COTE: Popularity System

'Did my Popularity Points increase so much because I was compared to the leaders of the other classes?'

Takada Hikaru took a sip of coffee, quite satisfied with the gains from the Deserted Island Exam.

From the audience's perspective, the Classroom of the Elite anime has currently gone through four arcs: the Beginning of School Arc, the Midterm Exam Arc, the Sudo Fight Arc, and the Deserted Island Exam Arc.

In the first three arcs, Takada Hikaru participated in the plot, but he did not openly confront the leaders of the other classes.

In the Deserted Island Exam, all first-year classes participated, and various leaders took up significant roles in the plot, leaving a deep impression on the audience.

Hirata Yōsuke, known as "Mini Hayama," nearly collapsed when he saw the class conflicts intensifying.

Black Angel Kushida Kikyo, on the other hand, turned on her own class, collaborating with students from other classes to sabotage her own Class D students, all for the sake of trapping Horikita Suzune as well.

Horikita Suzune, needless to say, flapped around like a headless fly and was kept in the dark the entire time. Based on her performance during the exam, it was evident that her greatest contribution to the class would have been withdrawing from the exam rather than continuing, which was truly pathetic.

Katsuragi Kōhei seemed steady, but his methods were actually quite aggressive. He led his students to occupy the most bases, believing he could surpass Class A by several hundred points, but ultimately his class's leader was guessed, leading to a painful defeat.

Ichinose Honami didn't play a major role. She looked like she was just taking her class on a field trip, ultimately achieving a mediocre score of 140 points.

Ryūen Kakeru appeared reckless and incompetent on the surface, but he was actually quite shrewd. He cooperated with Class B, sent people to gather intelligence, and ended up with 0 points. All these actions combined formed the image of a complex leader.

Sakayanagi Arisu, although she did not participate in the exam, instructed members of her faction to stab Katsuragi Kōhei in the back, leading to her class's failure, which also left a deep impression on the audience.

But compared to these leaders with unique images, what Takada Hikaru did was the most distinctive.

First, he suggested that the class not select a leader and not check in, creating a contrast with all the other leaders.

Second, when he informed Class D of the other class leaders, he did not reveal the Class A leader, meaning he did not betray his class, which contrasted with Sakayanagi Arisu.

Third, he had a particularly easy time during this exam. In the audience's eyes, he effortlessly obtained intelligence on the leaders of the other three classes and gained many private points from Class D, contrasting sharply with Ryūen Kakeru's wilderness survival and Katsuragi Kōhei's frantic daily check-ins.

Fourth, having previously always sabotaged Class D, he uncharacteristically helped Class D this time, creating a contrast with his past self.

To the audience, Takada Hikaru won this exam and defeated the leaders of the other classes without relying on his class's strength, betraying his class, or exerting much effort.

Furthermore, he did not tell his class the leaders of the other two classes. Otherwise, Class A would have immediately taken first place in this exam.

He also projected a powerful image to the audience: "I could easily lead the class to first place, I just chose not to."

'Also, it seems my character development isn't over yet.'

Takada Hikaru looked at the content of the animation.

The perspective had switched from Class D to Class A.

Ichinose Honami was currently sitting in a beverage shop, enjoying a drink carefully prepared by the staff.

Sitting next to her were Kanzaki Ryūji and Himeno Yuki.

"In other words..."

"Takada-san told Class D the leaders of Class B and Class C, and then all Class D students have to transfer 9,000 Private Points to him every month?"

Kanzaki Ryūji's eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression became serious.

Ichinose Honami nodded slightly. "To be precise, all Class D students, except for Kōenji-san, Horikita-san, and Ayanokoji-san, have to transfer points to Takada-san every month. This is what I heard from a friend in Class D."

Although Honami didn't have as many friends as Kushida Kikyo, she also made close friends in every class.

Class D achieved first place in the Deserted Island Exam, and they also have a connection with Takada Hikaru. Whether out of responsibility as a class leader or concern for her classmates, she wanted to know the specific situation.

"In that case, the points Takada-san receives from Class D alone already exceed 300,000 every month." Kanzaki Ryūji frowned.

He even fleeces Class D. What a terrifying guy.

Kanzaki Ryūji couldn't help but recall the conversation he had with Takada Hikaru at the start of the Deserted Island Exam.

At that time, he hoped to pique his interest with the combined goal of "maintaining Class A status + personally collecting 20 million Private Points."

But Takada Hikaru stated that combining the two goals would actually make them easier to achieve. He gave an example: if Class A's Class Points were raised above 1,500, and then every Class A student gave him 50,000 Private Points monthly, he could easily achieve both goals simultaneously.

Kanzaki Ryūji originally thought Takada Hikaru was merely hinting that if he wanted him to help the class, he would need at least 2 million Private Points every month.

But Takada Hikaru said he wouldn't do such a thing to his classmates. Afterward, he did these things to the Class D students, earning over 300,000 Private Points from them every month.

Kanzaki Ryūji sighed slightly, "It's a pity I hesitated back then and didn't immediately support Takada-san's plan. Otherwise, our class score in this exam should have reached 290 points."

Takada Hikaru's plan was to randomly select the leader and not check in.

In this exam, the points Class A used to purchase supplies were 110 points, meaning 190 points remained.

According to Takada Hikaru's plan, there would be no possibility of their leader being guessed, so they only needed to consider whether they guessed the opponent's leader.

And Takada Hikaru had undoubtedly discovered the leaders of the other classes, so Class A's points could have increased by at least 100 points, totaling 290 points.

This would be a 170-point increase compared to the original Class A led by Katsuragi Kōhei.

Honami comforted him, "Kanzaki-san, you don't need to blame yourself so much. It's normal not to be used to this kind of exam since it's our first time experiencing it."

When faced with an extreme plan like Takada Hikaru's, it was quite normal not to make a decision alone but to discuss it with classmates.

But if it were a leader from another class, like Ryūen Kakeru, they might have simply ordered their classmates to follow instructions.