Chapter 103: The Exam, Ends!
The sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the camp in a brilliant orange afterglow. The sky was a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues, creating a stunning scene. In the distance, bird calls drifted from the woods, intertwining with the chatter of students to create a lively atmosphere.
At that moment, Ryuen finally returned, followed by several Class C boys who had come from another spot. Ryuen hadn't forgotten that Hachiman had gone to find the hidden spot in the afternoon, so he made a point of seeking him out.
Hachiman had been waiting. Seeing Ryuen approach, he immediately stood up and walked over, detailing the hidden spot's location and the interior conditions in full, without omitting a single detail.
Ryuen's eyes lit up instantly, his exhaustion vanishing, replaced by excitement. Without questioning Hachiman's information, he pulled out a walkie-talkie and skillfully dialed Katsuragi Kohei of Class A.
Since their phones had been confiscated, Ryuen—just like in the original story—had used the basic points to redeem walkie-talkies. He had one, and Katsuragi had another, specifically for coordination. This was their way of maintaining contact after agreeing to separate their territories between the east and west sections of the island.
Ryuen wore a calculating smile, clearly intending to leverage this hidden spot for a massive profit in points. On the other end, Katsuragi's voice sounded cautious, but he quickly understood Ryuen's intent, and they entered "transaction mode."
After a round of haggling, a deal was struck. For the price of 2 million Private Points, Ryuen sold the usage rights of the hidden spot to Class A. This allowed Class A to scan the card and secure the 50-point bonus. For Class C, this meant gaining 50 points for themselves while pocketing 2 million points easily. It was a win-win for both sides.
Hanging up, Ryuen grinned triumphantly and patted Hachiman on the shoulder with rare praise. "Good work, Hikigaya! I didn't think you'd actually find it. That 2 million points came way too easily! I finally understand the thrill of selling intel."
Ryuen immediately took out paper to draft a promissory note for the 2 million points, planning to have Katsuragi sign it the next morning.
"Is that so?" Hachiman remarked, noticing Ryuen's joy. "But 2 million points compared to the 50 class points seems like quite a gap. Giving another class 50 points for just 2 million is a bit short-sighted."
After all, this was adding +50 points to Class A, his rival. Class A would earn back those 2 million points in less than a year with that bonus.
"For me, these points are necessary right now," Ryuen said dismissively.
Hachiman stopped arguing. Turning around, he noticed Hiyori and Ibuki staring at him with a mix of intensity and curiosity.
'Seriously, ladies? You're listening in now too?'
Since there was nothing else to do, Hachiman didn't mind sharing a bit. Hiyori was using her ability to hear his heart as a tool for the exam, but Hachiman realized he could also use their reliance on his inner voice as a tool for his own ends. Until he needed them to fail based on a wrong judgment, he would continue to provide "service."
'Ryuen's move is indeed short-sighted; Hiyori can see that, though Ibuki probably can't.
Trading 50 class points for 2 million Private Points is shortsighted—unless Ryuen isn't actually that shallow.
There's only one reason he needs those 2 million points so desperately right now: he needs to bribe a traitor in Class A, specifically someone from the Sakayanagi faction, to get the identity of Class A's leader.
If he knows the leader and guesses correctly on the seventh day, all of Class A's spot points will be invalidated. Thus, the 50 bonus points from the hidden spot will return to zero anyway.
So, Ryuen's real plan is to use Class A's own money to attack Class A. That's not short-sighted at all.'
"..."
Hiyori's gaze met Ibuki's. Her eyes sent a clear message: Stay calm, you have to get used to this.
Ibuki looked like she was about to jump up as Hachiman thought this, but she quickly felt Hiyori's hand pressing down on her shoulder.
Ibuki realized she truly could hear Hikigaya Hachiman's heart. But this guy... what he said out loud and what he thought internally were completely different! Out loud, he called Ryuen short-sighted, but in his head, he had completely analyzed Ryuen's true strategic intent!
'How terrifying.'
But this meant they had to utilize this advantage even more. Ryuen was just starting his move, yet everything was already laid bare to this guy!
.
.
.
After a dinner of stir-fried greens and bread made by the Class C students, night fell. A bright moon hung in the sky, illuminating the camp. Several campfires were lit, their dancing flames chasing away the darkness and warming the faces of the students.
Hachiman, feeling refreshed after a bath, headed to the campfire area. He saw Ibuki crouching by the fire, focused on rotating a wooden skewer with a cob of corn. The corn, picked near another spot Class C occupied, was golden and sweet-smelling. Hiyori sat on the grass nearby, reading Jane Eyre by the firelight.
"Hikigaya-kun, come sit here," Hiyori said softly, patting the ground beside her with a gentle smile.
Hachiman sat down and glanced at her book. "You really like that book?"
"Yes," Hiyori nodded. "I love Jane. I admire her independence, her resilience, and her courage. No matter the hardship, she never gave up her dignity or bowed to fate. It's admirable. Have you read it?"
"I have," Hachiman replied, his tone carrying a trace of agreement. "Charlotte Brontë's Jane is powerful. Born into poverty and suffering, she remained kind and dared to fight for her love and against injustice. That courage isn't common. And Mr. Rochester, though cold on the outside, was kind within. Their love is moving."
