"But so what? I'm negotiating terms with Wu, not with you. If you understand this, then don't interrupt, Yukinoshita girl?"
"No, you are not just negotiating with Wu Yi, but with everyone in our class."
Yukinoshita Haruno was uncharacteristically tough, with a faint but unquestionable smile on her face.
"This is essentially a bet agreement. My suggestion is that if you fail to complete the conditions agreed upon with Wu Yi, then you must still fully assist the class in the next special exam until you achieve the best result in a certain exam."
"Hmm... That's a good plan, Yukinoshita girl, but unfortunately, nothing is impossible for me."
Kouenji stroked his chin, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
"It doesn't matter. I'll agree to your terms. I wish you a happy bet."
Volume 359: Chapter You like him, right?
After school, in a western restaurant in the school shopping center, the melodious light music was mixed with the voices of girls greeting each other.
"You're here, Ichinose-san."
"Sorry for the wait, Sakayanagi-san."
On the first day after the ban on forming teams for the uninhabited island exam was lifted, Arisu Sakayanagi asked Ichinose out privately, ostensibly to discuss matters related to the exam.
In a less noticeable corner of the store, beside a dining table, Arisu Sakayanagi, who was wearing a beret as usual, nodded to the huge pink-haired energetic girl who had just arrived in front of him.
"I'm sorry for asking you out so suddenly, Ichinose-san. I was prepared to be rejected."
"Hey, actually I was a little surprised too. I didn't expect Sakayanagi-san would take the initiative to look for me... But it's okay. I don't have any special plans today."
Ichinose hung his schoolbag, which he had not yet returned to the dormitory, on the back of the chair and sat down at the table, scratching his face a little embarrassedly.
"So, what are you going to talk to me about?"
"Um……"
Pursing his lips slightly, Arisu Sakayanagi took the red teapot that had been ordered on the table in advance, and with some awkward movements, poured the brown-red tea into the carved bone china teacup.
The pleasant sound of flowing water accompanied the music in the store, and the silver-haired girl slowly spoke.
"Then I will get down to business as you wish. What I am about to say may make you, Ichinose-san, uncomfortable."
"Well, please be merciful..."
Ichinose took the teacup with both hands and thanked him politely.
Arisu Sakayanagi also poured herself a cup. She took a sip of the fragrant black tea and formally spoke.
"It's better to suffer a short pain than a long one. Let me be frank. We are now in the second grade, and it has been more than a year since we first entered school. Based on the situation so far, Ichinose-san, which class do you think will have the worst development trend in the future?"
This was a question that the answer was known without having to think, for both Sakayanagi and Ichinose.
From the time they entered school until now, Wu Yi's Class D has been promoted to Class A in one fell swoop... no, it has been promoted twice, while the original Class A has been demoted to Class C. The Class C, which had been asking for trouble, was completely suppressed in Class D and has never been able to move again.
There is no doubt that the class A has the brightest development trend.
Then theoretically speaking, the next closest class should be Class B where Ichinose is.
After all, although they briefly dropped to Class C, they were later promoted to Class A, but then fell back to Class B, which was considered a return to their original position, and it couldn't even be considered a drop in rank.
This is true if you only look at the class scores, but if you look at it in detail it is completely different.
In fact, from last year's uninhabited island exam until now, Ichinose's Class B is the only class among the four classes whose class points have been declining.
Besides, even the big explosion in last year's uninhabited island exam was completely due to luck. It happened to be the time when Wu Yi beat up Katsuragi and Ryuen.
After that, both Sakayanagi Arisu's C class and Ryuuen's D class had their class points increase by as little as one hundred and as much as two hundred.
Especially after the Command Tower exam at the end of last semester and the cross-grade team exam at the beginning of this semester, the gap between Class C and Class B has narrowed to only eleven points.
This tiny difference can basically be counted as part of the error in attendance and absence every month. At this rate, it will only take a month or so to exceed the limit.
If this is the case with Arisu Sakayanagi, let alone the tyrant of Class D whose methods are even more dark and cruel.
I believe that given time, it would not be surprising for Class B, which was once Class A, to fall to the lowest level, Class D.
Ichinose, who knows the situation well, can be said to be very clear about this.
"Ahahaha... You're really straightforward..."
Ichinose's mind went blank, and her cheeks felt hot as she was hit on the point. However, she couldn't refute it, so she could only smile bitterly and fan herself with her hands instead of a fan.
Arisu Sakayanagi put down the tea in his hand and gently closed the lid of the cup: "Well, it's not just you, Ichinose-san. Even I feel that Class D is a bit tricky right now."
"Hey~ Are you being modest, Sakayanagi-san?"
"No, I'm serious."
Looking into the eyes of the huge pink-haired energetic girl, Sakayanagi Arisu said seriously.
"Even I have to admit that Ryuen is indeed a very troublesome opponent. I think you should have discovered, Ichinose-san, that he can always stab you in the most unexpected place, making you defenseless."
"Eh……"
Ichinose nodded helplessly.
Indeed, let’s not talk about far-flung things, let’s just talk about the near ones.
Like during the last command tower exam, when they gave their opponents laxatives or something like that... Although everyone has heard of and thought of this kind of operation, under normal circumstances, almost no one would think of actually doing it.
But Long Yuan really did it, and left no evidence.
"Let's get back to the point. My suggestion is that starting from the upcoming summer uninhabited island exam, how about our two classes C and B join forces?"
"Join forces?"
"Yes, there are two purposes. One is to pull down the arrogant Class A, and the other is to prevent Class D from catching up."
Arisu Sakayanagi is patient and persuasive.
