In the fifth round, after narrowing down the remaining participants to see who the other model student could be, Sakayanagi nominated Yanagibashi as a model student, while Ryuuen chose Ishida as a position holder. As a result, there were no models left, and the discussion ended.
It was safe to say that Sakayanagi’s preemptive strike had paid off reasonably well. Now, Ryuuen had six Life Points remaining while Sakayanagi had eight. Considering their starting points, she had turned the situation around and taken the lead. The battle was fought by way of silent nominations, with the two representatives hardly speaking during the discussion period.
“You really ought to go ahead and exercise your right to send in a traitor in the next round, you know. I’m sure it would be so frustrating to let such a treasure go unused, at this rate,” said Sakayanagi.
“Who can say?” replied Ryuuen.
Of course, the traitor system was designed in such a way to give an advantage to the representatives who used it, but there were reasons why Ryuuen couldn’t use it, even if he wanted to. He wasn’t holding onto it as a trump card. Rather, he decided to lock it up and seal it away himself, for another reason. In the next discussion, when Sakayanagi no longer had the right to use the traitor, Sakayanagi and Ryuuen would have to cross swords as equals.
Discussion No. 2
Participants
Class 2-A
Shimizu Naoki, Machida Kouji, Yoshida Kenta, Fukuyama Shinobu, Motodoi Chikako, Yano Koharu, Rokkaku Momoe
Class 2-C
Kondou Reon, Suzuki Hidetoshi, Tokitou Hiroya, Nomura Yuuji, Asagaya Mai, Shiina Hiyori, Fujisaki Rinna
Ryuuen had chosen the group that included Shiina, someone he had deliberately decided not to select as a representative, and someone who could carry the discussion at a superior level. His decision also included some wishful thinking on his part, in the hopes that it would shift the situation in his favor. Opposite him, Sakayanagi smiled broadly as she looked at the selections for Class C. That was because now, even if she didn’t know how she’d carry it out, she had the chance to detonate the bomb that she had planted.
9.3
THE SECOND DISCUSSION BEGAN. At first, this discussion was no different from the one before it, but the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed after a comment from Class A’s Shimizu.
“I don’t see how our discussion affects the battle between the representatives,” she said. “That’s exactly why we’re doing what we can. Like, this is our battle, as participants. Let me tell you one thought I have. It seems like Sakayanagi exercised her right to deploy a traitor in the previous discussion, but I thought for sure that she would use it for this discussion. We have Tokitou here after all, who, rumor has it, hates Ryuuen so bad, he wishes he were dead.”
“Hold up, you’re saying it’s me because I hate Ryuuen? That has nothing to do with this current discussion,” snapped Tokitou.
“I didn’t say it did,” Shimizu answered. “I was just thinking that you would’ve been a good fit as the traitor is all.”
In the discussion between the participants, there was no Class A or Class C. It was all about carrying out one’s assigned role. However, Shimizu spoke of a nonexistent traitor that wasn’t related to the discussion yet seemed like it could be.
“That isn’t relevant right now, Shimizu-kun,” stated Fukuyama, looking calmer than the Class C participants.
“I’m just saying the thought popped into my head. Besides, from Tokitou’s point of view, it probably wouldn’t be very fun for him if Ryuuen did win, I bet. Or maybe he’s so afraid of him that he’s just continuing to obediently follow orders?” said Shimizu.
It was clearly a cheap provocation on Shimizu’s part. Shimizu peppered his polite speech with statements hinting that he looked down upon Tokitou.
“God you’re annoying, Shimizu. Shut up,” snapped Tokitou.
“Sorry, but I won’t hold my tongue. We’re free to speak in this discussion. I decided that saying those things was necessary in deducing who was cast into what roles, in my own way. No matter how you look at it, you’re all kinds of suspicious, you know,” said Shimizu.
The discussion gradually turned uproarious, and Tokitou, after being provoked by Shimizu, was seconds away from rushing over and throwing a punch at him. As the person closest to the both of them, Motodoi of Class A stood up in a panic and tried to step in to stop them, but Machida stopped her. Machida gave Motodoi a look, his facial expression telling her that it was best to just stay out of it.
“Whaddya mean I’m suspicious?” asked Tokitou with a glare, clearly ticked off.
Actually, no, he was far beyond ticked off—he was furious. Even so, Shimizu didn’t let up.
“I’m sure you know why, even if no one comes out and says it. You fight with Ryuuen all the time,” said Shimizu.
“I don’t get what the hell you’re talking about. So what if I fight with him?” Tokitou snapped back, pointing out that it was irrelevant to the discussion, no matter what Shimizu thought.
But Shimizu didn’t back down, because he had understood from the beginning that there was no relevance, and had simply set his sights on Tokitou.
“There are rumors that you’re working together with other classes to take Ryuuen down too,” said Shimizu.
“Huh? Really? Is what he just said true, Tokitou-kun?” blurted Fujisaki without thinking, even though he had been listening without interrupting for the entire discussion so far.
“Shimizu’s obviously lying through his teeth,” replied Tokitou.
“Is it really a lie, though?” prompted Shimizu. “Hey, the rest of you. Better keep an eye on your classmate here. Tokitou will definitely betray you.”
“Shut up already,” snapped Tokitou. “What is your problem?!”
“This is a discussion. It’s only natural to barrage the suspicious people with questions, isn’t it?” answered Shimizu.
“It’s got nothin’ to do with the discussion!” shouted Tokitou, his rage rising by the second.
Having seen the rise he was getting out of Tokitou by his poking and prodding, Shimizu continued, lightly teasing Tokitou. From that point onward, a meaningless exchange of words that bordered on abusive cursing was repeated endlessly between the two of them. The other students were unable to stop it and could only look on with worried faces. Not a single word about who might be the model students or the position holders was uttered over those five minutes.
9.4
SAKAYANAGI, seeing the first round of this discussion ending in an uproarious state, smiled broadly.
“Now then, what do you think, Ryuuen-kun? The first round of the second discussion is over, but…do you intend to make a nomination quickly? Or perhaps you were unable to find any information that would help you make a nomination?” asked Sakayanagi.