-213- The start of the competition

"No luck this time?" Nanaya Hori murmured as he looked at the email displayed on his phone screen.

Disappointment. He hadn't been selected.

Although becoming a VIP had many advantages and perks, even influencing exam tactics, Hori wasn't keen on class competition or accumulating class points. The only thing that caught his eye was the versatile personal points.

But fifty thousand personal points didn't particularly interest him.

So, not being selected didn't bother him much.

As Hori murmured to himself, his classmate, Horikita Suzune, spoke up.

"You weren't selected either?"

Horikita Suzune, ever calm, observed Hori's expression.

Hori looked back at her. "Since you said 'either,' it means you weren't selected, right?"

Facing Hori's question, Horikita Suzune confirmed with action, displaying her phone directly in front of Hori.

The email on it read:

"After careful consideration, you have not been selected as a VIP. Please act as a member of your group and challenge the exam. The exam will start at 1:00 PM today and will last for three days, including one day of free activity. You are a student of the Dragon Group. Please gather in the 'Dragon' room on the second floor."

Almost identical to the email Hori received, except for the group name and designated location.

"I don't know if I should be happy or not," Horikita Suzune remarked.

Can't be helped.

Being selected as a VIP gave significant advantages in the exam, but it also meant dealing with scrutiny from others and hiding one's identity.

From a rational perspective, there were pros and cons, right?

"But still, you hit the nail on the head," Horikita Suzune said, looking back at the email on her phone.

"After careful consideration... huh?"

That was enough to confirm Hori's earlier statement.

VIPs weren't randomly selected; there was some consideration involved.

Should they investigate along this line of thought?

Horikita Suzune pondered over this.

But before that...

"What's your plan?" Horikita Suzune asked Hori.

How would Hori act?

No, Suzune knew how Hori would act.

If it were Hori, he would definitely investigate along this line of thought.

Given Hori's grasp of some information, Suzune felt he was close to the truth.

Although it was incredible, considering Hori's behavior so far, Suzune chose to trust her gut feeling.

So, Suzune just wanted to confirm...

"This time, you won't be passive, will you?" Suzune just wanted to confirm this.

However, Hori didn't answer.

"Think about it carefully. How to spend this afternoon's discussion. Don't forget, your group consists of some tricky individuals."

However, Suzune had to admit that, even though Class B and Class D had formed a cooperation, they couldn't afford to let their guard down.

Not to mention Ryuen Kakeru from the Dragon Group, even Katsuragi Kohei wasn't easy to deal with.

Suzune thought for a moment and surprisingly consulted Hori.

"Between Class A's Katsuragi and Class C's Ryuen, who do you think we should be more wary of?"

The question received an unequivocal answer from Hori.

"Ryuen."

Hori said so without hesitation.

"... You're quite decisive," Suzune said, frowning. "Isn't Katsuragi just as difficult to deal with? Why are you so fixated on Ryuen?"

"Why?" Hori smirked. "Don't you know yourself, Horikita?"

Suzune had nothing to say immediately.

In fact, Suzune knew, right?

Compared to Katsuragi Kohei, Ryuen Kakeru was undoubtedly more troublesome.

"If it were Katsuragi, with your ability, you could probably have an exciting back-and-forth with him, right?" Hori said. "But, with Ryuen, it's different."

Because Suzune was too naive.

That naivety was fatal in front of Ryuen Kakeru.

If entangled, even the proudest wolf would fall before his fangs.

Moreover, this poisonous snake would stop at nothing to achieve its goals.

Therefore, Suzune had no chance against Ryuen.

At least, for now.

"At this stage, each class has probably drafted preliminary tactics, right?"

Hori analyzed calmly.

"Class A should follow Katsuragi's style, prioritizing protecting their VIP. Even if they can't win, they must ensure they don't lose first."

"Class B has formed a cooperative relationship with Class D, mutually beneficial."

"And Class C will definitely act under Ryuen's direction to take it up a notch."

Hori affirmed.

"That person won't settle for just the victory of his own Dragon Group."

In other words, Ryuen Kakeru would certainly treat all groups as targets, just like Hori.

"That person will try every means to find all the VIPs," Hori said. "With his abilities, noticing the pattern in selecting VIPs is just a matter of time."

In summary, the most cautious person was undoubtedly Ryuen Kakeru

Only Ryuen Kakeru could bring Hori a bit of competitive fun.

As for Kohei Katsuragi, his style was too conservative and easy to see through.

At this point, Hori suddenly thought.

(If I and Ayanokouji weren't in the same class...)

Hori thought about this.

Yeah.

If Hori and Ayanokouji weren't in the same class, this exam would probably become the most intense competition ever, right?

Ryuen Kakeru could only bring Hori pleasure.

But Ayanokouji could bring Hori a threat.

At least, Hori wasn't confident of completely defeating Ayanokouji.

Fighting against Ayanokouji, Hori had at most a sixty percent chance of winning, and the remaining forty percent would be in Ayanokouji's favor.

Of course, this was based on not breaking the rules.

If Hori wanted to break the rules, let alone Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, even the heads of the Nanaya clan from generations past, and the Hassassin of history like Hassan, probably couldn't handle him.

Only within the confines of the rules could Hori find an opponent.

From this perspective, it was indeed quite lonely.

So, Hori and Horikita Suzune parted ways.

Next was the afternoon discussion.

Horikita Suzune would compete with the elite of each class in the Dragon Group.

And Hori would slowly unfold his actions in the Rabbit Group.