"It just so happens that the difference in class points between our two classes is almost non-existent. If we can reach a cooperation like this, and make gains and losses together, then theoretically you and I should be able to become Class A and Class B respectively by the third year. At that time, we can use the last special exam as the final duel to decide the winner. How about that?"
"Um……"
Ichinose Honami did not agree immediately, she still had some concerns.
After all, Sakayanagi's fighting style is different from hers, and perhaps there is a certain degree of abandonment of companions, which is something Ichinose absolutely cannot accept.
"I know what you are worried about, Ichinose-san, but don't worry, our relationship is just cooperation, and I will not take over your command of Class B."
The calm smile on Sakayanagi Arisu's face gradually faded.
She stood up and walked down from her seat, came to the pink-haired girl and extended a hand.
"So, take me up on my offer?"
"..."
Ichinose Honami also stood up, took a deep breath to calm herself down, then shook the other person's hand sincerely with a little more force.
"If that's what you said, Sakayanagi-san, then I accept it."
"Well, I wish us a pleasant cooperation."
The alliance was reached, and Sakayanagi Arisu's tone suddenly became cheerful.
After letting go of his hand, she was about to turn around and go back to her seat, but as if she remembered something, she stopped and turned back to add another sentence.
"Oh, yes, from another perspective besides the development of the class, Ichinose-san, you made a wise choice."
"Another...angle?"
Ichinose Honami tilted her head and a question mark appeared on her head.
"If you can join hands with me to pull Class A down from its lofty throne, Wu Yi might look at you differently~"
Just like gathering strength before throwing a punch, Sakayanagi Arisu paused for a moment, then said something that made the pink-haired girl's cheeks instantly heat up.
"You like him, don't you?"
Volume 360: Chapter Young man, the road is narrow
Days passed one by one, and with the passing of spring, this seemingly isolated artificial island that hosts such a large school finally welcomed the summer heat.
There is less than a month left until the uninhabited island exam.
On the weekend, two leaders from different first-grade classes met in an extremely ordinary corridor outside the first-grade classroom.
"It looks like you, Yagami, are the only one here right now."
A tall boy walked out from the stairs. He had a stern face and black hair that was just long enough to cover his ears. He was none other than Utsunomiya Riku, the core student of Class C of the first year.
He looked up and saw Class B leader Takuya Yagami, who had been waiting in the corridor for who knows how long, and spoke calmly.
"Haha, hello, Utsunomiya-san." Takuya Yagami smiled kindly in response.
"Huh~ Do you think Baoquan will come this time today?"
Coming to Takuya Yagami's side, Utsunomiya Riku imitated the former and leaned his back against the safety fence facing outward in the corridor.
Apparently this wasn't the first time the first-year leaders had met like this.
In fact, they had met like this several times during this period of time to discuss the summer uninhabited island exam, hoping to form a temporary alliance to resist the class point plundering from the senior grades.
But no matter which time, classes A, B, and C were all present, except class D where Baoquan was, which was late, causing this proposal to be shelved again and again.
Therefore, the calls for isolating Class D from the first grade are getting louder and louder.
In order to prevent this proposal from being shelved and further postponed, most of the first grade issued an ultimatum to Class D before the meeting was scheduled to start, stating that this would be Class D's last chance to attend the meeting, and if they still did not come, they would be permanently removed from the list of possible partners.
But even so, no one dared to guarantee 100% that Baoquan would definitely show up.
"I think the odds are fifty-fifty."
Yagami Takuya thought for a moment and said.
"After all, if he still doesn't show up today, it will become a collaboration between our three classes. Then their D class will have to fight alone against the pressure from the seniors, right?"
"Split in half? You really trust Baoquan. I'm prepared for him to never come even if he dies." Utsunomiya Lu shook his head.
Yagami Taku smiled noncommittally: "Well, it's no use just guessing here. He will come anyway."
"Oh~! Riku, Takuya!"
Just as the two were chatting, a voice came from the other end of the corridor.
Turning around, I saw a boy shouting their names and waving his hands while jogging towards them.
That was Takahashi Osamu from Class A of the first year. Although his academic ability was not high, only C+, he was very good at making friends. He got an A in mechanical thinking ability, and he was often called upon when there was something that needed to be discussed.
"You're here, Xiu. It seems like you've been forced to handle this hot potato again?" Yagami Takuya joked.
"Haha, the leader of our class doesn't like this kind of trouble, so I'll do it."
Takahashi Osamu scratched his head and laughed.
"By the way, isn't Baoquan here yet?"
"Not yet, but it's almost time, we can start now, that guy won't come if he doesn't come..."
Utsunomiya Lu was about to urge him, but before he could finish his words, he heard footsteps coming from the stairs again.
Then a certain arrogant and tall figure appeared at the stairs.
"You're here after all, Hosen-san."
Even though the other person was the plague god that all the first-year students hated, Yagami Takuya still greeted him with a smile.
But Houquan didn't even look at him, his eyes were fixed on Utsunomiya.
Utsunomiya also met his hostile gaze with no fear.
Seeing that the fight was about to break out before even a single word was spoken, Takahashi Osamu quickly tried to smooth things over and divert attention.
"Now that everyone is here, shall we officially begin? Regarding the team—"
"Just start your ass casually."
Before he could finish his words, Baoquan, who was approaching, suddenly pushed Takahashi's shoulder. Takahashi was caught off guard and immediately lost his balance and fell backwards, falling to the ground with his buttocks in the astonished looks of others around him.
Utsunomiya's eyes suddenly became sharp and he glared at Houquan.
"Baoquan, I hope you won't bring your violence to this occasion."
"Huh? So you're going to stop me?"
"If necessary, I will."
"Ha, interesting. Come and give it a try if you have the ability."
