One o'clock sharp.
As the bell rang, the noisy room gradually quieted down.
However, today's seating arrangement had undergone a slight change.
Karuizawa Kei expressionlessly pushed her chair, leaving the D Class area and heading directly to the sofa where A Class was seated.
Then, to everyone's surprise, she brazenly sat down next to Machida Koji.
"Oh, Machida-kun! Good afternoon!"
As soon as she sat down, Karuizawa Kei immediately broke into a brilliant smile.
"Thank you so much for yesterday! I thought about it for a long time after I got back, and I felt I should thank you properly in person!"
This scene left everyone present stunned.
Especially Manabe Shiho from C Class, who looked at Karuizawa openly clinging to A Class, and immediately showed a disdainful expression.
"Tch..."
Machida Koji was also somewhat flustered by this sudden enthusiasm. He was a typical elite student, accustomed to rational analysis, and clearly lacked experience in dealing with girls who actively approached him like this.
"Uh... Karuizawa-san, this is a discussion meeting..."
"I know!"
"But I just feel safer sitting next to Machida-kun!"
She glanced in the direction of C Class and deliberately raised her voice:
"After all, some'savages' in this room are really scary. Only a strong and handsome boy like Machida-kun can protect me from harm!"
As she spoke, she stared at Machida's face with an adoring gaze.
"Machida-kun, you'll protect me, right?"
Machida Koji's mouth twitched.
Although reason told him this woman was trouble, as a teenage boy, being so admired and depended on by an attractive girl, his male vanity was inevitably greatly satisfied.
"...As long as you don't interfere with our discussion, you can sit here as you please."
Machida ultimately didn't chase her away, merely turned his head, tacitly acknowledging her presence.
"That's great! I knew Machida-kun was the best!"
Karuizawa Kei cheered, then continued to talk to Machida even more brazenly, completely acting as if she were part of A Class.
Natsukawa Sosuke sat not far away, propping his chin with one hand, coldly observing this comical performance.
'How splendid.'
'From Hirata to Machida, a seamless transition. Is this the so-called 'parasitic' survival instinct?'
The more radiant and fawning Karuizawa Kei's smile was at this moment, the more it revealed the extreme fear and emptiness within her.
She was like a vine that must cling to a big tree to survive; once it loses its support, it will immediately wither. For this, she could abandon her dignity, even if scorned by those around her, she would desperately cling to even a single lifeline.
'But... can this lifeline really save you?'
Natsukawa glanced at Machida, who had tacitly accepted Karuizawa's presence, then at Manabe opposite him, whose eyes were ablaze, clearly thoroughly enraged.
'Tonight... there will be a good show.'
...At three in the afternoon, sunlight streamed onto the deck through thin clouds, and the sea breeze, carrying a hint of saltiness, gently brushed against the girl's skirt.
There weren't many students on the deck; most were gathered at the open-air pool on the top floor, or hiding in their rooms enjoying the air conditioning.
Natsukawa Sosuke strolled leisurely along the ship's rail, hands in his pockets. Beside him, Ichinose Honami matched his pace, walking side by side. The sea breeze lifted her pinkish-gold long hair, and a few strands playfully brushed Natsukawa's shoulder, bringing a faint scent of citrus.
"Um... Natsukawa-kun."
Ichinose broke the silence, her voice tinged with irrepressible curiosity, "The thing we didn't finish talking about in the room earlier... what exactly happened with the monkey group?"
Natsukawa Sosuke stopped, leaning against the white railing, holding two freshly acquired chilled juice cans. He pressed one against Ichinose's slightly flushed cheek.
"Oh!"
The sudden cold touch made Ichinose flinch, then she somewhat shyly took the juice, "Th-thank you."
"It's actually quite simple." Natsukawa Sosuke took a sip of juice, his tone casual, "The monkey group's exam ended because A Class submitted the answer."
"Eh? A Class?" Ichinose's eyes widened in surprise, "But... how did they know who the VIP was?"
"Because I told them."
"...?"
The sea breeze seemed to still at that moment.
Ichinose Honami's fingers tightened slightly around the can, and a flicker of bewilderment and wavering instantly passed through her clear eyes.
She naturally knew who the monkey group's VIP was, and she also believed that with Natsukawa's abilities, he would certainly not sell unconfirmed VIP information.
The light in Ichinose's eyes flickered slightly; it was the emotion called 'wavering'.
However, the expected questioning did not come.
The wavering on Ichinose's face lasted for less than two seconds before she regained her composure. She lowered her head, looking at the juice in her hand, and softly hummed, "Mm."
"I see... so Natsukawa-kun did it."
"Aren't you angry?"
Natsukawa raised an eyebrow, a little surprised, "And you're not asking why I did it?"
Ichinose looked up, meeting Natsukawa's gaze. There was not a hint of doubt or blame in her azure eyes.
"If I said I wasn't surprised at all, that would be a lie."
She offered a gentle smile, "But, I trust Natsukawa-kun."
"You must have your reasons for doing this. If that reason can be told to me, even if I don't ask, Natsukawa-kun will tell me proactively. If it's inconvenient to say... then there's no point in me asking."
"Because I know that Natsukawa-kun would never betray me for no reason."
She said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Natsukawa Sosuke looked at the somewhat adorably foolish girl in front of him, and a soft spot in his heart was gently touched.
'I'm really defeated by you.'
"Sigh..."
Natsukawa sighed helplessly, reached out, and gently ruffled her pinkish-gold hair.
"You... trusting others so easily, you'll be easily tricked by bad men in the future."
"Mmm..." Ichinose didn't dodge, instead closing her eyes somewhat pleasurably, like a cat being petted, "No, I won't. This kind of unconditional trust... I only extend it to those close to me."
"Is that so?"
Natsukawa Sosuke's hand paused, then he leaned in a little closer, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"Then what if... the only person you trust unconditionally, was just me."
"!!!"
Ichinose's defenses were successfully breached.
"Na-Natsukawa-kun!"
Her cheeks flushed visibly. She lowered her head in a panic, gripping the can tightly with both hands, speaking incoherently:
"Um... those kinds of words... y-you shouldn't just say them casually..."
Seeing her shy expression, Natsukawa withdrew his hand, knowing when to stop.
"Alright, no more jokes."
Natsukawa's expression became a little more serious, "About the monkey group. The VIP is Watanabe, right?"
Ichinose nodded, her expression also becoming serious, "Yes, that's right."
"Actually, I sold Watanabe's information to A Class to 'cut my losses'."
"Cut losses?"
"That's right. Because the news that Watanabe was the VIP had already been noticed by others."
"Even if I hadn't sold this information to A Class, someone would have reported the VIP's information to the school before the first discussion started today."
"Rather than letting others profit, I might as well earn some extra money."
"So... that's how it is..."
Ichinose suddenly understood, and then a faint sense of frustration welled up in her heart.
(So while I was still thinking about how to protect everyone under these complex rules, Natsukawa-kun had already seen through everything, and even grasped the movements of other classes?)
(The exam has only just begun for a day... Is this the gap between me and him?)
She bit her lip, feeling a little bitter. But soon, this emotion was replaced by admiration for Natsukawa.
"Th-that..." Ichinose composed herself and asked cautiously, "Natsukawa-kun, have you... already figured out the school's pattern for assigning VIPs?"
"Ah, I already know everything."
Natsukawa Sosuke gave an affirmative answer nonchalantly.
"Ev-everything?!"
.....
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