"Why is this thing moving so slowly...?" I muttered as I glanced down at the sea while reading my book beside the railing.
It was a warm summer day, filled with the lively atmosphere of students scattered all over the luxury cruise ship as it made its way back toward the school.
What truly annoyed me was how slow it was sailing.
Couldn't it move any faster?
I wanted to get back to my room already.
I was about to lose my mind from sleeping in a shared cabin.
Where's the captain?
I want to have a word with him.
I took out the small book I kept in the inside pocket of my blazer near my chest and tried to kill some time, hoping it would somehow pass faster until I found myself back at school.
My eyes moved smoothly from line to line, completely focused on the contents of the pages.
There was no one around me.
Only the cries of seagulls blending together with the sound of the waves, creating the perfect atmosphere for peace and reading.
If they'd let me sleep here instead, that would be even better.
---
"Attention, all students. A special exam will begin soon. Every student will receive an email from the school. Please check your phones and follow the instructions you receive."
The announcement echoed throughout the entire ship, shattering the silence around me.
The book nearly slipped from my hands into the sea before I tightened my grip.
Another exam...
Why now?
Aren't we supposed to be on vacation?
Tch...
This is like being given written exams in the middle of your beloved summer break.
I just wanted to rest...
A notification tone I had never heard before came from my phone.
I thought it was on vibrate.
I put the book back into my shirt pocket before taking out my phone to check the email.
I opened the message from the school.
«Regarding the special exam, all students are requested to report to their assigned room at the designated time. Any student arriving more than ten seconds late may be subject to penalties...
Please report to Room 508 by 6:00 PM today.»
I gritted my teeth.
With no choice left, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and headed toward my room to change clothes.
I wonder what kind of trouble is waiting for us this time.
---
I stood in front of Room 508 and checked my phone.
5:56 PM.
There was still time.
Leaning against the wall beside the door, I stared blankly at the ceiling while waiting.
The strange thing was...
No one else had arrived.
I still wondered what was inside.
Or if there was even anyone inside at all.
As soon as the clock struck six, I silenced my phone and stood in front of the door, staring at the button from the corner of my eye.
Should I knock before entering?
Or just go in?
Hmm...
What if someone is changing clothes on the other side?
I reached out and gently pressed the button.
The chime echoed behind the door.
A cheerful woman's voice answered.
"Come in."
That's strange...
Every instinct I have is telling me to stay away from this room after hearing that voice.
My trembling hand slowly reached for the handle before opening the door.
A softly lit room appeared before me, furnished like the conference rooms you see in movies.
Something worthy of a first-class cruise ship.
The moment I stepped inside, my eyes landed on a woman wearing a pink blouse and a bright smile.
As expected.
Hoshinomiya-sensei.
Two girls sitting at the same table turned toward me.
One had long brown hair.
The other had long blue hair...
And an unmistakably feminine figure...
Ahem.
Looks like I'm the last one to arrive.
Meanwhile, the third girl paid me no attention at all, staring straight ahead with her long black hair draped over her shoulders.
"Ah, Hikigaya! Come in, come in," Hoshinomiya-sensei said cheerfully while clapping her hands.
Yukinoshita immediately turned toward me after hearing my name, confusion written across her face.
She's probably only thinking about the special exam.
I didn't recognize the others.
I think this is the first time we've met.
They're probably from other classes.
I walked toward the conference table and looked for the empty seat.
The blue-haired girl had already taken the seat beside Yukinoshita.
The only one left was directly across from Yukinoshita, next to the brown-haired girl.
As I approached the chair, I felt the girl watching me.
Her eyes weren't looking directly at me, yet she was clearly observing everything I did.
She's probably wondering...
"Why do I have to sit next to someone this disgusting...?"
Well...
I understand how she feels.
It would be better if I kept my distance.
I quietly pulled my chair a little farther away from her.
Suddenly...
I felt a frightening smile coming from my right.
That teacher...
I immediately pushed my chair back into its original place before quietly sitting down.
Sorry.
But I'd rather not get too close to Hoshinomiya-sensei.
She deliberately puffed out her cheeks at my reaction before returning to the papers spread across the table.
"Alright. Since everyone is here, let's begin explaining the rules of the special exam. But first, make sure your phones are on silent. We don't want any interruptions," Hoshinomiya-sensei said.
I glanced sideways at the clock hanging on the wall.
Exactly six o'clock.
Yukinoshita remained perfectly still while the other two girls took out their phones to make sure they were muted.
"You'll be divided into twelve groups. Each group will have a Zodiac name," she explained while sliding a sheet listing fourteen names across the table.
"Your group is... the Boar Group."
She smiled mischievously.
The four of us briefly glanced at the paper before focusing on the teacher again.
"Each group will consist of either three or four students from every class."
So every group contains students from all four classes.
Wait...
Does that mean these two girls are actually from my class?
It's fine.
I'll pretend I knew that from the beginning.
"But... aren't they our rivals...?" the blue-haired girl quietly muttered.
Fair question.
Anyone would ask that.
Why are we being grouped together with students from other classes?
What's the point?
"In this exam, the entire group must cooperate, and the exam result applies to the whole group. The exam lasts three days, with one rest day in between."
So we'll be working together with students from the other classes for three days.
Sounds exhausting.
Especially if Ryuen's class or Sakayanagi's class is involved.
