Light Novel 2nd Year Volume 8/Summary

Prologue
Kanzaki Ryuuji monologues about how he has been keeping his distance from people since he was little. It was easier to maintain neutral relationships than by making friends or enemies. One day, he was a spectator to a bullying dispute whereby the victim had told a flimsy lie. He felt no obligation to help him and even wished for him to suffer a bit to learn his lesson. Another person came and saved the victim. Kanzaki was perplexed at why the victim was saved when he had lied, thinking that justice was not served. The conundrum he faced was determining who was right, the ones that told no lie but used violence, the one that lied or the person that saved the liar.

An adult nearby patted his head and told him that its fine to run if you have no strength. However, if you have the strength and does not use it, that’s the most fully choice. He finally understood his words back then. As long as anyone could dominate the scenario, no point of view matters as long as the result was what he wanted. He reflects on how he had socialised more after coming to school. He uncharacteristically began helping people. Although, all his motivation had dissipated and he had lost hope in continuing with Ichinose's class. That was until Kiyotaka words 'saved' him. He finds destiny to be very strange after crossing paths with him.

Chapter 1
November was ending as everyone was waiting for the school trip to happen. Kiyotaka saw his old group but now with three members walking ahead of him to school. Kei asks if he will call out to them but he rejects that. Kei embraced his answer and says she now has him all to himself. Kiyotaka remains stalwart in wanting to go Kyoto but Kei hates that place as it was devoid of fun and is full of temples. Kei then nonchalantly glosses over the end of year exam, arguing that nothing would change if she fret over it now.

He finds that overconfidence to be concerning but her statement was true as her bottom level is slowly rising. Kei wonders if she should study more like Sudo, but the main issue wasn’t duration, but quality of teachers and dedication. Horikita had that skill over Keisei. Personally, Kiyotaka could fulfil that role, but he knew it wasn’t his role. His remaining role is to ensure that the bare minimum is done and getting everyone to study on their own, so that someone else in the class can take over him at some point.

In class, Chabashira announces the result of the EOY tests. The highest average for every class will be ranked and given points appropriately. The failing mark was an average of 39 for all subjects. The lowest average score for Horikita's class was expectedly Hondou at 53 points, Kei being slightly higher at 56. Kiyotaka began formulating a plan for her with Keisei and even Hirata in mind, as soon, she will fall behind the others in potential, the bare minimum no longer being enough. He was in 12th place while Sudo entered the Top 10. First place was tied between Horikita and Keisei at 93.5 each.

Regarding the classes average, Sakayanagi's Class A was 1st and earned +50 points, Horikita's Class B being 2nd with +25, Ichinose's Class D was 3rd with -25 points, Ryuen's Class C in last with -50 points. The gap to Class A lowest students was still very evident but visible progress was still made. With that settled, Chabashira asks the class to fill in their personal particulars and begin ranking their classmates from 1 to 38. Rankings can be based on personal relationships, talents or any of the likes based on subjective feelings. Other classes students were also included and everything would remain confidential even to teachers.

Kiyotaka began assessing Class A first, and placed Arisu at the top spot based on talent, knowing many students would do the same. It was unexpectedly difficult but after 20 minutes, he finished Class A's ranking. For his own class, he placed Hirata first based on potential, communication and development. Second was Kouenji due to his untapped potential as well as past accomplishments. Sudou was ninth, but if it was only from second year onwards, he undoubtedly would had been third or fourth. After 40 minutes, he was the second to finish after Kouenji.

Next, Hokkaidou was revealed to be their trip destination. Disappointed, Kiyotaka checked those like himself in the Kyoto faction like Horikita, Keisei and some others as well as Sudou and friends that chose Okinawa but all of them were not as disappointed as him. Chabashira warns them that the trip is purely for academic purposes and reassured them that no exams would be conducted throughout the event. There were many rules and a schedule for the five days four nights were given to them.

Day 1 involves travelling to the Ski resort and learning how to Ski. Day 2 is a free day while Day 3 consists of visiting major places in Sapporo City. Day 4 is another free day but with more limitations while Day 5 is their return trip. Many students were elated that a sense of normalcy was finally given to them. The theme of the trip was a quote by Sun Tzu "If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles". Sudo modestly explains that if they’re able to find their real strength and know the circumstances of their enemies, they won’t lose any battles which causes many to have a good impression of him.

Chabashira tells that the their groupings will likely be with those they never interacted with before due to the nature of the trip. Thus, they have to see them as more of rivals than friends since the most important part is graduating as Class A. How they handle wanting friends from other Classes to graduate in Class A will also be tested in this trip by how their bonds developed. Everyone but Hirata began protesting such a mentality. Much hostility was turned against him as for someone popular like him, it’s seemed like a boast. He argues that the school stands to be more united and so, this trip would serve that purpose. To him, possible friendships across classes transcends all detriments that make arise from it.

There will be much push back from students but it was still possible. Each day, some groups will change members. Chabashira explains that it incentivises people to lay themselves bare to others so as to enjoy the trip to the fullest. Those that are unable to make friends even though they want to can use this to improve whilst those that found friendships to be unimportant will definitely have a bothersome time. They can still carry phones with rules being no contact with the outside world unless in emergency situations. The only rule is to always stay in a group, failure to do so will have privileges be taken away. Everyone looked at Koenji who took it as them fawning over him.