They chatted for a while, discussing the plot from Jane's childhood to Thornfield Hall. The atmosphere was harmonious, as if the surrounding noise didn't exist.
Their rapport didn't go unnoticed. Ishizaki Daichi, Ryuen's number one lackey, walked over. "Since you two get along so well, why not just join Class C, Hikigaya-kun?"
"Then you could keep chatting with Shiina-san," another added. "Ryuen-boss probably wouldn't refuse."
Hachiman rejected the idea instantly. "No, I still prefer Class B."
"Eh? Why? Our class atmosphere isn't bad," Ishizaki said.
"Ryuen demands points from you, doesn't he? In my class, I get 30% of the class points as a 'leading fee' and another 50% for bringing in benefits. Those are legitimate earnings. You already have one Ryuen; if I came over, do you think your lives would be easier?" Hachiman countered.
The Class C students fell silent. They had already been "taxed" by Ryuen; inviting another "point harvester" like Hachiman would probably leave them bankrupt.
The joke ended there, but Hiyori's finger paused on her book. A thought crept into her mind.
'If only we could buy Hikigaya-kun for Class C.'
His strategy, his calm, his observation—it was everything Class C lacked. With him, Ryuen's plans would be flawless, or perhaps Ryuen would become his lieutenant. Plus, being with him was comfortable.
No need for masks or schemes.
But she knew Hachiman was right. Class C had nothing to attract him. Class B treated him too well. Furthermore, Class B had a real shot at Class A. In this exam, he could have taken many spots, but he chose not to. He had essentially given up spot points from the start.
It wasn't that he couldn't reach Class A; he just didn't want to play that way.
In a normal exam—a written test of average scores—Class C would be at the bottom. The gap between classes was undeniable. Any smart person knew how to choose. Hiyori felt a pang of sadness, and her book suddenly felt dull.
Meanwhile, Hachiman was doing his own calculations. He glanced at Hiyori, his eyes deep with thought.
'Hiyori is impressive. Her reaction, insight, and endurance are excellent. Her big-picture thinking is solid.'
Hachiman began to think: 'If Class C is eventually crushed, it would be a waste to leave her there. Perhaps I should 'buy' her for Class B.'
Ichinose had logic but was too emotional; Hiyori was extremely rational and lacked that emotional baggage. They would complement each other perfectly. If Class B had Hiyori as a strategist, alongside the offensive Horikita and the supportive Ichinose, their "brain trust" would be terrifying.
-
-
-
On the same first night, Class A was also standing firm.
Katsuragi Kohei, following his steady style, had deployed his students into two adjacent spots. The girls were in a cave on the western side, while the boys were at a rocky camp on the eastern side. He claimed it was for "rational resource allocation," but everyone knew he was trying to break up the Sakayanagi and Katsuragi factions, forcing them to integrate while Sakayanagi was absent.
Kamuro Masumi leaned against the cave wall, dazed. She sighed softly.
"Kamuro-san, I'm done washing up. You can go now," Morishita Ai said, drying her hair.
"Honestly, cave life is so boring," Morishita complained, sitting on the hay. "Watching Katsuragi-kun trade with Ryuen and seeing Hikigaya-kun's incredible moves was exciting, but thinking about six more days here makes me feel hopeless. I wish I could be like Class B or D—withdraw and go eat steak on the ship."
Kamuro shook her head. "We can't withdraw. Class A's pride doesn't allow it. And we have to pay off that 52.8 million debt."
A quiet girl, Yamamura Miki, spoke up. "Actually... I think we're doing well. Even without Sakayanagi-san, Katsuragi-kun has stabilized things and made a deal with Ryuen to keep our lead."
"I don't think so," a voice rang out with certainty. It was Shiraishi Asuka, a blonde girl with a cold, refined beauty and a mole under her eye. She was top of the class in academics but very solitary.
"Why do you say that, Shiraishi-san?" Nishikawa Ryoko asked.
"I just instinctively feel things are going too smoothly," Shiraishi said.
"According to data from upperclassmen, many exams have unexpected turns at the very end. We are smooth now, but who knows if someone is working behind the scenes to make all our efforts go to waste?"
Kamuro felt a surge of unease.
She remembered Sakayanagi's instructions. Even in her absence, Sakayanagi had prepared for the possibility of a "traitor" in Class A to act as a sacrifice for later expulsion exams. Kamuro suspected that traitor might be Hashimoto.
-
-
-
In the eastern rocky camp, the atmosphere was heavy. Katsuragi had taken the core members of his faction to scan spots, leaving the Sakayanagi faction members behind to guard the camp.
"This is too much! Katsuragi is doing this on purpose!" a tall boy hissed. "He takes his people to get the glory and leaves us here."
"Well, just treat it as a break," Hashimoto said casually. "Let them waste their energy."
Hashimoto was jealous, but he was also pragmatic. If Class A failed, he'd be saddled with a 1.35 million debt. He didn't want that. But he also knew Ryuen now had 2 million points from the hidden spot deal.
Ryuen wouldn't spend that money wisely—it would be better off as Hashimoto's own reserve for the next three years. Within minutes, Hashimoto threw his conscience away.
He decided that at dawn, he would meet Ryuen.
He would sell Class A's leader identity to Class C.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting