Chapter 12: Zodiac Exam (4) – Y's last message

[Third Person Pov]

「12th August, 19.04」

On one of the few bars on the cruise, a magenta haired boy was drinking a cocktail drink. That person was Ryūen Kakeru, the leader of Class D.

All of a sudden, Albert, Ibuki, Kaneda, Ichizaki, and Hiyori appeared, who seemed to be immersed in their talk, not noticing Ryūen, who is a few meters away from them, sitting and drinking his cocktail drink.

"I'm telling you Ichizaki, Ryūen is unpredictable. Don't think you can apply logical reasoning on him. He'll do whatever he likes. Just like in the previous exam, this exam will not be different. Whether we lose or not is entirely based on his mood."

The person who said that was Ibuki Mio, who is one of the few that is infuriated the most about Ryūen.

Yet she chose her words carefully. In her opinion Ryūen had definitely won from all four classes the most from the previous exam.

The deal with Katsuragi, the humiliation those arrogant bastards from Class A suffered, the 121 Class Points they earned, and additionally the information of some other smart individual being in Class B aside from Kurushima, called X.

There is not only X, but also Y, who is from what Ryūen and everyone else, even Ayanokoji himself believes, that Y must be from Ichinose's class. After all, Ayanokoji and Ibuki were quite confident about noticing anything happening in the morning if anyone were to wake up, go away and coincidentally try to deliver a message to Ryūen.

One did they know that Kurushima had studied during their first day the sleeping rhythm of both of them and noticed that they both would slightly wake up during two to three a.m in the morning. Precisely why he chose going to the camp at one a.m in the morning.

"Ibuki-san, don't say that. I'm sure Ryūen-kun has some plans and won't let our class loose," contronary to what Ibuki believed, Hiyori refused, knowing that Ryūen isn't the same as before anymore.

The first very obvious hint was her being entrusted to be the leader during the Island Exam.

In normal cases Ryūen wouldn't have entrusted anyone aside from him with that position because of the mistrust he harbors against his own class.

Yet, he acted contronary to what everybody thought. He decided to trust her and grew as a leader in her opinion.

One of the things Ryūen was lacking, according to her, was that he didn't trust anyone and ruled the class with fear.

Those who did not obey would be punished, and those who obeyed wouldn't.

That was the single logic of how Ryūen ruled the internal affairs of his class.

It'd take a handful of time until Ryūen can trust her and her other classmates completely.

"I suppose you are right, Hiyori."

"Nicely done, Shiina. Right, Albert?" asked Ichizaki.

"[Good Job, Shiina]," commented Albert in English while raising his thumb.

"Ibuki, do you have that much distrust on me? Hehehe, good to know. But let me be straight clear right now. I don't plan on losing this exam. But we won't be precisely winning this exam as the sole class either," exclaimed Ryūen.

"What? What do you mean?" she asked.

"Although I have figured the pattern out, we are not the only class that knows it. Class B — No, Kurushima has figured it out," said Ryūen, in a calm demeanor.

"He did?" asked Ibuki in a shocking demeanor.

Albert, Ichizaki, and Hiyori were likewise shocked as Ibuki.

"What are we going to do?" asked Hiyori, who although wasn't particularly interested in participating in the class competitions, still wanted to protect her class at all cost.

Unfortunately for her, the enemy was the boy she was in love of.

However, knowing him, she knew that he wouldn't mind if she helped her class, so she slightly prepared herself of the Strategy Ryūen would propose against him and his class.

"Nothing," announced Ryūen.

His words caused all the five people present to be quite in shock. "What?" they asked in a synchronized tone.

Ibuki immediately went over to Ryūen and grapped his collar. "Are you saying that you will simply give up without even trying. Where is the Ryūen that wouldn't back up from any challenge, no matter who their opponent is. Are you really that scared?"

Ibuki caused quite an uproar. One, did she know that it wasn't like she or the four imagined. Ryūen did not give up. He made a deal with the enemy.

