COTE: Popularity System

Meanwhile.

In a private room on the luxury cruise ship.

Hirata Yosuke, Kushida Kikyo, and Horikita Suzune of Class D were having a discussion.

"Kushida-san, Horikita-san, what are your thoughts on this special exam?" Hirata Yosuke opened the conversation in a gentle tone.

For this exam, they, all coming from the same class, had been assigned to the Dragon Group. Going forward, not only would they have to fight as a three-person team but also, because of their special status within the class, they had to consider the class's battle strategy for this exam.

"Hmm... This exam feels a bit like Werewolf." Kushida Kikyo said, pouting her lips cutely and revealing a smile.

"It really does seem like it." Hirata Yosuke nodded.

The VIP Exam and Werewolf are indeed somewhat similar, but the latter, as a game, sets up various roles like Witch, Werewolf, Hunter, and Seer, and also requires the Werewolf to eliminate one person every night to narrow down the range. It can be said that players participating in Werewolf can find out who the Werewolf is through many clues.

However, for the VIP Exam, the school only stated that there is one VIP in the group, without any other hints, nor were there any requirements for the members participating in the discussion.

Trying to guess the VIP from over a dozen people in each group, based only on a few one-hour discussions, is simply too difficult.

"Werewolf?" Horikita Suzune's tone was somewhat blank. "Sorry, I don't understand what you mean by Werewolf."

She understood the rules of the VIP Exam, but she hadn't understood the content of the conversation between Kushida and Hirata.

Hearing what she said, Hirata and Kushida instinctively exchanged glances, both seeing shock and helplessness in each other's eyes.

They hadn't expected that there would actually be a high school girl who had never even heard of Werewolf. Not having played it is understandable but not having even heard of it is surprising.

But considering that this person is the unsociable Horikita Suzune, it feels like it might be quite normal.

"Horikita, actually, so-called Werewolf is..."

In the end, it was up to the class's most enthusiastic Kushida Kikyo to be responsible for clearing up Horikita Suzune's confusion.

"I see, Werewolf is a game you often play." Horikita Suzune nodded slightly, indicating she understood completely.

Subsequently, she changed the subject, "But does this help with the special exam in any way?"

Being told this by Horikita Suzune, the other two Class D students present exchanged glances again, still able to see helplessness in each other's eyes.

"Horikita-san, we were just remarking on the similarities between Werewolf and the exam."

This time, it was Hirata Yosuke who spoke to communicate with Horikita Suzune.

His face revealed a bright smile, and he said in an enthusiastic tone, "Kushida-san just noticed you were a bit confused, so she wanted to explain it to you."

Hearing his explanation, Horikita Suzune responded softly, and then said to the girl smiling beside her, "Thank you for the explanation, Kushida-san. I now understand what Werewolf means."

"You're welcome. I'm just glad I could help." Kushida Kikyo clapped her hands, her face revealing a bright smile.

"Moving forward, we still have to participate in the special exam as members of the Dragon Group, so helping each other is only natural."

The topic quietly returned to the VIP Exam.

Hirata Yosuke looked at the black-haired girl in front of him and asked in a gentle, peaceful tone, "Horikita-san, do you have any thoughts on this special exam?"

During the last Deserted Island Exam, Horikita Suzune had formulated a plan that could allow Class D to turn defeat into victory. But because she hadn't told others about the plan, it resulted in the class's private points leaking into the hands of a student from another class.

This time, they had to learn from the lessons of the Deserted Island Exam and find out Horikita Suzune's thoughts in advance to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Hearing his inquiry, Horikita Suzune narrowed her eyes slightly, recalling the rules of the VIP Exam, and stated her thoughts, "If possible, I hope that the VIP in the Class D group achieves Outcome 4, and for other groups, Class D students achieve Outcome 3."

Outcome 4: The class to which the VIP belongs gains 50 Class Points.

Outcome 3: The class to which the answerer belongs gains 50 Class Points.

Horikita Suzune's gaze was firm. "In that case, our class will gain 600 Class Points. Including the 220 points gained from the Deserted Island Exam, our class's Class Points will reach 820."

While Class D gains Class Points, other classes will also lose points. Like Class A and Class B, they will lose at least 150 Class Points.

By then, the distance between Class D and these two higher-ranked classes will only be about 200 points. It could be possible to rise to Class A at any time.

"Horikita-san, your thoughts are really amazing," Kushida Kikyo clapped her hands, smiling slightly, her eyes curving into crescents.

"I, on the other hand, hope everyone can achieve Outcome 1."

Outcome 1: All students in that group receive 500,000 Private Points, and the VIP receives an additional 500,000 Private Points.

"If it's Outcome 1, everyone won't fight over Class Points, and everyone will be able to get Private Points."

Kushida Kikyo paused, the smile on her face becoming somewhat forced. "I would prefer an ending where everyone benefits, and no one gets hurt."

In reality, her true thought was that if they went with Outcome 1, she would be able to get at least 500,000 Private Points, enough to pay off all the external debts she owed.

Even though she borrowed points for classmates, borrowing money and not paying it back is always an act that lowers one's own evaluation.

She didn't want to miss the opportunity to obtain a huge amount of points through this VIP Exam.

"Horikita-san and Kushida-san both have very interesting ideas."

Hearing the girls' statements, Hirata Yosuke's lips twitched slightly, his expression somewhat helpless.

Either everyone gets Outcome 3 or Outcome 4, raising Class D's Class Points to 820. Or it's all Outcome 1, causing the school to distribute 85 million Private Points to students in a single VIP Exam.

You two are both so extreme.