Chapter 102: To Hell with Class A
Torrential rain, dark clouds looming.
Tap, tap, tap…
The rain-soaked ground was treacherous, especially on this undeveloped island. Carrying someone, the physical toll seemed endless.
Kamuro Masumi's side ponytail was drenched, but she forced herself forward, pushing her body to its limits to get the boy to safety.
She'd once dabbled in martial arts due to her pickpocketing past, giving her slightly above-average stamina for a girl.
But only slightly. Compared to those like Ibuki Mio or Horikita Suzune, trained in self-defense, she was no match.
Now, she carried an unconscious, heavy boy.
Though Hikigaya wasn't particularly heavy, an unconscious body felt surprisingly weighty, pressing on her resolve.
Feeling the scalding heat from his forehead, Kamuro, worried, began to wonder who had done this to him.
Even with a high fever, he wouldn't just collapse on the island. It had to be Yahiko's doing.
Anger spread across her face. If an outsider saw, they'd be shocked an A-Class student would show such a terrifying expression for someone outside her class.
After what felt like forever, soaked through, Kamuro reached the withdrawal point, the only place sensei would be.
At least, that's what the manual said.
She took a deep breath, lifting Hikigaya in a princess carry to the withdrawal area.
Class B Sensei: "How is he?"
Kamuro: "High fever and unconscious."
Kamuro looked around but didn't see Class D's Sensei.
Class A Sensei, glancing meaningfully at Kamuro: "Leave him here. We'll arrange his withdrawal."
Kamuro: "Will this deduct class points? He's already at his limit."
The Class A Sensei's words were calm but carried weight. "It won't deduct points. According to the rules, this is considered a force majeure, so it won't affect the class. But I suggest you take care of yourself, your clothes are soaked. You're not far from catching a cold."
"I understand…" Kamuro Masumi replied softly.
"You can go now. We'll handle the rest."
No further conversation followed. Interaction between students and sensei during the exam was strictly prohibited.
Class C's Sensei, Sakagami, seemed unfazed by his class's elimination, instead teasing Class A's Sensei, Mashima. "What's this? Your student's turning traitor?"
Mashima remained composed, unaffected by the jab. "I'm not as biased toward my class as you are. If anything, I'm glad Kamuro showed such kindness. That's a rare quality in this school."
Sakagami crossed his legs, arms folded with a scoff. "Tch. When that kid steals one of your students, don't come crying."
Mashima ignored Sakagami's pointless hypothetical, offering no response.
Class B's Sensei, Hoshinomiya, grinned as she watched the exchange, clearly enjoying the rare amusement among the Senseis.
Tap, tap…
Hoshinomiya's face lit up as she saw Chabashira Sae return, waving enthusiastically.
Chabashira, as cold as ever, approached Hoshinomiya, took the tissue she offered, and wiped her rain-soaked hair.
Hoshinomiya elbowed Chabashira's side with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Sae-chan, what's with the sudden stroll? Missing our old island exam days together?"
Chabashira's expression didn't waver. "Just got tired of sitting. Needed a walk."
"Ugh, Sae-chan, you're so boring. You didn't even tell me you were going!"
"Bringing you along would be like having a fly buzzing in my ear."
"Your are so cold, Sae-chan! Saying that about me!" Hoshinomiya pouted, then added, "By the way, Kamuro just brought one of your students here to withdraw. Some kid named… Hiki-something?"
Before Chabashira could respond, Sakagami cut in, fuming. "Hikigaya. I won't forget that guy."
Mashima's face remained neutral, unaffected by the student's identity. "Don't bring personal grudges here."
Sakagami: "Tch…"
Hoshinomiya, still grinning: "Sae-chan, that guy had a high fever. I've already called the ship's medical team."
Sakagami: "I don't get it. A grown guy passing out from a fever on an island? That's a first for this school's island exam. Your Class D's getting more impressive, Chabashira."
Chabashira's face stayed cold, as if nothing could faze her, like an emotionless assassin.
But her next words cut deep: "After this exam, you'll be Class D."
The withdrawal point fell silent. Sakagami didn't say another word.
Chabashira spoke the truth. No matter how Class D placed, Class C was undeniably last. Their positions would soon swap.
Sakagami: "You guys talk. I'm heading back to the ship to rest."
Hoshinomiya: "Alright."
As Sakagami left, Hoshinomiya said, "Sae-chan, you sure know how to hit where it hurts. But you know, it's been ten years, and this is the first time Class D's surpassing Class C."
Mashima: "That's why Sakagami can't accept it. Someone like Ryuen is rare. Even in ten years, this Class C is likely the strongest we've seen. Despite our disdain, he's overly protective of them, hoping they'll leap to A or B."
Hoshinomiya sighed. "Yeah…"
Mashima: "That said, this Class D is full of monsters. If it weren't for Sakayanagi, Class A wouldn't hold its dominant position."
