About half an hour later, all forty students had finished introducing themselves.
As the last student took their seat, a heavy silence fell over the classroom.
Kamiki slowly rose from his seat.
Taking his hands out of his pockets, he walked toward the front of the room with measured steps.
Every eye in the room was fixed on him.
He stepped right up to the front, standing just beside the podium.
Leaning his back against the blackboard, he swept his gaze across the room.
“Quiet down,” Kamiki said.
His voice wasn’t loud, but it was crystal clear.
“And listen to me.” You could hear a pin drop.
Even those who had been glaring at him with hostility just moments before were now paying rapt attention.
“By now, I’m sure you’ve all realized this isn’t a normal school,” Kamiki stated.
The students exchanged glances.
After a few seconds of hesitation, everyone nodded silently.
The shock of the hundred thousand points and the hidden rules was still fresh in their minds.
“Good.” Kamiki pointed toward the ceiling again.
“Those cameras are watching us.
And they’re not just capturing video; they’re recording audio, too.” “Make absolutely sure you follow school regulations inside the classroom.
Don’t talk during lessons.
Don’t be late.
And stay off your phones.” “Why are you making such a big deal out of this?” a boy in the adjacent row asked.
“Because the price will be heavy,” Kamiki replied.
“Naturally, the school grounds will be crawling with these cameras.
The hallways, the courtyard, the cafeteria…
everywhere is being monitored.
There are four right here in this classroom alone.
You can figure out the rest.” Sakayanagi Arisu rested both hands on her cane, leaning her chin against its handle.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched Kamiki with immense amusement.
“Fufu…” Arisu chuckled, her voice like a melody echoing down a hallway.
“Furthermore…
absolutely do not share this information with the other classes.” Everyone in the room turned their heads toward Arisu.
“Why?” a boy near the front rows asked.
“What’s the harm in helping them out?” Arisu shook her head slightly, the mocking smile on her lips deepening.
“How naive,” Arisu said.
“This is a competition.
The other classes are our rivals.
Their mistakes mean our victory.” Meanwhile, Kamiki leaned back against the blackboard, observing the class.
He let out a faint, internal chuckle at Sakayanagi’s words.
In reality, he knew very well that this effort was entirely in vain.
*’What difference does it make if we share it or not?’* Kamiki thought to himself.
The other classes had Yuki, Shiro, and Kiyone.
None of them knew the original plot, and no one had explained the school system to them yet.
But Kamiki knew exactly what kind of monsters they were.
Those genius children from the White Room must have already analyzed this foolish school system by now.
Still, he didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere in the classroom.
Going along with her for now was the most logical move.
Kamiki turned his gaze to Arisu, plastering a fake but convincing look of seriousness onto his face.
“Sakayanagi-san is right,” Kamiki said, his tone firm.
Katsuragi Kouhei knitted his brows.
“Are you agreeing with her too, Kamiki?” “Yes,” Kamiki replied.
“We can’t just hand our rivals an advantage on a silver platter.
Let them squander their points.
Let them break the rules.
We will simply watch.” “But isn’t that a bit cruel?” a girl in the next row asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Cruel?” Kamiki took a slight step forward.
“Those are the rules of this school.
The winner takes all.
The loser gets eliminated.” The classroom sank into a deep silence once more.
Arisu seemed highly pleased by Kamiki’s support.
Her blue eyes gleamed with a sense of triumph.
“Fufu…
As you can see,” Arisu said.
“The two smartest minds in the class are of the same opinion.
So, keep your mouths shut.” Katsuragi let out a frustrated sigh, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Fine.
If the majority and you two think so…
we’ll keep this a secret for now.” With the rules clarified, the tense anticipation in the room shifted into a semblance of discipline.
Kamiki pulled his back away from the blackboard, straightening his posture.
He cast one last look over the class.
“Now then,” Kamiki said, keeping his tone authoritative.
“Everyone head down to the gymnasium for the opening ceremony.” The students quickly adjusted their bags and began rising from their desks.
