I woke up in the tent and glanced at the watch on my wrist.
The time was 6:30 in the morning. During the exam period, I usually got up at 7:00, but it seemed I had woken up earlier than usual.
When I stepped outside, Ishizaki and the others were still asleep. I had assumed my group members would still be sleeping too, but it looked like at least one of them had woken up early just like me.
Munching on a ration, I approached Ryūen, who was staring at his tablet.
"You won't find the designated areas or tasks listed on the tablet yet."
"I know that. Just scouting ahead."
Peeking at Ryūen's tablet, I saw he was using GPS search to check the positions of the other students.
"——So we're moving out starting today, right?"
I asked to confirm, and Ryūen gave a faint smirk before nodding. Today, on the 10th day, we would finally start making our move to aim for the top.
"Keh. About damn time we get to cut loose for real."
Both Ryūen and I had been holding back until now. We'd put in some effort to maintain our 4th-place position, but neither of us had gone all out in this exam even once.
"One misstep from you, and we both go down."
"Hah? You think I'd screw up?"
"It's up to you, not me. That much should be obvious."
"Tch. You're as insufferable as ever."
Ryūen tore into his ration with a rough bite and spat out the words like they left a bad taste in his mouth.
...
Day 10
The first designated area of the day was cleared with our group placing 2nd in the arrival order rewards. After that, I parted ways with Ryūen and picked up the pace slightly to head toward my assigned task.
The task was arm wrestling—a straightforward contest, which made it tricky to figure out how to hold back without being obvious. The rules required one participant from each of two groups, meaning it would be a one-on-one match.
When I arrived at the task site, no other groups seemed to be present yet. If no opponents showed up, I'd win by default, which would've been ideal—but…
"Finally made it! Is registration still open?"
A large group of seven students approached from the opposite direction. At the front, handling registration, was a familiar face—Asahina Nazuna, a third-year from Class A.
And where Asahina was, Nagumo, her groupmate, naturally appeared as well. Spotting me, he brushed past his teammates and walked over.
"Well, well. If you're here, I'm guessing you're participating in this task too?"
"Yeah."
"Which means our opponent is you, huh?"
Nagumo grinned excitedly, then glanced around as if scouting my surroundings.
"Where's your partner?"
"We're splitting up for now."
"That's weird. At this late stage, there's little advantage in separating—especially for you guys, holding steady in the top four."
Of course, he'd noticed we were deliberately maintaining our position.
"I've been keeping tabs on the top groups via GPS, but your group's movements have been… odd."
"I don't recall doing anything strange."
"Up until the mid-phase, nothing stood out. But around Day 7, you started splitting up more often. Even now. …What's the plan?"
"Hey, Nagumo , stop bothering Hikigaya-kun! Besides, the task's about to start—we should get going."
While this conversation was happening, the proctor signaled that preparations were complete.
Asahina's words seemed to snap Nagumo back to the moment.
"Tch. Fine, we'll drop it for now. Either way, I'm looking forward to facing you, Hikigaya."
"Wait, you're participating, Senpai?"
"No way I'd pass up a fun challenge like this."
Nagumo chuckled before heading toward the proctor.
It wasn't about arm wrestling—he was just eager to compete against me.
---
A makeshift arm-wrestling ring had been set up, with a teacher standing nearby as referee to prevent foul play.
"Hey, Nagumo! Go easy on him, will ya?"
Some light jeering came from Nagumo's group, mixed with cheers.
"Sorry about them. They're getting a little carried away."
"No, I wouldn't mind if you did go easy on me."
"Not happening."
As student council president, I should've been beneath his notice—but while Nagumo didn't see me as a threat, he wasn't underestimating me either.
"Go for it, Hikigaya-kun!! Knock Nagumo~!"
As we took our positions, Asahina waved at me, cheering me on instead.
"Whose side is she even on…? You've got Nazuna wrapped around your finger, huh?"
"I'm just as surprised as you are."
"Hard to tell with that poker face of yours."
We locked hands, elbows planted on the table.