Ryūen immediately grapped Ibuki by her wrist. "Me scared? I don't even know what that word means, Ibuki. I have never felt fear even once in my life before."

Ibuki immediately responded. "Hah, bullshit," she said.

Ryūen simply held Ibuki's wrist even tighter than before. "Let me explain it to you guys before you even dare to come to other ridiculous thoughts just like this one. For this exam, both Kurushima and I have made a small temporary deal. Class B won't submit our VIPs, nor will we submit their's."

"While we are having this deal, our class still upholds another one. In return for the identities of three VIPs, which greatly contributed to solving the VIP identification pattern, we would spare Ichinose's class and wouldn't submit the remaining two VIPs on their class."

All five of them looked quite shocked on what Ryūen already had done behind the scenery.

"Don't bullshit with me. Ichinose would never agree with that."

Ibuki was right, Ichinose would never do this. However, someone else in Class C would.

"It isn't Ichinose-san, right, Ryūen-kun?"

The one who asked this question was Hiyori Shiina, who should have some conclusions formed on who the "traitor" in Ichinose's class was.

"Hahaha, you are right, Hiyori. Good, it seems like it wasn't a bad choice in trusting your abilities. You and Kaneda would make good Class Representatives, when I'm not around."

"Huh? Aren't all of them pacifists. Who could even betray their class?" asked Ichizaki.

"Someone who's quite realistic amongst those pacifists. That person knows what consequences losing this exam has, thus proposing me this deal. I'm sure you already have figured it out, Hiyori."

Ryūen freed Ibuki from his grip and looked at Hiyori expectantly.

"It's Kanzaki-kun, right, Ryūen-kun?" asked Hiyori.

"You didn't disappoint me. Good. Anyways, I'll be going," announced Ryūen.

However, as he was trying to walk away, he could see a female hand holding his wrist.

"You bastard, if you already knew the VIPs of the other classes, why did you make a deal with Kurushima? Even if there was at that time no other choice, you could later just submit all of their VIPs simultaneously, and Kurushima couldn't do anything. Why did you make this useless deal?"

Although Ibuki's actions were quite daring, she wasn't entirely wrong either. Submitting all six VIPs simultaneously from Class A and B would result in 300 class points. The moment he had done that, however, their class would remain with 150 class points.

Class B, however, would remain at 150 class points, too. They would submit the three VIPs from his class and the remaining two of Ichinose's class.

Since Koenji Rokusuke submitted one VIP already, it would add 6 VIPs just like them, leaving them with 150 class points, that is, if Koenji was right.

The deal itself wasn't in any ounce focused on whether the two classes would be earning class points at all. Either way, these two classes would be remaining with 150 class points, no matter whether they decided to be enemies during this exam or not.

It was simply a message to him. Let's attack Sakayanagi together.

While he did not precisely say that, Ryūen could imagine that this must have been Kurushima's intention.

The reason for forming an alliance during this exam was just to symbolize that these two classes would be now in unity for attacking Class A.

Once the exam ends, Kurushima's class will be Class A, his class will be Class C once again, and the former Class A will be in-between them in the position of Class B.

Unlike when Ichinose's class was in that position and didn't pose a threat to her, this time, she would be attacked from two-sides at the same time, both attacking and defending.

For maintaining her leader role, she needs to prove that she can be victorious and gain the class position back.

As long as the exams aren't about academics, where both Ryūen's and Kurushima's class are lacking, the chances for her are slim.

Ryūen however had other reasons for accepting the alliance.

Once the current Class B advances up to Class A, they'll be the target of all attention. It makes his plans easier to destroy Sakayanagi when she is entirely focused on another opponent.

"Hah, I'm too tired of explaining this bullshit over and over again. If you want answers, ask Hiyori. She should have figured out the advantages already," said Ryūen, walking away, leaving them all alone.

In all of sudden, however, Ryūen's phone vibrated, showing him a newly arrived Email.

--

[1 New Email]

[Sender: IAMY...]

