COTE:Oreki Houtarou's Strength-Supreme Classroom

"Go find Class B?"

Ishizaki Daichi was a bit puzzled by Ryuuen's actions. Ryuuen wanted to take 200 points out of the 300 basic points to exchange for supplies and sell them to Class B.

"As long as we sell successfully, then for this exam, no matter what, you will have 20,000 points as living expenses until graduation."

"Moreover, we have already created the appearance that Ibuki and I are not on good terms. So this move can be set in motion. The next step of guessing the leaders can also continue," Ryuuen said.

"And since the basic points are sold, the remaining points will not be enough for the whole class, so some students will definitely drop out and return to the cruise ship midway."

"Return to the cruise ship? Does that mean continuing their vacation? While everyone else is taking the exam, they can return to the cruise ship and enjoy themselves?"

"Oh, oh, oh!" The students of Class C suddenly became enthusiastic.

If they could avoid hardship, they would certainly choose to do so. Who wouldn't love such a life? They started to like Ryuuen a bit more.

So, Ryuuen, now in the good graces of his classmates, went to find the students of Class B. The students of Class B had just finished listening to the rules explained by their homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya Chie.

They were considering who to choose as their leader. They couldn't choose Ichinose or Kanzaki because, although not everyone was fully familiar with each other yet, they would still recognize the prominent figures in each class.

For example, there was probably no freshman who didn't know Ichinose Honami. So, choosing Ichinose as the leader would be risky, as other classes might guess her as the leader and cause a loss. They needed to choose someone unexpected as the leader.

While pondering this, someone intruded into the basement where Class B was located. Due to the limited space on the cruise ship to accommodate a class of 40 students at once, their homeroom teacher had to take them to the basement to explain the rules. And now, someone had come.

It was the tyrant of Class C, with his red hair parted in the middle—Ryuuen Kakeru.

"Ryuuen—" Class B's two representatives were not fond of Ryuuen.

After all, the current scores of the four classes were as follows:

Class A: 1330 points, Class B: 670 points, Class C: 490 points, Class D: 80 points.

Not to mention Class A and Class D, for Class B, Class C was the primary threat. They were too close in points. If they weren't careful, they could be overtaken.

Moreover, in the last exam, the students of Class B worked very hard, memorizing the exercises they received and achieving a perfect score of 100 points each.

They knew it wasn't easy for everyone to score 100 points. Yet, Class C also received the highest class evaluation points reward in that exam.

In other words, the students of Class C were also strong and determined. So everyone believed that the ruler of Class C, Ryuuen, was a dangerous man. Even the gentle lambs of Class B remained vigilant against Class C.

...

"Ryuuen-san, what are you doing here?" Ichinose immediately demanded, standing protectively in front of her classmates.

"And your previous actions were too much!" She was referring to the incident where Ryuuen and Ibuki were on the deck, and Ibuki was thrown off.

To the justice-minded Ichinose, this was a very detestable act. Not to mention the previous incident where Ryuuen was trying to bully someone, even though it was partly due to Oreki's trap.

"Ibuki, huh... I don't care about her," Ryuuen said dismissively. "I'm here to give up."

"Give up?" Ichinose didn't speak, but a boy with purple curly hair next to her did. This was Kanzaki Ryuji. He had good physical strength, athletic ability, academic skills, and critical thinking ability.

He was also capable of leading. He always aimed to support Ichinose and for Class B to strive towards Class A together.

But he quickly realized that Class B's situation was not ideal. Or rather, it was awkward. They were far from Class A, and Class B was close to Class C, only 180 points apart, and very likely to be surpassed this month.

That is to say, this exam might cause them to drop to Class C. And this was a situation that everyone in Class B did not want to see.

So now, seeing the tyrant of Class C coming over, the little angels of Class B were very vigilant. Ryuuen was almost surrounded.

Faced with such a scene, Ryuuen smiled. He knew it. Class B was very wary of him. But Class B was also the most suitable target to sell points to.

Class D was a bunch of pigs that wouldn't listen, and as for Class A, he didn't want to attract Oreki Houtarou's attention.

He also worried that Oreki might see through his ultimate goal of guessing the leaders. So it was better not to alert the enemy. Thus, he sought out the class that couldn't refuse him, Class B.

He had to be cautious with Oreki, given past losses. But Class B is just a bunch of sheep. On the cruise ship, he lifted the restrictions on Class C, asking them to gather information.

He found out that 15 students from Class B participated in Oreki Houtarou's shop scam. And those 15 students still hadn't torn up the agreement and were delivering points to Oreki every month.

In his view, this Class B was probably a treasure trove of wealth. So it seemed to be the most suitable target.

"I'm aiming for Class A," Ryuuen said. "I used to be a delinquent, my family background isn't good, and in my old middle school, I spent my time fighting or avoiding getting beaten.

I came to this school because the principal personally found me and recommended it. Then I discovered this school is quite interesting.

It seems that even if one's academic performance is poor, there's still a chance to rise up and get into the desired university or career.

But no one from my Class C has ever succeeded in past years. I find it very challenging. So I took over," Ryuuen said.

Oh.

But what was this about? A self-introduction?

"And, this goal is too difficult. With Oreki Houtarou around, I decided to accumulate some points first. He scammed me out of nearly 3 million points."

Oh.

"Got scammed, huh?" A student from Class B cautiously inquired. This was Chihiro.

She hadn't participated, but her friends had. She used to think Ryuuen was scary, but now he seemed somewhat inspiring.

"That's the one. Thirty-six of my class participated. If we had plenty of points, it wouldn't matter, but..." Ryuuen explained.

"The class evaluation points would change. So I terminated the agreement with Oreki Houtarou. Otherwise, no one in my class would have any points for living expenses this month," Ryuuen said.