Once we were set, the referee gave the signal.
"Begin!"
The moment the match started, Nagumo went full throttle, pouring on the pressure. My arm tilted slightly, but I quickly adjusted, recentering.
"Knew you wouldn't go down that easy. Good."
His grin widened as he increased the force, surpassing his initial push.
He was strong—no surprise for someone with an A-rank physical ability in OAA. If I let my guard down, he'd overpower me in seconds.
"What's wrong, Hikigaya? Stalemates are boring. Come at me harder."
"…Don't mind if I do."
I had to reassess Nagumo . Beyond his strategic mind and manpower, his physical prowess was real. No wonder he'd climbed to student council president.
I could throw the match, but that risked exposing our strategy. If I was going to draw attention either way, winning was the better option.
"Wha—?!"
Nagumo's voice slipped out as I suddenly shifted gears.
I steadily increased the pressure, then slammed his hand onto the table before he could react.
"Winner: Hikigaya Hachiman."
The referee announced the result.
Nagumo didn't look frustrated—just impressed, like he'd been outplayed.
"Damn, I lost. Not bad, Hikigaya. Guess Horikita-senpai saw something in you after all."
"This wasn't about skill. I just caught you off guard."
To an outsider, it might've looked like a total domination, but the truth was different.
Nagumo had held back, testing me. I'd exploited that split-second hesitation to finish it before he could respond.
"A loss is a loss. My own fault for underestimating you. Why not celebrate a little?"
"I am happy. Just not the expressive type."
"Pfft. Poker-faced as ever."
With a smirk, he turned and walked back to his stunned group.
---
"You lost, Nagumo? Not even mad?"
"Why would I be? Hikigaya's more interesting than I thought. I'll get him next time."
"You're such a pain."
Asahina, who had swapped places with Nagumo, waved at me cheerfully.
"That was amazing, Hikigaya-kun! You actually beat Nagumo!"
"Like I said, it was just timing."
"A win's a win, right? You should be happier!"
She gave me a hard slap on the back.
"Asahina! We're heading out!"
"Ah, right! Okay, see you later, Hikigaya-kun—"
As she turned to leave, I grasped her wrist lightly.
"Asahina-senpai, I have a small request."
"A request…? W-Wait, not another joke like last time, okay?!"
She must've been remembering when I'd fake-confessed to her before. Her face was already turning pink.
"Sorry about that. This is serious."
"Hmm… Alright! As a reward for beating Nagumo, I'll hear you out!"
She was weirdly excited, eyes sparkling.
"So, what is it?"
"I'd rather not say this where others can hear…"
I leaned in close to her ear. She flinched slightly but stayed put.
"Once this exam is over…
Go on a date with me."
When I pulled back, her face exploded into a deep red.
"A d-d-date?! O-Okay, okay, okay! I-I'll… l-look forward to it!"
She flailed her arms wildly before rushing back to her group in a flustered mess.
I watched her go without another word.
........
Day 10 – 5:00 PM
With the basic movement and tasks completed, Kiriyama called out to Mikitani just as he was about to lead six groups to intercept Ryūen's team, currently holding fourth place.
"Mikitani, we need to talk."
"What is it, Kiriyama?"
"There's something you should know before going after Ryūen's group."
Mikitani, ready to mobilize the seventeen students under his command, paused as Kiriyama stopped him.
"First, tell me—how exactly do you plan to stop them?"
"Well… first, negotiation. If that fails, sabotage their tasks and movement. And if even that doesn't work… we'll force them out, if necessary."
With six groups totaling seventeen members, Mikitani was confident that stopping just two students would be easy.
"What, you got a problem with that?"
"No, no issue. But check their positions on GPS first."
Confused, Mikitani did as instructed—and his expression shifted.
"This…"
"Exactly. Ryūen's group is currently split up."
Though close, Hachiman and Ryūen were in separate areas.
"I don't know their reasoning, but as things stand, you can only stop one of them."
"But if we stop one, isn't that enough?"
