In practice, I can issue tasks to my master.

"Kushida-san, where's Horikita-san?"

“She said she went to the restroom,” Kikyo Kushida told the truth, also mentioning that Suzune Horikita had never returned, and then expressed her concern: “Could it be that the plan has been exposed?”

Hiyori Shiina shook her head.

She didn't really know what Horikita Suzune's situation was, since she had only discussed the specific details of the plan with Nangong Cheng.

Although her intuition told her that Horikita Suzune's unusual behavior might be orchestrated by Nangong Cheng, regardless of the circumstances, the plan had reached its most crucial moment, and she couldn't let Kushida Kikyo back down because of it.

Don't worry unnecessarily.

"We've got the key card. Kamuro and I are heading to meet up with Ryuen. We'll need you to cover for us from now on."

You know what to do, right?

"I know." Since Shiina Hiyori had already said so, Kushida Kikyo naturally didn't say anything more.

"But if Horikita doesn't come back, theoretically I don't have to do anything, right?"

Hiyori Shiina nodded.

Thanks to Nangong Cheng's arrangements, their actions that night were not discovered by those resting in the tents; the only variable was Horikita Suzune.

But... it doesn't matter anymore.

Anyway, her mission was complete, and now it was time to deal with the Dragon Garden.

And then there's Kikyo Kushida... She would also pray that the other person would be alright.

"That's settled then, we're leaving."

"Remember to meet at the agreed place later, and then you take the key card back with you."

After saying that, Hiyori Shiina left with Masumi Kamuro and Miki Yamamura.

Kikyo Kushida watched their figures disappear into the darkness, then turned back to continue staring at the campfire.

Time passed by, second by second.

She didn't know how much time had passed.

But Horikita Suzune returned.

Just as Kikyo Kushida was about to ask a perfunctory question, "Why did it take you so long to come back?", she was suddenly struck by a sharp pain in her abdomen before she could utter the first word.

Then came several more punches.

Until her body lost the ability to resist, she heard Horikita Suzune say these words—

"I'm sorry, Kushida-kun."

"In order for Class D to become the final winner, we need to make some sacrifices for you."

Volume 1: 96. Kikyo Kushida: Am I going to be transferred too?

"What does it mean?"

Kikyo Kushida couldn't understand why Suzune Horikita had suddenly started attacking; there really hadn't been any warning signs at all...

No, there are still some.

Perhaps it was that conversation that afternoon...

Kikyo Kushida thought of many things in an instant, but it was all too late.

Because she had lost the ability to resist, she could only watch helplessly as Horikita Suzune lifted her up and carried her in one direction.

But if she remembered correctly, this direction seemed to be towards the small pond?

"Wait...wait a minute..."

Although Kikyo Kushida didn't know what Suzune Horikita was planning, she felt she could still salvage the situation.

Unfortunately, Horikita Suzune didn't give her a chance to struggle: "Sorry, I don't have time to waste with you."

"If anyone's to blame, blame that guy Nangong."

After saying that, she quickened her pace.

A small pond soon came into view.

Thinking about what she was about to do, Horikita Suzune's face unconsciously showed a hint of hesitation, but in the end she hardened her heart.

"Horikita-kun, no—"

Kikyo Kushida had a vague idea of ​​what Suzune Horikita was planning, and an anxious expression appeared on her face.

Unfortunately, this woman was a woman of her word; she didn't give her a chance and threw her directly into the water.

It was only because the pond was visibly shallow that she felt she could have experienced the feeling of drowning.

Even so, the feeling of being completely submerged in water is still terrible.

Not to mention that the temperature at night is different from the heat of the day. Forget about whether soaking in water all night would cause any problems; I'm afraid I'd get a fever in less than an hour and have to drop out of the exam.

So, she is the holder of the key card for Class D?

Is this Nangong Cheng's backup plan?

Once she has to withdraw from the exam due to health reasons, Class D will have a legitimate reason to change the identity of the key card holder. If Longyuan continues to guess based on the information on the original key card, then this will be another failure.

So what role did Hiyori Shiina play in all of this?

How much of the conversation between Nangong Cheng and her that day was true?

Kikyo Kushida collapsed into the pond, her mind racing with thoughts, but ultimately she chose to look up at the sky and close her eyes.

Now that things have come to this, she needs to think about how Nangong Cheng and the others will treat her after the exams, and how she should get through this crisis of her identity being exposed.

"Horikita..."

He was interrupted before he could finish speaking.

She was just thrown into the water, and now she's been stripped naked—it seems she guessed right. Nangong Cheng probably planned to do this from the beginning, using a scheme to deliberately trick Longyuan.

You've become so unfamiliar to me.

"..."

Horikita Suzune remained silent, only continuing to strip Kushida Kikyo's clothes off.

The evening breeze was slightly cool.

The girl soaking in the water will soon be able to "get into the swing of things," at which point the most important part of the plan will be completed.

