"How?"
Hōsen paused, curious.
"On Day 6, all student GPS signals will be public. We'll know everyone's location."
Yagami smiled.
"That makes finding Saiki easier. Tsukishiro said conflicts are allowed. If we clash with Saiki, we won't be punished."
"Hmm?"
Hōsen narrowed his eyes.
"Why target Saiki? You've no connection to him."
"True, but he's Kushida's classmate. I prioritize first-year safety. I met Utsomiya earlier—they want to protect first-years too. So we're acting on that."
"What's this got to do with Saiki?"
"Three first-year groups are near the bottom, at risk. If we make other grades quit, our first-years will be safer."
Yagami Takuya spoke slowly,
"So, when the time comes, I can assist you in dealing with Saiki-senpai, and afterward..."
But before he could finish, Hōsen Kazuomi threw a heavy punch directly at him. Takuya noticed the move—or rather, he had expected it. He raised his hands to block the attack, but the impact still forced him to take several steps back.
"I don't need your boring cooperation. You?" Hōsen sneered, clearly unimpressed.
"Dealing with that guy? I can handle it alone."
With that, Hōsen turned and walked away. As he left, he muttered to himself,
"Not just Saiki Kusuo, but Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's 20 million points—I'll take them all. Anyone who gets in my way will be eliminated. No exceptions."
Watching Hōsen's retreating figure, Takuya's lips curved slightly upward.
Everything was going according to plan.
Takuya's purpose in approaching Hōsen was to confirm his future actions.
"From what he said, Hōsen will likely confront Saiki-senpai on the sixth day," Takuya chuckled to himself.
"No matter the outcome, the victor will be me."
As he spoke, Takuya pulled a digital camera from his backpack.
This was his true goal.
He planned to record the fight between Hōsen and Saiki.
Regardless of how their battle unfolded, Takuya would be the one laughing in the end.
While Tsukishiro had allowed some conflict, if it escalated into a full-blown fight, the situation would change entirely.
Given Hōsen's personality and methods, this confrontation would hardly be classified as a mere 'conflict.'
Afterward, regardless of who won, Takuya could use the footage to blackmail the victor, turning them into his pawn.
Additionally, though his superiors had ordered him to avoid excessive contact with Saiki, this situation—Hōsen's conflict with Saiki—was unrelated to him.
It also gave him a chance to observe Saiki's abilities firsthand.
"Whether it's Ayanokōji-senpai or Saiki-senpai, I'll show them who's truly superior," Takuya said with a smile.
....
Meanwhile, Hōsen, now separated from Takuya, arrived at a designated location.
Just then, a slender first-year student from Class C, Katagiri, rushed up to him.
"Hōsen-kun! Please take this!"
Katagiri's eyes were closed, his body trembling with fear, but he extended a radio.
"It's a radio," Hōsen said, narrowing his eyes.
"Y-you can use it… to talk to Utomiya-kun," Katagiri stammered, his voice shaking.
"Hmph. Sending a weakling to deliver this? Does he really want to contact me that badly?" Hōsen sneered, taking the radio.
"Utomiya, what's this about? Want me to play along?"
Despite his words, Hōsen already knew Utomiya's intentions from his earlier encounter with Takuya.
"I don't know if you didn't hear me or are ignoring me, but this is your first and last chance."
There was no response from the radio, so Hōsen continued,
"…I didn't want to contact you either, but I had no choice for the plan."
Finally, Utomiya Riku's voice crackled through the radio.
"Plan? What are you talking about?"
"We agreed to meet on the sixth day, but I doubt you'll show up. The situation isn't looking good."
"Oh? You're already writing me off? We did discuss this, didn't we?"
"Among the bottom ten, there are no second-year students, but three first-year groups. We're planning to save the first-year students."
"Save first-year?"
As Hōsen spoke, he checked the rankings on his tablet. Indeed, three first-year groups were among the bottom ten, including two from Class D.
"Two teams from your Class D are in danger."
"Hmph. Let those trash disappear. Do you think I'd act to save my classmates?"
"If we're to save them, you're essential…"
"Are you blindly following someone's orders? This is getting interesting."
"If you want to refuse, go ahead. I'm just following protocol. The plan will proceed with or without you."
"Fine, I refuse."
