Chapter 118: You Have No Idea About Class A's Feelings of Not Wanting to Fall to Class C!
Sakayanagi's words carried a sting; on the surface, it was a thank you, but in reality, she was expressing her dissatisfaction with the results of the uninhabited island exam. After all, Class A had saddled itself with a debt of over 50 million points. Even as someone who was absent, she had to shoulder a debt of 28,000 points every month.
Hachiman, however, seemed as though he didn't catch her underlying meaning. "It's hardly a surprise; it was just a normal transaction. Your Class A was willing to pay that price for base points, so naturally, I was happy to sell."
"A normal transaction?" Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow slightly.
The smile at the corner of her mouth remained elegant, but her eyes held a hint of dissatisfaction.
"If Katsuragi-kun knew that you had calculated every step from the very beginning, I'm afraid he wouldn't think of this as some 'normal transaction.'
From what I know, your Class B didn't occupy a single spot."
In other words, Sakayanagi had already seen through it—the fact that Classes A and C were able to occupy so many spots was actually bait released by Hachiman in advance.
To this, Hachiman did not respond. He simply looked at her, seemingly waiting for her to continue.
Sakayanagi was in no hurry. Leaning lightly on her cane, she took two steps forward, closing the distance between herself and Hachiman.
The two stood at a corner of the corridor. Occasionally, students passed by, but seeing it was Sakayanagi and Hachiman, they moved aside despite their curiosity.
"Hikigaya-kun," Sakayanagi suddenly spoke, her voice sweet and cute, yet carrying a hint of deliberation. "You said earlier that logically, I shouldn't have appeared here—why is that?"
She looked at Hachiman with curiosity and a trace of expectation in her eyes.
But... expectation?
'Young lady, what are you expecting! You just arrived on the ship, and you're already trying to eavesdrop on my inner thoughts?'
"..."
Hearing this, Hachiman remained silent for a moment. Thus, out of the kindness of his heart, he prepared to give Sakayanagi some emotional value. He quickly transmitted his inner thoughts.
'Why would Sakayanagi appear here? In the original work's VIP exam, she was absent! Logically, although Class A suffered losses, their foundation isn't severely damaged yet, so she should have stayed honestly at the school to wait!'
This inner voice, which seemed to carry a hint of urgency, reached Sakayanagi's ears with perfect clarity.
She was slightly startled, and then a flash of undisguised satisfaction crossed her eyes. The smile at the corner of her mouth became a bit more genuine.
As expected.
Her judgment was correct.
In the "original work," she was absent from this exam, but now, because of her arrival, the plot had changed. And this was exactly what she wanted.
She, Arisu Sakayanagi, was attempting to challenge her originally established, limited, and speechless fate.
Seeing Sakayanagi's mood improve, Hachiman withdrew his gaze and looked at her again, adding, "I'm just a bit surprised. Since you were absent from the uninhabited island exam, I thought you would continue to be absent."
"Surprised?" Sakayanagi tilted her head slightly. Her silver hair swayed gently with the movement. It was a pity she hadn't brought a hat, though she was indeed quite cute regardless. "Is Hikigaya-kun worried that my participation will affect your track record?"
"Just curiosity," Hachiman's answer was watertight.
It was as if he showed no emotion at all.
But Sakayanagi understood. From his inner voice just now, she knew he was actually quite surprised. Yet here he was, pretending to be so calm. Hmph.
Sakayanagi didn't press further, simply watching him quietly. After a moment, she said softly, "Actually, I have my own reasons."
She paused, her gaze dropping slightly as if weighing her words.
"I had a dream," she said.
"A dream?" Hachiman felt that while Arisu Sakayanagi had a bit of a "little princess" aura, she wouldn't come all this way just because of a dream.
One had to know that even if Class A failed the uninhabited island exam, he hadn't let them lose their foundation. After all, the minimum score for that exam was 0; scores wouldn't become negative.
Thus, Class A could still remain Class A.
There was a high probability that Sakayanagi would have stayed at the school. In any case, if left alone, Katsuragi would have lost points for Class A on his own. Then, after the exam ended, she could have taken the stage using Katsuragi's "disqualification" as a reason.
Instead, she arrived in such a flashy manner by helicopter, escorted by Horikita Manabu . Clearly, money had been spent.