"At exactly 8:00 AM, each group will receive an email designating one member as the VIP. The group will meet twice a day to discuss and determine who the VIP is. Thirty minutes after the exam ends, you'll email your answers to the school. Each student may submit only one answer, and naturally, the VIP is forbidden from submitting one. Attendance at every discussion meeting is mandatory. No absences or late arrivals are permitted."
So thirteen people have to work together to identify the one VIP among them.
What an unfair game...
But how exactly will the VIP be chosen?
"Sensei, how will the VIP be selected?" Yukinoshita asked, raising her hand.
"I'm afraid I can't answer that question," Hoshinomiya-sensei replied cheerfully.
I narrowed my eyes at her artificial smile.
She didn't say it was random.
A single class could theoretically have three VIPs.
Now all that's left is finding out what we gain from all this.
Hoshinomiya-sensei handed several papers to Yukinoshita, signaling for her to read them aloud.
Yukinoshita sighed softly before beginning.
"Case One: If everyone in the group submits the correct answer except the VIP and the VIP's classmates, every member of the group receives 500,000 Private Points, while the VIP receives an additional 500,000 Private Points."
"Five hundred thousand..." the girl beside me whispered.
That's a huge amount.
Half a million.
The school is surprisingly generous this time.
But since this is only Case One...
There must be others.
Yukinoshita picked up the next sheet.
"Case Two: If even one incorrect answer is submitted—or someone fails to submit an answer—excluding the VIP and the VIP's classmates, only the VIP receives 500,000 Private Points."
So Case Two is completely different.
It only benefits the VIP...
Even though everyone loses the opportunity to earn a full million points.
"Those two cases only apply if the group waits until the final day before submitting answers. If someone submits an answer before the exam ends, then Cases Three and Four come into play. Answers may be submitted at any point during the exam, but an incorrect answer will carry penalties," Hoshinomiya-sensei explained before gesturing to Yukinoshita again.
"Case Three: If someone other than the VIP correctly identifies the VIP before the exam ends, their class gains 50 Class Points, and they personally receive 500,000 Private Points. The group's exam immediately ends. However, if the correct answer comes from someone in the same class as the VIP, the answer is considered invalid and the exam continues."
Hmm...
That changes the exam from teamwork into an individual competition.
But it's obviously a gamble.
Case Four must be the punishment.
"Case Four: If someone other than the VIP submits an incorrect answer before the exam ends, their class loses 50 Class Points, while the VIP receives 500,000 Private Points, and the VIP's class gains 50 Class Points. The exam immediately ends the moment the incorrect answer is received. If the incorrect answer comes from someone in the VIP's own class, it is treated as invalid and the exam continues."
Yukinoshita finished reading before placing a hand on her chin and looking toward me.
So it really is a gamble involving fifty Class Points.
It won't be easy to take that risk.
And deceiving everyone else won't be easy either.
"The group results, changes to Private Points, and Class Points will only be announced after the exam ends. Neither the identity of the VIP nor the person who submitted the answer will be revealed," Hoshinomiya-sensei added.
So even if I submit an answer and fail...
No one will know it was me.
That's convenient.
"I think I understand it... a little," the brown-haired girl said while looking down at the papers.
The blue-haired girl simply massaged her temples.
"Sensei, what exactly are we supposed to do during these discussion meetings?" the brown-haired girl asked.
Good point.
We need to know how those meetings are supposed to work.
"You're free to do whatever you want. The only requirement is that everyone introduces themselves properly on the first day."
So attendance is all that really matters.
"What about violence?" Yukinoshita asked.
Well...
We all know there's one class that enjoys causing trouble.
And yes...
I'm talking about Ryuen's class.
"There will be severe punishments. In the worst case, an entire class may be expelled from the exam," Hoshinomiya-sensei replied with a sly smile.
The whole class...
Interesting.
"Sensei, what about classes that are missing students?" I asked reluctantly.
I really hate asking her anything.
The way she answers is irritating.
"You mean Sakayanagi's class? They'll simply have to participate with fewer members," she answered casually.
Sakayanagi is a crafty girl.
Since this exam doesn't rely on physical ability, her presence could still have a huge impact on her class's performance.
Not that it matters.
"That's everything. Taking photos of the documents is prohibited. If you have any questions, ask now. Otherwise, you're free to leave," Hoshinomiya-sensei said while gathering the papers.
So...
We're done.
Yukinoshita pushed back her chair and headed straight for the door.
I stood up and followed after her.
I had no more questions.
And I had no desire to deal with that teacher any longer.
I followed Yukinoshita into the hallway outside.
"Looks like we have another new exam," Yukinoshita said quietly.
"Yeah. They never miss a chance to make our lives difficult," I replied with a sigh.
I heard footsteps behind us and instinctively stepped aside to make room.
The two girls walked up beside Yukinoshita and smiled.
"So we're in the same group. Let's work together," the blue-haired girl said.
Group Twelve...
The Boar Group.
I see.
She then turned toward me while the brown-haired girl silently watched from behind her.
"You're Hikigaya-kun, right?" she asked, studying me carefully.
"Uh..."
I froze for a moment.
She knows my name.
It would be awkward to admit I have no idea who she is.
I'll just pretend.
"Haha... Yeah."
I forced out an awkward laugh.
At the same time, I could feel Yukinoshita's cold stare from beside me.
"Hikigaya-kun... Just in case, those two are from our class," Yukinoshita said.
"Mm... I know."
Well...
I only figured that out a few minutes ago.
I'll make sure they never find out.
"Huh...? You don't know your own classmates?" the blue-haired girl asked, tilting her head.
"Hahaha..."
"Of course I don't."