"No, it's meaningless. If you corner one and the other calls a teacher, we'll be at a massive disadvantage. Can you take responsibility for that?"
"That's…"
Kiriyama wasn't wrong. Getting caught in the act would mean severe penalties—possibly even expulsion.
"Then what do we do? Just sit back and let them keep racking up points?"
"I didn't say that. Even if they're apart now, they'll have to regroup eventually."
No matter how they split up, maintaining high rankings without reuniting was impossible in this exam.
"Mikitani, we're changing tactics. Originally, we were going to move overnight and strike at dawn—but not anymore."
Kiriyama pulled up Ryūen's group's location on his tablet.
"When Ryūen and Hachiman separate, they always stay relatively close. You'll take the six groups and shadow them."
"Shadow them?"
"Yes. Watch and wait for the right moment. Strike when they regroup."
The objective remained the same—only the method changed.
Convinced, Mikitani prepared to move his forces under cover of night, closing in on Ryūen's group.
"Don't let your guard down, Mikitani. Treat them as the biggest threats here."
"Biggest threats? Pfft. They're just two guys. With seventeen of us, crushing them should be a breeze."
As Mikitani brushed off the warning, Kiriyama felt a shadow of doubt—but he had his own role to play. He said nothing more.
....
Day 11 – 11:00 AM
Mikitani and the six Free Groups had successfully surrounded Ryūen's group.
"Status?"
"They still haven't regrouped. Both Ryūen and Hikigaya are currently completing tasks."
Mikitani began discussing with the Free Group members.
"Tch, hurry up and meet already. Our points are draining bit by bit just maintaining this position."
Though they needed to periodically check the targets' locations, the gradual point loss was frustrating Mikitani.
Then, just past noon, the situation finally changed.
"Ryūen and Hikigaya are getting closer. They're about to meet."
"Good. Move out."
Following the GPS tracker's announcement, Mikitani ordered the advance. Fortunately, no other students were nearby besides Ryūen and Hachiman. Seizing the opportunity, Mikitani decisively signaled to encircle them.
"There they are."
Moving quietly, they spotted Ryūen and Hachiman.
"When I give the signal, fan out and surround them."
With those final instructions, Mikitani stepped out from cover and revealed himself.
"Mind sparing me some time? Ryūen, Hikigaya."
.....
Day 11 – Around 11:00 AM
"Mind sparing me some time? Ryūen, Hikigaya."
A third-year appeared before Ryūen and me as we regrouped—Mikitani from Class 3-B.
"Heh, what's up, senpai? Need somethin' from us?"
Ryūen responded with a provocative grin, his tone anything but respectful. Yet Mikitani ignored it and cut straight to the point.
"I'll be blunt. Stay put here for the rest of the day. That's all."
No roundabout explanations—just a direct order.
"Stay put? Ha, since when do we take orders from you? What, scared we'll beat you?"
"Sharp as ever, Ryūen. Exactly."
"You really think we'd agree to that? Dream on."
"You two know damn well why. You've been scoring too much."
Our two-man group's rapid rise was an anomaly—too conspicuous compared to larger teams.
"Play along, and we won't make trouble. Hell, Nanami from the student council might even owe you one. Good deal, right?"
"So this is... senpai's kindness?"
This time, I spoke up. Mikitani smirked.
"Right on, Hikigaya. Seems you've got more sense than Ryūen here."
Ryūen scoffed at the condescension.
"Real funny, senpai. So what happens if we say no?"
"Then—" Mikitani raised a hand. "—we get forceful."
On cue, students emerged from the surrounding trees—all third-years, easily outnumbering us.
"Get it now? Even if you try, you won't crack the top three. Sit tight, and you won't get hurt."
"Violence is against the rules."
"Violence only counts if there's proof. And with our numbers, our word beats yours."
With this many witnesses, any report we made would be dismissed. The odds were hopelessly stacked against us.
"Heh... Heheheh."
Yet Ryūen laughed—deep, genuine amusement.
"Hey, Hikigaya. Could this get any better?"
