“I see… Since no matter how much they spend, the css points won’t go negative, they used up all their points in advance. That way, even if their cssmates drop out ter or break the rules, they won’t suffer any losses…”

  Kanzaki Ryūji flipped through the rulebook, a wry smile forming on his face.

  “This kind of reckless strategy… In a way, it suits Css C’s style perfectly.”

  Such a crazy approach—if Uesugi hadn’t pointed it out, Kanzaki, who always pyed things safe, would never have thought of something like this.

  “But that’s not all, is it?” Ichinose mused, furrowing her brows. “Knowing Ryūen, he wouldn’t just pass up the chance to guess the leaders of the other csses. Since the worst-case scenario for Css C is zero points, they have nothing left to lose. So that means…”

  She turned to Uesugi Gen.

  “Uesugi-kun, he’s trying to trick us by making it seem like Css C is withdrawing from the exam, but in reality, he’s staying behind and relying on guessing the leaders to earn points, right?”

  Wow, they figured it out already? Looks like as long as I give the right hints, Css B can see through Ryūen’s pn too.

  “Let’s head back,” Uesugi said with a stretch, completely ignoring Ichinose’s question.

  “At the rate they’re burning through points, Css C will be forced to return to the ship by tomorrow at the test.”

  Turning to the others, he continued, “Hamaguchi, you guys should come back too. Since Ichinose and the others already figured out Ryūen’s pn, there’s no point staying here. Sticking around will only increase the risk of getting caught.”

  This move by Css C was undoubtedly a gamble—using their 300 points as bait and betting everything on their ability to guess the leaders.

  To secure his victory, Ryūen would ensure that nobody saw exactly how many of his cssmates remained on the isnd before making his move.

  Just then—

  “Hey, look! Css D’s leaving.”

  Shibata, who had been monitoring the situation through a telescope, alerted the group.

  On the beach, Ryūen stood there, his expression twisted with frustration as he watched the smug, well-fed Css D students wave at him in gratitude.

  He had originally pnned to provoke Css B and D into coming to the beach, hoping to lure them into his trap.

  He had not expected Horikita Suzune to show up with a whole squad of people and actually eat and drink their fill.

  Worse yet, judging by their expressions, they still had no idea what was going on.

  Now it looked like he had personally invited another css to feast at his expense, making him look like a complete fool.

  Originally, he had hoped to take any leftover food back with him to st the next few days. But now?

  He was going to be eating dirt.

  “What do we do now? Do we pretend we don’t know anything and go down there?” Hamaguchi Tetsuya asked.

  If Css B didn’t take the bait, this whole act would fall apart.

  “No. Let’s head back to camp and send a couple of uninformed cssmates to check it out ter. As long as Ryūen knows Css B sent people, that’s enough.”

  The best performance is one where the actors don’t even know they’re acting. No matter how skilled they were, if those in the know went, there was always a chance they’d slip up.

  With that, Uesugi led the group away, quietly exiting Css C’s area.

  But on the way back, Kanzaki couldn’t shake his doubts.

  “…I still don’t get it. Why is Ryūen so confident he can guess our css leader?”

  After all, he was the current leader of Css B.

  If it weren’t for a certain someone making that decision without telling anyone…

  It’s all Uesugi’s fault.

  Kanzaki cursed internally.

  Uesugi, strolling ahead, responded zily, “How should I—”

  But before he could finish, his expression suddenly shifted into the same sinister grin as Tom when he spots Jerry.

  Everyone followed his gaze—

  A Css C student was sitting on the ground, looking completely miserable, just outside Css B’s camp.

  “…So that’s his pn.”

  Kanzaki Ryūji muttered under his breath.

  In that instant, they all understood exactly what Ryūen was doing.

  Uesugi stared at the pitiful figure, lowered his head, and let out a quiet chuckle.

  “Heh…”

  Slowly, his ughter grew louder—more uncontrolled, more unhinged.

  “Ahahahaha…”

  “Hey, hey…”

  Css B’s students exchanged uneasy gnces.

  They had never seen Uesugi ugh like this before.

  That poor Css C student… Was he going to have to crawl back to his camp after this?

  Ichinose hesitated.

  “Uesu—”

  “Don’t. Kick. Him. Out.”

  Uesugi wiped away a crocodile tear before dramatically pointing at Ichinose.

  “Ichinose, how cruel can you be? You would personally crush a man’s st hope? Why can’t you learn from me and be a little more charitable?”

  Oh, he’s dead.

  Everyone immediately took a step back—just in case there was bloodshed.

  This idiot… He never learns.

  Ichinose, maintaining her usual sweet smile, parted her lips slightly—

  “Yu—”

  “I was wrong. Please don’t do it.”

  Uesugi surrendered instantly the moment he saw her mouth forming the word.

  But—

  There was no way he was giving up this chance. He had finally found something fun.

  If direct confrontation wouldn’t work, then—time for emotional manipution.

  Tears welled up in his eyes as he grabbed Ichinose’s hands, looking absolutely devastated.

  “I haven’t pyed games for almost a whole day… If I don’t find something entertaining soon, I’m going to die of boredom.”

  “Please, just let him stay. I promise I’ll make him feel as warm as the sun.”

  “…Fine.”

  Ichinose, seeing his pathetic expression, sighed in defeat.

  “But you better not bully him too much.”

  “Of course!”

  Uesugi immediately straightened up, pounding his chest in assurance.

  “This guy is now my dearest friend, my closest companion, my brother in arms. I will absolutely ensure he leaves this camp unharmed.”

  And with that, Uesugi dashed toward the unfortunate Css C student.

  Watching Uesugi approach him with a devilish grin, Kaneda Satoru swallowed hard.

  Kaneda, listen. There’s no way Uesugi will let you stay in Css B’s camp, but he isn’t the sole decision-maker. You need to win over Css B’s sympathy. Even if they invite you in, don’t accept right away. Let them “coincidentally” find you struggling a few times first, so they truly believe you were exiled from our css. Once the timing is right, join them.

  Also, once you’re in their camp, Uesugi will definitely try to make things difficult for you. You must endure it. Endure the unendurable. Once you obtain Css B’s leader’s identity, you will be free.

  Kaneda clenched his fists.

  I must endure.