"Yes." Sakayanagi nodded lightly, but her tone carried a hint of complexity. "I dreamed that I didn't participate in this exam, and as a result... Class A fell to Class C."
Having said that, she looked up at Hachiman with a hint of helplessness in her eyes. "And just like Ryuen-kun was declaring earlier, the three classes would join forces to besiege us."
"So, tell me, could I afford not to come?"
Hachiman was silent for a moment, then nodded lightly. "I understand."
'Even if Class A dropped to Class C in the original work, that was in the later stages—the result of over a dozen special exams. But now, after only one real confrontation, Class A is becoming Class C, so Sakayanagi can't accept it. She hasn't experienced enough failure yet.'
Sakayanagi gazed at Hachiman, somewhat speechless.
Because she suddenly heard a very annoying way of putting things. She had just been happy because her fate had changed, but now he was telling her that in the "original" future, her Class A would also decline to Class C.
So Sakayanagi Arisu was really going to become "Arisu Sakayana-C."
"Well then." Sakayanagi dazed for a moment before snapping back to reality, donning her elegant smile once more.
"Hikigaya-kun didn't come specifically to see me just to say these things, right?"
"Just checking," Hachiman said. "Since you're here, I'll take the upcoming exam seriously."
"That certainly gives me something to look forward to." Sakayanagi laughed softly, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. "After all, I also want to see to what extent a serious Hikigaya-kun can go."
The two looked at each other for a moment; an invisible aura seemed to clash quietly in the air.
Sakayanagi withdrew her gaze and leaned on her cane. "Then, I'll see you at the exam, Hikigaya-kun."
"See you at the exam," Hachiman said.
Sakayanagi turned around and walked toward the Class A area with slow but composed steps.
After walking a few paces, she suddenly stopped. She didn't turn back, but merely tilted her head slightly, the smile on her lips deepening.
Although the inner voice she heard from Hikigaya-kun today was still rude, he was still "broadcasting" his heart while being completely oblivious to it—and that was exactly what she wanted. It was her trump card for this exam.
With that thought, she continued forward, her pace still elegant and composed, her mood much better than when she arrived.
Hachiman stood in place, watching Sakayanagi's back disappear at the end of the corridor, and then he smiled.
'Because, unfortunately, Sakayanagi-san...
I only came to see you specifically to mislead you.'
As for the dream Sakayanagi mentioned...
Hachiman withdrew his gaze and turned to walk in another direction.
Dream or not, it didn't matter.
What mattered was that the upcoming exam might be very interesting. It remained to be seen what kind of point values the school would release and... what opportunities they would give to deduct points.
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Meanwhile, at the top area of the ship, as the Class A students began to leave following Sakayanagi's departure, Ryuen Kakeru did not leave.
He stood there with his arms crossed, staring intently at the helicopter that had already landed, his face written with displeasure.
The spectacle of Sakayanagi's entrance—the helicopter, the Student Council President personally escorting her, the entire Class A lined up to greet her—every frame made him unhappy. It made him feel the gap in treatment! Although those Class A guys were often proud and had a sense of superiority, he didn't think Class A deserved this kind of treatment.
He turned his head to look at Horikita Manabu, who was heading toward the exit, and suddenly strode after him.
"Hey, President Horikita!"
Ryuen's voice carried a hint of provocation, sounding particularly piercing in the empty top area.
Horikita Manabu stopped, slowly turned around, and looked at him expressionlessly.
Ryuen walked up to him, pointed at the helicopter not far away, and spoke with a tone full of mockery, "Isn't this Sakayanagi abusing the school's budget? Using a school helicopter just to send one person over—if word of this gets out, it wouldn't be good for the President's reputation, would it?"
These words were blunt, even carrying a provocative edge. The Class A students who hadn't dispersed yet stopped and looked over in unison. Then, they looked at Ryuen like he was a fool.
'Ryuen, are you really accusing the Student Council President of favoritism?
How bold.'
Although they were also surprised that Sakayanagi had arrived by helicopter—many of them had never even been on a regular plane, let alone a helicopter.
But Horikita Manabu didn't even flinch. He spoke calmly, "Sakayanagi paid a total fee of one million points for this trip."