During lunch, Satou and Hirata joins Kei and Kiyotaka as she flirtatiously told the latter that it was like a double date. Hirata shares his fear that getting too attached to others will be a burden. Kei disagrees as she shares the majority's opinion that as long as one manages to reach Class A, it doesn’t matter the cost. Knowing one's enemy can become a disadvantage, and the school may be intending to exploit that in future special exams, likely in the end of year. That morbid reality changes everyone's mood as expulsion once again is brought up.

After school, Ichika texts Kiyotaka to meet at Keyaki mall. Nanase was surprised to see him when following Ichika. The reason for her tardiness was due to Nanase insistence of following her. Kiyotaka asks about her break from school as Ichika jokes that she's fine if he became her stalker. Turns out, Nanase was the one giving out the information as Ichika acts surprised that an acquaintance was her stalker. The fact that Ichika left and came back after Yagami's expulsion pointed at a mental effect. Nanase knew she would moved eventually but as for her mental state, she fears what Ichika could do.

Ichika changes her bubbly persona to a depressed one as she asks why Kiyotaka didn’t have her expelled when he could easily do so. He answers that he recognises how she places greater importance in enjoying her time in high school than expelling him, thus, he had no reason to force her out. Thinking for her, Kiyotaka states being here will save her from the reality of returning to the white room or being sent to the outside world whereby she is unaware of her parents location and would be forced to live day by day working part time. Kiyotaka deduced that her parents should be wealthy celebrities with much power, hence, the white room would be forced to treat her well if this comes to be known.

Ichika asks for permission to stay in school from Kiyotaka, and answers that she would drop out if he tells her to. Her quest to cause trouble was over. She answers Nanase that this was a luxury afforded only to her beloved senior when she inquired whether she let go of Yagami's expulsion so easily. Kiyotaka tells her to do as she pleases and voiced his wish to support her endeavours since they were of the same kind and intention. Hearing that, Nanase also voiced her support on the condition that Ichika was genuine about what she said.

Ichika was moved but put it off as an act to gain sympathy from them. She briefly answer how Yagami was afraid of Kiyotaka, but his hatred towards him eclipses even that fear. He gave himself numerous detours, hoping to not have to engage directly, but in the end, it only served to cut off his route. Seeing as she said too much, she apologised and left soon after, allowing Nanase to borrow her senpai as another act to put on a brave face.

Nanase still had a deep seated fear of Ichika, and cautioned them to not lose their guard. He replies that he's not one to be careless or more accurately, nothing has changed since the start. She cautions again at having an open mind pertaining to Ichika's reform. Knowing she's from the whiteroom, her numerous methods are unquestionably abnormal, thus, her wish of wanting him to graduate requires him to be watchful.

They went on to discuss about the upcoming school trip, with him finding it suspicious that she already knew about it and did not report to him. Moreover, he points out that she was strangely nonchalant about it when this trip will be more risky than a serious Ichika and when Tsukishiro tried to expel him. Nanase tries to play it off that he is not one to be worried for but he reminds her that she wouldn’t had stalked Ichika in that case. He asks whether he can think of any other excuses as she tries to calm herself.

In reality, he has been most suspicious of Nanase ever since meeting her. Her relation to the White Room and Tsukishiro despite being an outsider. Additionally, she had never given him concrete information Tsukishiro had told her about. He opines how he knows that that is another reason she is so cautious of Ichika, and it's not as righteous she makes it out to be. The reason she is not concern of the trip is because she knows nothing will come of it from the white room. He hypothesises that Tsukishiro had never intended to actually expel him, otherwise, he would no longer be in school.

He points out her hypocrisy as she was also missing during the Cultural Festival when someone from the white room approached him. With so many chances, they never forcefully expelled him, which leads him to find her presence to be abnormal. He asks if Matsuo really died, or whether it was a cover up story that she helped orchestrated all this time. This was done to drop his guard down so she could support him if he ever were close to being expelled by the students. She was tasked to begin as his enemy but switched to becoming an ally. Nonetheless, whether his hypothesis rings true or not, whether she's still an ally or enemy, or whether she still wants him expelled, she was still once his ally.

She knew nothing she say would change how he feels now, but with time, it may change. Kiyotaka disagrees but says he rather her associate do what they have been doing, though Nanase rejects that and left soon after. She wasn’t as fit as a white room student, and she was a step behind in thinking compared to the rest. The only thing he knew for sure was that there was still something unknown she's still hiding.

Sudou barged into Kiyotaka's room during dinner and saw Kei as well, making him perplexed as to why they had to spend so much time together. He dejectedly mention how he has no girlfriend and only had basketball. He went on to ask whether he did 'that' with Kei, only to be told to leave it to imagination. He decided to voice his concern about Onodera and how he has been more conscious around her, even finding her cute. He doesn’t hate that she might be his first girlfriend since Suzune has shown no interest, yet he was still not certain.

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