"Senpaku, I am Sakamoto. What brings you here?"

Instead, it's when the opponents have different motives.

When coordination is needed not only with students in your own class, but also with students from other classes,

Will Sakamoto's unconventional, almost "lower-dimensional" approach still be effective as always?

Can he maintain that absolute leadership stance and lead Class A to great success?

Horikita Manabu really wanted to know the answer.

"I'll see."

He gazed at the lush campus outside the window and said softly.

On the azure sea, the luxury cruise ship, like a moving castle, sails smoothly toward its homeward journey.

Three days have passed since the end of the exam on the uninhabited island.

Students can be seen relaxing and playing everywhere, on the deck, by the pool, and in the recreation room.

The true summer vacation atmosphere finally began to permeate this cruise ship.

However, amidst this tranquility, one figure has almost vanished without a trace.

Sakamoto from Class A.

Since boarding the ship, he has vanished as if he had disappeared from the face of the earth, rarely appearing in public.

Nobody knows where he went.

Was he studying some obscure classic text in his room?

Or perhaps they are secretly cultivating themselves in some unknown corner.

This sense of mystery actually fits his image in the public eye better.

Lunchtime, inside the main restaurant of the cruise ship.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, Suzune Horikita, Yosuke Hirata, and Megumi Karuizawa sat at a table for a meal.

After the test on the deserted island, Horikita's prestige in Class D significantly increased.

This communication among core members has also become more natural.

The atmosphere was fairly harmonious.

The topic of conversation has unwittingly returned to the previous incident on the deserted island.

"Speaking of which, I still have to thank Ayanokouji-kun,"

Hirata Yosuke smiled gently and looked at Ayanokoji.

"Thanks to you, Hui's...thing was found."

Upon hearing this, Karuizawa Megumi blushed slightly, awkwardly lowered her head, poked at the food on her plate with her fork, and muttered softly:

"Yes... thanks."

Ayanokouji swallowed the food in her mouth and calmly replied:

"You're welcome. I wasn't the one who found it; it was Sakamoto from Class A."

"Sakamoto?"

Hirata and Karuizawa both looked surprised.

"Um,"

Ayanokouji nodded and briefly recounted the events surrounding the transfer of items by Koenji, omitting details that Sakamoto might have been aware of, only stating that...

"It is said that he discovered it by chance during his patrol."

Horikita Suzune listened quietly without interrupting.

"Then...who exactly is the culprit? Is it Ibuki?"

Hirata pressed on, his tone filled with concern.

He still hopes to resolve this matter completely and prevent further rifts within the class.

Ayanokouji answered based on his observations and speculations:

"Judging from motives and actions, Ibuki Mio is the most suspicious. As a spy sent by Class B, she has every reason to create chaos."

Karuizawa Megumi clenched her fists in anger:

"It really was that guy! He's definitely not a good person!"

However, both Ayanokoji and Horikita knew in their hearts that...

The real mastermind behind this may be someone else entirely—

But now is not the time to expose it.

Pointing the finger out rashly will only cause greater chaos, and for Class D, which has just stabilized, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Some abscesses need to be opened at the right time.

at this time--

【Om—】

A clear broadcast rang throughout the restaurant, interrupting everyone's conversation.

"To all students, please note that a special exam is about to begin. The school has sent an email to all students; please check your emails and follow the instructions."

The noisy restaurant fell silent for a moment, then erupted into an even louder discussion.

"No? Come again?"

Karuizawa sighed, and the ease on her face vanished instantly.

Yosuke Hirata also gave a helpless smile, but remained calm:

"Well, it seems our leisurely vacation is over early. Don't panic, everyone. Shouldn't we make some plans first?"

Ayanokouji silently took out her phone from her pocket and unlocked the screen.

A notification of a new email appeared prominently in the background.

He opened the email, and the concise and clear content came into view:

[Special Exam Notice]

[Meeting Time] Before 18:00 tonight

[Meeting Point] Room 204, 2nd Floor

[Time Required] Approximately 20 minutes

[Important Notes] Please take care of your personal matters beforehand and put your phone on vibrate or off. Being more than 10 minutes late will result in a penalty.