He paused, looking at Ryuen with a calm gaze. "If you can also produce one million points, the school's helicopter can likewise be deployed for you. Do you need me to arrange that for you?"
1 million?
Ryuen's face froze instantly.
One million points?
He didn't even have 500,000 in his pocket! Or rather, regarding the previous island exam, he still had the 2 million point IOU from his trade with Katsuragi, but that IOU had already been used to bribe Hashimoto.
And...
Speaking of one million, he currently had a debt of 46.2 million!
"Hah—" Ryuen snorted, suppressing the awkwardness in his heart, and strode away faster than he had arrived. He certainly wouldn't show his embarrassment in front of Horikita Manabu , but the feeling of frustration in his heart grew stronger.
That Sakayanagi brat could just casually pull out a million points, while he, Ryuen, couldn't even produce that much.
He would remember this debt.
'Damn it, I have to make some money in this exam!'
After Ryuen left, the top area gradually returned to peace. The Class A students dispersed one after another. Sakayanagi's arrival had reignited their hope, but it also meant there was more to prepare.
At the very least, they now had to report the situation of the island exam, the possible guesses for the next exam, and intelligence collected from other classes to Sakayanagi.
After all, only by knowing oneself and the enemy could Sakayanagi quickly take over the class's current situation.
After Sakayanagi left, Hachiman continued toward the top area. Standing at the top entrance, he watched Ryuen's hurried departure, a slight curl at the corner of his mouth. He turned to Horikita Manabu, who was preparing to leave, and suddenly spoke.
"President, if you have time, shall we go sit at the bar on the deck?" Hachiman offered an invitation.
Horikita Manabu glanced at him, remained silent for two seconds, and then nodded slightly. "Alright. I'm not heading back until tomorrow, so I do have time."
Thus, the two walked down the stairs side-by-side toward the deck.
Along the way, students occasionally passed by. Seeing Hachiman and Horikita Manabu walking together, their faces showed expressions of disbelief.
"Is that... the Student Council President? Why is he with Hikigaya?"
"Holy crap, why is the President on the ship? Does it have to do with the next exam? Damn, the President just looked at me. I didn't do anything rude, did I?"
"..."
Whispers continued to drift over. Hachiman seemed not to hear them, his pace remaining composed. Horikita Manabu was even more impassive, as if the discussions didn't exist.
It could be said that such small-scale gossip couldn't shake them.
The two arrived at the deck bar, which was much quieter than before. Or rather, upon seeing the Student Council President, students who were originally planning to stay there quickly backed away.
Although many hadn't spoken to Horikita Manabu , there was a sense of a mouse seeing a cat.
Hachiman ordered an iced lemonade and sat in a corner booth with Horikita Manabu . He didn't order anything for the President, since he had just finished a drink.
Horikita Manabu took a sip of water, gazed at the distant sea, and spoke calmly yet with a hint of deep meaning, "Actually, there was no need for me to personally escort Sakayanagi here. Others from the Student Council could have accompanied her."
Hachiman nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"I came along because I wanted to understand the situation of your first-year exam." Horikita Manabu put down his glass, his gaze landing on Hachiman. "Class A got 120 points, Class B 0 points, Class C 350 points, and Class D 50 points. Personally, I think this score distribution is very unusual."
His tone was still flat, but his eyes held a sharp glint, as if he had caught a scent of something.
Hachiman was not surprised.
Horikita Manabu himself was the upperclassman "boss" in the original work, a monster who dragged 39 classmates along by himself. In many ways, he was even comparable to the protagonist, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Given Horikita Manabu 's sharpness, it was impossible for him not to see the tricks behind this exam. Especially since... he had revealed some intelligence before the exam started, yet his Class B still ended up with 0 points.
0 points.
It was indeed ridiculous.
However, Horikita Manabu was Horikita Suzune's brother after all. Hachiman had some experience in dealing with people named Horikita, so he pulled a small notebook from his pocket, opened it, and pushed it toward Horikita Manabu .
"This is what I organized during my review. The layout strategy for the uninhabited island exam and the considerations for every step are in there."
Horikita Manabu took the notebook, his eyes quickly scanning the contents. His brow twitched slightly, then returned to calm.
After just a few breaths, he closed the notebook and handed it back to Hachiman.
"It seems you've already gone over this with Suzune," Horikita Manabu said.