"I know what you mean."
Right now, I understood him perfectly.
"The hell's so funny!? Give me an answer!"
"An answer? Oh, right. Well..." Ryūen glanced at me. "...Guess there's only one thing to say."
"Yeah. Only one answer."
Mikitani closed his eyes, waiting smugly for our surrender.
But our response was already decided.
"NO, dumbass."
We flipped him off.
"——Huh?"
Mikitani froze, stunned.
"You...!? Do you even realize what you're saying!? You think you can win against—"
"Win? You misunderstand, senpai."
Ryūen cut him off, grinning viciously as he gave a thumbs-down.
"If you think this many weaklings can take us, you're hilarious. Learn what real power is before picking fights."
"You little—!?"
Before Mikitani could finish, Ryūen lunged—his kick slamming into the third-year's gut. Mikitani crumpled, clutching his stomach.
"A bit quick to throw hands, no?"
"Hah? Call it a declaration of war."
As Ryūen shrugged, Mikitani looked up with a pained smirk.
"Hah... Hahaha! You idiots! Now you're the aggressors—I'm the victim. Your exam's over!"
He wasn't wrong. If reported, we'd face penalties—possibly expulsion.
But—
"What're you on about, senpai?"
Ryūen yanked Mikitani up by the hair, forcing eye contact.
"Ghk!? You guys! Help me!! They attacked first! Just—"
"Tch. Why the panic?"
"You—! You realize this could get you expelled!?"
"You said it yourself earlier." Ryūen's grin widened.
"Violence only counts if the majority backs it up... right?"
"M-Mikitani!!"
One of the surrounding third-years shouted. Soon, the others noticed too—panic spreading across their faces.
"What...? What's going on...?"
"Don't get it? Let me spell it out."
Ryūen pulled up the GPS tracker, shoving it in Mikitani's face.
"W-What the...!?"
Beyond the circle of third-years surrounding us, another, larger ring of students had formed—encircling them.
We'd seen this coming from the start. The moment we realized the third-years were mobilizing, we'd planned for this. Our separate movements? Bait. A setup to lure them into a trap.
Knowing we'd be outnumbered, we'd used transceivers—relayed through Katsuragi—to guide our classmates into position. This reversal was always the goal.
And our steady fourth-place ranking? Part of the plan.
We'd conserved our strength, waiting for this moment. Eliminating this threat now meant fewer obstacles later—and weakening Nanami's forces in the process.
All to ensure we could go all out in the final three days.
"You... predicted this? You knew we'd come and set a counter...?"
Mikitani slumped, defeated.
"Relax, senpai. You can still turn this around."
"Yeah. We might still lose."
Ryūen smirked, scanning the third-years before raising his voice.
"Don't worry! The guys surrounding you won't interfere! They're just here to watch!!"
He was right. Our classmates wouldn't step in—we'd ordered it.
Meaning—
"C'mon, third-years!! It's just two underclassmen!! Stop us if you can!!"
Every one of them would have to fight us two. The difference from before?
Now, everything was permitted. Violence, dirty tactics—no holds barred.
Naturally, Ryūen and I stood side by side.
"Your favorite kind of fight, Ryūen."
"Hell yeah. Finally get to cut loose."
"Avoid the face. Visible injuries would be hard to explain."
"I'll... keep it in mind."
Ryūen cracked his knuckles, baring his teeth in a feral grin.
"No more strategy. No more schemes. From here on out—"
"It's violence o'clock."
A fitting phrase for the moment.
"Ryūen."
"...Hah?"
I held out a fist. Ryūen stared blankly before scoffing.
"The hell's this?"
"Isn't this something you only do for 'special occasions'? Isn't this one?"
"...You remembered that?"
"It stuck with me."
Ryūen smirked, bumping his fist against mine.
Clink.
We both glanced at our fists.
Not a bad feeling.
"Heh. Don't drag me down."
"You're the one who better not waste stamina rushing in."
Trading insults like a confirmation, we kicked off the ground—charging forward.
=================================
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