Honami Ichinose/Plot

**WARNING! This article contains information from the light novel.**
*Do not read beyond **this point** if you want to avoid being spoiled.*

## Plot

Honami was first seen listening to the speech of the then Student Council President Manabu Horikita, when he welcomed the enrollment of new first-year students like her to Advanced Nurturing High School.

Sometime after the first semester of high school started, she met and befriended Kikyō Kushida who wanted to make friends with everyone including even if they were from a different class.

Later on, she was next seen walking through the school store with Chihiro Shiranami before spotting Kikyō, waving at her as they walked past one another. When this encounter was questioned by Kiyotaka who remarked that she was in Class 1-B, Kikyō responded that she and Honami became friends the day before, stating it was her goal to become close friends with everyone in the whole school.

In another instance, Honami is next seen breaking up the impending brawl between Kakeru Ryūen with a few students of Class 1-C and Ken Sudō of Class 1-D outside the school buildings. Seeing through Kakeru's lie of Ken starting the fight, she threatens to call security if they did not leave Ken alone. Though her involvement was ill-received by the boys, they complied with her order as Kakeru and his group left, Honami told Ken not to let Kakeru get to him before calming the spectators down and going about her business.

Honami next appeared in her Class 1-B where the homeroom teacher, who was suffering from a hangover, told them they would receive points the next day because of their passing scores in a mock exam. Honami and her friends celebrated this news since it was her tutoring sessions that came through in helping them pass. As she was hugged by her friends, she internally voiced her intentions of the class becoming part of Class 1-A.

The next day, Honami came by to greet her friend Kikyō and formally met Kiyotaka Ayanokōji after briefly questioning if they were a couple and being told that it was not the case whatsoever. She then asked them whether their class had been able to successfully received any points that month, causing the pair to ponder over the situation.

In Year 1 Volume 11, according to Kakeru Ryūen, before the Ken Sudō incident had occur, he perpetuated a conflict to happen within Class 1-B led by Honami. Mio Ibuki, a subordinate of Kakeru stated that he tries to split up the class apart by attempting to create divisions. At Kakeru's instruction, some of his underlings had started a dispute with Class 1-B where they tried to get her classmates to have a falling out which Honami keenly picked up on and suspect he is likely the mastermind who was behind it all. To check the potential of each and every class including Honami's, he had intentionally sparked a fire to rise within her classmates. Honami had to deal with the incident between Class 1-B and Class 1-C around the time back when Ken of Class 1-D had gotten into a brawl and when Kakeru had secretly made contact with Kōhei Katsuragi. The result turns out to be Honami's victory as she is able to bring all her fellow classmates together, allowing Class 1-B overall to become very unified and cohesive quite quickly in no time.

#### Volume 1

**Honami** : *"Hoshinomiya-sensei, do you have a moment? The student council wishes to discuss something with you."*

In the light novels, it was revealed Honami came face-to-face with Kiyotaka for the first time upon delivering a report to Chie Hoshinomiya that the Student Council wished to discuss matters with her. They did not have the chance to start their first conversation with each other as both she and her homeroom teacher hurriedly left to go to the faculty office immediately.

In her first side story, she and her classmates listen to their teacher Chie explained the setup of their unique school system, learning of its meritocracy and how the tests will influence the evaluation of their class later. At first, Honami thought she and her classmates couldn't go around asking for individual scores, but in reality found out that Class 1-B scores were made public for everyone to see openly. She argues if it's like that, Honami speculates that in order to compete in what it looks like a cram school system to be promoted in this school, they should all be fairly made public. In spite of understanding what Chie told her but left with some confusion, she asked a question to her homeroom teacher to clear up the misunderstanding that everyone including herself was thinking about. Particularly, the question that Honami wants to know the answer to was whether it's possible for she and her classmates to look at the exam results of the other classes based on her explanation to which the latter stated she got it wrong, reasoning how all classes can see the average scores publicly but not the individual scores. To her shock, Honami also learned how their teacher can reveal any of her fellow classmates such information as long as it's not heard by other people except for themselves or even if there was no rule that states Chie must tell her this, she will go and do it anyway regardless. Hearing that explanation further in details, Honami had come to realize how if she were to ask Chie a question, the latter states it was the kind of feeling where the teacher can tell her what they believe the answer is.

At that point, Honami understood that this school was seemingly more complex than what she initially thought, and she can't say for certain if it was more troublesome to know that. By not revealing the guidelines of the competition or telling anything but the necessary and bare minimum information, Honami became cognizant that asking one question after another and the next was a way to personally get out the answers she was looking for. Looking at the results of the mock exam, she noticed that the average of her Class 1-B did no vary much from Class 1-A, understanding why Sō Shibata thinks the class they're in was very strong as the gap was only 2 point-difference approximately between academic skills. In order to prepare for the upcoming mid-term exams, Honami considered the idea of how she and her classmates need to come together and form a good countermeasure that can allow them to overtake their score. Only relying on the school's notice, Honami figures it was best for them to not reach a definite conclusion just yet as they don't have a complete understanding of everything about how the school measures them accordingly.

**Honami** : *"If I am in class B because I have some shortcomings or committed mistakes, then there has to be a lot of students with scores as high as mine that are Class D or C because they have problems too."*

After the teacher left, she explains to her classmates that they shouldn't easily judge or underestimate the lower classes as weak based on the exam result when the competition and ranking between them along with Class A can still be change not solely by academics alone but other factors as well. She more or less thinks it was actually possible for the lower classes' low average scores for this mock exam to be improved in the future through studies, stating that they can't easily judge someone because of their test scores. She claims that if the class division were really based on having only academic skills to factor in, then the lower classes wouldn't have the chances for reversal as it will be non-existent. She also reasons that the lower classes have unfavorable circumstances to deal with in contrast to Class 1-B besides using personal effort and time to overcome the difference in points. She even argues that if all the outstanding people were gathered in Class 1-A, then it basically means she and her classmates have no chance whatsoever for a reversal either other than the lower classes. She reminds her classmates that while there was no need to be pessimistic, she tells them that it was not a good thing to be relieved by what this result indicates for the whole class. For starters, she recognizes that everyone in her class must have been through some shortcomings or committed mistakes in the past. Taking that into consideration as well besides skills alone, she felt there has to be a lot of students outside Class 1-B with scores as high as her that are Class 1-D or 1-C because they have their own problems too. Since they still don't know how to increase the class points, Honami believes her classmates should use this chance to develop self-control and continue spending less points. Shortly after, she convinces her classmates to come together as a class and arrange a study session for the mid-term exams at the library as the objective to increase their average score. She doubts there are any students from her class who would be expelled due to failing the exams and needs to take measures by studying with them to ensure it doesn't happen.

**Honami** : *"I don’t think the school would make these kind of mistakes. Moreover, right now I like everybody in Class B. Compared with being in Class A, I prefer being in this class more."*

While thinking about who to request help, she used her gaze to send out a signal requesting assistance from another tutor besides her as she can't do all the work of teaching them alone. Realizing she has too much on her plate to teach all her growing number of friends, Ryūji Kanzaki reach out to help Honami with tutoring some of them as well through creating two study groups, one at noon and the other after school. She accepted his support straightforwardly and then have her classmates head out to the library together to begin studying. When her classmates asked why someone amazing like her is placed in Class B as she had excellent grades and can earnestly take good care of people, Honami admits she never once thought over about it and doesn't think the school made a mistake. She voice her content with being in Class 1-B after getting to better know her classmates, preferring them more than Class 1-A. Those were her heartfelt feelings, believing that meeting her classmates by chance and befriending all of them within a couple of months in Class B have made her accept the whole class as her my important friends and comrades. She doesn't want to consider things like being the only one in Class A. Seeing how kind-hearted Honami was being to them, her classmates began hugging her one after another.

**Honami** : *"Unrelated? Being one of the students using this library, I can't just pretend I haven't seen this disturbance. If you really want to start a fight, can you do it outside?"*

When Ken of Class 1-D and Yamawaki of Class 1-C with his group were about to get into a fight in the library, she quickly intervened to diffuse the conflict before the situation escalated further into violence. She was lenient initially but seeing that nobody will step in to stop the troublemakers was the last straw for to take action herself. Honami was against the idea of moving to a different place to study after her classmates went out of their way to come here. She didn't want to bring Ryūji along with her, worrying that her classmate will only make the situation worse. She temporarily leave her classmates behind to stop their loud bickering because it was disturbing the quiet concentration of everyone learning in her Class 1-B's study session. After approaching the troublemakers, Honami states that she had every reason to get involved in their dispute since the former happened to be using the library to study with her classmates and suggested they move their argument elsewhere so that their actions do not further ruin the decorum of the library. Honami further went on to state that she would report their actions to the school authorities threateningly as a warning if they did not stop with their quarrel. As a result, Yamawaki sincerely apologized for the inconvenience he had caused to her. Kiyotaka could not help but nod in admiration to Honami's final words, which were advising them that if they were planning to study in the library, they ought to behave as mature adults, before setting off back to where she was originally. Going back to the first side story, Honami return to her study session area and was inform that the Class 1-C boys are now afraid of her after she settled a past dispute between their classes. As a girl, Honami felt deeply offended to the point that she couldn't continuing concentrating on her studies with her classmates for the rest of her entire lunch break.

Led by Honami, the initial number of class points that Class 1-B had during the first semester of high-school as a freshman alongside her fellow classmates were about 1000. However, over the course of time spent revolving around their lifestyle, it was said that Honami's Class 1-B had their default amount of class points dwindle down to 650, having lost at least around 350 points after she and her classmates used some of them up. However, when she and her classmates finished their their mid-term exam, they later found out of how their test results gave them a small boost to Class 1-B's class points as the amount has risen to 663, indicating that 13 points were obtain through it.

In the anime, she is later seen approaching Kiyotaka and Kikyō, asking if they were investigating Ken's case, after hearing rumors about it. She offered them aid as Kikyō thanked her but Kiyotaka tried to intervene, confused by her actions, though she stated she was not up to anything and reminded him that she owed him a favour, while winking at him suggestively. The display gained attention from Kikyō and the other students who wondered what exactly Honami owed Kiyotaka.

#### Volume 2

**Honami** : *"Sorry to interrupt you like that. Do you have a moment? Oh, if you happen to be in the middle of a so-so date, though, I'd like you to break it up right away."*

Later on in the story, Honami met Kiyotaka Ayanokōji once again, but this time around with Suzune Horikita present alongside him to talk about a recent violent brawl involving Ken and a group of Class 1-C students. Honami presumed that the two were in the middle of a date and if so, asked them to break it up immediately. Once Suzune denies her statement, Honami understood it wouldn't make sense for them to go out dating each other while teasingly saying the area they're in is too hot to be consider a date spot. When questioned by Suzune, she came to see Kiyotaka and her out of curiosity of what they were doing out in the open. Doubting they were simply wandering around, Honami figures they're from Class 1-D and recalled having met Kiyotaka's face before such as in the library but never get the chance to interact with until now, vouching that she has a good memory on people like him. Honami admits she came to their location in order to search for clues on the recent brawl that took place where they at now. Honami brings up the fact that she heard about Class 1-D doing an investigation on looking for evidence to support Ken's innocence. Although she's not connected to the Ken incident, Honami reasons that she harbors doubt on the student of Class 1-D being the perpetrator of violence due to the information she heard of what happened. She desired to come to this place where they are to see for herself of what she can find to analyze the scene of the incident. She requested if Suzune can fill in her on the details about the incident involving their classmate Ken.

**Honami** : *"So that's what happened. This story hasn't made its way to Class B yet. Hey, isn't this a pretty big problem, though? It doesn't really matter who lied since it's an issue about violence, right? Shouldn't you be hurrying to uncover the truth?"*

When Honami attempted to offer her input on the investigation, Suzune immediately suspected that she had come to them with an ulterior motive. Baffled by Suzune's suspicion towards her, Honami denies that by stating she was just curious of what had happened unbeknownst to her Class 1-B and was not in anyway cooperating with Class 1-C to undermine Class 1-D. Before Kiyotaka give her the details, all Honami knows about the Ken incident was that it was some kind of fight based on what she was told by her homeroom teacher and friends. She learned from Kiyotaka about the false complaint of Ken starting a fistfight came to be as was falsely filed by Kakeru's classmates. Hearing the disclosed information, she told Kiyotaka that his story had not made its way to her own class yet, realizing it to be a pretty large issue than the former thought that needs resolving. She felt it doesn't matter which side is lying not as long as there is the issue of violence involved, urging him to continue uncovering the fact of what actually happened. She points out that the reason Kiyotaka and Suzune are supportive of believing in Ken was because he's their classmate and friend, deducing that Class 1-D was in an uproar when they feel he happened to be a victim of such falsely-charge incident. When Honami questions Kiyotaka on what he will do next if Ken is indeed proven guilty and a liar with factual evidence that came out as proof of his action, she was told by him that the latter would've honestly reported on it and felt covering it up will backfire on his class in the end. Honami feels the same way as Kiyotaka does if such an outcome came to pass.

**Honami** : *"If Class B works with you, wouldn't that dramatically improve your credibility? Though I suppose the opposite could be true, too. Class D may suffer greater consequences if the truth's uncovered..."*

Once Honami got the information she desired, she was attempted to be driven away by Suzune who felt her role here is done and there's no point for her in staying around them any longer. However, Honami was not finished or planning to leave just yet as she has now decided to show her support for Kiyotaka and Suzune by looking for a witness alongside them, stating that they can deepen their investigation further if more people like herself helped out. Honami reasons that their two classes were not completely unrelated to each other, explaining how it's possible new cases besides Ken's incident will start appearing in the future with whoever is involved as it connects back to the class competition remaining constant in each and every student's mind. She is concern that if the perpetrators behind the violent Ken incident is successful in blaming a student of Class 1-D, it will set bad precedent for even more bad eventful things to also happen to other victims thereafter. Due to her own sets of belief about violence, Honami admits that she personally can't turn a blind eye now that she became informed of what transpired in the Ken incident. To backup the legitimacy of what they have to said in defense for their classmate Ken, Honami suggests using her Class 1-B to dramatically boost the two's credibility but knows it can turn wrong for her if the representatives of Class 1-D loses the case despite finding out the truth. Having already been inform from the two that their witness being Airi Sakura of Class 1-D, she understood that their chances of finding another eyewitness was likely slim to say the least. She also spoke highly that someone as Ken Sudō is worth the spare time and effort in having Class 1-D go out of their way to save from the perpetrators and win the case.

**Honami** : *"Did you know that the school evaluates homeroom teachers when their class graduates?"*

Knowing he is a first-year like her who will likely become a regular on the basketball team, she believes him to be someone amazing at some point in the future even though he's at the time was holding the rest of his Class 1-D's classmates back. Nonetheless, Honami saw great potential in keeping Ken around and preventing his expulsion as he might prove to be a real asset to the overall benefit of Class 1-D later down the line. When she considers the fact that since the school was willing to evaluate club and philanthropic activities participated by students, Honami figures it will be smart of Ken to earn points for Class 1-D by entering in a sports tournament showdown to help his classmates out which can tied to their class points. Although Honami went out of her way to explain it to them, she expresses her disbelief and shock at learning that they didn't know any thing about it as Class 1-D's homeroom teacher Sae Chabashira haven't reveal such important information to them. Understanding how uninformed they were of the details she revealed to them, Honami thought their teacher was weird for not informing them early but didn't think what was say had been particularly concerning. Honami even informs Kiyotaka and Suzune that various homeroom teachers like her own being Chie Hoshinomiya are evaluated by the school when their four classes graduates. She discloses how Chie is no different from the students she teaches who has the goal of aiming for Class A as it is the latter's motto, recalling her teacher wanting to do her best in climbing up at the highest position to obtain a special bonus.

**Honami** : *"This seems like a problem we need to address before we can fight. We're not really on equal footing, are we?"*

Considering how ill-informed the two were, she guesses that maybe not all teachers like Sae shared the same objective of reaching Class A as do her homeroom teacher Chie, thinking their instructor may be a different case entirely. On that note, she decided to think it will be a pretty good idea for them to meet up again later and discuss more things in length besides it, reasoning it is a pity of how their two classes are not really on equal footing as they need to address the problem first and work together before facing off against each other fair and square in a competition. When Suzune express her desire to switch teachers, Honami doubts that will happen since it's difficult to manage. Feeling the heat finally getting to her head due to the hot temperature they're expose in, Honami took out a handkerchief to gently wipe the sweat that appear on her forehead. When Suzune comments on the school's air conditioning in empty buildings being the worst and how unkind it was to the environment, Honami thought she was making a joke and complimented her for it as interesting to which the Class 1-D student did not kindly think that was funny to scoff at. With the discussion between the three coming to an end, Honami asked for their phone numbers to add in her contact list but Suzune was against sharing her and ask Kiyotaka to do it instead. Henceforth, Honami exchanged contact information with only Kiyotaka to show their mutual cooperation as allies while moving forward in investigating the Ken incident. According to Kiyotaka, at that point after exchanging information, Honami appeared serious about coming up with strategies and being a trusted ally. Every time she wanted permission to try something she had in mind, Honami would first contact him and Suzune before following through with the idea, even though the former already said to leave things to her.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Are there other positions besides class representative?"*

**Honami** : *"Yeah. Whether or not they served a function is a different question, but we do have other roles for formality's sake. Stuff like vice class representative, and secretary. They could be more useful when we have a cultural fair, or sports festival, or something. We could try deciding things on the spot, but that might lead to trouble."*

Later during the following day which is Friday, in the morning hour, Honami was in the first-year's dormitory building thanking the dorm manager. Upon parting ways with that person, she then end up encountering Kiyotaka soon after greeting him on how he is up early. When Kiyotaka asked her about what she was talking with the manager about, Honami told him that some people in her class wanted to make requests concerning complaints of their dorms that has problems with its functions. After gathering everyone's thoughts on the matter, she came to a fair decision and inform the dorm manager what he needed to know for their sake such as stuff involving water usage, noise, and so on. She was later greeted and called out by two girls from Class 1-B as class representative, telling him that they nicknamed her in such a way to show she represented their class. Honami said it was something an assigned position given to her after she and her classmates set up an assigned role system for each person including herself in the classroom. Despite revealing to him that there are other roles apart from Class Representative, Honami tells Kiyotaka whether or not they served a function is another kind of matter entirely to explain but felt those things has its own unique usefulness like establishing formality between her classmates. For instance, Honami states that Class 1-B has students with the role of being Vice Class Representative and Secretary, considering it to be useful to have in managing events like cultural fair, sports festival, and so forth. Of course, Honami consider handing her classmates a role on the spot but chose not to as it might lead to trouble later. Honami thought that having herself take the lead for Class 1-B was weird since it's all purely informal, stating her class is no exception like any other group when she also have her own fair share of troublemakers and a lot of stuff to deal with.

**Ayanokōji** : *"In other words, you think our class points could fluctuate wildly over summer break?"*

**Honami** : *"Yeah, yeah. I think there might be a hidden task, one that has a bigger impact on us than the midterms or final exams. Otherwise, the difference between Class A and us wouldn't close much. We could diminish the gap little by little."*

Meanwhile, she found Kiyotaka being here with her early a bit strange as he is usually a little late, having never seen him around this morning time. This was Honami's template of starting to strike a conversation with him which Kiyotaka follow suit by talking with her consistently. Hearing that Kiyotaka has no intention of leaving early but usually hang around in his room for around twenty minutes, Honami understood he just made it to where she was at in the nick of time. As Honami and Kiyotaka together walk closer to the school, they start finding themselves in the presence of more students increasingly. Unlike Kiyotaka, Honami who was walking next to him by his side, end up being the only one to have been greeted and received attention by all of the girls. When Kiyotaka calls Honami out for her popularity, she felt that her reason for being able to stand out among the crowd is because of the fact that she happened to be the class rep and all. She then proceeds to ask him if he knows about what will happen during summer break, reminding Kiyotaka of how there is a rumor floating around where they might be going on a school field trip to a tropical island not only as a vacation. Honami expresses her doubt if this vacation will really be something ordinary for them to experience, considering how the school operates and thought this might be a turning point for their classes to gain class points. She guesses that there may be a hidden task, the kind that that has a larger impact on their class than either the midterms or final exams. She explains that if this does not happen, the difference between Class 1-A and the lower classes wouldn't be able to close the difference in class points much whatsoever, believing it is their chance to lower the gap gradually.

**Ayanokōji** : *"You don't seem to be panicking."*

**Honami** : *"I'm concerned, but I think that there's a chance for us to make a comeback. I intend to focus all of my emotional energy on making those preparations."*

Reasonably so, Honami informs Kiyotaka that Class 1-B has about 600 class points in contrast to Class 1-A who possesses around 350 class points more than what she and her classmates have. Honami admits she was relieve to see the midterm had done it's part in giving her class a fair chance to raise their class points. She felt losing at least a few points here and there was unavoidable for them regardless of whether the situation play out to their favor, explaining that not even Class A can avoid the loss of class points themselves. Although she was concern, Honami states it was possible for her class and his own to make a strong comeback to the top, mentioning to him that she plans to prioritize placing all of her effort and time on making those arrangements happened before the next exam competition in the island begins. Wondering how much this upcoming event means to them especially Kiyotaka's class who is in a tight spot due to huge difference in points with everyone else, Honami hopes she herself and him do their utmost best to raise class points for their two classes respectively. To make things seem less tense in their conversation, Honami shares her excitement on the possibility of them vacationing in a tropical island. However, seeing that Kiyotaka is not that happy about it, she inquires why by asking him if he happened to hate traveling to which he said that's not it. When Kiyotaka remembers the time where he journey to New York with his parents only, Honami asked him what's wrong but Kiyotak shrugs it off as just himself remembering a traumatic memory of the past.

**Honami** : *"I've been thinking about it since we started here. Someone might be good at studying, but bad at physical activity. Another might be good at physical activities, but bad at studying. But if students are ranked by overall ability, doesn't that mean that the lower classes are at an overwhelming disadvantage?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"Isn't that how societal competition works, though? I don't think there's anything particularly strange about that."*

To change the topic, Honami would ask Kiyotaka a different question regarding the placement of students like themselves in all four different classes, addressing her concern why they were assigned and for what reason exactly. She conveys her doubt if they were separated simply by their abilities alone, thinking there are more implications behind the school's decision that are unknown to them. From Kiyotaka's answer, she more or less agreed with him that designation wasn't entirely tied to their entrance exam results or academic grades altogether, recognizing it is a fact that getting a top rank wasn't enough to guarantee them a spot in Class A. She thought their assignment to a specific class must had something to do with their overall abilities where the lower classes have their strengths and weaknesses taken into consideration by the school. Particularly, Honami made mention of how both studying and physical activity are like two sides of the same coin while considering the good and bad in having only one of the two skills or the other way around. Based on her analysis she broke down into details, she told Kiyotaka that the lower classes are at a huge disadvantage when they have a collective of students with low overall abilities. Although Kiyotaka sees how this isn't odd to think the school's way of making societal competition work, Honami wasn't convinced by what he said believing that type of logic only applies if they're competing as just individuals rather than through teamwork which is the case since they're in a class competition between different sides. Honami crossed her arms and hummed to herself to show her that what Kiyotaka says as a good reason isn't it due to the fact remains where both of them were placed in separate classes to compete. She thought about how if Class 1-A had taken up all the superior, talented students into their group, it will be implied as impossible for the lower classes to compete on equal footing as they have virtually no chance of succeeding in winning.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Okay, I have to ask. What's your reasoning?"*

**Honami** : *"Ha, no reason, really. It's just something that popped into my head. If it weren't true, then it'd be fair to say the whole situation is cruel. I think that good students and good athletes were placed into Class D for a reason, as a countermeasure."*

With that said, she concluded that while there is definitely a big difference between classes A through D due to the imbalance assignment of students. However, Honami believes there is more to the school's decision than what the two can possibly grasp with their analysis as the higher-ups might be hiding something from them in order to go about it a weird way that is unclear to them. When Kiyotaka asked her to explain her reasoning further, Honami said she has no reason to backup her statement as it was just her putting together information in her mind through speculation. Honami felt if what she told him is not true, she felt it would be fair to say that the whole situation is cruel for the students in the lower classes. Honami tells Kiyotaka that she thinks there are amazing students and athletes who were placed into Class 1-D for a reason like one in which being used as a countermeasure to the other higher classes. Kiyotaka suggests Honami not to share her opinion to him about this sort of discussion as he was someone from Class 1-D while she was in Class 1-B, thinking it is a bad idea to help out an enemy like him but she doesn't see it in that way. She reminds him that they're already more or less cooperating with each other as allies so it shouldn't become a problem for both sides to talk things out. Honami reasons there is a lot of information to be obtain from having an exchange of ideas with someone outside her class like him who doesn't think or conform to the same way of thinking as she do. When Kiyotaka admits that he is not so smart at engaging in the exchange of ideas like she would, Honami doesn't mind it whatsoever about being the one to do the talking and thinking herself for him while he can just listen quietly. Honami advises Kiyotaka that if her information are helpful, then it should be okay to not hesitate in using it to help himself and his class out.

After the conversation ended, Honami remember what she came to do by hanging out with Kiyotaka and talking to him, asking for his help on how to deal with a confession. For instance, she inquires Kiyotaka if he had ever been confessed to before, looking to obtain some information from him based on his experience which can prove helpful to Honami in handling her own situation. Learning that he has not once experience a love confession before in his life, she sincerely apologizes to him for asking his input without knowing it. Once Kiyotaka inquires her if she got confessed by someone, Honami worriedly admit that is what happened to her. Honami requests Kiyotaka if he could spare the time to cooperate in helping her after class, seeking to ask multiple questions to him about confessions despite the latter being busy with investigating the Ken incident. Kiyotaka volunteers to accept the task of helping Honami with her trouble as he has nothing much to do about the incident which she questions why that is. Finding out from him that there is no point in looking for evidence or another witness as it would be a waste of time and a headache, Honami was unsure to believe a word Kiyotaka say and have him assist her as he went to the scene of the incident the previous day to investigate. Hearing from Kiyotaka that it was for something else, Honami no longer questions or doubt him, choosing to welcome his aid in preparing to confront a confession.

**Honami** : *"Love is kind of alien to me. I don't know to respond without hurting her feelings. I also don't know if we can stay good friends afterwards. I want you to help me."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"I don't really think I'm the person to ask for this. I don't have any experience with romantic confessions. There are probably other people in Class B who could help."*

With him willing to lend a hand, Honami arranged the time and place of when Kiyotaka can meet her which is outside of school after class during the evening of 4 PM. When classes are over and students are heading home, Honami was the first to arrive before Kiyotaka at the school entrance and stood waiting for him. While waiting for his arrival, she would meet other students along the way who stop by to greet her. Once she spotted Kiyotaka from a distance, Honami loudly called out to him to go over where she is at, guiding the guy to the other side of the school building which is right behind the gymnasium. Honami would stop there to explain further on why she needed his help, stating that someone is going to ask her out in this specific area, much to his confusion. She took out the love letter and show it to him as proof that the confession scene will happen at any moment in time now once that person comes to their area to confess to her. Honami express her concern to Kiyotaka that their friendly relationship may not remain the same anymore, fearing that responding with a rejection will only end up hurting her friendship with the person in the process and desires to find another way out of breaking someone's heart. She informs Kiyotaka that the person who plans to confess to her is none other than her very close friend Chihiro Shiranami from Class 1-B who sent this love letter to her. Honami asked him to keep the matter between the two of them a secret concerning the love letter and confession as she felt worry that it may become unpleasant if word got out which he understands. She has her doubt that he will go around telling people of what will transpired at this location as he is considerate of her situation.

**Ayanokōji** : *"I understand that you don't want to hurt anyone, but won't it be worse if they find out you lied?"*

**Honami** : *"I could say that you and I broke up, or that you left me or something."*

Hence, Honami explained that she asked for his aid solely because of her own inexperience with romantic relations and a lack of interest in the admirer, and pleaded him to pretend to be her boyfriend when this confession happens. Honami reasons with Kiyotaka that she did a bit of her own research on the subject of confession ahead of time and how the rejected person hurt less if the object of their affection is already in a dating relationship, figuring this is the best solution to handle her situation with Chihiro. Kiyotaka states that while he does understand her reason for wishing to not hurt someone's feelings, Honami was then told by him that it would be worse if Chihiro finds out it was a lie they set up about them faking the dating relationship. Honami argues it won't be the case when she can simply reason with Chihiro that he left her as the two of them had a breakup and no longer dating anymore. Nonetheless, Kiyotaka refused to play along with the fake act of being a couple for this situation and deceiving her friend Chihiro, advising Honami that it would be better in telling the person the truth face-to-face which she is against the idea of doing so. Not long after she begged him to to play the role as her boyfriend, as Honami didn't know how to answer the confession, the admirer Chihiro soon shows up earlier than the expected time and sees them together.

**Ayanokōji** : *"It's true that confessing your feelings isn't easy to do. You spend every day in complete anguish, as you create the experience in your head over and over. And yet, you still can't confess your feelings. Even when you think the time has come to actually do it, you can't say the words I like you'. They get stuck in your throat. That's what I think. Don't you think you should answer someone when they desperately long to express their feelings? If you make the situation unclear, both of you may regret it later."*

Realizing that Chihiro is present before the two, Honami awkwardly raised her hand and tells her that the man she was with is Kiyotaka from Class 1-D, apologizing to her friend for mentioning a student she don't know or has not heard of before. When Chihiro asked what relationship they had, Honami tried "confirming" they were a couple but was unable to as she felt a sense of guilt over lying, causing her to hesitantly stop herself from fully answering as the words got stuck in her throat. When Chihiro began to cry with tears welling up in her eyes, Honami become fluster by what she see from her friend's reaction and starts panicking. As Chihiro attempts to convince Kiyotaka to leave by stating that she has an important talk to hold with her, Honami tries to stop her friend and decided to say her lie that Kiyotaka was her boyfriend. Honami was trying to make the first move and turn her down, thinking it would be harder if Chihiro directly said, "I like you" first before she could respond to her feelings. However, before she could lie her way out of this situation, Kiyotaka bluntly reveal the truth that he and Honami were simply friends right then and there, which surprised her to the point that she was almost speechless. He advises Honami to carefully talk it out with Chihiro as a show of respect to the courage her friend gathered up to confess her feelings. Not long afterward, he left the pair behind, leaving Honami quietly amazed by his wisdom while she pondered over his words. Following his advice, Honami decided to sort out her feelings and be honestly truthful with Chihiro. As a result of that, Honami did her best to turn Chihiro down gently as possible when the former revealed that she was not romantically interested in her. Honami and Chihiro mutually decided that they would go back to being friends, although, despite their agreement, the latter ran off crying heartbroken.

**Honami** : *"I was wrong. I didn't respect Chihiro's feelings. I just wanted to avoid hurting her, and to run away. That was my mistake. Love is really tough, huh?"*

Around sundown, not longer after, Honami trudged back from the gym and walked over to where Kiyotaka was at in the tree-lined pathway, meeting up with him once again coincidentally. Upon seeing Kiyotaka witness Chihiro running off, Honami felt a little awkward on what to say next and hung her head but before long, she immediately glanced back up at him. Honami reflects on her action to Kiyotaka, acknowledging that she initially didn't have any respect for answering Chihiro's feelings in order to avoid damaging her emotionally by escaping the confession under the pretense of dating him as an excuse. As she lean against the handrail next to him, Honami mutters the realization that it was a mistake on her part and understand how confrontational and tough someone's love for her is. Honami tells Kiyotaka that while she recalled asking Chihiro to continue with maintaining their friendship bond as usual, she understood it won't be that easy for her friend to move on and accept, feeling uncertain whether it will be possible for the two of them to go back to how things were before the confession scene occur. Honami thanks Kiyotaka for coming along with the former to accept her odd request, understanding that their position got reversed when she was supposed to be the one assisting him but instead, it ended up being the other way around where he happened to be the one helping her. When Kiyotaka apologizes for acting full of himself back in her confession scene with Chihiro, she deemed it odd and states he has nothing to apologize for as there was no need to do so since those words help her reach a decision during that moment. In the light novels, she stretched her arms towards the sky, and hopped off the railing, declaring to Kiyotaka now it's her turn to help him out. Honami vows to do anything in her power to return the favor she owed him back then for helping her.

The next day afterward, Honami greeted Kiyotaka in the morning near the bulletin board and realizes what her classmate Ryūji Kanzaki was up to by using this method, discovering a flyer made by him that asked for students to share any sort of information related to Ken and the perpetrators of Class 1-C. When Ryūji arrived thereafter with the two, Honami introduced her classmate to Kiyotaka as she had him get on board with helping Class 1-D investigate the Ken incident. Although there had been no reliable or useful information, she eggs Kiyotaka to look at the bulletin board for more details. As there is more to this method, Honami informs Kiyotaka that apart from Ryūji, she too had set up a message in her own way similar to her fellow classmate did to gather valuable intel about the three boys that were supposedly attacked by Ken using the internet. For instance, she wrote a statement on the message board from the school homepage for everyone to see across the web. She requested that people come forward with information there, requiring any witness of the violent incident at their school reading the post to share information on it.

**Kanzaki** : *"Perhaps they let Sudō beat them up on purpose. If the three of them had wanted to set a trap for Sudō, the story would make perfect sense. The connection seems natural.-"*

**Honami** : *"Yeah. Even if we managed to convince people with this new evidence, we're really only halfway there. The fact that it was such a one-sided fight definitely puts a lot of pressure on us."*

After she said that, Honami would showed Ryūji and Kiyotaka her phone's screen, revealing a message that was about seeking out witnesses and how only a few people in the dozens have read it so far. Honami felt it was much more efficient than asking people directly. She even added in the message that those be it a witness or not who cooperate with their investigation by sharing helpful information will be rewarded with a compensation by her through private points. She reassures Kiyotaka that the the stuff regarding points was the decision made by herself and her own class's volition, excusing the fact that not a lot of people will likely take up on their offers, considering the difficulty of many people not willing to give them new information. Right then and there, Honami received a notification of two new messages regarding the post she made to the school homepage. Initially thinking it will be little information, Honami checked her phone for confirmation but after reading the messages, a slight smile crept onto her face upon uncovering something useful about the content. Once again, she showed her phone to both Ryūji and Kiyotaka so that they can read the message revealing the identity about one of the boys involved with Ken was Daichi Ishizaki. With the two, she learns how Daichi is good at fighting and also had a history of violence like terrorizing the locals during his times in junior high, guessing that a kid from his hometown must have leaked such details presumably. She, Ryūji, and Kiyotaka thought this new piece of information was valuable to better understand what Ken's fight was about and deduced that it may have indeed been a set-up to frame him. She agreed with Ryūji that perhaps Daichi and his classmates allowed themselves to be beaten by Ken of Class 1-D on purpose intentionally to trap their victim. Believing the story would make perfect sense and the connections between this and the Ken incident seem natural, Honami praises Ryūji for his excellent deduction on keenly figuring it out.

**Honami** : *"It'll be okay. Besides, both Class C and Class A originally targeted us, anyway."*

**Kanzaki** : *"Ichinose is right. Besides, even if you wanted to stick by the rules, everyone is acting out of bounds. I think it's okay to ask for forgiveness this time."*

All things considered, Honami states that what they need to do now is verify the source of the information, thinking they are one step closer to proving Ken's innocence. In spite of what they learn, she felt that the information gained was still pretty weak as the three are still halfway from solving the incident even if they managed to convince some people to be on their side with this as evidence. She understood the incident was one-sided when Ken was the one mainly doing the beating on Daichi and his classmates puts a lot of pressure on supporting their argument in defense of the victim. Besides the two messages, Honami acknowledge they have no luck on finding any report of a witness coming forward to testify for their case, believing the only choice the three of them can do now as they're out of time is wait for more details to be disclosed from either the internet or the school's bulletin board. She tells Kiyotaka that things will be alright as both Class 1-C and Class 1-A had initially attack them before Class 1-D was their target as Class 1-B has the reason to deal with them in Ken's case fairly, willing to forgive the perpetrators' action. When she tried to pay the person who leaked the source of the message with private points, Honami saw that their identity was anonymous and became unsure of how to transfer the payment until Kiyotaka volunteered to help. She states that the anonymous person had a toll-free number, drawing herself closer to Kiyotaka while pointing at her phone to show him. Honami was then instructed by him to open up her points remittance screen where her id number in the upper left corner was at. Heeding his instruction, Honami nimbly move her fingers fast, pressing the button to pop up her own points page before asking him again what she should do next after doing that. Not before long, Honami thanks Kiyotaka for the help as she learns from him on how to issue a temporary token key using her id number to an anonymous person to request for carrying out payment. Only in the anime, she went up to Kiyotaka and he paid the person himself using her phone in Honami's stead. In both anime and light novels, he noticed her unusually high amount of points, causing Honami to immediately reclaim her phone and walk off afterwards. But before leaving, Honami assures Kiyotaka that she would still help him again at a later date and time. In the light novel, instead of Kiyotaka parting ways with the two thereafter, Honami resumes her walk together with Kiyotaka and Ryūji to continue on their investigation of the Ken incident.

**Kanzaki** : *"The fact remains that he hit the other students. Your opponents made a concession because of corroboration from the witness and her evidence. You should've accepted the compromise."*

**Honami** : *"But like Ayanokōji-kun says, Sudō's suspension would be a loss for Class D. If Sudō were suspended due to his bad behavior, then his chances of being a team regular would probably vanish. He'd be back to square one."*

In the light novels, when the meeting led by Manabu involving Ken's case came to an end, Honami and Ryūji greeted Kiyotaka and asked about what the results of the trial were. She and Ryūji were informed about what had transpired in the Student Council room. Although her classmate feels that Kiyotaka made the wrong decision by not accepting a concession with Class 1-C, she agrees with Kiyotaka that it was the right choice on their Class 1-D's part to not reach a compromise just yet by letting Ken get suspended as a settlement to avoid expulsion. She reminds Ryūji that it would be considered a loss to Class 1-D if Ken's suspension happened the way Class 1-C wants it if they can't get such a student expelled. She explains that in the event Ken were to receive a temporary suspension from attending school and classes as a result of his terrible action and attitude around Class 1-C students, then there was the off-chances that him continuing as a regular basketball team player would likely be crushed and ruined, forcing the Class 1-D student to restart his career from scratch. Learning that it didn't turn out as they had hoped, Honami insisted she and Ryūji would continue cooperating with Kiyotaka and Suzune of Class 1-D to look for more evidence that could support Ken's innocence or another witness to this matter. Particularly, Honami plans to search through the internet to check what information she can gathered up while remaining pessimistic that she will be able to find any more possible leads to help Kiyotaka out. Though it wouldn't have been odd for Honami to stop caring about Class 1-D's matter with Class 1-C any longer, she laughed and still refuses to give up on her ally and still offered a helping hand. She felt they have spent too much time on the investigation to call quits now and doesn't like the idea of letting liars get away with winning the case.

**Kanzaki** : *"It might be contrary to your ethics and morals, Ichinose."*

**Honami** : *"Ha ha, yeah. You might be right. It's a change for me. But...it's certainly one way of doing things."*

She was then met with Suzune who asked for Honami's cooperation in preparing her strategy. Suzune explains her strategy in full detail (the plan was devised by Kiyotaka) to blackmail and trap the the three suspects using the security camera as that was the only solution left to help Class 1-D protect Ken. She thought it was going to be a really hard request to fulfill at first, but chose to follow through with Suzune's idea after deliberating that it was within the range of what they can do to help Class 1-D. Another reason she was on board with this strategy made by Suzune was because Honami had every intent to find out what was happening to Class 1-D and wants to know her solution in resolving the Ken incident. Honami had tons of things she wants to find out about the class conflicts, but questions that there was no need for Suzune to explain the reason behind using her strategy. After hearing the full details behind the setup of her plan, Honami can't help but be shockingly impressed by this incredible move Suzune is planning to pull off against the perpetrators of Class 1-C. Honami recalled going to the scene of the incident and was unable to think of something like that, admitting she was left completely in the dark of her plan until Suzune finally decides to reveal it to her. She was convinced that Suzune must have come up with such a plan just before the deliberation ended. Despite understanding the plan and its intended effect, Honami shockingly understood it runs contrary to her own ethics and morals by lying to achieve one's aim, anticipating what the results will be if they go along with that unusual strategy. Nonetheless, Honami felt it was a change she can work by to enact as Suzune's strategy, feeling it was just another different way of handling problems unlike how she usually do them. Since a lie started the Ken incident, she reluctantly welcomes the idea of maybe also lying to resolve it as an eye for an eye. At first, Honami thought it will be difficult to get what they need for the strategy to be arranged and carry out successfully but Suzune convince her that she has everything confirmed on her end which made it possible to accomplish.

**Honami** : *"Man. I completely neglected to calculate the fact that Class D has a girl like you."*

To show her willingness to help after careful deliberations, Honami took out her cellphone and lend it to Suzune, allowing the latter to use the private points on there to buy whatever essentials are needed to help with planning their strategy. Meanwhile, Honami praises Suzune to be someone of Class 1-D who she neglected to see as very intelligent among their lineup of students until learning the girl's supposed strategy for herself. Before setting off to prepare Class 1-D's surveillance camera strategy, Honami witness Kiyotaka received a painful blow by Suzune's fist, she can't help but remain dumbfounded and terrified by the the girl's aggression on him. Later on, Honami and Ryūji both went and purchased the surveillance camera to use for devising Suzune's strategy with their private points. Then after that, she and him worked to install it during lunch while being assisted by another Class 1-D student known as the Professor (Hideo Sotomura) who cooperated with them on this front besides Kiyotaka and Suzune. Unlike in the anime where Honami wasn't a participant of the strategy, she instead of Suzune was the person who worked with Kiyotaka to corner and trick the three boys of Class 1-C.

**Honami** : *"Also, you realize that you just destroyed yourselves, right? Normal people wouldn't think to check whether there were security cameras, right? That's basically admitting your guilt."*

**Ishizaki** : *"So, so...that time...no way..."*

With the surveillance camera installed ahead of time, she was able to reasonably talk the matter out with the three students of Class 1-C such as Daichi to withdraw their false claim as planned so that neither classes of 1-C and 1-D were punished for the incident. Such words of deceit she lie to them with includes how the school already knew about them lying from the very beginning. She backup her false claim with the evidence of security cameras catching wind of their aggression towards Ken to incite violence. Because Honami informs them that security cameras are set up everywhere across school and were there to monitor their everyday action, the boys of Class 1-C start to harbor doubt whether they were able to avoid them all completely. Throughout the conversation from start to end, Honami had the students of Class 1-C dancing in her tune, making the argument she had against them sound reasonable and true in their eyes while pretending to be truthful. She made them believe that they had overlook some of the cameras during the scene of the Ken incident while following through with their crime silently without even noticing such actions were being watched by the school. In a way, she got the boys of Class 1-C like Daichi to realize their secret scheme may have flaws to it that allowed them to be caught red-handed. Pretending to have completely grasp the incident between Ken and members of Class 1-C from one of those security cameras, Honami and Kiyotaka makes it look as though either they, the Student Council President, or the school had already knew of how both parties took damage during when the incident broke out.

**Honami** : *"Well, you're not being very cooperative. Therefore, we have no choice but to prepare. We'll have the school confirm the security footage right away, and you'll be expelled."*

She even threateningly mentions things like expulsion to rattle Daichi and his band of delinquents' state of mind while Kiyotaka reminds them that the school desires to see them solve this problematic conflict as a test by using their intellect. She argues this case can be peacefully resolved without any losses on either sides, convincing them to quit accusing Ken of starting the incident and give up on it so that the school will not bring forward the security camera footage. That way, Honami claims there won't be any punishments as long as the school doesn't go further with their supposed investigation on the matter without Class 1-C supporting the complaints anymore. To hastily force Class 1-C students like Daichi to reach a compromise between their two classes, Honami threatens to report this security camera footage to the school and have them confirmed the evidence themselves that Class 1-C was behind the incident with Ken which they caved in, afraid of getting expelled due to the mess they caused. In order to prevent the three boys from contacting their class leader Kakeru for advice, she and Kiyotaka walked with them over to the Student Council room side by side and got them with the school's approval to successfully withdraw their complaints. Once Ken's case was taken care of as planned, she happily thanks Kiyotaka for giving her such an important role to play in Class 1-D's strategy against Class 1-C. After this, Kiyotaka uninstalls the security camera and hands it back to Honami, promising the latter that he would make sure to repay her with the private points she loaned him. Honami, on the other hand, felt it would be fine for him to have the private points ready for graduation. On the other hand, Honami thinks a day will come when Kiyotaka and his Class 1-D may become formidable rivals to Class 1-C, thinking that if Class 1-B had someone as intelligent as Suzune on their side after seeing the camera strategy, she and her classmates would've likely reach Class A right away.

**Honami** : *"If Horikita-san were in Class B, we might have gotten to Class A right away."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"Probably."*

In the anime, Honami was asked to lend Kiyotaka points for a task he helped Suzune with and promised to pay her back after it was finished. Honami found out about the details of the plan and found herself amazed at Kiyotaka's intelligence and wondered how someone like him could have landed himself in Class 1-D, but Kiyotaka said it was Suzune's plan and gave her a vague answer about his intelligence. Unlike in the light novels where Suzune explains Kiyotaka's strategy as her own and covers for him, the anime adaptation shows just only Honami being alone without Ryūji present to learn about the camera strategy from Kiyotaka and not Suzune before rather than after it was carried out. Noticing that he didn't want to talk about it, she simply smiled at his answer before he got a call from Airi Sakura who was in danger.

