I reached the second floor five minutes before 6 P.M.

There were a few students in the corridors, they appeared and went into the other rooms. I assumed that each student had to go to a different room.

I knocked on the 204 room door and opened it after hearing permission from someone in the room.

In that room, Mashima-Sensei, class A's homeroom teacher, was waiting for me. In front of him, two students were sitting on chairs. Two chairs beside them were still empty.

"Uwa. It's you. Kiyotaka-Dono. " Doctor said. Yukimura looked at me as considering.

"What a weird group. Don't you think so, Ayanokouji?" He said.

I shrugged my shoulder and sat near Doc. Until now, Mashima-Sensei hadn't said anything. He was reading something in his hand with a serious face. It must be an important paper about our education----

"Come on. Bel-Kun. Don't lose that shitty minotaur. " Suddenly, Mashima-Sensei mumbled something that I didn't expect.

I and Doc looked at each other with confusion.

"Pardon, Master?" Doc spoke out.

Mashima-Sensei turned his face to us and realized he just said something that he didn't want to say.

"Did you hear something?"

I hid my hand immediately.

"Are you reading---Danmachi, sir?" Doc asked.

Mashima-Sensei opened his eyes widely and looked around. "No girl around here, good." He mumbled. "Yes."

"Oh, you read the light novel too, sir!?" Doc asked excitedly.

Mashima-Sensei looked another way, trying to hide his shame.

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

"No way. Master!! I don't understand those people who think being weeb is bad!! You don't have to shame, sir. I'm weeb too!"

The teacher seemed to be excited to hear that. "Really? Oh, thank god! I think we will have only a genius mastermind in this school. I can't talk about my hobby with anyone!"

I understood him, I couldn't find any normal student in this school. They always were the monster who could kill you whenever you were careless.

"So do you read Danmachi?" Mashima-Sensei asked.

"Yes, Master!!"

"Good! I want someone to talk about!! I don't understand why Bel-Kun has to fall in love with Ais! Isn't Hestia the best girl?"

"I don't understand him either. But Master, I had to say. Ryu is the best girl!"

"That Kuudere elf at the bar? Nah, the big boob loli is the best invention of humanity! She is the best!"

I didn't read Danmachi so I had no idea what were they talking about. I looked at Yukimura for help. He might be the last one in this room that was a normie.

But---

"Ais is the best. " He said softly.

Doc and Mashima turned their face to him. "Pardon?"

"Look, guy. Ais is very lovely. Hestia is like Bel's mother or big sister! Go reading Sword Oritaria. You will see her charm!"

The debate about who was the best girl continued for a while. I didn't read a single letter in that light novel. But I thought I knew everything about it.

Then, the door opened.

Karuizawa Kei stepped in.

Mashima-Sensei, Doc, and Yukimura stopped talking.

"Hm. Your point about the wormhole is interesting, Sensei. " Yukimura changed the topic.

"I agreed with you, Yukimura-Dono. But I think it's possible only in the theory. " Doc knew his duty.

"I think we need more proof about it, Gentleman. Oh, Karuizawa. " Mashima-Sensei pretend to just saw her. "Sit down. You are late."

Never talk about Otaku's thing in front of the girl.

Karuizawa looked at them with suspicion, but she sat down anyway.

When she realized that she was sitting next to me. Karuizawa moved her chair away immediately without any effort to hide her action.

Well, I had a heart too, you know?

"Well, why are we here?" She spoke out.

"I'm going to tell you right now. Karuizawa. " Mashima-Sensei tried to keep cold again. "We are in the second special test."

"Another test!?" Karuizawa screamed. "We just finished it!! Can't we rest for a while?"

"Can't you let your mouth rest for a while?" Yukimura said. He didn't get along with Karuizawa since the inhabitant test.

"What did you say, Nerdy?"

"Stop. " Mashima-Sensei said. "I'm explaining you. Don't interrupt me."

Yukimura and Karuizawa gave up. They tried to not look at each other.

Sensei sighed and shook his head.

"Ok. This test will teach you about Thinking. Considering and finding the true nature of the problem. In this test, we will separate students into 12 groups, named by the twelve zodiacs."

I raised my eyebrows. This meant I had to work with these three. Personally, I could get along with Doc. Yukimura wasn't that hard to be with. But Karuizawa----

"What! I have to work with these people!? God! Why I can't be with Hirata-Kun!?" She complained immediately.

"Did I let you ask a question, Karuizawa?" Mashima-Sensei warned her. "However, you four will be in the group called , the fourth of Zodiac. This group will be made from students from each class."

