As the announcement echoed throughout the cruise ship, the exam officially began.

  At the Css D girls' dormitory, Horikita Suzune found her path blocked as soon as she stepped out.

  "Just as I thought. From the start of the school year, I sensed you didn’t have the best intentions toward me. Are you finally showing your true colors?"

  Horikita folded her arms in her signature stance, staring directly at the cheerful Css D popur girl in front of her.

  "Oh, come on, Horikita-san. We’re friends, aren’t we? Friends," Kushida said with a radiant smile.

  "Spare me. Up to now, the only person I acknowledge as a friend is that guy."

  (oへo′p)

  It was fine if Horikita hadn't mentioned him, but the moment Uesugi Gen was brought up, Kushida’s anger surged, her small fists clenching involuntarily.

  I only have one ally, and you still want to take him away from me!

  "I really don’t like you, Horikita-san."

  "Even though I have to admit that you’ve contributed a lot to this css, and you are indeed indispensable to Css D, I still can’t bring myself to like you."

  "Since you’ve guessed my intention, why not make the first move, Horikita-san?"

  "I’m confident in my abilities, or rather, I don’t think you’re worth using up one of my two forced duels."

  "...You really know how to get on my nerves!"

  Kushida spoke through gritted teeth.

  "I’m just being honest."

  That arrogant tone was the final straw for Kushida.

  "I've been wanting to do this for a long time!!!"

  For the first time in her life, the accomplice girl charged at her arch-nemesis.

  Kushida Kikyō quickly pulled out her phone.

  "Forced Duel! Horikita Suzune, wager 300,000 personal points. Duel content—identify the names of all students at Advanced Nurturing High School."

  "N-Nani!"

  For the first time, a trace of panic appeared on Horikita’s usually composed face.

  At that moment, both their phones buzzed simultaneously.

  [Forced Duel Application Approved.][Student photos have been sent to your phone. Please proceed with identification...]

  KO!

  Horikita Suzune was defeated, much to her regret.

  Three minutes ter, Kushida walked out of the girls' dormitory with a beaming smile.

  On the cruise ship, Ryūen Kakeru was constantly on the move.

  This exam didn’t prohibit dueling within the same css, meaning that if one didn’t want to participate, they could intentionally lose to someone in their own css until they were down to 150,000 points.

  After opting out of the exam, they were free to move around the ship and gather intelligence for their css.

  If someone stayed in one pce too long, they risked being discovered by other csses and subjected to forced duels targeting their weaknesses, forcing them out of the exam.

  The best strategy was to scatter and keep moving, hiding as much as possible. This way, even if they encountered students from opposing csses, the ck of knowledge about their weaknesses would prevent an immediate forced duel.

  Then, after 7:00 PM, they could make a decisive move to reap the rewards.

  Ryūen’s pn seemed fwless, but he overlooked one crucial fact.

  He... was too hated and too conspicuous.

  While taking a break in a restroom, a group of Css A students emerged and all turned to look at Ryūen—nothing needed to be said.

  Ryūen nonchantly turned around, slowly closed the restroom door... then bolted out of there as fast as he could!

  "Forced Duel! Forced Duel! Forced Duel! Ryūen Kakeru, wager 300,000 personal points. Duel content—English recitation!!"

  "All units, be advised, we have located the primary target, Ryūen Kakeru, at the restroom on the west side of the third-floor cabins. Please provide immediate backup."

  "Stop right there, you bastard Ryūen! We still haven’t settled the score from the deserted isnd!"

  Despite the relentless pursuit from Css A students, Ryūen still found the energy to hurl back insults.

  "I’ve said it before—it's your css's own stupidity for falling into my trap! Besides, that was Uesugi’s doing!"

  "Bullshit! I’m challenging you to a math duel! Stop running and face your doom!"

  Upon hearing the challenge, Ryūen ran even faster. Yeah, right—while I, Ryūen, might have some skills, math isn’t one of them! Challenging me to a math duel is just unfair!

  As Ryūen was about to be cornered, Css C students wandering the ship used a forced duel to stall Css A's advance.

  Thanks to Ishizaki and the others’ desperate efforts, Ryūen managed to escape unscathed.

  "Huff... huff... huff..."

  Hiding in a corner of the cruise ship, Ryūen caught his breath, watching Css A students rush past.

  Damn it, compared to Css A, Css C's weaknesses are still too apparent.

  Even in Css C's specialty, combat, Css A wouldn’t necessarily lose, while any academic duels would almost certainly end in Css C’s defeat.

  However, conceding defeat so easily wasn’t in Css C’s nature.

  "Damn it, Ryūen, that bastard! All the points we took from Css C students were only 50,000 each—he’s using them as cannon fodder!"

  Finally realized it, huh? Ryūen smirked from his hiding spot.

  Indeed, compared to the 9.5 million personal points awarded for first pce, the gains from duels were insignificant.

  Dueling between csses would yield mixed results—there was no way to strip an opposing css of all their points in one go.

  So from the start, Ryūen’s goal was set on securing the top spot for individual points. Most of Css C’s points had been funneled to him, minimizing their losses.

  More importantly, achieving the top rank required combining both individual and css points.

  ---

  Meanwhile, across the ship, various types of duels were unfolding.

  "Aha! I recognize you, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka from Css D. Being in Css D means you should obediently pay tribute to me, a member of Css A. Let’s duel!"

  Css A’s Totsuka Yahiko appeared out of nowhere, pointing at Ayanokōji.

  "Uh, my name is Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, and starting next month, you guys won’t be Css A anymore, you know."

  Ayanokōji kindly pointed out.

  "S-Shut up! As a lower-css student, how dare you mock an upper-css student like me! I didn’t want to waste my forced duel chances on you, but now you’ll pay, Ayanokōji!"

  "Forced Duel! Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, wager 150,000 personal points. Duel content—combat!"

  Triggered by Ayanokōji’s words, Totsuka Yahiko unched a forced duel without letting him expin, determined to teach him a lesson.

  [Forced Duel Application Approved. Participants are advised to consider their safety and act within their limits.]

  The result was predictable.

  Totsuka Yahiko faced a swift defeat...

  ---

  T/N: ...i- yea...