[To: Ryūen Kakeru]

[Subject: ZBZMLPLQR PRBLGZPZ RH GSV LMV BLF ZIV HVZIXSRMT ULI]

[Hello Ryūen,

As you might suspect, I'm the one you call Y. To prove that, I shall hereby recite the hints I gave you.

"Grace the hidden wheel," and "Look at the layout here." I hope these two weren't all too hard to solve. I did my best to come up with two quite easy ones that shouldn't take much time on solving. But anyways, seeing that you weren't defeated by "them," it already gave me my answer.

If you do not believe me, you can always check the phones of your classmates who know of the two hints. But I'm sure you will do this regardless, so there wasn't any point in mentioning this.

If I ever feel like giving you hints, I'll do so. Until then, enjoy your fight against that person.

I'll be watching you...

Farewell...]

--

Ryūen slightly looked behind, seeing no one of these five's on their phone, who are the only ones that know about the two hints.

He walked away with his hands in his pockets, slightly in small relief that nobody of them had betrayed him.

"You don't plan on revealing yourself? Then I'll create a situation where you have to reveal yourself, Y. I'll be crushing you and X. Just wait for me."

--

[Third Person Pov]

[14th August, 21.32]

It was the final day of the Zodiac Exam, and two rather unusual individuals were sitting on the same table.

The two people were Kurushima and Ryūen, who both had their phones on the table, waiting for the remaining 28 minutes to go down. After these 28 minutes, the exam would end, and one hour later, at 23.00, the results would be disclosed.

Although both had the same goal in mind, wanting to crush Sakayanagi, neither Kurushima nor Ryūen trusted the other person.

It was simply a deal these two made. And seeing how nobody submitted the other classes VIP, everything seems to be working well.

Ryūen suddenly typed in his phone, "Now," and in all of sudden, each student has gotten three notifications.

--

[Rat Group rescinded out of the exam]

[Rooster Group rescinded out of the exam]

[Pig Group rescinded out of the exam]

--

Those were the three groups where Class A's VIPs were in.

In return, Kurushima did the same. He had messaged two of his classmates, who were in the Cow and Dog group, to submit the person he had told them.

Since everyone trusted him, they didn't even hesitate, and two other sudden notifications could be seen.

--

[Cow Group rescinded out of the exam]

[Dog Group rescinded out of the exam]

--

"Ryūen, I hope you don't think of doing something stupid," said Kurushima, who didn't, in actuality, believe that Ryūen would submit his classes three VIPs.

But if he were to do that, he would instantly tag along.

Kurushima didn't precisely care whether Ryūen's class advanced or not. He simply wanted to destroy Sakayanagi and Kanzaki and their respective class.

Ryūen didn't matter to him at all.

"Don't worry, Kurushima, I don't plan on doing that. Currently, I don't think my class would be able to withhold the attacks of Sakayanagi, so I'll be staying low for a while."

"I see. I'll be trusting your words, Ryūen-kun. Hopefully, I won't regret this," replied Kurushima, who decided to walk away.

Ryūen simply stared at his back, contemplating whether he should or should not submit their VIPs in the very last minute.

But even if this was an opportunity he could fully use, he already knew that it wasn't the right time on facing Sakayanagi head on head.

The time would come, but not now.

He would firstly crush Ichinose's class completely. After all, he is quite annoyed by their pacifistic mindset and hopes that once their class reaches the apex of despair, they might change for the better and amuse him.

Even so, Ryūen was extremely thrilled about the future.

There were Sakayanagi, Kurushima, X, and Y, four individuals that were absolutely worthwhile to fight against.

--

[14th August, 22.28]

[The results of the exam will be announced in thirty-two minutes.]

Although the message was completely unnecessary, each student who was still awake couldn't help but feel nervous.

Kurushima sat with several classmates of his together, waiting for the announcenent of the results.

Some people were currently sleeping, like Yamauchi, some were playing games, like Ike, and some were waiting restlessly for the announcement of the results, like Horikita.

She tried on writing Ayanokoji messages on whether he did something during this exam or not, since she wasn't aware why in all sudden 5 groups got rescinded out of the exam and the only remaining were their's and that of another class.