We became silent for a while.

"W--Wait. This means we will be in the same group with other classes?" Karuizawa stuttered.

"Impossible! Didn't we fight with other class for all these times?" Yukimura said too.

"Can you kid listen for me without reaction for a minute?"

Mashima-Sensei sighed and gave us the paper with the names of the Hare group's members.

I looked at those names.

Aki Takeshi, Machida Koji, Morishige Takuro

Akasa Doso, Aharen Raidou, Ichinose Honami

Ibuki Mio, Manabe Shiho, Yabu Nanami, Yamashita Saki

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Karuizawa Kei, Sotomura Hideo, Yukimura Teruhiko

"Yabai, sir," Doc whispered to me after seeing the names.

I understood him. In this group, we had my ex-girlfriend and the panties thief. Karuizawa seemed to be angry a bit when she saw Ibuki's name.

"In this thirteen people, one of you will be the VIP. Of course, this VIP will be chosen randomly. " Mashima-Sensei explained.

According to him. The point of this test was finding the VIP.

From tomorrow until four days later, we needed to be together at the designated room for 1 hour per time. Twice a day. To start the conversation and find the VIP.

When the test finished at 21.00 on the last day. We needed to send our answer about the VIP to the school between 21.30-22.00. We could answer only one time. VIP couldn't send the answer.

At 23.00 on the last day, the school would announce the test result.

If every member in that Zodiac group other than VIP's classmate send the right answer, everyone in the group would get 500,000 points. VIP would get 1,000,000 points.

If someone in that Zodiac group other than VIP's classmate send the wrong answer or didn't answer, VIP would get 500,000 points.

Yukimura raised his eyebrows. This test sounded very easy. All we need was to convince everyone in the group to answer right. Result A was the best option for all of us.

Mashima-Sensei noticed our think, so he continued explaining.

"This is the result from answering between 21.30-22.00. But you can answer before 21.00 too."

And it would activate other results.

This test allowed us to answer before the test ended.

In that case----

If someone other than VIP sent the right answer before the test ended. His or her class would gain 50 class points and he or she would also gain 500,000 personal points. VIP's class would lose 50 class points for punishment and the test would end.

If VIP's classmate sent the right answer before the test ended, it would be voided and the test would continue.

If someone other than VIP sent the wrong answer before the test ended. His or her class would lose 50 class points for punishment and the test would end. VIP's class would gain 50 class points and he or she would also gain 500,000 personal points.

If VIP's classmate sent the wrong answer before the test ended, it would be voided and the test would continue.

"Do you have any questions?" Mashima-Sensei said.

Yukimura raised his hand. "How do we know if we are VIPs or not?"

"We will send the mail to you, and you can't mock or adapt any part of the mail. Whoever did that, will get the punishment too."

This might be the measure for preventing the trick.

"Wow. " Karuizawa said. "VIP sounded really cool! I want to be!"

"Regret for you. Karuizawa. We will use the fair randomly choosing for it."

No one asked anymore.

"No more question? Good. I will let you go now. The mail will be sent to you tomorrow at 18.00. And then, we will start the test. Good luck."

We stoop up and walk to the door. Before we went out, Mashima-Sensei called Yukimura and Doc.

"Gentleman. I will be very happy if we can talk about later. What if we met at the lounge at 22.00?"

"Good idea, Master. " Doc nodded, also Yukimura.

Was I the only one who felt like Mashimas-Sensei was that dirty teacher who call his student to something secretly in his room for a grade?

...

"So we aren't called to the room at the same time?"

"Yes, mine is 20.40. " Horikita said.

We were at the restaurant on the cruise. The sun was hidden behind the horizon now. I looked outside of the window, there were many groups of students talking on the rooftop, they might be talking about the test.

"What do you think about the test?" I asked her and zipped the water like a sir.

"I think you must be happy to be in the same group with your lovely girlfriend."

I almost choked my water. Did Horikita just tease me?

I looked at her face and saw her smiling. I didn't expect that I would see that kind of smile on Horikita's face.

"Ok. Play Serious. I think this test is about dealing and using the information." Horikita said. "The ones who know the VIP will get the disadvantage in-game. They could decide how the game going on. On other hand, they need to play with the trust. This is difficult."

"And this will be the best stage for your talent. " I said.

"Yours too," Horikita replied. I decided to say nothing.

Horikita sighed and stretch herself like a lazy cat.

Again, she was doing something that I didn't expect to see.

"We didn't know anything now. I guess I have to deal with my facing problem first."

"What?"

