"You know, this is actually the first time we’ve met alone, isn’t it?"

  Uesugi looked curiously at the girl before him—half-squinting, scrutinizing him with an expression filled with pure disdain.

  "Is there something about me that particurly interests you?"

  Stare—

  Kamuro Masumi studied him once again, eyes sharp and unyielding.

  This guy…

  He was way too suspicious.

  Ever since Uesugi’s "observation pn" concluded, the more Kamuro thought about it, the more wrong it felt.

  Then one day—

  This bastard had the audacity to add her as a friend and asked her to introduce him to Sakayanagi.

  Ignoring all the flowery nonsense he spewed at first, Kamuro had simply tossed Sakayanagi’s contact info at him, telling him to deal with it himself.

  And then—

  That’s when everything went to hell.

  She had no idea what kind of magic he worked, but after his conversation with Sakayanagi, she received a simple, maddening message:

  【For this special exam, follow Uesugi-kun’s instructions.】

  …Excuse me?

  What the hell did he say to you?! You sold me out THAT easily?!

  Kamuro vividly remembered the look on Uesugi’s face when he walked out—

  That smug, I finally got you expression.

  That manner of speaking. That tone.

  It was exactly the same.

  Too simir.

  And yet—

  She had proof that he wasn’t that bastard.

  No.

  No, no, no.

  She couldn’t just blindly believe he wasn’t that bastard.

  Kamuro shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

  Everything she’d ruled out was based on that surveilnce incident.

  But if she removed that variable—

  Kamuro’s eyes snapped upward.

  Her teeth clenched.

  Her gaze sharpened.

  Over 90% match.

  "Oi, Kamuro-san,"

  Uesugi instinctively took two steps back upon seeing the rapid changes in her expression.

  "We’re allies now, remember? No need to look at me like that."

  "Cut the crap," Kamuro snapped.

  "Totsuka Yahiko—Css A’s leader for this exam."

  Despite her boiling frustration, she somehow held back the urge to stomp Uesugi into the ground.

  Special exam rules.

  If she really beat him up now, Css A would definitely suffer for it.

  "Oh? It’s really him?"

  Uesugi stroked his chin, mulling it over.

  "Actually, that makes perfect sense. The only person always sticking to Katsuragi’s side is him. And knowing Katsuragi’s cautious nature, he’d only feel safe keeping the leader in direct sight."

  He squinted slightly.

  "But no concrete proof, huh?"

  "Believe it or not, I don’t care."

  Kamuro gred.

  "My job’s done. If that’s all, I’m leaving."

  "Ah, my goal is complete too."

  Uesugi smirked confidently.

  "As promised, I’ll make sure Css A suffers a defeat like never before."

  With that, he turned and began walking back toward Css B’s camp.

  "Hey!"

  Kamuro hesitated—

  But in the end, she had to ask.

  "Are you him?"

  Uesugi didn’t turn back.

  Instead, he simply waved a hand over his shoulder.

  "Tell me, Kamuro-san—do you want me to be?"

  "If you do, then I am."

  "The hell kind of answer is that?!"

  ---

  "Haa… haa… haa…"

  Kaneda Satoru was gasping for air, sprinting through the jungle.

  He didn’t take the safe paths.

  He didn’t care about the branches scraping against his skin.

  I got it! I got it!

  Hahaha!!!

  Kanzaki Ryūji—B-Css’s leader is Kanzaki Ryūji!!!

  Kaneda’s eyes were wide with delirium as he desperately ran toward Ryūen’s location.

  Four days…

  Do you have ANY IDEA what I went through these past four days?!

  Goldfield! Silverfield! Sakata!

  My name is KANEDA SATORU!!!

  Css B’s students…

  Were demons.

  That camp was hell.

  This whole damn pce!

  Is a NIGHTMARE!

  I can’t take it anymore!

  Uesugi, you bastard! Remember my name!

  The man who will bring Css B to ruin is Kaneda Satoru!

  The man who will END this special exam—

  Kaneda’s crazed gaze locked onto a fsh of red hair in the distance.

  Found him!

  Ryūen!

  Meanwhile, Ryūen Kakeru stood waiting—

  And in the distance, he spotted…

  A deranged zombie of a man charging toward him.

  Bloodshot eyes (from sleep deprivation via Uesugi’s harassment).

  Arms hanging limply (from endless firewood collection).

  Face contorted with insanity as he sprinted forward.

  Ryūen was startled at first—

  Then, as he recognized the lunatic, he burst into ughter, spreading his arms wide.

  "Welcome back, Ka—"

  Kaneda colpsed face-first at Ryūen’s feet.

  Trembling, he tried to push himself up—

  But he had no strength left.

  Damn it… was it Uesugi?

  That demon…

  When?

  I… I couldn’t even drag him to hell myself…?

  With one st burst of energy, Kaneda reached out, gripping Ryūen’s pant leg.

  With his other shaking hand, he held up a photo.

  Tears and snot dripping down his face, he croaked,

  "Ryūen… avenge me…"

  And then—

  He passed out cold.

  ---

  "Oi, Uesugi… are you seriously going through with this?"

  Kanzaki’s face was pale as he stared at the… thing in Uesugi’s hands—an unholy concoction emitting dark, ominous smoke.

  He swallowed hard.

  "Can’t we… use a different method? Like, you could just knock me out or something."

  "No can do."

  Uesugi waved off the suggestion.

  "I’m not good at holding back. If I actually hit you, you might not wake up even after the exam ends."

  He shoved the monstrosity forward with a wicked grin.

  "Drink up! I personally learned this modified recipe from Master De."

  "It absolutely won’t have any sting side effects."

  Kanzaki’s expression turned a sickly shade of green.

  "Can’t we reconsider—"

  "Kanzaki!"

  Uesugi’s voice boomed.

  "Have you forgotten our vow to protect Css B?!"

  …

  There was no escape.

  With grim resignation, Kanzaki shut his eyes, grabbed the bowl, and chugged it down.

  And then—

  He knew.

  He knew he had just consumed something straight out of hell itself.

  First, an unholy sourness that made even his stone-cold face contort.

  Then, a bitterness that stabbed its way down his throat like razor bdes.

  Followed by a scorching heat that burned through his entire body like molten va.

  His mind bnked out—

  And then, the taste of pure agony exploded in his brain.

  CRASH!

  The bowl hit the ground.

  Kanzaki cwed at his throat, writhing in agony.

  "Oi, Uesugi—"

  Shibata stumbled back in fear.

  "What the hell did you feed him?! He looks like he’s about to mutate!"

  "Rex."

  Uesugi waved dismissively.

  "It’s just a mixture of emetic herbs and random food ingredients."

  Then, as an afterthought—

  "Technically, just drinking the herbs alone would’ve worked too."

  Kanzaki’s eyes snapped open.

  His trembling finger pointed accusingly at Uesugi.

  You… you bastard…

  "HURK—"

  And then—

  His stomach violently rejected everything.

  Uesugi turned and shouted into the distance.

  "Hoshinomiya-sensei! Kanzaki’s turning into a water fountain!"

  ---

  T/N: ewwwww