"My goal is Class A, so I can't keep transferring points to students from other classes. It would be like aiding the enemy. So I'd rather take a loss and make a decisive cut."

Oh. The Class B angels who had just felt inspired by Ryuuen now looked at him warily.

"Ryuuen, you don't need to persuade our class," Kanzaki Ryuji glanced at Ichinose, who seemed to be contemplating Ryuuen's purpose for saying all this.

But Kanzaki, being more aggressive, spoke directly. "What do you want?"

"It's simple," Ryuuen said. "I want to make an agreement with you. My class will provide supplies for this exam.

And your class will give me the corresponding living expenses until graduation.

Plus, your class can keep your 300 basic points. Quite a bargain, isn't it?" Ryuuen said, trying to tempt them.

"Living on the island, a class will definitely need supplies. So you can save those 300 basic points."

"That's unreasonable." But Ichinose Honami immediately refused. "Basic points are settled at the end of the exam."

"Moreover, points can be deducted midway, or during the guessing of the leaders," Ichinose said. "Ryuuen, you're only providing supplies, but we would continuously pay you living expenses. So you're trying to transfer your risk. Isn't your move the same as Oreki's shop agreement?"

Ryuuen was somewhat surprised at Ichinose's sharpness. He had thought she was just an angelic figure. But she had brains too.

Yes. In this school, strength and points were paramount. Stable extraction and safely passing this exam would be a win for Ryuuen. But Ichinose had seen through it.

However, he came with an open scheme. "Think whatever you want. All I need are living expenses. My class is very restless. Recently, more people have become dissatisfied with me. So I need points to shut them up," Ryuuen said.

"That's your own issue of governance. Or rather, why use the term 'governance' among classmates?"

As a class filled with little angels, Class B students hated Ryuuen's actions.

"You all are so naive," Ryuuen said. "This is a transaction. And you have one minute to think it over. My class has 300 basic points, we can give you 200.

And after the exam, you transfer 800,000 points to me every month. But think about it. Though risky for you, this is a step towards Class A, isn't it? And, if my class uses up the 300 basic points, by the end of the exam, we'll definitely have nothing left," Ryuuen said.

So, Ryuuen was not only tempting Class B students to close the gap with Class A but also willing to widen the gap with Class B. Thinking about this, Kanzaki glanced at Ichinose.

"..." Ichinose.

"I can't just take your word for it. Class B and Class C's evaluation points are too close. Besides, if you can do this, we can also buy supplies from Class D," Ichinose said.

Yes. The final result of this exam was the sum of basic points, reward points, and guessing the leaders. If Ryuuen sold supplies to let Class B save their basic points, Class C wasn't the only class with supplies. Class D could do it too.

Class D had only 80 evaluation points. Though not underestimating them, buying supplies from Class D would be more reassuring. Also, if Class D were steadily supplied with living expenses, they might agree to the same deal.

"Shibata, you run fast, go check on Class D," Kanzaki said, cooperating with Ichinose. "Got it!" Shibata, a cheerful boy with spiky hair, quickly left.

Ryuuen was speechless. He felt baffled by Class B's actions. He had voluntarily offered himself and voluntarily lowered his class's score for this exam, but Class B was looking further away?

"So the deal failed," Ryuuen said. "You don't want my supplies, I'll sell them to Class A. I think Class A students would be happy to have someone provide supplies so they can keep their basic points for the final tally."

Saying this, Ryuuen made a move to leave. "You won't," Ichinose said. "Your goal is Class A, and Oreki-san is in Class A. If you could decisively terminate your agreement with Oreki-san, you wouldn't assist Class A.

You can't be sure how far Oreku's Class A would soar if you helped them. And that's a very dangerous move," Ichinose said.

"So, as long as your goal is Class A, you won't aid Oreki-san's Class A, because you've suffered a loss."

"..." Damn. Ichinose wasn't just a pretty face?

He thought Class B was full of fat sheep, but now they had a sense of resistance. Ryuuen felt he learned a lesson today.

At that moment, Shibata, the Class B student sent out, came running back. "Class D allied with Class A," Shibata hurriedly said.

"Class D students decided to exchange their basic points for supplies to sell to Class A."

"Looks like Oreki Houtarou thought the same as me," Ryuuen said lightly.

But he felt uneasy. Oreki Houtarou's thoughts were too deep, he had been scammed once, and he hated it deeply. Now, Oreki was also seeking supplies from Class D. He might have some nefarious plan. But because of this.

"Looks like you have no other choice," Ryuuen said. "Class A has already confirmed they have 270 basic points. 30 points were deducted because their class leader Sakayanagi Arisu didn't come."

"But they can keep 270 points steadily," Ryuuen emphasized. "And you can only look at the island's bases and use the leader card to get reward points."

So now Class B had only the option to ally with Class C? But doing nothing would let Class A widen the gap even more.

Kanzaki Ryuji looked at the pensive Ichinose. Ichinose had done well, but class competition was fiercer than he thought.

"Looks like we have to ally temporarily," Ichinose said. She hoped to work towards Class A with everyone. But if the gap was too wide, it could intimidate people.

Moreover, just like she realized the school's rules two weeks after enrollment, knowing the school was unique and needed special attention.

Although upperclassman Nagumo said not to shoulder all the responsibility alone, she also felt responsible.

"We can't let Class B be dragged down any further," Ichinose continued.

"Otherwise, I'm afraid no one will have the confidence to continue to push forward."

"It's a pleasure to work with you," Ryuuen said.

"I'll exchange the supplies for you in my class when we get down to the island later, ok?"

"Not so fast," Kanzaki Ryuji said. "We need to check the situation of the base."

Ryuuen sneered and walked out. 

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