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

Hashimoto seemed oblivious to the barb in Ryuen's words, casually pointing at Kanzaki.

"This is Ryuji Kanzaki, currently the second-in-command of Class C."

He then looked at Longyuan.

"This is Ryuu Yuen-sho, the current leader of Class B... well, I probably don't need to introduce him further."

Ryuen neither confirmed nor denied the information provided about Hashimoto.

He pulled out the stack of exam papers he had obtained from Manabe directly from his pocket.

He casually patted it in his hand, his sharp gaze fixed on Hashimoto:

"So, what's the purpose of having me bring this thing? Could it be that Sakamoto is taking pity on us and 'giving' the test papers to his own class?"

He deliberately used a tentative tone.

In previous phone conversations, he did not reveal that he had deduced that this was an attempt to frame Sakamoto.

Hashimoto didn't answer directly, but smiled meaningfully and turned to Kanzaki:

"Kanzaki-san, show yours to Ryuen-san too."

Ryuji Kanzaki silently took out his ever-present folder...

He took out a stack of exam papers with identical format and paper and handed them to Long Yuan.

Long Yuan glanced at it, raising an eyebrow slightly:

"What does this mean? Does it prove that this tattered scroll is of very high printing quality and is available everywhere?"

"Kanzaki-san, tell us how you got this test paper."

Kanzaki took a deep breath and began to narrate in his usual calm tone:

"Just the day before yesterday, one of our classmates was approached by a senior who claimed to be from Class C of the second year. He used the same excuse, saying he saw potential in us and was willing to sell this 'last year's exam paper' for 10,000 personal points, and claimed that... he was commissioned by Sakamoto from Class A of the first year, and hoped that we could achieve good results."

After listening to Kanzaki's account, Ryuen gave a cold smile:

"Heh, as expected. Not only our Class B, but even your Class C is enjoying this kind of 'preferential treatment.' I guess Class D, which is currently at the bottom, will probably not escape this fate either, right?"

The question was raised.

Since classes B, C, and D might have received "gifted" exam papers,

What about Class A, the only one absent?

Hashimoto picked up the conversation, his expression becoming more serious:

"That's the key. Sakamoto never mentioned anything related to the exam within Class A. Even..."

He paused, glanced at Longyuan,

"He seems to know nothing about it."

"so,"

Ryuen made his conclusion decisively, his gaze sweeping over Hashimoto and Kanzaki.

"It can be basically concluded that this matter has nothing to do with Sakamoto. This is a clumsy frame-up by someone from a higher grade, aimed at him."

Hashimoto showed an interested expression:

"Oh? Why are you so sure, Ryuen? Tell me about it."

He had actually suspected this for a long time, but he wanted to hear Longyuan's analysis.

Hashimoto's negotiations with Ryuen began with a deliberate coincidence.

At that time, Hashimoto deliberately observed casually at the entrance of Class B, and Ryuen appeared with extreme vigilance and kept an eye on him.

After several encounters, Hashimoto gained Ryuen's initial trust by using some trivial information about Class A, and successfully exchanged contact information.

He hinted to Longyuan that he was an information intermediary "outside the camp" and hoped to facilitate "information flow" between different classes.

In hindsight, this move has indeed proven useful.

But in fact, it was Ryuji Kanzaki who first contacted him.

Kanzaki cautiously revealed that Class C had obtained the exam papers and mentioned Sakamoto, which shocked and confused Hashimoto at the time.

This is completely inconsistent with his understanding of Sakamoto.

Then Longyuan contacted him, which led to this secret meeting between the three parties.

Long Yuan's thinking was clearly more astute than he had anticipated.

Long Yuan snorted coldly and analyzed:

"The method is too low. Casting a wide net everywhere, leaving his name, as if he's afraid people won't know it was Sakamoto who did it. This kind of charity that involves giving things away and leaving his name is not his style. It's more like there's a rat hiding in the shadows, trying to use someone else to do his dirty work, create chaos within our first-year students, and incidentally cause some trouble for Sakamoto."

His analysis coincided with Hashimoto's inner judgment.

"It seems we share the same view."

Hashimoto nodded.

"So, based on the information we have so far: an exam paper of unknown origin that has been widely circulated; a name that is being mentioned in common—Sakamoto; and a manipulator who is hiding behind the scenes and may be a second-year student."

The three fell into a brief silence, with only the wind howling on the rooftop.

Ultimately, a temporary alliance plan based on shared interests was proposed.

