“Phew…”
Katsuragi took a single deep breath and examined his choices. Would he pass and bet on the next round, or would he make it a sink-or-swim moment and go for the counter? There was little information that he was able to glean from the discussion, and if he were playing it by the book, the standard option would be to wait and see. However, the person sitting beside him was his sworn enemy and the biggest threat: Sakayanagi. If she nominated a student with a position or a model student, then defeat would be inescapable.
Katsuragi would need to secure a draw or better to ensure that he could go into the next round and beyond. The only information he had right now was that there was one more model student left. With the denominator decreasing now, if Katsuragi was going to be reckless, this would be the time to do it, but…
Katsuragi was considering delivering a blow, so that he could strike back.
“It would seem that something has been troubling you for quite a while now,” remarked Sakayanagi.
“If you’ve found something, just go ahead and make your nomination,” replied Katsuragi.
Katsuragi was constantly checking to make sure that Sakayanagi’s fingers weren’t moving. Her tablet was placed on her lap.
“I have only been competing in this exam as a representative for a short time, but there is something I have figured out,” announced Sakayanagi.
“Something you figured out?” repeated Katsuragi.
Katsuragi, who wanted to get some kind of clue to function as a starting point, no matter what it was, deliberately chose to reply to Sakayanagi’s words.
“When you are making a nomination, you essentially have to tap on the student’s name, then, you tap on either position holder or a role you can choose, and then finally, either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to confirm your decision. Which means you have to tap three times. Additionally, when passing, you are likewise required to tap three times. First, by pressing the pass button, then confirmation, and then again for final confirmation,” said Sakayanagi.
“It’s likely a measure to prevent your opponent from discovering whether you have chosen to nominate or pass with a sidelong glance,” reasoned Katsuragi.
Supposing the number of presses were different, such as three times for nomination and two times for passing, you would know that a student made a nomination once they finished tapping three times, even if you couldn’t see their screen.
“You are likely exactly right about that—that the school has taken care to ensure that we would not see whether our opponents have chosen to nominate someone or chosen to pass. That is why they had applied an anti-peeking film as well,” said Sakayanagi.
“That’s obvious. What’s your point?” asked Katsuragi.
“School officials are certainly doing a thorough job of preventing fraudulent activity, but did you ever notice that there actually is a way to know in advance, and with certainty, what the other party’s choice was?” asked Sakayanagi.
“…What?” asked Katsuragi.
While it sounded like an absurd, hard-to-believe story, if it were true, then that was something that couldn’t be overlooked. Katsuragi stared intently at Sakayanagi, feeling the saliva filling his mouth.
“Then please allow me to tell you. The method is actually quite plain and simple,” said Sakayanagi.
Sakayanagi gently tapped the screen twice to operate it as she spoke, then held either end of the tablet in her hands and turned it toward Katsuragi.
“Wh—”
Her screen, which was facing straight at him and was clearly visible, showed Sawada’s name and the notation for model student.
“You see? By doing this, the other party’s choices are laid completely bare, wouldn’t you say?” said Sakayanagi.
As she said that, she pressed the “Yes” button on her screen while still holding it facing Katsuragi, confirming her choice. She then placed the tablet down on the desk as if to say she no longer had any use for it.
“What are you playing at?” asked Katsuragi.
“You did not seem to know who the model student was despite your best efforts, Katsuragi-kun. Since we have made it this far, why don’t we enjoy the competition a little more?” said Sakayanagi.
If Sakayanagi’s choice was correct, then at the very least, Katsuragi would need to nominate the same model student in order to survive the round. If Sakayanagi was correct, then any other choice would mean defeat. However, if this were a bluff, then both sides would lose at least one point as a result of the selection error.
“You saw my answer. Is that not much easier?” asked Sakayanagi.
Of course, Sakayanagi understood what kind of mental state this action would bring about for her opponent.
“Is this a lie to lure me out?” asked Katsuragi.
What Sakayanagi wanted to avoid right now was for Katsuragi to make a do-or-die bid to nominate the model student and get it right. If three or more points were lost as a result, she thought the best course of action was to rope Katsuragi in with a false nomination to defeat him. Katsuragi concluded that if that was true, then this sequence of actions made sense.
“A lie? That is most upsetting. You ought to accept people’s kindness wholeheartedly,” said Sakayanagi.
“Sorry, but I won’t fall for that trick,” replied Katsuragi.
Katsuragi chose to pass, stifling any feelings of hesitation that might have arisen in him. If his opponent self-destructed, then he might be able to inflict considerable damage in the next round. He tapped his tablet three times and confirmed his choice to pass. Tossing his opponent’s scheme aside, Katsuragi decided to stick with a safe, reliable defense.
“Sakayanagi-san identified Sawada-san as the model student, so Katsuragi-kun loses three Life Points. Now that Katsuragi-kun’s Life Points have been depleted, we ask that he please leave the room at this time.”
A merciless, unfeeling announcement was made.
“What nonsense. Do you mean to say you gave me the correct answer? What benefit could there possibly have been for you?!” snapped Katsuragi.
“There was merit in doing so. You may have inferred that I wanted to win quickly, even if it meant shaving off my own points, but that was a mistake to begin with. Do you honestly think I would be willing to lose even one Life Point to you, Katsuragi-kun? I had disclosed my answer because I would rather avoid getting hurt. If we had arrived at the same answer and it ended in a draw, we would carry over into the next round,” said Sakayanagi.
“How would that be to your advantage?” asked Katsuragi.
“Your strategy is to launch a frontal assault. The more the denominator shrinks, the more likely you are to switch to a suicide attack, fully prepared to lose. It would be no fun for me to lose my Life Points in such a boring manner,” replied Sakayanagi.
Even though Sakayanagi was confident in her ability to see through her opponents, she wasn’t all-powerful. If the discussion dragged on, with the denominator shrinking over time, it was conceivable that Katsuragi could launch a successful suicide attack. On the other hand, if the number of model students was reduced to zero and Sakayanagi could bring things to a draw, then a new discussion would begin, starting from round one. It was highly likely that the representatives would wait and see how things played out until they got more information over two or three rounds. A strategy in which Sakayanagi saw through Katsuragi’s thinking from start to finish. Katsuragi, having reached the end of his tether and at his wit’s end, leaned back in his chair, drained.
“I would say that you fought very well,” Sakayanagi said. “You even managed to take one Life Point away from me even though you are in the center position.”
Katsuragi had defeated the rival vanguard and center while losing only one point himself in the process. He had even succeeded in taking away one point from Sakayanagi, but afterward, he lost against Sakayanagi round after round successively, and he was defeated. His goal of getting his revenge had ended in vain, and all too quickly. Should he think that was simply a matter of not having luck on his side, or was there a substantial difference in ability between them? Katsuragi, openly showing his frustration, was strongly reminded that it was the latter, at least.
“Katsuragi-kun, please exit the room immediately.”
As that announcement echoed throughout the room, Katsuragi slowly stood up.
“I would have liked to have reduced your Life Points a little more, but it was my fault for getting caught up in the situation,” said Katsuragi.
“I am glad to see that you are able to calmly analyze the cause of your own defeat,” replied Sakayanagi.