9:55 AM.
Only five minutes remained until the deadline Natsukawa had set.
Katsuragi Kohei, sweating profusely, put down his phone. The emergency class meeting over the past ten-plus minutes had nearly exhausted all his energy. Facing the skepticism of Hashimoto Masayoshi and others, and the enormous monthly expenditure of up to 1.2 million points, he had to exert all his authority as a leader just to barely suppress the dissenting voices.
"Hoo..."
He let out a long breath, and on the contract that had been prepared beforehand, he heavily signed his name and pressed his fingerprint, representing Class A.
"It's signed."
Katsuragi pushed the contract toward Natsukawa, his voice slightly hoarse. "Now, give me the information."
"Excellent. I like this kind of efficiency."
Natsukawa Sosuke reviewed the contract, which had already been stamped by the teacher. The contract stipulated that Natsukawa must guarantee the accuracy of the privileged student information provided. If the information was false, Class A could unilaterally terminate the agreement and demand compensation from Natsukawa. Conversely, if Class A learned the privileged student information of other groups during the exam, they were not allowed to report or disseminate the information for the other groups themselves; violators would pay Natsukawa double the points he received. Furthermore, Class A members were forbidden from disclosing the contents of this contract in any way, with violators facing expulsion.
After confirming the contract was correct, Natsukawa put it away with satisfaction. He glanced at the time, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"To prevent my roommate from reporting it, I'll tell you the privileged student of the monkey group first."
He held up one finger. "The privileged student of the monkey group is Class B's Watanabe Norihito."
"Watanabe?"
Katsuragi paused for a moment, then, without hesitation, immediately picked up his phone and sent an instruction to his trusted subordinate who was already waiting in the Shen group.
[Send Answer: Watanabe Norihito. Immediately.]
Every second after the message was sent felt incredibly long.
Barely a minute passed.
[Ding—]
Natsukawa's and Katsuragi's phones simultaneously received an all-staff notification email from the school.
[Notice: The privileged student for the Shen (monkey) group has been guessed. The exam for this group has concluded early. Relevant students do not need to participate in further discussions and should refrain from disturbing other students currently taking the exam.]
"We made it..."
Katsuragi looked at the phone screen, and his tense shoulders finally relaxed.
Natsukawa Sosuke picked up the memo paper on the table and quickly scribbled down a string of names.
"Chen (Dragon) Group—Kushida Kikyo (Class D)."
"Wu (Horse) Group—Minami Setsuya (Class D)."
"Yin (Tiger) Group—... (Class C)"
"Wei (Goat) Group—... (Class C)"
"Xu (Dog) Group—... (Class C)"
Natsukawa tore off the finished memo and gently pushed it toward Katsuragi.
Katsuragi took the flimsy strip of paper. This was not just a piece of paper; it was Class A's hope for a reversal, and also the heavy debt they would have to bear every month in the future.
However, when his gaze swept over the first two names, he was somewhat surprised.
"Kushida? Minami Setsuya?"
Katsuragi looked at Natsukawa, confusion in his eyes. "These two... they're from your Class D! Horikita... she's selling out people from her own class?"
"This is a 'necessary sacrifice' for the greater good."
Natsukawa Sosuke spouted nonsense without batting an eye. "Moreover, it's also using your hand to deal with internal unstable elements. You could call this Horikita's plan to kill two birds with one stone."
...
Katsuragi fell silent.
He looked at the list in his hand, feeling that it was stained with calculation and cold blood. But he was not the type to poke his nose into other people's business; Class D's internal strife had nothing to do with him. He just needed to ensure Class A won.
"I understand."
Katsuragi solemnly placed the memo paper into his inner pocket. "It's been a pleasure working with you. The points will be transferred as scheduled at the beginning of next month."
"The pleasure is mine, Boss Katsuragi."
"Well then, I won't interrupt your victory celebration."
...Walking out of the tearoom and down the thickly carpeted corridor of the cruise ship.
Natsukawa Sosuke's steps were so light he seemed ready to fly. His usual calm and reserved demeanor was completely gone, replaced by an arrogant gait that recognized no one.