Another special exam...

Ayanokouji put down his phone and glanced at the three people on the table, each with a different expression.

P.S.: Updates will resume tomorrow!

I've also written about those receiving preferential treatment; I never imagined I could write such a long piece.

First Grade Summer Vacation: Chapter 117: Sakamoto, Who Understands the Rules

The sea breeze at night crept in quietly through the gaps in the portholes that weren't completely closed.

Room 201, second floor of the cruise ship.

Only a single desk lamp illuminated the room, its light cutting out a limited area of ​​brightness in the darkness.

Most of the room was shrouded in dim shadows.

Class D's homeroom teacher, Chazuki Sae, sat upright under the lamplight.

She was wearing a well-fitting business suit, with black stockings covering her slender calves, and her long, black hair was tied into a neat ponytail at the back of her head, with a few strands hanging down beside her ears.

Opposite her sat two students from Class A—Koji Machida and Shigeru Takemoto.

The two stood with their backs ramrod straight, their hands resting flat on their knees, their faces devoid of any superfluous expression, only displaying an almost rigid seriousness.

From the moment they entered the room, they remained silent, like two stone statues.

Chazhu's gaze swept over the two young yet overly composed faces.

Are these the Class A members who set a school record?

A wave of emotion washed over her.

This year's Class A demonstrated near-inhuman organizational and creative abilities on the deserted island.

This put her, the homeroom teacher of Class D, under unprecedented pressure.

That guy in my class, Ayanokouji...

Is there really any chance of winning against such an opponent?

The wall clock ticked away slowly, its steady "tick-tock" sound particularly clear in the quiet room. Time was slowly approaching the appointed six o'clock.

The tea pillar explanation did not begin because not everyone had arrived yet.

Three students from Class A were supposed to attend this information session. She was waiting for the last person.

Just as the clock struck 17:59—"thump, thump."

A crisp, restrained knock sounded, neither too early nor too late.

Tea Pillar raised his eyes and said in a deep voice:

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and the bright lights of the corridor rushed in, casting a long shadow on the floor, which then quickly faded as the door closed.

"Clap."

The sound of the door lock engaging was soft yet clear.

Almost simultaneously, the hands of the clock skipped a beat, pointing precisely to six o'clock in the afternoon.

A tall figure stood in the shadows by the door, only the lenses of his glasses reflecting the light from the only lamp in the room, creating two points of reflection in the darkness.

It's Sakamoto.

His appearance caused Machida and Takemoto, who were sitting upright, to subtly brighten their eyes.

Since returning from the deserted island, Sakamoto has almost disappeared from the cruise ship.

Chazhu thought to himself:

Another hiccup... just like when the final result was announced on the deserted island.

Sakamoto walked to the table with a calm and elegant gait, without any haste, and arrived at the empty seat in just a few steps, where he sat down comfortably.

This is the legendary freshman from Class A...

Chashu carefully examined Sakamoto in front of him.

When she drank privately with Majima Tomoya, the homeroom teacher of Class A, she often heard him mention this name with complicated emotions.

Sakamoto's various deeds at the school were no secret.

It can be said that he is undoubtedly the core and soul of Class A.

Upon seeing Sakamoto take his seat, Machida and Takemoto did not show much excitement, merely nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

He then resumed his previous posture, refocusing his attention on the tea pillar, ready to listen to the next rules.

Chazhu snapped out of her thoughts and spoke in her usual cool voice:

"You are Sakamoto, Takemoto, and Machida from Class A, right? Now, I will begin the explanation of the special exam."

The three of them sat up straighter, their eyes focused on the tea pillar.

"For this special exam, the school will use the Chinese sexagenary cycle (a system of zodiac signs) as a metaphor for all first-year students and divide them into twelve groups. We will hold the exam within those groups. The purpose of the exam is to test your...thinking abilities."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sakamoto raised his hand with perfect form.

Chabashira wanted to see the students of Class A, especially this key figure.

How will you react to the rules?