**Honami** : *"Wrong? I don't think so. Whoa, look at all those letters! Gross. Are you a stalker?"*

**Airi's Crazy Simp** : *"You're wrong. It's just...yeah, that. She said she wanted someone to teach her how to use a digital camera, so I said I'd teach her one-on-one. That's all."*

Seeing that Kiyotaka was in a rush to rescue Airi, Honami followed after him, while he was using the GPS on his phone to trace and find Airi's location. Once they found Airi being sexually assaulted by her stalker, Honami and Kiyotaka took several photos with their phones' cameras repeatedly. This was while Honami and Kiyotaka were pretending to be a delinquent couple in front of Airi's stalker, intimidating the latter with threats of exposing him publicly to the point that he ran away in fear of losing his job. Such threats made by Honami was how an adult like himself was caught committing sexual harassment on a young high school girl and attempting to do naughty things to her. Honami made that person thought she will go through with making a big scandal out of this publicly as headlines on the news by reporting his action. At the same time, she done so with her cruel tone of voice strongly whereby calling the old guy out as gross and a nasty stalker to have this much love letters to creep Airi out. Honami pinched her nose as she picked up the letters in a way that was similar to grabbing someone else's stinky socks. When the store clerk attempts to logically explain the reason behind his action on Airi, Honami remains doubtful of the harasser's words. She picked them up one by one that were scattered about by their corners, using only her index finger and thumb. Kiyotaka declares that he and his girlfriend Honami saw everything of what unfolded between him and Airi, taking pictures as proof of their evidence against the stalker. Honami and Kiyotaka working together allow their threat to be heard by the store clerk, blackmailing that stalker into submission, vowing to expose him once and for all if he continues to show his face or send any more disgusting letters to Airi ever again. As a result of the faked couple's brave act, Airi's stalker caved in to their demand, promising to Kiyotaka and Honami that he will never raise a hand or ogle the idol from this moment forward.

**Honami** : *"Huh?! Idol?! That's amazing! She's an entertainer! Ooh, shake my hand, shake my hand!"*

**Sakura** : *"But I never appeared on TV or anything..."*

After the store clerk got away from her and escape the scene, Honami questions who the mysterious idol was after Kiyotaka brought it up to both the stalker and Airi. Upon asking about that, Honami then tossed one of the creepy letters to the ground, tilting her head in confusion. There, she learned from Kiyotaka that Airi had been a famous idol or entertainer all along who goes by the name of Shizuku since her junior high days. This was indicated when Honami went so far as to verify who the name "Shizuku" belongs to, looking up information about the girl on her phone and finding out that it was indeed none other than Airi herself without the glasses. Feeling impressed and amazed by Airi's famous reputation across the web, Honami lavish wonderful praises to the girl's idol-like appearance on the web as cute and excitedly wanted to shake her hands. Honami complimented of how greatly different Airi looks to be appearance-wise when not wearing the glasses in contrast to what she seem to look like at school while having it on her. Although the girl shrugs off that complaint as nothing outstanding about it since her activities bears no connection to anything on television, Honami finds Airi's job as something very awesome to do when she herself had not thought of becoming an idol before. When Airi was asked by Kiyotaka to reach out to him for consultation, she teasingly questions Kiyotaka on what he meant by that talk her partner is proposing. Through this confrontation with the stalker, she was able to meet Airi for the first time and introduce herself to the Class 1-D student, befriending her as a friend of Kiyotaka. Based on how the anime adaptation handled this light novel scene, it was said that Honami and Kiyotaka had gathered together a security team and found Airi, just before she was being assaulted by a crazed stalker and only Kiyotaka was taking pictures of the stalker's action on Airi. The stalker attempted to flee after Kiyotaka confronted him but Honami blocked him as the police took the man into custody and she looked at him with a disgusted look before silencing his protests as he was taken away. She waved goodbye to Airi and Kiyotaka as she joined the police in handling the matter.

**Ayanokōji** : *"When Class B had trouble, did you manage a peaceful resolution?"*

**Honami** : *"Somehow, yeah. However, if you looked at it like a game, I can't say whether I won or lost...Anyway, I think because what he devised was easier to see through this time, I've started to understand how this school is structured. You should be careful."*

Once the talk with Airi about her conflict was resolved, Honami seriously informs Kiyotaka that Kakeru Ryūen was most likely the mastermind pulling the strings behind the whole Ken incident. She truthfully reasoned that this was because he was the same person who had also orchestrated a dispute between Class 1-B and Class 1-C students before the incident with Ken had even happened or took place but fortunately, the school didn't get involved. Honami believed that Kakeru was connected to the incident, believing this suspected perpetrator had a hand in that brawl involving the members of Class 1-C to make Ken be set up as the liar, considering how ruthless and merciless his strategy was to instigate violence. She explains that the reason of why Kiyotaka has not heard recognize or even know of his name before is due to the fact that he has yet to reveal himself from the shadows. According to the eyes of Kiyotaka, Honami, who always looked so bright, now appeared somber and grim after mentioning Kakeru and his action. Proclaiming herself as the most vigilant of the first-years, she informs Kiyotaka that Kakeru is a dangerous adversary who was willing to resort to using despicable means, not hesitating to hurt other people for the sake of getting what he wants and fulfilling his own interests. Although she resolved the incident between Classes 1-B and 1-C in the past, Honami figures it is far from a complete victory despite being able to somehow successfully handle a nonviolent resolution over the trouble. Honami refuses to say whether it was her win or loss against Kakeru if they were to examine the conflict between the two classes as a game and that this was her first time seeing through the schemes he devised. Ever since that class conflict with Kakeru, she came to understand how the competitive environment in this school works around them and cautions Kiyotaka to be careful next time when dealing with Class 1-C and Kakeru as a warning. Before leaving, Honami made a suggested Kiyotaka to reach out to her again in case his Class 1-D needed her to assist them again, which the latter would keep in mind.

**Horikita** : *"No, I'm just not interested."*

**Honami** : *"Ahaha, I see. It really feels like Horikita-san's style. Then if it's possible, if you have time during the trip, don't forget about contacting me. Back then I already wanted to give you my e-mail address."*

Based on another side story, when Honami attempts to go on the elevator in the school's dormitory building, she ends up finding Kiyotaka, Kikyō, Suzune, and Airi already present there waiting before her and greeted them enthusiastically. Upon observing how rare it is to see a trio of four Class 1-D students together as a group, Honami curiously asked one of them what the topic of the conversation they were talking about before she chimed in. There, she happened to learn from Kikyō that they happened to be discussing of a two-week trip on where to go. When invited by Kikyō to join the four in their trip, Honami happily accepts the invitation to hang out with them. Looking forward to whatever trip they had planned in mind, she expresses her excitement on always wanting to get a chance of chatting with Suzune and Airi who are from a different class than her. However, Suzune said she had no part in going to the trip alongside them, to which Honami then raises the question if she already have plans of her own arranged beforehand. Hearing that she has nothing planned and is not interested in the slightest, Honami accepts the girl's reason for not attending as it is typical of Suzune's style. Despite that, Honami did not stop there and asked if Suzune were to ever change her mind and happened to have some time to spare during the trip, she kindly reminded the latter to contact the former. At the same time, Honami briefly touch on their previous encounter of how she had already considered wanting to give her e-mail address to Suzune. With this idea taken into consideration, Honami proceeded to take out a memo from her schoolbag and wrote down her e-mail address and handed it to both Suzune and Airi.

**Honami** : *"Right now I'm here, Kikyo-chan is here, Sakura-san is here too. And Horikita-san is also here. Chatting about meaningless things while going to school. In the future we will definitely think this is youth."*

**Horikita** : *"Trying to negate the future events...that won't do. That's something not even god can do."*

Witnessing how persistent Honami can be with her kind action, Suzune calls her a good person no matter how much she tries to ignore the former's kindness. When Honami is questioned by Suzune why the former does not bother to just simply leave her be and ignored her, she states that is because she feels like Suzune's way of speaking is not suitable for students that want to enjoy youth. While Suzune insists not to be worried that she was not enjoying her youth, Honami was suggested by the girl to avoid having a boring conversation with her as an effective way of time management. Understanding the cold shoulder Suzune is giving both she and Kikyō without an alternative way to convince her, Honami laughs it off and said that she can act a bit arrogant around them but does not think it is a bad thing to do and have as her personality. Honami tries to reason with her that although the latter have no need to take joy in youth, she believe otherwise as it is not something Suzune can be sure of thinking and accepting so easily. Honami further adds that while Suzune might not want to enjoy her youth, what they are doing at this moment in time by holding a discussion together was what their youth was all about. Thereafter, Honami grabbed Kikyō's shoulder and closed the distance with Suzune who was unable to refute her words stay silent. Honami rationally reasons with Suzune further, stating that since they are chatting about pointless things while heading together to school as a group, she points out a future where they will definitely think of how this is part of youth later in their lifetime.

**Honami** : *"Ah, did I get it right? It's nothing, Ayanokouji-kun, you are also a page of our youth."*

Realizing Kiyotaka who was absent-minded and quiet throughout their conversation until now stood still in his original position without following after them, Honami looks back and convey her concern for him. Seeing how all three of his classmates other than herself show worries for Kiyotaka, Honami felt satisfied and sent a bright smile his way, inquiring whether he was either experiencing May sickness or exclusion from their conversation. Intuitively grasping his feelings about the topic she have had with the girls of Class 1-D, Honami reassures Kiyotaka that he too is included as a page to be added in their tale of youth at this moment in time and from now on while moving forward and hanging out. After saying what needed to be said, Honami ran towards Kiyotaka, grabbed a hold over his wrist, and pulled it softly to her side, dragging him away with her to where the other girls are at while teasing the latter with playful words.

#### Volume 3

Another anime original scene where during the cruise, both her and her homeroom teacher Chie got a massage together. At that time, she and her instructor discussed students of each class they should be the lookout out for as potentially powerful adversaries while doing so, Honami felt somewhat put off by her teacher's erratic behavior. When her teacher suggested looking out for Kiyotaka as one of those students, she seemed to see her teacher is right about watching out for Kiyotaka before wondering why he hides his amazing capabilities. After the ship arrived on a deserted island, she and her Class 1-B set up camp on a beach. In contrast to the anime, the light novels revealed her based camp was located further deeper inside the forest discovered by Kiyotaka and Suzune.

**Chihiro** : *"As expected from Honami-chan! Thank you!"*

**Honami** : *"I can help at any time with these kind of jobs, so call me whenever you are troubled."*

In her side story where it involves her midsummer time spent overcoming the Deserted Island Special Test with Class 1-B, it was said that Honami had already went ahead and had all of her classmates act and play according to their roles properly. As it was the second day of that special exam, Honami stood up appearing happily satisfied on being able to successfully complete her hammock which she personally made her own with the tied ropes arranged. Honami was then thanked by Chihiro for her excellent hard work on setting that up to which the former said that she can help out at any time with these kind of jobs, kindly reminding her friend to call on her assistance whenever she feels troubled with doing other stuff besides the hammock. After saying this, Chihiro took the initiative to link arms with Honami who felt her classmate's sudden action was cute, something like a little sister would do for her. Seeing how good she and Chihiro are still able to get along well despite rejecting the latter's confession, Honami was relieve and glad that it did not ruin the relationship which is their friendship. Following the day after her classmate's confession, she remains as close friends with Chihiro regardless of what happened in the past between the two, continuing to open her heart and talk to her like usual even during this exam.

When Chihiro questions whether there was anything she was not skillful in, Honami believes rather than herself being bad with sports, she was just not that good at playing it. Honami doesn't think her lack of skills with sports is considered fatal to her physique physically speed-wise, admitting in her mind that she is capable of maintaining a fairly fast running pace but the same could not be said with her state of equilibrium being the motor neurons. Because of this, Honami recalled a lot of times where she happened to threw or kicked a ball in the air while it moved very deviated and was teasingly mocked in the classroom for that horrible show of performance. After Chihiro lovingly praise her embarrassingly weak side as cute, Honami was left feeling flustered about hearing it come from her friend's mouth, remembering how the previous play she had with her classmates turn out. Meanwhile, Honami expresses how happy and nice it is to see that her male classmates in all directions are each enjoyably playing with the water together, looking to join in on the fun alongside them. However, Chihiro thought otherwise as it was an embarrassing sight to see, making Honami wonder if her friend has an insensitive side to her or was having some strong conflict going on with the boys in their class.

**Chihiro** : *"Hey Honami-chan, after this let's go to the seaside. Since it's a rare chance, I really want to go swimming."*

**Honami** : *"Then let's invite everybody and go together."*

She tries to deflect Chihiro's criticism by complimenting the boys for the great work they did of fulfilling their given role within the class without panicking while being in an island, feeling the need to praise them as they rightfully deserve it. When the Deserted Island Special Test was first revealed to Class 1-B, Honami expected her classmates to become chaotic about it, but beyond her expectations, she was shocked to observe that everybody in the classroom pulled themselves together and calmed down thereafter. Thanks to that due to everyone staying united and positive in the face of possible hardships, Honami acknowledges the fact that she too was also able to bring out her usual strength and contribute to the class without problem. She thought to herself that her class is pushing and handling strong throughout the exam smoothly, not forgetting to cheerfully enjoy themselves with the time spent on this island while firmly holding onto their points. On the other hand, Honami was invited out by Chihiro to go alone together with her to the seaside and hang out there with just them and nobody else but the two only.

**Honami** : *"You're so bad. I was feeling anxious because I had taken your words seriously."*

**Chihiro** : *"Because there are still two and a half years left. You don't need to feel anxious. But I'll definitely change Honami-chan's heart before graduation."*

Realizing what a rare chance this is as stated by her friend, she adds to her classmate's suggestion that they should also invite the rest of the class to join them much to Chihiro's disappointment. Despite feeling disappointed by Honami's response to her offer, Chihiro humbly accept her leader's idea without complaint as she was okay with it. Seeing the strange reaction on Chihiro's facial expression and the comment from her that a romantic couple's world is better than what she suggested, Honami noticed that Chihiro has still not given up on her feelings for her ever since that confession got turned down. Because Chihiro remains determined to make Honami fall in love with her, the latter starts to frantically panic and became unsure on what to do next until the former jokingly said it was a joke much to her relief. Honami called Chihiro as being awful for making her perturbed and worry over her words so sternly. However, when Chihiro states that that there is no need to be nervous as she still has two and a half years of time left to make the girl she likes to develop feelings for her, Honami was unable to hide her own surprise and admire her friend's resolve to see it through to the very end of graduation.

**Horikita** : *"Your class seems to be functioning well, despite obstacles."*

**Honami** : *"Ha ha, yeah. It was really difficult at first! But we tried a bunch of different things, and it worked out. Though the list of chores just keeps on increasing. There's still a tone of work left."*

Ever since the Deserted Island Special Test began after they got off the cruise ship, Honami would later on also allowed a student of Class 1-C, particularly Satoru Kaneda to join them after he had been thrown out from his own class' camp. When Honami was greeted by Kiyotaka and Suzune, she allows the two to access Class 1-B's campsite since they're in a cooperative relationship with their side during this exam and for the rest of the 1st year moving forward. Honami took out a manual from a bag near her feet and show them a white sheet of paper, detailing which itemized what they'd purchased, and read aloud. She specifically went into great details about the list of many supplies her Class 1-B bought one by one and how usages plus setups of it were handled based on where their camping site was at, spending exactly a total of seventy points for them. Then, she showed Kiyotaka and Suzune around the camp and the pulley system in the well used to bring up a bucket of water. She admits that having her class to function well in this exam was troublesome and hard at first, but was able to overcome those obstacles by trying a bunch of different things to make it work out successfully in the end. She mentions about having to take care of the chores that kept piling up as a result of setting up such a successful strategy that requires more ton of works to finish doing. At first, Honami was worried whether the water was safe to drink, but when she look around at the surrounding environment and the cultivated food items, Honami and her classmates determined that the well must have been all right for them to consider using in their strategy. To be on the safe side, she volunteer to try drinking the water herself first before everyone else could do it the previous day. Honami waited for some time to pass by and see if she got an upset stomach but fortunately, it never happen to her. Starting this morning, she had everyone use the well to get a sip of the water. She even noted of utilizing those natural water from the well to bathe and clean themselves for showers.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Did you already know about them? Water shows, I mean."*

**Honami** : *"No. this is the first I've heard about or used them. The school's rules are rather scary, aren't they? There weren't any details in the manual, and we can't ask the teacher, either. Thankfully we have some kids who are familiar with the outdoors in our class."*

After she and her classmates put water in the bath tank, they were able to conveniently prepared hot water in only a few seconds while making use of a gas can for the heat source. Honami considers that once they run out, she made it her plan to request another one. Honami recognizes that she didn't know about water showers initially as she has chosen to use it for the first time, admitting that not even the school's regulations had any details regarding it in their manual. She couldn't seek out the teacher for help about it either so Honami and her classmates had to figure it out by themselves together while thanking some from her class who have some experience and skills with other ideas when managing the outdoors. Honami had even work with her classmates to prepare a simple toilet set up with a one-touch tent instead of getting a shower room so that the people in her class who dislike being seen by others when they shower could have privacy, considering the fabric to be waterproof. hen Suzune asked how and where they sleep, Honami decided to lead the two to the tent while giving a heads-up to her female classmates that they're allowed in by her. Honami lifted the bottom flap of the tent and revealed to them that they used a thick bunch of two centimeters-length vinyl sheets. Honami explains that when she and her classmates paid for the temporary tiolet, they were informed that her class had access to an unlimited number of vinyl sheets and in turn, requested a very lot of them in large amounts. Since she order too many resources and didn't want to waste them, she plan to put any of the unused vinyl sheets into one sheet, and return them in the end once the exam is over. The precautions Honami has taken against the heat is sprinkling water around near their beds since they're close to the well. She had her classmates put some water in the plastic bottles that people drank from, and then give the order to everyone to carry them around as a mean to sprinkle water more efficiently. She acknowledge it to work as planned when the water was able to soak into the soil quite easily, noting how it takes some time for the liquid to evaporate is a good reason enough to have its effect lingers on for removing the heat.

**Honami** : *"I see. Well, can we continue our cooperative relationship? I thought it would be a good idea to ignore the rule about trying to find out the leader's identity. What do you think?"*

**Horikita** : *"I was thinking that we should talk about that, too. If we didn't have to be on guard with even one class, we'd really appreciate it. As long as you don't mind, Ichinose-san, I'd like you to accept the proposal."*

Excluded from the anime, she also happens to built a hammock, tying a string around a tree in the process to put it up. She egged both Kiyotaka and Suzune to take a seat on it but the latter declined to which the former proceeded to sit on the hammock herself. According to Kiyotaka, Honami and her class weren't just relying on the tools, they were making perfect use of their knowledge and skills to improve the campsite. Kiyotaka and Suzune noted how Honami was able to give each of her classmate a certain role to play in setting up their strategy without disorder or dissatisfaction, each successfully fulfilling their given occupation and task. Honami requested the two that she wants to continue this cooperative relationship between their two classes, promising to them that the former will ignored the exam rule of looking for the identity of each other's respective leader. Suzune agreed to Honami's proposal of the class alliance, as neither side wants to make an enemy out of each other since they have other worst enemies to deal with than between themselves. As a result, Honami was able to reaffirm her mutual information exchange of Class 1-B with Class 1-D and resolved to stay in a cooperative relationship with certain conditions not mentioned in the story until later the following volumes. She learns from Suzune that Class 1-D is in a bad situation where their classmate Rokusuke Kōenji retired from the exam early, feeling sorry they can't stay united in the face of this exam. She asked Suzune if there was anyone in Class 1-D who can bring their students together in unity, which the latter believes it to be Yōsuke Hirata who Honami recognized as a soccer player she knew of due to a lot of her female classmates liking him.

**Honami** : *"Honestly, seeing is believing. If you take a look yourselves, you'll understand right away. Since you two are going to check on Class A, does that mean you already understand Class C's situation?"*

**Horikita** : *"Yeah. We just went there earlier. They're doing some unbelievably stupid things."*

Before long, Honami offer them supplies for their camp and explained about the student from Class 1-C after Suzune pointed him out. On the other hand, she gave both Suzune and Kiyotaka permission to hang out in their camp for however long they want to stay around. Along with that, it was revealed that she had already done her research on Class 1-A's based camp the moment Suzune asked her about it, having long gone near the enemy's campsite to investigate before retreating back to Class 1-B's territory. She tells her that obtaining from Class 1-A to begin with will be tough to make happen. To help Suzune and Class 1-D out, Honami shared a useful information with them about how her investigation of Class 1-A's camp went, providing the two directions of where it was located at as their base was hidden somewhere in a cave. Despite coming across Class 1-A's campsite, she couldn't say for sure of what is happening there and states that they're so thoroughly defensive and secretive, suggesting Suzune and Kiyotaka to take a look at themselves. She remarks that the two will soon come to understand the situation on Class 1-A's side since seeing is believing with their own eyes is one method of doing so.

**Honami** : *"Do you know him? It looks like he had some kind of dispute with Class C. He said he'd get by on his own, but I couldn't just leave him. I haven't asked him about his situation yet."*

In return for giving them information, Suzune provided information to Honami concerning what was happening on Class 1-C's camp led by Kakeru Ryūen and how they're running out of points due to their action of carelessly spending while not bothering to look for a spot. When Suzune spotted Satoru Kaneda of Class 1-C in her camp, Honami asserts she couldn't simply let the guy stay alone by himself out in the wild without getting anyone's support but she and her classmates who volunteer to reach out and welcome him to their side. Honami briefly explains to them that she invited Satoru to stay in their camp despite not asking him of what his dispute with Class 1-C was about. Hearing Honami's situation with that student, Suzune revealed to her that the same also happen to Class 1-D as well where Mio Ibuki of Class 1-C had came wandering into their camp to join them after a similar dispute. Honami learned the details from Suzune about the latter's meeting with Kakeru and how Mio one of the rebel students besides Satoru defied their leader for just doing whatever he pleased with the points and how his classmate got hit for rebelling. After listening to those details, Honami's eyes hardened, realizing how despicable Kakeru's action was to his own classmates, it only served to strengthen her resolve to protect her class even more. Honami then went to help her Class 1-B with the camp, bidding her company goodbye as she went off.

**Honami** : *"Oh wow, there's no one around anymore. It's just like you said, Kanzaki-kun. Seems like their strategy was to retire."*

She was seen next with Ryūji Kanzaki when the two found the camp for Class 1-C abandoned. The light novels explained that they were hiding in the shade to spy on Class 1-C and what kind of state they were in but it came off as meaningless in the end as nobody from Class 1-C was present at their own based camp. They were later joined by both Kiyotaka and Airi Sakura who had been scouting the forest but had ended up at the beach. Wondering why Kiyotaka and Airi are present near Class 1-C's campsite, she gently cautions the two of how it is never a good idea to put themselves in a dangerous situation and advised them not to continue walking alone at this time during the middle of the day. Honami bemoaned the fact that her action to visit their base was proven pointless and meaningless as she did not even get the chance to discover who Class 1-C's leader was since they left no hints of clues behind after their withdrawal. She lightly scratched her cheek and sighed in disappointment knowing that their journey only served to confirm what Class 1-C's plan was but not anything much to go on regarding the leader's identity. Meanwhile, Ryūji reminded her what the purpose of the test was, further agreeing with him that Kakeru's plan to have his class retired was apparently true after all. Before arriving at this wasteland, she was enlighten by Ryūji ahead of time that Kakeru and his classmates must've centered their strategy around them using up all their S-points and facing retirement which did't work out well on their side in the end. Though she doesn't normally praise Class 1-C's planning, Honami finds the idea amazing but felt sad to see it backfired. Honami and Ryūji acknowledges that this test was about stockpiling S-points so a class can emerge victorious once the exam ends.

**Honami** : *"I don't want to compliment a strategy where you use up all your points, but it's pretty amazing."*

**Kanzaki** : *"No matter how I look at it, it doesn't seem like it's going to work. This test is about stockpiling points so you come out positive. Ryūen lost when he abandoned that idea."*

After saying that, Honami and Kanzaki both appeared sad as they gaze upon the uninhabited beach that was once occupied by members of Class 1-C. However, at the cost of Class 1-C using such a reckless strategy, she and him believes it will be quite impossible for Class 1-B to figure out and determine the leader among Kakeru and his classmates since they're all supposedly withdrawn from the exam prior to the test ending. She agreeably accepts that it would be in their best interest of Class 1-B to have a good idea where they need to see this test through quietly, and stick to a solid plan that works in their favor strategically. On the other hand, Honami was then asked by Kiyotaka what she knew about Kōhei Katsuragi, which the former admits to knowing about Class 1-A having two opposing factions. She informed Kiyotaka of Kōhei's status as one of Class 1-A's leaders alongside Arisu Sakayanagi, even detailing how there appeared to be a problem of leadership between the pair as the two of them don't get along well with each other. She told Kiyotaka of Class 1-A's very intense quarrel around the two class leaders who clashed with each other. Due to knowing that Class 1-A was still willing to go all out against the three classes no matter how bad their situation is to others, she finds that aspect of them as terrifying. However, she comments that in spite of Class 1-A not coming together united, Honami tells Kiyotaka that Arisu is an absentee taking it easy for her classmates during this exam while Kōhei is leading Class 1-A to follow his strategy. She compares the difference in ways between Kōhei and Arisu as similar to how a conservative and a liberal view each other ideologically. Honami describes that Kōhei is defensive in protecting his classmates while Arisu is offensive and willing to persecuting others when it comes to formulating their own respective strategy.

**Kanzaki** : *"Katsuragi is a clever guy. But even though Sakayanagi isn't around, there probably won't be anyone under her who'll put up resistance. They probably wouldn't do anything to deliberately cause a rift. There wouldn't be any merit in doing so."*

**Honami** : *"Yeah. That seems like it's true. But wouldn't the students working under Sakayanagi-san be really unhappy? I mean, those two are complete opposite types. I would imagine their opinions would be clearly different, too."*

She did considered that even without Arisu around, Class 1-A will remain cooperative and united to some extent as they're likely not the type who will want to intentionally resist Kōhei's leadership and cause a rift among their classmates as there is no benefit in trying to do that. In that regard, she can't help but thought of the scenario where if Class 1-A managed to come together in unison completely together like her Class 1-B, they were more than ready to strongly demonstrate their true powers. Although she accepts Ryūji's reasoning that they're already united without interference from Arisu who is sitting in the sideline, Honami felt the students that tends to support Arisu's decision-making should've been really dissatisfied with Kōhei's leadership and act against it. She had the impression that the two Class 1-A leaders are far from agreeable to one another's ideas, thinking that their different opinions will get in the way of unity. Honami promised to Kiyotaka that she and Ryūji will keep their conversation a secret from Suzune while acknowledging his classmate's point, figuring it wouldn't have been for Class 1-A to end up destroying one another from within due to Arisu and Kōhei are completely opposed to and in conflict with each other. She states that it isn't in their place to really do anything about confronting Class 1-A at this stage of the school's special exam. Realizing that their time is up, Ryūji informs Honami that they need to head back to their camp as it is getting late. Before parting ways, she express her concern once again and suggests that all four of them must be careful not to get hurt in the middle of doing their task, asking Kiyotaka and Airi to not do anything reckless.

On the final day of the test, her class chose not to guess the leaders of the other camps since their bonus points would be negated if they were wrong. When the results were revealed, Class 1-B was in second place while Class 1-D was first, leaving Class 1-C in last place and Class 1-A third. Honami was surprised at these results along with the rest of her classmates as she was able to successfully earn 140 class points for Class 1-B, allowing their amount they have to increase up to 803 class points in total. After returning to the cruise ship, only in the anime adaptation, she went over her large amount of private points before hiding her phone just as Ryūji sat down with her and they talked about the survival test. Honami stated that it was their class' loss even if it was second place, something he agreed with. She soon changed the topic by questioning him over what they had been told about private points and how they could decide what to do with them. It is also implied that she wanted to buy her way into another class in Episode 12 of the anime, presumably Class 1-A or 1-D and this is most likely feasible for her courtesy of her hoard of points.

As Class 1-B's initial S-Points budget was 300 prior to the end of the Deserted Island Special Test, she had her classmates carefully spent some of that amount on lifestyle tools to help with their needs such as tents (-10), ropes (-10), a barbecue grill (-40), a cooking pot (-10), portable toilet (-20), and kitchen tools (-20). She even got her classmates to occupy a spot that was yet to be taken by any other group of students until Class 1-B did, obtaining 18 S-points after claiming their territory. The only two penalties Class 1-B when the exam finally came to an end was due to the null bonus points and that Class 1-C was able to correctly guess the identity of who Class 1-B's leader was due to the spy Satoru that infiltrated her campsite. For all these reasons aforementioned, it can be implied that the remaining S-Points in their financial budget had been converted over to their class points which was why they got a gain of 140 in the first place.

#### Volume 4

**Honami** : *"Well, since it looks like no one especially wants the spot, I'll take the lead. To begin with, I think if there's any point that people don't understand or are worried about, we should all discuss it. If we don't, the situation will get worse over time. Does anyone have any questions?"*

During the Cruise Ship Special Test, Honami was placed in the Rabbit group by her teacher Chie Hoshinomiya, of which Kiyotaka Ayanokōji was also a part of, seemingly to spy on him and learn more about the extent of his true abilities. The two fellow classmates Honami had in her group were Tetsuya Hamaguchi and Beppu Ryouta. Kiyotaka felt it was unnatural for her to be in the Rabbit group without a reason when he believed someone like her was supposed to be placed in the Dragon group instead, along with the other class leaders. With nobody taking the initiative in the Rabbit group, she decided to do it herself with an introduction about herself and have everyone do the same by following suit, looking forward to excitedly working with them all. As a result, she came out volunteering as the outspoken leader of the team overall since nobody else was willing to take on such a huge role.
Since people never want to speak up in front of a group and make a fool of themselves, no one dared to raise their hand against her leadership. Although she was ready to step down if someone besides her wanted to be leader, none of her group members in the end opposed Honami or disagreed with her taking the lead which the former accepts out of obligation. This was by Honami acting as the mediator, holding and facilitating discussions while deliberating on their options of finding out who the V.I.P was among her group members. She would raise questions, reasoning that it will be necessary if some members within their group don't understand the exam rules or worried about, they should talk it out together with herself and the others. She states the situation of collaborating with one another will only grow worse and distant over time if they didn't proceed forward with this sort of method.

**Honami** : *"There's something I'd like to talk to you all about. I'd like you all to assume that no one here is the V.I.P., and I'd like for us all to work together and clear this exam. In other words, I want to know if you think our best option is to pursue Outcome #1."*

**Karuizawa** : *"What the heck are you talking about? Isn't that obvious?"*

After some of them including herself gave their introduction, Honami put a hand on her hip and smiled brightly, undaunted of whether or not they're willing to hear her out with what she had to say. She tried to reason with the Class 1-A students, who were following a policy of strict non-contribution/participation to the discussions, but to no avail. For instance, she warned Kouji Machida and others beforehand that the school had likely installed a microphone somewhere in their room to record everything of what was happening between them in Rabbit group's conversation. At the same time, she comments that they would all end up shouldering the blame when no cooperation is made even if they introduced themselves or not. Despite the non-cooperative state Class 1-A was acting towards her and everyone else, she asked everyone to presume that nobody in the group is the V.I.P. and prefers for them to come together in working to beat the test without conflict among themselves, calling it to be their best option to pursue as Outcome #1. To her, this had been a good way to start things off, knowing who was probably the V.I.P and who is not. If Honami's question sounded obvious to someone, that meant they weren't actually the V.I.P. to be suspected of. She understood that the V.I.P. would be forced to lie, while checking to see if they shared the group's feelings. From Kiyotaka's mind, if someone had fell for Honami's trick, then the rest of them in their group could start narrowing down the list of suspects. Of course, she knows the situation wasn't that black and white. It would be dangerous to presume anything based on this one question alone by Honami would be enough to find and pinpoint who the V.I.P. really is among them but felt that was her way to get the conversation moving as a starting point. Honami had chosen to speak first, and Kei Karuizawa had agreed first with her. After she and Kei spoke, Teruhiko Yukimura of Class 1-D along with Shiho Manabe of Class 1-C had responded and then Tetsuya and Kiyotaka next. It wouldn't have been surprising for Honami if either one of them who had chosen to engage in a conversation with her was the V.I.P. who might be boldly lying in order to avoid and divert suspicion on them.

**Honami** : *"I'd rather not do this, but think of it this way. Sometimes we may need to make decisions based on a majority vote. People will most certainly be suspicious of those who don't want to answer the questions, and the group might turn against them. What do you say to that?"*

**Machida** : *"Is that a threat?"*

While Honami's question was soon met with another agreement being from Kiyotaka this time and by the Professor (Hideo Sotomura), it wasn't until Kouji of Class 1-A jumped in her conversation that there was a disagreement about the question posed by the former. She was told off by Kouji for daring to subtly call the V.I.P as though the person was a villain and states how no normal person would announce that they're going to betray anyone, casting his doubt on Honami and ready to criticize her for asking such a question. He suspected Honami had ill intention but Tetsuya spoke up for her, stating that she had never once attempted to threaten them, or ordered them to answer, leaving it up to their choice whether to respond with an answer to her question in the first place. With Class 1-A choosing to remain silent, Honami bitterly muses that perhaps her question was too harsh on them and now they're distancing themselves from everyone else including her. She tries to let her fellow classmate Tetsuya attempt to bring Kouji and members of Class 1-A back to the discussion so that they coukd cooperate. Seeing that Kouji and his class won't do as she and Tetsuya wanted, Honami understood well that that she was approaching a locked castle gate. She readied her verbal battering ram and refusing to give up on getting them to collaborate with everyone. Although she would rather not go through a a majority vote to get members of Class 1-A like himself to cooperate in talking, Honami tells Kouji that sometimes they may need to resort to that to achieve full cooperation. Honami explains that people would most definitely become suspicious of those who don't want to answer any questions, and the group might end up turning against them in the process and how the Rabbit group was the same like what she described as. When he feels threatened by her words, she reasons that it was a misunderstanding on his side. Honami states how she was just looking to talk it out with Kouji, trying to convince him that the latter was freely allowed to answer however way he wants.

**Machida** : *"So you understand it now. If we talk amongst ourselves, we create doubt, which will tear us apart. As a result, our relationship as a group will crumble. We certainly could discover the V.I.P., but that strategy could inspire a traitor who wants victory for him or herself. There's really no need for us to overthink things."*

**Honami** : *"I suppose so. It's not a bad thing if the school is the only loser."*

Reasonably so, she advised Kouji to let his fellow members of Class 1-A and everyone else do the talking too besides himself who shouldn't speak for the rest of them and prevent the Rabbit group from discussing and cooperating, wanting his full participation along with everybody that he is holding back. Honami desires all members in the group to step up to the plate in the test. She asks him to explain his strategy in order to overcome the exam without requiring discussion and cooperation among themselves over deciding who the V.I.P. was. Hearing that it was none other than Kōhei Katsuragi who came up with the plan of having his Class 1-A remain quiet and uncooperative throughout the exam, she argues with Kouji about the pros and cons of following his leader's "castle gate" strategy. Honami admits that she felt it wouldn't be a bad thing to see if the school is the only one to suffer a loss in their exam by having the Rabbit group agreed to Kōhei's strategy but refuses to accept. Honami claims that such a strategy will be unexpectedly difficult to carry out, even more so than solving the exam through group discussion. Honami tries to persuade Kouji that as long as none of them don't harbor doubt for their partner in the group, they won't be betrayed by either him or her, telling how all the first-year students would have to adhere to that. Honami connects her claim back to when the school guarantees the VIP's anonymity, arguing that this was their way of asking for trust to be established among their group members. She felt it would be great if the V.I.P. stepped forward and revealed themselves so that the points are shared equally with the class but understood they couldn't do something like that considering there was the chance the suspect would just monopolize all of those points. Seeing that both Hideo and Teruhiko are favoring Kouji's reasoning for supporting Kōhei's strategy, she asked for the rest of Rabbit group's stances on what to make of the plan, desiring to hear out the other members' opinions whether they agreed to follow the idea set by Class 1-A.

**Honami** : *"I see. Well, what about you, Karuizawa-san?"*

**Karuizawa** : *"I...To be completely honest, I'm annoyed. Even though you say we'll get points, whether I get any points is a separate issue. But we may get points even if we do have a discussion...I don't want to waste time fighting over what we're doing. I just want this test to be over so we can have fun."*

Moreover, she asserts that if they were to accept Class 1-A's strategy, each individual class including her own might have to deal with the problem that comes after the exam is over. Though she managed to ask each and every member to share their thoughts whom a majority of them except for her fellow classmates of 1-B appear to be mostly supportive of Kōhei's strategy, Honami has no attention of giving up just yet and continues to resist with Kouji against following this plan. While the plan about giving a fair share of points was not bad for her as it doesn't require no lying, doubting or hurting anyone and understands why many people would backed the idea, she believes such strategy however sounds too good to be true. Making a swift and incredible comeback, she argues the plan made by Kōhei must have come with some downsides for the lower classes who don't know anything about it while Class 1-A was well aware of but didn't bother to point out. She asked the group members to take her words into consideration very carefully when none of them except for people of Class 1-A are able to understand what those downsides to Kōhei's strategy are as it was likely going to benefit the highest class the most compared to the lower classes, considering they're the ones who proposed it in the first place. She mentions how if all classes have an equal amount of V.I.P.s, then it goes without saying that there are only upsides where it's possible to earn a huge number of points equally across the board by not holding discussions but doubts it was without downsides included. When Teruhiko of Class 1-D questions her what she think the hidden downside was to Class 1-A's strategy, she reasons how unfair it was for the lower classes to be allowing Class 1-A to make them throw away their chance of catching up to the highest class in points. Particularly, she states that it was favorable only to Class 1-A alone since by adopting a passive stance, Class 1-A's position would be uncontested through Kōhei's strategy, as all the classes would receive the same amount of points without giving them any real advantage to close the difference with each other.

**Machida** : *"That's true. But would B, a higher-level class, accept such a thing? There's no benefit to sacrificing your class so that the classes below gain something."*

**Honami** : *"If we don't follow my strategy, we let Class A lead unopposed. It would be especially hard in the event that the V.I.P. happened to be in Class A."*

Furthermore, Honami states that nobody in her group including herself are informed of how many special exams they will get to have to earn class points and reach Class A before graduation. She comments on the unequal disparity of how Class 1-A and the rest of the classes is remarkably clear. She add to her claim further by connecting this strategy set up by Kōhei back to the time when Class 1-A once proposed a similar extreme idea whereby aligning all the four classes during the Deserted Island Special Test. With that backing her claim as evidence, she argues Class 1-A will simply continue to recommend this strategy each and every time they have a special exam, calling out how their class positions will never change over time but remain the same to the very end of graduation. Honami admits she can't allow any of the classes like her own to just throw away a precious opportunity to give everyone a decent chance in toppling each other, not even if Class 1-A's strategy yields solid results for them. She expresses how it was incorrect for Kouji to assume that Class 1-B's strategy (Outcome #1) proposed by her would failed to narrow the gap between classes as there are the right number of members in Rabbit group to make that strategy she suggested work out effectively. Honami claims that since their group have four students each from Class 1-D and Class 1-C while three students each in Class 1-B and Class 1-A, she asserts it's more than possible for the lower classes to close the disparity with the upper classes if they accept the idea of clearing the exam with Outcome #1. She reasons with the rest of Rabbit group that if the other members don't act according to her strategy, they will be letting people like Kouji of Class 1-A lead unopposed throughout the exam from beginning to end without any attempt of resistance. She argues how hard it is for them to overturn their group's situation in the event that the V.I.P. do happened to be in Class 1-A.

**Honami** : *"I wanted to avoid excluding anyone, but there's nothing we can do if that's your class policy. If you want to participate, just let me know."*

In other words, she explains that her strategy helps to give all the classes a fair chance to rise higher on the class rankings, which is, by deliberating over the identity of the possible suspects within their Rabbit group of being a V.I.P. from each and every one of the four classes together. For this reason, Honami claims that by accepting her proposed strategy which was in opposition to Class 1-A's, the lower classes would be able to have an equal chance at closing the gap of class points with the upper classes and catching up to them at the cost of both Class 1-A and her Class 1-B. If the V.I.P. wasn't in Class 1-A however, Honami wouldn't bother needing to risk hurting her own class in return to deal a blow to them. However, if it was a possibility to take into consideration, she had to insist on establishing a dialogue with the opposition. Honami's understanding of what Class 1-A was up to allowed her to turn things around with just a few words to support her argument. As a result, the students who had once agreed and aligned themselves with Class 1-A's strategy, were mostly either switching to Honami's side or taking a neutral stance due to the benefits of her strategy and how well-thought-out it was. Despite her attempt to persuade everyone, it in turn, led to only the Class 1-A students led by Kouji of the Katsuragi Faction to isolate themselves from the rest of the group, making it difficult for Honami to narrow down the list of suspected V.I.P.s. Wondering what to do next, she then suggested to the rest of the group to use their time and effort in order to find out which class the V.I.P. belonged to, as a starting point throughout the beginning till the end of their first discussion period. Although she wishes to avoid excluding anyone from the Rabbit group, Honami more or less understood that cannot be help as there was nothing to be done when it was a policy members of Class 1-A had decided among themselves. Before letting people off to do their own things, she politely reminds the Class 1-A students to come to her when they're finally ready to participate in their group discussion.

Hearing Teruhiko Yukimura of Class 1-D share his concern with her, Honami tells him what he said is true as it will be impossible for the rest of Rabbit group to find out who the V.I.P. was without their help especially if the suspect happened to be in Class 1-A. While she admits attempting to narrow down the list of suspects won't be easy, Honami reasons with him that in terms of sheer possibility, there is a three in four chance the V.I.P. can possibly be found in one of the other classes. More so, if they can't identify the V.I.P. or know the identity, she argues they still have some options left as long as the Rabbit group was cognizant of where their suspect is. Honami didn't focused on tracking down the V.I.P. right off the bat. Instead, she desired to first narrow down which class the V.I.P. was in. At least, she wanted to know for certain whether the suspected V.I.P. was in Class 1-A or not. She felt troubled by how not being able to get Class 1-A to reach out to them and talk had put the Rabbit group in a difficult situation. Though she deliberates the chance that if the V.I.P. happened to be in one of the other three classes instead of Class 1-A, she reassures Teruhiko that everything should go along finely even if they don't out themselves. However, if the V.I.P. was discovered to be in Class 1-A only, that's where the real problem lies for she and the rest of Rabbit group to think over on what to do next in case the three classes have nobody as suspects. When both Teruhiko and Shiho Manabe show their refusal to follow through with her strategy, Honami thoughtfully told the two that it was not necessary for them to think that far ahead and suggests they just start by finding out and narrowing down which class the V.I.P. is in for the time being. Honami recognizes that it was a spur-of-the-moment idea from her but said that if they were to work together as a group, the members will come up with even better ideas later on, reasoning how the exam has only just begun and that they still have time to think things over. She advises the group that they're better off waiting a bit, using and taking their time wisely before going through the choice of deciding whose plan among them they'll move forward with.

When a conflict breakout between two girls Kei Karuizawa of Class 1-D and Shio of Class 1-C, Honami watched it unfold as a bystander. Sorting out her thoughts, she was trying to determine who was right and wrong as they bicker until Kouji Machida of Class 1-A resolved it. Throughout the first discussion, she spend an entire hour discussing with the members of Rabbit group with the exception of Class 1-A students. Though Honami had dismissed Kōhei's strategy, she hadn't managed to reach a new resolution so far as of yet. Considering there are still five more discussion periods left to go through, she decided to close the session while reaching a consensus with Rabbit Group that it was better for them to spend some quality time on their own before meeting up again next time to discuss. According to Kiyotaka, collaborators of the group like Honami had all taken in quite a bit of information and hadn't had the time to properly process everything, planning to do so until the second discussion period rolls around.

**Karuizawa** : *"Well, yeah. It is pretty fun."*

**Honami** : *"Right? So, that's why we need to get more comfortable. We need to talk like we're all friends. Don't you think it's hard, putting up walls like that? Machida-kun and the others always look so stern, you know?"*

For the second discussion period, due to Class 1-A continuing to remain absent from the talk, she had troubled getting everyone in the Rabbit group to have a proper talk with each other as they couldn't speak frankly except kill some time. Remaining headstrong, she tries to speak up saying maybe it was about time for them to have an open, honest conversation, reasoning that they can only meet up together a few more times until their sixth discussion which is their last. Honami once again attempted to take the lead in starting a discussion and got things moving. Kiyotaka noted that Honami was attempting to handle the discussion peacefully, make alliances, and chat with all students from different classes without hesitation in order to beat the exam. She optimistically strikes a conversation with Kei that life in the cruiser was a really fun experience to spend time on and how it is not bad as it may seem to be. She remarks how even though students like themselves have to get together twice a day, they're still free to chat and use their phones regardless, noting the stark difference compared to when they're in a class environment. As she and Kei agreed with those feelings, Honami stands to reason that it is imperative why members of the group should become pleasant around one another's presence and needing to talk things out like what friends belonging to the same inner circle would do. Honami points out to students of Class 1-A about how hard it must be for each and every one of them to act negative by seriously setting up barriers around themselves in front of others like herself from interacting. Kiyotaka regarded what Honami say had a point as this was all an issue of perception, believing that if they stayed positive, the exam would come off as easier to beat. When Kouji tries to create division and doubt within the group, Honami throws that same question back at him, questioning the Class 1-A student if he can really trust his own classmates.

