Houtarou Oreki Classroom of the Elite

Meanwhile in Class A.

When Tomonari announced the 30-point deduction for absences, everyone understood the implications — since Arisu hadn't come, it meant withdrawal, and Class A's base points were already reduced by 30.

In other words, before the exam even began, Class A was already trailing behind the other classes.

The Class A students immediately turned to look back.

Houtarou found himself the target of his classmates' gazes.

But. Even you, Kōhei?

Hmm. He understood why.

Kōhei had been intensely focused on this exam and grew anxious after learning about the high point values. That morning, he had planned to invite Houtarou to survey the island, only to discover that Class D's Kakeru had already infiltrated and mapped it out.

So now he was feeling uncertain.

Though Tomonari paused midway through announcing the rules, he introduced something intriguing.

Specifically:

"Now for the bonus point rules. These will be explained to you by your homeroom teachers. We will disembark in 15 minutes. I will meet you here at noon on the 22nd to announce the exam results. That's all!"

With that, he concluded.

His careful wording suggested either that the upcoming rules were complex or that the bonus point rules needed to be discussed separately with each class.

Indeed, after Tomonari's announcement, while all four classes were gathered on deck, their teachers took different approaches.

The teachers of Classes B, C, and D led their students to separate locations — the theater, rooftop, or basement — to hear the additional rules.

Class A, being the highest-ranked, was permitted to remain on deck.

"Mashima-sens—" Kōhei called out eagerly as their homeroom teacher descended from the platform.

"Don't rush, Katsuragi." Tomonari said, lowering the megaphone.

"Ugh—" Though taken aback by his teacher's response, Kōhei nodded.

And so, Class A gathered to hear their homeroom teacher explain the bonus point rules.

Each class would receive 300 base points, which could be exchanged for supplies.

While Arisu's absence meant a 30-point deduction, there were opportunities to earn bonus points.

These came from finding bases. The medium-sized island contained several areas suitable for camping, designated as bases. Each base was equipped with a card reader.

Each class would choose a leader who would receive an ID card. Scanning with this card would earn one bonus point, with scanning permitted once every eight hours.

However, the identity of each class's leader had to remain secret.

On the morning of the 22nd when the exam ends, there will be a leader-guessing activity. Each correct guess of another class's leader will earn 50 bonus points.

"However." Tomonari continued, "If other classes correctly guess your leader, you'll lose 50 points per correct guess, and all bonus points earned from base scanning will be invalidated! These deductions will come from your initial 300 points, but won't go below zero. Also, choosing a leader is crucial — once selected, it cannot be changed without proper justification."

To earn bonus points, the leader must scan bases with their card.

If the leader's identity is discovered, however, everything collapses. Not only will points be deducted from the class's 300 base points, but all bonus points earned from scanning will vanish.

This is why protecting the leader's identity is essential, and why leaders couldn't be selected in front of all four classes. Hence the separate class notifications.

Along with these bonus point rules came additional deduction rules.

The bases operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. Points will be deducted for unnecessary loitering at occupied bases and for non-leaders attempting to use leader cards.

Tomonari didn't specify these deduction amounts. He simply said we'd find out if we tried.

But who would risk that?

In essence, while the exam rules are complex, they focus on two things: preserving each class's 300 base points and accumulating bonus points through base scanning — maximizing income while minimizing expenses.

But regarding those bases—

Class D's Kakeru had already infiltrated the island last night and mapped everything out. They had gained an early advantage.

Kōhei immediately looked over.

"For our class, we should maintain a steady approach in this exam." Houtarou said, aware of all eyes on him.

Not just one faction watched him, but all of them. And now that Kōhei was participating in the exam, he appreciated this cautious strategy.

"As Class A students, we must understand how to protect our class points. Sakayanagi's absence puts us at -30 points, leaving us with 270 base points. While this seems disadvantageous, it isn't — because during this week on the island, we don't need to use any of these 270 points."

"If we preserve every point." Houtarou explained, "When the exam ends and points are tallied, these 270 points will be added directly to our class points. Other classes can't manage this."

"So you're suggesting we trade?" Kōhei pondered, "Like having other classes buy supplies for us using their points?"

Houtarou reminded him, "And since Class D's Kōenji has gathered information about the bases, we could potentially purchase that intelligence from them."

The bald man grasped Houtarou's suggestion to negotiate with Class D.

Until now, Kōhei hadn't taken Class D seriously — after all, they had started with 0 Points in the first month and could easily lose any progress they'd made.

However, through this exam, Class A could acquire points that Classes B and C couldn't access, thereby maintaining their position at the top.

From this perspective, Class A's position in the exam was actually quite secure.

Their anxieties melted away.

"Well then, Oreki—" Kōhei, now confident, turned to him, "Let's go negotiate with Class D together."

"Fine." Houtarou agreed.

With Rokusuke as his ally, the negotiations would proceed smoothly.

So Houtarou, Masayoshi, Masumi, Kōhei, and Yahiko, Kōhei's follower, made their way toward Class D.

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Class D's homeroom teacher Sae took her students to the theater to explain the rules.

The bonus point rules covered leader selection, base occupation, guessing other classes' leaders, protecting their leader's identity, and restrictions on leader changes.

The situation quickly grew complex.

With only Kanji claiming any camping experience, the class's lack of outdoor skills made their prospects look grim.

"Actually, I have a suggestion." An unexpected voice called out, "I'll be the leader. Ms. Chabashira, you can make the leader card right now."

It was Rokusuke Kōenji, the tallest and most eccentric boy in the class.

Even Kikyō, the class angel, kept her distance from him.

"Why should you be the leader, Kōenji? What gives you the right?" Ken challenged from the side.

Though Ken had participated in Houtarou's plan against Kakeru before, he still harbored resentment toward the tyrant who had mocked him.

He was also bitter about receiving only 50,000 Points while Rokusuke got 200,000. Lacking the courage to confront Houtarou directly, he channeled his frustration toward his classmate.

"Because I infiltrated the island last night." Rokusuke replied, "I know the locations of 40 bases. And here's a photo I took of the card reader."

He displayed his phone's gallery.

The screen revealed scenes from the island, including a photo of the card reader — a device about the size of a PSP with a keyboard.

So this was the base card reader Sae had mentioned.

"Holy shit — Kōenji-san, you're that good?"

The students crowded around Rokusuke.

Setting aside potential point deductions, having the leader scan bases every 8 hours meant three scans per day.

With 40 known base locations, they could earn 120 Base Points daily.

Since it was already noon on day one, they could still scan twice today, and once more on the final morning. Their potential total: 720 points — 120 points for five full days, plus 80 points for the partial days.

That was 720 Points on top of their 300 Base Points.

Could this be Class D's chance for a comeback?

Rokusuke basked in his classmates' admiration.

"So that means—" Even Yōsuke, typically focused on maintaining harmony, rushed over, "This exam is a golden opportunity for our class?"

Their class had been struggling with zero Points, deductions, and debt. A significant point gain might help heal these divisions.

Then Yōsuke realized the magnitude of their advantage.

Wait — wasn't what Rokusuke did technically cheating?

He anxiously glanced at Sae.

But she was looking away, clearly pretending not to have heard. This meant Rokusuke's actions wouldn't be considered cheating.

After all, who would imagine someone swimming from the ship to the island?

It wasn't something any normal person would consider, let alone accomplish.

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