COTE: Popularity System

Classroom of the Elite World.

After the exam results were announced, all first-year students returned to the luxury cruise ship.

Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka came to the deck to discuss why Class D managed to secure first place in this exam.

"So, you discovered the leaders of Class B and Class C, and then used the exam rules to replace our own leader, which is why we got first place?" Horikita Suzune's brows furrowed slightly, finding it hard to believe.

She and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had obtained the same information, they had also gone out together these past few days to scout the leaders of the other classes.

Yet, Ayanokoji discovered the leaders of both classes and even figured out a way to utilize the exam rules. She herself knew nothing, and didn't even realize she had been used.

"I just got lucky this time." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said flatly.

"Ayanokoji, do I look like an idiot?" Horikita Suzune frowned in displeasure.

"..."

Looking at the black-haired girl in front of him, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka felt quite a headache.

Since enrollment, he had been trying to raise Horikita Suzune's standing in the class. However, he failed to achieve the results he had anticipated every single time.

During the midterms, he gave her a hint, allowing her to propose in front of the whole class that they could use private points to buy scores, and then he pushed the credit for negotiating the price onto Horikita Suzune.

Logically speaking, Horikita Suzune, who saved seven students in the class, should have gradually gained some standing. However, during the subsequent point-borrowing phase, Horikita Suzune played no role. Instead, Kushida Kikyo ran herself ragged across several classes and managed to borrow a large number of points.

If one were to use approval rating as an analogy, then during the midterm exam incident, much of the approval rating that should have belonged to Horikita Suzune was taken by Kushida Kikyo.

Next came the Sudo fighting incident. If successfully resolved, Horikita Suzune would undoubtedly have showcased her abilities to the entire class once again. But unexpectedly, Class B also joined the fray, and before Ayanokoji Kiyotaka could intervene, Sudo was expelled.

The plan to raise Horikita Suzune's standing in the class failed again.

In this Deserted Island Exam, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka fully learned from the previous lesson and included fools like Yamauchi Haruki in his considerations when formulating this plan.

To turn the tide when the class was in despair.

With this achievement, Horikita Suzune's standing in the class would definitely increase significantly.

But he didn't expect that Takada Hikaru of Class A also knew the leaders of Class B and Class C, and even made a deal with Hirata while he was absent.

Although he didn't know the content of the deal, he knew that a large portion of Class D's achievement in winning the Deserted Island Exam would fall upon Takada Hikaru, who was from another class.

The plan to elevate Horikita Suzune's standing in Class D was thwarted again.

'However, Horikita used her own withdrawal during this exam to change the class leader, which led to Class B and Class C answering incorrectly and losing 50 points. When the rest of the class learns about this, their impression of her will still improve somewhat.' Ayanokoji Kiyotaka thought silently to himself.

"Horikita!"

Just as Ayanokoji and Horikita were talking.

Class D students jogged over, calling Horikita's name.

They must be here to thank her, right?

Unfortunately, the development of events exceeded Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's expectations.

"Horikita, since you already knew that the leader could be changed by getting sick, why didn't you tell us beforehand?"

Shinohara, who had a quick temper, said with an angry face, "If you had told us earlier, we wouldn't have had to sign a contract with Takada-san from Class A."

"A contract?"

Horikita Suzune looked blankly at the brown-haired boy sitting next to her, who shook his head, indicating that he also didn't know.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka only knew that Hirata Yōsuke and Takada Hikaru must have secretly made a deal, but he didn't know the specifics.

Now it seemed Takada Hikaru's transaction target wasn't just Hirata Yōsuke, but rather all the students in Class D.

Except for him and Horikita.

"Shinohara-san, please calm down first."

Hirata Yōsuke stepped into the middle somewhat helplessly, soothing Shinohara Satsuki's emotions.

"Horikita-san still doesn't know what happened, so let me explain the situation first."

Hirata Yōsuke still maintained a smile on his face, but compared to before, it held a lot more bitterness.

It turned out that a few days before the Deserted Island Exam, while Ayanokoji and Horikita were out scouting the situation, Takada Hikaru sought out Hirata and Kushida and proposed a transaction.

He would provide the leaders of Class B and Class C to Class D. If Class D answered and got it right, then the students of Class D would have to give him points every month.

Hirata and Kushida not only agreed to the request but also persuaded their classmates to sign the contract together.

Hearing this, Horikita Suzune narrowed her eyes slightly. "Shinohara-san, based on what I've heard, this matter has nothing to do with me, right?"

"It was clearly Hirata-san and Kushida-san who made a mistake in judgment, leading to the points that should have belonged to you being handed over to someone else. Why are you pushing the blame onto me?"

Wait!

Based on what Shinohara just said, Takada Hikaru's conditions for Class D were definitely not that simple.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka quickly realized something was wrong.

Shinohara Satsuki knitted her brows, her face flushed with anger. "Ha... Horikita, you really have the nerve to say that. It's because Takada-san also discovered that you were the leader."

"What did you say?" Horikita Suzune's eyes narrowed slightly, and her mouth opened in surprise.

"He threatened Hirata and Kushida at the time, saying that if they didn't sign the contract, he would write your name down in the final submission section, which is why Hirata agreed to the request."

(End of Chapter)

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