**Honami** : *"Really? You know what they say: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Are you trying to tell me that no one in your class would want even one extra point? It's not like the school will be bothered if you get more."*

**Machida** : *"Right? So, that's why we need to get more comfortable. We need to talk like we're all friends. Don't you think it's hard, putting up walls like that? Machida-kun and the others always look so stern, you know?"*

As such, Honami brought up an old famous saying from Benjamin Franklin that "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" to get her point across to Kouji and his two other classmates of Class 1-A. Honami then went on to ask Kouji if nobody in Class 1-A was the least bit interested in getting one extra point, telling him that she doubts the school will be bothered by he and his classmates wanting more. Realizing that Kouji can't stand talking any longer with her and decided to ignore her thereafter, Honami couldn't help but smile as she was able to get the Class 1-A student to respond back and had him accidentally disclose some information to the group. By using both Teruhiko and Kei as people who she can freely talk to while Class 1-A listens, Honami had lure Kouji to eventually participate a little in the conversation when she converse with one of them about him. In a way, Honami was able to collect as much information as she possibly could by openly and honestly conversing with the group members around her without Kouji catching wind of her bait tactic or noticing it. Nonetheless, it wasn't enough for her to go by in solving their problem, heaving a heavy sigh after seeing how determined Class 1-A students are to sticking with their class plan and policy for the exam. Knowing what a tough predicament the Rabbit group is in, she asked for Kiyotaka's thoughts on what he thinks they should do. Seeing how calm, witty, and clear-headed she was, Kiyotaka notes that Honami happened to sharply notice he was keeping quiet during these two discussion periods and wanted to ask the latter a question, but didn't want to put him on the spot in front of everybody who are watching at the time until now once everyone already left by then. Seeing that Kiyotaka wants to just sit things out as a bystander, she determinedly tells him it was far too soon of him to give up on the group and encourages him to work hard together with her and the Rabbit group members.

**Ayanokōji** : *"To be perfectly honest, I'm the type to just sit things out. I'm just a bystander."*

**Honami** : *"It's far too soon to give up. Let's work hard together!"*

She tells Kiyotaka that if they were to continue having these kinds of discussions without Class 1-A participating fully, she figures nobody in the group will come out and say they're the V.I.P. by the end of the exam. She states how the benefits of staying hidden are just too great, while claiming that the same could be said with the downsides for being discovered. At the rate where their group is heading into during this exam, she express her concern that Class 1-A's worst-case scenario prediction will probably come true. Though her comments sounded negative, Kiyotaka noticed that she looked fearless and clearly always read to face a challenge. After her brief talk with Kiyotaka and the fact that they're done for the day, she thanked him and her fellow classmate Tetsuya Hamaguchi for the good work they did in cooperating with her, signaling to the three Class 1-B students in the Rabbit group to relax.

During the next discussion period - the third, she and her classmates greeted everyone early in the morning before beginning the group talk. She declares that they should try and find the V.I.P., claiming that maybe all of them were probably now on the same page as her by then as they must've have already discussed about this issue among themselves last night. When one of Class 1-A students mocks her for still trying to get everyone to cooperate and how impossible it was, she argues his answer was not true whatsoever believing the problem of trust has something to do with the fact that Class 1-A have not yet open themselves up the group. Honami suggests to members of Class 1-A that she brought along a deck of cards to play together with them, stating she won't force anyone including them to participate unless they voluntarily decide to join in on the fun. Honami reasons that even if playing cards seem stupid, she believes they will come to like it at some point, arguing that doing nothing but have their group remain in complete silence was awfully boring to watch as they needed something to kill some time. it Reasonably so, Honami went on to hold a card game called Daifugō with her group members to earn their trust, thinking that playing it was one step to getting close to them. All her classmates from Class 1-B including herself participated in the game alongside the Professor (Hideo Sotomura) and Kiyotaka of Class 1-D, totaling five participants of the fourteen members in the Rabbit Group who did played. After knowing that the players have an understanding of the game rules, Honami shuffled the deck of cards in her hands and divided them evenly among the five of them. The card game Honami suggested was more profound than Kiyotaka expected as everyone's idiosyncrasies were on clear display before her to keenly observe while playing it with them. During the middle of the game, Honami didn't just concentrate on what's on her own hand alone, but she also end up playing her opponents' as well.

**Honami** : *"I can't let Class A just get away from us like this."*

Seeing how fired up and focus some of the participants like Tetsuya and Hideo were being, this was what Honami wanted to see from them. From this game, Honami hoped to learn the unique characteristics like the behaviors of her group and better understand the way of how to talk to the members. While it may not seem much to Honami, she felt it was somewhat effective to do considering that the idea of talking with everyone completely was useless at present. For an hour, she and the four participants play five games of Daifugō before switching to Old Maid. In the end, neither the members of Class 1-A nor Class 1-C ever once joined in, so the five of them played from beginning to end without any new players jumping in. Understanding that the whole game until the end is not getting her anywhere as no progress has been made with earning their trust, Honami tells her fellow classmate Tetsuya that she will be setting off to pay a visit to Class 1-A's leader Kōhei Katsuragi. Honami voices her discontent in how she can't stand idly by and allow Kōhei to do whatever he pleases like having the members of Class 1-A follow his strategy to trap her Rabbit group in this non-cooperative state where it remain unchanged forever without nothing progressing in the meetings. Due to how the Class 1-A students had passed the time in complete silence during the first three discussion periods, Honami understood that she couldn't break through their strategy on her own and needed someone like Kōhei to convince them otherwise. She needed the leader of Class 1-A to lower the castle gate that is his strategy and let her find a way in unimpeded. Kiyotaka volunteers to join Honami in going to the Dragon group's location together with her, leaving she to ask if he wants to talk with Kōhei as well. However, he briefly explains that his class representative Suzune Horikita was also happened to be part of their lineup besides her target Kōhei which she accepted his reason for tagging along.

Hence, upon bidding farewell to Tetsuya, Honami, accompanied by Kiyotaka head out to confront one of the leaders from Class 1-A, Kōhei, in the Dragon group to talk to him about his passive strategy. Honami walked quickly, hoping to arrive before the Dragon group dispersed, egging Kiyotaka who was right behind her to hurry up and pick up the pace. Soon, she and Kiyotaka arrived at the Dragon group's meeting room, stopping by outside the door, waiting for Kōhei to come out of there and talk to her. When nobody from the Dragon group has yet to leave the room after some minutes had gone by, Honami affirms that the members of Dragon group are taking a lot of time to finish their discussion. Kiyotaka speculates that perhaps a classmate of Class 1-B was the one still holding a discussion but Honami who is unsure express her doubt, asserting the fact that Ryūji Kanzaki wouldn't be the type to take the spotlight. Rather than Ryūji, Honami argues it could've been possibly Suzune and the others from Class 1-D that might be holding the rest of Dragon group back from ending the discussion meeting and leaving as she is the star player within his class lineup. Ten minutes passed until, finally, the door opened wherein which the first person to exit the room was none other than Honami's target, Kōhei who she then greeted immediately thereafter, asking him for some of his time. She gave Kōhei permission to be the only student of Class 1-A from Dragon group to stay behind and have a talk with her instead of his classmates. Not long after she and Kōhei move out of the way of passerby, Honami declare her reason for coming to him, stating that the former knows what he is likely plotting like ordering his classmates to reject participation in group discussions. She asked Kōhei to reconsider his plan of action, attempting to reason with him that her group would not be able to get through the test without using communication with his classmates who had refused to participate or contribute whatsoever.

**Honami** : *"I think I know what you're planning, Katsuragi-kun. You ordered your classmates to refuse to participate in discussions, yes? Would you possibly reconsider? We need communication to get through this test, after all."*

**Katsuragi** : *"That's extremely reasonable. But I've heard this question so many times that I feel like my ears are going to fall off. Unfortunately, Ichinose, you've wasted your time."*

Though Kōhei states how she is just wasting her time as his stance will stay consistently the same throughout the exam, Honami argues that she has her own circumstance to deal with and needs his cooperation. She remarks how it is a bad idea of Kōhei to silence his classmates by forcing them to be quiet, believing it is far from a good strategy for them and asked him to rethink his approach towards the exam. While Kōhei strongly believes his thinking of the castle-gate strategy reflects the theme of the test where it meant stifling discussion in order to beat the exam and win, Honami thought differently and counters his statement with her own statement. She claims that his idea is basically a rejection of the exam itself. While she agrees with Kōhei's assertion that this was his way of looking out for the interest of Class 1-A and will do everything he can to protect their standing, Honami felt it was unnecessary when the special exam they're involved in at the moment was never about a direct competition between the four classes. If it was, she would've supported his sentiment but since it wasn't the case, Honami argues that he shouldn't regard his strategy to be in the right and her cooperative plan in the wrong as all the classes are blended together into groups. Honami believe small inter-group competitions was what the two of them needed to have an interest in if they both want to conquer the exam which Kōhei doesn't accept as the best solution except for his own. When Kōhei reaffirmed his resolve to stick with his strategy no matter what, Honami utters an old saying that "an immovable object meets an irresistible force" with a wry, pained smile while she rubbed the back of her head. Honami wasn't disappointed to hear his disagreement with her, acknowledging that whatever she tells him won't do anything to bulge Kōhei anyway after seeing how greatly committed he is to his castle-gate strategy. In spite of the result of their argument where she failed to convince Kōhei, Honami remains resolute in continuing to fight onward as it is a special exam that requires her to overcome and win without giving up.

**Katsuragi** : *"What I've said might sound bad, but it's not. I'm looking out for my class, looking for ways to not only preserve our standing in this test, but in tests to come. Do you agree that there's nothing wrong with me protecting my class?"*

**Honami** : *"If this test were a direct competition between the classes, sure. I'd agree. But in this test, when all the classes are blended together, do you really think that's right?"*

On the other hand, Kōhei asked her what would she do for this exam if Honami was the one leading Class 1-A instead of him, stating that the leader of Class 1-B might've likely implement the same strategy exactly as he did. However, Honami wonders about that unsurely, admitting that she herself can't really consider things from Class 1-A's perspective. Honami suggests that if he was being chased, she imagined it would be better of him to have experience with chasing, describing that the idea of always running is pretty tough. Hearing such a response, Kōhei dismiss her words with his opinion, declaring that if Honami was the one standing in his position as leader of Class 1-A, she would've come up with exact strategy as him if it's for the sake of protecting his class while not caring at all about being criticized by others. When Kōhei locked eyes with her, Honami simply gave a soft smile in turn, offering an apology on her part for taking up his time upon understanding his thoughts and ideas in-person before he left her not long after. Honami mused on how easy this test must've been for Kōhei by playing defense, and steeled her own resolve to do even more to resist. Since Kōhei had brushed her off, she decided to wait together with Kiyotaka on Suzune, and Ryūji after noticing that they still haven't yet exit Dragon group's meeting room, seeking to gather opinions from the two compared to the leader of Class 1-A. Thirty minutes had pass and Honami was then greeted by Kikyō Kushida who came out of the room, telling the latter that both she and Kiyotaka are waiting for Suzune, and Ryūji while questioning her friend if they're still not done talking. When Kikyō revealed that the two students aforementioned are having a discussion with Kakeru Ryūen, Honami was gestured by her friend to step right into the room and join them. She wanted to wait until it is over, but Kikyō reasons her presence is all right and fine within the Dragon group's meeting room without problem which neither Honami nor Kiyotaka could reject the girl's invitation but accept.

**Honami** : *"This is a rather interesting group. I want to know what you're all talking about, especially since the required hour is up."*

**Ryūen** : *"Heh. Ah, of course you do. Originally, I thought you would have taken Kanzaki's place in here. But you ended up in a different group. What's more, you got shoved into a completely hopeless, hapless group. Or maybe you are a hopeless, hapless kind of person."*

Once she and Kiyotaka enter Dragon group's meeting room, Honami was met by Kakeru who calls out to her for trying to do some reconnaissance with him, Suzune, and Ryūji, egging the former to take part in the discussion. Honami remarks of how interesting their three-person group was, asking the remaining members of Dragon group present in the meeting room that she wants to know what they're all talking about as the required hour is already up. When Kakeru starts poking fun at her for being placed in a hopeless, hapless Rabbit group, Honami shrugs off his comments stating how this was not something which can be help as they can't understand the school's strategies. Honami argues that she and her group members are doing their very best with adjusting the situation they were placed into and the information they have. At the same time, Honami suspects that what Kakeru was trying to indicate to her is the notion that there's a possible reasoning behind the group formations and why she was never put into Dragon group like himself. Honami asked him if he thinks the school had some kind of plan in mind for them. Honami pretended she hadn't noticed anything, but Kakeru wasn't the type to believe a woman such as her so easily. Honami learns from Kakeru that she was placed in Rabbit group instead of Dragon group for an unknown reason as one of the teachers intentionally placed her there after deciding how the groups would be divided despite being the head of Class 1-B. Understanding the school deliberately chose how to split everyone up without its placement being random, she distinguished that Dragon group itself is full of exceptionally gifted people along with the other groups having all been made for a certain reason as well. While she thanked Kakeru for providing her such a helpful advise, Honami promptly inquires if it was really wise of him to openly give her so much information. Kiyotaka noted that although obtaining new information was suppose to make her express confusion, doubt, or shock, Honami appears completely composed in front of Kakeru, guessing that she might be purposefully hiding something.

**Horikita** : *"A contract is meaningless, since we won't know who might betray whom. If Class C betrays us, it'll all be over."*

**Honami** : *"Your thinking is solid, Horikita-san. If we don't have a guarantee that Ryūen-kun is telling the truth, then this is meaningless."*

From their brief conversation, Kiyotaka figures that perhaps Honami was remaining silently quiet about whatever she may know of the school's plans while trying to get a read on Kakeru through conversing and staring at him. When Kakeru announces that he has a proposal to offer her, Honami decided to hear him out and ask what his suggestions entails. Before Kakeru could explain, Suzune immediately steps into the conversation between the two and tells her that listening to his proposal is not worth the time, urging Honami to reject it. After which, Honami was then told by Kakeru that the preposition involves working together with him to crush Class 1-A by sharing information among their three respective classes (B, C, and D) about all the V.I.P.s as a way to bypass the school's rules. She found out that both Suzune and her classmate Ryūji disagree with his idea of a class alliance, learning from Kakeru that he himself already know about all of the identities of the V.I.P.s from Class 1-C. Thinking it was a pretty bold idea for him to say, Honami comments how it wasn't realistically possible to make happen, feeling uncertain that Kakeru is telling the truth but lying to her. As Honami is warily distrustful of him, she demands proof of how Kakeru knows for sure that he have all the V.I.P.s of Class 1-C. Sensing Honami's concern, Kakeru propound they create a contract as a sign of trust that pledge each other to share the V.I.P. identities and team-up against Class 1-A where only their three classes benefit from while their enemy doesn't as they're left in the dark. Suzune tells Honami that the contract is meaningless since they have no clues as to who was likely willing to betray whom, claiming it will be all game over for them if it turns out that the traitor was Class 1-C who advocated for such an alliance which was bound to fail. She reflects carefully on Suzune's words and the fact that Kakeru had once in fact been partnered up with Class 1-A led by Kōhei Katsuragi and how the leader of Class 1-C betrayed the latter not soon before the Deserted Island Special Test results were announced thereafter.

**Ryūen** : *"There's no point in playing a part anymore, is there? It's not like you don't have a handle on all of Class B's goings-on."*

**Honami** : *"You're giving me far too much credit. People don't have that much trust in me. Besides, your proposal is high risk, low return. I can't agree to it."*

Hearing Suzune's skepticism, Honami calls her friend's line of thinking as reasonable and solid. She asserts that if they don't have a guarantee of whether Kakeru was being truthful or not of standing in accordance by his words, then it is indeed worthless to accept the proposal as Suzune claims. The mood between Honami and Kakeru grew tense when the latter states that the alliance is not impossible to begin with due to how the both of them as class leaders have a handle on all of their class's goings-on. Honami remarks that Kakeru is giving her too much credit of having the whole Class 1-B's faith in her, downplaying her control over the former's classmates and doubts that everyone can truly trust her as much as he is making it out to be. Considering Kakeru's strategy to have high risk and low return, Honami turns it down as she was doubtful whether Kakeru really knew the identities of the V.I.P.s. Since Suzune and Ryūji were also reluctant besides her in working alongside Class 1-C, she tells Kakeru that the plan he has in mind is off to a bad start and not something she would agreeably go along with. Kakeru next propose to Honami that they should form a two-class alliance with only him without Suzune, arguing that only Class 1-B and Class 1-C have the spirit of teamwork on their side compared to Class 1-D and Class 1-A who don't got any powerful leadership but divisions. Kakeru was telling Honami that the two of them have a perfect understanding of their class where they can make his strategy work out well as he rule Class 1-C with an iron fist and she has a grip over Class 1-B by incredible popularity. Due to this unsettling change in preposition and Kakeru's reasoning, the atmosphere in the Dragon group room became even more heavy than before, like before a storm, leaving Honami to remind him once again that he is overestimating her in ways that she doesn't really see herself as. With that said, Honami also rejected that idea from Kakeru due to his past actions of hurting people in her own class, refusing to betray the trust she had established with Class 1-D. Honami states she can't in anyway shape or form agree to ally with him and Class 1-C alone on that one reason even if it was possible for Class 1-B to get more points.

**Honami** : *"I'm sorry, Ryūen-kun. But you've hurt people in Class B with your actions. Even if it's possible for us to get more points, I can't ally with you on that reason alone."*

**Ryūen** : *"Well, that's unfortunate."*

After Kakeru left, unsuccessful in forming an alliance, Honami notes that he was able to see through her words. Even though she didn't appear particularly flustered, Honami cannot help but let out a deep sigh that the discussion was finally over at last. Honami tells Suzune about what she thinks of Kakeru, referring to him as a tenacious snake rather than a dragon which he sees himself to be as the former comments that the leader of Class 1-C will go to any lengths to find his prey and bring it down. Honami admits that she herself does not have it worse with Kakeru compared to Suzune who was, noting how the leader of Class 1-C has his sights set on her friend's Class 1-D and not Class 1-B. In spite of this, Honami understood that Class 1-C will one day become an enemy that she and her classmates need to deal with in the future after Kakeru has his matter settled with Class 1-D while staying naturally wary of Class 1-A. She asked Suzune and Kiyotaka of whether this test would help to build trust between students from different classes. Hearing her response of needing communication and cooperation, Honami happily reaffirmed her commitment that continuing the partnership between their two classes, rather than joining Kakeru's side was indeed the right decision to be made by siding and standing with Suzune as allies. Seeing that Suzune had met her expectation of understanding the special exam very well, she describes that the conversation they have had alongside Kakeru shows how he was just full of hot air after all, believing his plan will end up in failure. Honami tells Suzune that it was best of them not to worry about Kakeru's scheme, arguing how Kōhei's iron-fortress strategy is the real issue they need to be tackling and ask for the latter's opinion. Following this question, she was informed by Ryūji that it was impossible to get Kōhei of Class A to reconsider his strategy, explaining that he was in the same boat as her as neither of the Class 1-A students of their groups were cooperative. She agrees with Ryūji that it will be hopeless to try and change Kōhei's mind, admitting that they have no other choice but to find a different way.

**Honami** : *"Yes. I was surprised when Class A distanced themselves, but I think we have a chance. But to pull it off, we might have to reveal everything."*

When Suzune left, Honami strolled out of the Dragon group's meeting room alongside Kiyotaka and join up with two of her fellow classmates like Tetsuya Hamaguchi from Class 1-B who were waiting outside for her. After she, Kiyotaka and her two Class 1-B classmates split from Ryūji and reached the cruise ship's deck, they slipped into a large crowd of students like themselves to blend in. Honami appeal to Kiyotaka that while she understands what Suzune said earlier, the former can't help but feel that there's still some room left with Class 1-A for cooperation. Honami states that she was surprised to see members of Class 1-A distanced themselves from the rest of Rabbit group, but believes that they still have a chance to turn the situation around. However, for that opportunity to pull off, Honami beseech that all people in the Rabbit group including Kiyotaka have to reveal everything they know about the V.I.P.s of their respective classes. Honami explains that since this entire special exam boils down to finding the V.I.P., suggesting they should play things by the book, which can help to increase their chances better by narrowing down the list and finding out who isn't really the V.I.P. target. With that said, Honami revealed to Kiyotaka that she is not the V.I.P. from her class but express it is still her intention to find them and lead Rabbit group to victory, having done this to lower the amount of suspects like herself among them. Honami declared that statement with confidence as she looked at Kiyotaka square in the eye to show him how honestly confident the former is being with the latter. In fact, Honami elaborates how Kiyotaka probably think she is a V.I.P. who is hiding her true identity from him when the former was not one, claiming how that reason isn't so simple to make as everything she had done previously prior to the exam was for the sake of Class 1-B but not this time around where they're placed in a group.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Even if perfect cooperation is impossible, trying to form solid relationships is no bad thing. If I don't answer now, it might hurt our relationship down the line."*

**Honami** : *"No, no, I don't think so."*

Since Kiyotaka was remaining quiet after she gave such reason, Honami remarks how it must have seemingly sound strange for her to say to solicit him while appearing a little dissatisfied with his silence. However, Kiyotaka reassures Honami that he doesn't harbor doubt about her words but felt somewhat shocked by the fact that she honestly admitted of wanting to lead Class 1-B to victory if she was given the position of V.I.P. which did not happened. Honami asserts that she is not lying to him, but tells Kiyotaka on how the act of needing to lie might still be necessary for her sometimes in a competition, stating that the former likes to remain consistently honest as much as possible. While remarking that she does want to have her class win, fair and square, Honami thought the road to victory lay in narrowing down who the V.I.P. is in her group rather than for the sake of her class. She just wanted to explain her honest thoughts of the exam without lying, thinking that by telling him upfront, things might be easier for her and go smoothly from there. When Kiyotaka conveys his concern that if the trusting relationship with her will be damage later on by not answering truthfully, Honami become fluster and frantically tells him that she doesn't think of doing so. Although she states that it will have been okay not to force himself in telling her anything if the latter doesn't want to, Kiyotaka does the same thing as Honami anyway whereby sharing what he knows about the V.I.P. in his class. For instance, how it's likely neither he nor Teruhiko Yukimura to be the V.I.P. target during this exam but remain unsure of Kei Karuizawa and Hideo Sotomura which she regretfully learns more about. She apologizes to Kiyotaka, feeling regretful of having force him to make that decision in responding honestly with the former just to go along with her plan. Honami apologetically lowered her head down, as if burdened by feelings of guilt she did to Kiyotaka.

Shortly thereafter, she asked Tetsuya to spare some time to talk with her which he freely chose to hear the former out, filling him in on the current situation while concealing her cooperative relationship with Class 1-D. She then call on Tetsuya to reveal that he was not V.I.P. either, showing Honami's trust in Kiyotaka after confirming what the Class 1-D student told her to the latter. When Kiyotaka questions why the leader of Class 1-B had not bother to check with her own class beforehand, Honami reasons that she prefer to let her classmates act autonomously arguing how there are people such as them who desire points for themselves. She claims that there was no way for her to arbitrarily transfer the V.I.P.'s rights to herself. Though it may come off as impertinent, Honami informs Kiyotaka that she herself will make sure to check with the remaining Class 1-B student in Rabbit group later after their discussion, promising to notify him what she knows if that last classmate of hers answer the former honestly. She tells Kiyotaka not to worry about revealing everything regarding the students of Class 1-D, stating that as long as he cooperates with her, the former will be happy and satisfied. With that, real cooperation between the three of them including Honami in the Rabbit group began. After considering Teruhiko of Class 1-D's behavior and attitude in the previous discussion meetings, she, Kiyotaka, and Tetsuya were convinced that this student wasn't the V.I.P. target. Excluding them four, Honami understood that there are only ten possible suspects remaining in the Rabbit group who is likely the V.I.P. target they're looking for. Tetsuya felt it will be exceptionally difficult to persuade someone to openly admit they're the V.I.P. through words alone but Honami figures that the point of this test to begin with was to figure the mystery out themselves.

During the fourth discussion period, Honami arrived at the Rabbit group's meeting room and energetically greeted everyone who were already present there before her. She brought some life back into the depressing, heavy atmosphere among her group members while Kei and the Class 1-C girls who are at odds with each other were bickering over getting Kouji Machida on their side to gain a position of power in the Rabbit group's hierarchy. Honami inquires Kouji if the people of Class 1-A will not participate in the group discussion again like before which he acknowledges to be the case this time around as they refuse to think twice of changing their class policy. Kouji urges Honami to continue discussing with the rest of Rabbit group without Class 1-A. Accepting that nothing will be gain by staying completely silent during this meeting, she decided to spend the entire hour of the group talk by playing another card game with the same students who are willing to take part in from last time. How Honami hope to approach her goal which was mentioned in the previous chat she had with Kiyotaka and Tetsuya was a major aspect of this test, assuming that having an open, honest conversation will lead to narrowing down the list of suspects among the participants of the card game and those who did not. After she took out her cards immediately and play with them, the group of four players like Honami who had participated in the game disbanded once the meeting time passes.

**Yukimura** : *"No thanks. I don't really feel like it. Really, is this okay, Ichinose-san? I mean, just doing this until the test ends. I thought you were the one leading the group here."*

**Honami** : *"Isn't that excuse too convenient, Yukimura-kun? If you seriously want to win this thing, don't you think you should rely on yourself, rather than someone else?"*

On the final day of the special exam, throughout the filth discussion period, she played a card game with the others once again to get to know everyone in her group except for students from Class 1-A who stayed in isolation from start to end. At that time, it was implied that Teruhiko of Class 1-D was one of the new participants who had also chosen to play the card game she suggested. When the game ends, Honami comments how awfully terrible she was at Old Maid, drawing the the same bad card more than once. Honami disappointingly spread out her remaining cards and collapsed into a heap. Seeing that Teruhiko is acting melancholic and depressed, Honami encouragingly urges that the two of them should have a rematch to shake off his doom and gloom vibe he is emitting as a downer, asking him to play with her small group a little bit more. Teruhiko rejected her offer to play and questions Honami if she was fine with doing nothing to find the V.I.P. but continued playing the same card game until the exam ends as she is the one leading the Rabbit group. Upon hearing that, Honami stopped in the middle of shuffling the deck of cards to tell Teruhiko how he shouldn't be making a very convenient excuse to make her take the initiative every time for his sake. She reminds Teruhiko that if the latter seriously desire to win this exam, he needs to start being more reliant on himself, rather than asking someone else like herself to do the work for him. When the Rabbit Group was reaching its sixth discussion period, Honami was the first among the members to reach the meeting location - an hour before everyone else did, because she didn't want to be in her room or near it where her friends were going in and out noisily. She went to the meeting ahead of time as it was a place that is peaceful and quiet to her.

Waiting early for the others to arrive, she starts gathering together her thoughts on how to decide the outcome of the exam before accidentally ended up falling asleep over the course of thinking for too long while racking her brains. The battle plan Honami had in mind was not needing to chase after two rabbits (V.I.P.s) at the same time as she would end up getting none in the process, which she firmly established to be the policies for confronting the Rabbit group. It was most likely that Honami's plan for Rabbit group was based on her own experience in that dream world. In her side story, during her sleep, Honami quietly dreams about a world where she herself was hungrily chasing after and capturing moving foods like a dorayaki and a stromboli. As these two things were dreamily in front of her, she express the desire to gobble the both of them down. In the middle of dreaming, the starving Honami pounced on the two targets with a flying pose but it quickly dodge her attack. With the dorayaki and stromboli having escaped at high speed, this left her feeling impressed towards the food and vows to not hold back either. She leaped up in the air again, even more swiftly before directly extending her arm at them. However, the food once again slipped through her hands and increased the distance with Honami. Realizing that she can't get both of the dorayaki and stromboli at the same time simultaneously, Honami decides to change her approach to increase her chance of grabbing a hold of the food. She gave up on the stromboli intentionally, choosing to only extended her arm towards the dorayaki alone rather than go after the other altogether. This time around, Honami didn't let it run away from her as she managed to caught it easily. Just when she was calmly thinking about going for the stromboli after grasping the dorayaki, it escaped for the third time and increased the distance with her. Furthermore, the dorayaki that was in her hands just a moment ago had slipped away without Honami noticing it until it was too late to recapture the escaped food. When she finally noticed what the food represented, they immediately disappeared and the world before her dissipated in an instant, coming to the realization that it could only mean something to the former for beating the exam. Once she felt the soft ground catching her, Honami return to reality as the former heard the alarm clock in her phone sound going off which she is used to hearing it come from near her head.

From Kiyotaka's point of view, Honami slept soundly on the floor while he quietly stands by and watches over her body like the former's breasts and plump thighs, feeling caught up in his own desire while showing interest in trying to snatch her phone and sneak a peek on the information hidden within that device. When Kiyotaka cautiously and carefully inches closer to Honami, one step at a time, to close the distance between the two, she stirred slightly upon hearing his movement before falling asleep again as her breathing relaxed. Muttering softly in her sleep each time Kiyotaka reaches near Honami, he eventually gave up on going after her phone and decides to wait over twenty minutes until she wakes up. When some "cute-sounding" music went off, Honami, eyes still closed, grabbed a hold of her phone. She proceed to unlock the phone screen and stopped the alarm music that was playing. Honami, still looking rather sleepy, started to sit back up awake from her nap and instantly noticed the figure of Kiyotaka nearby and greeted him who she didn't know arrived after the former did, inside the room. Understanding what she has been thinking about prior to sleeping, Honami used her dizzy head to confirm the situation that Rabbit group was in, realizing that it is the last day to clear the special exam. She apologizes to Kiyotaka for startling him with the sound of the phone alarm clock which he didn't mind, admitting that the former completely drowse off. Honami noticing that there are still twenty minutes left before the sixth discussion period begins, asked him why he came to the Rabbit group's meeting room so early. He throws the same question back at her, which Honami responded that she has been present in this location for an hour long. Honami reasons with Kiyotaka that she wanted to stay by Rabbit group's location to calm her mind and silently concentrate in coming up with a battle plan without getting disruptions by her friends who noisily occupies the dormitory in and out of the room.

Since it has never been Honami's plan to sleep, she was a bit embarrassed by her unintended action and ended up saying that to Kiyotaka. She believes sleeping might have turn out to be a good thing in the end as it gave the former inspiration which could help her decide on the battle plan for the sake of Rabbit group. Honami tells him that there was a lot of things she needed to sort out, confirming to Kiyotaka that she more or less got the results the former wanted from thinking alone in private. Honami in her mind thinks that if she was to chase down two rabbits concomitantly, she will end up getting none of them during the process. Thinking in this manner, she have firmly established the policies to confront the Rabbit group by finding out at least one of the V.I.P.s rather than go for multiple suspects. Remembering that she had rarely been together with Kiyotaka alone, Honami made it her goal at this time to investigate him through friendly dialogue before all members of Rabbit group could come together and the discussion period begin. She believes Kiyotaka looks like he is in the clouds to be harder to get an accurate read on when compared to others such as Teruhiko and Hideo Sotomura of Class 1-D in her group who are easier to grasp. Honami stood up from where she was sitting at, fixed her hair messed from sleep, and walked over to Kiyotaka's side. Before long, she sat down next to him and told Kiyotaka that since they still have some spare time leftover, she wants to have a little chat with the latter until the group discussion starts as long as he isn't bothered by it. As Kiyotaka was willing to hear her out, Honami looks to convey a burning question that she has been meaningfully dying to ask him all this time now that they're alone together. Honami stated how she has already long since talk with all her Class 1-B classmates including the boys like Ryūji Kanzaki about that question, but haven't asked any of the students from the other classes yet until finally deciding it will be none other than Kiyotaka who will be her first.

**Honami** : *"Okay. To tell you the truth, Ayanokōji-kun, I want to ask you something. I've asked all my classmates this question, including the boys. But I've been thinking about asking the other classes for a while now. I've just been kind of curious. Ayanokōji-kun, do you want to ascend to Class A?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"Well, yeah. Of course I do. I've thought about getting up to Class A. No, wait...I guess it'd probably be more accurate to say that I must aim for Class A."*

Honami reveals that she has been reflectively thinking about whether to discuss it with the other classes for a long while, curious of what students outside Class 1-B's classroom might think. She was interestingly bothered by this question, to the point that the former questions Kiyotaka if he has the strong desire to be promoted to Class A. First of all, what she seeked from having this conversation alongside him is to ascertain his inner heart, what Kiyotaka thought, for what goal he was taking action, and so on. She had been questioning herself about the group distribution of this special exam, knowing that being assigned into a group has a certain meaning to it. Honami felt suspicious that her classmate Ryūji was assigned to the Dragon group, where it was noted that the names of the representatives of each class are considered to be a part of yet she was not included within their lineup. According to her thinking, Honami justifies how this was not the former trying to blow her own trumpet, feeling that normally she was supposed to also be assigned to the Dragon group too besides Ryūji but it never happen much to the reality of the situation she is in with Rabbit group. Honami was very discouraged during a split second when she discover the group placement, but the former immediately pondered about this as it can be implied that there was another reasonable meaning and purpose to her role. While deliberating there must be some implications in the fact that someone like her was not sent to the Dragon group, Honami had come to realize that perhaps the reason the former had been sent to the Rabbit group instead of them which she should normally be part of, as a class representative possibly had something to do with investigating Kiyotaka among one of such possibilities. She asked Kiyotaka that if he was trying to aim for Class A solely because of the guarantee of college or a career job to which he responded that they can't just access that easily nowadays without support.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Nowadays, you can't just enter college or get a job that easily. Jobs, especially."*

**Honami** : *"I think so, too. But don't you think placing too much trust in the system could be dangerous? There's something about that 99.9% percent they're not telling us. Something dangerous."*

Agreeing with his sentiment, Honami thoughtfully claims that it is never a good idea to place too much trust in the school's system that can prove to be perilous. Particularly, she argues how there must be at least ninety-nine percent of something dangerous as the school officials are keeping the two in the dark by not revealing them anything. According to Kiyotaka, when she pointed out about hidden pitfalls, the danger that Honami was referring to is the 99.9% college and job placement rate that the school touted. As Kiyotaka argues how most people who get anywhere in life succeed due to someone incredibly influential helps them reach their life goal, he inquires her if she has no interest in it at all as some other students would to which Honami responded that was not what she meant by her statement. Honami does in fact, cares about wanting to graduate from Class A alongside all her classmates, stating that it is her dream goal she wanted to make real. Even though she was seen smiling from Kiyotaka's gaze on the former, it was said that her eyes were unwavering and serious about what she just said. Honami shared her thoughts that while the school's system is all well and good, she felt it's a mark of failure branded for students of the three lower classes if they can't graduate from Class 1-A. She understood that because this school is all about ability itself, it's unlikely that some students will ever be labeled an elite like the others who are above them if their own abilities can't carry them. She mentions how students such as her are ranked based on perceived superiority or inferiority. She tells Kiyotaka that between herself and him, only one of them can go on to successfully achieve their dream of ascending to Class A. However, she notes that it doesn't have to be the two of them who can become a Class A student as they could both lose out on their goals. Despite that they were chatting as friends who are each in a different class from each other, she and Kiyotaka acknowledge of the fact that only one of the two can win their way to Class A and leave the other behind.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Yeah. There hasn't been a single student in the school's history who's successfully pulled that off, but it is theoretically possible."*

**Honami** : *"Oh yeah, for sure. I suppose if we factor that in, it's possible for both of us to graduate from Class A."*

When Kiyotaka comments that he heard there are special exceptions to the school rules, it caught her attention to the point where Honami questions if what he was meaning to say how someone manages to accumulate twenty million private points and transfer to Class A near the end of graduation in the third year of high school. Considering the idea where it might be theoretically possible to pull off and achieve later down the line, she concurs with Kiyotaka of how if they were to factor that possibility in, it's likely possible for both of them together to graduate from Class A in one and the same group. However, Kiyotaka was quick to point out to Honami that whether or not they can really earn such a massive amount of points to begin with is another problem in and of itself. Honami was told by Kiyotaka that even if she or him were to score well on the exams and save themselves a lot of points, it will probably still wouldn't be enough by the time graduation rolls around which the former sees eye to eye on. Not just what he said is true to her, Honami mused that even if they were extremely economical, it's unlikely for any person would manage to come far in saving even half the twenty million private points in the long term. Kiyotaka then asked Honami if she is a thrifty person when it comes to money, telling her of how it never occur to him until now that she is not a poor individual struggling to get by financially compared to he and Suzune of Class 1-D. Honami admits how she can't help but wonder about it herself, revealing that the former personally tends to use and save private points sometimes, just like anyone else would have done. Although she is a student of Class 1-B who has over a million private points in her possession, Honami claims with ease that the former don't really have a lot saved up. After having said that, she calls out Kiyotaka's name and suddenly turned her eyes toward him, gazing at him directly right in the face without looking away. Honami remarked that Kiyotaka must've already seemingly seen the amount of private points she had on her, a while back when she lets him borrow her phone to solve the Ken Sudō incident.

**Honami** : *"Of course, if you did manage to obtain that information, Ayanokōji-kun, and even if you shared it with Horikita-san, you wouldn't go blabbing to everyone, would you? I mean, even though you saw my phone, if someone else decided to ask about it, you wouldn't tell, right?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"I don't plan on telling anyone else. Besides, I might've been mistaken. I won't pry."*

Noticing that the truth can't be hidden from Honami any longer, Kiyotaka apologizes for that and admits of how when he was using her mobile earlier back then, the former just so happened to stumble upon looking at the latter's phone screen out of curiosity. He thought of asking Honami about it at some point but never got the chance to do so until she took the initiative to question him and confirm her suspicion. She laughs his apology off and told him that there was no need to feel guilty or anything over concealing information on her private point amount, refusing to lay the blame on Kiyotaka and states it must've certainly been a surprise to see that she got a huge quantity of it. With that said, Honami apologizes to Kiyotaka that she can't really openly share with him about any details regarding how she obtain such an insane number of points as it is a confidential matter of class policy between herself and her fellow classmates. She asked Kiyotaka that in the event where he supposedly did manage to discover the "information" (being a class bank to her classmates) and shared it with Suzune Horikita, she indirectly implies to him not to go around freely blabbing it to everyone but keep it a secret for her. Since he knows what the amount was in her phone after seeing them previously, Honami made a promise with him that if someone else decided to ask Kiyotaka about it, he mustn't tell a person and evade the question entirely. When Kiyotaka inquires if she was able to discover a way to win this exam, Honami confidently responded with a relaxed tone that she thinks so as it was at least possible based on a hint founded by her. Kiyotaka figures the exam's remaining discussion period will come down to a battle between Classes 1-A nad 1-B which Honami remains unsure of as neither of them will know for certain until the very end once everything is over. Right before Honami finished her thought about where her path of victory lies ahead in this exam, members of Rabbit group came pouring into the room, one after another to show that their time between the two has reaches its end at last.

During the final sixth discussion period, not long after Honami warmly greets the Rabbit group members with a smile, Tetsuya Hamaguchi proceeds to explain of how he has been thinking of a good way for everyone to achieve Outcome #1. When Machida Kouji tries to protest, Honami spoke up for her classmate Tetsuya and asked everyone to listen and have their undivided attention on him to what the latter has to say for himself as he isn't the type of person to normally speak without thinking. She hears out Tetsuya of Class 1-B's idea that all individuals in the group reveal to each other the school email message sent to them on their phone, as a way to track down who the real V.I.P. is, considering of how students like themselves are prohibited from tampering with or misrepresenting the emails they've received in any way. Honami and her fellow classmates who likely talk and knew about the this sort of strategy before the discussion began is aware that there's almost no mean of deceive one another due to the school's exam rules. In order to find out and discover the truth, she had Tetsuya be the first to show all the members of Rabbit group including herself the email presented on his phone he received from the school. Kiyotaka thinks that this strategy of weeding out the V.I.P. was an idea that Honami had come up rather than Tetsuya himself did, deducing that she must've gotten her classmate to give the explanation on her behalf. Particularly, Honami had Tetsuya in her stead argues with Rabbit group members like Kouji that even if the V.I.P. knows they could be betrayed, they wouldn't carelessly show what's on their phone without a given reason. She and Tetsuya are cognizant that from the perspective of someone who isn't the V.I.P., there's no real risk in exposing their identity to everyone since the test will be over and done with soon enough. Like Tetsuya says, Honami more or less understood that if each and every member in the Rabbit group don't bother to make a move to beat this exam now, they will lose out on their chances of winning as it is too late to turn things around to their favor.

She purposefully lets Tetsuya set an example whereby in the event that suppose there's students of the same class working together to mask a cover-up for the V.I.P. from them by having none of them take action of showing their phones. Doing so this way, Tetsuya thought that his strategy which was supposedly Honami's own allows Rabbit group to narrow down the V.I.P. candidates on their list of suspected targets. Once Tetsuya discloses the details from his phone, Honami's other fellow classmate Beppu Ryouta of Class 1-B agreed with him and followed suit. This then lead to Honami's turn after the two to do the same thing as her friends while stating it was a surprisingly brilliant strategy on Tetsuya's part as she doesn't have any objections to it. Honami claims that she has been agonizing over this for a long time now, but after hearing his plan, she finally gets it through to her head and was ready to support that idea which was believed by Kiyotaka to be formulated by her all along. Smiling, Honami reached for her cell phone in her skirt's left pocket and pulled it out of there. Just as Honami was about to fully execute her strategy thanks to her classmate, Kiyotaka decided to step in and interrupt her plan that was laid out by Tetsuya for others to hear. Before Honami could show everyone the contents of her email message, Kiyotaka join in taking out his supposed phone (Teruhiko's mobile that he borrowed) and offered it up in the air for all in the Rabbit group's meeting room to see with their own eyes. Kiyotaka had committed his actions in a way that can open a hole to Honami's strategy and collapse it. She questions Kiyotaka if he was really okay with going through doing something as this to which the latter accepts after confirming what Tetsuya has told them. He tells Honami that since they don't have another option available besides Outcome #1, presenting the truth with his phone is easy to do unlike communicating through words which he was bad at. After Honami has taken a look at his phone, she and the rest of Rabbit group recognize that Kiyotaka is not the V.I.P.

Under the pretense that it was Tetsuya's strategy and how Kiyotaka of Class 1-D was now on board with the idea, Honami's plan was soon accepted by Mio Ibuki and other classmates of Class 1-C who had chosen to show their phones to the Rabbit group members. As even Kei Karuizawa took out her phone and present the contents to them, the hunt for the V.I.P. had started to happen under the strategy that was laid out by Class 1-B's student Tetsuya led under Honami. Since Class 1-C is in the clear and so was Kei, that leaves only Teruhiko and Hideo Sotomura to be suspiciously suspected due to his action in preventing the Professor from revealing his phone's contents. Realizing what is going on between the members of Rabbit group, she tells the people of Class 1-C that it was was too early to draw any conclusions as Teruhiko has a point. Once again, Honami reached into her pocket and took out her phone, regretting that she got a little caught up by what Kiyotaka did and missed her chance earlier to show them. After proving that she was not the V.I.P., Honami was asked by Kouji concerning what other ideas the former has been keeping quiet about from Rabbit group. Seeing that Kouji hasn't forgotten her words from earlier, Honami stated that she happened to express the exact idea as to what Tetsuya said on his mind and how she wanted to talk about it and all. Honami remarks that as Class 1-B's representative, she was a little bit jealous that Tetsuya had already went ahead and beat her to the punch when it comes to explaining the best alternative way to approach Outcome #1 strategy the former had proposed a while back. By now, Honami was able to get nearly almost everyone except for the Class 1-A students and Teruhiko of Class 1-D to prove they are not the V.I.P. among them. While she was suspicious of Teruhiko's long period of silence, Honami and the rest of Rabbit group was then asked by him to make a promise between them which the former question what he had meant by that. Teruhiko promisingly asked none of the group members like her to turn traitor.

**Honami** : *"Please. Cooperate with us. Don't let Yukimura-kun's courage go to waste. I don't want you to betray us."*

Due to Teruhiko Yukimura's action of making others accept the lie that he was the V.I.P. who they think him to be, he was able to successfully get all Class 1-A students like Kouji to follow Honami's strategy as she desired. Seeing that a different email from everyone else's was displayed on Teruhiko's phone screen (Kiyotaka's mobile) as it looks authentic, Honami tried to explain the situation calmly. Honami reminds Kouji how there was no way that the private email and chat logs can be falsified, since they already that the school explained the exam rules where transferring or copying the electronic message with false information is strictly forbidden and prohibited to begin with. She states that as long as the electronic message was sent from the school's email address, there's a 0% chance it's a fake. At that point in time, she was able to completely see through Kiyotaka's subterfuge plan of baiting and misleading the other students in the group into answering the wrong student as V.I.P. of their group. Outcome #1 strategy proposed by Class 1-B's Honami and Tetsuya which at first had seemed impossible to achieve for all members in Rabbit group, now appeared to be in their grasp. If they all cleared the special exam together, Honami and Class 1-B would be able to ensure that everyone from their group to receive 500,000 private points. As a result of this, she nodded to Teruhiko's acceptance of being the V.I.P., deciding to back his words and plead with Class 1-A more strongly than before. She pleadingly urges them to cooperate with the rest of Rabbit group, asking members of Class 1-A to not even think of inciting betrayal or else they will be letting Teruhiko's courageous words go to waste. Although everyone is starting to casually think that the V.I.P. is Teruhiko, Honami thought otherwise as she wasn't through with the discussion just yet, making a phone call to Kiyotaka to check and see whether that mobile Teruhiko is in possession of was really his belonging or not.

**Honami** : *"The person this phone belongs to, the real V.I.P....that's you, isn't it? Ayanokōji-kun? I called you just now, not Yukimura-kun."*

Upon contacting him using Kiyotaka's phone number, Honami was able to correctly confirmed and guessed that Teruhiko had in fact been holding into his classmate's mobile all along as Kiyotaka is the one and only Class 1-D student within Rabbit group who she had shared her contact number with. Honami, grasping her phone next to her ear, looked at both Teruhiko and Kiyotaka in the eyes before then hanging up as she more or less had taken notice of the fact that Kiyotaka's phone was indeed vibrating with an incoming call because of what she did. Having discovered Teruhiko is not the original owner of Kiyotaka's phone she made a call to, Honami decides to put forward an explanation for the reason behind her own strange action. Honami argues while it is true that the school has an exam rule where they don't allow copying and altering emails, she points out of how this is never the case when tricking people with the borrower's use of someone's mobile containing a real, authentic electronic message. As she was getting everyone to understand what her reasoning was, Honami picked up the cell phone that Teruhiko dropped accidentally and handed it back to it's original owner being Kiyotaka. At the same time, she revealed to Rabbit group that the real V.I.P. had been keeping such identity hidden under the guise of Teruhiko who was taking the cover for him by borrowing his classmate's phone and using it in their stead, telling everyone it was Kiyotaka who she contacted and not Teruhiko. However, Kouji who remains skeptical of Honami's claim states that he saw Teruhiko unlocked the phone right in front of them and even going so far as to double-check his private email history just to be completely sure it was legit. Honami refute his words and stated that the email history shown to Kouji was all fake, arguing of how Teruhiko could've easily gotten the phone's password ahead of time by simply asking Kiyotaka to give it to him.

