After the bus exited the highway, it slowly drove onto a paved mountain road. A forest school was indeed aptly named, truly into the woods.
But I heard there might be wild animals in Japanese forests, hope we don't run into any.
Soon, the bus reached its destination, and its speed gradually decreased.
"Keep hold of your luggage. When you get off, turn off your phones and hand them over."
Okabe-sensei said this, with a cardboard box in front of him.
So, the students started disembarking in order, placing their phones into the cardboard box in front of Okabe-sensei.
After getting off the bus, Kamio Tatsuya immediately felt a chill.
"So cold..." He then looked back at Shiina. "Hiyori, stay warm."
"Okay, I will. See you in the afternoon, Tatsuya."
"Please don't linger by the bus door after getting off. Guys go to the right, girls go to the left to gather."
After a brief farewell with Shiina, the two parted ways according to the school teacher's instructions.
The bus was parked in a spacious parking lot. As soon as they got off, they could see two traditional-style buildings. While I didn't know what the inside was like, they looked large from the outside at least.
"Luxury cruise ship in summer, nostalgic buildings in winter?"
"This doesn't really seem like the scale of a forest school."
Kaneda got off the bus and also exclaimed. Then, Class C's boys walked towards a building the teacher had pointed to.
As soon as they stepped inside, a nostalgic scent of wood filled the air.
"It's entirely a wooden building. Although it looks like it's been here a long time, it's quite well-maintained."
Kaneda started looking around as soon as he entered, even touching the surrounding wood.
The indoor temperature was also much more comfortable than outside, but this wasn't due to modern appliances. Instead, a large stove was placed in the center of the room.
While observing the structure, they followed the directions and soon, Class C students arrived in a very spacious room.
This must be a dojo, right?
I've seen something similar in manga.
When Class C arrived, the boys from Class A and Class B were already there. They all looked over as Class C entered.
Kamio Tatsuya also spotted Kanzaki in the crowd. Of course, the other person noticed him too. After a slight nod, they looked away.
Next, under the teacher's instruction, Class C students started forming lines. Then Class D students arrived, though they were still more boisterous than the previous three classes.
It's amazing they still have so much energy.
Then, the male students from the second and third years also gradually entered and quickly lined up.
"You've already heard about the contents of this exam on the bus, so I won't go into detail. Let's begin now. Please form six groups through discussion within each year.
We will arrange the time and place for forming larger groups at 8 PM tonight. Both forming larger groups and smaller groups will be entirely up to you. As long as it follows the rules, the school will not interfere in any way."
As the teacher finished speaking, discussions began within each year.
The situation with the second and third years is unknown, but among the first years, Class A immediately took action, with the 20 boys dividing into a combination of thirteen and seven.
Then, a boy stepped out from the crowd and spoke to the students below Class B.
"As you can see, our class plans to form a group with these thirteen people here. If we could have one more student join, we would meet the group requirement.
So, we are now recruiting someone willing to participate."
This boy's name was Shinji Matoba. During the Special Exam, he was assigned to Group Dragon and was one of Class A's few strategists, besides Sakayanagi and Katsuragi.
Kamio Tatsuya glanced at Katsuragi in the line. The latter didn't step forward to stop him, just stood there silently.
Heh, looks like this is another of Sakayanagi's ideas.
That guy is truly arrogant, and here someone's already stepping up to be the first bird.
Then, Kamio Tatsuya smiled slightly, just as he was about to say something, someone spoke first.
"Hey, hey, hey, what are you talking about, just making decisions on your own? It's too unfair if it's just you guys."
"Unfair? You can also make the same decision. For example, pick three people from your class and recruit one from another class."
Matoba's words completely bewildered Sudou. He looked at his classmate Hirata in confusion.
"Is that how it is?"
Hirata nodded, indicating that it was indeed so.
Tsk, how could that be the same?
Although saying this might sound like boosting others' morale, the top thirteen boys in Class A and the top thirteen boys in Class D, how could they possibly be the same?
"It seems we've reached an understanding. Our policy is that no matter what kind of group or composition, the remaining seven people from Class A will gladly join."
Matoba said this while looking at Kanzaki's group from Class B.
Heh, this bastard really doesn't take me seriously.
However, Kanzaki hesitated and did not immediately agree to Matoba's plan. Instead, he turned his gaze towards Kamio Tatsuya.
"Shinji Matoba, right? I'm Kamio Tatsuya from Class C, the leader of Class C's male group for this exam."
Kamio Tatsuya stepped forward and greeted him.
Upon hearing Kamio Tatsuya's words, Matoba first glanced at Ryuen. Seeing no reaction from him, he then nodded.
"Kamio-kun, do you have any brilliant ideas?"
"I wouldn't dare claim any brilliant ideas, but I do have some opinions." Kamio Tatsuya smiled. "While I hate to admit it, compared to Class A's elite, the overall strength of Class C and Class D is weaker than yours."
