Meeting Room A was designed with a suffocating minimalism. A round wooden table sat in the center, surrounded by chairs that were comfortable enough, yet felt like interrogation seats for those hiding secrets.
Inside the room, fourteen students from four different classes sat facing one another. There were no windows to open, only the soft hum of the air ventilation system, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere.
The Aries Group.
Its composition was dominated by intellectuals and pragmatists.
Katsuragi Kohei from Class 1-C (formerly A) sat with his arms crossed over his chest, his posture as solid as a fortress. Beside him, Kanzaki Ryuji from Class 1-A (formerly B) observed every participant with eagle-like eyes.
And sitting among them was Yukimura Teruhiko from Class 1-B.
Yukimura's heart was racing, hammering against his ribs in a painful rhythm. His sweaty hands were hidden beneath the table, gripping the fabric of his uniform trousers.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
Just a few minutes ago, he had received the email.
[YOU ARE THE VIP]
Out of all the students in the Aries Group—the calm Katsuragi, the sharp Kanzaki, or even the apathetic Ibuki—the system chose him.
Yukimura was a student who prided himself on his academic abilities. He had scored high marks on the midterm exams (ranking 4th in the class), losing only to monsters like Koroizumi and Horikita (he refused to count Kouenji). However, when it came to deception and acting? He was a complete amateur.
He felt as though the word "VIP" was stamped clearly across his forehead.
"Alright," Katsuragi's deep voice broke the agonizing silence.
Katsuragi surveyed the table with a naturally authoritative gaze.
"Our discussion time is limited. Let us speak of efficiency. I assume you have all read the rules."
"Of course," Kanzaki replied calmly. "The rules are designed to tempt us into betrayal."
"Exactly," Katsuragi nodded. "There are three scenarios. But mathematically and logically speaking, there is only one scenario that guarantees a profit for all parties without the risk of ruin."
Katsuragi held up one finger.
"Scenario 1. We all agree not to guess who the VIP is until the time expires. By doing so, we all receive 500,000 Private Points. Classes A, B, C, and D... no one loses Class Points. The status quo is maintained, and our wallets grow thicker."
It was the "Defensive-Opportunist" strategy ordered by Sakayanagi, although to Katsuragi, this was purely a matter of stability.
"I agree," said Sumida Makoto from Class A. "Class A also desires a peaceful outcome."
Ibuki Mio from Class D clicked her tongue, leaning back harshly in her chair. "Boring. But Ryuen told us not to do anything. So whatever."
All eyes turned to the representatives of Class B. Yukimura, Minami, and Ishikura.
"W-we agree too," Minami said quickly.
However, Kanzaki wasn't looking at Minami. His sharp eyes were locked onto Yukimura.
There was something off about Yukimura. The bespectacled student was usually vocal and confident about his opinions. But today, he was quiet. His eyes avoided direct contact. There was a bead of sweat on his temple, even though the room was comfortably cool.
Kanzaki, as Ichinose's right hand, had been trained to read situations. His instincts—honed by the vigilance of their "Benevolent Pragmatism"—began to kick in.
"Yukimura," Kanzaki called out suddenly.
Yukimura jolted in surprise. "W-what?"
"You look tense," Kanzaki stated flatly. "Katsuragi just offered a peaceful solution that benefits everyone. Why are you sweating?"
The atmosphere in the room shifted drastically. Kanzaki's words were like a needle dropping in a silent room.
Katsuragi turned his head, fixing Yukimura with a probing stare. Ibuki sat up straighter, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"I... I'm not sweating," Yukimura deflected, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. Unluckily for him, his hand was damp.
"You're nervous," Kanzaki pressed. He harbored no ill intent, but he needed to be certain. "Is it because you're hiding something? Are you... the VIP?"
The question hung heavily in the air.
If Yukimura was exposed now, Class B was finished.
If Kanzaki or anyone else submitted a guess right now, Class B would lose 50 class points. The gap between them and Class A would widen once more. Koroizumi's efforts on the island, his perfect scores... it would all be for nothing, all because of his nervousness.
The pressure squeezed Yukimura's chest. He felt like he was suffocating. He wanted to run. He wanted to confess just to make the pressure disappear.
No. Don't.
A memory flashed through Yukimura's mind. A memory from the night before, while he was studying in Seiji Koroizumi's room.
Flashback: Room 401
"Koroizumi, what if I get chosen as the VIP?" Yukimura asked anxiously. "I'm not good at lying. My face always gives me away."
Seiji, who was eating a pudding, smiled casually.
"That is because you're a good person, Keisei. But remember this: Smart people like you tend to try and cover up their fear with silence or logical arguments. And the moment your argument falters, people will know you're lying."
"Then what should I do?"
"Don't cover your fear with logic," Seiji said, his eyes flashing sharply. "Cover your fear with fury."
"Fury?"