**Machida** : *"B-but isn't that odd? Yukimura unlocked the phone right in front of us. I checked his prviate email history just to be sure."*

**Honami** : *"That was all fake. He could've easily gotten the password ahead of time by simply asking Ayanokōji-kun. Besides, it's possible to replicate call history, email, apps, and so on, though it would take a bit of effort."*

Not only that, she comments how possible it was to perfectly replicate call history, email, apps, and so on without problem, though it would take a bit of effort to pull off skillfully. She said it was difficult for people such as Teruhiko and Kiyotaka to tell a lie like that, especially when the goal is within their reach. For this reason, in those last moments during their final discussion period, Honami was able not to be easily fool by Teruhiko's attempt in lying to them when she calls him out for his negligence and nervousness to maintain his deceptive facade. With Teruhiko leaving some kind of opening without noticing it himself, she remarks how his gestures and behavior pattern was more than enough to be a dead giveaway as it seemed oddly different from the way he normally acts around them during earlier discussion periods compared to this final group meeting. Honami recalls that they should've been thinking about this possibility for a long while now whereby if the V.I.P. was in one of their classes, the one option would be to have students swap out their phones with each other and hide the target. She notes of how it was possible to mislead people by showing off the password to unlock the phone like what Teruhiko did to Rabbit group as she and her classmates had consider formulating the same strategy as Kiyotaka had. She claims that there is a weak point to following this sort of strategy which is the phone number. Honami mentions how even if the person was to successfully duplicate everything from call history to apps, they can't do anything about changing their contact information no matter what. To backed her argument with evidence, Honami disclose the fact that she and Tetsuya Hamaguchi had attempted swapping SIM cards once to see what would happen, but soon discover that the SIM cards are locked to their designated phones. However, Honami admits that if Kiyotaka and Teruhiko was capable of swapping their SIM cards, things wouldn't went down the way it did as she wouldn't have been able to call him in the first place.

**Honami** : *"Anyway, we've confirmed that Ayanokōji-kun is the V.I.P. Machida-kun, promise me that we'll aim for Outcome #1, and no one will betray anyone else."*

**Machida** : *"Yes, of course. You can trust me. Let's go."*

In addition, Honami notes how it doesn't really matter who switches phones with whom, asserting that once she hears a phone vibrating and ringing, she can find and identify who the owner of that mobile with her contact information is. If she could not done that, she would have never thought of proposing this idea whatsoever to begin with. Barring Kiyotaka, Honami and Tetsuya been two steps ahead of everyone else in Rabbit Group. She and him orchestrated everything to play out the way it intended for them to pinpoint the V.I.P., agreeing on the idea that it was best to have Tetsuya become the one person to broach the topic. Alongside Tetsuya, she waited for the right moment when the truth had finally come to light by a few of the Rabbit group members to carelessly expose themselves. She gloated that Teruhiko did everything almost perfectly except for one other thing he forgot to overlook, describing how the latter didn't anticipate the SIM cards will be locked to specific devices as his and Kiyotaka's. With five minutes left before the last discussion period concludes, she insisted Kouji and other students of Class 1-A to remain cooperative until the exam comes to an end after confirming that Kiyotaka is the real V.I.P. they've been looking for all this time. As a result, she had managed to form a verbal promise with Class 1-A to aim for Class 1-B's Outcome #1 strategy, and that none of them will have to betray anyone else apart from Teruhiko and Kiyotaka. As the time is ticking, Honami hurriedly urged the people of Class 1-C that there's so much benefits to gain by working together, declaring the notion of how they'll never turn traitor. After she has told them to also do the same whereby promisingly continuing the cooperation with Class 1-A and Class 1-B, Class 1-C accepted her words. One by one, nearly everyone left room not long after that, leaving only Honami and Kiyotaka to stay behind in the Rabbit group's meeting room.

**Honami** : *"You're really calm, Ayanokōji-kun. Aren't you worried?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"Not especially. I can't do anything but believe, anyway. I'm heading to my room."*

During a one-on-one private discussion with just Kiyotaka around, Honami made it clear to him that all they can do now is to put their trust in everyone from Rabbit group to be faithful and not turn their backs on the Outcome #1 strategy. Seeing how extremely calm-minded Kiyotaka was being, she questioningly asked him of why he is not the least bit worried at all despite her exposing Class 1-D's phone-swapping strategy. Just as he was about to set off, she immediately went and stops Kiyotaka in his tracks from trying to leave her without answering all her questions first about Class 1-D's strategy of phone-swapping. She asked him to wait a second and give her a little bit more of his time until they are able to properly clear things up with a discussion between them over that plan. Honami placed a hand on his shoulder and in that instant, she felt the sudden sense of tension between the two of them. She questions Kiyotaka if he knows who the person was that actually came up with the idea of switching phones to which he responded that it was a plan formulated by his classmate Suzune. Hearing that revelation, Honami tells Kiyotaka to pass down the message to Suzune for the former that her plan turns out to be a big success within Rabbit group. Kiyotaka disagrees and admits it was a crushing defeat on Class 1-D's part as she was able to clearly see through everything they had been scheming behind her back, believed that he and his classmates had indeed failed hard regardless of what Honami say. Honami laughs his words off saying that he mustn't have expected that she and her classmates of 1-B would have come up with the same style of planning as he and Class 1-D led under Suzune. As Kiyotaka convey his wrongfulness of deceiving her like that in the final discussion period despite them being allies, Honami denies his concern reassuring him that she wasn't angrily infuriated with what he had done to her. Honami reasons that since she went ahead with her own plan to have her classmates follow by without telling him, they should be even as the two have committed one and the same deception without informing each other beforehand.

**Ayanokōji** : *"I'm sorry. Sorry for trying to deceive you like that, especially after I agreed to be your ally. Are you angry?"*

**Honami** : *"Of course not. We went ahead with our own plan without telling you, so we're even."*

In response, Kiyotaka told Honami that Suzune will be relieved that she was off the hook of trying to trick her with the phone-swapping strategy and prepares to hastily grabbed his phone and head for the exit. Honami panickingly asked Kiyotaka to hold on a moment, refusing to let the latter escape the conversation as neither she or him have gotten to the critical part of the one-on-one discussion yet. Noticing how stubbornly impatient Kiyotaka was acting towards her, she remarks how surprisingly bad he was at dealing with people like herself even though she tries to be easygoing and carefree around him. She asserts that while it was true of how the SIM cards are indeed locked to their respective phone devices, there is still a way to release that lock which Kiyotaka should know this was not impossible to make happen. Honami evidently supports her claim arguing that she has already gone out of her way to check with her homeroom teacher Chie Hoshinomiya to confirm ahead of time. Through the information obtained from Chie, she learned that with enough private points at her disposal, it was possible for any one of the students such as herself or him to unlock the mobile device right away and swap the SIM cards with someone else's phone. Honami comments that when a falsehood by Teruhiko comes to light, the people of Rabbit group except for her will take and accept the answer that comes after it to be the apparent truth supposedly. This was evident when Honami connects the dots with Teruhiko who appears strangely determined not to be the V.I.P., even after he presented everyone of how he unlocked his phone using the password given to him by Kiyotaka. She states that the moment Teruhiko's lie was revealed by her after exposing it, the truth that Kiyotaka was the real V.I.P all along was what came to the surface. Let alone that, she notes of how the SIM card was ultimately the deciding factor as nobody but her would've suspected anyone else as the V.I.P at this point in time when explaining parts of Class 1-D's phone-swapping strategy to some extent.

However, she notes that her explanation of the SIM card too was a trap in and of itself by Class 1-D's Suzune. Honami comments that what she had said before about swapping phones being an imperfect strategy was nothing more than a mere lie to help manipulate Rabbit group into believing and not see the full extent of Classes 1-B and 1-D's strategy. In other words, she has admitted to Kiyotaka that by swapping phones and its SIM cards around to the borrowers, Class 1-D's strategy is extremely effective since they were able to set it up as a double-layered trap in order to work while the truth will remain in the darkness from everyone's minds. With all that said, she told Kiyotaka that there wouldn't have been any other possible way alternatively for anyone to keenly determine, with 100% accuracy, the real V.I.P's identity. Honami proves her point that a Rabbit group member who is not a Class 1-B student like herself possessing her "phone number" while carrying out this extremely effective strategy was a detrimental weakness to that plan along with the SIM card. After listening to her thoughts, Kiyotaka in his mind understood that Honami had thoroughly seen through the traps in his plans while she hesitantly remains unsure of whether to trust the entirety of her analysis completely. Kiyotaka has even regarded Honami as having been the one to realize the truth that she'd kept hidden even from Teruhiko about his plans, understanding of how he was not the V.I.P. and was approaching Teruhiko under the pretense of being exactly that. Proof of her suspicion was verified as true when she deduced that Kiyotaka used the real V.I.P's phone (Kei Karuizawa) to contact Teruhiko. She knew Kiyotaka was not truly the V.I.P., remembering how he had secretly contacted Kei by pretending to meet up with his classmate Teruhiko. She speculates that perhaps Kiyotaka was likely using Kei's phone to replicate his private email, contact number, chat logs and call history just as he did with Teruhiko before switching that mobile with him while Kei has his device.

**Honami** : *"If the V.I.P. wasn't in Class D, what would you have done?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"The same as you. I would've tried to find out who the V.I.P. was, borrowed that person's phone, and had another one ready. Then, I'd step forward and claim to be the V.I.P. myself."*

She questioningly asked Kiyotaka of what would he have done differently if the V.I.P. wasn't in Class 1-D to which the latter replied that he can do the same thing as her by finding out who the V.I.P. was, borrowing that person's phone, and had another one ready. When that plan was set in motion the way she wants it to, Kiyotaka thought that either she or him would've step forward in the limelight and claim to be the V.I.P. themselves. Kiyotaka is cognizant that if the real V.I.P. in hiding then came forward to point out his or Honami's lie, the writing would be on the wall for that person who spoke up. Simply assuming that Honami was the V.I.P. meant that the special exam would end with the traitor accidentally making a mistake as they fall for her strategy. In the latter situation, Class 1-B led under Honami would be awarded no points, and the gap would either decrease or increase between the classes, had Kiyotaka not interrupted her plan and made changes to it. After hearing him admit that he had been found out, Honami started pulling two phones from both of her two pockets. In Honami's hands, one belonged to the V.I.P. from a Class 1-B student's other group, and the other was a phone from a different student who wasn't a V.I.P. target. While stating that this was just her prediction based on how the last Rabbit group meeting's discussion went, Honami quickly typed a short message on her own phone that the real V.I.P. is Kei while seeking confirmation from Kiyotaka if she was right to think it might be her. Honami showed him her phone, presenting the betrayal message that she was going to consider sending to the school. However, before anything could happen, both Honami's phone and Kiyotaka's rang at the same time, losing her one and only chance to do so as it was too late to make the correct decision. Seeing that the test has ended for the Rabbit group and they have to wait for the results announcement next, she guess that someone turned traitor in the end, wondering if it was either Class 1-A or Class 1-C who betrayed them.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Why didn't you say anything? At the very least, you could have exposed my lie."*

**Honami** : *"That's obvious. If either Class A or Class C makes a mistake, that's a win for us. From the very beginning, I never intended to clear Outcome #1 or turn traitor and get Outcome #3. The moment I knew the V.I.P. wasn't in Class-B, I knew I would let another class betray us. I think the traitor was probably from Class A."*

When he inquires her of why she think it was Kei who is the V.I.P., Honami tells Kiyotaka that she had the same reason as Teruhiko, noticing that she has been behaving and acting unusually during this final discussion period compared to the previous group meetings they had last time. Honami understood that Kei is not the kind of person who would normally seem to care much about Kiyotaka whatsoever and hence, find it oddly peculiar that the latter would keep turning her eyes over to him with a strange facial expression. In spite of this though, she still can't help but believe that there was the possibility that she isn't really the V.I.P., so she couldn't bring herself to sent that email in time before the exam is over. Kiyotaka inquires her of why she didn't say a word or anything to the members of Rabbit group as she could've exposed everything about his lie yet only decides to reveal some of it rather than all. According to Kiyotaka, at that moment after saying this, Honami gave him the most geniune smile he had ever seen from her. The reason behind why Honami had chosen not to expose Kiyotaka's lies despite lying to her was because she had figured out that would be enough to obviously help her Class 1-B and Rabbit group secure a win on this exam, thinking that either Class 1-A or Class 1-C had made a mistake with their V.I.P choice being Kiyotaka. From the very beginning, she had never once intended to clear Outcome #1 strategy with all the classes, or to turn traitor and get Outcome #3. The moment she knowingly discover the V.I.P. wasn't in Class 1-B, Honami didn't mind the idea of letting another class take the initiative to try and betray them. Between the three classes excluding her own, she thought the traitor was probably from Class 1-A by the name of Morishige, a member of Arisu Sakayanagi's faction. She doubts someone like him who is a supporter of Arisu would quietly go along with Kōhei Katsuragi's castle-gate strategy. She presumes that it was better for him to betray Rabbit group and take the points for himself under Arisu's order while figuring Kiyotaka may knew of this by now.

**Honami** : *"Ayanokōji-kun, you're amazing. You know that? Our conversation just now proves how cunning you really are, doesn't it?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"You ought to praise Horikita. She just gave me directions, that's all."*

Afterwards, Honami laughed and then turned her back to him, commenting that this proves to her that Kiyotaka is in fact a very cunning and amazing individual based on their conversation they had together, pondering if he knows that himself which the latter denies. Kiyotaka reminds Honami that she ought to praise Suzune for the success of Class 1-D's phone-swapping strategy and not him as he was just a subordinate who was given directions by her. Because of this turn of event, Kiyotaka had to thoroughly reevaluate his image of Honami as crafty when she was able to successfully devise a strategy that led her to victory while avoiding the risks from affecting her Class 1-B. After having say what was needed to be said to Kiyotaka, Honami tells him that she will be taking her leave as it would be bad for the both of them to keep staying in the Rabbit group's meeting room any longer since that means breaking the rules. However, upon stating this at that moment in time, Honami's phone and Kiyotaka's played a unique sound which played multiples times quickly in rapid succession that indicates her receiving four betrayal emails. She learns that Kakeru Ryūen and Class 1-C emerge victorious at the top of the exam results unlike her class. Honami seemed completely shocked as she slowly looked from her phone's screen to learn that each and every group besides her own all had V.I.P. traitors among them. In the end, Class 1-B led by Honami lost no class points or gain anything except 2.5 million private points. Suzune notes that the Rabbit group where both Kiyotaka and Honami herself were in won their test.

#### Volume 4.5

Meanwhile, she later hangs out at the pool with some of her classmates and meets up with Class 1-D students. In the changing room, Honami was questioned by Suzune about the growth of her breast size, which she believes it been growing bigger since during her third year of junior high before asking about Suzune's curiosity as the latter gave a vague answer. Taking note that the dialogue here is anime original, Honami then started to tease Airi playfully for her close relationship and obvious romantic affections towards Kiyotaka, after Airi nervously explained that she came just because Kiyotaka invited her. In the light novels, Honami only went about greeting Airi respectfully without acting playful such as teasing the girl while carefully observing the latter for her slender body. Honami soon stopped right after Kikyō mentioned her own close relationship with him, to which she smiled about it, showing that she has no problem with it.

**Kushida** : *"Well, a girl in our class is interested in Kanzaki-kun. I wanted to ask you a few things."*

**Honami** : *"Wow. Kanzaki-kun is surprisingly popular. Girls in our class seem to like him, too. But I don't think he's dating anyone right now."*

From the light novels, there was no mention of her friendly relationship with Kiyotaka but the fact that she was asked by Kikyō about any information regarding her classmate Ryūji. After she learned from Kikyō that one of her female friends in Class 1-D happened to bear some interest in Ryūji, Honami recognizes the same can be said with how he is also popular with the girls in her own class as well while informing the latter that the guy is not dating anyone as far as she knows. When Kikyō thought about telling her friend to contact him, Honami thinks Ryūji will like that but was unsure in the end, considering she doesn't have a keen understanding of what his feelings are but can tell that he is a person who says a few words and lacks the assertiveness. Later, she soon played volleyball with some of the students though is put off by the strangeness of the Class 1-D students such as Ken Sudō, Kanji Ike and Haruki Yamauchi. Soon afterwards, she bore witness to Suzune's speech to everyone at the pool, becoming somewhat surprised by the development.

**Honami** : *"You're pretty hard. Also, you're slender. You have the ideal amount of muscle, without being too muscular."*

At the last day of the summer vacations, Honami also went out for the swimming pool gathering between the classes. After changing into her swimwear first before the other girls like Suzune, Kikyō, and Airi could, when Honami came to the pool, everyone's eyes were focus entirely on her well-endowed figure which capture their attention. She innocently greeted Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and started poking him all over his rash guard that covered his stomach, with her index finger, after asking him about the reason why he wore it. Honami believes it was fine of Kiyotaka to wear that sort of gear since such an attire wouldn't violate the school rules. While so, she praised Kiyotaka's slender and muscular hard body from his arms to his shoulders, saying he had just the right ideal amount of muscle put into it. Honami asked him if he works out daily during his exercise to which Kiyotaka admits he doesn't and states it look that way to her since the rash guard was making the latter seem more masculine than normal. She lowered her pair of eyes to look at his legs and then stopped asking questions. Kiyotaka, being hyper-conscious about her large bust, takes his leave to find the "other guys" of his class. Later, she accepts Class 1-D's invitation into their group, and goes to the pool with them along with her classmates after securing a place where they could privately hang out together.

**Honami** : *"Is it okay for you not to offer any resistance?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"You—"*

From her side story, during that same day, Honami invited Kiyotaka out to swim with her in the pool. Kiyotaka questions the motive behind her action, suspecting that she wants to talk to him when he is alone which Honami denies and did it out of mindfulness towards him. However, Kiyotaka declines her offer, stating how he was not really good at swimming and was one of the slowest in the class which she harbored doubts about, considering the structure of his body-build makes it appear to her as something a very fast swimmer would possess. Honami would looked incredulously at Kiyotaka's top, then she watched attentively at his legs. He rejects Honami's analysis as that was a misconception on her part which she disagrees with Kiyotaka on. Although she didn't really accept his reason, Honami immediately switched the mood and stretched her lower back. Nonetheless, the two decided to walk over to the pool together to bathe themselves in water for comfort, urging him to follow after her and states that there was no real need to swim since he doesn't want to. Both Honami and Kiyotaka did a warm-up standing side by side with one another and after that, they entered the pool. Honami, who is enjoying the pool, waved at him with a smile on her face while telling Kiyotaka that the water is comfortable to be in. Shortly thereafter, the next moment, Honami splashes water at Kiyotaka while giggling and playfully provoking him to play along with her, questioning whether if it was really okay for him to not offer any sign of resistance against her aggressive action on the latter. Honami pointed at him while she split her sides laughing.

**Honami** : *"I'm really sorry, it looks like I really hate being sprinkled with water. But now we are even, so don't resent me, okay?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"Haha, I'm not going to resent you. I'll only strike back at you even stronger!"*

Following that gesture, she began splashing even more water than the previous time at Kiyotaka. When Honami inquires what's wrong with Kiyotaka, he states that there was nothing he can do against her and that he desires a bloodless surrender. Honami responded that it's too bad she can't go along with the idea of following his surrender, declaring how there will be blood. As a result, she splashed water at Kiyotaka more ruthlessly than before, causing the droplets to go through his eyes and nose. Realizing this, Honami felt that attacking Kiyotaka unilaterally who isn't fighting back was excessive. She was awakened a bit by a feeling of guilt and apologized to him with a smile. Not before long, Honami told him that she was going to head to the central part of the pool, leaving Kiyotaka no choice but to follow after her from behind. With her back wide open and defenseless, Kiyotaka gathered up a lot of water and splashed Honami in one go. Getting caught surprise and off-guard by his sudden move on her, Honami tells Kiyotaka that he is a very sly person for thinking of doing something like that behind her back without warning. When Kiyotaka admits he loathed being sprinkled with water unjustly and tells her not to hate him for his action stating that the two of them are now even, Honami laughs at his reasoning and resumes playing with him further. Her side story ends when Honami laughably argues that she won't resent Kiyotaka for what he did to her, proclaiming that it is her turn to do the same to him while vowing to strike back at the latter even stronger than her previous attack.

**Horikita** : *"You're quite well-informed, aren't you?"*

**Honami** : *"When I joined the student council, I inevitably picked up on those kinds of things."*

In addition to that, Honami come across Suzune hanging out with Kiyotaka and talking about Miyabi Nagumo which caught her attention to join them in their conversation. Since the two didn't know a thing about him, she points out the identity of the Vice-President, his popularity with the girls, and how he is set to become President of the Student Council next year as a third-year, saying the guy is smart on the job. When Suzune mention the Student Council President, Honami acknowledge that person to be amazing comparable to Miyabi in skills as well, considering him to be almost possibly the most extraordinary student in the school's whole history. At this point in time, Honami noticed that Suzune shared the same last name with Manabu, figuring out that they were perhaps siblings all along. Honami talks with Suzune about the history, along with the structure of the Student Council, possible reasons for why the placement of students like her happened in Class 1-D and Miyabi's infamous reputation, abilities, and his relationship with Manabu Horikita. For instance, Honami recalls the fact that during the previous Student Council elections, both second-year Manabu and first-year Miyabi ran for the position of president as they square each other off in a competition of who gets to win it. Honami tells Suzune that the reason she know this much about the two's rivalry is because she had naturally discovered those kinds of details here and there after joining the Student Council. She admits that joining the Student Council is tricky to say the least, revealing to both Suzune and Kiyotaka of her own failure in joining the Student Council the first time when her application was turned down by Manabu.

**Honami** : *"My goal is definitely to be like Nagumo-senpai. We both started strong, and we get along well. All the student council presidents in this school's history originally came from Class A, but Nagumo-senpai is like me. We both came from Class B. Then, before anyone realized it, he was next in line to become the president. So, that's why I'm going to become president after Nagumo-senpai."*

Considering the attempts to reapply for the Student Council is endless, she decided to use the chances given to her to persistently keep trying and not give up by submitting an application once again. President Miyabi never confirmed her application the second time but Vice-President Miyabi did as he is the one who makes the final decision in allowing her to pass. On the other hand, Honami even told Suzune that her brother is disappointed with the first-year students like herself who was not accepted until Miyabi allowed her allow to join. Usually, Honami and someone else (Kōhei Katsuragi) other than herself among the first-years would enter the Student Council but this time around, it was only just her alone who was able to successfully find a way into the group thanks to the effort of Vice-President Miyabi. Honami informs Suzune that Manabu is likely to step down from his seat of presidency somewhere in October. As she is the one and only first-year freshman in the student body, Honami is eager to hurry up and prove her worth there. She boldly proclaims her goal was going to be something similar to that of Miyabi's own, thinking the two are alike in some ways where they started off strong, get along well with people and both hailed from Class B. She informs Suzune that normally someone with Class A origin will always end up becoming the the Student Council President but Miyabi prove the school wrong as he is secured a spot to be next-in-line to take the seat of presidency. Honami jokingly thought about becoming the next Student Council President in the future right after her upperclassman Miyabi had his turn.

**Horikita** : *"So, you're saying there's a problem with me overall?"*

**Honami** : *"Oh, no. Sorry. I apologize if that's how it sounded. But think about it. Basically, Horikita-san, you're the sort of person who believes in herself. If we turn that statement around, though, it could also mean that you're self-centered. In the real world, there will be times when you need to determine who's better suited to a situation: a self-important person, or someone who follows instructions. Such decisions are made on a case-by-case basis."*

Besides that, Honami also explains to Suzune the possible reason for why she is assigned in Class 1-D and not Class 1-A was solely because the school doesn't handle their placement of students like herself by academic abilities alone but also through basing their decisions on the demonstrations of the child's intelligence, maturity level, and collaboration skills as well. Honami judged that perhaps this was what placed Suzune in Class 1-D due to how self-centered she is believing in only herself and her abilities which cannot be the only thing highly regarded in the real world when someone else who follows instruction is also just as valuable as being self-important depending on the situation that are suited to them. She said such decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Not long after, Honami left the two behind to talk in private when she was picked up by her friend to go somewhere.

**Horikita** : *"I don't really feel like playing, either."*

**Honami** : *"Horikita-san, are you running away?"*

When Honami regroup back together with members of Class 1-D and her fellow classmates 1-B, she heard Kanji Ike voice his complaint about Miyabi having an ear piecing. Despite his argument, Honami defended Miyabi as she felt it would be fine to wear them during the middle of summer vacation. Although Kanji argued that there's a hole in his ear to be the big problem, Honami thinks differently justifying that was likely the work of a clip-on earring Miyabi was wearing and he will continue to dress normally in school after summer vacation is over. Later, she then suggests they play a pool volleyball game with Sō Shibata, Ryūji Kanzaki, and her other fellow classmates on her team, stating that they have enough players to make the event happen between them as long as they can rotate and set. With that said, Honami proceeds to challenge Suzune and the latter's class to a volleyball match between Class 1-B and Class 1-D, where the losers would buy lunch for the winners, provoking the latter to not even think of trying to run away from the match before it even started. Honami was the person who made those stakes that the winners will be getting free lunches offered to them, courtesy of the losers who are paying for their meal ticket. After enough persuasion through provocations by Honami had been made intentionally, Suzune snapped back and accepts her proposition. She admitted to Suzune that this mock competition was like a microcosm of their two classes arranged by her in the hopes of ascertaining Class 1-D's capabilities among their students in contrast to her own classmates to see which side was more ambitious and had superior teamwork than the other.

**Honami** : *"Ayanokōji-kun. You're not really bad at sports, are you? Even though you're a beginner at volleyball, your movements were odd."*

Although she has troubled with handling the ball during the play, she was still able to demonstrate amazing unity and teamwork in passing it to one of her teammates like Sō. She would catch the ball and courteously guide it along back to Sō so he can prepared his next strike in scoring a winning point. Honami would send the ball flying to Class 1-D's side but was quickly blocked and deflected by Ken Sudō. While Kanji, Haruki Yamauchi, and Kiyotaka got distracted by Honami jumping upward that causes her breasts to start jiggling in the air, it presented her an opening to strike back at them but Suzune ends up catching her shot in time to retaliate. During that match, Honami's only viable strategy to go by with Class 1-B was to do whatever they can to deny Ken the ball. At the same time, Honami use this chance to intently gaze and analyzes the physical strengths of who're strongly responding to she and her classmates' offensive attacks. Along the way, she would praise Ken as the best first-year by far when it comes to this physical competition, knowing his reputation of playing basketball from her classmates who also participated in that kind of sports alongside him. After a long match in the heat, Class 1-D was the one who emerged victorious in the end, and true to her word, Honami treated them to lunch. Having sharply laid eyes on Kiyotaka when the game was still going on, she told him after the end of the match that he is not as bad at sports as the former thought him to be. Since he is not truly terrible at sports but a novice when it comes to playing volleyball, she found his movements as strange of him to make.

**Honami** : *"There might be something more important for me to use points on eventually."*

As the loser of the matchup who emerged defeated by Class 1-D, she alone rather than her entire classmates had chosen to pay for the winning team's lunch all by herself. Honami reasons that she was the one who suggested the bet in the first place after all, asserting of how the former is frugal with her money to the point where everything should just be fine on her end. Honami reassures Kikyō Kushida that although she used up quite a few private points on stuff like swimwear, it won't turn out to be a problem for her whatsoever as she don't really care much about fashion. Honami notes that she wears and rotates whatever outfits the former has in her own personal collection while knowing it was weird for a girl like herself to say but believes saving and preserving points as much as possible is the best call to do which Kikyō agrees. Nonetheless, she states that there was something else far more valuable and significant to her in spending the usage of points on at some point once the time comes where the former must use it. Honami gives Suzune permission not to hold back in ordering as much as she wants, confirming it was fine for the latter to take advantage of as the winner, telling her to eat everything to avoid having leftovers as a waste. The group later went on to buy ice-cream from the parlor, with Honami choosing a popsicle stick, and they parted ways thereafter.

#### Volume 5

Honami and the rest of her fellow classmates gathered at the school's gymnasium to discover which one of the three classes will be pairing up with Class 1-B. While initiating a conversation with Kakeru Ryūen, she loudly asked him if he intends to have his class not to hold a proper discussion with her and her classmates. In front of her, was the entire Class 1-C led by Kakeru who were in the process of exiting the gymnasium. Kakeru told Honami that he is leaving the location out of good will for the sake of her class as the former knows that she doesn't have faith in him. Honami was reminded by Kakeru that he doesn't see her believing anything he tells her as allies of the same team regardless of their cooperation or not. He points out to Honami that she will only just probe him for information to see if he could be trusted, figuring that having himself and his subordinates stay around any longer will be pointless and a waste of time. Hearing this, Honami responded that he is certainly going to save herself and her classmates the hassle from associating with them but questions him of whether he is actually sure that he can pull off a victory without cooperating.

During the Sports Festival, Honami had Class 1-B jointly cooperate with Class 1-C led by Kakeru in the White Team despite her ally not caring to work with them. Although Kakeru's side is uncooperative, Honami still did gone out of her way to provide support to her ally like covering and guarding for them until they successfully carry out their strategy. Before Ryūji Kanzaki sets off to compete with Kiyotaka Ayanokōji in the relay race, Honami informed him ahead of time that his opponent was a pretty fast runner based on her past memory of the latter chasing down Airi's stalker and her own examination of the 100-meter dash. Honami participated in the Cavalry Battle Event, and managed to emerge victorious over the competition, alongside her Class 1-B team and Class 1-C team.

In other words, during that event, she acted as Class 1-B's General while actively supported Class 1-C, moving to blockade the path leading to Suzune's side that Kei, Satsuki Shinohara, and two of their other classmates attempted to go to. As she was actively supporting her ally team, Honami helped prevented students of Class 1-D from getting in the way of Class 1-C who had been using their four horsemen, including Mio Ibuki to go after Suzune and attack her relentlessly and simultaneously without any support from her teammates. It was said that Honami's unit happened to contain some of the best and most capable people in Class 1-B. Showing no fear, she led Class 1-B to dodge the strike by Kei's group before proceeding to go for a direct attack of her own at the latter. However, since Honami's movement was not sharply flexible, this allows Kei's Red Team to react well in launching a counterattack. Between the two sides being led respectively by Honami and Kei, it was a contest of her team's unity and the latter's maneuverability. Honami's Class 1-B team fiercely battled it out with Kei's Class 1-D team and won in the end by finishing off the remaining horsemen of Class 1-A's team with the help of Ibuki's Class 1-C team. Shortly before Class 1-D horsemen were wipe out and moving to deal with the members of Class 1-A, Honami and her teammates had force Kei into an eight-to-one fight for a moment and finished her off themselves. In the three-legged race, Honami partnered up with Sō Shibata and was seen greeting Kiyotaka and Kikyō, her opponents before the match begins. Due to her and her classmates' efforts, she was able to lead Class 1-B to first place for the relay race against the two and Class 1-C among the first years.

**Honami** : *"Everybody, do your best, hold on just a little bit more!"*

In her side story, during this sports festival, Honami stood in front of her classmates while cheerfully rooting for them to win. She would loudly give words of encouragement, telling her classmates to do their best and hold on until the very end so that they can claim their class victory. Honami would shout these sorts of cheers while raising her fist up in the air, and everybody follow suit, responding to her with energetic shouts and raising their hands as well. Looking at everyone, she was convinced her class would obtain victory. She believes they almost got first place of the first-year class competitions in the bag but felt they shouldn't grow too careless when a win is within reach. Honai jokingly thought that perhaps Class 1-B's true goal all along in the festival was the need to effectively accumulate points in order to ensure their win over their opponents. As the mix three legged race was next to start, Honami was called by Sō to go together with him to the field of the competition. Honami affirms that no matter who the opponent is, they only need to fight by going all-out. However, upon seeing Kiyotaka within her vicinity, Honami stopped walking for an instant. Sō noticing this asked Honami what's wrong but the latter tells him that she just want to meet up and have a greeting with Kikyō. While saying this, she pointed to Kiyotaka and Kikyō who were walking in front of them.

**Kushida** : *"Oh, wow, real tough opponents! To think the two of you are teaming up..."*

**Honami** : *"Well, Shibata-kun might be tough, but I'm really not all that special, you know? I haven't gotten first place in anything yet."*

When she and Sō came into contact with Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and Kikyō Kushida for the race, it was revealed that Honami had focused her gaze on Kiyotaka rather than his partner, subconsciously calling out his name and greeting him first before Kikyō without Sō noticing. Although Kikyō believes the two are powerful as a pair, Honami refute it not being the case for her compared to Sō who is more athletically capable in sports than she is, remarking how she still haven't reach 1st place by herself in any competition so far. Honami tells Kikyō that the highest she has gotten was 2nd place while the rest of her results were nothing more than filled with 4th or 5th place. She points out how there seems to be a very lot of wounded people this time of the year and that one of her classmates were no exception to this. Her female classmate was supposed to enter the race with Sō, but since she sprained her leg during the 200-meter race from this morning, Honami had decided to take her place as a substitute. On the other hand, she secretly remembered the results of Kiyotaka's competitions, believing his abilities to be average at best yet she sensed there was something special about him. She thinks Kiyotaka made people including herself felt like he was average but he was actually unfathomable, before quickly resuming her focus attentively back on the relay race so as to not be distracted by his presence any longer. Having seen his tricks and demeanor in the last exam previously on the cruiser ship, and all of his actions so far, her impression of Kiyotaka being an ordinary student you could find everywhere in this school, began to change ever since.

Although Class 1-B came in first place during a Sports Festival competition with 50 class points obtained initially, they soon lost double that amount which is 100 when White Team end up losing to Red Team by the end of this event. Taking into consideration her classmates' win and loss through this Sports Festival competitions, it can be said that the Class 1-B Honami led with her leadership had their overall amount decreased by 50 as it becomes 753.

#### Volume 6

**Honami** : *"Wow, Class D sure is lively. I almost wish you'd share some of that energy with us!"*

**Horikita** : *"Yeah, but they're lively about all the wrong things. To be honest, I envy Class B."*

After the Sports Festival came to an end, Honami went on to have her Class 1-B plan some time off studying. She entered the first-year students' area and waved her hand at Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and Suzune Horikita, inviting them to come talk to the former. Once they met up, it was revealed by Suzune that Honami had chosen to accept a joint study group with her and Class 1-D, arranging to have that study session between their two classes in the library area, in preparation for the Paper Shuffle Special Exam. Honami was excited to see Kiyotaka is taking part in the learning activity, telling him that she might be the one who needs his help rather than the other way around. While so, Honami managed to secure members of Class 1-D some corner seats to sit together alongside them and her own classmates of 1-B. In spite of what she said, Honami volunteer herself to tutor both Kiyotaka and Maya Satō when the latter asked for help in studying. Once that task was over and seeing how lively the students of Class 1-D were after the study session concluded, Honami wishfully voice her thought of desiring to make Suzune and her classmates shared a bit of that energy with Class 1-B so they can feel the same way as them. Suzune disagrees, and states her jealousy, wishing her classmates was a lot like Honami and her class who are more focus, calm, composed and cooperative on in their studies seriously. Later, after Kikyō Kushida bid farewell to her, Honami was then asked by Suzune, with Kiyotaka also present regarding questions that needs an answer from her. Pondering what Suzune is looking to chat with her about, Honami inquires what kind of questions they might be to which the Class 1-D girl states this is something private only between them who are allowed to hear. As their talk will only last a few minutes, Honami accept Suzune's request and apologizes to her classmates of 1-B, ordering them to wait for her in the hallway until she is finished talking with the latter.

**Horikita** : *"Well, would you be unconditionally willing to help someone, as long as they were from Class B? Even if that student didn't contribute much to the class?"*

**Honami** : *"No matter how the other person acted, I'd be on Class B's side. If someone were in trouble, I'd definitely try to help."*

With their classmates finally out of the library excluding herself, Kiyotaka, and Suzune, Honami asked her what she was planning to chat with her about exactly. From that meeting, Honami reaffirmed her commitment that she was naturally willing to lend a hand to any friend or ally who seeked her aid if they happened to be in trouble. Suzune shows appreciation for what Honami and her classmates of 1-B has done to help Class 1-D with their joint study sessions, which led to her next question. When Suzune questions if she was willing to offer a helping hand to those who reached out to her, Honami responded that she will do so immediately without hesitation. Hearing Honami's response, Suzune poses the next question to her of whether or not the former has a certain criteria that clearly determines who is and isn't her friend. However, Honami who was unsure of that inquiry asked Suzune of what she meant by that much to her confusion. Realizing that she couldn't make sense of understanding her question, Suzune decided to rephrase her words questioning Honami of whether she will be decisively willing to assist a student, as long as they're belonging to Class 1-B only even if her classmate doesn't offer a lot of contribution to the class. In response, Honami admits that no matter how the other person acted in her class, she'd always be on their side and talk on their behalf regardless of how much they contributed to Class 1-B. Honami declares that she will definitely help any one of her classmates who are in trouble. To convey her question across, Suzune suggest a scenario where Honami had a classmate who despises her, questioning if she has the heart to continue liking that person or come to detest them out of newfound hatred. In the event that someone from Class 1-B really abhorred her, Honami uncertainly believes the most logical choice for her was to steer clear of a confrontation with that hater as much as she can and prevent them from hating on her any further.

**Horikita** : *"Well, let me ask you another silly question. Let's suppose someone in Class B hated you. Would you be able to like that person? Or would you end up hating them in return?"*

**Honami** : *"Hmm. I'm not sure. If they really hated me, my best option would be to avoid contact as much as possible, to keep them from disliking me even more."*

Nevertheless, when the haters are face with a problem, Honami undoubtedly states that she would still go out of her way and support them since they were a member of Class 1-B regardless of their hate directed towards her. Honami proclaims that even if they resent her to the core, she will forever always be Class 1-B's ally. Class 1-B was regarded as extremely important to Honami by Suzune, which she kindly agrees stating that they're all good kids to her. Honami admits how, at first, she was saddened to discover the former wasn't placed in Class 1-A but changed her mind later on after getting to better know her classmates herself. Honami tells her that ever since that point on, the former starts to think that she is in the best class and asked Suzune if the latter also feels the same way she do. On the other hand, when Kiyotaka Ayanokōji steps into the conversation with a question of his own about her friendship with students from the other classes, Honami states that she does in fact view both Kiyotaka and Suzune as dear friends. As Kiyotaka asserts if Class 1-D was faced with a trouble to the point that they came begging her to lend a million private points, Honami's answer to his inquiry made him points out how her generosity knows no bounds when it comes to aiding anyone in need to take care of their troubles. Honami admits she desires to ideally help any student but knows that it's not always a simple way to go about it, arguing of how there's a limit to how much she could do herself. Honami reasons that if Kakeru Ryūen was the person who is in trouble, she couldn't bring herself to easily assist him like she does for the others but claims that if it's within her power to help, she will consider helping out. Honami told him that depending on the scope of her power, she was willing to assist by lending as much private points as she could without a fixed limit to a friend from a different class from her own as long as there was a good reason to justify it, not caring about the exact amount specifically.

**Horikita** : *"In that case...what would you do if Kanzaki-kun and I had the same problem?"*

**Honami** : *"You mean if I had to pick one of you? Sorry. I don't know how to answer that. In a hypothetical scenario like that, no matter who I helped, I'd hurt someone else."*

In other words, as long as that someone is her friend, a problem's intensity and nature that her friend was facing did not matter or mean anything to her. Honami agrees that she would even go so far as to welcome a tearfully pleading student to her with open arms and hear them out concerning their problems. Though she remained uncertain, unable to answer properly on who to help if the choice was between saving someone from her class or a friend from a different class as both have the same problem, acknowledging that one of them would be hurt because of her decision. Honami was at a complete loss when having to consider the possibility where she must pick either Ryūji Kanzaki or Suzune, apologizing to the Class 1-D girl that she doesn't know of how to respond during such a hypothetical scenario. Honami was cognizant that regardless of who or which person among the two she decides to help will only served to end up yielding bad outcomes since she is still terribly abandoning someone else at the cost of rescuing the other. Upon being called a purely good person who could care less about their virtues being rewarded, Honami thinks otherwise differently and disagrees stating how Suzune was giving her too much credit. Although she initially been honest and straightforward throughout the conversation between the three of them so far, Honami was actually taken aback by how Suzune feels and describes her to be as the former's eyes began darting around the room and refusing to lock a direct gaze towards the latter anymore. Honami can no longer muster the strength to even look straight at Suzune in the face while claiming that she is not so wonderful and kind-hearted of a human being that someone like the latter can accept her for being. When Honami tells her that's not a big deal, Suzune noticed her strange reaction and offers an apology stating that the latter accidentally went a little overboard with her comment and for making the former uncomfortable around her. Honami said it was okay and forgives Suzune, saying that her words earlier weren't really what made her uneasy and unsettling. Still, Honami was clearly shaken up by Suzune's words emotionally and asked her if that was all she desired to chat with the former about, asserting that she wants to call it a day as her friends like Chihiro Shiranami are still waiting for her in the hallway outside the library. As a result, she finally parted ways with the both of them, saying her goodbye to the two before quickly setting off to meet up with her classmates.

**Ryūen** : *"That's right. Besides, it's up to the school to decide whether you're doing something wrong."*

**Honami** : *"I suppose so. Sorry, everyone. But please don't worry. I'll report to the teachers tomorrow and prove that this is just a misunderstanding on Ryūen's part."*

Later, a false rumor had spread of Honami going around collecting private points illegally, against the school's rules, and Kakeru Ryūen was suspected of being the one to have perpetuated the widespread allegation towards her. She was confronted by him about validity of the allegation, accusing her of lying and hiding evidence to save face. When Kakeru calls her out for it, Honami tells him that he probably wouldn't believe anything of what she has to say in order to defend herself from the rumor. Hearing from him that it was up to the school to figure out if what she was doing is something wrong or not, Honami agrees with his sentiment and apologizes to everyone present in the lobby for the recent commotion. Honami declares openly that she'll make sure to report to the teachers the following day and prove that this is just a misunderstanding on Kakeru's part who has no evidence to support his argument. To satisfy Kakeru, Honami suggests that the former will contact the school and explain everything she knew about her points, revealing exactly how many she may have in total, along with how she earned them in such a short amount of time legally. Once Kakeru asked her to prove it right now, in front of everyone around them, Honami counters by questioning if he will be okay with her giving an explanation to him and accept that as the answer to which he won't. While he taunts her that she is lying as naturally as she breathes, Honami refutes stating it should stand to reason that, if she report her overall amount of points to the school, there shouldn't be any room left for him to claim it was a fraud which Kakeru admits she has a valid point on. Kakeru accuses Honami of coming up with some kind of scheme behind the scene to hide the evidence at this moment, leaving her no other but to ask him what it must take for him to finally believe her words. When Kakeru offers his stipulations that involves having Honami truthfully reveal all the points she has to the students in front of her, explaining what she secretly did to acquired that much on her own, and volunteering himself to share that information to the school tomorrow, he reasons that that this will be more than enough to convince the students who distrust her.

**Honami** : *"Will you believe me if I just explain it to you, Ryūen-kun?"*

**Ryūen** : *"No, I won't. Spewing lies is probably as easy for you as breathing."*

However, Honami refuses to go along with that sort of idea in mind, making Kakeru to suspect that she is admitting to the notion of having committed illegal activity all along. Honami clarifies that was not what the former is saying while arguing with him that she had no precise reason to give away all her cards to him as evidence, like the amount of private points the former had and how she had got her hands on it because she had not even acquired them illegally in the first place. She also told Kakeru of how there was no real point to having him be the person to report her information to the school since if the points were prove to be earn fraudulently on her part, then they would disclose everything about that kind of information to the public anyway. Doubting that he would ever trust or accept her words, she considers clearing up the misunderstanding by reasoning with the teachers instead, in private, herself rather than have him go and do it. Honami tells Kakeru that she has no qualms of letting the school investigate but only after she filed a report to the teachers about the reason for having such an amount of points to begin with. Yet Kakeru asserts that there is no guarantee she'll properly report the total points to the school like Honami say she will. In response, Honami comments that he might as well go ahead and do it himself, daring Kakeru to persuade the school of just what he wrote down in this rumor letter without hard evidence. After the conversation between them ends and he leave the scene, Honami made it her objective to explain everything in great detail to the school officials the next day about how many points she had in total within her possession at the time, and how she was able to obtain them through a legal way. Upon offering a reasonable explanation to the teachers, she left the investigation on the school to prove her innocence of the supposed fraud accused by him. Once the school's investigation concluded, Honami was cleared of all suspicion after they issued an official notice that there was no fraudulent activity in which she was involved.