Well, in actuality, she asked for a meet-up, but Ayanokoji could already tell beforehand about what she wanted to talk about.

He didn't particularly do much, just protected Karuizawa from her bullies and protected the VIPs' identity.

He didn't reply immediately since Karuizawa sat during that time next to him, but after the exam ended, and the only thing was to wait for the results, he headed his way towards Horikita.

Thirty-two minutes before 11 pm, at the location Horikita suggested, Ayanokoji had arrived.

"Ayanokoji-kun, what did you do?" she asked.

"Nothing," he replied bluntly.

He already said it at the beginning to her that he would put minimal effort into the exam, and he sure did that.

Aside from protecting the VIPs' identity, there wasn't anything else he did much.

Well, perhaps he did some other things behind the background, but aside from that, he did nothing.

That's why he was certainly surprised when he saw that five groups rescinded out of the exam, during the time 21.33 and 21.34.

Perhaps it was Ryūen, or someone else, but he had no way of knowing it. It could also be Kurushima, but whatever it is, it would definitely surprise him.

His class and that of Ryūen remained. Was Ryūen sparing them or did something behind the background happen that he or anyone else wasn't aware of.

It definitely intrigued him, and he couldn't help but be curious about the exam results.

If it was Horikita, he would be certain that nothing would have happened since he was sure she was too narrow-minded to figure out the pattern behind this exam, but with Kurushima, it was completely different.

He would be able to evaluate Kurushima's abilities further, and with this exam, it would continue to do so until he gets a full grasp of his abilities.

Ayanokoji didn't know if Kurushima would be able to figure out the pattern behind this exam, but he should be able to do so with a high probability.

"I hope you are not lying, Ayanokoji-kun. Because I'm thinking of believing you," said Horikita.

"Don't worry, I have no reason to lie. Besides, I already told you at the beginning of this exam that I would be putting minimal effort into this exam."

"I see. If it wasn't you, was it Ryūen. Or could it be Ichinose or Katsuragi?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. But perhaps it could also be our class," Ayanokoji suggested.

Horikita didn't even seem to comprehend what Ayanokoji said. "Our class? Do you mean that Kurushima did that? But if that were to be true, why wouldn't he tell us?" she asked.

"I'm not sure myself, but it could be that he wanted to surprise us. That, or he only figured the pattern out just now and wasn't able to tell us."

"I see. Considering his personality, it would make sense if he were to surprise us with the position with Class A. But that isn't definite. We should just wait for the results. If Kurushima really, in fact, were to surprise us, he would have already informed u—"

--

[1 New Notification]

--

After hearing the sound of a notification arriving, both Ayanokoji and Horikita looked up their phones.

"It's Kurushima-kun," exclaimed Horikita.

"Yeah," replied Ayanokoji.

Both of them immediately went towards their class chat.

--

[Class Chat:]

[Kurushima: @Everyone, I have a small surprise. If it is okay with you, could you come at 22.50 to this location? The location is XX.]

[Sūdo: Bro, this late? Hopefully, it's something really worth it. But wait, isn't that the pool area?]

[Kurushima: Haha, well yeah, but I really need to show everyone something. Sorry if I am asking too much right now. But everyone, please trust me, it is really something good.]

[Sūdo: I'm on my way, Bro. If you say it's something good, then I'll trust you.]

[Kurushima: Thank you, Sūdo-kun. I appreciate your trust in me.]

[Hirata: I'm also on my way, Kurushima-kun.]

[Mori: Count me in too. Also, Kurushima-kun, should we bring swimsuits? Since we are in the pool area?]

[Kurushima: Ah, yes, everyone, please bring your swimsuits with you. We're in the pool area, after all. Thank you for asking. If you hadn't asked, I might have forgotten to say it.]

[Mori: Ah, that was nothing.]

.

.

.

--

"Perhaps you were right, Ayanokoji-kun," commented Horikita.

"I'm not sure, but we'll find it out either way. Breaking your head over this matter isn't worthwhile."