Chabashira: "Just luck."
Hoshinomiya chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Hirata, Kushida, Horikita, Sudo, Koenji, Wang Mei-Yu, Yukimura, and that low-key student council member Sakura, what a lineup. They're not inferior to higher classes in brains or brawn. That's probably why Class D caught up to Class C so fast."
Chabashira shook her head. "In some ways, yes, but it's not enough…"
Hoshinomiya: "Still not satisfied? I'm starting to worry about Ichinose. She's under too much pressure, and her approach will eventually lose its edge."
Chabashira: "Class D does have strong foundational strength, as you said. But being placed in Class D means they have significant flaws. Take Koenji, he's gifted in both academics and athletics but has never done anything for the class. What Class D truly lacks is a spiritual core, someone who can fully unite the people you mentioned."
Mashima: "Chabashira's not wrong. We all saw what Sudo was like at the start of the year. In just one semester, he's transformed."
"I assume, Chabashira, you've found that spiritual core for Class D."
Chabashira didn't hide it, nodding faintly. She glanced at the unconscious Hikigaya on the stretcher, saying meaningfully, "I have. But he's Class D's biggest problem child."
Hoshinomiya and Mashima froze. Her words were impossible to ignore.
Finding Class D's spiritual core meant, as Chabashira suggested, their strength could skyrocket.
Now, they just needed to heal this problem child, and Classes A and B would face a formidable rival, potentially the biggest shake-up in the school's history in a decade.
The ABCD hierarchy might be redefined.
As Senseis, their shock lasted only a second. Though colleagues, they were also competitors. No one wanted to be stuck with Class D. If Chabashira hadn't gotten lucky this time, past students could never have challenged higher classes. This stereotype was deeply ingrained in the other Senseis.
They had to take this seriously.
Both Class A and Class B needed to reassess this rising star.
As they chatted, the ship's medical team took Hikigaya back to the cruise. Soon after, Koenji Rokusuke's appearance caught the Senseis off guard.
Though he never showed his full strength, no one, not even the Senseis, thought him weak.
Mashima: "Koenji, are you withdrawing?"
Koenji: "As much as I'd love to, and I've wanted to since the start, I promised someone. I'll consider it next time. Hmm… I'm so beautiful!"
Hoshinomiya, concerned: "Did you run into trouble?"
Koenji, elegantly: "I'd love some trouble, but this island is smaller than the one my dad gave me for my birthday. Finding trouble here is, well, troublesome."
Chabashira, though not close with her students, knew their basic personalities. She cut to the chase: "You're here for something, aren't you?"
"Of course."
"That's unlike you."
"Doing something for the class occasionally makes me feel even more beautiful."
"So, what is it?"
Koenji didn't waste words, pulling out the camera from behind his back.
If Sakagami was here, he'd be shocked to see Ryuen's camera in Koenji's hands.
"Senseis, please watch this short film I just shot."
Koenji expertly played the footage. The video clearly showed Yahiko punching Hikigaya in the stomach, causing him to collapse.
Mashima: "Yahiko doesn't seem like someone who'd act so recklessly…"
Koenji: "This is the truth."
Mashima: "If Yahiko did it, I won't defend him."
Koenji: "What a beautiful Sensei."
Hoshinomiya: "Where'd you get this video?"
Koenji: "Beautiful Sensei, your figure is stunning, but your brain? Not so much. I recorded it, of course."
Hoshinomiya didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Being complimented on her figure was nice, but as Class B's Sensei, her intelligence was perfectly fine. That question was just a reflex, and even she felt it was dumb afterward.
Chabashira: "Leave the camera. The three of us will vouch for you. We'll verify the truth tonight, and if there's no issue, results will come tomorrow."
Koenji: "One more thing."
Chabashira: "Speak."
"Class D needs to change its leader."
The room fell silent again.
Hoshinomiya: "Koenji, you can't just change the leader like that."
Koenji: "I know that. But the guy in the video, lying on the ground, was Class D's leader. He's probably withdrawn and vacationing on the ship by now."
Mashima: "I see. Class D played a brilliant hand. Unbelievable. This exam will be a complete victory for them…"
Chabashira's face showed no joy. She'd clearly expected this outcome.
…
"Are you sure you hid Hikigaya well? If he wakes up before the exam ends…"
Katsuragi Kohei's cautious words made Yahiko Totsuka second-guess himself.
Honestly, the island was vast. On this final day, nearing night, even if Class D sent everyone out, they might not find Hikigaya.
If Yahiko brought him back to the ship after the exam, Class A could win.
Of course, if Hikigaya recovered quickly and woke by tomorrow noon, Class A wasn't too worried.
They held Class D's green card. If both classes guessed each other's leaders correctly, it would be a wash, to point gap. It wasn't Katsuragi's ideal outcome, but given Class A's situation, it was decent progress.
Considering how dire things had been, even Katsuragi's meticulous mind had done its best.