In her side story, during Mid-December, on the day the results of the Paper Shuffle were released, she called out to Ryūji Kanzaki in the classroom about their defeat against Class 1-A, as Class 1-B had lost by two points. Since she and her classmates failed to beat the people of Class 1-A, Class 1-B as a result was said to have lose nearly about 100 class points along the way. With such a loss deducted from their amount, Honami's Class 1-B now only has around 653 class points remaining as leftover. Particularly, this side story begins with Honami seeking her classmate's input by asking Ryūji a question and wonders if their chances of toppling Class 1-A was within their reach. She knew this result was to be expected considering how smart Class 1-A is overall and felt they are unable to catch up to them while Ryūji believed there was still enough time for their own class to recover and make a comeback. Ryūji and Honami knows that even though they lost, the difference between their two classes was merely by 2 points, suggesting that if they break that gap, Class 1-B would've won the Paper Shuffle in the end. It was due to that narrow margin that the shock of Honami and her classmates' loss was a huge one too though but she understood how her class isn't the kind that would lose heart from just that defeat. She talks with him about the Sports Festival rankings, understanding that Class 1-D led by Suzune was rapidly becoming a lot powerful to the point that they had risen to Class C much faster than she and Ryūji had anticipated. Honami knew that someday Suzune and the rest of her classmates would eventually reach Class C in the future but unexpectedly felt this was happening way too soon even during their first-year of high school which has yet to come to an end. Considering how there was once just that much of a class point gap back then where Class 1-D lost all of their class points roughly one month after enrollment, Honami figures this was a miraculous gain that they were able to find a way in pulling off and bouncing back stronger than than ever before.

**Kanzaki** : *"But, what are you intending on doing with the cooperative relationship we have with Horikita from now on? If they beat Class C, next up is naturally Class B. In other words, their battle against us will begin"*

**Honami** : *"Ordinarily speaking, that is. But, I want to continue our cooperative relationship and I think we should do so as well."*

For this reason, she and him recognizes that there's a high probability that with this result from the Sports Festival, Class 1-D has begun to rise up ever since that day of the event. She reached such a conclusion after having carefully analyzed Class 1-D's coordination and deemed it to be superior to that of Class 1-C's while feeling sketchy about it. Despite Kakeru and his classmates having fallen to Class 1-D by the time the next semester arrives, Honami still planned to keep her guard up, unable to lose a bit of wariness towards him until she is certainly sure and confirmed for herself that he is gone for good. This is due to the fact that she could not tell what he was thinking in his mind when there were several rumors floating around of Kakeru happened to be working behind the scenes for his class as well as not forgetting the trouble he had caused for her class in the past. When Honami was asked by Ryūji what she planned to do after Suzune Horikita and her classmates had climbed up to Class 1-C where they defeated Kakeru's class and were likely to set their sights on challenging Class 1-B next, she said it could've ordinarily been the case had the alliance never existed. Although Ryūji questions how long she intends their alliance to last, Honami tells him that both sides would be better off continuing to maintain the status quo of their cooperative relationship, until Class 1-B finally ascended to Class A while Suzune's class to B. In other words, Honami thinks it is beneficial for the alliance of their two classes to each rise up to A and B respectively before finally ending their alliance and dueling each other out. She believed that it was ideal and easier for Class 1-B to come up with a strategy if they were to face off against Suzune and her classmates one-on-one as final opponents at the very end than deal with hard, tricky enemies from the other classes. She reasoned that each and every time they had fought against Arisu, Kakeru and the others, the amount of stamina it consumed from their own class grew intense over time.

**Kanzaki** : *"In other words, you mean you want to maintain the status quo until we defeat Class A?"*

**Honami** : *"Yeah. I think it's ideal if we fight against Horikita-san and the others one-on-one at the very end. Each and every time we fight against Sakayanagi-san and Ryūen-kun and the others, the amount of stamina it consumes is intense after all."*

What Honami meant is that for better or for worse, since Class 1-D is similar to Class 1-B, it's easier to deal with Suzune and her classmates while setting up a strategy against them. Nonetheless, she had no intention of underestimating the lineup of Suzune's class in contrast to the other two powerful classes. Not only Yōsuke Hirata and Kikyō, who were supporting Suzune, she also assumed Kiyotaka might also likely possess a certain degree of ability on backing them up as well. Ever since the end of the Sports Festival, she felt that the result of Kiyotaka's relay showed the heights of Class 1-D's potential with mysterious and unpredictable elements from their side along with leaving a strong impression of him. She recalls being surprised at Kiyotaka's running form and also the focused breathing while following after the latter and rescuing Airi from her stalker to the scene of the crime, which got the former to reconsider the possibility that it might not just be him alone in Suzune's class to worry about. Honami figured that there could likely have been other strong talented individuals in Class 1-D whom were just as much of a threat as Kiyotaka in terms of power to be on the lookout for besides him. She started to become increasingly wary about Suzune's class concerning students that were not standing out much similar to Kiyotaka, still possibly hiding their true abilities from everyone. When Ryūji states that he has plans to meet with someone after their talk, she comments of how uncommon it was to see him go out of his way and do but upon hearing his reason that it's for the sake of rising to Class A, Honami advised her classmate not to push himself.

After Ryūji finish his conversation with her, he bids farewell to Honami and left the classroom. Honami was then shortly greeted by Sō Shibata who seemed disappointed at himself for not trying hard enough to help Class 1-B score more marks to beat Class 1-A in the Paper Shuffle Exam. She asked him what's wrong to which he avoids answering and questions Honami of what she has been talking to Ryūji about. Honami responded of how it was regarding the future of Class 1-B and that they have to think of a strategy moving forward. During her brief conversation with him, she quickly grasped what he was feeling deeply troubled about, noticing that Sō remembered the results of the Paper Shuffle. When Sō apologizes for being unsuccessful in achieving more marks which might've been able to help their class secure a win, Honami reassures him to not fret too much over this result as she is in the same boat like him too, believing it is only natural to feel self-responsible of one's defeat. Trying to dispel the depressing mood, Honami informs Sō that she has decided to go out and play with their classmates of 1-B and asked him what he will do next after their talk is over. Due to the sad state he was in, she attempted to cheer him up by having herself, him, and her classmates including Chihiro Shiranami to hang out and play together with them in Keyaki Mall to put behind Class 1-B's loss to Class 1-A. Realizing what she was implying, Sō states that because it was exactly at times like these when they seem lost with themselves, he thought it's a great idea to make merry with everyone from their class and shared the pain together which Honami consented. With Sō accepting her invitation, she proceeded to call out to everyone left behind in the class. Ultimately, bringing along the members of Class 1-B which had swollen up to 10 people, she and her classmates set off to Keyaki Mall. Having everyone together accompanying Honami by her side, she tells herself in her head that it's precisely in times of defeat that the former needs to keep herself cheerful and optimistic in front of them.

**Sakayanagi** : *"Ara. You're bringing along quite a large crowd of people. It seems quite fun, Ichinose-san"*

**Honami** : *"No---because we couldn't have our victory celebration I thought we'd have our pity celebration instead."*

On the way to Keyaki Mall, in the morning, she and her friends encountered three members of Class 1-A being Arisu Sakayanagi, Masayoshi Hashimoto and Masumi Kamuro. After Honami greeted her, Arisu points out that it must be very enjoyable to have a large crowd gathered around the former, who which she disagrees. Honami explains that they weren't going to Keyaki Mall to take part in a victory celebration but rather do the opposite, stating how she thought it was best to have a pity celebration for Class 1-B instead. Learning of the intent behind Honami's huge gathering, Arisu accepts that to be the case and expressed her own shock at the passing scores of Class 1-B in the Paper Shuffle. Honami was told by Arisu that if even a single thing had gone terribly wrong with Class 1-A, Class 1-B would've been the side to come out as a winner and how the latter's class could've ended up being the ones who lost. Hearing that Arisu acknowledges their respective class capabilities as almost equal to each other, Honami thanked her for the recognition of Class 1-B's strength and vows to not lose again the next time they face off in a battle. Not before long, Honami later unexpectedly received a consult request by Arisu that the latter was in search of the former's help with confronting a troublesome problem she could not solve on her own and that she did not know what she should do to fix it, even with the assistance of folks from Class 1-A. Deliberating, Honami nervously asked Arisu if it was really okay to consul with someone like her who is not in the same class as the latter which she has no qualms. As Arisu was open to seeking her aid in the future, Honami states that she didn't mind the thought of helping the girl out whatsoever. At the same time, Honami even encourages Arisu to contact her anytime while remarking on her own uncertainty as to how much use she'll be to the latter.

**Sakayanagi** : *"My troubles are something that'll prove difficult to consult with the folks of Class A on. If Ichinose-san doesn't mind then---"*

**Honami** : *"I don't mind at all. Yeah, I'd like you to contact me anytime. I don't know of how much use I'll be to you though."*

As a result of this exchange, Honami reluctantly accepted Arisu's request, not sure whether that was a lie or not of needing her help until she could first talk to the latter in private about it. In her head, Honami thought that if Arisu was indeed in need of support from her, the former would do whatever she could to assist the latter, no matter what. The two proceeded to share their address information and contact number with each other. After Arisu and her classmates take their leave, Honami doubtfully wonder if she always walks around carrying her contact number in a memorandum. Before long, Honami looked down at the address and number written on that paper handed to her and put it inside her pocket. Even as Honami felt a slight unease about Arisu, she silently watches the latter distance herself from her. Later on, Honami was then told by Sō and her friends that they were concerned for her not acting more cautious about Arisu of Class 1-A's request but she simply thought it to be a normal consultation and tells them there was no need to not show worry over it. Her side story ends when Honami remarks in her monologue that she will always do her very best to answer the calls of everyone else regardless of who they are or what their circumstances may be. This was to the point that in her mind, Honami believes how it might even someday end up becoming the reason of why she got strangled by it all.

#### Volume 7

**Sakayanagi** : *"Thank you for going out with me today, Sakayanagi-san."*

**Honami** : *"Oh, no, no. The pleasure's mine."*

Once the battle between Class 1-D and Class 1-C ended in the victory of the former over the exam Paper Shuffle, it was revealed that both Honami and Arisu Sakayanagi were apparently accompanying each other on a stroll. Just as the two were thanking one another for being able to have a productive one-on-one discussion, she came across the Ayanokōji Group, greeting them and then congratulating them for their class win over Kakeru's class. She laughably play off Class 1-B's loss to Class 1-A by a slight margin of two-point difference while Arisu sees it to have been a close match where both sides were almost even. Because Class 1-D will ascend to Class 1-C during the third semester, she has come to recognize that her Class 1-B is possibly next in line to deal with their class and plans to be on her guard against them. Realizing that Kiyotaka's friends doesn't seem to kindly welcome a small talk with her any longer, she and Arisu proceed to leave soon after.

#### Volume 7.5

Ever since she had met up with Arisu Sakayanagi between Class 1-B and Class 1-A and the two's talk, Honami chose to spend some of her quality time during the holidays together with her to answer the latter's request for assistance. Although whether she knew this or not, Honami was approach by Arisu who was searching for the former's decisive weak point and strategically plotting her offensive way to conquer her and the people of Class 1-B through it. Based on the discussion Arisu have had with Kiyotaka, it was implied that Honami partly revealed the secret of her own past to the leader of Class 1-A without meaning to do that. This was highly indicated when Honami was still hanging out with Arisu and indirectly giving away hints of her secret for the latter to keenly catch on and grasp details of the former's weakness. Due to Arisu's cold reading ability, it is revealed that she was able to force Honami to gently open up her heart to her and be honest with Class 1-A's leader, letting an enemy from a different class outside her own to hear of the secret in detail.

#### Volume 8

**Honami** : *"Nyahaha. If you ask me whether or not it was difficult then I'd say it was difficult. I thought we'd be able to decide on our groups more smoothly—. But when you've got to quarrel, you've just got to quarrel I guess."*

During the Mixed Training Camp, in the school's cafeteria, Honami appeared heavily exhausted after working to decide on which one of her classmates would be grouped with whom for that exam due to conflicts breaking out as they had to be paired with students of different classes. She admitted how the matter was difficult even for her to handle and resolve, having initially thought that it would have been easy of them to decide on their groups more smoothly if not for the bickering that ensue. According to Honami, it took the girls side until past noon to finally resolve their issue compared to the boys in her class who are being managed by Ryūji Kanzaki that went pretty well without too many issues. However, Honami understood that if the students are going to quarrel, then they might as well just quarrel regardless due to the fact her classmates are seen as an enemy to them despite grouping up. When one of her classmates Asako conveyed their concern whether someone like herself from their class may get expelled for dragging everyone down with her, Honami cheerfully reassures the former a few times that she would definitely be okay. Honami tells her friends that as long as they put in serious effort, nothing like that will happen to them. She backed up her claim of how there were nobody in the first-year who had become an expellee among the freshman students so far at the time. Nonetheless, Honami advised all present in the conversation that they needed to be on guard of the looming danger of expulsion. Honami consoled the despondent Asako that if something bad were to ever happen to her like facing expulsion, she and her classmates would make sure to save her no matter the situation the latter was in.

Once the girls' chat was over and they part ways with her, Honami relaxes a little to ease her exhaustion by dropping her stouthearted attitude and leaning on the wide table with her upper body. Through doing this, Honami felt like all the fatigue she had accumulated during the day just faded away, figuring it would be great if the former fell asleep in that position as Honami closed her eyes and thought so. However, Honami tries to resist believing that if she were to end up falling asleep in the cafeteria, the former would only be inconveniencing the others around her yet her eyelids felt too heavy to move. When Honami tried her best to finally open her eyelids again, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji was reflected in my eyes at a close distance much to the former's surprise. Before long, she notices Kiyotaka's gaze on her to which Honami then abruptly raised her upper body and called out to him as a greeting. As Kiyotaka points out she was having a good time, it made her realize that he must've quietly overheard her conversation with Asako and the others. She had a small talk with Kiyotaka, stating that girls' chats may or may not be their source of power. While so, since she have't been sufficiently rested yet, Honami just didn't have the strength to stand up and had chosen to use the table and lean on it as a replacement pillow, showing her defenseless side to Kiyotaka out in the open. Seeing Kiyotaka's flabbergasted look on his face at the unexpected sight, Honami asked if he was not fine with her doing something like this in front of him. As it may have been too rude an attitude and position to take when speaking to him, she tried straightening herself up but Kiyotaka stopped her. He tells her it was normally alright to act the way she did since she is tired which Honami apologizes for making him seem uncomfortable.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Ryūen's openly disliked though"*

**Honami** : *"It's bad to laugh at that but that really couldn't be helped, could it? But isn't Ryūen-kun tired too? To be disliked by everyone must be tiring."*

Returning back on topic, Kiyotaka questions that it must've been quite the difficult group to form, to which Honami agrees until she formed this current group he seen her with recently. Honami briefly explains the level of difficulty about how some girls from her side known very well what their likes and dislikes are even to each other, commenting that there are more than a few of them who are willing to say they don't like another girl straight to their face. In that regard, Honami mentions that when it comes to personal feelings, she points out how there are a lot of boys who like to muddy the waters which Kiyotaka doubts as he argues that is not always the case considering Kakeru Ryūen is publicly disliked. Although she had already heard her fair share of quarrels breaking out over the small details, Honami in her mind thought that if she could learn a variety of new things from Kiyotaka, the former would like to collect more information and hear him out on. Honami thinks it's bad to laugh at Kiyotaka's remark about him but felt that really couldn't be helped in his case, questioning whether Kakeru ever feel tired of being disliked by everyone. She states that it must be tiring for Kakeru, thinking in her mind that he would've been just fine if he had connected with others more in order to get along with them. Honami thought that even if he turns over a new leaf now, she doubts it will make things go well due to the difficulty surrounding his aggressive actions in the past. When Kiyotaka reminds her not to get too fired up over that train of thought, Honami believes Kiyotaka was acting considerate of her. In response to his consideration, Honami tells him it was fine, mentioning that being energetic is about the only thing she have going for herself. Not long after their conversation concluded, Honami bid farewell to Kiyotaka, having failed to draw information out of him unsuccessfully. Once more, she began relaxing on her own again.

**Honami** : *".....so they've climbed up to Class C. Even though all I've heard of are Horikita-san's accomplishments......"*

After he leave her behind to gather her thoughts, Honami understood that all she can do when it comes to an exam like the Mixed Training Camp is to tackle it seriously regardless of the ways. Honami admits that a special exam where she'll have to join hands with people other than her own classmates isn't really one the former could do anything about and accept it as is. The mere thought of an enemy becoming her ally was what trouble Honami to have an inner conflict with herself as it is out of the ordinary and not normally the case when they're supposed to be enemies. Honami was concern that if it continues happening and staying this way, her feelings would eventually come bursting forth. She thought that while looking at Kiyotaka's back as he went away. To Honami, this meant she had became cognizant that increasing the number of more people like Kiyotaka to protect outside her class was now a turning point where she'll end up being unable to keep up with saving them all. Honami softly mumbled to herself that even though Kiyotaka and his classmates climbed up to Class 1-C, she harbored skepticism if all of Suzune Horikita's accomplishments were the one and only things that explained the success of their class, for she had heard no feats of him. She pondered who had leaked information about the massive amount of points in her possession to Kakeru Ryūen, suspecting the person to be either from Class 1-B or Kiyotaka himself as there were only a few people who know the fact. She remained uncertain of what role Kiyotaka has in the competitions, understanding at the very least that he was positioned perfectly but not sure of how much influence the latter had on his class is still a complete unknown to her. Either way, Honami knows that she needs to ascertain this soon enough. In the end, Honami thinks that if Kiyotaka happened to be someone far superior to Suzune then it might meant having to consider actually seeing him as a real threat to Class 1-B, which she must protect.

**Honami** : *"Likewise, Shiina-san. I've always wanted to get along with you."*

**Shiina** : *"Is that so? It's an honor."*

The following day where she was finally able to organize her group after many ups and downs with the stormy and dramatic events that repeated themselves, Honami went on to cheerfully and energetically jog around the campus grounds. While in the middle of her jogging, Honami happened to noticed that Mei-Yu Wang was lagging behind her, out of breath, in their run together. Observing Mei-Yu's growing exhaustion, Honami decides to slow down her own speed a bit. At the same time, Honami came to the decision that she would move at the same pace as her friend, along with Hiyori Shiina who catches up to them, giving Mei-Yu her support in the forms of encouragement. According to Kiyotaka, he learned from Kei Karuizawa that Masumi Kamuro in Arisu Sakayanagi's group didn't allow any students of Class 1-B into their circle except for Classes 1-C and 1-D because Honami is not trustworthy. On the other hand, Honami recalled partitioning the groups multiple times and how she was the only Class 1-B student in her group without any connections or ties to the members around her. Both Honami and Mei-Yu are just students brought in to fill the leftover spots within the group that mostly compromises of rejects and problem children excluding them. For that reason, she was looking to forge new relationships with the students from different classes like Hiyori, who she hadn't been able to talk to until they had became part of the same group this special exam. In a rush to hurriedly build companionship, Honami greets Hiyori and tells her that it was always her desire to become friends with the latter, wishing to befriend each other and hope to always get along well with one another as fellow group members. Though befriending Hiyori's classmates is hard when they're once Kakeru's subordinates, she still wants to try as the one thing she vows to avoid is her group not making the cut and an expulsion occurring. Honami didn't desire to be the leader of a group this time around as she didn't want to be the one to take responsibility and drag someone else down along with them including herself.

Since she was in a group with people who are not from the same class as her, Honami could not afford to "play favorites" with any of her classmates from Class 1-B. Hence, she chose not to put herself forward for the role of group leader but purposely let Hiyori who is extremely reliable enough go ahead and take the initiative to lead them by accepting the uncontested position. Though it is partly because Hiyori immediately raised her hand to be the one talking on behalf of the group that Honami didn't think their group could earn 1st place on the exam, considering who their members are what kind of people they were. Honami understood that there are quite a bit of girls with comparatively big egos from Class 1-A and Class 1-D within the group. In her mind, Honami knows that if she were to carelessly start pulling them along willy-nilly, they may start to suspect the former suspiciously for her action and manners. Thinking that way, she has decided to wait for a while until they choose to call the former out and talk to her. While so, Honami notices that Mei-Yu is unable to actively participate in a conversation and wants to help the awkward girl out but refrains from doing so as there are other girls in their lineup that possibly could do it in her stead. Believing it would be easy to simply reach out to Mei-Yu, Honami notes that if those two classes still don't extend a helping hand to Mei-Yu and converse with her, she will consider doing it herself if nothing happened for too long. Fortunately, Hiyori was able to gently initiate a chat with Mei-Yu much to Honami's relief that everything work out well for her. When Honami was asked by a girl from Class 1-A if she had had a boyfriend before, the former embarrassingly denied it, admitting to the fact that she had no prior experience on romance or dating someone before. Honami don't believe she herself was a "high-standards" type but is unsure with her answer and wonders more.

Before long, panic starts to set in for her upon being questioned on the spot suddenly whether there was any boy she had a romantic interest in like Miyabi. Once a group member mentions how it was known that she is seen alone together with Miyabi frequently, Honami in her mind admits that she surely didn't expect it to be at the extent where rumors like that would begin to pop up. To clear up their misunderstanding about her relationship with Miyabi, Honami gave clarification to her group members that she did not saw him in that kind of way and doesn't think it has anything to do with liking or hating the guy. Hearing their doubts, Honami reaffirmed to them that she doesn't have anyone who she likes right now, which only end up led to more questions and uproars that the leader of Class 1-B does in fact used to have a liking for. Honami desperately denies it not being the case whatsoever, reasoning that before her time in high school, there was once an upperclassman she used to hold admiration for but before she could come around to seeing him as a member of the opposite sex, he already ended up graduating. After hearing her frantic denial, the girls then turned to look at each other and soon broke out in laughter which leaves Honami confusedly asking them if what she told them was strange. It was revealed to Honami that they think she is answering everything so seriously without bothering to brush off those sort of questions, telling her that she is being way too honest with them. They reminded Honami that she doesn't need to respond to such inquiries but dodge them if it's something she doesn't want to give an answer to. Since they tease her not to take anything they said as serious, permitting her that she can feel free to ignore or avoid that kind of question from now on, Honami had chosen not to engage much in the topic of romance any further after the members. Honami tells the members that even she won't answer what she can't answer.

Yet when posed with another question, Honami's deep honesty on the other hand, lead herself to naturally reveal to her new friends that she had been confessed to five times in the past, including during her elementary school year and from Chihiro Shiranami who she had rejected during high school. Honami admits in her mind that because the former is not very good or familiar at talking about romance that she slip up. When they start thinking she was incapable of lying to others including them, Honami tries to deny that was not always true as she was willing to make a gamble once or twice, sometimes making up lies of her own to misdirect others when it involved a special exam for the sake of her class. However, Honami states she was not quite fine with telling a lie, arguing that everybody likely thinks the same as her and how nobody wants to resort to lying. With that said, Honami admitted she would still try her best as much as possible to not tell lies but then proceeds to correct herself, claiming how bad she was at lying to begin with and the intent it could cause to hurt people in turn. Honami's new friends found her way of thinking strange as lying was usually a normal way to avoid hurting people and not the other way around, believing that such act of deceit are definitely the gentle ones. However, reflecting back at her own past action of shoplifting, Honami doesn't think that case applies to her, confirming to the former it has become an ordeal set for her and her alone. Honami told them that she knows lying to avoid hurting people's feelings would only serve to delay the inevitable and make the bad things crop up more and more, reminding herself in her head that she doesn't desire to go through those painful days and cruel time again. Throughout this conversation, Honami describes that the nighttime girls-only gathering was lively to the point that it became a mood where she could keep going on and on with them without a wink of sleep.

Later on, Kiyotaka spotted Honami who he felt something was a bit off with her and asked her if she is in trouble. Honami reassures him that she doesn't have any issues, clarifying that it was just her thinking about this and that while lost in her train of thought. However, the moment he points out that she must be struggling with a difficult problem, Honami who was about to leave stopped herself in her tracks. She asked Kiyotaka about his honest impression or what he thinks of the Mixed Training Camp Exam taking place tomorrow to which the latter replied that it was a little tougher than previous exams they had gone through, since it likely contained a high risk of expulsion. Hearing him mention the high risks of expulsion involved in the exam, Honami agrees that what he says is true considering they're already in their third semester and figures that the rise in difficulty level was bound to naturally increase over time. More so, she brought up the 'leadership' system in a group, that becoming a team leader was a very risky thing to take up, but acknowledge that everyone needs it in order to secure a chance of winning. She states that even though the risk of getting expelled is still up in the air for the school to decide on the exam, Honami believes there's no telling if that will ever happen or not when a lot of unseen factors had to be taken into consideration. Nonetheless, Honami voiced her concern that she wasn't the least bit scared of losing either class points or private points but rather, a friend or classmate, who she was ready to sacrifice everything for to protect. She notes the risk of them dropping out of school is unfathomable. Honami was shortly later asked by Kiyotaka about what she intends her next course of action to be in the event that a classmate of hers is face with the expulsion risk and possibly losing them during the process.

**Ayanokōji** : *"That was just a hypothetical question though....."*

**Honami** : *"“If it truly were a hypothetical question, you wouldn't have used the word ‘intend’, would you? ‘What will happen?’ or in a different sense, asking ‘Is your class alright?"*

Yet Honami can't help but wonder what she can do to prevent that from happening herself and slowly lifted her head while laughing thinly and calls Kiyotaka to really be a smart person for asking that sort of question. Honami complimented Kiyotaka's respectable smartness, claiming he might already happen to know something regarding expulsion and the 'after' of that when normally there's nothing they could do once a person who is about to be expelled occurs. Kiyotaka reasons it was just a hypothetical question which Honami doubts that to be truly the case as he wouldn't have use the word "intend" in the first place, asserting that he could've asked her in a different sense like what will happen or if her class is doing okay or not. He told her of how she is simply overestimating him over his way of expressing the question which Honami doesn't accept but thought that someone such as him holds some respectable intuition to think this far ahead, commenting that Kiyotaka say too much was what allowed her to assume as much. After the discussion concluded and Honami says her goodbye to Kiyotaka, she was then met and greeted by her two female friends who had wanted to hang out with her. Because she has things to think over on her own time by herself, Honami politely turned their request down as she don't feeling like doing that and desires to be alone for the rest of the day. Honami who tends to always convey a bright smile on her face no longer shows it. As she is clearly not energetic anymore at this moment in time, Honami pretty much has chosen to ignore her friends she's close with and walked off to distance herself from them, explaining that she have a couple of things going on right now and require some time off to gather her thoughts together. On the other hand, Honami's Class 1-B suffer a loss of 13 class points after the Mixed Training Camp Exam concluded, bringing their total number down to 640.

#### Volume 9

Unbeknownst to Honami, her colleague Miyabi Nagumo betrayed the former as he chose to pass her secret to her rival class leader, Arisu. According to Arisu, Nagumo gave her permission to only go so far as to bully and weaken Honami a bit but not to the point of expulsion. The possible loss of Honami would meant the Student Council and Miyabi would also have something to lose in return as that means they will be losing their only first-year successor and asset in the student body. However, it was revealed by Miyabi that he didn't completely mind the idea of seeing Honami get expelled at the hands of Arisu. In fact, Miyabi made a verbal promise with Arisu that he was willing to have the Student Council turn a blind eye to her and Class 1-A's actions against Honami and Class 1-B.

When Arisu Sakayanagi began implementing her strategy of spreading various rumors regarding the background of Honami, causing her to become the center public attention of the incident, orchestrated by students of Class 1-A. She began receiving many malicious accusations, like having a history of engaging in violence, compensated dating, drug usage, theft, and robbery. Honami would end up getting encircled by her fellow classmates and friends alike as a way of protecting and shielding her from the constant slanders and defamation she was receiving. At first, she pretended that the harsh rumors did not faze her in the slightest and tried to remain positive and strong in front of everyone talking about her, continuing to chat with her friends and cheerfully calling out to people as she went along regardless of the negativity surrounding her. She told her classmates like Ryūji Kanzaki to not feel bothered by the rumors about her or take it to heart, refusing to affirm them, or denied them altogether. As a result, Honami would neither give her say on the matter nor report anything about it to the school, not planning to ask for any help or cooperation from her classmates to catch the perpetrators.

Rather than look to sue the party responsible for circulating the rumors of her and damaging her public reputation, on the grounds of defamation and libel, Honami instead preferred to use a different plan to counter Class 1-A's strategy. She would rather choose to stay silent and ignore the slanders, hoping the rumors would go away on their own as mere suspicions and people would lose interest in them. However, as the rumors grew worse each passing day without a clear resolution, they eventually started taking a heavy toll on Honami's mental health over the course of time to the point where they even affected her leadership on the Class 1-B as her classmates began taking actions behind her back. This was apparent when she wasn't present around with one of her classmates, Ryūji anymore, to prevent him from almost getting into a hostile fight with Masayoshi Hashimoto of Class 1-A as he attempted to forcefully stop the suspected perpetrator of the rumors through violence in her stead. Against Honami's order, her classmates of 1-B including Ryūji had been excessively thorough with trying to help the former out by finding the origin of the rumors and seeking information from the 2nd and 3rd year students. This, in turn, led to the discovery of the fact that people of Class 1-A had been the ones who had spread the indirect attack on Honami.

On Thursday evening, Honami was walking back to the dorms alone without her friends accompanying her like normally. Kiyotaka found her action and manners strange as she would usually always be surrounded by students of both genders. According to Kiyotaka, he couldn't sense any of her usual ambition in the way that she was moving. Kiyotaka wonders if the reason she was by herself was because she decided to take the initiative to stay away from her usual groups of friends so as to not worry them. At the moment, Honami was said to be the person in their school's first-year who's flooded with the most attention due to the rumors centered mainly around her. She understood well that thoughtlessly involving other people in her own rumors may accidentally lead to them getting caught up in a second disaster. Later, it was revealed that Honami had arranged a face-to-face meeting with Suzune Horikita for tonight wherein which the latter contacted and invited her to come. Honami accepted the invitation, promising to see Suzune in the latter's living room at 7 PM. This was due to an alliance and armistice Honami have had with Suzune between their two classes that allow such arrangement of the in-person meeting to successfully happen. After 6:55 PM, she starts heading over to Suzune's room as planned. At almost the same time as Kiyotaka got off the elevator during that late evening, Honami arrived in the elevator beside him and greeted the guy. Kiyotaka apologizes for his intrusion, to which Honami responded that it was fine and no problem whatsoever, saying how it was also the same for her who was intruding upon seeing him. After saying so, Honami took the lead as they walk together to go to Suzune's room and rang the doorbell. Once Honami got inside Suzune's room, the latter apologizes to the former for taking away her weekday night. Honami however, didn't mind it at all as she knows Suzune was doing this out of consideration for her in the first place, telling the latter that there was no real need to say sorry.

**Horikita** : *"Are you not going to deny the rumors?"*

**Honami** : *"Sorry, Horikita-san. I'm not able to tell you anything about that. Horikita-san and Ayanokouji-kun are friends, but you're still students from another class. We may be in a cooperative relationship with each other right now, but sooner or later, we're destined to fight against each other."*

Nonetheless, she remind Suzune that their meeting should not go on for too late than necessary, reasoning it will start to affect things personally for her tomorrow. For this reason, she advised the latter not to chat for too long as there have been various worrisome rumors going on that was being talk around about her recently. When Suzune asked her if she knew who the culprit was that has been spreading those rumors, Honami admits she does have a clue but can't absolutely speak with firm conviction but guesses that it was likely the dirty work of Arisu's doing behind the scene. If she was any less than half certain about it, the former wouldn't have said any name in specific, indicating to Kiyotaka that Honami has been able to deduce that someone, in particular, has been spreading the rumors about her. To argue why she thinks so, Honami reveals to Suzune that it was because Arisu of Class 1-A had declared war on Class 1-B, believing there was no other reason but that to justify her enemy's action against the former. Kiyotaka presumed that in order to defeat an effective blow to Class 1-B, Arisu would focus Class 1-A's assault on Honami, their leader who her classmates are overly depending on for leadership. Arisu knows that if Honami falls, so too will the entire unity and stability of Class 1-B along with it who are waiting for their leader's return. Suzune states that Arisu circulating these baseless rumors had force her to bear heavy responsibility for the damage, Honami was unsure on what to say next as she does not know how to put it. When Suzune asked if she will publicly deny the rumors, Honami ignored her question and offers an apology instead, not wishing for members of Class 1-C to get involve with her problem any further. Honami argues that she cannot tell her anything about that as both Suzune and Kiyotaka are simply nothing more than friends and students from another class. Honami reasons that while their two classes are in a cooperative relationship with each other, she believes they were fated to battle one another eventually at some point after her conflict with Class 1-A is taken care of.

**Horikita** : *"I don't mean to force you to say anything here, but you do know that silence can be interpreted as though you're saying the rumors are true, right?"*

**Honami** : *"That's at the liberty of Horikita-san and everyone else to decide after hearing the rumors for themselves. However, I have absolutely no intention of giving this matter any excessive amount of energy. Sakayanagi-san's strategy is to stir up Class B, I think the correct solution for dealing with it is to simply stay silent."*

Although it was not Suzune's intention to force an answer out of her, she reminds Honami that her remaining silence can be interpreted as though admitting that the rumors about the leader of Class 1-B are apparently true without denial. Honami reasons that's at the liberty of Suzune, Kiyotaka and everyone else to decide on what to believe after hearing the rumors for themselves. However, Honami explains how she have absolutely no intention of giving this matter any excessive amount of energy or attention to, thinking this Arisu's strategy of shaking up Class 1-B. She told Suzune and Kiyotaka that the best plan and correct solution she can put forward in motion to counter Sakayanagi's strategy was to simply stay silent on the rumors and not say anything, waiting for time to pass when people become less interested in it over the coming days and week. Honami gave the two a smile of confidence to to show them that everything will turn out well for her. Kiyotaka in his mind figures that no matter what Honami does to deal with the problem, her method won't help as people will still make a fuss about it anyway, relying on speculations to fill in the gaps of the rumors as they see fit. She had thought meeting and talking it out with her was the right choice to do, telling the latter about this beforehand so that Suzune and others of Class 1-D will avoid carelessly getting themselves involved in her problem that the former vows to resolve herself. Honami argues that if she continue to stay silent while people all around her start attracting more attention to it, the situation will take a bit longer to settle down. What's most important to Honami was that there was just no need for Class 1-C to get involved with Arisu and Class 1-A by choosing to help her out, reassuring Suzune and Kiyotaka that she will be alright on her own without their support. Honami nodded firmly, her smile entirely unchanged to show how seriously confident she was in knowing how to overcome the rumors.

**Honami** : *"So, Horikita-san and the rest of Class C can continue doing things as usual. I will clean up my own mess."*

Yet Suzune told her that regardless of whether the rumors are true or not, Honami will undoubtedly take some damage from them no matter what happens, understanding the girl is not only looking out for herself but others around her so they don't get caught in the same dilemma as their leader. Honami embarrassingly tells Suzune that the former is not as noble a person the latter was describing her to be when facing against the rumors with a strong will. She advised Suzune and the rest of Class 1-C to continue with doing their usual things while she is off to clean up her own problem she believe was personally caused by her alone and nobody else to shoulder responsibility for. After saying this, Honami stood up from the floor. Honami only chose to come over to Suzune's room as a way to inform her not to interfere in the conflict between Class 1-A and Class 1-B any further. Honami was then informed by Kiyotaka about what's been going on with Ryūji Kanzaki who have gone past earnestly confronting Masayoshi Hashimoto of Class 1-A to ask him to stop spreading the rumors about her. Learning of this, she calls Kanzaki as very gentle to go to such lengths for her despite telling him already that she was going to be alright, believing there was nothing more that was needed to be say to him after the first time but realizes that was a mistake on her part. However, when Kiyotaka mentions how there are a number of other fellow classmates of hers struggling to find some way to help their leader out, for her sake, Honami made it her decision to go ahead and speak with Class 1-B about it once again, asking the two if they don't mind ending the conversation now to handle that matter. Suzune asked her if she was truly okay with this matter to which Honami answered without hesitation that she was fine with it. She expressed her gratitude of hearing them shared their concern for her sake so late at midnight. Upon wishing Kiyotaka and Suzune a good night, Honami left the girl's room soon after knowing what to do next and remind her classmates to steer clear of trouble and don't worry about the rumors concerning her.

**Ayanokōji** : *"A few days ago, he confronted Hashimoto from Class A and earnestly asked him to stop spreading the rumors around. No, it may have gone past simply asking earnestly."*

**Honami** : *"I see… Kanzaki-kun is very gentle. I told him I was alright. I didn’t think I needed to say anything more to him."*

According to Kiyotaka, instead of trying to remain strong in the face of rumors, he felt it was more accurate to say that Honami's trying hard not to think much about it and not let the accusations get to her. Once Kiyotaka left the room after she, he could see from afar the figure of Honami standing before the elevator. Almost getting close to 8 PM, now that the wait for him to come out of Suzune's room is over, she waved her hand at Kiyotaka with a smiling face to get his attention, telling the guy in a low voice to hurry up and reach her side. Kiyotaka was essentially dragged into the elevator along with her. Honami pressed the button for the first floor of the dormitory and they started to descend down to the lobby. Before long, she asked Kiyotaka to keep her company in the meantime for a little bit, bringing him straight outside the building to talk as there was nobody around but only just them two. After disembarking at the lobby and leaving the dormitory, in the dark, Honami and Kiyotaka walked to one of the rest areas on the way to the school buildings. Although it was cold outside, Honami tells Kiyotaka that she did this to avoid attracting any attention from any nearby students that are around them. Kiyotaka asked her if she was okay to which Honami said she was fine but then fell into uncertainty on what to say next, before quickly apologizing for the trouble she had caused him, Suzune and everybody from Class 1-C. She states that these rumors have done nothing but cause everyone so much unnecessary worry for her out of concern, leaving Honami to feel responsible for the mess that was happening to her. She pleadingly tells Kiyotaka to forget about that this ever transpired which got Kiyotaka to question if this was same response she told Ryūji and her fellow classmates as well apart from him. Honami reasons for giving such an answer was simply since it was the only ideal alternative she knows to say that can convince them to overlook her matter. Honami tells him that this was the sort of stance she will continuously take until the rumors have finally subsided. Upon saying that, she looked her gaze directly at Kiyotaka, eyes blazing with self-determination to see things through on her end.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Isn't this what you said to Kanzaki and everyone else as well?"*

**Honami** : *"This is simply the very best option available to me. This is the stance I will take until the rumors have subsided."*

Having said everything that she wanted to tell him, Honami kept her chat with Kiyotaka briefly short and tells him it was about time for them to head back into their dormitory as it was getting cold to continue staying outside for any longer. Later on, the rumors about Honami had been spreading more each day as time passes by, and it had gotten to the point where it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all of the students in the school had heard about them by now. However, Honami herself didn't appear to have reported anything about them to the school. Honami gave off an appearance that told everyone that she didn't care very much about the rumors, and she spent each day as she always had. On Friday, four days after Ryūji's confrontation with Masayoshi, despite being harassed with unpleasant rumors, Honami was able to stand firm against the allegations made to defame her. Just as according to the strategy she had lay out for herself while dealing with Class 1-A, eventually, students began to openly speak in support of her stance on the matter. They reaffirmed their confidence in Honami and started circulating : "The rumors really were just rumors." "She was totally being framed." and "They were all lies." Since all the rumors about Honami had an expiration date, Class 1-A's plan to defame Honami had ended up failing miserably at the end. She had successfully managed to get through Arisu's strategy by simply remaining silent. In a way, everyone began to shift their attention from the rumors about Honami to studying earnestly for the upcoming final exams.

**Honami** : *"I'm sorry everyone, for continuing to trouble all of you. But please, don't worry about me."*

During this time after school, another incident occurred involving Honami, which she could no longer stay strongly resistant in fighting back, as she knew it to be factually the truth when compared to the false rumors from before. It began on Friday, February 11th, the day when the letters declaring that Honami was a criminal were discovered in the students' mailboxes which had caused a commotion about her to resurface again. In the middle of all of this commotions, Honami herself entered the lobby to check what was going on noisily about her. A friend immediately gave her one of the letters and she looked through it. After being given it by her classmate, what Honami discover the letter to be about was that it announced she herself was a criminal in the eyes of students, deeply troubling her to the extent that she had to reread the content inside over and over again until it finally shattered the last of her resistance of withstanding the rumors. It was said that Honami had spent dozens of second reading that single line of text over and over as she truthfully knows it to be true for her unlike with the other rumors from before as this one made her recalled her past mistake. Honami was informed and contacted by Mako Amikura of Class 1-B about how her classmates confirmed that the recent rumor letters had been placed in every 1st year's mailbox and that she and her friends were present to comfort the former with a hug. Besides Mako, Honami was also asked by the rest of her classmates to not put up with the personal attack on her anymore and that they should talk to the teachers about it to help them look for the culprit who had been behind it all, refusing to let the unknown attacker get away with this without facing the consequence of their action or be easily forgiven.

So far, there had just been invisible rumors previously, but this time was different when it openly slanders Honami as a criminal. There was now something that could be serve as physical evidence for Honami's classmates. There was clear proof that someone has been maliciously attacking Honami and her classmates were desperately trying to convince their leader to reconsider her decision on the matter. Despite all of their encouragements to take immediate action against the new allegations, Honami told them to be at ease, saying that that kind of attack wouldn't be enough to hurt or break her emotionally, but her friends believed otherwise, fearing that the horrible rumors about the former would keep on spreading everywhere across school if she didn't thwart the culprit's strategy. Even if nine out of ten people don't believe in the rumors, it's still a big deal if that one remaining person does. That student's impression of Honami Ichinose will slowly deteriorate, creating a crack in her reputation. Honami is able to decide to stay silent without any hesitation, but the people around her are different. They're all looking for some way to help Honami, thinking that proving her innocence would also lead to being able to enact punishment on the culprit responsible for all of this. However, doing that would only drive Honami into a corner which she didn't want. While maintaining a smile, she then apologizes to her friends and classmates for the inconvenience the rumors about her had caused her classmates and asked not to worry about them. With those apologetic words, she kindly does her best to maintain a smile towards the girls of Class 1-B. These letters were distributed out to the mailboxes during the middle of the night when everyone was asleep including Honami and her fellow classmates. Since very few people check their mailboxes in the mornings, the big discovery came in the evening after Honami and her friends had come back from school to check. All that had to happen then was for somebody from her class to find the letter and tell Honami the news.

Kiyotaka had a conjecture that he think some of those rumors are true or at least come close to the truth which was why Honami herself wouldn't fight back against the rumors, or in this case, won't fight back against the letters. If Honami did, the truth that she's been trying to keep hidden would be revealed anyway. Like last time, Honami's strategy is to continue to ignore it no matter what so that the rumors don't end up as anything more than mere suspicion towards her. That latest rumor targeting Honami made her understood that Arisu was able to find out the secret the former was trying to keep hidden and silent from everyone except for Miyabi who already knew about it. This rumor began crushing her heart and mental fortitude spiritually. Compared to the other attacks, it can be said that this letter stood out among the many stoked the flame of the rumors to reemerge once again from the ashes as everyone in the school started to hear more about the incident seemingly regarding her experience before coming to high school. It could be understood that whoever was responsible for sending out the previous rumors was convinced that Honami would not report anything to the school officials, just like with the recent ones of her being a criminal. That is, the perpetrators including Arisu determined that no matter what she and her classmates did moving forward, Honami would choose to continue staying silent regardless of the bad outcomes negatively affecting her. If the person who had been spreading the rumors of Honami knew the truth, eventually more and more specific rumors would emerge until she admitted to it publicly to everyone including her classmates.

When Honami does not take action against the letters that contained the rumors, the school also wasn't willing to take action for her sake if she did not file a report to them for help to track down the perpetrators. The latest rumor of her being a criminal which she acknowledged to be true about her, finally made Honami to revert back to her shut-in nature by avoiding class and staying cooped up in her room for more than a week. In addition to that, she who was is in low spirits at the time also seemed to be in terrible shape, struck with an illness that left her being sick with a fever, oversleeping and feeling a sense of hunger during her string of absences from school. To take care of her health, she took the time off to recuperate from her sickness. According to Kiyotaka, this cold of hers came as a result of her recent mental trauma and the weakening of her own immune system. When a group of her classmates attempted to go out of their way and lend their ears to Honami behind the door to her room, she politely turned them down, because she was having a hard time with the cold fever, and did not want her friends to get any way near her while feeling ill and have them keep their distance far away from her, who was at home to rest after giving a warning beforehand. Some of her friends had been freely giving Honami space without bothering her, thinking that she was depressed. On the other hand, many students were speculating that she had faked her sickness intentionally to avoid the rumors that had been spreading about her until Kiyotaka visited her late in the night to learn that that was not truly the case at all, after seeing her sorry state. Honami had indeed taken a day off at home in her dorms to recuperate from her illness. Although she wanted to stay healthy at all times before the end-of-year exams, Honami was unable to avoid getting sick and plagued by the fever after how much the trauma has already taken a toll on her health overall physically and mentally. Honami was well aware that the speculation about the legitimacy of her illness had already begun to spread without being able to do anything to stop it. On the other hand, Honami received a text message from Kiyotaka at the middle of nighttime and read it after he attempted to contact her, confirming to him that she was still awake.

**Honami** : *"Nyaha, that was a bit pushy there, Ayanokōji-kun..."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"Sorry. I definitely got a bit forceful. You don't look like you’re doing very well."*

When she was confronted by Kitoyaka outside the door to her room and forcefully pressure her that he can't afford to be seen by any girl possibly nearby, Honami can no longer ignore the ringing door bells or wait quietly for him to leave. She didn't anticipate he will show up out of nowhere this late in the night to pay a courtesy visit to her, leaving her feeling a bit confused at first. Upon accepting his reason and coughing a little, she then weakly proceeded to unlock the door and open it, allowing him entry to hold an important discussion with her privately while wearing a face mask to cover her coughs from leaking out of her mouth. Honami tells Kiyotaka that she was a little worn out but reassures him of how her fever was already almost gone. Honami expresses that rather than feeling icky by the fever, she felt hungry due to oversleeping. Before the discussion began, she hands Kiyotaka a mask for protection from herself, worrying he may catch her cold if left unchecked and asked him to put it on readily ahead of time. She admits going to the infirmary earlier that week of February and revealed the fact that Kiyotaka was so far the first person to have been able to meet up with her face-to-face in her room since she had gotten sick. Honami expressed her thanks to Kiyotaka for visiting her out of concern, thinking that she might have likely worried him for her absences from her classes due to the rumors as of late. Honami informs him that her classmates thinks the former is depressed and is giving her space to be alone with herself.