'Hm.'
Hachiman was slightly startled, then realized—Horikita Manabu was saying that the fact he had prepared these materials in advance was clearly for the sake of a specific person. And the one who would need to fully grasp such intelligence—and who would need Hachiman to write it from scratch—was his incompetent little sister.
Horikita Manabu understood his sister's current level very well.
"She was indeed involved," Hachiman didn't deny it. "She was a big help in this exam."
"Is that so." Horikita Manabu raised his glass and took a sip. His tone was still flat, but there was a faint, almost imperceptible sense of relief. "It seems Suzune can actually learn things while she's with you."
Hachiman heard this and suddenly didn't know how to respond.
He couldn't exactly say he was training Horikita Suzune as a future member of Class B, right?
So training her was actually for the sake of his Class B.
Furthermore, he couldn't explain that Horikita Suzune could now participate in various "transactions" without batting an eye, and had even started learning how to act and deceive people. These weren't exactly positive traits; rather, she was starting to be stained black by him.
Thus, he changed the subject. "Horikita-san has already obtained three million points. The goal of twenty million is no longer unreachable."
Three million.
This number coming from Hachiman's mouth, though sounding simple, was enough to shock any student at the Advanced Nurturing High School.
Horikita Manabu remained silent for a moment, his gaze once again turning toward the distant sea.
He didn't speak, nor did he discourage Hachiman. He just quietly watched the blue ocean, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes.
Twenty million points was the way Suzune wanted to prove herself, and it was her desire to support her brother, who wasn't yet strong enough. If there were 20 million, it could indeed help his class.
And Hikigaya Hachiman, a boy even he couldn't see through, was actually helping her approach that goal step-by-step.
Horikita Manabu didn't believe his own class needed his sister to worry about them, or that they needed her points to maintain their Class A position or ensure everyone graduated from Class A.
But, if Suzune could really save enough points to transfer to the class Hachiman was in...
Horikita Manabu withdrew his gaze and lightly held his glass.
Even if she was tricked over by Hikigaya, perhaps it wouldn't be a bad thing.
At least, by Hikigaya's side, Suzune was no longer that lonely girl who only knew how to bury her head in books.
She had started learning how to get along with others, how to think strategically, and even how to... act.
These changes were things he, as a brother, couldn't say directly, but they were things he had always wanted to teach her but couldn't.
While there was nothing wrong with having principles, this world wasn't entirely filled with kindness.
Making appropriate concessions and smoothly integrating was the correct way.
"Hikigaya." Horikita Manabu suddenly pushed his glasses up. This time when he spoke, his tone was still calm but held a hint of seriousness.
Hachiman looked at him.
"I'll leave Suzune to you," Horikita Manabu said. "Whether she ends up staying in Class D or transferring to your Class B, as long as she can learn things and truly grow, that will be enough."
Hachiman nodded. "I understand. I'm a brother myself."
Hearing Hachiman say that he was also a brother, Horikita Manabu said nothing more. Instead, he quickly finished his lemonade and stood up. "I'll be leaving shortly."
In other words, his purpose had been achieved.
"Aren't you going to see your sister?" Hachiman asked.
"......" Horikita Manabu seemed to hesitate for a split second, then shook his head. "The final leader of Class D for the island exam was Ayanokouji, right?"
Meaning, because of Ayanokouji's existence, Horikita Manabu didn't think meeting his sister now would be a good thing.
Although Hachiman felt that Ayanokouji had already recorded their meeting back then and knew Horikita Suzune was the sister of Student Council President Horikita Manabu , and would reveal it at the "appropriate" time to get her expelled.
So, trying to avoid suspicion now was useless.
Horikita Manabu likely guessed as much, but he hadn't yet estimated the extent of Ayanokouji's ruthlessness.
"Then could you spare a moment to see the new member about to join the Student Council?" Hachiman asked as a follow-up.
"Karuizawa?" Horikita Manabu pushed his glasses up. "You really don't hesitate to recommend your own people."
"Well—" Hachiman only made that sound, and Horikita Manabu had already turned and headed toward the cabin. But after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and tilted his head slightly.
"By the way, that small notebook—next time you can let Suzune prepare one herself. If she does the review herself, the effect will be better."