"He's in no shape to wake before noon tomorrow," Yahiko said.
"Or we could send someone to guard him. Even if he wakes, as long as he doesn't return to his class, no one will know our leader's identity."
Katsuragi nodded. It was a solid plan, a chance to break Class D's defenses. This time, he would show Hashimoto and the Sakayanagi faction who the true leader of Class A was.
Yahiko held up the green card, but it didn't bear his name, it was Hikigaya's.
"This is Class D's green card. It confirms Hikigaya's their leader."
"Class D's ridiculous, picking that fool as their leader and letting the card fall into my hands. How did Ryuen lose to them? Are they all idiots?"
Though Katsuragi had doubts, time was short, and the card in his hand was identical to Yahiko's, no sign of being fake.
Even the cautious Katsuragi had to take a gamble now.
…
After washing off the mud, Kamuro Masumi, heedless of her appearance, stormed toward Class A's camp.
The rain had stopped, and night had fallen. The camps of Classes A and D were still close, but Class A's atmosphere was heavy. Katsuragi hadn't shared his new information with the class.
Given Class A's fractured state, spreading the news wasn't wise. To most, Class A had already lost.
(From Kamuro's perspective, she was unaware of Hikigaya's plan or the bigger picture.)
When she returned, no one greeted her warmly or stopped her. It didn't matter anymore.
The moment Chabashira appeared, Class A had lost. Their green card was gone, and it was all Katsuragi's fault.
Kamuro had no time to waste on these clueless classmates. She charged into the main tent, confronting Yahiko and Katsuragi.
"You've got some nerve, attacking a Class D student."
Yahiko jolted, then shot her a sharp look. "How do you know?"
"How do I know? So you admit it? Knocking him out and leaving him there, you know how dangerous that was?!"
Kamuro's voice was nearly a roar, startling those outside the tent.
Neither Katsuragi nor Yahiko had ever seen this usually cute girl so furious.
Though she was part of Sakayanagi's faction, she would never deliberately targeted Katsuragi's group. Katsuragi knew this well.
Katsuragi: "Calm down and explain."
Kamuro slammed her hand against the tent. "Explain? What's there to explain after what you did?"
Yahiko: "Don't tell me you brought him back."
Kamuro: "If I could, I would've, just to let him wake up and expose your plan, your so-called leader. But with his condition, I had to take him to the Senseis, or who knows what would've happened."
Yahiko Totsuka: "So, he withdrew from the exam."
Kamuro Masumi: "That's not the point. You know exactly what you did. From now on I'll be your absolute enemy!"
"To do something like that to someone already burning with a fever, does that really make you Class A? Our class rules have become nothing but scrap paper."
Katsuragi Kohei: "There's no need to go this far for an outsider, Kamuro. We're classmates, at least. You should understand, Yahiko had no choice. For Class A's honor, we had no other option."
Kamuro: "To hell with your honor. The only leader of Class A is Sakayanagi, and it will always be Sakayanagi. And… compared to him, you are the outsiders to me."
Kamuro had no desire to keep talking with these two. At the very least, Sakayanagi Arisu's past orders to follow Katsuragi's instructions were null and void in this moment.
She stormed out of Class A's camp, only to run into Hashimoto Masayoshi and Kitō Hayato eavesdropping just outside.
Kamuro shot them a glare but said nothing, intending to leave.
"Hey, hey, don't be like that, little Masumi. Tell me what happened," Hashimoto teased.
"Call me by my name again, and I'll rip your tongue out."
Her voice echoed across Class A's camp.
Kitō: "I think it's best not to provoke her right now."
Even Kitō, Hashimoto, and likely Sakayanagi had never seen Kamuro like this.
She was genuinely furious, unable to control herself.
Hashimoto watched her retreating figure, a meaningful smile creeping onto his face. "She's adorable like this. Looks like there's a good show coming."
Inside the tent…
Yahiko: "Hikigaya withdrew, so… this green card is useless."
Katsuragi: "Exactly. Writing his name now would only put Class A at risk."
Yahiko sighed helplessly. He hadn't expected their own classmate, Kamuro, to disrupt their plan.
Now, Classes A and D could only walk parallel paths.
The gap with Class B probably wasn't much either.
Failing to win decisively in this exam was bad for Katsuragi's prospects. It meant Sakayanagi would likely reclaim leadership.
But at this point, there was no other choice.
At least they hadn't made a catastrophic mistake. Hikigaya hadn't revealed Class A's leader to his class, sparing them a heavy loss.
In their eyes, Hikigaya had to withdraw. He held Class A's fate in his hands.
Katsuragi could only wait for the next opportunity after this exam.
At least, that's what he believed.
But would things really go as he hoped? Perhaps even he didn't realize that this special exam would be his last chance to lead Class A. By tomorrow afternoon, the results would leave him utterly disgraced.
(End of this chapter)