**Ayanokōji** : *"I really am sorry to intrude while you're resting."*

**Honami** : *"No, it really is fine. It's definitely safer not to meet up with anyone face to face right now, but it's probably for the better to let somebody else know that I've actually caught something."*

Along the way, Honami told Kiyotaka that a bunch of students stop by recently to visit her while she had a terrible fever but the former turned them all away as she was having a hard time coping. Honami reassures Kiyotaka that she won't plan on skipping out on school just because of those rumors and acknowledges her resiliency that he describes the former to be. Not before long, noticing that it grew cold in her room, she asked Kiyotaka to shut the front door so that no one else but him can enter as well as for the sake of airing the temperature out. Although Kiyotaka apologizes for his intrusion earlier and Honami feeling that he was being pushy, she tells him not to worry about that as it was really okay. In spite of knowing it is not safe to have anybody pay a visit to her directly, the reason Honami is fine with Kiyotaka as an exception was so that he could see for himself that she had actually indeed caught a fever and that it was not her just feigning a lie for skipping class as some students believed it to be. During their short discussion together, it was revealed that Honami had several exchanges of phone messages she had been engaged in with Horikita about her fever as the latter was also worried about her well-being. Before he leaves her room, she makes sure to remind him ahead of time to wash his hands thoroughly after he reaches back. Prior to Kiyotaka's visit, she was said to have already been airing out her room earlier by utilizing a humidifier to prevent the air from getting too cold or dry. Honami did this to increase the humidity of the room's temperature to easily create an environment she was in where the cold virus would become inactive, weaken her fever and lessen the odds of infecting any visitors, particularly Kiyotaka who recently visited her.

**Honami** : *"I...just need a little more time. When I'm a bit more put together, I'll definitely come to school again. So please, just stop coming..."*

For some days, she ignores even Ryūji, Sō, and other close friends who made many attempts to contact her via text message, phone call, and email. Honami did make sure to notify her classmates ahead of time that she's been out sick with a cold fever and hence, explains her constant absences. According to Ryūji, none of his classmates were successful in convincing Honami to open the door and enter her room as she remains persistently stubborn. They were still worried about Honami's state of mind. On February 18th, when it had already been five days since her health had taken a turn for the worse, Honami was visited by Kiyotaka Ayanokōji during the middle of the day on a weekday. She turns Kiyotaka away, telling him with a low voice that lacks ambition to see her again at another time later while apologizing for making the latter went to the trouble of visiting her out of worry. Honami chose not to answer all his questions like those regarding how important the letters of the rumors was to her, but with the exception of some questions that struck at the heart of the matter such as her willingness to attend school on Monday, which she seemed to be tentatively willing to respond. Honami was unsure, voicing her reluctance that she is not confident enough of coming back to school on Monday. Kiyotaka quietly sit beside the door to her room until lunch break is over even during the last moments possible before heading back to school. Honami would weakly asked Kiyotaka in a strained response that she needed a little more time by herself, reasoning that once the former is able to regain her strength and get her positive attitude together, she will make her return to school again. For this reason, she begged him to give up the idea of coming to visit her room from here on out which he silently refuses to go along with the former's wish. In order to bring peace and order back to the minds of Class 1-B, Kiyotaka plans to get Honami in returning to her classroom by all means necessary with his aggressive action, not caring if she may come to hate him.

**Honami** : *"My classmates...My friends in the other classes...Everyone's been trying to convince me to return to school, telling me: If you have something troubling you, please come and talk to us about it. And yet, Ayanokōji-kun, you've never asked me anything like that, all while coming by to visit me every single day...Why?"*

The weekend passed and it was now Monday the 21st of February wherein which the end-of-year exam was set to begin on Friday of this week but Honami still failed to show up at school while her close friends continued to try and contact her to no avail. Honami didn't respond to their text messages, phone calls, and emails but chooses to ignore it once again without answering them. Instead, she had given them all a warning to stay away from her in the same way she had been, which they can't help but respectfully obey her wish. Although nobody had come to see her after school and in spite of what she said, Kiyotaka continuously to go out of his way and pay a daily visit to Honami, recklessly ignoring her warning unlike what she did with the others. As a result, Kiyotaka again spared some more alone time with her sitting quietly by the door of her room that separated him and Honami for as long as until the time of lunch break was over for him, before leaving. He did this kind of visit multiple times while skipping classes to visit her persistently everyday for two weeks straight. With the day already being Wednesday the 23rd of February, Kiyotaka was certain that she will take action as Honami herself already knew that this was the last day she would be able to stay cooped-up in her room. He tries to start a conversation with Honami like how the month was already ending soon and that once they overcome next month's special exam, they would officially become second-year students. Kiyotaka even went as far as to use the proverb 'When the heat has passed, you forget about the shade of trees', to incite a reaction from her, wondering if becoming second-years means that their special exams will become even stranger than they are right now at the time. After hearing enough, she at long last elicited a response towards him, quietly inquiring Kiyotaka a question as to why he unlike her classmates was not bothering to ask anything about her or her past. She expected Kiyotaka would've act in a similar manner like how her friends and classmates did by attempting to persuade the former to come back to school and consult with them about her trouble but he didn't despite paying a visit to her room daily without ever asking her anything of that sort.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Maybe, I've been coming here every day because I've been waiting for you to tell me everything."*

**Honami** : *"Waiting for me...to tell you...?"*

Bothered by the amount of visits from him, she couldn't understand why he was skipping his classes or wasting his lunch break to come and see her every day. Hearing how bad his human relations were that he won't appeal with his emotions unlike with her friends as Kiyotaka doubts it will resonate with her very well, Honami then proceeded to sit right next to him on the other side of her door that keeps them a distance apart to listen further of what else he had to say to her. Kiyotaka reveals that the reason for why he has been stopping by every single day is solely due to the former desiring to wait for her to tell him everything she knows once she was fully ready to do so as he sought to step into her personal life. When Kiyotaka admits that he is aware about her crime, Honami couldn't help but express her shock pondering how and why he knew about it. Kiyotaka tells her it is not important at the moment as he had no intention of going into details, conveying that he is present with her because she is unable to save herself compared to her classmates who she can. Honami was egged on by Kiyotaka for the first time to confide her own troubles and weaknesses to him which she wouldn't do with her classmates and friends openly, allowing him to hear and reach her wounded heart out on a personal level. This was the special moment where Kiyotaka volunteered himself to be her door which Honami could use as an outlet to what she had kept bottled up deep inside her mind without having her needing to face or touch him directly. Kiyotaka promised to Honami that there isn't anyone around to laugh at her weakness, asking her what she must do next as it is her big moment. In response, she wonders if it was fine for a pathetic criminal like her to be given the chance of forgiveness, to which Kiyotaka replied she had the right to be forgiven and how nobody can denied her of that. As a result, while laying the blame on herself for never choosing to consult with anyone prior to him, she confessed her sin to Kiyotaka of being a former shoplifter in the past. Honami explains how it all got difficult during her third year in middle school such as when she quit going to school for half a year and what led to her recent action of her self-isolation by shutting herself up completely alone in her room.

In a way, Honami uncovered her wounded heart that she had been frantically trying to keep hidden as she began to say it all. About what she had done and the weakness the former had been holding within when driven by her guilty conscience. Honami even told him of how her secret was only shared to her upperclassman Miyabi Nagumo and how Arisu Sakayanagi had approached the former, informing her about the existence of another shoplifter that had gone through the same experience as she had. By the time Honami had finished telling everything she had to say for Kiyotaka to hear silently, it didn't matter to the two of them whether or not lunch break had already ended. Even when afternoon classes had already begun, Kiyotaka just continued to sit there and listen to Honami voice her problems without any attempt to meaninglessly give words that would comfort, console, or even reprimand her. While so, Honami sobbed quietly on the other side of the door as he heard her. Before Arisu could destroy her spirit, Honami had it broken apart by Kiyotaka first after acting constantly pushy from previous visits to now in pressuring her to yield with force. Finally coming to terms with herself as her worst enemy, she was able to successfully stand up, move forward and face head-on Arisu's relentless aggressive strategy by returning back to school and confronting Class 1-A with friends and classmates supporting her. This was the entire exchange held between Honami and Kiyotaka that took place before she completely opened her heart to her friends.

**Sakayanagi** : *"What am I doing here, you ask? Why, I've come to rescue everybody in Class B, you know?"*

**Honami** : *"I wonder what you mean by that, Sakayanagi-san."*

On February 24th, Honami finally came back to school again. Arisu, accompanied by Masumi and Masayoshi then promptly responded by making a move on the Class 1-B leader during lunch break through an aggressive face-to-face confrontation with the former in her classroom. When Arisu stated how she had come there to save Class 1-B from their leader, Honami could not help but ponder what she meant by her words. Honami spoke up from deeper within the classroom, covered all around by several of her classmates who encircled the former. Honami was surrounded by her fellow classmates tightly, trying their best to prevent and protect the former from getting in close contact with the Class 1-A's leader, Arisu, who was responsible for instigating the rumors. Despite her classmates' advises, Honami continues talking and simply say her gratitude to Arisu after the leader of Class 1-A congratulates her for making a quick recovery. Arisu admits that she could not happily reach out to Honami sooner as the leader of Class 1-A explains that her studies for the exams was what kept her busy until this day. Given that she was currently in the middle of a maelstrom of rumors, Arisu had foreseen that her movement were limited as Honami wouldn't make use of the cafeteria or other facilities on campus during the lunch break except to remain in the classroom. While the entire Class 1-B had banded together with the goal of protecting her, Arisu tried to cast doubt among Honami's fellow classmates like Ryūji Kanzaki to stop blindly trusting their leader. Arisu is aware that there are very few legal methods available for someone like Honami to get her hands on such a large sum of private points without breaking any of the school rules. In short, Arisu correctly sees through Class 1-B's strategy and policy that Honami was able to periodically collect some of those points from all of her classmates as a contract, gathering them up together under their leader to hold onto. In front of Honami who stay silent while Ryūji responds in her stead, Arisu would asked him and the rest of her classmates if it was really the right choice for them to let someone as dangerous as her to carry the responsibility of being Class 1-B's leader and bank.

**Honami** : *"There have been many strange rumors going around about me these past few weeks, and one of them isn't just a baseless rumor. Just as it was written in that letter...I am a criminal."*

On the other hand, Arisu points out that Honami who had control over a huge amount of their private points would only end up placing the well-being of her classmates in a bad situation as they don't know anything whatsoever about her past when the leader of Class 1-B has been hiding it from them until now. Class 1-A seeks to get Honami's classmates of 1-B to terminate their contract with their leader and return all the points back to them. In response to Arisu's words directed at her, Honami broke her silence and decided to distance herself away from both Chihiro and Mako, gently reassuring the two that they shouldn't be worry about her anymore as she would be alright without them near and needed a little space, to deal with Arisu up close. With a gentle smile, Honami calmly moved forward and closed the distance with Arisu. Ultimately, Honami then proceeded to face not towards the Class 1-A's leader, but to all of her classmates present in the classroom. Standing before the teacher's podium, she immediately bowed her head and apologized to everyone in the class much to the shock of her friends like Sō. From this point on, Honami revealed to them that one of the strange rumors going around about her during the previous few weeks had not been as baseless as they presumed it to be, admitting that there was this one secret in particular she had been hiding all along from them regarding her year in middle school. Feeling unsettled, her classmate Ryūji attempted to stop Honami from continuing any further once again, but she didn't back down. As the noisy classroom of 1-B fell into silence as her words began to sunk in, Arisu smiled back at Honami's honesty and eggs her to give them all the details of her crime. Honami stopped for a moment and gulped nervously before declaring that she was once a shoplifter. Confirming that the rumor of her being a criminal was after all true as written in the letter, she truthfully recounts her own past experience by opening up to them about the financial situation of her family and the history she had with shoplifting.

**Honami** : *"I'm sorry everyone. I'm such a pathetic, useless leader..."*

**Random Classmate** : *"After listening to everything you've had to say, I'm sure of it. You're still a good person."*

With that said, Honami then offers an apology to all her classmates like Mako Amikura once again after she finished sharing her past with them while giving a smile full of self-ridicule and calling herself a terrible leader. However, Sō Shibata and her friends spoke up saying that she is wrong to mock herself, comforting Honami that she is still a good person who is able to owe up to her bad mistakes but Arisu interjects and reminds them how this doesn't change the fact someone like their leader committed the crime of shoplifting out of self-interest. Honami agrees with Arisu's reasoning as the circumstances of her past have nothing to do with it and resolutely acknowledges her crime. When accused by Arisu of planning to steal and use Class 1-B's private points that is entrusted to her to graduate from Class A, Honami refutes such a possibility from ever happening, as she had never once thought of doing something like that. Honami states how disregarding her classmates' intentions in the first place in order to get to Class A on her own would be an act of betrayal to everyone who had faith in her to make use of the points for them rather than for her sake. Not only was she against betraying the trust and interests of her classmates, Honami also claims that the school would not think of allowing a student who has their classmates' points to get away with spending it greedily and selfishly. Though Arisu describes her act to be nothing more than a mere sympathy-seeking performance to try and get everyone's permission to go to Class A, Honami admits that she might be right on the mark. Honami remarks of how maybe all her hard work until now seem hypocritical, no matter how hard she try to live up to everyone's expectations and maintain their trust, noting that the sin behind her criminal past she committed will never disappear as long as it would always follow her. She knows that suspicion would always be on her now and in the future as the former may likely choose to betray the class someday for something personal that catch her interest and occupied her feelings.

**Honami** : *"Despite being so shameless...everyone, will you follow me until the very end?"*

**Shibata** : *"You already have our support, right!?"*

After Honami said what was need to be say, it was stated by Arisu that the former at this moment in time was how she really is all along, telling her classmates that as long as they have this sort of leader leading Class 1-B, none of them won't stand a chance against the other three classes. Arisu thoroughly exposed the reality of the situation between Honami and the people of Class 1-B, requesting the latter to use this opportunity to return the points back to her classmates and step down as leader or else the slanders about her will not be erased. Honami calmly closed her eyes and took a deep breath while asked by Ryūji what her decision will be, whether she will continue to lead the class or not. Before long, Honami adamantly refuses to give in to Arisu's demands of returning all Class 1-B's private points to her classmates and stepping down as their leader as everyone had faith in her fulfilling responsibility over it. No longer afraid of Arisu's words, Honami resiliently stood up to Class 1-A's leader and repelled her enemy's attack without running away from her crime of being a shoplifter and that it doesn't deserve a room for sympathy. Honami reasons that because she has never been persecuted for it, the former effectively had no real reason to atone for her past action right away. She resisted any slander that Arisu still criticize her for, refusing to keep looking back or let herself be controlled by her past anymore. Having overcome her past and pushing Arisu back, Honami with a tearful smile turns to her classmates and asks if they were still willing to accept her as their leader despite her shamefulness, to which they positively agreed to continue following under her leadership. Honami was ashamed of her past and on the verge of bursting into tears but states that she couldn't bring herself to run away and instead, decides to push forward for a change with support from her classmates who loudly cheered her on.

Before Arisu attempts to belittle Honami any further and sought to spread more rumors about her, it soon came to an abrupt end when the Student Council President Miyabi Nagumo and two teachers-Chie and Sae Chabashira intervene in the conflict between the two. This in turn end up saving Honami the trouble of clearing up all the rumors by herself that had not just been affecting her, but students from the other classes as well. Unbeknownst to her, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji sacrificed half of his private points monthly to Kikyō Kushida to save Honami from the lone onslaught of rumors, escalating the conflict of accusations even more to the point where the school had no other choice but to get involved in the matter seriously, unable to no longer quietly sit back and watch it spiral out of control. Particularly, the truth behind the rumors about Honami will be taken care of along with the details about the ban and punishment the school had decided to place on spreading them took effect. Because of the school's intervention, Arisu's faction of Class 1-A won't be able to launch an attack on Honami anymore with rumors regardless of the evidences.

**Store Clerk** : *"It's written all over your face. That you want to give some to the boy you like."*

**Honami** : *"Ehh! That's, umm, that's not the case! But I owe him a lot or maybe I should say he saved me.....as thanks, I was thinking I'd give him some chocolate......"*

Later on, after the situation with her rumors had been resolved and taken care of, Honami secretly went to Keyaki Mall during nighttime just as it was about to close down for the night. Although Valentine's Day was already over and the special corner was removed, she still went out of her way to visit a chocolate shop, and had trouble deciding on which gift to give Kiyotaka. Honami loitered around inside the shop wondering which chocolate among the large variety of different colors and types is popular but realized the one she was looking for is already gone. Just as she felt lost in her train of thought over the chocolates, a clerk from the shop called out to her. When she was questioned by the clerk if the former is looking for Valentine's chocolate, Honami confirms but asked how the latter knew. He responded how it was written all over her face as it was pretty much a dead giveaway of what Honami was really after, seeking to give a present to the boy she liked. Honami frantically tried to deny the clerk's statement of not being the case whatsoever, believing that she only owed Kiyotaka a lot and needed to give him a gift of chocolate to offer as thanks for coming to her rescue. Excluding her little sister, she had never given anyone anything before in her lifetime and this chocolate was going to be her first gift to Kiyotaka which she saw as strange considering how it ended up being Valentine's chocolate of all things. Honami asked the store clerk's recommendation on what kind of chocolate to gift Kiyotaka, to which the latter said that it is a matter of her own intuition to just go with the one she preferred as the best for him. With that reasoning, she was able to reach a decision and choose the right chocolate to give Kiyotaka as a gift, realizing that rather than have someone else decide for her, it has to be none other than herself who must personally think what is best in deciding the present. Honami was even suggested by the clerk to attach a message card to this gift with the words, that said 'I love you' to Kiyotaka which she embarrassingly rejected. Honami thought that message was a bad idea and figured it would only leave Kiyotaka feeling confused if her present was handed to him with such words. Not only that but also falsely convincing herself that she didn't actually view him in a romantic way and considered the chocolate to be nothing more than a thank you gift purchased by her for Kiyotaka.

**Ayanokōji** : *"You were cool yesterday, Ichinose. It was almost enough to charm even a man like me."*

**Honami** : *"R-really...? Like Sakayanagi-san said, that was just me being shameless."*

On the morning of February 25th, the day on which the school's end-of-year provisional exam was to be held, Honami spotted Kiyotaka from a distance while on her way to Class 1-B and hurriedly chased after him. After catching up to Kiyotaka, she soon approached and greeted him face-to-face with an energetic smile, asking if he had properly studied for the exam, to which the former did beforehand. When Kiyotaka compliments Honami for holding her own against Arisu and almost coming close enough to charm even a boy such as him, she wan't sure but thought Class 1-A's leader was right that she was just acting shameless in front of her classmates. Honami expresses her gratitude to Kiyotaka for helping her get back on her feet, realizing that without him being there for her, she would've ended up self-destructing like last year and falling apart under Arisu's attack. Since Arisu had manipulated her perfectly and drove her to the brink of self-destruction, Honami thought that she is completely defeated this time around if not for his intervention and him hearing her out. Kiyotaka reminds Honami not to become overly grateful towards him as he was just the trigger that pushes her to go on fighting and not giving up. In turn, Honami reaffirmed to Kiyotaka that she can't take back what she had already done long ago. Honami acknowledges that only she herself could confront and overcome her own past, thinking there would never be a day where all her sins will finally go away regardless of how much times passes while waiting for it to disappear. Hence, Honami tells Kiyotaka that she is sure to live her life, properly facing her sins head on from this moment forward. Honami was even reassured by Kiyotaka that if she ever were about to lose sight of herself again, she could talk to him first about her problems through a one-on-one private consultation next time much to her shock. Honami suddenly stopped walking and asked if it was really okay for her to rely on him every once in a while which he is fine with doing. Moved by Kiyotaka's words that he was willing to hear her out, Honami was happy to depend on him and accepts his help for whenever she would be in trouble with herself in the future while quietly thanking her savior.

**Honami** : *"Can I depend on you...?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"If you're fine with someone like me, that is."*

As this was a rather unusual reaction for her to make when she was usually always upbeat, Honami shook her head considering the former thought it was strange of herself. However, as they were from opposing classes and in competition with each other, she told Kiyotaka that he may end up regretting his actions of helping her one day to which the latter figures that might be the case and asks her to keep this matter between the two of them a secret from Suzune at the very least. Peering at him, Honami can't help but scratched her cheek while smiling bitterly after hearing his response, knowing how there is the likely chances that he will be blamed by his classmates for being stuck at Class B while the former and her classmates will graduate from Class A. Ready to ensure it was their secret for only just them to know and nobody else, Honami agreed with Kiyotaka and proceed to walk together to their respective classrooms. While walking beside him, Honami stretched her arms out as she regained her cheerfulness and brightness. Honami intently looked toward him for a while which he noticed and asked her what's wrong as the former wonders when's the best time to offer up her gift. Just as Kiyo eggs her to reveal what's on her mind since she has something to say for him and he was willing to hear her out, Honami was about to be honestly truthful with herself but stopped when she saw Miyabi Nagumo nearby. Due to this, she apologizes to Kiyotaka and asked him to wait for her while she head over and meet Miyabi. Looking at Miyabi in front of the two, she left Kiyotaka's side and caught up to the upperclassman in order to greet him. Miyabi was surprised that she can still be this upbeat and grinning even during the morning which Honami declares that's just who is. Shortly later, Miyabi inquires why she doesn't harbor any resentment for him, leaving her to wonder why he thinks so and tilted her head. Immediately afterward, she realized the meaning behind that question and states there is no such thing like a feeling of hatred, not harboring any hint of hate towards him whatsoever for exposing her secret to Arisu.

**Honami** : *"This may be a bit late now but here, Valentines chocolate...W-would you accept it? How should I put it...I've never given something like this before but...this is the only way I can express my gratitude, so..."*

If anything, she conveys her gratefulness to Miyabi, thanking him for recruiting her and allowing the former a spot on the Student Council. She promised to keep doing her very best from now on and looking forward in working with the latter. Seeing Honami's commitment to her duty as a member of the student body, Miyabi praises her for performing better than he expected from the former. Due to Kiyotaka being the one person to help her before anyone else did, Miyabi is unsuccessful with his goal of desiring to break Honami and build her back up with his own hands, failing to tame the girl as his own personal pet, pawn and property who was worth keeping at his side. She bowed to Miyabi then came back to Kiyotaka's side once again. When she came back, Honami called out to Kiyotaka in a notably louder voice than before, reaching into her school bag before freezing up and struggling to put the right words together. While stammering on what to say next, Honami embarrassingly admits how strange it is for her to not give the present to him straight up as that was supposed to be her plan from the start but couldn't do so. She appears a bit lost with herself for a while there, moving her hand frantically around inside her bag. In the end, she had finally made up her mind at last and brought something out from the bag. Honami nervously offers Kiyotaka her Valentines' chocolate as a gift much to her embarrassment, reasoning that this was just her way of showing gratitude to him who saved the former as she had never given someone something like this before in her lifetime. Although Valentine's Day is already over and she is late to give Kiyotaka a gift, Honami kindly asked him to accept it anyway. When Honami states that she was not forcing herself to give him a gift of chocolates and questions whether he wants it, Kiyotaka gratefully takes her Valentines' chocolate off her hands, as she desired him to.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Right then...you mean here?"*

**Honami** : *"Here, come on, sit sit! If we hide here we won't be seen by others, surprisingly."*

During the time period following the end term exams, some time before the results were revealed, Honami would spend time merrily talking and hanging out with two of her friends while walking together. When more of Honami's other friends came running and calling out to her and her friends from behind, she turns to look and happens to naturally notice Kiyotaka's presence who is tailing them. Noticing how uncomfortable he was around them after observing his facial expression, she did not call out to Kiyotaka immediately but flashed a smile and left with her friends out of consideration for him. Upon being joined up by the girls, Honami and her group resumed talking to each other again. Once she finished conversing with her friends, she parts ways with them soon after and waits alone for Kiyotaka to leave the convenience store. When he finally exits from the store at last, she calls out to Kiyotaka to get his undivided attention on her, waving her hand and teasingly telling him to come to her side if he was wondering what she was doing, standing among the trees. According to Kiyotaka, she showed the kind of smile like that of a child playing a prank, as if testing him. Even after he arrived by her side, Kiyotaka thought she had something to say but Honami said no stating it was maybe not what she is thinking. Since Kiyotaka didn't understand what she meant, he tilted his head in confusion which was followed by Honami lightly laughing. Getting her thoughts together, Honami stated that she wanted to have a private talk with Kiyotaka alone, egging him to hurry up and sit down under the tree shade, where she was at before their hiding place got discovered under the shade of leaves. She tells Kiyotaka that if the two of them hide beneath that spot, they won't be easily discover by random people. Honami explains to Kiyotaka that she was trying to be considerate for him since he couldn't engage in a conversation with her as long as her friends were present, hence the decision of why she was the only person to come here with the latter and not together with everyone else. Due to concern for the midwinter season, Honami reassures Kiyotaka that she was not the least bit troubled by the cold weather.

**Honami** : *"By the way, would it be fine if I came to hang around in your room later?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"Eh? A-ah, sure..."*

As they're nearing the end of their first-year, she talks to him about how the end-of-year school exam went and everyone in her class was doing well without anyone missing. From the bottom of her heart, Honami wished the same can be said for the other classes in spite of her class being the most important to her above all but didn't like losing anyone or seeing them drop out of school including the former's rivals. Honami asked him what he was thinking about in the back of his mind to which Kiyotaka responded that the latter still haven't come to grips with getting used to this sort of situation happening between them just yet. Unknown to Honami, it was Kiyotaka consciously thinking that the situation is a boy-and-girl hiding in the shades from the leaves while conversing among themselves in low voices. Because it's been quite a long while since they first met and befriended one another, she also figured the time was ripe to get to better know Kiyotaka's background by asking personal questions pertaining him. When it came to the point of asking which middle school Kiyotaka had gone to, he refrained from answering as it was a secret, which Honami understood and did not pry any further, realizing she had gone too far by asking personal questions to him. Honami reasons that her action just now was her way of wanting to ask things friends like them normally tell each other. On the other hand, Kiyotaka states how there aren't that many people who would even bother to socialize with him so he was just at a loss when Honami decides to reach out to him all of a sudden. Hearing Kiyotaka say negative things about himself and that he was viewed as a "shady existence" in his own class, she thinks otherwise and instead praises him on his calm and stoic nature personality. She compares his mature aura to the upperclassmen, remarking about her impression of him in a way how Kiyotaka acts as though he is not in the same class as everyone from the first-years including herself. In a nook by the trees standing along the road, this side story ends with Honami making a promise with Kiyotaka that she was going to come and hang around in his room at a later date and time, curious of how the place was and what it looked like.

#### Volume 10

When the next special exam- The Class Poll was announced in March, Honami made a "selfish" request to her classmates asking them all to continue to get along with each other until after school, the day before the exam, without any explanation, but everybody in her class complied with her request. The reason of why she hadn't gone into any further details about the strategy for that upcoming exam with her class was her concern that it may only end up straining the relationship between her classmates if the former tells them the truth. Knowing they would not go along with what she is planning, Honami felt it wouldn't do anyone of them any good to learn the stipulations given by the third-party who is her negotiator. Although her classmates naturally was feeling a bit uneasy about it, the students of Class 1-B still faithfully honored Honami's request. This was because they trusted her words in making sure that kind of decision is upheld and carry out based on their long-time understanding of her over the course of their first-year together that she spoke for the sake of Class B as a whole. She even promised to them that if they did not manage to come up with a way to avoid the expulsion by the day of the vote, their class would draw three random names in a lottery to put up for receiving criticism votes. She did not bother talking about who the praise votes should go to, and just hoped the rest would play out on its own.

With that simple plan as a last resort, Honami decided to set out and do everything she could to save one of her classmates from facing expulsion by most criticism votes. Noticing that she did not have the required number of private points to stop an expulsion from happening, Honami secretly went to her colleague and senior Miyabi Nagumo for assistance, hoping to procure some from him as he had enough to guarantee her classmate from expulsion. However, the condition Miyabi set in exchange for him loaning the difference of private points required to Honami was for the two of them to get into a relationship by dating the former as his girlfriend. The other condition was that he will not lend the points to her, not as long as any of her classmates had yet to give away all the points they have financially to Honami beforehand. These were the two conditions Miyabi put forward in exchange for his cooperation. In other words, under Miyabi's conditions, she had to scrape together each and every private point she could get her hands on, especially the ones from her classmates as well to lower the cost of twenty million amount. To add to that, when Miyabi presented Honami with the offer to borrow private points, she had promised not to say anything about the deal to others.

Later on, Honami puts Miyabi's deal of lending points to her on hold, explaining that she needed some time to think it over before deciding to go through with it, which he allows. The next morning, Honami wanted to meet and talk to Kiyotaka Ayanokōji so badly that she decided to wait for him outside the lobby until he arrived. At a short distance from the dorms, Honami was standing by the shadow of a vending machine letting out a breath of fog while commenting how cold it is outside. She notes how it would have been warmer to wait in the lobby but the former felt it would have been embarrassing to ambush him. In the end, she decided to lay herself low hiding instead. At the same time, she considers the mere idea of being called out by her other friends would be a bit too much and chose to make that her excuse in seeking him out. Growing impatient, she thought in her mind pleading that he come over to her side quickly as the former felt her pulse steadily rising along with the time ticking away. Honami realized that had she knew it would be like this, the former wished she'd rather contacted Kiyotaka ahead of time and asked to meet up with him in the first place. The thought that she should so suddenly and coincidentally call out to him was a mistake on her part and starts thinking it was a bad approach. In an attempt to reconsider, Honami believes that perhaps she should stop with the ambushing thing and just do it normally next time but wonders where and when is the right chance to call out to him. Yet Honami couldn't help but wanted to meet and talk to him right now, no matter what after remembering the exchange with Miyabi yesterday, feeling in her heart that she desired to overwrite it somehow with Kiyotaka. After around ten minutes of waiting for him, then in the corner of her line of sight, she finally discovered her target objective walking by. Noticing Kiyotaka's back before her at last, she left it up to flow of events as Honami naturally moved closer while greeting him.

Although Honami walked up to the latter and awkwardly greeted him, she stiffened up when looking at the blank look on Kiyotaka's face, seeing him acting like his usual self compared to herself who isn't. Due to the state of stiffness Honami put herself in, she was standing perfectly still, frozen with her hand up in the air while giving a greeting pose. At that moment, Honami remembered she hadn't yet chosen what topic to talk about at all to start off their conversation with after greeting him. In her mind, Honami recognizes it was unusual for herself to not went along with the flow or the mood of the conversation as that was what she usually did in talking with her friends. Honami felt the meeting between them at this moment in time have been the only day she thought about deciding on a topic beforehand but understood it was far too late. Having already called out to him, Honami told herself in her head that she just have to make the conversation work somehow. Showing some worry from seeing Honami standing there petrified, Kiyotaka asked what is wrong. Thanks to Kiyotaka reaching out to her and breaking her trance-like state, she was able to resume moving again by his side and has decided to start with a certain template she had been using frequently. Hence, Honami brought up the topic being the recent cold weather that was a strange sight to see happen weirdly during the month of March which Kiyotaka agrees, remarking how this only makes it easy to mistake that one was living in a snow country. With that subject of the weather reaching its end too soon, she tries to start a new topic like if he was planning to go to school with someone, wanting to confirm it, just in case to which the latter said he was not. As Kiyotaka was normally alone in the mornings while walking to school, Honami was relieved to hear that is the case with him, thinking if someone was going to just show up impromptu here and now, Honami was worried that her presence would probably be troubling to have around.

**Ayanokōji** : *"This next special exam must be a pretty difficult thing for you and your class, huh?"*

**Honami** : *"Ah, well...Yeah, I think this exam is the toughest we've had by far."*

Since there was nobody around but them two, she then took the chance to ask for his permission if he doesn't mind her going and joining together on a walk with him which he approved without hesitation. Although he nod his head in approval, Honami still does't think it went well for her as she former have difficulty finding a good topic to chat about while walking a short distance behind Kiyotaka. She felt talking like they usually do was getting harder each and every single day as time passes but figures that this is connected to the strange change going on within herself when it comes to him. From Kiyotaka's point of view, whenever the two had ended up alone together in the past, Honami would usually be the one to start the conversation with him but couldn't this time around as the only sound breaking the silence between them was the sound of their footsteps overlapping. Noticing that Kiyotaka is aware she was not her usual self in front of him, she realizes that talking with the former first while thinking about Miyabi's deal might proved to be the right choice after all. With these firm thoughts gathered in her head, she continued walking by his side wherein which her side story ends at. Based on how Honami is behaving as of late, he tries to start a topic to progress their conversation by asking her about the special exam and the difficulty it will have on her class overall. In turn, with a clouded expression, Honami was able to talk it out with Kiyotaka concerning how the upcoming Class Poll was likely the most challenging special exam she will ever face at the time compared to everything previously, having to be forced to decide on who and which among her classmates and friends would be expelled. As the leader of her class, she was the only one among them who was absolutely and effectively guaranteed to make it through the exam and be safe from expulsion. This was exactly why having to cut someone from Class 1-B was such a painful decision for her.

**Honami** : *"I told you that I never said anything about dropping out myself. But, if you really think so then I guess you're probably right about that."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"The fact that you've been considering it is written all over your face."*

In the face of such a terrible exam where expulsion is on the line, Honami couldn't afford to stick to the sidelines and not get involved with the vote of the Class Poll at all. Honami comments that she really have no other choice left but to do something about it regardless, affirming that there must be some other way to change this bad situation around. Honami walked up beside Kiyotaka by his side as she said this and puts up a thin smile on her face. When Kiyotaka asked her if she was planning to be the one to drop out of school in her friend's stead as the one to be expelled, Honami states that she didn't once mention anything like that to him. Honami denied it being the case, but Kiyotaka notes how the look in her eyes gave another impression, indicating to him how she was fully prepared to make such a choice if she needed to. He reminds Honami that none of her classmates would be willing to vote for her very easily as the candidate for expulsion out of everyone in Class 1-B. Hearing him reveal what she was probably thinking, Honami tells him that's not what was saying and never thought about dropping out of school herself. Since Kiyotaka really trusts what he thinks, Honami gives in and admits that it is right for him to believe she will likely go forth with doing something as sacrificing herself for everyone's safety. Additionally, Kiyotaka describes to her that she is more or less considering the possibility of leaving school as the expression shown on her face is easy to read. Hearing it from him, Honami feeling shocked hurriedly tried to confirm it and understood that she couldn't lie or hide the truth from him any longer.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Are you really willing to sacrifice yourself for someone else's sake?"*

**Honami** : *"Not exactly. I just feel like I have to fight, and bear responsibility for the risk on my own."*

As she became cognizant that Kiyotaka had seen through her intentions, Honami requested him to keep it a secret from all her classmates. Kiyotaka questions whether she was serious about taking on a sacrificial role no matter what her classmates say, to which Honami reasons that the former felt like this exam was a battle to protect the people important to her and avoid losing them for her friends' sake that she believes is right. She wants to shoulder the heavy burden and responsibility by accepting the risk alone so that nobody else but her suffer from getting expelled. Seeing Honami's resolve, Kiyotaka notices that she had no intention of taking the easy way out by passively watching from the sidelines and doing nothing to save her classmates. Yet Kiyotaka asked that he still can't understand why she would go so far for her classmates, asking if this was her way of attempting to offer tribute to them who are at risk of facing expulsion and not her. Honami told Kiyotaka that there is not much more she can tell him as it's not really something she'd like other people to hear further about in details. She explains that since he is in a different class than her, there are times where they just weren't able to collaborate together as allies, no matter what kind of exam it is which Kiyotaka agreed with Honami on. If anything, the most Honami and Kiyotaka will be able to discuss with each other was about the praise votes as far as their class alliance extends between them. On that note, she expresses her concern for Kiyotaka and volunteers to give her praise vote to the latter even if it meant little in decreasing the probability of getting expelled, which he turns down and says it should not be wasted on someone unimportant like him. Kiyotaka remarks that if someone like him were to secure Honami's vote of praise, he would've been in a somewhat favorable starting position for the rest of the exam. However, he argues that it wouldn't amount to anything more than a mere lucky charm at best.

**Honami** : *"Anywho, the school is pretty terrible, isn't it? What with making someone drop out of school and all. Even if you manage to get praise votes from the kids in the other classes, someone still has to leave in the end."*

Be that as it may, Honami wasn't a student who needed praise votes in the first place as people will still go around voting for her anyway despite objections by the former. In addition, it can be said that Honami wouldn't just simply hand over her vote and sell it in exchange for a certain amount of private points either. Honami mocks how the school is very awful in and of itself, for not only allowing class conflicts to be a thing in competitions but also let exams freely enforced penalties like making someone drop out of class and get expelled in turn. She mentions even if a student somehow manages to find a way to earn praise votes from the people in the other classes, the fact remains that this doesn't change their situation immediately when they still might have to leave school in the end as the number of criticism votes can outweigh the support given to them. Honami questions if Kiyotaka will be alright and safe during this exam which he is uncertain of as the latter tells the former that nobody from his class views him to be a very important student to keep around. Hearing this, Honami states that if he is okay with her helping him out, she was willing to work something out for him. Honami explains that because she has a praise vote yet to be use on someone in another class outside her own, the former volunteers to give it to Kiyotaka while admitting it may not prove very much of worth to him when it's only one vote from her. Although Kiyotaka is thankful for the offer, he politely declined her aid as he believes that voting for him would be nothing more than a waste on someone like him. Honami disagrees as she reasonably claims her vote for him was more or less justified, arguing how Kiyotaka was someone from a different class who the former felt worthy to give the praise to. She couldn't think of anyone else deserving of the praise vote but him alone as he is the person who came to her rescue and saved the former from completely giving up to despair.

In the end, Kiyotaka says that he would consider reaching out to Honami about the matter again later if something comes up to require seeking her help. Delighted of how sweet it is to have Kiyotaka promised to rely on her someday, she vows to remember his words before letting show a smile. Their conversation eventually comes to an abrupt end when one of her upperclassmen, Nazuna Asahina, stops by to greet the two. After Honami gives her greeting, Nazuna suspect that her kouhai is acting lively on this time of the day with Kiyotaka, mentioning the fact that they're in two separate classes from each other and finds it suspicious to see them being on pretty good terms. Thinking Nazuna might misunderstand something from seeing her how cheerful she was by being around Kiyotaka, Honami embarrassingly informs Nazuna that they were just happened to be good friends who are simply close to one another and all. Despite Honami feeling embarrassed with her answer to her senpai's inquiries, Nazuna accepts such a response without question and then asked the former that she would liked to borrow Kiyotaka for a bit of his time. Since Nazuna hinted at wanting to have a private discussion alone with Kiyotaka about something, Honami understood her senior's intentions and decided to say her goodbyes to Kiyotaka thereafter for the time being as she goes on ahead of him. With no particular signs of discontent, Honami bowed her head and excused herself respectfully, following along with Nazuna's request and proceeds to leave Kiyotaka's side to head to her classroom. While Honami was gone, Kiyotaka learned from Nazuna about what Honami's strategy is to protect her classmates and prevent their expulsion by utilizing private points to nullify it. According to Kiyotaka, it was a way of fighting available to her mainly because of how united her class is and based on the huge sum of points they had saved up together.

**Ayanokōji** : *"It's because I really wanted to talk to you. For the time being, if it's alright with you, feel free to take a seat on the bed. The floor might be a bit cold."*

**Honami** : *"This...My heart's beating kinda fast..."*

That night, past eleven, Honami was invited by Kiyotaka Ayanokōji over to his room, which she found quite unusual to be contacted by him that late. Kiyotaka apologizes for calling Honami so late during the day which she was very fine with while noting how quite a rare occasion it is for him to reach out to her like this. To explain his reason, Kiyotaka informs Honami that he really wanted to have a talk with her no matter what and encourages her to sit down on his bed instead of the cold floor. Accepting his kindness, Honami express her gratitude to him and takes a seat on Kiyotaka's bed, mumbling to herself that she could feel her own heartbeat pounding uncontrollably, while being alone with him in his bedroom. Kiyotaka who heard what she just say lets out a questioning hmm sound and she says it was nothing. Honami later asked him why the two of them couldn't talk to each other on the phone than pay a visit, to which the latter reasoned of how it was because he wanted to confirm a lot of stuff with her directly face-to-face. He states it would be somewhat difficult to convey each other's thoughts respectively from a distance if they tried talking over the phone which she understands and accept his reasoning as to why Kiyotaka acted the way he did. When asked by Kiyotaka what she was planning to do for the special exam, Honami understood that he is looking to continue with their morning conversation they had left off last time before Nazuna Asahina interrupted. Honami explains that she had been awfully busy putting a lot of thought into how to overcome the test without anybody in her class being expelled. As he questions if Honami got something specific in mind, Honami admitted that she has unfortunately not yet find a good way in clearing the Class Poll exam without expulsion at the cost of hurting her own feelings for Kiyotaka in exchange, still deliberating everything over including whether to agreed to Miyabi's deal. Honami asserts that she is getting a bit anxious over time as there was already not much time left before having to give a definitive answer to Miyabi's deal, which the former likely have no other real choice but to accept, feeling unsure at the moment on what to do next.

When Kiyotaka claims that she might turn to Miyabi Nagumo for help, she throws the question back him and inquires what kind of support it is by going to her upperclassman. After water began to boil in the kettle, which he had put on the stove, she was given a cup of hot chocolate by Kiyotaka to drink while acting thankful towards him for as they continued their talk. As Kiyotaka comments how this supplementary exam is different than the ones they've had previously taken, he tells Honami that it can't be easily cleared without someone being forcibly expelled, with the sole exception being to save up twenty million private points. Kiyotaka remarks that no matter how many points her Class 1-B has saved up to now, there's no way she'd be able to reach the required amount to cancel out the expulsion before the day of the Class Poll Exam. With that assumption in mind, he came to the conclusion that perhaps Honami would have no other choice but to seek assistance from a third party outside her classroom which is none other than Miyabi himself. Since Kiyotaka brought up the topic that she was asking for points from Miyabi, Honami could no longer maintain her adept poker face and acknowledged it to be the truth while her pair of eyes shifted to her hot chocolate, letting out small, steady breaths to cool it down. As this strategy of hers was not something she could hide from him anymore, Honami connecting the dots as to how Kiyotaka knew what she did deduced that Nazuna who knows of it must have told him about the Student Council President's deal. More so, she gets confirmation from Kiyotaka that he has also heard about Miyabi's conditions like entering in a relationship with him for lending her the required amount of points the former was seeking to obtain. Just by entering into a relationship, Honami is certain that the many million amounts of points her class specifically needed would be accounted for and they could make it through the exam without anyone being expelled yet she can't help but show hesitation at the same time.

**Honami** : *"Isn't it just ridiculous? In so many ways..."*

With a bitter smile, she admits how preposterous the conditions her senpai gave her are in a lot of ways, informing Kiyotaka that Miyabi had more or less prohibited her from disclosing anything about their deal to anybody including her fellow classmates. Honami explains that if someone learned about what the deal is between her and Miyabi, the negotiation itself would be off the table while being told to forget such an idea ever existing in the first place. However, because Nazuna was the one from the president's class who had told Kiyotaka, Honami tells him that she was probably safe for the time being, reasoning how she should be able to still continue thinking over Miyabi's deal without any problem through her upperclassman's action of disclosure. Kiyotaka told her not to worry about it but she remains skeptical of whether to trust his words, stating that the deal with her and Miyabi shouldn't have anything to do with him which he agrees as this is her decision to make in resolving Class 1-B's problem. Since Class 1-B already had more than fifteen million private points at their disposal, Honami informs him that she only needed a little over four million left to gather the required twenty million for nullifying and preventing her classmate's expulsion. Honami admits this deal would usually be impossible for someone like herself to borrow points and go out with the Student Council President but since he'd considering lending her the points, it only made sense that Miyabi was in a position of power, and could demand something from her in return. As Kiyotaka listened to her thoughts on the matter, he managed to get an idea of what she was thinking and how there was no way she'd stand by and allow one of her classmates to be expelled from Class 1-B. For that very reason, he understood she was seriously preparing to offer herself up to Miyabi as a sacrifice to protect everyone dear to her. At this point during the conversation, Kiyotaka accepts the fact that whatever he says now won't prove helpful to her anyway as private points were the only thing physically capable of helping Honami at the moment.

**Honami** : *"But, I'm still kinda troubled honestly...I probably wouldn't have wavered with my decision if I hadn't spoken with you."*

If it meant having Miyabi lend his points to Honami at the cost of herself dating him in exchange, she pretty much felt it was the only guaranteed way to save all in Class 1-B yet doubts floated in her mind involving her genuine feelings for Kiyotaka. She asked Kiyotaka if he was worried about her and what's been going through, to which he apologizes for being so impertinent. However, Honami tells him that's not the case as she was very much happy to see that Kiyotaka appeared concerned for her well-being, but it was noted by him that her expression remained clouded in doubt to whether agree to Miyabi's deal or not. Due to Kiyotaka, she was still indecisive and struggling mentally to reach a decision due to the inner conflict happening in her heart. Feeling troubled, Honami honestly told Kiyotaka that she wouldn't have wavered with her decision on Miyabi's deal in the first place if she hadn't had a chance to speak to him first about it beforehand. Not before long, Honami then slowly proceed to take a sip of her hot chocolate after saying so. She locked eyes onto him and asked for Kiyotaka's perspective concerning Miyabi's deal of what he thought she was trying to do. He believed Honami's strategy was a method available to her and her alone that could prevent a classmate from being expelled. Along with Class 1-B's unity and the massive amount of points saved up, this is even due to the fact that she had joined the Student Council and made connections with president Miyabi. Kiyotaka acknowledges Honami's strategy of striking a deal with Miyabi to reach twenty million points is definitely one way to go about taking care of her class problem without losing anyone. When Honami asked him if he looked down on her for what she was about to do, Kiyotaka said that there was no need to but thinks giving up a lot of the private points she had accumulated to just rescue a classmate from expulsion was not worth paying the heavy price. Honami understood his reasoning and keep maintaining eye contact with Kiyotaka, having decided to voice her thoughts about him.