Hōsen pretended to toss the radio aside, but he paused—
He was certain Utomiya would come back.
"Hōsen, are you sure you won't help us?" Utomiya's resigned voice came through the radio.
Hearing this, Hōsen's lips curled upward.
Utomiya's personality would normally lead him to hang up, but he hadn't.
This meant Utomiya was acting on someone else's behalf.
Hōsen already had a name in mind.
"Hold on. Who said I won't help?"
"…What?"
"If you come here and beg me, I might consider it."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Then forget it. Tsubaki, any objections?"
"What?"
Utomiya was surprised Hōsen had noticed Tsubaki Sakurako's presence.
In truth, Hōsen didn't know Tsubaki was behind this; he'd merely noticed her often near Utomiya and decided to probe.
The result satisfied him.
"I've known for a while," Hōsen said.
"Looks like leaving this to Utomiya alone won't work."
Tsubaki's voice joined the conversation.
"Then explain. What does 'saving first-year' mean?"
"You know already. Three first-year teams are in the bottom ten, two from Class D. If this continues, our first-year, especially Class D, will be devastated after the exam."
Tsubaki took over negotiations with Hōsen.
"So? You're not planning to save all first-year students, are you?"
"Correct. I intend to save the three teams currently at the bottom and any others that might fall there later."
"Bold words. But can you pull it off? You've done nothing special so far. If you waste my time, I'll make you regret it. Maybe I'll beat Katagiri half to death and send him back. How's that?"
Katagiri, standing nearby, nervously bit his lip.
*What does this have to do with me?* he thought.
"There's a way to save desperate teams. Third-year students have used it, so we need Class D's help."
"I'd like to help, but I'm busy. Very busy."
"Busy… with making Ayanokōji-senpai drop out and getting revenge on Saiki-senpai?"
Hearing Tsubaki's words, Hōsen's anger flared.
His last defeat at Saiki's hands was still fresh in his mind.
Worse, what should have been a secret had been leaked.
For Hōsen, this was a grave insult.
Revenge on Saiki was more important than making Ayanokōji drop out.
"Right. A few trash from my class disappearing? Doesn't matter to me."
"Then how about this? With five teams already out, making Ayanokōji-senpai or Saiki-senpai drop out is impossible. Saving first-year students helps achieve that, doesn't it? We need to speed up."
Hōsen's smile faded, replaced by seriousness.
"So that's why you approached me. Sounds good… but let's hear your plan."
"I already explained. Like other upperclassmen, we'll unite the entire year. Stronger teams will absorb lower-ranked ones, raising their standings. If necessary, we'll take tasks from second and third-year teams."
"If it were that simple, we wouldn't be struggling. And Classes A and B—I doubt they'd help Classes D and C."
"Don't worry. We'll discuss this soon. Classes A and B are eager to join. We're just waiting for your commitment, Hōsen."
"Interesting, but it's no guarantee of victory. Everyone's using the same strategy, and first-year lacks experience, putting us at a disadvantage."
"True. Even with this plan, first-year sacrifices won't be zero."
"That's contradictory. You said you'd save all first-year students."
"As you said, if everyone uses the same strategy, first-year will still be at a disadvantage. But there are some independent groups among the upperclassmen…"
"Crush those independent groups… I see."
Hōsen's smile returned.
"I see? You had the same idea?"
"Never mind. By the way, have you had any contact with that guy from Class B lately?"
In that moment, Hōsen realized something.
"You mean Yagami? We met earlier. What about it?"
*That Yagami Takuya—he must have an agenda.*
*He wasn't sent by Utomiya or Tsubaki; they used the radio. Yagami had no reason to approach me. It contradicts what he told me.*
*But this is an opportunity I can't miss, Saiki-senpai.*
"Nothing. Go on with your plan."
...
Meanwhile, on the island's shore, Nagumo Miyabi stared intently at his tablet, checking the rankings.
Kiriyama Ikuto stood behind him.
Though they seemed rivals, Ikuto had already pledged loyalty to Nagumo.
"Currently, our biggest threat is Kōenji Rokusuke from second-year Class A."
Kiriyama Ikuto spoke up.
"No."
Nagumo Miyabi shook his head.
"It's that Saiki guy!"