After saying that, he continued forward and soon disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Hachiman watched his back, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Horikita Manabu , as a brother, didn't say it, but he cared for his sister more deeply than anyone.
'Sigh, what a troublesome big brother. He's not like me—I've always been very honest with Komachi. But that also makes Komachi look after my feelings instead. Is that actually not so good?'
Hachiman rare started his daily self-reflection.
However.
Hachiman's gaze fell back on the small notebook in his hand.
'Letting Horikita do her own exam review next time...'
That suggestion could be adopted. After all, hand-holding wasn't as good as letting her try it herself first.
.
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Meanwhile, inside the ship, in a corner of the Class C temporary rest area, Ryuen Kakeru had returned.
He was leaning by the window, squeezing an empty soda can in his hand, his gaze dark as he looked at the sea darkening outside. Having been shut down by Horikita Manabu earlier had made him quite unhappy.
But he really was broke. His current net worth was -46.6 million.
Soon, Ibuki Mio walked in quickly. Noticing that only Class C students were present, she looked at Ryuen and spoke quickly, "Ryuen, I just saw Hikigaya Hachiman and the Student Council President chatting alone on the deck. They were there for quite a while."
Ryuen's hand paused, then he sneered. "That guy really knows how to climb the ladder."
"It wasn't just chatting," Ibuki continued. "The President was looking at Hikigaya's notebook; they seemed to be discussing something important. Many people saw them; I imagine other classes are discussing it too."
Ryuen tossed the soda can into a trash can in the corner; the metal can hit the wall of the bin with a sharp clang. He stood up, walked to the window, put his hands in his pockets, and continued to look outside.
"I'm actually interested in what they were talking about. If I get the chance, I'll go and record them too."
Ibuki was stunned, and her expression turned a bit sour. "Are you crazy? That's the Student Council President!"
"What about the President?" Ryuen turned around, a cold smile on his lips. "No matter how powerful Horikita Manabu is, he's a third-year. After he graduates this year, he'll be nothing. What does it matter if I record him?"
He spoke nonchalantly, as if the Student Council President was nothing more than an expiring title in his eyes.
"What if you're caught......" Ibuki wanted to say more, but Ryuen raised a hand to cut her off.
"What if I am? Expulsion? Threats?" Ryuen's eyes became dangerous. "You think I'm afraid of that? Right now, Class C must be ruthless!"
Ibuki fell silent.
Compared to Classes A and B, Class C's overall strength wasn't great, and Ryuen usually adopted opportunistic or underhanded methods. But if she were to think about it, she couldn't come up with a winning plan either.
At that moment, Ryuen turned his gaze back to the window, his tone becoming serious. "After Horikita Manabu graduates, who do you think that Student Council President position will fall to?"
Ibuki thought for a moment and said uncertainly, "Probably the second-year Vice President? Or... Hikigaya?"
Actually, Sakayanagi had also obtained the qualification to run, but Ibuki instinctively felt Hikigaya might have a better chance of winning.
"Hikigaya," Ryuen repeated the name, a trace of frustration flashing in his eyes. "If that guy becomes President, it will be a true disaster for Class C.
That guy is already so hard to deal with just as a classmate. If he evolves into the President... and gets access to the Student Council's authority, he will absolutely use that power to the fullest. After all, in this school, being able to become President is strength, so abusing that authority is also his freedom." Ryuen paused.
"So that's why you wanted to sell our Class C votes to Vice President Nagumo of the second year?" Ibuki added.
"Nagumo?" Ryuen sneered. "He just lives in a school year without me, and his opponents are all trash. If he came to our first year, he'd only be fit for Class D!"
'Is that... how it is?'
Ibuki still felt, not for the first time, that Ryuen was far too arrogant.
Just then, the phone in Ryuen's pocket suddenly vibrated.
He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and the expression on his face changed instantly.
"What is it?" Ibuki asked quickly, noticing his change.
Ryuen didn't answer immediately. He stared at the screen for a few seconds before slowly speaking, "The lookout sent a message saying they confirmed Class D's Ayanokouji has appeared."
"Ayanokouji?" Ibuki frowned. "That guy who's always hiding behind Hirata?"