"True enough. Well, should we head out?" she asked.

"Yes, let's do that," responded Ayanokoji.

--

Twenty-seven minutes later, both her and Ayanokoji appeared. They were one of the last people who arrived.

It was rather surprising that aside from Yamauchi, everyone from the class appeared.

And that in just twenty-seven minutes. But then again, it is just the influence Kurushima happens to have in his class that everyone would immediately come when he asked for it.

"Kurushima-kun, what did you call us here for?" asked Hirata.

"Well, I was thinking, why should not all of us wait together for the announcement of the exam results? There are only four minutes left remaining," exclaimed Kurushima.

"Ah, that's a great idea, Kurushima-kun. Let's wait together."

While almost all people of the class surrounded Kurushima and Hirata, both Ayanokoji and Horikita were ten meters away from them talking.

"He seems suspicious," said Horikita. "Do you think he wants to surprise us?"

"Yeah, I think so,"

"Why?" she asked.

"Let's see. Why would Kurushima suddenly call everyone here ten minutes prior to the announcement of the results, in a rather popular area, that, however, is only occupied by our class. Do you think that it is a coincidence that nobody aside from our class is here, considering that more than ninety percent of the students go on daily base swimming in the pool?"

Horikita didn't deny what Ayanokoji said, but how could Kurushima even achieve that. "But how could he have done it?" she asked.

"Do you remember what Chabashira-sensei said to us at the first day? There is nothing that can not be bought with points in this school. Obviously, there are still limitations. However, if we take her by word, we can rent this pool if we'd like. And that's probably what Kurushima did. He temporarily rented this pool area for our class. But it must have been quite a sum, considering how popular the pool is among the students. One or two hours at most."

"I see, that does make sense. However, I still think that Kurushima-kun could have spent our collected class money on something else. It'd have been far more worthwhile."

Ayanokoji didn't agree with her. "I doubt that he spent the money from the class bank account. After all, the phone is since this morning in our room, and it has not a single decrease of points."

Horikita seemed surprised. "You checked it?" she asked.

"I wasn't planning too, but the phone's display was still on when Kurushima left the room, and when I also wanted to leave the room and passed by the phone, I saw the number of points displayed. That's why I can confidently say that Kurushima seems to be renting this pool with his own private points."

Horikita wasn't sure if Ayanokoji just lied to her, as this would be quite a miracle if the phone wasn't coincidentally turned off.

However, if Ayanokoji did, in fact, lie to her, she could get a better hold on his personality.

If he even goes as far as to check the phone, in order to be sure that no points were spent, she could tell that he is someone who likes to be in control.

She wasn't sure, but she didn't entirely believe him either.

That was due to the seed of mistrust Kurushima planted on Horikita when Ayanokoji told her to ask him what the leaf message could have meant.

"I see. But how could he even afford to rent the pool area, considering his large spending on points?" she asked.

"Well, I suppose it's because of the student council. As a member of the council, you are paid monthly with large amounts of private points. So it is quite natural that he might have more private points because of that," he answered.

"That explains a lot. I wonder if some people in our class will cause a uproar when they find out that Kurushima gets more points than them and allocates only the given 20.000 to the class bank," frowned Horikita, already imagining that someone like Shinohara might complain about the fact that Kurushima has more points than them and only allocates 20.000 private points despite having that much.

Ayanokoji didn't talk but simply looked away. "Ayanokoji-kun, what's wrong?" asked Horikita.

"Ahm, about that, your statement isn't entirely true."

"What do you mean? I can't follow you," said Horikita.

"To be entirely true, the amount of private points in the Class bank account are more than what they should be if the allocation was only 20.000 points per member of the class. I suppose Kurushima allocates just like us one-third of the monthly earned private points in the class bank instead of using this as his advantage. Perhaps even more, but I didn't pay that much attention to it."

"I really cannot comprehend him. It's the points he earned for working for the student council. He earned every single point of it. Why would he allocate more than the given amount. Hah, he truly is difficult to understand," frowned Horikita, looking into his direction for a moment.