**Honami** : *"You don't look down on me for it?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"There's no need to look down on you. Though, to be completely honest, I'm not sure if it's worth paying twenty million private points just to save a classmate."*

In her side story, it was revealed that though she been in the rooms of several boys from Class 1-B before, staying and hanging around alone with Kiyotaka at his room late at this hour was a first for her as the former had yet to experience. To her, such a situation is different from the past time when she tends to be in a room together with multiple boys rather than just one person. With the topic of their conversation coming to an end, she begins drinking the cup of hot chocolate before heading back to her room. Prior to her leaving, Honami stared at the cup she is holding onto while calling out to Kiyotaka, asking him if he perhaps happened to be someone really amazing all along. Kiyotaka questions why she thought of him like this and what leads Honami to believe that he is, telling her that that was not something he himself was fully aware of until she outright said it for confirmation. Hearing his response, it only served to convince Honami that Kiyotaka was more than he let on, making her realize the latter to be even more amazing than what she had initially thought of him before, if what he said was true. Honami was about to almost bring up the past events of him saving Airi Sakura, the actions he took during the Cruise Ship Special Test aboard the cruiser, and how fast he physically was during the Sports Festival as proof of his capabilities but held back such words from leaving her mouth. Because she understood that Kiyotaka was undoubtedly an individual who possessed great intelligence without realizing it himself, she had trouble coming up with an example or with the right words to explain how great he seemed to be. Reasonably so, she could not help but wonder why he was not a person who her class should be far more cautious and wary of than both Suzune Horikita or Yōsuke Hirata that were leading his class.

**Ayanokōji** : *"What leads you to believe that I am? Sorry, but it's not something I'm personally aware of."*

**Honami** : *"It only makes you even more amazing if that's true. After all, you..."*

Assuming that is true, Honami decided to dispel those thoughts for a moment and tells Kiyotaka it was nothing when he questions her what's wrong, not completely grasping what she desired to say. Nonetheless, deliberating that he was not only a threat but also a formidable enemy her class' objective to aim for Class A, she was spiritually assaulted with the feeling of something tightening inside her heart and averted her gaze from him. Understanding that she would be unable to spend time and laugh together with Kiyotaka like this anymore, Honami prepares to convince herself that it was a painful fact she had to accept and remember in the future. She recalls that the school rules where the two of them are put in separate classes is something they can't fight against. Pushing that aside for later, she wanted to experience and cherish the special moment they had together in his room at the time to talk to him just like any normal girl would. Honami quietly mumbled and pondered what this strange feeling was that came over her when she was in his presence, seemingly asking that question to herself. Her side story ends once Honami notices that the time she spent recently and usually talking to him was no longer the same anymore as before but different, feeling her own heart beating softly than normal.

**Honami** : *"I imagine everyone is quite worried, but I'd like you all to feel at ease. I won't let a single one of us be expelled."*

**Kanzaki** : *"Are you sure, Ichinose? Saying that so confidently..."*

On Friday, the day before the Class Poll supplementary exam, she asked for permission from Miyabi Nagumo to reveal everything about the deal, with the slight exception of the details concerning the two dating which he approved of. Later, the entire students of Class 1-B including Honami stayed back after school. As Honami stood behind at the teacher's podium in her classroom, she addressed that the former was grateful to all her classmates for fulfilling her request of getting along with one another until now ever since the exam was first revealed to them, thanking the class overall for everything they've done during this past week. As she sees the growing unrest and concern her classmates had with this exam, she reassured each and every one of them to be at ease, vowing not let anyone of them get expelled since she was thinking of a plan. Yet this wasn't enough to lower the gazes of her classmates' anxiety and suspense when it instead only served to end up arousing their suspicions on her. Since they are acting skeptical of the good news, Ryūji Kanzaki conveys worry on their behalf that there was no need for her to give them false hope by lying just to make everyone feel better. Her other classmate Sō Shibata also shared the same sentiment as Ryūji, telling Honami to stop with the lie and that it was okay since the class is more or less prepared for what they have to do on the day of the Class Poll. Sō made it clear that he wasn't going to hold anything against her for not having a plan ready whatsoever. However, Honami spoke up again to confidently reaffirm her certainty that she already got a workable plan in mind to prevent their classmate's expulsion from happening. Honami tells Ryūji it was alright, retelling the words he once said to her in the past that there are some people who are fools if they don't bother making total uses of their powers to make changes to things possible. Taking his classmate's words into consideration, Honami remarks that was why she had been deeply reflecting on what she can do to help all of them.

**Honami** : *"It's fine. Kanzaki-kun, you once told me that if somebody has the power to change things, they're nothing more than a fool if they don’t make use of it, right? That’s why I've been reflecting on what I could do for all of you."*

Because Honami appears confident that none of their classmates would have to be expelled, Ryūji and the rest of them decides to hear her out and how to prevent the expulsion. Hence, she explained the details surrounding her strategy excluding the conditions of Miyabi's deal, planning to utilize twenty million private points to override a classmate's expulsion with the combined amount of private points from both their class and her own private dealing with the Student Council President. For this to happen where it ensures that everyone survives the provisional exam, she persuaded her classmates to entrust her all the private points they had stored up to now to make the strategy effectively work. She admits that while they won't have any spending points until April, it was still a guarantee that all in Class 1-B could be saved without losing anyone. Before Honami had mentioned Miyabi's involvement initially, it can be said that Sō was doubtful as they still won't have enough to reach twenty million private points. That changed when one of Honami's female classmates interject and dismiss Sō's hesitation, stating that it's none other than Honami herself who is the one asking for them and they need to hand them over without question which he accepts to do. Without even caring enough to question the full details of Honami's plan backed by Miyabi, the girls were the first before the boys to follow suit immediately in transferring over their points to her. Before long, faithfully trusted by her classmates, every single private point the entire students of Class 1-B respectively held was then transferred to Honami in no time at all. The total on the screen of Honami's phone was just shy of sixteen million points. Since Honami was able to confirm that they're roughly four millions short of points remaining upon calculating the numbers, Ryūji inquired her how she would make up for such a large difference, claiming how there shouldn't be any first-year class or upperclassman who will be generous to lend them so much points.

**Honami** : *"That's why I'd like to ask everybody to entrust me with all your private points. You won't have any spending points until April, but this way, everyone can be saved."*

As Honami expected and knew Ryūji will asked her about this, she couldn't keep mostly everything a secret anymore from him or her classmates. Since she had gotten permission ahead of time from Miyabi to reveal a portion of the deal excluding details about the condition where the former start dating each other, Honami decided to disclose some parts to show she isn't lying while hiding bits of the truth. She revealed that it is none other than her second-year upperclassman Miyabi who was willing to supply the rest of the amount required after explaining her class' situation to him. Ryūji voices his skepticism whether Miyabi possess that much points but Honami cleared away such doubt asserting the fact of how she has seen for herself how many points he holds after the Student Council President shown it to her. At the same time, Honami told him that they will have to pay Miyabi back afterward once their class goes through with the deal. When Ryūji and his classmates raised questions about details of the repayment plan that comes with Miyabi charging the class by interest rate, Honami was conveyed concerns by them if their answers will affect what everyone in the classroom have to do from now on. Honami waved their worries down, saying it wouldn't be unreasonably high as she didn't believe anything could be replaced with one of their classmates which Ryūji agreed. To understand important details of the transaction, Ryūji asked Honami some questions like that while the rest of Class 1-B wouldn't bring up unless he inquires it to her himself. Incredibly thankful for his honesty, she told them that their class' repayment period was at least three months or so, remarking how there was no interest required to be paid with it. By hiding the fact that Honami is likely going to date the Student Council President, she nearly made everyone in Class 1-B viewed Miyabi as their savior since they accept thinking he will not charge or demand anything of interest while freely lending them as much points as possible to save their classmate.

**Kanzaki** : *"Now how are you going to make up for the rest? I can't imagine that anyone from any of the other classes would be willing to give us so many, not even the upperclassmen."*

**Honami** : *"From student council president Nagumo. When I brought our situation up with him, he told me he'd be willing to supply the rest."*

Having said all that she believed needed to be say, Honami asked if it will be okay of her to inconvenience them for a little while. As a result, the class was amazed by Honami's strategy, as everyone was fully supportive and on board with her plan to stop the expulsion of a classmate, lavishing praises for their leader. Meanwhile, for their sake, she mentally resolved herself once more in preparation to protect them from being expelled. Later that evening, Honami contacted Miyabi on the phone about their deal, making a final confirmation of everything in preparation for tomorrow's exam as the deadline was that midnight, for her to accept it. After calling Miyabi herself, Honami informs him that she was able to talk about their arrangement to all her classmates and get their approval and asked if he can retell everything regarding the deal once again. Miyabi reminds Honami that the conditions will remain the same as always and cannot be change, demanding her to gather up as much private points as she possibly could, including from her classmates' pocket. The reason for that is because Miyabi explains that he can't be having Honami go through with this alone without everyone from her class sharing in the same suffering as her together which she agreed and hence got their points ready. If she didn't do this, it can be said that Miyabi wouldn't have been willing to lend the former the points her class needed while they still had points to spare for themselves. Not only that, but even if Miyabi hadn't made this a requirement in their deal, Honami would have also taken the initiative to minimize the number of points she'd have to borrow anyway regardless. At that point in time, Honami revealed that she had 15,956,981 private points according to her phone and needed 4,043,019 millions more. Honami understood that she will end up putting a big strain on his budget of nearly ten million private points at a considerable disadvantage in the exams Miyabi will be facing later on.

**Honami** : *"Are you really still hesitating? Don't you want to avoid losing one of your classmates?"*

**Nagumo** : *"Of course. It's just, I'm a little anxious."*

Painfully aware of how fortunate she was to receive this rare offer, Honami apologizes for making such a selfish request but Miyabi tells her it was fine as he knew it was quite like her to not want to abandon anyone and questions if she hasn't forgotten about the other condition he had for letting her borrow his points. Honami states she does in fact remember what the condition is, noting how he told her that the two of them must start going out once the former accept his loan offer. When he was about to consider transferring the private points, she hesitantly asked him that the deadline is still until tonight at midnight which leaves Miyabi questioning why she is still hesitating. Honami responded that though she strongly wants to avoid losing one of her classmates, the former tells him that she is acting a bit anxious at the same time. To swallow her fears, Honami forced herself to speak and nervously asked if Miyabi happened to actually like her. As she apologizes for asking such rude question, Honami remarks how she always thought that going out with a person must means that one hold genuine romantic feelings for someone and wonders if he feels that way about her. Miyabi admitted it to be the case, stating that he wouldn't have made this a condition to begin with if he didn't like her. Although Honami was happy to hear his response, she still couldn't help but remain uneasy and restless. Miyabi asserts he is more than ready to send the points to her immediately the moment she decides to agree to it, but Honami refrains from doing so and asked him to wait since she still needs more time to herself in thinking it over. Hearing her answer, Miyabi suggests she be careful as he is a man who's fussy about fulfilling deadlines which Honami understood and promised to contact him later once she makes up her mind. Upon ending the call with Miyabi, Honami let out a heavy sigh as she leaned her back against the wall in her room.

A little after 9 PM, she spent some quiet time alone there trying to deeply maintain her resolve of saving her classmates by considering the benefit of the deal without letting her feelings for Kiyotaka Ayanokōji get in the way. Honami felt like she should've been willing to accept his conditions, given that he was willing to help her get what she wanted in protecting her classmates who are a number one priority to the former than anyone else. Yet Honami was hesitant to date Miyabi since she didn't have any real experience with romance or love. Let alone that, it has more to do with the fact that she doesn't really view him in a romantic way compared to him who do. Honami couldn't imagine the mere idea of herself dating Miyabi as it was unnatural to start off a relationship with him like this through a deal and when she can't reciprocate his feelings for her. Deep down, her heart was telling her it was morally wrong to accept Miyabi's condition that they date, rationalizing how it didn't make sense for two people like them to go out if both partners of the pair didn't like each other as a couple. As it was meaningless to her if the feelings involved were one-sided, she knew it wouldn't be easy to suggest breaking up with him right after they decide to begin dating. For this reason, she sigh at herself for remaining indecisive to the very end, even though the former should've already made up her mind once and for all yet couldn't despite a coupled days of sorting out her thoughts.

Knowing that she had no other choice but to answer him within the next three hours, Honami lets out a heavy sigh again. Nonetheless, in order to save her friends, Honami thought it was for the best that she needed to strongly put up with it and endure the relationship with Miyabi as his girlfriend. No matter what she told herself, her heart was pushing back in denial as Honami keep thinking that there was likely still another option available to take than follow through with Miyabi's preposition. Even if Honami did not feel romantically attracted towards the president but accepted the condition anyway, she had a horrible premonition that agreeing to date him would painfully make her lose a part of herself. Honami reflects that nothing good will come out of this persistent way of thinking, arguing how bad it was to keep changing her mind over and over again after getting so far in trying to negotiate with Miyabi. If negotiations with Miyabi were to break down now because of her feelings for Kiyotaka, she understood that it will end up with one of her classmates being expelled for her indecisiveness. Honami patted her cheeks lightly and quietly smiled, having reinforce and steel her change in resolve while she vows to protect everyone. In the end, Honami continued waiting until the designated time of the deal to end in hopes that she could find another way out. As Honami waits, she received a call message from Kiyotaka to stop by at his room later since he might've found a way to help her.

**Ishizaki** : *"I-Is that so...Then, does that mean Ichinose and everyone in Class B are gonna...!?"*

**Honami** : *"Yup. I'll appeal to everyone in Class B and ask them to cast every single one of our forty praise votes for Ryūen-kun. In return, Ibuki-san will cover the private points we're missing."*

That evening, Honami visited Kiyotaka's room, answering the latter's invitation to come there again for reasons not revealed but had a feeling of how others beside her who are likely present in the meeting. This was apparently true as she came across both Daichi Ishizaki and Mio Ibuki who were also already in the room, before her while Honami greeted them. After pardoning the intrusion, she then sat down alongside Mio and Daichi. Having seen the pair herself, Honami finally seemed to understand the big picture of what was really going on and was able to put all the pieces together. Quickly understanding why those two were in his room, she knew that the three of them were there solely because their interests happened to align, considering how both sides wished to save someone important to their respective classes from expulsion by selflessly sacrificing the points they had on them without a sense of greed. Mio believes there shouldn't be anyone crazy enough to actually go out of their way in helping to rescue Kakeru Ryūen with a praise vote but understood that there are a very people like Honami who are an exception to this. Honami confirmed that she is willing to get everyone in Class 1-B to give all their forty praise votes to Kakeru while Mio pays for that with the millions of private points. Kiyotaka tells Honami, Mio, and Daichi that if the three joined forces, no one will be expelled from Class 1-B and Kakeru won't have to leave Class 1-D which is a win-win on both sides of the negotiation table. Honami and Mio both looked each other in the eyes to see if their words can be trusted before shifting the former's gaze way from her to Kiyotaka who is the most trustworthy compared to the latter. Much to her uncertainty, she questions Kiyotaka if she will be able to save one of her classmates with the twenty million points to be reached by agreeing to this trade. After saying so, Honami then turns her gaze back to Mio while told by Kiyotaka that it's up to her to decide on what the former will do next whether she accept it or not.

**Honami** : *"Yes. I've been able to make sure that their sincerity is real."*

**Ibuki** : *"You're an idiot, aren't you Ichinose?"*

Hearing Kiyotaka's words that she has the right to choose the outcome of dealing with this exam for herself, Honami having made up her mind states that she is willing to do what she can to help Mio and Daichi as long as they're alright with it. This was after her checking to make sure that their sincerity is indeed genuine which Mio calls Honami an idiot for thinking like that much to the girl's shock. Even though all sorts of cruel rumors were going around about Honami, she still chose to gather up all the points she could to save her classmate anyway no matter what people like Mio mock her for doing. While Mio can't believe that she's gonna waste her points on saving a classmate than keeping it around for personal reasons, Honami thinks otherwise and felt there was more merit to using them. She asserts it wasn't that throwing away all her points was proven meaningless without a purpose in the end as it has the power to save a valuable friend and lose nobody in return for making such a heavy price. More so, she can still find a way to save up the points that will be lost in this exam all over again, claiming how clearly possible it was for her to accumulate close to twenty million private points in just a year. Honami argues that Mio is not in any position to criticize her action and decision either when the latter could've gone off to pocket the five million points she had for herself without caring about what happened to Kakeru but decided to use up the money all for his sake instead. Mio explains that is due to the fact that both she and Honami are two different people with a difference in values, stating how someone else will end up taking Kakeru's place for expulsion while they packed their bags and bawled their eyes out. Although Mio says it could've just been her and not Kakeru, Honami insists she will still try to save him anyway. Mio reasons with Honami that she is a bit frustrated to see Kakeru running away from everything before she could get the chance to fairly pay him back the loan he gave her after she went ahead to borrow his points.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Ibuki is offering about four million points. In return, Ichinose and the rest of her classmates will cast their praise vote for Ryūen, for a total of forty votes. If there is a breach of this agreement..."*

**Honami** : *"I wouldn't have fulfilled my end of the deal, so I'd take the initiative and drop out school myself."*

Because Kiyotaka was acting as the intermediary and middleman between she and them, Honami was able to successfully obtain 4,043,019 million private points when Mio who had pocketed the huge amounts from Kakeru transferred it over to her. Mio asked for confirmation on her end, to which Honami immediately took a look at the four million amount of points gained, checking to make sure she had received them. After seeing that she now got the points, Honami went on to confirm with Mio that they arrived beautifully without issue, showing off the number on her phone and proving to Mio, Daichi, and Kiyotaka that she had exactly twenty million points in her account. To verify the trade went smoothly, Kiyotaka, who had been acting as a witness to this negotiation between Honami, Daichi, and Mio had recorded the contents and transaction of their deal as evidence in the event that one side breached the agreement or don't honor it. As an act of fairness, Kiyotaka took out his cell phone and show the details of their conversation from it to Honami, Mio, and Daichi, describing what had taken place and been offer in the negotiation table along with the consequence for both parties involved. Hence, Honami states that if she didn't respectfully fulfilled her end of the deal after Mio gave her the points, the former would take the initiative and drop of school herself. After the meeting concluded and she parted ways with the three, Honami went back to regroup with her classmates and talked to them about the deal she negotiated with Mio and Daichi of Class 1-D. In return from accepting the exchange instead of Miyabi's deal, Honami promisingly fulfilled her end of the bargain by telling everyone in her class about the negotiation with Class 1-D and ordered them to cast their praise votes for Kakeru to guarantee the two that he was no longer in danger of being expelled. With the protection of Honami and Class 1-B as promised, that outcome of expulsion would be eliminated completely thanks to the praise votes he would get.

**Ayanokōji** : *"It seems Class B made it through the exam without losing anyone."*

**Honami** : *"Yup. Kanzaki-kun volunteered himself to be the one everyone voted against. Once we did, it was announced that he'd be expelled once the results came back. After that, I paid the full twenty million points and negated his expulsion. There were some difficulties, but everyone in Class B managed to get through the exam safely."*

This was a sure-fire strategy proposed by Kiyotaka that was a one-of-a-kind as it could only be used once. It was made possible because both classes had what they wanted from each other as Honami, who had the intuition to amass her classmate's private points since day one in her class, and Kakeru, who had continuously hoarded private points over time courtesy of the contract he had made with Class 1-A. According to Kiyotaka, it was the ultimate power play that could only be put into action because of the shared circumstances surrounding the three. In the following volume, it was revealed that Honami had asked the class to keep the deal she made with Kakeru's Class 1-D a secret among them, which her classmates obediently followed suit. When the Class Poll special exam reached its conclusion, the result posted on the school's bulletin board revealed that nobody in Class 1-B had gotten expelled and that Honami had received the most praise votes which were 98 overall, earning her a protection point as a reward from the exam. Unlike with the other classes where each of them lost a student respectively due to expulsion by most criticism votes, Honami's class was the only one that did not end up with anybody on their side getting expelled thanks to the twenty million private points she paid to override it. She made a phone call to Kiyotaka, informing him that Ryūji Kanzaki had chosen to volunteer himself to receive the criticism votes from her whole class. Once she and her classmates had cast their vote on Ryūji, she waited until it was declared that he's the student to be getting expelled once the results came out. Following that, she spent the full twenty million points and nullified his expulsion not long afterwards. Although she felt there are some hardships along the way, Honami was relieved to see that everyone in her class managed to survive the exam and overcome it harmlessly without anyone gone.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Is that so? The price you paid wasn't exactly cheap."*

**Honami** : *"We've lost our private points, but we can always make them back again. But, if we had lost even a single person, there would've been no way to get them back."*

Kiyotaka tells her that the price she paid to save them wasn't exactly cheap as this led to her Class 1-B now becoming poorer than Class 1-D. Due to the significant loss of private points, Honami's class was now financially in a worse condition compared to Kakeru Ryūen's class, for the time being till April, when the private points would be redistributed for the month. At this moment in time and from here on out, Kiyotaka thought that daily life was going to be quite tough for Honami and her classmates as they must endure until then. In spite of this, she expresses that losing their points was merely temporary as they could still be regained later over the course of time, unlike losing an irreplaceable friend which was permanent and gone forever as it was impossible to recover a lost classmate. Honami spoke without any indecision in her tone of voice which Kiyotaka has come to understand how very important it was to her that she wants to get each and every single one of her fellow classmates graduating alongside the former by the end of third-year. Honami remarks that Kakeru might be unsatisfied with how the Class Poll results turn out as he desired for his own expulsion yet it didn't occur, noting Shiho Manabe was the one who ended up getting herself expelled in his stead. Kiyotaka questions if she was close with Shiho which Honami states she wasn't as they had rarely only ever spoken to each other but once or twice. Nonetheless, she admits it does feel a bit lonesome though without her around anymore along with Class 1-A's Yahiko Totsuka and Class 1-C's Haruki Yamauchi who are also recent drop-outs from the school. Honami hadn't been able to make sense of it all yet and needed more time to herself in processing everything that just unfolded unexpectedly and suddenly. Pondering uneasily, she asked Kiyotaka for his thoughts if he wonders that somebody else will have to leave school in the same way like this again at some point which the latter states it might likely be the case next time.

**Ayanokōji** : *"You would just have to keep fighting, wouldn't you?"*

**Honami** : *"Yup. I'm gonna rise up to Class A together with all my friends and graduate."*

As the fact that her classmates were safe yet experienced danger, Honami realizes the possibility that there may be more, similar exams like the Class Poll from then on. However, she vowed to continue fighting for the sake of all her classmates and their class goal, retelling the promise that they will rise up to Class A and graduate together with them. Due to Kiyotaka's intervention by providing her a better alternative than the deal suggested by Miyabi, Honami became indebted to the former as she now owed him a favor, to pay back. In a way, Honami believes that without Kiyotaka being there for her when she needed him the most, she would've started going out with Miyabi Nagumo which the former responded with affirmation to the latter. With a laugh, Honami conveyed her gratitude to him saying that his deal was like a lifesaver to her as she personally did not want to go through something as painful as dating Miyabi, saying it would have definitely been something she'd come to regret later on if the former had accepted the deal and dated the president. Honami comments how stupid of her to try and convince herself that it would've been just a small price to pay as long as she could save her classmates in the end. Because of Kiyotaka's assistance, Honami realizing how she didn't have to go through with it felt deeply relieved from the bottom of her heart that not only did she save her classmate from dropping out, but also saved herself the trouble of going out with Miyabi as well. When Kiyotaka states that if he or Miyabi weren't here to offer her a deal, he asked her what she would've done differently instead, to which Honami questions why he has to ask that. Kiyotaka expresses his curiosity to Honami claiming how there was no way she hadn't thought of an idea ahead of time, had the worst turn of event happened where there are no options to prevent expulsion.

**Honami** : *"I know it's stupid of me, it's just...I kept trying to convince myself that it would've been a small price to pay as long as I saved my classmates. But...once I realized that I didn't have to go through with it, I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart."*

If not for either Miyabi's deal or Kiyotaka's help of allowing negotiation with Daichi and Mio to give her the points, Honami reveals that she had two possible plans in mind to pick from that she considered carrying out. The first was that she would leave the school herself as a self-sacrifice to be expelled of her own volition, while the second was to hold a lottery. Honami tells Kiyotaka that she had already discussed the lottery idea with everyone in Class 1-B who accepted the simple plan of preparing to draw lots. Explaining it to him, she informs Kiyotaka that the sole purpose of fairly drawing lots was to pick a few students among their fellow classmates to consider expelling no matter their talents, without letting any of them play favorites and decide who is up for expulsion. She said this was only possible if they hadn't yet come up with a way to avoid the expulsion by the day of the vote on time, where they are then force to drawn three random names in a lottery. After which, Honami decides that the rest will play out according to their plan on its own, admitting that her class feels it is pointless to talk about which one of them will be given the praise votes by all their classmates. It was Honami's way to judge all the students equally, without taking into consideration their individual strengths and weaknesses.

**Honami** : *"Alrighty, well, I'll talk to you later. Thank you once again, Ayanokōji-kun."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"I was just the middleman. If you're going to thank anybody, you should thank Ryūen and his friends."*

Being a student of this school, Honami had preferred taking the second option as the first option was not really a choice someone like her can make by herself when she wanted to stay and fight to the bitter end. Even if Honami had been selected to be expelled, she is cognizant that the criticism votes against her would've probably been canceled out by praise votes. Kiyotaka notes that her second option would've never happened in other classes except her own who thought it was fair to accept due to the more outstanding students will likely disagree and oppose to a plan like that. Honami explained to Kiyotaka that since nobody in her class actually wanted to end up getting expelled but did not want to see their friends disappear either, her classmates agreed to have this plan set up beforehand if she could not find a deal to gather the four million private points. Fortunately, it never came to pass, thanks to Kiyotaka's help. Feeling impressed by the second option she had her classmate agreed to use as a last resort, he praises her way of thinking to be simply impressive as she was able to create an classroom environment where a plan like that could be executed in the first place. She expressed her thanks to Kiyotaka but the latter said that her gratitude should be directed to Kakeru and his classmates instead of him for willing to negotiate with her while he was nothing more than a intermediary to make the meeting possible. With that out of the way, the two soon ended their call and hung up, with Honami promising that they could talk again later.

#### Volume 11

When the Event Selection Exam was first announced, Honami had been genuinely interested in battling against Class A. With the upcoming exam closing in, Honami and Daichi were contacted by Kiyotaka before school ended for the day, telling the two that he wanted to have Suzune's Class 1-C be the one to compete against Class 1-A in this test under the guise of his class leader's supposed request to her. Since she owed Kiyotaka a favor for helping her beat the previous exam, Honami conceded and agreed to his request, with the support of Daichi who already had plans to challenge Class 1-B anyways. Reasonably so, it was decided that she had to arrange a match with Kakeru's Class 1-D instead of Class 1-A as Kiyotaka wanted it to be, regardless of whichever side pulled the slip with a red circle that allowed them to choose an opponent. For instance, while she desires to be Class 1-A's opponent, Honami would still have to pick Class 1-D as a competitor for Class 1-B to square off against if she by any chances happened to obtain the winning slip. During the day of deciding the class matchups for the Event Selection Exam, Honami was selected by her classmates to become the commander for the competition. Honami and her homeroom instructor Chie Hoshinomiya arrived at the multipurpose room, like the commanders and their respective homeroom teachers had been instructed to, within the special building that served as the central headquarters for the special exam. After Tomonari Mashima explained the instructions about how to proceed forward with the Event Selection Exam, Honami drew out of the lottery box first due to words of encouragement from Arisu Sakayanagi who would rather go last, then followed by Classes 1-C and 1-D.

**Sakayanagi** : *"I wonder about that. I don't necessarily have to draw the winning slip to come out on top in the end."*

**Honami** : *"It sounds to me like Class A thinks they can rest easy no matter who they end up facing."*

Meanwhile, Arisu states how it was not always necessary for her to pull the winning slip to emerge victorious by the end of this upcoming exam, which Honami claims she is being too confidently carefree on and not showing some degree of caution to anyone. Although Honami thought that Arisu and her classmates of 1-A can rest easy regardless of who she might end up fighting as her opponent, the latter disagrees and asserts that she would liked to avoid a direct confrontation with her class than the others. Not long after every commander draw their slip, it was determined by Satoru Kaneda who drew the winning red circle slip decided that Honami would be facing off against Kakeru's Class 1-D, as they had planned. She then hears the reasons as to why Satoru chose her Class 1-B as his class's opponent, reasoning that he wanted to take away as many points as possible from one of the upper classes but also avoid risking a battle with Class 1-A for the time being. Since Class 1-A was an understandably difficult opponent by far, she understood that they had opted to target Class 1-B instead which Arisu thanked him for saving her the trouble of having to possibly face Honami's class while deeming it as a formidable foe. Shortly later on, she listens to Tomonari go over the computer system they'll be using during exam day along with an explanation on the commander's duties and procedures from start to end. Honami describes how commanders like her having to be the one to operate it feels like this is a video game being played by them which her teacher Chie excitedly agreed, leading the two to engage in a fun little side conversation with each other. Before this meeting took place, Honami naturally was a little bit cautious about the identity of the opposing commanders she would be dueling against. However, when Satoru showed up as the commander of Class 1-D while the class matchups were being decided between the two, she ended up dismissing the entire possibility of Kakeru ever making his return altogether. In her head, the process of elimination had happened, concluding that the Event Selection Exam would be a competition between the students like herself as commanders who had gotten their hands on protection points, from the previous special exam.

**Ayanokōji** : *"...Yeah. We're headed to the cafe. Did you need something?"*

**Honami** : *"Wow, what a coincidence. We were just headed there ourselves."*

At the start of lunch break, on Thursday, Honami's classmate Sō Shibata demands her permission to get back at Kakeru's Class 1-D when they kept persistently disrupting their time daily. Honami accompanied by Ryūji Kanzaki tried to calm down Sō who appeared visibly upset with Kakeru's Class 1-D, using a persuasive tone of voice to convince him of how their action was just merely a coincidence. However, Sō immediately refuted her since he had solid evidence that this was the third time it happened to their Class 1-B, claiming members of Class 1-D are trying to start a fight with them. Once the Ayanokōji Group came across her and her classmates arguing, Honami asked them if they were on their way to lunch in the cafe which Kiyotaka admits that him and his friends were heading to. Honami remarks it's a coincidence that they stumble across each other at the same time as she and her classmates too are also going there to eat. Just as she spoke that line, Honami who had already used a new perfume on her hair beforehand happily clapped her hands after spotting the chance to show it off to Kiyotaka. She openly offer to invite them out for lunch to hang out and eat alongside her friends. It can be noted by Kiyotaka that Honami is acting differently than she normally is around him. Honami would always make eye contact with the person she was talking to, but this time, she didn't look at Kiyotaka's eyes at all except for everyone else. When Ryūji interjected on why she would offer something like that to them, Honami briefly explained that their classes were not even competing with each other during this exam so she felt it shouldn't be a problem for any of them to eat lunch together with the Ayanokōji Group. When Honami had already made up her mind about inviting Kiyotaka and his friends out for lunch, there was no way her classmate Ryūji could refuse despite disagreeing with the former's invitation. On the other hand, due to the smile she has on her face, Kiyotaka and his friends couldn't refuse her invitation either.

**Honami** : *"I kinda forced this on you, so you don't have to be so considerate..."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"It's fine. This way, we can eat what we want without feeling guilty about it."*

Hence, they decided to accept her kindness due to how energetically welcoming Honami had been as she encourage them to quickly get going to a nearby café to join up at as time is of the essence, while carefully avoiding eye contact with Kiyotaka along the way. They pushed together two tables in the corner of the cafe and sat down to have a meal together. To apologize for inviting them out so suddenly like that, she even consider paying out of her own pocket for whatever the Ayanokōji Group choose to eat as their meal, stating that this was her special treat and asked them not to hold back in accepting it. After presenting him and his group of friends an apology, Honami was then asked by Ryūji if she was really sure about paying for their lunch as most of their private points are gone but she seemed to have ignored her classmate's question. When Kiyotaka said how they were already planning to pay for what they eat during lunch from the start upon heading to the cafe, Honami tries to insist saying he shouldn't refuse her offer to treat them as she did forced this sudden invitation on him out of the blue, telling Kiyotaka that he doesn't have to be so considerate. Kiyotaka reasons with Honami that it was him and his friends' way of desiring to eat what they want without experiencing the guilty feeling of taking advantage of them. Under the pretense of sharing a peaceful meal together as equals explained by Kiyotaka, Honami's offer to give him a treat was once again turned down twice. Taking into consideration of Class 1-B's financial situation, it can be said that Kiyotaka and his friends declined Honami's offer out of guilt for her class who were likely very low on private points after spending nearly almost all of them from the previous exam. Once they're settled down and eating, Teruhiko Yukimura posed a question to Honami that he has been meaning to ask her about since they're brought together in the same table, inquiring why she decided to invite them. She states it was because they were surprised with Sō's behavior from earlier.

**Kanzaki** : *"Are you sure you can tell them?"*

**Honami** : *"Do you really think this is something we need to keep quiet about?"*

If she hadn't called out to them, the former guess the Ayanokōji Group would've probably ended up talking about what they saw with Sō's behavior for a long while. To prevent further speculation from Kiyotaka and his friends about why Sō had been angry and so riled up along with the chances of being overheard by a third-party which can caused rumors to spread, she judged that it was better for her class to be upfront with the group of this instead of letting them go on to speculate too much. If she let the Ayanokōji Group leave unchecked after having seen Sō's angry outburst, Honami was aware that rumors would begin to spread by them carelessly talking about the scene where it could end up signaling to Class 1-D that their relentless, intrusive strategy was indeed working on her classmates. If Class 1-D were to find out that their harassment had done some damage to Class 1-B, this would only incite her opponent to go even further with their strategy in adding more fuel to the fire which Honami wants to do what she can to stop it by all means necessary. In which case, Class 1-B would have even more to deal with than they did now. Yet Ryūji questions Honami whether it was actually the right idea to simply go ahead and tell them everything they know about what's going on with their class. In turn, she explained to Ryūji that there was no reason for their class to keep quiet of concerning the matter but Ryūji wonders about that as he couldn't rule out the possibility that somebody from Class 1-C might be related to the conflict between Classes 1-B and 1-D. She argues it wouldn't make much of any difference whatsoever even if her classmates believed in the likelihood that Class 1-C had some involvement in this to which Sō agreed with her point over the latter. Now that they've already heard this much of their commotion, she felt it would be wisely best to just tell them since it was meaningless to hide the rest of the truth.

**Honami** : *"I know it's concerning, but we just have to do what we can. We just have to continue working together, choose the right events, and do our very best on the day of the exam. Right?"*

When Kanzaki finally backed down from arguing any further, she proceeds to inform the Ayanokōji Group the details of what had been happening to their classmates as of late. What Honami revealed to them was that ever since the exam started, members of Class 1-D like Albert Yamada had recently been targeting a small fraction of her fellow classmates in different places wherever they went, without using violence physically but an intimidation and stalking tactic. As to why Kakeru's Class 1-D was going to great lengths to repeatedly harass, pester, and follow her classmates around, Honami figured that perhaps the former was looking to put pressure on them and wear them down for as long as they could until the competition between the two classes begins. Ryūji backed Honami's reasoning further with his analysis, that because this type of exam played out in their class' favor at the most basic level, it was not unreasonable to say that Kakeru's Class 1-D would continue to harass their classmates right up till the limit of the school rules allowed them to. She and Ryūji suspected that rather than the commander of Class 1-D being Satoru Kaneda, it was likely the handiwork of Daichi Ishizaki (it was actually Kakeru Ryūen's doing unbeknownst to Honami) for coming up with such a strategy in order to win. Honami encouraged both Ryūji and Sō that while what Class 1-D had been doing to them is worrying, she suggests all they could do is to hopefully maintain their unity. While so, she tells her two classmates to continue focusing their efforts and time on collaborating together as a whole class, choosing the right ten events, and do their very best on exam day which they agreed. Instead of creating countermeasures against Class 1-D led by Satoru or do a basic investigation on them, Honami looked to overcome her opponent's tactics by not making it seem as though their strategies had any negative effects and consequences on herself or her classmates as they remain headstrong in the face of such mental attacks.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Are you saying you aren't gonna take any measures against Class D? Not even basic investigation?"*

**Honami** : *"Hmm, I don't think so. We're gonna focus our efforts on preparing for the ten events Class D come up with next week."*

Based on Honami's line of thinking, she was looking to have her classmates maintain their resolve and emphasize it that way. This was while Honami admitting that she and the rest of her classmates are also preparing to make plans to win any of the possible ten events their opponent Class 1-D will likely pick ahead of time. In other words, it was Honami's intention to use the safe strategy of relying on the strength of her Class 1-B to make it through the Event Selection Exam and beat Class 1-D, going face-to-face with the truth, without being deceived by false information. She wants her class to take the high road and get her classmates to place their full confidence in their own abilities without feeling intimidated by Kakeru's class. When Teruhiko Yukimura compliments her class, Honami let show a small smile and remarks that neither she or her classmates are perhaps clever enough to do something as ruthless and aggressive as Kakeru's class would when it comes to stuff like stalking and intimidating a person, thinking victory can still be achieved without resorting to underhanded tactics and strategies. With that said, Honami told Kiyotaka and his friends to keep the matter of Sō's outburst a secret so that it does not spread any further than only their group alone, who knew about it. Speaking on behalf of his friends, Kiyotaka reasons that they are going to undoubtedly complied to her wish since none of them feels spreading rumors wouldn't do the group any good as they don't want to make an enemy out of Honami or Class 1-B. As the discussion coming to an end, Honami thanked them and then took the opportunity to lock eyes with Kiyotaka for the first and only time throughout their lunch. At that moment, she casually brushed a strand of pink hair away from her face to blow a faint scent of her new citrus perfume his way in order to captivate him with the smell. Not long after following such a gesture, she quickly looked away from him, returning her gaze directly back to her entire classmates.

**Ayanokōji** : *"I'm sure you already know, but that's, you know, my return gift for Valentine's."*

**Honami** : *"A gift like this...You, like, you didn't have to..."*

A week later, on a morning before 7 AM, Honami woke up early and finished her walk to school. Once she was back, Honami unexpectedly stumbled across Kiyotaka finished putting his White Day gift in her mailbox. Honami awkwardly greeted him when he was about done with doing that, reacting as if she had seen something she shouldn't have. Avoiding eye contact with him like last time, Honami explains how she so happened to wake up a bit early for the day and just got back to the school lobby from a morning walk, while the former kept her gaze intently fixed at her mailbox that was right behind the latter where he put his gift in. Having firmly grasp her intention, Kiyotaka moved out of the way which Honami thanked him for doing and pardons herself as she goes to her mailbox to check her mail. When she looked inside, the first thing to come out naturally was Kiyotaka's White Day gift he had given her than anything else. Kiyotaka reasons that this is his return gift to her for Valentine's. Holding the box in her hands, Honami stood still frozen in place and reluctantly asked that he didn't have to like prepared it or go out of the way in giving this to her but Kiyotaka disagrees declaring his action was the only right thing to do. Honami nervously accepted the gift and thanked Kiyotaka for it upon realizing how serious he was in desiring to give it to her. At the same time, Honami convey her apology saying that this unexpected situation with being given a gift by someone like him was not something she was used to experiencing before in her life. To change the topic and remove the strange atmosphere between them so that the two can have an easier time talking with each other, Honami was asked by Kiyotaka whether anything new had happened with that problem concerning Kakeru's Class 1-D they had talked about last Thursday. Honami was a little shocked that Kiyotaka is still worry about her class issue, telling him that the former had already gone ahead and questioned everyone immediately after they parted ways ever since that day.

**Ayanokōji** : *"What are you going to do if the problem is bigger than you thought?"*

**Honami** : *"Hmm. Well, I'm not sure there's anything we can do, you know? It's not like they've been violent or anything...so we've decided to just put up with it until they cause some real damage. We'll just do our best to provide the victims with emotional support."*

With the awkward atmosphere subsiding, Honami seriously states what she found was that the only victims to Class 1-D's attack were focused on the same three people Sō had told her about in the first three days after their opponent for the exam was announced. However, Honami notes that quickly began to change when the following day (Friday), she described how the number of victims tripled all of a sudden as the number increased by six. Regarding the previous day, Honami reveals she received reports saying that three more boys and three more girls were being followed around or harassed just like the others, now totaling of around nine of her people from Class 1-B overall had been affected by Class 1-D's harassment. She listed off the names of her classmates' stalkers being Daichi, Kyōgo Komiya, Albert, Reo Kondō, Mio, and Kishita, whom were willing to get their hands dirty to some extent compared to other members of Class 1-D. Due to the fact that most of Class 1-D was made up of average, ordinary students, Honami questions if the six of them had made it their plan on following after whoever they end up crossing paths with. Wondering about that, Honami plans to pursue her investigation over it further on Monday. When Kiyotaka asked her what she would do if the problem got larger than she initially believe to be, Honami feeling uncertain admitted that there was not much of anything for her class can do against Class 1-D unless their stalkers committed to violence by causing real damage physically. She and her classmates were ready to take immediate action at a moment's notice when their opposition gets physical with them. However, because Class 1-D haven't been violent to Class 1-B at all, Honami has chosen to order her classmates to do their very best on putting up with their enemy's aggressive tactics for the time being. Meanwhile, she had even encouraged her unharmed classmates to make sure to provide the victims of harassment who sustain psychological damage with support emotionally.

Seeing how quiet and lost in thought Kiyotaka was, Honami with a slightly uneasy expression asked him if she was doing something wrong with her approach to which he believed everything should be fine considering the possible implications of Class 1-D's strategies on them. Kiyotaka shares with Honami his own input on Class 1-B's matter where Class 1-D wouldn't get punished even if she tries to file a complaint to the school. His reason for this was how if she went ahead and complained to the school directly, it would only backfired on her end to the point that Class 1-B would be doing exactly what the enemy wanted them to do in the first place which Honami accepted as him being right for thinking so. Since she wasn't interested in taking action when it comes to Class 1-D's mental attacks, Kiyotaka assumed he didn't need to say any unnecessary thing out of line due to her class policy that focused on non-aggressive defense, avoiding to tell Honami of how it was important for her to double-check that Class D's objective really was what she thought it was. On the other hand, she revealed to Kiyotaka that her class had finished deciding on what the ten events would be for them after taking into account a solid grasp on their classmates' strengths and weaknesses from pretty early on, finalizing everything the day before while mixing in some possible events that they thought Class 1-D might not be good at. She then asked what his plans were to deal with Class 1-A, to which Kiyotaka states that he hadn't been totally involved in any of it this entire time. When Kiyotaka told Honami that he was leaving all the planning preparations to Suzune Horikita including his duties as the commander for his class, she showed a look of shock at how much faith he had in her, handling his leadership role so casually without care. In addition, Honami starts to believe that Kiyotaka was implying he could handle just about everything without any problem whatsoever, no matter what sorts of rules or events Suzune can choose for him.

**Honami** : *"It sounds like you've got a lot of faith in Horikita-san. Or...Maybe you're saying you think you can handle everything, no matter what events or rules she ends up choosing?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"It's definitely the former. Unlike you, I'm only close to a few of my classmates, so I honestly don't know anything about them. I only became the commander to prevent anyone from being expelled."*

Kiyotaka states it was not because of his supposed abilities but the deep trust he have for Suzune to take care of everything in his stead while he does nothing. To support his claim, Kiyotaka tells Honami that he's only close to a few of his classmates like the Ayanokōji Group and doesn't know anything about the rest of the whole class overall, explaining how someone as him became commander to begin with was to prevent anyone on his side from being expelled along with the fact that he has a protection point. Not fully convinced by Kiyotaka's explanation of becoming commander and relaying his duties to his classmate, her doubts were soon put to rest when she learned from him that it was Suzune's idea all along of having his class go up against Class 1-A as it gave them the best chance of winning. In the end, she accepted his answer and didn't pry any further. Having reached the end of the conversation, Honami and Kiyotaka stood side by side together waiting for the elevator to pick them up. Realizing and remembering that she had forgotten to use her citrus perfume after having her unanticipated encounter with Kiyotaka in the morning, Honami regretted not preparing for the moment between the pair beforehand, as the former continuously twirled a strand of her pink hair with her index finger while standing next to him. When Kiyotaka curiously asked what she means by "prepare," she dodged the question and awkwardly said it was nothing he need to worry about but herself. Not long afterward, the two of them boarded the elevator, which promptly arrived on the fourth floor first, where Kiyotaka's room was located. As soon as he stepped out of the elevator and says his goodbye, Kiyotaka turned around and locked eyes with Honami for a brief moment, catching her off guard by surprise. Without haste, this frantically and impatiently causes her to bid farewell in a rush and setting off to move to her floor. It was described that in the sudden panic, Honami began to mash the close button several times over to quickly shut the doors to the elevator where she was in to escape the gaze of his eyes on her to the former's nervousness around him. Before long, he disappeared from her view as the elevator doors closed between them.

