Cote: Elite in Action

With the fifth victory secured, our class had already made it clear who would dominate this exam. The advantage was so overwhelming that even if we lost the remaining two events, the victory would still be ours. However, as I mentioned earlier, we wouldn't let that happen. This exam would be a complete and crushing victory for our class.

The next event was the math exam, which would take place right now. After that, there was the final challenge: chess.

Of course, I couldn't lower my guard. I knew Sakayanagi-san had something planned. It was to be expected, as she would never settle for such a humiliating defeat. She had been saving certain students who hadn't participated yet, including Katsuragi and other familiar faces. They were all top students in the academic field, clearly selected with one goal: to secure at least one victory in this exam. I assumed her pride wouldn't allow her to leave with a result of 7 to 0.

But, unfortunately for Sakayanagi-san, her plan wasn't going to work. There would be no victories for her class.

Soon after, the screen in front of me displayed the start of the math event. It was time to select our participants. It didn't take me long to decide.

The first to be chosen was Kanzaki-kun. There wasn't much to say about him; his grades placed him in the top of our class, and his performance in math was flawless. He also often acted as a tutor in our study sessions, helping everyone improve.

The second pick was Watanabe-kun, a student who also stood out, especially in mathematics. His analytical ability was exceptional, and I trusted he would do a great job.

For the third spot, I selected Hikari-san. She had outstanding talent in mathematics, so much so that in her junior high school years, she regularly participated in math competitions. Impressive, right? There was no doubt she was a solid choice.

The fourth spot was also uncomplicated, as it had been reserved from the start for someone specific. I chose Yuki-chan, though not for her exceptional math ability—after all, math wasn't her strong suit. Her grades were good, but not outstanding compared to others. However, there was another reason for my choice.

Initially, I hadn't planned to include her in this event. However, Kayden specifically asked me to postpone her participation until this moment. At first, I thought it was to give her a break, perhaps to prevent her from feeling overwhelmed or fatigued by the pressure. But, as usual with Kayden, I soon realized there was a deeper purpose behind his request.

Now, with the participants selected, everything was set for the math exam. I had full confidence in our team. Sakayanagi-san might think she had the better lineup, but this event would also be ours.

After selecting our participants, everyone began to head toward the classroom where the math exam would take place. Each class sent four representatives, and the representatives walked with determination toward their destination. However, one person from our group did not move: Yuki-chan.

Minutes passed, but she still hadn't appeared. This caught the attention of the organizers, and one of them decided to investigate what was going on.

Soon after, Chabashira-sensei received a call.

—"Yes? Understood... In poor condition? I see. I'll notify them," she responded seriously before hanging up.

She then turned toward us to deliver the news:

—"It seems that student Himeno Yuki will not be participating in this event. She has been taken to the infirmary due to severe abdominal pain," she announced.

—"Really? It can't be... I hope it's nothing serious," I responded, pretending to show exaggerated concern to avoid raising suspicion. I then tilted my head with apparent innocence. —"But, sensei, what will happen with the exam? If Yuki-chan doesn't participate, we won't have the four necessary members, right?"