Kurushima saw her staring at him and winked at her with a kind-hearted smile.

At that moment, even the ice-queen couldn't help but blush. "You blushed?!" exclaimed Ayanokoji in complete shock.

Horikita turned her head away and took slowly her compass out. "Ayanokoji-kun, repeat that again."

Ayanokoji looked at her with a stoic expression. "You blushed," he replied bluntly.

Later that evening, Ayanokoji suffered once again the might of the all-mighty compass everywhere on his body.

But then suddenly, thirty-nine loud notifications appeared on everyone's phone, due to the time being now 11 pm.

It was time for the announcement of the results.

--

[(Rat) --> Due to the traitor's correct assessment,

Outcome 3.]

[(Cow) --> Due to the traitor's correct assessment, Outcome 3.]

[(Tiger) --> Due to the target's identity being

protected, Outcome 2.]

[(Rabbit) --> Due to the traitor's wrong assessment, Outcome 4.]

[(Dragon) --> Due to the entire group's correct

assessment after the exam's end, Outcome 1.]

[(Snake) --> Due to the target's identity being

protected, Outcome 2. ]

[(Horse) --> Due to the target's identity being protected, Outcome 2.]

[(Sheep) --> Due to the target's identity being

protected, Outcome 2.]

[(Monkey) --> Due to the traitor's correct

assessment, Outcome 3.]

[(Bird) --> Due to the traitor's correct assessment, Outcome 3.]

[(Dog) --> Due to the traitor's correct assessment, Outcome 3.]

[(Boar) --> Due to the traitor's correct assessment, Outcome 3.]

--

[Class A: -200 CP + 1.5 Million private points]

[Class B: +150 CP + 3.5 Million private points]

[Class C: +150 CP + 3.5 Million private points]

[Class D: -150 CP + 1.5 Million private points]

--

>This is not part of the email just the two things above.

[New Class Ranking]

[Class A: 1027] - Kurushima

[Class B: 924] - Sakayanagi

[Class C: 872] - Ryūen

[Class D: 645] - Ichinose

--

For the first few seconds, nobody aside from one person immediately scrolled down, but once everyone did that, they saw that their class had just earned 150 class points with this exam.

Unlike what many believed, Ike was the first one to speak up, as he was the one who scrolled immediately down the moment he received the email.

"Is this for real? Wohooo, we just have gotten with this exam plus 150 class points." Ike announced, causing his other classmates to look at him, as they weren't entirely believing him.

But once they did, they really saw that Ike was speaking the truth. "Ike-kun is right. We have earned 150 class points, everyone," exclaimed Kushida in a happy and celebrating tone.

But then Kushida had the realization as the first one. They had 877 class points, with these additional 150 class points, they were at 1027. Class A had 1124 class points but had a decrease of 200 class points. That did make them the next Class A.

"We're in Class A," announced Kushida in an unbelieving and quiet tone. However, everyone had heard what she said and immediately realized it themselves.

Was this the reason why Kurushima had called them? It was suddenly now the thought of everyone, aside from Yamauchi, who was quietly sleeping in his room.

All of a sudden, before anyone could speak further, Kurushima pressed a button and caused Fireworks flying upwards the sky.

Only then did everyone realize the pleasant and beautiful surprise Kurushima had prepared for them.

"How... beautiful," muttered Kushida, who truly enjoyed the heavenly view right in front of her eyes.

She didn't really care about Kurushima. She thought of him as these good for nothing guys who came from a rich family, just like Koenji.

But she realized how wrong she was. He wasn't a bad leader. He was perhaps the best leader they could have asked for.

Even she couldn't deny it.

She didn't feel anything about him, but at that moment, Kurushima had earned her praise and respect for the very first time.

Everyone was suddenly drawn by the breathtaking view right in front of them, that everyone was silent, until the fireworks would end.

However, Ayanokoji was the one who was drawn the most by the fireworks.

Though he heard them in principle in the white room, he just thought that it was something unnecessary that would pollute the environment.