Kamio Tatsuya immediately belittled the abilities of his own class and Class D's boys, which left Matoba somewhat confused.
The students of Class C stirred slightly upon hearing Kamio Tatsuya's words, but seeing that Ryuen remained silent, they all quieted down.
However, Class D erupted immediately.
"Who are you saying is inferior to them? Weren't you also initially assigned to Class D?"
Kamio Tatsuya glanced at the boys from Class D and remained silent. Such ignorant fools, they deserve to die.
"Yes, so I said Class C's strength is inferior to Class A's. Is there a problem?" Kamio Tatsuya retorted, looking at the guy who spoke. "If you don't even dare to admit your own weakness, can you even call yourself a man?"
"You!"
"Calm down, Hondō-kun." Seeing that things were about to escalate, Hirata immediately stepped in to stop him. "Besides, Kamio-kun is not wrong. We, who were in Class D from the start, are in some ways inferior to other classes."
After calming Hondō, Hirata turned his gaze towards Kamio Tatsuya.
"Kamio-kun, please tell us your thoughts."
"Okay, I'll be direct." Kamio Tatsuya had no intention of beating around the bush. "If all four classes follow the thirteen-plus-one model.
Even if we deliberately send out someone to be a burden, the overall strength of a group formed by Class A will definitely be stronger than our class's.
Isn't that equivalent to surrendering directly?"
Upon hearing this, Kanzaki and Hirata fell silent. No one wanted to deal with issues of numbers before the exam even began.
So, Kanzaki asked Kamio Tatsuya, seeking his advice.
"Kamio-kun, do you have a good idea?"
"It's very simple. Let the fifty-nine people from our three classes first form six groups, and then distribute the students from Class A evenly among the other six groups."
Kamio Tatsuya's tone was filled with malice towards Class A.
"That's impossible!"
Upon hearing this statement, the Class A students, especially Matoba, turned pale and blurted it out.
Because if they were grouped like this, the male students of Class A would be finished. Although they wouldn't lose many points, they definitely wouldn't gain many either.
Katsuragi's expression changed slightly. It was coming.
Beside him, Hashimoto opened his mouth, looked at Katsuragi, and then showed a wry smile. He didn't expect Katsuragi's guess to be right this time.
"There's nothing impossible about it. You were the first to propose a strategy, and I'm simply proposing a countermeasure.
Of course, you can also choose not to join us, but if you don't, no class will want to team up with you elites from Class A.
What punishment will you receive then? Will you all be expelled?"
Kamio Tatsuya sneered and then looked at Kanzaki.
"Kanzaki, what do you think?"
"In principle, I agree."
Kanzaki nodded. This would directly eliminate Class A, and with one less strong competitor, Kanzaki couldn't be happier.
He wasn't like Ichinose; he wasn't a do-gooder.
Moreover, Kamio Tatsuya had left them an escape route: they could choose not to aim for victory and join other groups. Even if they were expelled in the end, no one could blame anyone else.
"But are the students of Class D willing to agree?"
Kanzaki then looked at Class D, who were currently waiting for Hirata to make a decision.
"I think Hirata-kun will agree, right?"
As Kamio Tatsuya said this, he also glanced at Yamauchi and Sudou in the crowd, the threat clear.
Hirata looked at Kamio Tatsuya with a complicated expression, then nodded.
"Sorry, Class A students, I have no choice but to agree."
It's over. The students of Class A looked extremely grim. Some were even cursing Sakayanagi in their minds, blaming that guy for devising this flawed strategy, and now, just at the start, Class A was doomed.
No one there even dared to object.
"It seems the students of Class A have no objections. In that case, let's begin.
Kanzaki, Hirata, you each pick two group leaders from your classes and form your teams freely. Combinations like 13-1, 12-1-1, or 11-1-1-1 are all acceptable.
As for the students of Class A, for fairness, let's start with Class D and pick them one by one, how about that?"
Seeing Kamio Tatsuya's blatant plan to divide them, the students of Class A dared not speak out but felt angry. At this moment, they all understood that it was better to be picked.
If they weren't picked, they would be left behind, unwanted.
If that were the case, they would likely be expelled.
"Kamio, how does your Class C plan to form its teams?"
Kanzaki still wanted to refer to Kamio Tatsuya's strategy first.
"Ryuen, what do you think? Shall we form a four-class team and go for a big win?"
"Since you've said that, I suppose I have no choice but to agree." Ryuen adopted Kamio Tatsuya's suggestion and then looked at Kanzaki. "Kanzaki, I suggest you do the same. Your class points are almost enough to surpass Class A, right?"
Ryuen's suggestion aroused Kanzaki's suspicion. Indeed, doing so could increase the maximum point acquisition, but would Ryuen be so kind?
Kanzaki doubted it.
So, he turned his gaze back to Kamio Tatsuya.
"I can only say that Ryuen has no intention of tricking you."
"In that case, let's do the same."