“Let’s not be late and stand out,” Katsuragi said, leading the way.
“Move out.” Following Katsuragi’s lead, the entire class set into motion.
A crowd formed at the door as everyone filtered out of the room, whispering among themselves.
Within a few minutes, the classroom was completely empty.
Only two people remained.
Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamiki.
Arisu hadn’t budged from her seat.
Holding her cane between her hands, she calmly scrutinized Kamiki, that familiar, mocking, yet melodic smile gracing her lips.
“Fufu…” Arisu chuckled.
“Aren’t you heading down to the gymnasium for the opening ceremony, Kamiki-kun?” Kamiki shoved his hands into his pockets and walked over to her desk with heavy steps, stopping right in front of her.
“I was waiting for you,” Kamiki said, his voice flat.
Arisu narrowed her eyes slightly.
“For me?” “Yes,” Kamiki said.
Inwardly, he knew very well that Sakayanagi wouldn’t just leave with the crowd.
The hallway outside was already deafening—filled with the sounds of footsteps, laughter, and shouting.
It was obvious that all the classes were heading down for the ceremony at the same time.
The hallway was pure chaos.
With her frail body, it would be impossible for Sakayanagi to navigate that crowd.
Her slender legs couldn’t handle that hectic pace.
It would only take one accidental bump or shove to knock her down.
Kamiki knew both her pride and her physical limitations.
He simply didn’t want her to get crushed in the stampede.
Arisu studied the serious, protective expression on Kamiki’s face.
The smile on her lips deepened even further as she tilted her head back slightly.
“Fufu…” Arisu laughed, her voice as smooth as silk.
“I really don’t understand you, Kamiki-kun.” Kamiki raised an eyebrow.
“What don’t you understand?” “You,” Arisu said, locking her blue eyes onto his.
“Are you a gentleman, or are you not?” Kamiki let out a soft laugh.
“What do you think?” “I can’t quite decide,” Arisu said, lightly tapping the handle of her cane with her fingers.
“You’re a brute who forcibly carried me in your arms in the hallway.
Yet now, you’re a gentleman waiting for me here so I won’t get crushed in the crowd.” “I suppose it depends on the situation,” Kamiki said with a shrug.
“That is a very dangerous trait,” Arisu noted.
“You know exactly how to manipulate people.” Kamiki listened to the noise outside.
The heavy thrum of footsteps was gradually fading, and the commotion in the hallway had quieted down.
The worst of the crowd had already gone downstairs.
“The hallway is clear,” Kamiki said, gesturing toward the door.
“We can go.” Arisu slowly pushed herself up from her desk.
Leaning heavily on her cane, she stood up and prepared to take a step.
“Very well,” Arisu said, a challenging glint in her eyes.
“Aren’t you going to carry me in your arms this time, Kamiki-kun?” Kamiki took another step toward Sakayanagi, completely closing the distance between them.
He locked his eyes onto her blue ones, a playful smirk playing on his lips.
“If you don’t mind embarrassing yourself in front of the whole school,” Kamiki whispered, lowering his voice slightly.
“I’d be glad to.” Arisu’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second.
She hadn’t expected Kamiki to make such a daring move.
She instantly gripped her cane tighter, took a small step back, and leaned slightly against the desk behind her.
“Fufu…” Arisu chuckled, though this time there was a hint of fluster in her laugh.
“No need.
I can walk on my own.” Kamiki stood his ground, refusing to back down.
“Are you sure?” “Absolutely,” Arisu said, holding her head up proudly.
“I have no desire to be subjected to your brutish manners again.” “Brutish?” Kamiki laughed softly.
“It was just a helpful gesture.” “Let’s call it aggressive chivalry,” Arisu retorted.
Kamiki stepped aside, clearing the path for her.
“Fair enough,” Kamiki said.
“Then I’ll let you take the lead, Sakayanagi-san.” Arisu tapped her cane against the floor.
*Thud.* With slow, elegant strides, she began walking toward the classroom door.
Kamiki fell into step right beside her, matching his pace to her slow tempo.