But at that moment, these thoughts shifted away, and his gaze with undeterred curiosity remained on the sky until the fireworks ended.

Once the fireworks ended, Horikita spoke to Ayanokoji. "That was simply beautiful..." she expressed, with an extremely happy, relieving, and calm expression.

Ayanokoji responded. "Yeah... it truly was."

Ayanokoji perhaps didn't recognize it, but he was slightly smiling at this moment. Though, neither he nor anyone else — no, there was one person who saw his smile.

It was Karuizawa who turned around because she wanted to see whether Ayanokoji had anything to do with the exam results.

But aside from her identity, she figured that he truly was not responsible for this.

"Kurushima-kun, did you do that?" asked Mori, who seemed to be extremely happy.

Kurushima nodded his head. "Yeah, I hope everyone liked this surprise to celebrate our advancement to Class A," he announced, with a kind-hearted smile.

The atmosphere in the pool area buzzed with excitement and joy as Kurushima's words resonated with everyone. The realization of their achievement, coupled with the awe-inspiring fireworks, created a sense of unity and pride among the classmates.

Kushida, still in awe of the magnificent display, couldn't help but express her gratitude. "Kurushima-kun, this is incredible! Thank you for organizing such a wonderful celebration," she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

"No problem, Kushida-san, I wanted to give everyone a pleasant surprise for our advancement to Class A. Besides, the celebration has just begun. So everyone, let's quickly change and dive into the pool," exclaimed Kurushima with great enthusiasm.

Aside from Ayanokoji and Horikita, everyone seemed to have brought their swimsuits with them.

It was quite awkward for these two that they felt obligated to rent swimsuits nearby for several thousand points.

But it didn't matter.

It was now time to celebrate, their advancement to Class A.

And Ayanokoji, even though he didn't think too much of celebrating their advancement to Class A, could celebrate his newfound freedom, which was formerly threatened by Chabashira-sensei, who blackmailed him to help Kurushima with his objective on reaching Class A, if he didn't want to be expelled.

Now that this was over, he could finally relax, enjoy his high school life, and do nothing.

But would Ayanokoji really stay low, or will he fast-forward his plans and make his possible transfer into another class soon possible?

Who knows, only he can answer that question. One thing, however, is for sure. He'll be helping each person of his class to reach their best self of them so that they can grow.

After all, he's a curious type of person who wants to observe how the different human beings can grow if he gives them a bit of stimulus for them to reach their potential.

Only then...

He would think of switching the classes...

***

A/N: With this chapter, that concludes the Zodiac Exam. I'm curious, but should I do two or three more chapters, where the SS from someone like Hiyori, Matsushita, or Ayanokoji is explained.

I'm currently on work of a Hiyori SS, but I think that'll be all.

But, who knows, perhaps I'll also be doing a Matsushita SS.

I'm not precisely sure, though.

Anyways, that'll be all.

Oh, one more thing, I was having this idea of creating another cote fic.

It's more or less quite a bit unique, but I was thinking, what if the OC cast of cote would have been trapped in the world of Sao, the world of Aincrad.

I would be making this a bit different, that the game was published 2015/16, around the time when Koji and the others are in high school.

The school would have pre-ordered for all of their students the nerve gear and would be a fundamental aspect to show the students the lesson between the difference in reality and virtual reality.

Obviously, later, they find out that they are trapped now in this world and die in real life if their avatars die.

If I'm truly making this, I was kind of contemplating whether to make it when Ayanokoji and Co are in Year 2 or Year 1.

I think Year 2 would be far more interesting to read, as there are no handicaps between Ayanokoji and his enemies.

It doesn't matter if he is stronger in real life, when the only thing that matters in Aincrad is who has the better stats.

I mean, sure, he could lay traps, but whether they would be effective is a different question.

Well, anyway, that was the idea I came up with if I were to create a second fan-fic.

Let me know what you think in the comments. It'd be really appreciated.

Goodbye, have a good day.

[Word Count: 5410]