"How about this,"

As the initiator, Hashimoto proposed a division of labor.

"I'll be in charge of investigating whether Sakamoto really knew about this, or his reaction to it. Ryuen and Kanzaki, you two should use your respective channels to investigate the second-year students who contacted you, and... most importantly, verify the authenticity of this exam paper. Is it a genuine past exam paper, or just an elaborate hoax?"

Ryuen and Kanzaki exchanged a glance, though hostility and wariness remained in their eyes.

But faced with greater shared questions and potential threats, they temporarily chose to cooperate.

"can."

"no problem."

The two answered almost simultaneously.

The three first-grade classes: Class A - the opportunist, Class B - the ambitious schemer, and Class C - the strategist.

Because of a conspiracy targeting a common goal,

On this rooftop, a rare and fragile alliance was forged.

First Grade Midterm Exam: Chapter 061: Sakamoto Reading a Book

The library was filled with a tranquil atmosphere in the afternoon.

In a quiet corner of the "Foreign Literature" section, Hiyori Shiina seems to have become a part of this space.

She sat upright, her long silver hair cascading down like a waterfall, almost completely obscuring her profile and the book in her hands.

Only when turning the pages occasionally would her slender, fair fingers move slightly, her violet eyes calmly following the words.

A steady, clear set of footsteps came from behind, neither hurried nor slow.

It wasn't deliberately made lighter, yet it miraculously blended into the silence.

Instead of disrupting the tranquility, it seemed to infuse the stillness with a chord.

Hiyori Shiina paused for half a second as she turned the page, but she did not look up immediately.

Until that figure naturally sat down in the empty seat opposite her.

She gently placed her handbag aside before slowly raising her eyes.

Sakamoto adjusted his posture.

His eyes met hers, and he nodded slightly.

Without words, a silent greeting was given.

Hiyori Shiina nodded slightly in response, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment before returning to the pages of her book.

He uttered only one sentence in a soft voice:

"Good afternoon, Sakamoto-san."

Their connection began with their shared fondness for this bookshelf.

Through chance encounters or tacitly shared moments in the afternoons, a unique understanding gradually developed between them, based on silence and words.

They would occasionally have brief exchanges about their insights on a particular passage or the style of a certain author.

He doesn't say much, but he always gets to the point.

Hiyori Shiina is one of the few people who can take Sakamoto's extraordinary presence in stride.

She believes that Sakamoto is like a profound and difficult-to-understand yet captivating book.

Her calmness and focus seemed to have earned Sakamoto's approval to some extent.

This made him willing to share a quiet reading time with her here.

Shiina herself vaguely realized

A person who can get along so peacefully with Sakamoto, and even exchange a few words with him,

They are extremely rare in this school.

A period of time flowed by in silent reading.

Hiyori Shiina gently closed the collection of essays in her hand and looked up at Sakamoto, who was engrossed in a science fiction novel across from her.

"Sakamoto-san."

Her voice was soft, yet it was enough to shatter the silence.

Sakamoto looked up from his vast cosmic reverie.

His gaze, calmly directed from behind his black-rimmed glasses, turned to her.

"Something a little unusual has happened recently."

Hiyori Shiina's tone remained calm and normal.

"Yesterday, one of my classmates bought a test paper that was claimed to be 'last year's midterm exam questions' from a second-year student."

She paused briefly, observing the other person.

Sakamoto's expression remained unchanged; he simply listened intently.

She continued:

"That senior claimed that he did this at the request of Sakamoto, a student in Class 1-A, in order to 'help us maintain our advantage'."

She tilted her head slightly, her silver hair gliding over her shoulders.

"But I don't think this is your style. Both the motives and the methods seem... out of place."

"It's more like someone is using your name to secretly do something."

Upon hearing this, Sakamoto showed no surprise or indignation at being caught up in the conspiracy.

He remained silent for a moment.

It was as if the information had been quickly archived and linked in my mind.

Then, a very faint smile appeared on his lips.

He gently pushed up his glasses, his gaze sweeping over the cover of the science fiction novel in his hand, which depicted an endless universe and a lonely ship.

He looked up, his gaze meeting Shiina Hiyori's again.

"No need to worry, Shiina. Everything will eventually return to its proper place."

Hiyori Shiina stared at him.

She needed no further explanation. Sakamoto's reaction said it all—

He was aware of this matter and had already made a plan.

She picked up the collection of books again:

"It seems that I am worrying too much."