They exited the classroom.
The hallway was almost entirely deserted, with only the faint, echoing remnants of distant voices.
They made their way toward the stairs leading to the gymnasium.
They descended the steps slowly and reached the large double doors at the end of the hallway.
Kamiki pushed the door open gently.
When they entered the gymnasium, it was already packed.
Hundreds of students had gathered in their respective assigned sections, and a low buzz of chatter filled the entire hall.
Kamiki and Arisu walked in side-by-side, making their way calmly toward Class A’s designated area.
Their classmates spotted them approaching.
Katsuragi turned his head in their direction, while Morishita Ai locked her eyes onto them.
The rest of the students let out a collective, visible sigh of relief.
Everyone was visibly relaxed.
In truth, it was a strange sensation for the class.
Just a few minutes ago, they had been thinking about how terrifying Kamiki and Sakayanagi were.
They had been wary of them—even secretly afraid.
But now, knowing that those formidable monsters were on their side changed everything.
In the brutal system of this school, having such beasts in Class A was an absolute blessing.
Being their enemy would be a nightmare.
But being their ally…
it was a profound source of security.
“You’re finally here,” Katsuragi said, raising his voice above the ambient noise.
“Fufu…
We are a bit late,” Arisu said, planting her cane firmly on the ground.
“But the ceremony hasn’t started yet.” One of the girls in the next row stepped closer to Kamiki.
“For a second, we thought you weren’t coming.
You looked so serious when you were talking about the classroom rules.” Kamiki smiled faintly.
“I was just warning you all.” “Even so,” the girl said, lowering her voice.
“It feels good knowing you have our backs.” The others in the class nodded in agreement.
Just having Kamiki and Sakayanagi standing with them provided an incredible amount of reassurance in this school full of unknowns.
It felt as though an impenetrable shield had been placed in front of them.
Kamiki gave a slight nod, looking into his classmates’ eyes.
“Alright,” Kamiki said, keeping his voice at a volume only his own class could hear.
“Everyone from our class, quiet down.” “Line up orderly and wait,” he added.
The Class A students quickly fell into formation, lining up side-by-side and row-by-row.
Unlike the other classes, they maintained a strict, military-like discipline.
No one spoke; everyone stood in a straight line, focused entirely on the stage.
Meanwhile, Kamiki crossed his arms over his chest, adopting a relaxed posture.
Turning his gaze away from his own class, he began scanning the hall.
He looked over at the other sections.
Classes B and C were waiting quietly, much like his own Class A.
It was obvious that Shiro and Yuki had taken control.
Class D, however, was incredibly rowdy.
As usual, absolute chaos reigned supreme.
Students were joking around, shouting, and looking every which way.
None of them had any concept of discipline.
Kamiki’s eyes lingered on Class D at the very back of the hall—a section that, frankly, resembled a total dumpster fire.
His gaze locked onto a familiar girl who was deliberately trying to blend into the crowd: Kiyone.
*’Why?’* Kamiki thought to himself, his brows knitting slightly.
He knew Kiyone’s intelligence and analytical abilities all too well.
She should have figured out how ominous this school was, noticed the hidden cameras, and deduced the flaws in the point system within seconds.
Despite that, why was Class D still so unruly, loud, and undisciplined?
Why hadn’t Kiyone warned them about the gravity of the situation and taken the reins?
Kamiki didn’t break his sharp gaze from her for even a second.
As if feeling the intense, piercing glare directed at her, Kiyone slowly turned her head.
Her eyes locked directly onto Kamiki, who was standing at the front of Class A.
Their gazes clashed in midair.
The dull, emotionless expression on Kiyone’s face didn’t change at all.
However, she understood exactly what Kamiki was asking her.
Kiyone let out a deep sigh, her shoulders dropping slightly.
Then, making a gesture so minuscule that it wouldn’t draw the attention of the other classes, she held her hands out slightly to her sides.
A helpless, resentful expression crossed her face, as if to say, *”This is the best I can do.”* The moment Kamiki saw her silent body language, he understood the situation.
