COTE: Popularity System

After asking Hoshinomiya Chie a few more questions, Ichinose Honami rejoined her classmates and began discussing the strategy for this exam.

"Are there any classmates who are good at camping?"

"Being able to use exam-specific points sparingly should be one of the key points of this exam. If we have camping experience, maybe we can help everyone save more points."

Hearing Honami's words, a male student in the class immediately raised his hand. "I've had a few summer camp experiences, but I'm not sure if I can help everyone."

Ichinose Honami said reassuringly, "Motoyama-kun, don't worry too much, we'll only know if we try."

Under her leadership, the Class A students began to systematically discuss their views on the special exam.

Takada Hikaru listened silently from the side, not intending to participate in the discussion.

But just then, the class's second-in-command walked over.

"Takada-san, is it convenient to talk privately for a bit?" Kanzaki Ryūji asked in a low voice.

"Sure." Takada Hikaru wasn't surprised.

He followed him a distance away, to a place where other Class A students couldn't hear them.

"Takada-san, can I ask for your thoughts on this exam?" Kanzaki Ryūji asked.

"Ryūji, I've contributed enough to the class." Takada Hikaru's answer was somewhat evasive.

But the implication was that he didn't want to help.

The camera was currently on them, so a performance was naturally required.

"I know." Kanzaki Ryūji nodded slightly. "You told us about the quality assessment on the second day of school, which helped us avoid falling behind Class A by 200 class points from the very beginning, unlike previous Class B students."

"From this perspective, your contribution to the class is indeed significant. Even if you only put in the effort of a normal student from now on, no one in the class would say anything, right?"

An ordinary student, let alone increasing class points by 200, would find it difficult to increase them by even 2 points.

Takada Hikaru, based solely on his actions at the start of the school year, could comfortably not exert himself for the next three years.

"I have other ideas, you should still remember them, right?" Takada Hikaru said.

Kanzaki Ryūji's expression was somewhat complex. "Yes, because they were so astonishing, I still remember them vividly. You said that by personally leading the class, it would be easy to maintain Class A, so you needed to take the 20 million individual promotion route, which would be more challenging."

He had thought Hikaru's words were just a joke. But in May, rumors spread that Takada Hikaru had spent 20 million points to help an upperclassman transfer classes.

After confirming with the upperclassman, it turned out to be true. Takada Hikaru had managed to accumulate enough points in one month that would take an entire class half a year to save if they didn't spend any.

Although Kanzaki Ryūji was shocked, he knew what he should do at this moment.

For the class to maintain their lead, clinging to Takada Hikaru's coattails was the most important thing to do.

"Takada-san, you said that taking the 20 million individual promotion route is very challenging."

"However, wouldn't it be even more challenging to ensure that your class remains Class A while simultaneously collecting 20 million points personally?"

"What do you think?"

Kanzaki Ryūji looked nervously at the young man opposite him.

While Takada Hikaru and Kanzaki Ryūji were conversing, the audience watching the anime saw a flashback from the past.

It was the second day of the previous semester, and it showed Takada Hikaru interacting with his classmates.

It not only explained how the original Class B managed to overtake Class A in the first month but also revealed Takada Hikaru's attitude toward the class and the special exam.

This special plot, which had been recorded long ago, was finally broadcast in its entirety to the audience.

[Although I already knew from other characters in the anime that Money-Giving Guy saw through the school's rules on the second day, it's still surprising to see the specific flashback.]

[Class D still thought the school was paradise at this time, but the original Class B was already preparing for class competition.]

[So, how did Money-Giving Guy manage to know all the school rules on the second day?]

[To be precise, it was on the first day. Money-Giving Guy told Horikita at the convenience store that the school had hidden rules, but because there were no classes on the first day and the students had dispersed, Money-Giving Guy only announced it on the second day.]

[So why did Money-Giving Guy know the school rules so early?]

[Does Money-Giving Guy's observational skills even need to be mentioned? Just by looking at the school's recruitment propaganda, he could figure out that the island was related to the special exam and tested camping ability.]

[Money-Giving Guy probably investigated the school before enrollment. This school graduates over a hundred students every year, over a thousand in ten years, and several thousand in decades. The school cannot supervise so many adults at once, so Money-Giving Guy might have obtained detailed information by asking these graduates.]

[Asked former graduates? I feel like Money-Giving Guy's prestige has dropped.]

[Don't listen to his nonsense. The animation team didn't say Money-Giving Guy asked graduates. Everything is based on the animation team's content.]

Looking at the comments in front of him, Takada Hikaru had a relaxed smile on his face, but his mind was deep in thought.

If he rashly gave the reason for knowing the school's hidden rules, it could easily become a detrimental point that lowers his prestige. It's better to maintain the mystery and let the audience imagine it themselves.