Acquiring a shield

When I returned back to our camp, Horikita took me to the side for a short talk.

"Hm? You want me to go with you to Class C's camp...? Why?"

"I have thought of your offer for a bit and I don't mind doing you a favor from time to time as long as you will provide me some impactful help" She explained with folded arms while avoiding eye contact with me, most likely embarrassed to ask for my help.

"...Is Ayanokoji-kun also tagging along?" I asked while secretly giving the person in question a look.

"Yes...what do you have against him? Weren't you previously so confident in winning this test? So why are you suddenly getting worried about your own classmate?" She frowned, staring daggers at me.

"Fine, fine! Just so you know, this entire visit will become pointless"

"What makes you think so?" Maybe she already had her doubts but she didn't sound much surprised by my comment.

"Apparently two students came to invite us while acting all high and mighty while also wasting the food just to belittle us. It's quite predictable what we will see at their camp"

.

.

Just as I told Horikita, when we arrived at their camp, her eyes widened upon seeing the lavish lifestyle of Class C's students.

"Didn't I tell you" I muttered, looking to the side with a disinterested expression.

Horikita sharply turned her head at me with a suspicious expression as if she was trying to figure out whether I knew even more than I let out.

"What the hell are they doing?"

Soon, we were taken to Ryuen where he had not so meaningful conversation with Horikita while I and Ayanokoji just kept quiet, observing the surroundings.

We let them do all the talking before Horikita grew tired of Ryuen's nonsense and decided to leave.

On our way back, Horikita and Ayanokoji exchanged a few words, she even tried to ask me a few questions but I always gave a vague answer or simply said I don't know, after seeing my stubbornness, Horikita stopped asking me questions only for her to find me later at the camp without Ayanokoji around.

"You really have something against Ayanokoji-kun...huh? What do you think about Class C's situation?"

"Well, they certainly have an attractive strategy." I shrugged my shoulders and said with a relaxed smile.

"You call that a strategy?!" She narrowed her eyes.

"First I should probably say that I have already visited Class B's camp and made allies with them for this test but that's not important. It seems like that other guy Ryuen mentioned he expelled is actually at Class B's camp. They quickly spent their points because they would lose them with two people absent on each roll call anyway."

"Wait, you think it's not important that you have made such a big decision on your own? I understand it's Class B and we most likely can trust them but how could you just decide it on your own?"

"If you want to hear my thoughts on Ryuen's strategy, stop asking such meaningless questions. You said it yourself, we can trust Class B to some extent." I rolled my eyes, showing my annoyance.

"...Fine, go on" She looked at me begrudgingly but stopped with her questions.

Time to surprise her, the more the better. She will be more willing to listen to me in the future.

"*Ehm* Once Class C is done spending their points, they will retire to enjoy the rest of the test on the ship. The reason why they are spending all their points is precisely for this move, they won't receive any penalty for retiring since they can't lose any bonus points, and they also won't receive penalties for their two students being absent on the roll call."

"Are you saying they are going to give-"

"They aren't giving up, that's exactly what they want you to think. Ryuen's acting back at the beach was blatantly trying to convince you that they have given up. In truth, their goal is to discover the other leaders and earn 150 points plus bonuses from occupying the spots. If their plan succeeds, overall, they should come out on top since once the class's leader is discovered, they will lose 50 points plus all their bonus points from occupying the spots. They would take the first place while dining luxurious meals on the cruise, isn't that the perfect outcome?"

"...Those are just speculations, even if they all retire, there would need to be at least one person from Class C for them to be able to vote and gain bonus points for spots. Ibuki-san and that other person are definitely out of the picture since they won't have any time to occupy anything without appearing suspicious." She replied with her regular frowning expression.

"...phahah!"

"?! What's so funny?!" She questioned with anger plastered over her face.

"Horikita, seriously...Did you actually even consider those two to be potential leaders for a split second without joking after what Ryuen told you back at the beach?"

"...What exactly do you mean? Didn't you also agree that what he said was nonsense before?"

"What he said was mostly nonsense indeed, however, the sentence "you can only trust yourself" is exactly how he thinks. He wouldn't entrust this task to anyone else. Class B being Class B will most likely have their leader discovered by Ryuen's spy."

"What about Class A? If it's as you say, why wouldn't he send someone there too?" She asked with a bit hesitant expression, she started seriously consider my "speculations"

"There are 3 reasons I can think of...one, he is aware they wouldn't accept anyone from Class C. Two, they have formed a partnership."

"What's the third reason?"

Hearing her question, I grinned.

"Partnership with betrayal. I made my research about the other classes and I am aware that there are two factions in Class A. Back at the beginning of the test, their entire class seemed to move according to that big guy's instructions. Coincidentally, there is also one person who had to retire prematurely due to poor health, do you really think this is a coincidence? If that big guy named Katsuragi loses this test, he will lose a lot of influence over their class. With Class A's current number of class points, it wouldn't be strange for the other leader to sacrifice this test in order to solidify their position"

"...Your speculations are getting more ridiculous. Are you seriously thinking somebody would betray their class to weaken the opposite side?" She said but definitely looked speechless.

*Sigh* "What about Ibuki? Weren't you the one acting all friendly with her, going as far as giving her your own meals?"

"Oh, that little act...if their plan happens to fail, Ryuen will obviously look for the culprit. Even if my name somehow got mentioned, Ibuki would immediately deny anything and protect me in the future for free!" I spread my arms with a wide smile, enjoying her shocked expression to the fullest.

Obviously, the first name that will get mentioned is yours, Horikita! If you wish for my answers in the future, you will have to cover for me.

"...Just who are you?" She asked with a slightly disturbed expression, no longer beaming with confidence as before.

I tilted my head in confusion before I replied with an amused smile.

"Apparently Kanji Ike, it's hard to believe it, I know that feeling very well!"

"Anyway, it's too late to get rid of Ibuki. Her position in our class has more or less been accepted, with Hirata and Kushida around, it would be impossible to get rid of her without causing a disturbance within our class."

"If you were already aware of her being a spy, why did you try so hard to persuade everyone otherwise? What's the merit in having her around?"

"Horikita...you aren't acting yourself right now, take some time to calm down and gather your thoughts. You should be able to see the reason why I am keeping her around after taking some rest." I said and started walking away, feeling her conflicting gaze on my back.

I stopped and turned back to her with a forgetful expression.

"Oh! I almost forgot...in case you decide to truly cover for me and not just do me a "favor", I am willing to tell you the names of the other leaders and how I discovered them. Oh, I basically told you about Class C's leader earlier didn't I? ...well, there are still 2 more to go if you are interested. Until then!" I waved at her with a friendly smile before walking away.

Silver Tongue lv. 1 (55/100, passive) -> Silver Tongue lv. 1 (65/100, passive)

---Suzune Horikita---

Affection: 5 -> 10

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Eyes of the Reader lv. 1 (60/100, active)