"Yes. Humans are tolerant of anger. If someone accuses you, do not defend yourself. Get angry because your pride has been wounded. Get angry because you feel you are being treated like a fool. An explosive display of emotion will scramble the opponent's lie-detection radar. They will back off out of fear of offending you, not out of suspicion."
Back to the Aries Room.
Kanzaki was still staring at him. Katsuragi was waiting for him to speak.
Yukimura took a deep breath. He recalled the frustration of constantly losing to Seiji and Horikita. He recalled his pride as an academic elite.
And he let that fear burn into rage.
SLAM!
Yukimura slammed both hands onto the table. The sound echoed loudly, making Ibuki and several other students jump in surprise.
Yukimura stood up, his face flushed bright red, his breathing heavy. He pointed a trembling finger right at Kanzaki's face.
"DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE ME, KANZAKI!" Yukimura roared.
Kanzaki was stunned, leaning back slightly. "Huh?"
"You think I'm nervous because I'm the VIP?! Are you joking?!" Yukimura barked, channeling every single ounce of his anxiety into the volume of his voice.
"I'm nervous because I'm surrounded by people who used to look down on my class! Class B! The class you all used to call 'defective'!"
Yukimura glared at Katsuragi, then at Kanzaki.
"You think just because you're from Classes A and C, you can interrogate me however you please? I'm sweating because I'm angry! I'm angry because you still think we're weaklings you can back into a corner!"
His acting—or rather, the misdirection of his genuine surge of emotion—felt incredibly real.
"If you want to guess that I'm the VIP, go ahead and guess right now! Send the email! But if you're wrong, and your class loses 50 points because of your arrogance, do not blame me!" Yukimura challenged.
Silence enveloped the room.
Kanzaki fell silent. His analysis faltered.
Yukimura's expression... that was not the expression of someone terrified of being caught in a lie. That was the expression of someone whose pride had been trampled upon. Pure, unadulterated anger.
Kanzaki knew Yukimura was the type who took immense pride in his academics. A baseless accusation could very well trigger a reaction like this.
"I apologize," Kanzaki said finally, lowering his gaze. "I did not intend to belittle you, Yukimura. I was merely being cautious. Class A does not wish to lose points either."
"Tch," Yukimura sat back down roughly, turning his face away. His chest was still heaving. "Keep your caution to yourself. I am not the VIP. I just want this stupid exam to be over so we can all get our points."
Katsuragi let out a long sigh, mediating the tension.
"That's enough. Kanzaki was too aggressive, and Yukimura was too sensitive. But this proves one thing: distrust will only lead us to ruin."
Katsuragi looked at all the members of the group.
"Let us agree on this right now. We will not try to ferret out the VIP among us. We will spend these discussion periods chatting casually, playing cards, or sleeping. Anything but discussing the exam. Agreed?"
"Agreed," Kanzaki answered.
"Whatever," Ibuki muttered.
"Fine," Yukimura said curtly, still maintaining his angry persona.
Beneath the table, Yukimura's hands were still trembling. But this time, it wasn't out of fear. It was from the residual adrenaline.
I did it, Yukimura thought to himself. Thank you, Koroizumi.
The iron wall of the Aries Group had been established. And behind it, Class B's VIP hid safely behind a mask of fury crafted by his teacher.
Seiji's Absolute Defense Strategy had passed its first test.
.....................................................................
If the Aries Group was an interrogation room and the Taurus Group was an awkward hotel lobby, then Meeting Room D—the base of the Cancer Group—felt like an enclosure at the zoo where a vicious predator was locked inside with its prey.
Ryuen Kakeru sat in his chair in an incredibly disrespectful manner: both feet kicked up onto the table, his body leaning far back, and a wide smirk adorning his face.
However, unlike his former self, that smirk did not radiate pure sadistic joy. It was a defensive smirk. The smirk of a wolf that had just barely survived a hunter's trap and was now glaring at the world with a paranoid wariness.
Across the table, Horikita Suzune sat upright like an ice statue. She did not look away from Ryuen, refusing to be intimidated.
"Kukuku... Suzune," Ryuen's raspy, low voice broke the silence. "You're glaring at me like you want to kill me. Are you still mad about that campfire?"
"I do not waste emotion on things that are already in the past, Ryuen-kun," Suzune replied flatly. "I am merely monitoring potential threats. In this room, you are the only unstable variable."
"Unstable?" Ryuen chuckled softly. His eyes swept over the other members of the group.
The Cancer Group was a fascinating mix.
There was Yahiko Totsuka from Class C (Katsuragi's faction), who looked incredibly uncomfortable sitting in the same room as Ryuen. There were Sudou Ken and Ike Kanji from Class B, staring at Ryuen with open hostility, ready to pounce if their boss (Suzune) gave the signal.
And there was Manabe Shiho and her friends from Class D.
Ryuen's eyes stopped on Manabe.
The girl sat in the corner, surrounded by her clique. Usually, Manabe was the loud type of girl, fond of bullying the weak and asserting her dominance.
But today, Manabe was quiet.