A subtle, mocking smile played on his lips.
*’I see…’* Kamiki thought.
Kiyone had actually warned them.
She had told her class that things weren’t as they seemed.
But the crowd she was dealing with was Class D—a gathering literally defined by being “defective.” Even after hearing about the dangers of the system, they were selfish and thoughtless enough to go right back to making noise, fooling around, and acting flippant just minutes later.
Watching the Class D students shove and push one another, Kamiki realized another truth.
If Kiyone hadn’t been in that class, they would probably be tearing the gymnasium apart right now.
The noise they were making now was the absolute maximum filter Kiyone could apply to them.
The girl was single-handedly holding that defective herd back from plunging over the cliff.
“A tough assignment,” Kamiki muttered to himself.
Hearing Kamiki whisper softly beside her, Sakayanagi Arisu turned her head toward him.
Her blue eyes followed his gaze over to Class D.
“Fufu…” Arisu said, lightly stroking the handle of her cane.
“Is there something interesting over there, Kamiki-kun?
The pathetic state of Class D seems to amuse you greatly.” “How they behave doesn’t interest me,” Kamiki said, his tone entirely even.
“I was just looking at an acquaintance.” Sakayanagi Arisu’s eyebrows shot up.
“An acquaintance?” Tracking Kamiki’s line of sight, Arisu looked back toward Class D.
Her eyes landed squarely on Kiyone, analyzing the dull, mysterious girl.
As she did, a realization flashed through Arisu’s mind.
Her gaze didn’t stop there; she rapidly swept her eyes across the entire hall, scanning the other classes.
First, she looked at Class C.
Shiro was there.
Then, she turned to Class B.
Yuki was there.
Arisu froze for a moment.
The ever-present, mocking smile vanished from her face for a split second.
Her lips parted slightly, her surprise evident.
The genius children of the White Room…
They were all here.
Under the same roof, scattered across different classes.
After a few seconds of silence, a smile much larger and more captivated than usual spread across Arisu’s face.
“Fufu…” Arisu chuckled, her voice trembling with excitement.
“So those geniuses are here as well…
This is going to be truly entertaining.” She immediately turned her head, fixing her sharp eyes on Kamiki.
“You are a bad man, Kamiki-kun,” Arisu said, her tone reproachful yet delighted.
“You lied to me.” Kamiki crossed his arms, looking at her calmly.
“Lied to you?” “Yes,” Arisu said, lightly tapping her cane against the floor.
*Thud.* “Back in the classroom, you said, ‘We can’t just hand our rivals an advantage, let them break the rules.’ But you already knew those monsters were here.” Kamiki smiled faintly.
“No.
I merely said I agreed with you.” “Which means you withheld information from me,” Arisu countered.
“That is a form of lying.” “I was just waiting for the right moment,” Kamiki said with a shrug.
“Besides, supporting your idea was the most logical way to ensure silence in the classroom.” Arisu swept her eyes once more from Kiyone in Class D, to Shiro in Class C, and finally to Yuki in Class B.
The thrilled, dangerous smile was still fresh on her face.
However, it was clear she didn’t want to drag the topic out any further.
“Very well,” Arisu said, lowering her voice a bit more.
“I won’t press the matter.
After all, the cards have already been dealt.” Kamiki turned to her.
“Good.” Arisu tilted her head slightly.
“What about the others?
Aside from those monsters, did anyone else catch your eye in these classes?
Anyone worth noting who could affect the game?” Kamiki paused for a moment.
His eyes slowly traveled over the crowd in the hall.
They lingered on Ryuuen in Class C, who was looking around recklessly; on Ichinose in Class B, who was attempting to calm her class; and on the other faces standing in the front rows of Class C.
They were all figures he knew from his past knowledge—the ones who shaped the destiny of this school.
However, Kamiki abruptly shifted his gaze and locked it directly onto the girl beside him, staring straight into Arisu’s blue eyes.
Feeling the absolute, unwavering focus in Kamiki’s gaze, Arisu paused for a moment.