But Horikita Suzune was still quite unhappy.

Because in her view, this was a "dirty job," and Nangong Cheng could have clearly asked Karuizawa Kei, the former victim, to do it, but he chose her instead, claiming it was to give himself a sense of participation. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

However, when she thought about the suffering that Kikyo Kushida would have to endure, she wasn't so angry anymore.

"People change, Kushida."

"From preschool to elementary school, from elementary school to junior high school, from junior high school to high school, from high school to university, and finally even in society, people have to make corresponding changes to adapt to different environments."

"Of course, if you have strong enough abilities, you can also ask the environment to adapt to you, but there aren't many people who can do that."

The night was long, and Horikita Suzune couldn't sleep.

After all, Kikyo Kushida's health condition was related to the final result of this exam, so she had to personally confirm that Kikyo Kushida had a fever before taking her to complete the key card holder change operation with Sae Chahashi.

“So I’ve always thought that Nangong said something very true.” Horikita Suzune sat on a rock by the pond, her gaze falling on Kushida Kikyo’s smooth back, and said, “This school is essentially simulating a social environment, and the so-called ‘meritocracy’ corresponds to the dark forest law of the survival of the fittest.”

"If you cannot adapt and make changes, then you will only be eliminated."

"..."

Kikyo Kushida opened her eyes, then looked down at her reflection in the water, her mind flashing through many images from the past semester.

The most profound memory is naturally the scene of being "broke down" by Nangong Cheng that night, and the words he said to her.

Has she not changed?

Perhaps that is indeed the case.

Because from the beginning she was still using the same social approach she had in middle school, but later, influenced by Nangong Cheng's public disclosure of information, coupled with the special circumstances of this school, her approach could only be used on some idiots.

Even so, she still hasn't given up on her original idea.

Therefore, this time, Kikyo Kushida did not refute Suzune Horikita, but instead focused the conversation on the latter.

"So this was done by Nangong Jun?"

"Don't you already have the answer in your heart?"

"Ha ha……"

Kikyo Kushida chuckled twice for no apparent reason.

Yes, she already knew the answer in her heart; she just wanted to understand it clearly.

This plan resulted in her identity as a mole being completely exposed... It's not so bad for Nangong Cheng, but the main problem lies with Horikita Suzune and Karuizawa Megumi and their group of girls.

Especially the latter.

The incident in April hadn't completely passed, and Kikyo Kushida had a premonition that Karuizawa Megumi would come after her once she returned to the ship.

The only way out, perhaps, maybe, probably... is to ask Nangong Cheng for help.

But in doing so, all her persistence and scheming so far would make her look like a clown, and who knows how Nangong Cheng would laugh at her then.

Kikyo Kushida sighed: "So, besides these, is there nothing else you want to say to me?"

I'm not interested in your affairs.

Horikita Suzune's gaze shifted from that smooth back to the sky. After sighing inwardly at the troublesome situation, she continued, "In fact, it's no less difficult for a person to be consistent inside and out than for Nangong Cheng to lead 39 Yamauchi Haruki from Class D to Class A."

"So, I can only say that your situation is perfectly normal."

"..."

Are there 39 Haruki Yamauchi?

That's indeed very difficult.

Kikyo Kushida felt a mix of emotions. She would have preferred Horikita Suzune to attack her, at least then she would have a reason to be sarcastic and sarcastic. But now…

Although Horikita Suzune still speaks in that straightforward manner, as a die-hard fan of Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyo can still tell that these are Horikita Suzune's true feelings.

This is really...

How did Nangong Cheng manage to turn you into this?

Is she going to be transferred like this too?

Various images flashed through Kikyo Kushida's mind, and her body trembled involuntarily.

"So, how are you feeling?" Horikita Suzune had no idea what Kushida Kikyo was imagining; she was only concerned about when the latter would finally develop a cold and fever.

That way she can go to sleep.

She is always self-disciplined and has never stayed up all night except for things like keeping watch.

"Forehead……"

Kikyo Kushida was speechless for a moment.

Even though she's destined to leave early, couldn't you have been a little more tactful?

Is it that he still doesn't care about emotional intelligence, or that he doesn't consider emotional intelligence when talking to her?

"I don't know, it might be soon, or it might be a long time."

Thanks to the gene-enhancing drug, her physical abilities are far beyond those of an ordinary female high school student.

Although they still get sick, their immunity is at least stronger than that of ordinary people.

However, deliberately soaking naked in the water and letting the evening breeze help to offset the difference in immunity, and she estimated that she was not far from catching a cold and fever.

"I heard that you can easily catch a cold after strenuous exercise and being exposed to cold air. Why don't you give it a try?" Horikita Suzune didn't want to stand in the cold air with Kushida Kikyo and wanted to end this farce as soon as possible.

When Kikyo Kushida heard this, she couldn't help but yawn.

"what?"

"Are you serious?"