"Starting tomorrow, at 1 PM and 8 PM, you will go to the designated room to take the exam. On the day of the exam, the group members will be posted on the room."
"Also, during the first meeting, remember to introduce yourselves in the room. Once you enter the room, you are basically not allowed to leave during the exam period."
"That's all for the explanation of this exam. If there are no questions, you may leave now."
Chabashira Sae collected their documents, still showing no expression on her face, as if she were just handling official business.
Her earlier probing of Kaoru Mitoma seemed unintentional.
"Um, aside from introducing ourselves, what exactly are we supposed to do in the room?" Hashimoto Masayoshi asked.
"Depending on your mood, after introducing yourselves, the remaining time is yours to decide what to do, as long as you stay in the room for an hour," replied Chabashira Sae.
"A completely free exam?" murmured Hashimoto Masayoshi.
Soon after, Chabashira Sae asked them to leave the room and wait for the next group of students.
"The key to the exam is the VIP Student, huh? Seems troublesome" said Hashimoto Masayoshi.
"Mitoma, have you noticed anything?"
Kaoru Mitoma glanced around the hallway.
They seemed to be the first students to leave the room and in those closed rooms, Honami Ichinose and the others were probably listening attentively to the exam rules.
"Selecting some students from each class, reorganizing them into a group and then, through the VIP Student and the exam results, presenting us with choices that seem to involve cooperation, competition, betrayal and maximizing personal gain."
"In reality, there's only one outcome, which is something the school has always emphasized" Kaoru Mitoma paused.
"The person who discovers the answer the fastest can skip the exam process and directly clear the game. The so-called supremacy of strength is unreasonable."
"Finding the VIP Student as quickly as possible?" asked Hashimoto Masayoshi.
Kaoru Mitoma looked at Yamamura Miki beside him.
She was lowering her head, seemingly trying to reduce her presence.
"If the VIP was Yamamura-san, what would you think?"
Suddenly called by her name, Yamamura Miki was startled, her body trembling slightly.
"I'd try to help Yamamura conceal her identity and then ask the princess what to do next" replied Hashimoto Masayoshi.
"What if there's more than just Yamamura as the VIP's and you also know the identities of other VIP's?"
Seeing that Masayoshi Hashimoto was deep in thought, Kaoru Mitoma continued.
"The school's rules are clear at a glance. The VIP is the key to this exam. Many might get caught up in the superficial mystery of who the VIP Student is, turning it into a game of trust akin to 'Among us.'"
Although Sae Chabashira hadn't elaborated much, it was likely that most people had fallen into a chain of suspicion based on the rules.
The VIP Student wouldn't trust the group members and the group members wouldn't trust the VIP Student either.
For example, if the VIP Student revealed their identity to others in an attempt to achieve Outcome One, someone might betray them outright, leading to Outcome Three.
Or, even if the VIP Student disclosed their identity, there was no guarantee that the others would trust them completely.
While the materials provided earlier stated that forging text messages was prohibited, the school hadn't forbidden students from exchanging phones.
The VIP Student could swap phones with a companion and then manipulate students from other classes.
If the answer was wrong, the respondent's class would lose 50 points.
"However, all of this is a trap set by the school," Kaoru Mitoma said.
"Since the school has ensured that the number of VIP Students will be absolutely fair and impartial, there must be a reasonable selection rule. Otherwise, Chabashira-sensei wouldn't have mentioned earlier that 'strict adjustments have been made.'"
Masayoshi Hashimoto tentatively asked.
"Can we deduce the complete selection rule based on the known VIP Students?"
"Not just the VIP Students themselves, but we are also clues. Think about it—why did the school summon us separately? Wouldn't it have been more convenient to explain the situation first and then announce the group members?"
That seemed to make sense.
Masayoshi Hashimoto looked thoughtfully at Miki Yamamura.
"Another point is that while the school requires us to participate in group discussions, it also says that the content of the discussion is up to us and we can leave whenever we want once the time is up. It feels a bit strange."
Miki Yamamura cautiously moved a little further away, instinctively hiding behind Kaoru Mitoma because Masayoshi Hashimoto's gaze was somewhat intimidating.
"So, the discussion itself isn't important; what matters is the members who are present?"
"The only thing we're required to do is introduce ourselves. Isn't that rule a bit odd?"
"It suddenly feels like we've been thrown into a deduction game" Masayoshi Hashimoto suddenly let out a bitter smile.
"I'm not good at this kind of thing at all!"
Kaoru Mitoma smirked.
If you weren't good at it, how could you keep up with my train of thought?
"Anyway, there's no use thinking about it now. We'll only know the answer tomorrow."
"Hahaha, if I were the VIP Student, I'd tell you and the princess."
"Maybe I'd get bored and tell others just to end the exam early."
"..."
As they chatted, they arrived at the elevator.
While waiting for the elevator, Masayoshi Hashimoto took out his phone, seemingly reporting the situation to someone.
"Sorry, I reported the list and everything you just said to the princess."
"I actually wanted you to tell her."
"Tsk, your relationship seems a bit off," Masayoshi Hashimoto said, as if fishing for gossip.
"You won the last bet, right? Did you end up doing anything inappropriate to the princess?"
"More than you can imagine," Kaoru Mitoma didn't voice his thoughts but instead asked.
"Why do you call Sakayanagi-san a princess?"
"Because she's cute?" Masayoshi Hashimoto looked at him strangely.
"Lolicon." Kaoru Mitoma didn't expect he'd have the chance to say this line.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't just label someone as a pervert!" Masayoshi Hashimoto got flustered.
"Got it, it's just that the person you like happens to be a loli, right?" Kaoru Mitoma said as he walked into the elevator, then looked around.
"Strange, where's Yamamura-san?"
"I'm here." Miki Yamamura weakly raised her hand behind him.
Kaoru Mitoma couldn't help but fall silent.
What's up with this girl's presence?
Previously, because Hashimoro was by her side, it didn't seem strange.
But now facing her alone, it's as if she's like air, hard to notice her existence.
Even perverted desires rarely appear towards her, only some trivial wishes occasionally pop up.
Compared to Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi, she's practically like a passerby.
[Heh heh heh, such a weak presence is perfect for the invisible man to act! Ravage her body thoroughly!]
[Cover her mouth, you can play with her all day]
[I want to experience the feel of Yamamura-san's hands]
[Lick Miki Yamamura feet until they're wet]
[Suck on her fingers]
...
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