They weren't discussing in secret, so the students from other classes could all hear them clearly.
"Hirata, they've all decided on the 13-1-1-1 combination, should we do the same?"
Hirata thought for a moment, then nodded. He wasn't too concerned about how to group them, but rather about how to choose the other group leader.
"Ayanokouji-kun, can I ask you to be the other group leader?"
"Me?"
Ayanokouji's face showed clear reluctance.
"I will prioritize your group's selection of students from Class A. If they are all excellent students, reaching the average score should be possible."
Hirata's idea was naturally to avoid expulsion first, so he intended to balance the combat power.
"But this way, our class will be even less competitive, right?"
While Class D was discussing, Class B and Class C had already finished forming their groups. Class B's two leaders were Kanzaki and Shibata. Shibata had gathered eleven excellent students from Class B besides Kanzaki.
Kanzaki's group, on the other hand, had slightly weaker abilities.
"Hurry up and decide, Hirata. Class B and Class C have already finished forming their groups."
"Yes, Hirata, I don't want to lose. This time, we could be deducted to negative points!"
"But compared to scoring points, shouldn't we prioritize not being expelled?"
Hirata nodded and then made his decision. He then selected several students from the Class D crowd, Ayanokouji being of course not among them.
Moreover, Hirata remained true to himself. Prioritizing protecting his companions over winning, he effectively gave up on the chance of victory.
"Ayanokouji-kun, I still hope you can be a group leader. If that's not possible, you can even give the group leader position to a student from Class A."
Then, Ayanokouji nodded.
"Since you've finished forming your teams, let's begin. We'll pick from Class D first."
However, just as Kamio Tatsuya finished speaking, he immediately changed his mind.
"Oh, right. The elites from Class A haven't agreed to join us yet."
Then, the male students from all three classes turned their gaze towards the male students of Class A.
"Well? Are you going to join us?"
The male students of Class A looked grim at this moment. Their silence earlier was equivalent to consent, and Kamio Tatsuya's current words were clearly meant to humiliate them.
If Kamio Tatsuya had known their thoughts, he would have given them a round of applause. That's right, it's meant to humiliate you. What about it? Are you unhappy? Hold it in if you're unhappy!
What can you do about it?
"We... agree."
Matoba gritted his teeth, looking at Kamio Tatsuya with hatred, and agreed to Kamio Tatsuya's proposal.
"What did you say? I didn't hear you clearly. Can you please speak louder, Matoba-kun?"
Although Kamio Tatsuya was being extremely excessive at this moment, everyone had seen Matoba's arrogance earlier, so no one stepped forward to speak for him.
"I agree to your proposal to mix all the students from Class A into your groups." Matoba's eyes were red with anger due to the humiliation.
"Oh dear, is this how you ask for a favor?" Kamio Tatsuya deliberately shook his head. "You need to understand, if we don't agree to let you join, the boys from your class will have no choice but to be expelled.
And all of this is because of your own arrogance, Matoba-kun. You alone have put all 20 boys in Class A at risk of expulsion. Don't you think you made a mistake?"
"What does that have to do with me! I was just following Sakayanagi's plan and executing the mission!" Matoba finally couldn't hold back and erupted.
And this was the result Kamio Tatsuya wanted. He wanted to let the people of Class A know who it was that had almost led them to expulsion.
That's right, it was Sakayanagi Arisu who had given the instructions from the beginning!
At this moment, Katsuragi from Class A could no longer watch. If this continued, Class A's reputation would be completely ruined.
Indeed, even with maximum vigilance, it's not enough when facing Kamio Tatsuya.
"I apologize to everyone. I apologize for Matoba's arrogance. All the male students of Class A are willing to abide by the arrangements of your three classes and will not be a hindrance in this exam."
Katsuragi stepped forward, and Kamio Tatsuya immediately lost interest in pursuing the matter further.
Katsuragi was quite diligent when he worked in the student council, so Kamio Tatsuya was willing to give him face. Moreover, his objective had been achieved, so he immediately chose to de-escalate the situation.
Then, he glanced at Hirata, giving him a signal to start picking people.
Next, Hirata looked at the Class A group and undoubtedly chose the most reliable among the male students, Katsuragi Kohei.
After Hirata finished picking, Ryuen stepped forward and looked at Hashimoto.
"Hashimoto, come here."
Hashimoto, with his ponytail, smiled helplessly and walked from the crowd to Class C's formation. Then, Shibata chose Shinji Matoba.
Since Matoba was designated as the person in charge of this exam by Sakayanagi, he must have his own strengths, and the current situation in Class A was not his fault.
It can only be said that Kamio Tatsuya's strategy was too insidious.
Then, Ryuen placed Toki from Class C and an inconspicuous boy into the Class B and Class D teams respectively.
Class B and Class D also exchanged members in return.
By the way, Yamauchi was also sent out. However, the guy stubbornly refused to come to Class C, so he went to Class B's team.
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