Her hands shook as she held her mineral water bottle. Her eyes darted wildly, avoiding eye contact with anyone—especially Ryuen.
Beep.
Ryuen picked up on the signal.
It wasn't just fear of him. All Class D students feared him, that was normal. But Manabe's fear had a different flavor to it. It was the fear of someone holding a bomb that could explode at any given moment.
You're the VIP, aren't you? Ryuen thought.
The deduction took only a matter of seconds. Manabe was mentally weak. She couldn't handle the burden of a secret this massive. The sweat on her neck, the way she gripped her skirt, and the fact that she hadn't dared to speak a single word since entering the room... it all screamed "I AM THE TARGET".
Ryuen lowered his feet from the table. He leaned forward, staring straight at Manabe.
"Oi, Manabe," Ryuen called out.
Manabe jolted violently, spilling a bit of water from her bottle. "Y-yes, Ryuen-san?"
"You look pale. Are you sick?" Ryuen asked, his voice carrying an unreadable tone—somewhere between fake concern and a veiled threat.
"N-no... I... I'm just cold from the AC..." Manabe stammered.
"Hoo... cold," Ryuen repeated.
A wicked scenario began to form in Ryuen's head.
He knew the rules: classmates could not guess the VIP to earn the attacking points. Therefore, Ryuen couldn't guess Manabe to instantly secure the 500,000 Private Points and the +50 Class Points.
But, he could sell Manabe out.
He could hint to Horikita or Yahiko that Manabe was the VIP. If Class B or C guessed correctly, Class D would lose 50 class points.
Why would I do that? Ryuen thought. That hurts my own class.
But the destructive side of him whispered: Because it's fun. Because seeing the look of absolute despair on Manabe's face when she realizes her own boss sold her out is top-tier entertainment.
Furthermore, Ryuen could use this information to personally blackmail Manabe later. "Transfer your 500,000 points to me, or I leak your identity."
Ryuen opened his mouth, ready to deliver a snide remark that would back Manabe into a corner.
However, suddenly, an image flashed through his mind.
The image of a rocky north beach. A blood-red sunset. And a pair of pitch-black eyes staring at him with an aura of absolute death.
"True power is restraint, Ryuen."
Seiji Koroizumi's voice echoed in his ears, crystal clear and infuriatingly annoying.
Ryuen froze.
If he destroyed Manabe right now... if he caused Class D to lose even more points... would that prove he was strong?
No. It would only prove he was a mad dog incapable of learning. It would prove Seiji right: that he was nothing more than a child screaming for attention.
And Ryuen hated it when Seiji was right.
Moreover, Ryuen realized something else. Koroizumi must have already calculated this. He must have anticipated that Ryuen would be placed in the same group as his own classmate.
Is this another test from you, Monster? Ryuen thought, grinding his teeth. You want to see if I'll chew off my own leg when I'm hungry?
Ryuen closed his mouth again. He took a deep breath, suppressing his impulsive urge to destroy everything.
He leaned back in his chair again, returning to his relaxed posture.
"The AC is indeed a bit too cold," Ryuen stated flatly, shifting his gaze away from Manabe. "If you're cold, put your jacket on. Stop annoying everyone else with your shivering."
Manabe let out a sigh of relief so loud it could be heard across the room. "Y-yes! I'm sorry, Ryuen-san!"
Suzune, who had been observing the interaction with her eagle eyes, narrowed them slightly. She saw Manabe's fear. She saw Ryuen's sudden aggression recede.
Suzune was intelligent. She could put the puzzle pieces together.
Manabe is the VIP, Suzune concluded internally. And Ryuen knows it. But he's... protecting her?
This was not the Ryuen she knew from the island. The Ryuen from the island would have exploited that weakness for his own sadistic pleasure, even if it harmed his class in the long run.
The current Ryuen... he was holding back.
"So," Ryuen said, staring up at the ceiling in boredom. "This discussion is trash. I don't give a damn who the VIP is. You guys wanna play cards or something?"
Yahiko and the students from the other classes exchanged confused glances at the tyrant's sudden change in attitude.
"Are we agreeing on Scenario 1?" Sudou asked, still on guard.
"Whatever," Ryuen answered. "Just don't interrupt my nap."
He closed his eyes, pretending to sleep. But beneath his eyelids, his brain was working in overdrive.
He had chosen the Ceasefire.
Not because he cared about Manabe. Not because he wanted peace.
But because he wanted to observe.
He wanted to see how Horikita would move. He wanted to see how the other classes would react. He wanted to gather as much data as possible before he launched his counterattack against Seiji Koroizumi in the future.
Enjoy this fake peace for now, Koroizumi, Ryuen thought from the dark depths of his mind. I won't bite your bait this time. I'll wait until you let your guard down, and when that happens... I won't use my fists. I'm going to use something far more painful.
In the Cancer Room, the tension settled into an awkward silence. Manabe was safe, at least for this first session, all thanks to the ghost of a teacher haunting her king's mind.
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