Cote: Elite in Action

The VIP Game

—This is a whirlwind of information! —Mako said, covering her head with her hands and letting out a sigh of frustration. —Kayden, could you summarize it for me later? My brain is about to explode.

—Sure, no problem —I said.

—I understand, being the VIP is a double-edged sword —Kanzaki commented.

—Yes. Depending on how the VIP handles the situation, the result can be either favorable or unfavorable —Chabashira explained.

—How many VIPs will there be per class, sensei? —Kanzaki asked.

—There will be 3 VIPs per class —Chabashira answered.

The exam might seem complicated at first, but it's quite interesting. Now that we know there will be three VIPs per class and one per group, and considering that groups seem to be formed based on some specific condition we still don't know, at least in our case it seems the condition is to gather the main leaders of the classes, although with some exceptions.

Since neither Kanzaki nor I had further questions, the meeting concluded. I would explain everything to Mako later. Meanwhile, I had an idea in mind: to discover the "condition" the school used to form the groups. So, I sent a group message to Class A, asking them to send me the name of their zodiac sign group and the list of all their members. I also asked them to send me a private message with the name of the chosen VIP when it was selected tomorrow at eight in the morning.

If I could identify that "condition" or "pattern," the exam could be resolved much faster.

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While I was enjoying my breakfast peacefully in the back of the boat, my favorite spot to relax, I was mentally reviewing the names of the groups from the 12 zodiac signs that my classmates had sent me the day before. There were only 10 minutes left until 8:00 a.m., the time when the school would announce who the VIPs would be. I suppose that, just like the formation of the groups, the selection of the VIPs must follow some specific condition.

My thoughts were interrupted when I felt a small hand sliding down my back and slowly moving up to my neck. I immediately knew who it was.

—Good morning, Kikyou —I greeted without turning my head.

—Are you dead inside, or do you just not react to anything? Also, how did you know it was me? —Kikyou asked as she sat down in front of me with a curious expression.

—It was too obvious, Kikyou. I did the same thing to you yesterday, so I knew it was you. Besides, you're the only one I've spent time with here —I replied, and her surprise was evident.

—Hmph —Kikyou said as she took my croissant and brought it to her mouth.

—Hey, that croissant is mine —I complained, but she just shrugged as if she didn't care.

—By the way, Kikyou, it looks like we'll be in the Dragon Group together —I commented as I got up to get more food since she was stealing everything from me.

—Yes, what an unpleasant coincidence —Kikyou said, looking disdainfully at the sea.

—You're a really bad liar, Kikyou —I replied with a smile.

While we ate, our phones vibrated, signaling that it was already 8:00 a.m. and the selection of VIPs had been completed. I looked at the message on my phone which read:

[After a period of rigorous consideration, you have not been selected as VIP. Please organize yourself and challenge the exam accordingly. The exam itself will start from 1:00 p.m. onward. It will last three days from this point. If you belong to the Dragon Group, please proceed to the room marked as such on the second floor at 3:20 p.m.]

It seems I was right about there being a condition to be the VIP, as it says, 'rigorous consideration.'

—What a pity, it looks like I won't be the VIP —I said, resigned, while looking at Kikyou.

Kikyou looked at me and placed her phone on the table, where a message confirming that she had been selected as the VIP was displayed.

—It seems I was selected —Kikyou said while continuing to drink her coffee.

—Kikyou, why are you revealing to me that you're the VIP? You know I could report it right now —I asked, intrigued by her intention.

—I don't care —she replied indifferently.

—Don't you care that your class will lose 50 points? —I pressed.

—No, that's exactly what I want. I want Horikita to lose in all the exams so that no one trusts her and it's easier to expel her —she said, with a satisfied smile.

—I see, Kikyou. You're quite vindictive —I commented.

—Could be? But before you report me, could you do it after the meeting? —she asked.

—What makes you think I'll report you? —I asked, seeing her surprise.

—Don't you want to earn private and class points? —she said, astonished.

—Of course I want to earn points, but doing it this way would be boring and not my style —I replied.

—So, you won't do it? —she asked, hopeful.

—I don't think so. I'd prefer our group to achieve Result 1 so that everyone earns private points —I said with determination.

—And do you think it's possible with Ryuuen and Katsuragi there? —she questioned.

—Yes, it will be easier with Ryuuen. He won't be able to refuse half a million points. With Katsuragi it's a bit more complicated since he had a big failure in the previous exam, but I'll find a way to convince him —I said confidently.

—And don't forget Horikita. I doubt she'd want something like this. She prefers class points to private ones —Kikyou said with disdain.

—Since you're the VIP, it will be easier. If she doesn't agree, I'll just report you. Simple as that —I affirmed.

—I don't understand why you're making such an effort —Kikyou said, confused.

—And I don't understand why you're willing to betray your class in every exam just to expel Horikita —I questioned.

—I'll do whatever it takes to expel her —Kikyou said, with a seriousness that reflected her deep hatred for Horikita.

—Kikyou, you're taking a thorny path that won't end well. You're still in time to stop —I said, getting up to leave. I had more important things to do.

—I don't care. I won't be at peace until she's gone. I'm willing to pay any price to achieve that —she responded with cold determination. Seeing her firmness, I couldn't say anything more and walked away.

As I walked away, I couldn't help but think that Kikyou, unknowingly, was digging her own grave and wouldn't realize it until she was completely buried. At that moment, my phone vibrated again. This time, the messages weren't from the school, but from my classmates who had been selected as VIPs. I smiled as I saw the messages, knowing that now I had the information needed to advance in my quest to solve the mystery of the VIPs.

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I hope I haven't missed any important information.