"Waffle!" Horikita said. "Waffle in this cruise can't compare with the Moonshine's!"

I looked at Horikita. Her atmosphere was changed. Of course, she still acted elegance and gave me an Ojou-Sama vibe. But I felt like she didn't try to hide her kid side anymore.

"Ayanokouji-Kun. Swim to the land immediately. And take the waffle for me!" She commanded me.

"What if I don't?" I challenged her.

"I will kill you."

If I could laugh, I would do it right now.

Horikita had changed, but she was still Horikita.

...

21.00

In the toilet on the second floor.

All of the four rooms were owned by four students from four classes.

"What a coincidence. Don't you think so, Kanzaki? Kuku." C-Kun said.

"Yes. Ryuen. I don't think we will get into the fight this quick." B-Kun replied.

"Sound like you don't interest in cooperation, Kuku."

"This test's goal isn't cooperating in the first place."

C-Kun giggled. "Say Katsuragi. Why don't you join our conversation? For an old day, Kuku."

A-Kun sighed.

"I don't think three months ago can be called an old day. Ryuen. And can't you let me poop peacefully?"

"Pooping is a war. Katsuragi. Kuya!!!!! Go on my child!! Kaboom!"

"Please be quiet, Ryuen. There were other people using the restroom too. " The fourth voice spoke out.

"Oh. Is that you? Kiyotaka?"

"Yes. It's me. Ryuji. " D-Kun replied.

"Hm. Long time no see. Ayanokouji. " A-Kun said.

"Eh! Ayanokouji-Kun is in the restroom too! Oh god! I did the disgusting sound in front of him!" C-Chan said with panic. "Oh---I mean---Well, well. I don't expect to find you here. Ayanokouji."

"Me too. Ryuen." D-Kun replied.

"What are you doing here, Ayanokouji? Are you in the 20.40 group or something?" A-Kun asked.

"I just come with Horikita."

"Kuku. Still following Suzune like a doggy. Ayanokouji."

"However, I heard you four are in the same group?"

"Yes. And I heard you are in the same group with Ichinose." B-Kun said. "Hm. Is there any chance to spark an old flame? We at class B was still on your side"

"Chihiro will kill me if I do that. "

"Ah. I hope my girlfriend is here, she loves the sea. " A-Kun said.

"I suggest you use her brother as her representative. " D-Kun teased. B-Kun laughed.

"Oi, no one can represent my sister. " The fifth voice came out from nowhere. Everyone flinched.

"Wait. Yahiko. Where are you?" D-Kun asked.

"I'm in the same room with Katsuragi-San of course. " Yahiko replied.

"What? Kuku!?" C-Kun cried.

A-Kun sighed. "He stuck with me for a week. I do everything I can but he denied to be far from me for only feet."

"I have to make sure that Katsuragi-San won't use this chance to cheat on my sister!"

"I never cheat on her, Yahiko. " A-Kun said tiredly.

"All man can't be trusted. My sister told me."

"Also are you. " B-Kun mumbled.

"However, Kuku. " C-Kun said. "We all know who will win this test, Kuku. And it's a tradition that the winner can ask something from loser, Kuku."

"What do you want to say?" A-Kun asked.

"The paper in this room is outed. Send me yours, Kuku."

"I should see this coming. Do you think you're the winner?" B-Kun shook his head. "And my room's is outed too."

"Mine too," A-Kun said. "Yahiko. Go out and find me paper please?"

"No! I won't let you be alone, Katsuragi-San!"

Then, everyone heard the flushing sound from D-Kun's room.

"Hey, Ayanokouji. Did you finish?" A-Kun asked.

"Yes. " D-Kun said while washing his hand.

"Oh, this means Kiyotaka has a paper!"

"Um. Yes."

"So send it to me immediately, Kuku!"

"Me first! I'm sitting here for an hour waiting for someone to give me the paper!" A-Kun said.

"Kiyotaka, we are friends, right? Give me first."

Everyone waited for a response from D-Kun with a high expectation.

Then---

"Sorry. The one that I used is the last piece of paper in my room."

...

I wonder if they got the papers or not.

However, I walked back to my room on the third floor. When I came in, I found no one in the room.

Hirata might be busy with his appointment, Yukimura was having an academic conversation with Doc and Mashima-Sensei. Since we shouldn't let Koenji alone. I thought someone else was taking care of him.

I walked to my bed and let my body fall on it.

Then, I saw something on my bed head.

It was a small piece of paper.

With the text;

Sorry for my misunderstanding.

-Nakano K.

Nakano K. again?

I had no idea who she was. Maybe Inogashira could tell.