-176- I don't believe

Back on the cruise ship, all the students of Class D were still buzzing with excitement and chatting away. However, only Hirata Yousuke and Kushida Kikyou were deeply troubled.

"I'm really sorry, everyone."

"It's because of us that Ibuki-san infiltrated our class and almost caused trouble for everyone."

Hirata Yousuke and Kushida Kikyou apologized to everyone.

It seemed that the revelation of Ibuki's spying activities left these two well-meaning individuals still feeling uneasy. They felt guilty for almost exposing the leader of Class D, thanks to their association with Ibuki.

So, when they returned to the cruise ship and reached the deck, before they even entered the ship, Hirata Yousuke and Kushida Kikyou apologized to everyone.

However, no one cared about this at the moment.

"It's okay."

"You guys were deceived too, weren't you?"

"The ones at fault are just Ibuki and that guy called Ryuen."

"Yeah, exactly."

"Thanks to Nanaya, huh?"

"Haha, he really turned Class A and Class C upside down."

"So exhilarating."

The students of Class D were unusually magnanimous, neither pursuing the matter nor dwelling on it further, instead continuing to revel in their excitement.

Even Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken were feeling proud.

"Now, our class points for next semester will increase by 309 points!"

"Does that mean we'll get over 30,000 personal points every month starting next semester?"

"That's amazing!"

The three boys, who still had a lot of debts, expressed their joy.

Only Horikita Suzune spoke up at this moment.

"The gains are not just personal points."

Horikita Suzune's sudden reminder brought an important matter to everyone's attention.

"Don't forget, this time Class C scored 0 points, while we scored over 300 points. If all these points are added to our class points, the gap between Class D and Class C's class points will almost disappear."

Horikita Suzune's reminder immediately made everyone wake up as if from a dream.

Here's something to note.

At the midpoint of the first semester, after the final exams, there was a difference of about 400 points between Class C and Class D's class points.

At that time, Class C had 492 class points, while Class D had 87 points.

Later, due to the impact of the violent incident, the trio from Class C were suspended, unable to return to the classroom until the end of the first semester, resulting in a deduction of many class points for Class C.

And just like the mid-term exams, once the final exams were passed, 100 class points would be awarded as a reward.

However, daily behavior and discipline also affected class points.

Therefore, during the first semester, both Class C and Class D had their class points gradually deducted.

This was unavoidable.

Even Class A and Class B couldn't guarantee complete self-discipline, so it was quite normal for them to have a slight deduction in class points.

So, by the end of the first semester, Class C had about 455 class points, while Class D had 145 points.

If, in this special exam, the 309 points earned by Class D could all be added to their class points, what would Class D's class points be by the start of the second semester?

It would be 454 points.

Only 1 point away from Class C's 455 points.

"Does that mean...!?"

"Are we... are we about to be promoted to Class C!?"

"That's amazing!"

The students of Class D finally reacted to this matter, each one exclaiming with great joy.

Kushida Kikyou and Hirata Yousuke couldn't help but smile, no longer as serious as before.

However, as the one who reminded everyone of this matter, Horikita Suzune glared at Hori.

Sensing Horikita Suzune's gaze, Hori blinked.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Seeing Hori's innocent expression, Horikita Suzune seemed to want to pounce on him and give him a good scolding, her expression showing considerable displeasure.

"Just 1 point short." Horikita Suzune said coldly, "Isn't that too convenient? The mastermind behind the scenes?"

It was quite harshly said.

But Horikita Suzune's displeasure was understandable.

Not more, not less, just precisely 1 point short, and Class D could catch up to Class C.

How could Horikita Suzune not be suspicious?

"Since you've been calculating to that extent since the start of the exam, I don't believe you wouldn't get just 1 point."

With a tone of strong suspicion, Horikita Suzune questioned Hori like this.

There was no way around it.

Although this girl was a bit naive, she wasn't stupid after all.

Though it sounds harsh, it's still a fact.

At least, when the students from the other classes realize that Class C and Class D's class points are only 1 point apart after this special exam, smart people will wonder why it's so coincidental, right?

And then, as the biggest winner of this special exam who turned both Class A and Class C around, people will definitely think of him.

With this man's ability, earning this mere 1 point is simply a piece of cake.

Not to mention, when he provided the leaders of Class A and Class C to Class B, and even provided camouflage agents, Hori could have made Ichinose Honami pay an extra point for the supplies, saving Class D that 1 point.

By then, Class D would be tied with Class C.

Presumably, providing this extra point for supplies wouldn't have made Ichinose Honami's actions noticeable to Class B and exposed to Kaneda Satoru, right?

But Hori didn't do that.

Horikita Suzune couldn't believe that Hori, who calculated A and C classes so well, wouldn't have factored in the result of this special exam and the difference in class points between the two classes.

Therefore, after much thought, Horikita Suzune could only think of one possibility.

That is...

"You deliberately didn't earn this 1 point, right?"

That's why Horikita Suzune felt upset.

Unfortunately...

"You're overthinking it."

Hori didn't respond seriously to Horikita Suzune's implication at all. After giving only this sentence, he turned away and went inside the ship.

"Wait...!"

"Nanaya-kun...!"

Behind him, including Horikita Suzune, many students in the class wanted to stop Hori.

The reason why Class D achieved this result in this special exam was all because of Hori.

Presumably, there must be many things the students wanted to say to Hori, right?

But Hori seemed to find it too troublesome. He ignored the voices behind him and left the deck, entering the ship.

At the same time, another person disappeared from the group of Class D.

The classmates didn't notice this and continued to complain.

"Why did he leave in such a hurry..."

"Yeah..."

"I still have a lot to say to him..."

The people in the group expressed regret.

Especially Sakura Airi, who seemed to want to catch up with Hori, but in the end, she seemed to feel it was too conspicuous to go now, so she could only give up reluctantly.

On the other hand, Sudou Ken and several others, led by him, expressed that since they were back on the ship, they should find Kouenji Rokusuke as agreed and give him a piece of their mind.

To stop them, Hirata Yousuke and the others could only try to persuade them desperately.

Only Horikita Suzune continued to watch the direction in which Hori left, sighing softly.

"Just who exactly are you?"

This muttered question went unheard by anyone.

Only Kushida Kikyou in the crowd saw this scene and looked at Horikita Suzune, seeming to be lost in thought.