Awesome!
This is too awesome!
He couldn't help but want to perform a military fitness routine in the empty corridor to celebrate.
Twenty million! That was a full twenty million points!
Since the first day he transmigrated, this massive debt had been like a great mountain pressing down on his chest, suffocating him. The reason he had painstakingly calculated, strategized, and acted as the mastermind was, ultimately, all for this money.
And now, with the signing of this long-term contract with Katsuragi, plus the income he was about to receive from Ichinose.
That great mountain had finally been moved!
'Being debt-free is so liberating! I finally understand what it feels like to pay off a mortgage.'
'Starting today, as long as I don't court death and get expelled, I can live a worry-free, god-like existence in this school!'
Humming an unknown tune, Natsukawa Sosuke floated all the way back to the dorm.
"Beep—"
Swiping the card, opening the door.
The main light in the room wasn't on; only a bedside lamp was lit, making the light somewhat dim.
Ayanokoji was off observing humans somewhere, and Kōenji was also nowhere to be seen.
Only Hirata Yosuke was there, sitting on the edge of his bed.
He rested his head in his hands, his body leaning slightly forward, enveloped in a shadow of low pressure. Hearing the door open, he slowly lifted his head. His face, usually adorned with a gentle smile, was now etched with fatigue and worry.
"Ah... Natsukawa-kun, you're back."
Hirata's voice was soft, conveying a deep sense of powerlessness.
However, Natsukawa Sosuke, currently at the peak of his life and suffering from an overdose of dopamine, did not immediately sense the heavy atmosphere.
"Yo, Hirata."
Natsukawa's tone was so light it was almost floating. "Why the long face? Still troubled about Karuizawa?"
"Just look on the bright side. That kind of girl only ever treated you as a useful host anyway. Since she decided to break it off, isn't that a form of liberation for you?"
The moment the words left his mouth.
The air suddenly went quiet.
Natsukawa Sosuke's hand, holding the cup, abruptly froze.
Damn it.
I got too carried away and let my tongue slip.
He subconsciously looked at Hirata, his mind rapidly devising a way to backtrack.
However, contrary to his expectations.
Hirata Yosuke did not show shock, nor did he loudly refute, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
He merely looked at Natsukawa quietly, a flash of "I knew it" comprehension passing through his eyes.
"...Natsukawa-kun, you are truly not an ordinary person."
Hirata gave a wry smile, lowered his head again, and stared at his palms.
"Everyone in the class clearly thought Karuizawa-san and I were a loving couple, and even I worked hard to play the role of a good boyfriend. But... in Natsukawa-kun's eyes, all that acting must have been quite clumsy, right?"
Natsukawa Sosuke was silent for a moment, then simply put down his cup and shed his flippant demeanor.
"When did you figure it out?"
"Actually... I started having suspicions as early as the deserted island exam."
"Although Horikita-san is excellent, and I admire her initiative, some things were simply too contradictory."
"First, the choice of the campsite. Horikita-san was not on the deck when the cruise ship circled the island, yet she was able to lead us directly to that perfect cave base. It was as if... she knew from the very beginning that it was suitable for camping."
"Then, Horikita-san spent almost the entire time inside recuperating and had no opportunity to interact with others. Yet, in the end, she accurately guessed the leaders of Class A and Class C."
"Finally, and the point that convinced me the most..."
Hirata looked directly into Natsukawa's eyes, his tone firm.
"It was her gaze."
"Horikita-san is a very proud person; she never used to care about what others thought. But on the island, whenever a decision had to be made, she would subconsciously look at you."
"That look wasn't directed at a classmate; it was seeking advice, confirming whether she had made a mistake."
"Although it was very subtle, I constantly observed everyone in the class, so I noticed it."
At this point, Hirata sighed softly.
"Coupled with what you just said... I think the person who has been guiding all of this from behind the scenes is actually you, Natsukawa-kun."
Clap, clap, clap.
Natsukawa Sosuke couldn't help but applaud.
"Impressive," he praised sincerely. "You truly live up to your name, Hirata."