"Hiding behind?" Ryuen sneered. "The person who made both Classes A and C fail during the last island exam was him. That do-gooder Hirata doesn't have the guts. And the one who finally attacked our Class C, making all of our spot points invalid, was also him."
As he spoke, Ryuen paused and quickly tapped the screen, sending a command.
"Tell Ishizaki and the others to keep watching; don't lose him. That Ayanokouji guy is definitely plotting something. If this exam involves large point values, then he's a very dangerous competitor. And I... will crush him!"
Watching Ryuen issue commands, Ibuki suddenly remembered something and asked, "What about Class A? Now that Sakayanagi is here, are we just going to leave them alone?"
"Leave them alone?" Ryuen put his phone away and turned to her, a hint of playfulness in his eyes.
"Ibuki, you're still too young. It's a good thing you didn't go to Class D as a spy; I overestimated your IQ. You're too simple."
These words were incredibly harsh, making Ibuki a bit dissatisfied. But Ryuen had already walked to the window and pulled it open, letting the sea breeze blow in.
"With Sakayanagi here, the exam atmosphere will only get more tense. What does our Class C's petty squabbling amount to? The real master spies are over in Class A."
Ibuki was stunned, then realized. "You mean... Hashimoto?"
Ryuen didn't answer, but his silence said everything.
Hashimoto Masayoshi—the person who sold out Class A's leader information during the island exam. That guy's acting had almost fooled even him. If Hikigaya hadn't pointed it out, he would still think Hashimoto was just a common opportunist.
"If that guy could betray once, he can betray a second time," Ryuen said. "However, now that Sakayanagi is here, his situation will only become more delicate. You just wait and see; there will definitely be a good show inside Class A this time. And Hikigaya just went to meet Sakayanagi—do you think now that she's here, Hikigaya will just sit idly by?
Everyone says I'm the one desperate to move up, but in reality, that guy Hikigaya is the most desperate one!"
Ibuki fell silent.
She remembered when she was arranged to be a spy in Class D—intentionally falling out with Ryuen, intentionally being injured—all to win Class D's trust.
The result? Class D had already been bought out by Hikigaya.
She had taken a beating for nothing and gained nothing.
Though she had returned to the Class C area in time to cut her losses, she had also accepted Ryuen's task of monitoring Hikigaya for a week. During that time, Hikigaya's behavior had been extremely honest.
She had thought Hikigaya's 0-point score meant he had given up on the exam, but now she realized she had misjudged again.
'So am I really that simple and easily fooled?'
"Ryuen," Ibuki suddenly spoke, her tone holding a trace of confusion. "What kind of students does this school actually want to produce?"
Ryuen turned to her, seemingly not expecting her to ask such a question.
Ibuki continued, "Having classes compete against each other, using points and scores to stimulate us, while the lower classes have no chance of winning unless they use underhanded methods like yours... doesn't that mean the school even encourages us to use these methods of spying, betrayal, and calculation? And even Class A is going down the path of spies. Is this really producing talent?"
She paused, her voice lowering. "Or does the school just want us to become this kind of... people who will use any means to win?"
Ryuen was silent for a few seconds, and then he suddenly laughed.
There was no mockery or disdain in that laugh; instead, it held a rare hint of seriousness.
"Ibuki, that's a good question."
He walked to the window, leaning his hands on the sill, his gaze fixed on where the sea met the sky.
"I don't care what kind of people the school wants to produce. I don't care how Class A wants to play. I still don't care what that Hikigaya guy is planning."
He turned his head to look at Ibuki, his eyes burning with a searing fire.
"I only care about one thing—winning.
No matter what kind of students the school wants, no matter how crappy the school's rules are, I'm going to win. I'll make Class C climb up and let everyone know that I, Ryuen Kakeru, can pull off a successful comeback. That's what I'm here to do in this school."
Ibuki looked at him, temporarily at a loss for words.
Ryuen withdrew his gaze and looked out the window again.
"As for what you said—what kind of person I'll become, what methods I'll use. Heh, we'll talk about that after I've won."
Because he never cared about the process.
He only cared about the result.
The sea breeze continued to blow outside, carrying a salty tang as it swept through the cabin and off into the distance.
Ryuen Kakeru stood there, his gaze firm, as if he could already see the outcome of the exam three days later.
No matter who the opponent was.
No matter the rules.
He was going to win.
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