen-san. Plus, I owe Shimizu a favor. I'll work my ass off!" Albert nodded vigorously.
Ryuen chuckled but said nothing. Even Koenji, admiring himself in a mirror, lazily replied, "I never go back on my word."
For a moment, the group felt truly united.
"Alright, time to return the cards," Hashimoto stood. "Ryuen-kun, come with me? I have some private business to discuss."
Ryuen frowned but followed him out.
.
.
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Outside the dorm.
"You're quite skilled, Ryuen-kun. You didn't draw the low card once," Hashimoto laughed.
Ryuen snorted. "Don't think I didn't notice, Hashimoto. You drew that 2 on purpose to start the confessions. You're pretty good at cheating yourself."
"I just wanted to fix the atmosphere," Hashimoto shook his head.
"Your Class D students aren't easy to approach. Without the confessions, we wouldn't be united."
"Bullshit," Ryuen sneered. "That 'I never tried hard' speech was just to hype everyone up. Why is a fence-sitter like you suddenly working so hard for this group?"
"I heard about Akira's bet with Nagumo," Hashimoto's tone turned serious.
"I want to help him win."
"Oh? Did he promise you half the points?"
"No, he doesn't even know," Hashimoto said. "I just want to do it."
"Hahaha!" Ryuen laughed as if it were the funniest joke in the world.
"A pragmatist like you acting out of the goodness of your heart?"
Hashimoto smiled.
"Remember the island exam? When Class A and D worked together, Katsuragi made us starve for two days to save points. I was at my limit. Akira suddenly came to the Class A camp and handed me a snack. To him, it was minor, but to me, it was everything. At Christmas, I gave him a gift, and he gave me a fidget spinner."
"Hilarious! A fidget spinner bought your loyalty?"
"No... I liked what he said then." Hashimoto paused.
"'When you're stressed, stop hiding in the toilet stalls.'"
"Pfft! Toilet stalls? You?!" Ryuen almost burst out laughing, then realized Hashimoto wasn't joking.
"...Wait, really? You hide in the toilet when you're stressed?"
"Mhm. I've never told anyone. Akira must have observed it. Between the Katsuragi and Sakayanagi factions, I have no choice, but Sakayanagi gave me no orders for this exam. Akira treats me as a real friend, so I'm paying him back by clearing the traps in his path."
Hashimoto stopped and looked Ryuen in the eye.
"So, Ryuen. You're the spy in the group, aren't you?"
"...Oh?"
"The first night of the exam, I saw you talking to President Nagumo. I couldn't hear you, but the next day, Nagumo made the bet with Akira." Hashimoto's voice was calm.
"I don't know what Nagumo offered you, but I want you to give your full effort tomorrow."
"Interesting. Is that why you called me out?" Ryuen smirked.
"Yes."
"And if I refuse? If I intentionally score a zero?"
"Then Miyake Akito gets expelled. He was the one who pulled you into the group when no one else wanted you. If you do that, Ryuen, even I would think you've lost the baseline of being human." Hashimoto paused.
"But if you agree to try... I can convince Akira to give you a cut of the points afterward."
"Hahaha! Being lectured on 'baselines' by a fence-sitter like you is rich! This exam is full of surprises!" Ryuen grinned wildly.
"Get lost! Mind your own business. You never had the right to meddle in this from the start."
He turned and walked away.
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