Houtarou Oreki Classroom of the Elite

Over the past two weeks, he had heard that Rokusuke started a study group and actually managed to improve some students' grades.

In other words, Rokusuke is an oddball. This was evident during the island exam when Kōhei was impressed by how many outposts they had occupied.

Although the information obtained also indicates that not all Class D students joined the study group — in fact, only a small minority did.

So Class C's overall strength hasn't fully improved. There are still some people who lack vision.

But Rokusuke's achievement is still noteworthy. It's worth testing them.

At the same time, continuing the agreement between Class A and Class C to exchange supplies for living expenses has its benefits.

It demonstrates that Class A has integrity, which means in future exams, they can use this method of exchanging Class Points for living expenses with other classes. This is an opportunity to maintain Class A's stability.

After all, class rankings are determined by Class Points. Whoever has the highest Class Points becomes Class A.

After finishing speaking, Masumi looked at Houtarou.

Houtarou: "..."

You've said everything, so why are you still looking at him?

However, his betting agreement didn't involve that much thought. If Class C could win, then he wouldn't feel, upon interacting with them, that if he were assigned to that class, he might as well just give up, drop out, or collect 20 million Points and go solo.

So the betting agreement was initially just to shut Hirata up.

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Meanwhile, Class B and Class D were doing the same thing.

The class representatives met, with Honami bringing along Chihiro and Ryūji to meet Kakeru, who only brought Albert and Daichi.

"The test papers are fine." He said.

Both sides checked each other's papers, naturally making copies to keep and exchange. Then, they headed to the office.

But when they reached the corridor, they found Houtarou and the others coming out of the office.

"Oreki, Kamuro, are you also here to submit test papers?" Honami asked.

"Yes." Houtarou responded to this angel.

Masumi also seemed somewhat flattered.

"But we've already submitted them." Houtarou said.

"Oh!"

Kakeru, on the other hand, was staring at Honami and Ryūji without even glancing at Houtarou.

Honami noticed his tension. Was this because of Houtarou's presence?

Indeed. Kakeru had been outmaneuvered by this guy several times already. Could he be worried about another potential setback?

Honami recalled her earlier conversation with Houtarou, where he'd stated that for this exam, they didn't need to guard against Kakeru — rather, Kakeru should worry about whether they would back out.

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"The papers have been approved."

Chie and Kazuma, the teachers from Class B and D, examined the test papers. The review took just ten minutes.

Both groups of students were notified.

In fact, from the moment all four classes' representatives arrived simultaneously for submission, the teachers understood. As graduates of this school themselves, their analytical skills were sharp. The students had discovered the key to this exam.

Why would the school let students create their own questions with material they could easily handle?

It was to create a scenario where classes would exchange questions and answers. The essential point was to engage in resource trading.

The school wanted students to become adaptable and learn to make trade-offs when necessary. This was the skill they hoped students would master before the first semester ended.

Overall, all four classes appeared to have performed well this time.

"Looks like we can relax now."

Honami and her group remained in the office, but the teachers' approval confirmed that the papers had been successfully submitted.

Daichi checked his phone: 5:01 PM.

The rule stated that papers couldn't be submitted after 5 PM, so even if they wanted to make changes, it was too late. The papers they received from Honami's group were now the final exam papers.

Truly reassuring.

"I guess so." Kakeru said, "But that bastard Oreki... he's manipulated Ibuki again."

"Well..." Daichi actually thought Houtarou wasn't that bad.

Because Mio had told him that Houtarou's use of a voice recorder was for protection. If Kakeru didn't do anything against the rules, then even setting up a recorder in advance would be useless, so he should take responsibility.

He thought that made sense.

However…

"Boss!" Albert, who had been following along, suddenly spoke up.

Kakeru noticed too.

By the vending machine on the first floor of the school building stood a handsome boy with black hair and green eyes.

This was the school's heartthrob, Houtarou Oreki.

He was standing there, phone raised, seemingly about to make a payment.

"Isn't that Oreki?" Kakeru, who had been extremely tense earlier, now felt relieved.

"..." Houtarou looked over, "Ryūen, are you here to boast that the exam is secured?"

"Yes." Kakeru said, "Earlier, I had Ibuki follow you, but you still compromised. Although she was tricked by you again, there's no denying that during the process of submitting the papers just now, you didn't try anything, right?"

"So..." Houtarou looked at him, "Are you sure you're absolutely safe?"

"..." Kakeru, "What do you mean?"

Houtarou pointed at the vending machine.

"You pay."

Kakeru: "..."

This felt familiar to him, like when Houtarou had asked if he had Points. Back then, this guy was completely confident he could get the Points from him.

And now asking him to pay meant... he was completely confident about this exam too.

Had he been tricked again?

"Tell me first!" Kakeru demanded.

"..." Houtarou paused, "You and Ichinose's group confirmed the papers and then came to submit them together, right?"

"Yes." Kakeru assumed the other two classes had done the same.

Class C was also full of struggling students, so they definitely needed to exchange papers. The best strategy was to confirm the papers right before the submission deadline, submit them together, and then wait for the deadline to pass.

What could possibly go wrong?

"So, having been at this school for half a year, what's your understanding of what the homeroom teacher said on the first day — that everything in this school can be bought with Points? That is to say..." Houtarou said, "Teachers can also be bought. Spending Points to have them cooperate in a performance is entirely possible.

Therefore, although you submitted the papers and the teachers approved them, is it possible that Ichinose and her group had already submitted their papers, had them approved earlier, and now they're just putting on a show with you?"

"Huh?" Kakeru was stunned.

Could this really happen?

At that moment.

『Would you like to purchase Pocari Sweat? Thank you for your purchase. 1200 Points have been deducted from your Student Private Point Account.』

"Ichinose!"

As Honami and her group came down the stairs from the office, Kakeru rushed toward them!

"How could you deceive me like this!"

"??" The angel Honami blinked.

Then she noticed Houtarou by the vending machine, calmly picking up his Pocari Sweat after making the payment.

'Ah.' She instantly realized that Kakeru had been tricked again.

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