She instantly caught his meaning—the hidden acknowledgment beneath that look.
This time, her mocking, arrogant smile gave way to a more genuine, proud curve of her lips.
Her blue eyes flashed with the brilliance of a victorious commander as she lifted her chin slightly.
“Fufu…” Arisu chuckled, her voice as soft as a melody.
“Thank you, Kamiki-kun.
Hearing such a compliment directly from someone like you…
is truly an honor.” Arisu tapped her cane against the floor once more.
“No matter how strong those monsters are, I am going to take great pleasure in standing against them.” Just then, the chatter in the gymnasium suddenly died down.
A figure emerged, walking toward the podium with heavy, authoritative steps.
Student Council President Horikita Manabu took his place behind the microphone, his stern posture radiating strict discipline from miles away.
He swept his sharp gaze from behind his glasses over the entire hall.
Without him even needing to clear his throat, a total silence enveloped the room.
Manabu leaned into the microphone.
As his voice echoed off the wide walls of the gymnasium, it cast a freezing chill over the atmosphere.
“New students,” Manabu began.
His voice was smooth, deep, and exceedingly distant.
“Welcome to the Advanced Nurturing High School.
This institution was established under the auspices of the government to foster the leaders who will build the future of this nation.” While Manabu delivered his impressive speech on stage, the students below were practically half-asleep.
That long, tedious welcoming address was nothing short of a brutal assault on one’s mental endurance.
The content consisted of nothing but the school’s grand history, the expectations placed upon the new students, and various disciplinary codes.
No matter where you go, you can never escape this routine.
When Manabu finally concluded his speech, a sparse round of applause rippled through the hall.
The ceremony was officially over.
The students let out a collective sigh of relief, beginning to stretch their numb legs.
The heavy, drowsy atmosphere in the hall began to dissipate, replaced by a fresh wave of movement.
Kamiki quickly scanned the room.
Shiro from Class C had begun to move, his eyes searching directly for Kamiki.
Yuki from Class B was doing the same.
Along with the crowd trailing behind her, she was bound to head in this direction.
For his current plans, this situation was an absolute disaster.
He needed to avoid drawing attention to himself.
Kamiki took a deep breath, shoved his hands into his pockets, and made a swift move to slip through the crowd.
“Where are you going, Kamiki-kun?” Arisu’s melodic voice stopped him in his tracks.
She had planted her cane on the floor, looking at him with curious, slightly narrowed eyes.
Kamiki slowed his pace but didn’t stop.
“I have urgent business,” he said, his voice clipped.
Arisu smiled faintly, attempting to take a step forward.
“Perhaps I can be of assistance.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, subtly signaling her desire to tag along with him.
She looked as though she wanted to be an accomplice in this escape.
Kamiki glanced back.
He saw Shiro drawing closer to him.
Time was running out.
He swiftly stepped toward Arisu, completely closing the gap between them.
Bending down, he brought his lips right up to her small ear.
“I’m heading to the restroom right now,” Kamiki whispered, his voice dripping with mischief.
“Let’s go together.
Then, you can help me out with whatever else I need, Arisu-chan.” Arisu froze dead in her tracks.
Her eyes widened in sheer shock.
She hadn’t expected Kamiki to cross the line so blatantly.
Within seconds, her fair skin began to flush.
Her cheeks burned bright red, the color rushing all the way to her ears.
She quickly snapped her head away, her grip tightening on her cane.
“How incredibly vulgar,” Arisu said, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to compose herself.
Kamiki laughed softly, stepping back.
“See you around, Sakayanagi-san.” Turning on his heel, he melded into the crowd with long strides, moving swiftly toward the gymnasium exit.
Arisu stared blankly after him, her heart beating a little faster than usual.
She bit her lower lip.
“Really…” she muttered to herself.
“He truly is a dangerous brute.” As for Kamiki, he didn’t look back as he passed through the exit doors, leaving Shiro and Yuki’s gazes far behind him.
For now, he had managed to evade that hazardous encounter.