Later, on the day before the exam, she learned some of her classmates had gotten into a dispute with Class 1-D, which had negatively impacted them the next day which is when the competition begins. Although a complaint had been filed to the school, neither Honami's class or Class 1-D had been penalized as it was nothing more than a verbal argument between the classes. On the morning of the day of the Event Selection Exam, Honami headed over to the special building and went to the designated location where commanders and their homeroom teachers, including herself, had to assemble. There, while waiting outside the multipurpose room, she was the first to meet up with Arisu who proceeded to have an idle chatter among themselves right before Kiyotaka arrived next and they simultaneously greeted him afterwards. Both Honami and Arisu Sakayanagi informed Kiyotaka that once all four commanders are finally present, they must then let the school officials know that everyone is gathered in one place before being allowed to enter the multipurpose room. Since they still had to wait on the last commander to arrive which was Satoru Kaneda, Honami continued her conversation with Arisu who thought it was possible for Class 1-B to reach Class A through this exam. Arisu tells her that the state of Class 1-D is no different than an infant as their chances of defeating and toppling Class 1-B are zero, stating how Honami can take advantage of their opponent's situation by imagining how many wins she and her classmates could stack up. Furthermore, Arisu went as far as telling Honami that if Class 1-B were to win seven events without any losses on her side, it can be judged that they might even possibly dethrone Class 1-A and change places in class ranking with them, depending on how her own class performs with Class 1-C. When Honami was described by Arisu to be lucky enough to have a weak Class 1-D led by Satoru as her opponent for the special exam where victory was nonexistent to them, the former said she did not think that to be the case as there's no telling what will occur or how things will play out between Class 1-B and them.

**Sakayanagi** : *"As they are now, Class D is no different than an infant. Their chances of beating your class are pretty much nonexistent. All you have to do now is to see just how many wins you can pile up. If you win seven events in a row, Class B might even change places with Class A. That is, depending on how Class A performs."*

**Honami** : *"Oh no, there's no way to tell what's going to happen. They'll probably be desperate, so we definitely can't let our guards down."*

Reasonably so, Honami told Arisu that Class 1-D were still tough adversaries that she shouldn't underestimate or lets down her guard carelessly, noting how they can become desperate when push comes to shove. Upon witnessing Honami steel her resolve like this, Arisu can't help but show an amused smile. This prompted Honami to speak up again in response, wondering if she had said something weird to receive that reaction from her. Arisu explains that her reaction just now to Honami was due to how the leader of Class 1-B conduct herself, speaking like she is at the top who is confidently ready to take on anyone without a sense of wariness. At this moment, Arisu asserts that what she has come to understand from talking to Honami is the fact that the leader of Class 1-B doesn't view Class 1-D as her equals on the same footing. After saying so, Arisu complimented Honami for being who she expected her to be, acknowledging the leader of Class 1-B of the recent accomplishment in managing to protect her class for an entire year without losing anyone. Because of how slightly inconsiderate and mean-spirited Arisu's words and expression were about her confident attitude, Honami trying to not let it get to her head claims that she had also come there prepared with a strategy, prepared to defeat Class 1-D and win the competition as the exam focuses on Class 1-B's strength being unity and cooperation, which played an important part. Not long after five minutes or so had passed, faint footsteps of the last commander can be heard, leading Honami to start bracing herself as the exam was finally about to begin while she took the liberty of envisioning what was about to happen. This is her believing they would join up with Satoru after he arrived, and the four of them would enter the multipurpose room together.

**Honami** : *"“...Ryūen-kun? Why...Why are you here...?"*

**Ryūen** : *"What's wrong with you? What's got ya shaking there?"*

However, the moment Kakeru Ryūen, rather than his classmate Satoru arrived at the scene of their discussion, Honami could not help but be left shockingly dumbfounded by his sudden appearance which she was not expecting at that point in time since she had heard he had supposedly stepped down as class leader a while ago after losing to Suzune's class and falling to Class 1-D. With a completely stupefied expression on her face, Honami anxiously and slowly asked Kakeru of why he of all people from Class 1-D is here and not Satoru. A clear, distinctive feeling of unrest coursed through Honami. Ignoring that question, Kakeru inquires what's wrong with her and what was making her shake at his presence, as he deliberately draw attention to Honami's trembling. He reminded Honami that the exam cannot start without all commanders gathered in one place, telling her that if one of the leaders for the competition is absent, they will be naturally replaced and substituted with someone else from their respective class. Even so, she had never once thoughtfully considered that Kakeru will suddenly show up out of nowhere to fight her on behalf of Class 1-D, expecting Satoru to be the commander leading them rather than him. He argued that's to be obviously expected coming from none other than her as Kakeru himself went on to describe the kind of good-nature, selfless person Honami is for her own class. He mockingly states that she would go so far as to stop and save her classmates from having to take the risk of expulsion no matter what, even if she risked her own life doing so like injuring herself, breaking out in a fever, or crawling on her hands and knees across the floor to reach this location they're in. Feeling a sense of uneasiness growing on her mind after seeing him appear before her, Honami nervously cleared her throat and asked that there must've surely been a penalty for him to participate as the substitute commander.

**Honami** : *"Even so, I never even considered that you might show up, Ryūen-kun."*

**Ryūen** : *"Well, duh? Considering the type of person you are, Ichinose, even if you broke out in a fever or got yourself injured, you'd come crawling here on your hands and knees to prevent your classmates from having to risk getting expelled."*

In response to her questioning, Kakeru reveals how there is in fact a penalty for his action, wherein which Satoru is not allowed to participate in any events as he more or less already taken that into consideration. Learning and accepting that Kakeru will be taking Satoru's place as the acting commander, she questions whether this was his way of throwing her off guard mentally while stating that it's disadvantageous even if he did. Such disadvantages mentioned by Honami was the loss of Satoru who is unable to participate or help the class along with the indirect fact that Kakeru doesn't have any protection point to protect himself in case his class lose against her Class 1-B. Considering that Satoru who is a vital asset for Class 1-D was given up by Kakeru to have the latter as a substitute commander, Honami began subconsciously pondering and questioning why as it meant to her that her opponent must've come up with a clever scheme where it involves not using him in the events anymore. The questions running through her mind at that moment was when had Class 1-D decided that Kakeru would become the commander and if it was from the very beginning to the point this meant that it had all been planned out from the start. Because of those things, Honami was feeling terribly confused and lost, unable to fully process the fact that Kakeru is the commander she is facing off over Satoru. Hence, Honami was informed by Kakeru that since Satoru was absent in the exam, she won't be able to face the original commander due to the penalty impose on him. Observing her uneasy reaction and state, Kakeru reassures Honami not to be so wary of him as he was just Class 1-D's sacrificial pawn, telling her that if his class were to lose against her, he will be the one to get expelled which will prove beneficial to her. Honami was told by Kakeru that this exam was Class 1-D's and Class 1-B's perfect opportunity to have someone like him who is hated by both their classes gone from school.

**Honami** : *"Then, are you saying you’ll go easy on me?"*

**Ryūen** : *"Kuku. Yeah, I'll ease up on ya, so just chill out and come at me."*

Hearing this, Honami inquires if that would mean he is willing to go easy on her which Kakeru chuckles at. Just as she was considering that possibility, Honami threw such thought out of the window after Kakeru tries to bait her by saying he will do as she wishes, telling the former to be at ease and challenge him head-on in this competition between them without feeling any worries or pressures. Kakeru spread his arms wide openly high up in the air, beckoning her to come at him and make a move, but there was no way Honami was going to fall for it as she can't relax or calm down in front of her opponent. Taking his words with a grain of salt and not trusting it, she knows full well that when Kakeru is present before her and yearns so badly to win a fight, he will try to pull out every trick in the book and used them to beat her class as it's his fighting style. Kakeru tells her that if he really wants to seek a win, then she is certainly correct to assume that way of thinking about him. Since Kakeru was in a disadvantageous position with his back up against the wall and fighting, where he did not possess a protection point to cancel out his expulsion along with the absence of Satoru which worsened things for him, Honami began to see him as a cornered rat that is dangerous. She worries that him showing up unexpectedly as the commander for Class 1-D may be a bad omen to her own Class 1-B, knowing how underhanded he was willing to go through to secure a win. As she's the type who prefers to build trust, confidence, and safety from the ground up, her capacity to deal with a sudden accident caused by a very powerful adversary like Kakeru was by no means one of her strong suits in solving and countering it. If not for Kakeru as her opponent but an average one who isn't him, it wouldn't have turn out to be much of a problem. In the end, the shock of Kakeru being the commander of Class 1-D all along inevitably spread from Honami to the entirety of her Class 1-B after hearing the news of his return, unable to hide their distress.

Because Kakeru had become the commander despite having stepped down as the leader of Class 1-D, Honami understood that the unpredictable nature of his instructions would be a lingering cause for alarm to herself and the class. In his mind, Kiyotaka believes that she really should've taken prior action ahead of time back when Class 1-D was repeatedly stalking her classmates. He figures that if she was able to caught onto the fact that Kakeru had been quietly lurking behind the scenes earlier on while she was planning out the events for Class 1-B and how to deal with possible Class 1-D's choices of events, it wouldn't have come as this much of a shock to her until now. Once all the commanders are finally present, she and the rest of them proceeded to enter the multipurpose room to begin the exam and the class competitions. She and the other commanders came across a very soundproof and sturdy partitioning wall that hadn't been there the last time they were in the room had been constructed, dividing the inside of the room into two distinct halves. Tomonari Mashima gave instructions to both Honami and Kakeru that those from Class 1-B and Class 1-D competing with each other are to move to one side of the improvised wall where they were set to battle one another at. Before long, she and Kakeru disappeared off to the other half of the wall with Tomonari and Sae Chabashira following after them while her homeroom teacher Chie Hoshinomiya and Class 1-D's teacher Kazuma Sakagami stay behind alongside Kiyotaka and Arisu.

Meanwhile, Honami and Kakeru was right in this part of the room, operating a computer with a single, large monitor that the school officials had set up beforehand. While there, she examined the catalog of all the Class 1-B students. Before long, Honami went on to assign her classmates to the events in real-time. This was by using either the mouse pointer/cursor or moving her hand on the touchscreen to drag a student's portrait and drop it into the box of the event she'll have them participate in. Whenever each and every event begins right after she finished selecting the participants for it one at a time, it can be said that Honami as the commander sometimes stood back and oversee the match being broadcast live on this large computer monitor in front of her. With the power of a commander, she was allowed to pause the game and redo a move once at one point during the match after it begins. She could freely choose to intervene at any time by clicking on the rule in the monitor she wants to act upon and enforce. However, she will be prohibited from providing her classmates with instructions over the phone. Instead, she is permitted to adopt a text-to-speech system for giving instructions that will automatically read out the messages she send them whenever she wants, so long as it abides by the exam rules. After she type out her message and sent it to the participants, the audio for it will be played through her classmate's headset. To avoid losing any match by disqualification, Honami tries to be careful to avoid stepping out of line and interfering with an event in a way the rules don't allow. For every event chosen including team types, only one student among some from her class participating in each game will are instructed to wear one of the headsets and received instructions from Honami. As the commander, Honami will have to decide who this person will be before an event begins. On that note, Honami can even freely change the screen layouts on the monitor at any time they wanted to do it, including minimizing and maximizing certain aspects of the display to show only the information she desired to see. This is while Honami not only observed the students in an active event but also for making preparations for the next one at the same time simultaneously.

As some time has pass by since Class 1-A and Suzune's Class 1-C were off competing somewhere else, Honami silently watches her Class 1-B emerge victorious in the fourth event, letting out a sigh in relief that victory is still within her grasp. Though Honami was grateful of the fortunate luck that she end up pulling three events that was suggested by her class, the results for some of those didn't play out the way the former and her classmates intended. She felt distraught that something was amiss due to Kakeru's perfect composure despite their wins and losses being tied. Out of the four events that had been drawn in the lottery till then, three of them were all planned to be successful for Honami's Class 1-B yet one among those numbers had come out as their loss while the other two were their victories. The four events in the competition hadn't ended up playing out to her class's advantage as expected, when it was revealed that the score was tied with two wins apiece between her side and Class 1-D led by Kakeru. During the third event that happened prior, she bore witness to her Class 1-B's defeat at their own game that was supposed to have played in their favor, being none other than the Chemistry Test itself which they lost to Class 1-D on. One of the reasons why Honami's Class 1-B had lost the Chemistry event was because a portion of their main fighting force had unexpectedly fallen sick. It was said that Honami lost her presence of mind ever since her defeat in the Chemistry event happened. She felt distressed by how some of her classmates were not participating in the events on time due to falling terribly sick, experiencing abdominal pains like stomachaches along with showing symptoms of mental instability. She asks Class 1-A's teacher Tomonari Mashima if her classmates returned from the bathroom yet but the latter replied they had not and how others started to feel unwell as well, much to her own unrest and uneasiness increasing, unable to suppress the anxiety that was kicking in.

**Honami** : *"Haa...It's okay, it's okay."*

At this point in time, Honami is cognizant that underhanded actions had undoubtedly been orchestrated by Kakeru, thinking he might have something to do with some of her classmates' absence from certain events. To return back to a normal state of mind, Honami took a few deep breaths as an attempt in order to compose herself once again. Honami thinks that they hadn't lost the lead just yet, reasoning how while it was true that problems kept popping one after another, Kakeru's actions were limited as the commander of Class 1-D. She wants to believe he wouldn't be able to do anything that she couldn't do also as fellow commanders of their respective classes. She desperately tried to regain her confidence, telling herself that it will be okay twice, as long as she continued to fight hard for her classmates' sake during this exam, Class 1-B wouldn't come out losing. When Kakeru questions Honami, demanding why multiple of her classmates were all absent during the middle of the event when it just was about to begin, she couldn't find a good reason with which to answer him, as she had no involvement in them going missing. In short, Kakeru accuses Honami of doing something bad like a trickery by claiming how her classmates must've suspiciously gone off to the restroom to buy time where they can iron out their strategy which she said she didn't. Even though Honami knew that there had been absolutely no wrongdoing on her part, she had no room to refute it either. Due to Kakeru's action, he ended up drawing the teachers' suspicion to Honami on the fact that several people from her class had reported feeling terribly ill at the same time. Because time is of the essence and with encouragement by Kakeru to not waste any more precious time, the two teachers Tomonari and Sae Chabashira proceed to turn their backs on Honami and go forward with the next event as her opponent eggs them to. After the next event was revealed to be Karate suggested by Class 1-D, she had already tasked three of her classmates: Sumida Makoto, Watanabe Norihito, and Yonezu Haruto with practicing that game ahead of time, but they only remember the rules of the bout for the most part.

**Ryūen** : *"I dunno if they're on the toilet or whatever, but they could totally be using this time to iron out their strategy. Plus, it's strange that multiple people just so happened to get sick all at the same time. What kind of sinister tricks are you playing at, Ichinose?"*

**Honami** : *"I-I didn't..."*

As a result of the fifth event, her Class 1-B suffered two staggering back-to-back losses, it being one of the quickest and most decisive ones so far. Honami tried to make use of her powers as the commander to call for a rematch, but it still didn't manage to change anything whatsoever about their defeat as the result remained the same. At this point in time, she quietly realized that Class 1-B didn't have any more leeway left because if they were to end up sustaining a loss in the sixth event as well, they would lose the entire special exam. As they waited for the drawing to pass judgment, Kakeru called out to Honami, who had gotten quieter about how funny it is to see the amount of wins and losses are turning out to be between their two classes. With each consecutive defeat coming her way, she doesn't have strength or courage left to talk back to Kakeru as he mock her of how she underestimated and overlook t he strengths of him and his class overall. Kakeru exposes Honami for thinking that her class had an absolute advantage over his own class initially right when it was announced and decided for the special exam that she'll be going against them in a competition. However, looking at the results now, Kakeru laughs at Honami that all she can do now is sit there quietly and powerlessly while praying to the heavens that something good happened to them. Honami's strategies were by no means naive in and of itself because if they were competing under normal circumstances, Class 1-B would've been at 3 wins and 2 losses instead of the other way around with Class 1-D so far. Due to losing on the fifth event, Honami believes they would still stand a chance to overturn the situation if she successfully draw one of their own events again for the sixth. Once it was revealed that the sixth event was Judo which was one of Class 1-D's strengths, Honami lost hope of Class 1-B ever coming out on top in this test as their one and only chance failed to appear. It was the only event that she and the rest of her Class 1-B classmates had chosen to given up on before this was revealed, where they wouldn't be able to win no matter what.

**Ryūen** : *"Kukuku. Judo? Judo, eh? For THAT to get chosen out of all things. Lady luck ain't smiling down on you, Ichinose."*

**Honami** : *"How..."*

Due to everything she is going through, this was the first time Honami had ever truly felt the sensation of being plunged into darkness, hopelessly questioning how it ended up that way while Kakeru belittles her for the poor lady luck she is not blessed with. Even Kakeru admits that had the last two events been straight from Class 1-B rather than Class 1-D, she would be able to have a better chance of winning which didn't happen. Kakeru taunts Honami that while her classmate's opponent is Albert Yamada, he teasingly pokes fun at her that she shouldn't let it get to her when the strongest guy like him doesn't always emerge victorious in a fight. Though Kakeru eggs Honami to find a classmate that can give Albert a shot, she has troubled doing so as it would be extremely difficult for Class 1-B to beat down a large-size opponent whose physique and fighting skills far surpassed her classmates. Honami had to select a single person, and she was only given thirty seconds to decide who that would be. However, since her one classmate she had selected to face off Albert in the Judo event wasn't around, Honami couldn't even make the choice to nominate someone else from her class anymore while the time ticked away. As the timer finally reached zero, Honami who is the commander that failed to make the choice in time was forced to follow a rule where they have a student be chosen at random. When Tomonari was considering the danger of the event, he passed a different ruling immediately instead of allowing the rules to dictate a Class 1-B student be randomly picked. In turn, Class 1-B automatically lost the event match to Class 1-D by default without anyone from her side willing to stand up to Albert and challenge him face-to-face, marking it as the fifth loss for them and as the loser of all the event competitions. The exam came to an end when it was set in stone that the overall win-loss ratio was 2:5 for Honami's Class 1-B, which in turn made her lose not only her protection point alone but 90 class points as well.

During the following volume, it was said that in the week after the exam, her classmates advised Honami to appeal to the school multiple times by filing a complaint, but she chose not to. Because there are more than twice the number of losses over their wins, it can be noted that the 640 class points Honami's Class 1-B were previously at have now been reduced to 550 overall. Prior to exam day of the team competition, members of Kakeru's class has went around bringing slow-acting laxative over to Honami's class that begins to take effect after 48 hours of consuming them by her classmates. Kakeru's lackeys has trick some of her classmates into taking one of these things without Honami catching wind of their suspicious action before it was too late for her to do anything about it. This lead to some of in her class not feeling that good during the day of the exam when they have to participate in the event competitions. Several of the competitors in Class 1-B led by Honami failed to exert their full strength due to sudden physical discomfort, which was the key reason of how her classmates are unable to achieve wins in their own events they had draw up.

#### Volume 11.5

Even after the end of year's Event Selection Exam, the results of that exam were still weighing on Honami's heart and the back of her mind ever since the time she was defeated miserably and her fighting spirit crushed. On a morning, Honami woke up early, before 8 AM and used her phone to send Kiyotaka Ayanokōji a text message of their plans for the day, offering an invitation to meet him and Suzune Horikita sometime during their spring break. Particularly, she wished to hold a private talk with Suzune and Kiyotaka about both their classes' final examination of their first-year, the Event Selection Exam. Despite having already collected some bit of information regarding the exam result, Honami still preferred to go out of her way to further discover more about the details of their 3 wins and 4 losses against Class 1-A from them face-to-face. Since they were becoming 2nd-year students very soon, Honami also had made the intention of arranging such a meeting to focus on the status of their classes' cooperative relationship as an alliance moving forward. Whether the alliance between their two classes will continue or end, Honami seeks to confirm it for herself and decide with them of what would happen to it.

Although Suzune and her classmates fell back into Class 1-D, Honami picked up the fact that the differences in the scores were shrinking. This indicates to her that an inevitable change in the class ranks will set to occur for the beginning of the second-year due to the next special exam was now very likely to make that happen. Because Class 1-B and the classes below it were now evenly matched, Honami knew that now is the time to discuss with Kiyotaka and Suzune about what their classes would need to do from now on. To her, if she were to continue this cooperative relationship between the two classes, it would reduce her mental burden by a bit. However, she understood that such a long-lasting alliance would eventually become detrimental to the two classes involved had finally crossed the mind of both parties. When the situation escalates, it's unclear if Honami could actually bring herself to dissolve the relationship forcefully. Basically, the situation was that the lower ranking Class 1-D led by Suzune didn't need to do anything, as it was Honami and the higher ranking Class 1-B that needed to decide what their plans were for the future. Honami is cognizant that a normal conversation with Suzune and Kiyotaka is far from simple as it would be an important point of divergence which would consider what the future held for the two classes. When she was notified by Kiyotaka that he and Suzune were available at any time, it was decided between Honami and them that their meeting would occur at 10 AM in the morning, at the café on the 2nd floor of Keyaki Mall.

**Honami** : *"Okay, order whatever you want to eat, I'll treat you."*

**Horikita** : *"This won't- be for the sake of gaining an edge over us during the conversation, right?"*

Before the appointed time of the meeting, Honami who wore casual clothes seemingly arrived early at the entrance of the café more than ten minutes ahead of schedule while waiting on Kiyotaka and Suzune to come and reach out to her. This led Suzune to assume that Honami probably hates the mere thought of coming late before them or keeping people waiting on her to arrive. Unlike her previous encounter with Kiyotaka that was unintended, this time she had readily used the citrus perfume on herself beforehand since he would also be present with Suzune during their arranged meeting place, making the scent subtle enough for him to smell it. When the two arrived with Kiyotaka being the first to call out to her, Honami with her usual smile greeted them and lied saying she had just recently reach Keyaki Mall. With each of the three having gotten their seats, Honami then proceed to put the entire cost of their food expenses on her tab, encouraging the two to go ahead and order whatever they want to eat as she deemed it her treat for them. Honami lightly tapped her chest with a clenched fist and admits that she was going to settle the payments with her own money through the private points the former have left. Suzune suspects this was Honami's method of trying to gain an advantage over her and Kiyotaka during the conversation between the three of them. However, Kiyotaka quickly puts Suzune's concern to rest stating that Honami is different as she wouldn't dare resort to something terrible like that compared to her who did. Suzune respectfully thanked Honami and accepts her offer, to which the latter says it shouldn't be a problem and urged the former to begin ordering first and then Kiyotaka. On the other hand, Kiyotaka who was apparently showing some sign of worry about Honami, closed the distance with her to speak to the latter quietly without letting Suzune overhear it.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Ichinose, will there be any problems with your private points?"*

**Honami** : *"Ah, um, after paying here, I should still have about 3000 points. There's no problem."*

When Kiyotaka asked her out of concern if she would be financially fine with handling the whole payment all by herself, Honami reassures him that it was not really problematic for her as she still had around three thousand private points left in her deposit after spending some of it on their meals. With that much remaining in her balance, it can be noted by Kiyotaka himself that she should have enough money to overcome this crisis. As Kiyotaka doubtfully expresses his curiosity of how she got this much to go by when their points were supposed to have been reduced to zero, she revealed to him that the money she had obtain a lot in her possession was due to selling her precious hairdryer to Class 1-A's Nishikawa. Honami told him that she had needed to sell one of her belongings so she could survive throughout the month of March. She had convinced her classmates and friends to also resort into doing the same thing as her until April when private points would be redistributed to them. On that note, Honami tells Kiyotaka of how there was no need to keep on hesitating over ordering whatever he wants, gently pushing his back while she's standing right behind him to go ahead with the purchase using her private points and savor this treat from her. Once the three of them grabbed their food from the pickup area, she and the two proceed to leave the counter to sit on the seats in the corner side of the café. Before long, Suzune immediately went straight to business by reminding Honami the main reasons why they're gathered at this table together regarding the results of the Event Selection Exam and about the agreement between their two classes from last April. Realizing that Suzune was able to predict what the conversation with her will be about, Honami laughs it off and acknowledges that she had seen through it all. Honami, who was smiling as she said this, also show a serious look in her eyes, knowing full well how extremely important this conversation would be to each other.

**Ayanokōji** : *"The end of year exam seemed to take a toll on you."*

**Honami** : *"Ahhhhh, umm, I lost. We were completely defeated by Ryūen-san's strategy."*

When Honami questions if she by any chances happened to be troubling her and Kiyotaka, Suzune rejects that notion stating that they too wanted to have a special talk with her, feeling it was a big help that the former was the one who decided to initiate their meeting and conversation. Even more so, Suzune felt grateful to Honami in giving she and Kiyotaka a chance to talk things out, reasoning that it was hard for them to have a discussion with her alone like this. Showing a slight smile, Honami replied that she's no longer surrounded by a lot of people like usual anymore nowadays, claiming how she's not always busy at all during the middle of this spring break and suggests she can talk to her anytime. From Kiyotaka's eyes while looking at Honami, he can sensed that she was trying her best to hide some kind of bitterness. Kiyotaka guessed that the reason for Honami making such an expression is comparable to when someone tried to ask her on a date, and she refused. Seeing that, Kiyotaka points out to Honami of how the end-of-year exam seemed to have a great toll on her. Kiyotaka didn't want to deliberately beat around the bush by not choosing to reopen Honami's wound into the conversation late as it would eventually reach there anyway from the beginning. Hence, he felt bringing it up earlier would be the better approach to go by as Honami would recover faster from it very early in the conversation than later. Hearing what Kiyotaka has to say about her, as they eat, Honami depressingly recalls her class's loss in the recent exam while telling him that she lost. She sadly reveals to both Kiyotaka and Suzune about how Kakeru Ryūen had completely outsmarted her with his unpredictable strategy, which had been the major reason for Class 1-B's huge defeat in the Event Selection Exam. Upon recalling the way she and her classmates lost to Kakeru's class, Honami shaking her head sighs constantly multiple times and drifting fretfully.

**Honami** : *"At the start, we thought that the commanding tower was Kaneda, and when it was revealed that he wasn't, it messed up our rhythm."*

**Horikita** : *"That's understandable. Ryūen should have already stepped down from as the leader, and he didn't have any protection points, so he couldn't have been the commander. That's what we all thought, but it was all part of Ryūen's plans."*

Refusing to lay the blame on her opponent or her classmates for losing, she tells the two that Class 1-B's failure to beat the exam and come out on top was obviously due to her lacking the ability as the commanding tower to adapt to unexpected situations. Though Suzune finds it hard to imagine that someone like her would make big mistakes carelessly, Honami humbly rejected the girl's praise, believing the flattery was unnecessary when she acknowledges that she did lost her head over fear and panicked back then. Having been troubled and shaken up due to Kakeru's surprise appearance in showing up at the scene of exam day, this negatively affected not only her from the start but the outcome of the scores going forward by the end of the class competitions. Feeling heavily responsible for her class's loss, Honami explains that at the beginning of the exam, she and her classmates thought that the commanding tower of Class-C was Satoru. However, when it was revealed that Satoru Kaneda wasn't the commander, she said it messed up their class' rhythm and strategy, finding out that they were surprisingly dealing with Kakeru's tactics all along rather than him. Having thought over and preparing about how her class would square off against Satoru for a long while, she recognizes that Kakeru suddenly appearing out of nowhere in his classmate's place was unexpected. This causes her state of mind to fall into chaos at the sight of him being secretly involved all this time in the exam without her noticing until he finally revealed himself made Honami realized it is all part of the latter's high-risk schemes. Suzune understands where Honami was coming from, as they all initially thought Kakeru had already long since stepped down from class leader position and it didn't make sense to them that he would be the commander when he didn't have any protection points in case of the possibility that he might lose. Honami acknowledges how the fact remains that she wasn't able to fix her frame of mind in the end, expressing responsibility for the loss Class 1-B got as Kakeru have completely backed the former into a corner with his speech-like abilities and words.

**Honami** : *"I heard that your class achieved excellent results in your battle against class A."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"A loss is a loss. I remember that I asked you to give me the right to fight Class A. If Class B was against Class A, the results might have been different."*

After which, Honami then proceeded to praise and ask Suzune about the excellent results her class was able to successfully achieve against Class 1-A, falsely believing Kiyotaka's lie that his class leader had been the one who requested to target and fight them. Kiyotaka on the other hand, thinks otherwise, arguing with Honami that a loss is still a loss when he was the one who asked for her permission in the first place to hand him the right to challenge Class 1-A. He reasons how the results might have turn out differently, had her Class 1-B been the one to fought against Class 1-A instead. When Suzune sincerely apologizes for not letting Class 1-B have a chance to battle Class 1-A in that special exam but go on to experience a tough battle with Kakeru's class, Honami said that she shouldn't apologize as it isn't the reason behind her loss. Understanding how terribly bad of a matchup between Class 1-B and Kakeru's class was that resulted in the huge reduction of a lot of class points for her class, she reassures Suzune that it was not the latter's fault to begin with as the responsibility rest solely on the former alone. For this reason, she tells Suzune not to dwell further on considering Satoru would've chosen Class 1-B anyway as their opponent since he drew winning lottery slip. Hoping to learn from Class 1-B's defeat under her leadership, Honami understood that she herself needs to deeply reflect on figuring out and coming up with a more stable strategy that could lead them to victory the next time. Although Honami appears enthusiastic as she said this, Kiyotaka knows for certain that her mentality has not been well-adjusted and far from it. Suzune then asked for Honami to give a run-down explanation about what sort of strategy she had planned in mind against Kakeru's class while promising to share details of her battle with Class 1-A in return. Hearing this proposal by Suzune, Honami nodded her head in approval of it.

**Honami** : *"I lost at the event that I was supposed to excel at, and I wasn't able to adapt to the situation. That's all my fault as the commanding tower's."*

From there, Honami exchanged key information with Suzune about the different battle strategies each one of the two classes had used on one another in detail, revealing the answers for how she had failed without concealing it. Particularly, Honami explained the events that she chose for Class 1-B and the events that Kakeru had picked for his class. She reveals the order of of the events, what events were chosen, how her opponent went about doing them in those selections through a fighting method of brute force that played to their strengths, and where she won and lost. To she and the Class 1-B students, her opponent had managed to exploit one of their glaring weaknesses, recognizing that they couldn't really stand a fair chance against members of Kakeru's class like Albert Yamada. She agrees with Suzune that neither their two classes can win against Kakeru's methods or styles of fighting except for maybe Class 1-A led by Arisu who can likely triumph over it. Proof of Kakeru's intention to attack Honami and Class 1-B from the very start was based on the records of their previous battles, where her opponent's win rate was the highest against Honami and her classmates. When Suzune inquires how Class 1-B lost to Kakeru's class even after drawing four of their events, and lost in two of those, Honami told Suzune and Kiyotaka everything of what Kakeru had done to them. She states the reason for why her class was unable to win in some of their chosen events was because her classmates had been attacked and pressured mentally through their enemy's tactics of aggressive stalking and intimidation. Honami added further, making mentions of how several of the competitors from her Class 1-B either went messing or failed to bring out their full strength effectively in those events due to going through sudden physical pains and aches on the day of the exam. Honami reminded herself that everything was her own fault as the commanding tower, declaring how she was supposed to excel at the events Class 1-B was good in but didn't and lost.

**Honami** : *"Maybe. But it doesn't matter, I won’t report this to the school."*

**Horikita** : *"Why? Are you just going to submit to this humiliation? This is a serious incident that can change the results of the exam, and all you need to do is to reveal these details."*

In that sense, Honami believes the reason for the loss was due to her not being able to adapt to the unanticipated situation. Shortly after, Suzune points out to Honami about how so many of the latter's classmates had experienced abdominal pain while showing symptoms of mental instability. Honami was certain that what transpired to her classmates was all part of Kakeru's trap which Class 1-B had got themselves caught in as the food and drinks they consumed were contaminated with drugs. When Honami states how she remembered her classmates feeling unwell on the day prior to the exam, after they had bumped into Daichi Ishizaki at the karaoke place, Suzune questions her why she did not bother to report Kakeru's trap to the school. Suzune tells Honami that there's no harm in filing a complaint to the school even if it yields no result this time around. She tries to convince Honami of how the usefulness of getting that issue reported now can probably play a significant role in better handling the next incident if it happens again later in the future, arguing that the school will become more increasingly strict on Kakeru's class as long as they continued doing underhanded things like this. In response, Honami turned down the idea saying that she felt it wouldn't matter or do Class 1-B any good by addressing the severe issue with a complaint despite knowing Suzune's proposal was maybe possible. Suzune questions why Honami is refusing to take disciplinary action, asking if she was simply going to just submit to this humiliation by Kakeru's class without fighting back or resisting. Honami was told by Suzune about what Kakeru and his classmates had did to her classmates is a serious incident that needs to be carefully addressed as it can change the bad results of the Event Selection Exam for Class 1-B, encouraging the former to reveal the concrete details and evidence to back her claim. More so, Suzune even went as far as to say that she will make sure to assist Honami if both sides wish for it and agreed to such preposition in finding evidence to appeal.

**Horikita** : *"I will assist you if you wish."*

**Honami** : *"Thank you, Horikita-san. But I still don't want to complain. There still isn't any concrete evidence now, and...I want to use this incident as a lesson."*

In spite of Honami being offered assistance by Suzune to investigate, she declines it reasoning how there was no real evidence that indicated Kakeru's class did something terrible to Class 1-B. While she appreciated Suzune's offer, Honami didn't want to complain but express the desire to go forth in using this incident as an important lesson for herself. Once Suzune inquires what sort of lesson she meant, Honami states that she was lucky to still make a comeback. Honami, who had a resigned expression a moment ago, regained some life in her pair of eyes. Kiyotaka described the change in Honami's facial expression as that of a broken-down engine desperately trying to ignite. Even while feeling unsure, she asserts how her class still had ample time left to restore their strengths and adopt future countermeasures in the event that such a similar incident might happen again during the crucial periods of both her second and third-years. Honami nodded her head strongly, her eyes brimming with power. Additionally, she explains to Suzune that her class was taking their defeat in the exam seriously by deciding to make good use of this failure, and not repeat the same mistakes twice in the future. As Suzune gives up persuading her, she promised not to say anything more which Honami accepts. After Honami was done explaining Class 1-B's strategy and what happened in the class battle between herself and Kakeru on her side, she then listens to the two explain their class' strategy against Arisu and Class 1-A from their end. Honami learned what sort of events Suzune and her classmates took part in under Kiyotaka as commander, including how they won the ones they won, and how they lost the ones they lost. Although she already knew about the results of their battle, Honami believes it was still a great show of power by their class despite them not emerging victorious or losing a lot of points in the exam compared to Class 1-B. The reason for her straightforward praise was because it proved to Honami that Kiyotaka's classmates, besides Suzune, were slowly getting stronger over the course of time, to the point where they could no longer be taken as lightly anymore.

When Suzune confidently confirmed that her class will only continued to become even stronger than before, Honami who saw that resolve with her own eyes can't help but nodded her head to give respect. Suzune tells Honami that she has something to say to her about the next half of the conversation which the latter was ready to hear out. Because Suzune was the person who brought up the subject of their cooperative relationship instead of her, Honami was already expecting to happen and mentally prepared for what's to come out of this unexpected preposition. Hence, as the gap of class points between the classes has been opened up once more, Suzune informs Honami that her class will be canceling their partnership agreement with Class 1-B as an alliance, at the start of their second-year. Honami who knew she would come out and say that listens to Suzune's decision to put an end to the alliance is because they've finally closed the gap between their two classes and could no longer upheld the condition that made the cooperative relationship possible. Honami understood that while Suzune and her classmates did fall back to Class 1-D after losing to Class 1-A in the Event Selection Exam, it wasn't exactly a loss to them if the latter thinks about the big picture in the long-term. She considers and evaluate how closely small the difference between the two classes was then in terms of class points along with the fact that Suzune's class had gain the most points the fastest than any other class throughout the year as the latter started from zero. After a bit of calculation with this and the results against Class 1-A being three wins and four losses, Honami noticed how the difference in those numbers was so small that it wouldn't have been surprising to her if Kiyotaka and Suzune had emerged victoriously in the recent exam. On that note, she knows they still have enough opportunities to win later down the line and change the class ranking. Reasonably so, Honami instantly realizes it was only a matter of time when they would no longer be cooperating as allies and soon return to being enemies next year in order to compete for the position of Class A.

**Honami** : *"But, can't we still maintain this cooperative relationship?"*

Although Suzune was ready to dissolve the cooperative relationship between their two classes, Honami readily disagreed with her idea of doing so right away as she did not want to see their class alliance gone for good and wished to continue maintaining it. Honami attempted to close the topic by wanting to discuss it again at a later date when the differences in class points between their two classes reduce some more but Suzune refuses to let such subject slide so easily and insisted that their partnership be ceased. Witnessing Suzune's resolve to lead her classmates to Class B or higher and defeat Class 1-A no matter what by obtaining all of the class points possible, Honami couldn't help but feel shaken up a little by her declaration of such a resolute goal as she was unable to change her decision. After she heard that Kiyotaka has no objections to Suzune's decision, Honami closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. Suzune expresses gratefulness for Honami being one to propose a cooperative relationship with her class when they were still at their weakest, warning that deciding to harbor resentment towards them won't change the fact they're still be enemies in the future. In turn, Honami quietly accepted what Suzune had said with conviction. Knowing she and her own classmates are being seen as a rival officially starting April, Honami soon was left with no other choice but to hurriedly make up her mind that the former didn't want. Honami too declares of how their two classes were always enemies from the very beginning as everything that had happened between them until now was merely due to their temporary truce, asserting she can never bring herself to hate Suzune for her decision. With that said, Honami thanked Suzune for her time promising to move forward and resume their competition with each other as enemies once the second-year semester begins. Finally, Honami slowly opened her eyes and looked towards her and Kiyotaka without a shadow of any hatred or bitterness in them. Upon firmly shaking each other's outstretched hands, Suzune and Kiyotaka then part ways with Honami thereafter when they were finish with their meals. Meanwhile, Honami who egged them to leave first decided to stay behind after they left, sitting by herself in the café during the meantime to contemplate on what to do next for the day. She began calculating the strength of Suzune's class and sorting out her feelings about Class 1-B's defeat in the Event Selection Exam and the breakdown of the cooperative relationship.

**Horikita** : *"I'm grateful to you, Ichinose, having proposed a cooperative relationship with us when we were at our weakest. But...even if you resent us now, we'll still be enemies in the future."*

**Honami** : *"How can I hate you? We were enemies from the start, and we only had a temporary truce. I thank you very much for this as well."*

During noon time where it started to rain heavily with the precipitation exceeding 30 mm, Honami had exited the café but chose to remain in Keyaki Mall to continue thinking and reflecting over her thoughts after her meeting with Suzune and Kiyotaka concluded. Within Kiyotaka's range of sight from a distance, she appears alone in the middle of a rainy weather without an umbrella to shield herself from the rain. Honami slowly walks forward in the torrential rain, embracing the fact that she would be soaked wet by the water while thinking. Rather than go and walk along to the path of the dormitory area, she instead heads out in the opposite direction, which was towards the school. While Kiyotaka chases after her with a spare umbrella, she couldn't seem to hear his approaching footsteps due to the rain being too heavy and loud enough to drown it out. At some point, as she is being bombarded by raindrops, Honami eventually stopped moving and stood still where she was at, before then turning her attention over to the sky above her, restlessly lost in her own train of thoughts. With her head raised up to look at the sky and letting herself be drenched in the rain without avoiding it, Kiyotaka then called out to her as he appears concern that she might soon obtain a cold fever if Honami sticks around for too long. Kiyotaka was certain that if she did end up falling sick because of this, Honami would become even more mentally fragile and broken on the inside. Although he greeted her warning that she would catch a cold from continuing to keep standing in the downpour, Honami who didn't moved an inch softly whispers his name at his sudden presence and admits what he said isn't wrong. As she didn't expect anyone to be nearby except for herself only, Honami was a little taken back and surprised, but then she turn her head and glanced at his direction. Before long, she looked up into the rainy sky once again, without fear of getting soaked and kindly tells Kiyotaka to head back first without her.

**Honami** : *"You should go back first. I...would like to be soaked a little bit by the rain."*

However, in spite of his warning, Honami reasoned that she would preferred to get soaked a bit in the rain water and does not mind the possibility of catching a cold as the former felt she had every reason for wanting and deserving to be drenched in that poor weather. Contrary to Honami's reasoning, Kiyotaka believes that if he were to leave her alone by herself, she might end up staying in this rain for as long as an hour or two. According to him, Honami was allowing herself to get soaked by the rain in order to try and distract herself from whatever she was feeling about her problems. Kiyotaka knew that no matter how much he tried to persuade Honami with words, she wouldn't simply listen to his concern for her and accept it, not when she is the only one faced with a condition to be suffering under the weather. So, in order to get Honami to hear him out, Kiyotaka had chosen to use slightly tougher means to convey his demand across, knowing how there was a particular method that worked on her in horrible predicaments like this. Since there was something off with the way she had phrased such reasoning, Kiyotaka lowered and closes his umbrella letting himself be covered in the same raindrops as Honami. Watching Kiyotaka put himself in danger, this made Honami feel shocked by his peculiar movement to her situation and anxiously calls out Kiyotaka's name. Honami could not ignore his peculiar actions, worriedly inquiring why he would do that to himself, to which Kiyotaka said he just enjoyed getting wet standing in the rain without any reason, like her and wants to join as well. This formed a clear contrast to Honami, who had a reason for wanting to get herself soaked in the first place. Not convinced by his excuse to stay with her, Honami warns him that he will be catching a cold which Kiyotaka didn't denied it being the case and states the same could happen to her too. On the other hand, Honami argues that she didn't mind getting inflicted with a cold during the rainy weather, claiming it would be a good thing if she did indeed caught a small one. Hearing this, Kiyotaka tells Honami that he will most probably tried to do the same much to her confusion about his way of thinking.

**Honami** : *"We're already wet, so what would it matter if we use that!"*

Confused by his responses, she disagrees with him telling the latter to not even try and insists Kiyotaka to go back home since he had an umbrella ready, to which he replied it wouldn't make a difference either way as he was already quite wet from the rain. Unable to tolerate his selfless act of endangering himself because of her, she was forced to reconsider her action until now and do as he says. Upon understanding that he would not bother to leave her behind if she stays in the rain, Honami succumbs to his words and decides to head back to the dormitory together with him. Despite going along with Kiyotaka, Honami refuses to take his umbrella, when offered by him because she felt using the tool for protection doesn't matter much anymore as it is pointless and meaningless considering that the both of them were already drenched. While walking back in the direction of the dormitory, Honami heaved a deep sigh on the fact that she always ended up showing her weak sides to him, thinking it was very lame of her to let Kiyotaka discover her in such a sad state and situation which he agrees to be true. Honami expressed her honest feelings that by being strong-willed and capable in the face of others, she could come off as being decisive and resilient. However, since she wasn't able to successfully maintain it around Kiyotaka which unnerved her, Honami inquires why something as bad as this is happening to the former. When he reasons that perhaps she was showing her weaknesses to him because she happened to trust him, Honami didn't disagree but on the contrary believed it to be the apparent truth, accepting Kiyotaka's words to have a true meaning towards her action. Realizing that Kiyotaka was indeed trustworthy to her, Honami couldn't help but conveyed her curiosity of why he was always there for her whenever she was depressed and letting him hear her complaints without concealing them. Kiyotaka said that his encounters with her were all coincidences which she apologizes for letting this occur the way it did. Seeing how apologetic Honami is acting, Kiyotaka comforts her saying that there wasn't any need to give an apology and asserts it isn't a bad thing but admits other students might get angry if they stumble upon finding him with the former.

**Honami** : *"No...I think it's true. I think you're a trustworthy person. So that's why I always end up letting you hear my complaints. But...why does it feel like you're always by my side when I'm depressed?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"Well, those are all coincidences."*

When Kiyotaka volunteers to hear out her complaints all she wants like last time when she felt troubled, Honami with a look of anxiety shakes her head from side to side at the thought of allowing this, thinking it was very lame and not okay to show off her weakness like that to him. After some time, just as the two of them were able to finally reached the dormitory, Honami stopped moving. Before stepping foot into the lobby, Honami requests Kiyotaka that it would be better off for him to go on ahead to his room first. With a lot of willpower behind her words, Honami explains that she planned to stay at the entrance to think and reflect on things some more before going back to her room. Seeing Honami's strong refusal to continue further and wants him to leave her by herself, Kiyo refuses to heed her wish and decides to remain with her while he attempts to reason with her that it will be best for her to head inside her room. Kiyotaka presumed that by being continuously soaked by the massive raindrops, it might have distracted her from what she was actually feeling at the time, believing it wouldn't help solve the fundamental problem plaguing her. Surprised and confused by his unyielding defiant attitude, Honami strongly reaffirmed to Kiyotaka once again she didn't want to return to her room at the moment, fearing that thinking alone, there, would only make her become more depressed than she already was. Left with no other choice but to use another different method on Honami to get her moving, Kiyotaka coaxes her to come and hang out in his living room instead where she could have someone to talk to such as him without feeling too depressed. Much to her surprise when receiving such an unexpected invitation, Honami attentively stared into his eyes. Though she tries to turn down his invitation due to herself being all wet from the rain, Kiyotaka refutes her, saying that he is in the same sorry state as the former was and that he wouldn't leave her side until she accepts. Kiyotaka reminds Honami that he will stay by her side outside the dormitory, for as many hours as it will take if she rejects his proposal. In the end, upon witnessing how stubborn he was around her, she decided to give up and accept his invite.

**Honami** : *"But...I'm all wet..."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"Well, I'm just as wet as you are. If you don't want to come up, then I'll stay with you here, for as many hours as it will take."*

With that argument settled, both she and Kiyotaka then proceeded to drag their wet bodies together into the dormitory's lobby area where nobody was around to see the pair and shortly afterward boarded the elevator. Not long after the two ascended up to the fourth floor, Honami and him went up to his room. Honami questions if he is sure or it was okay to let her enter, to which Kiyotaka admits she got his permission to do so. After Honami thanked and apologized to him for the kind hospitality he is giving her, she follows Kiyotaka inside his room, where he guided her to sit down on the floor. Knowing how unsafe the cold floor is with her wet body, Kiyotaka then gone ahead to turn on the heat function of the air conditioner to dry Honami's clothes off and increase the temperature of the room so that she would not get any colder. While at the same time, Kiyotaka handed Honami a fresh towel he took out from his cabinet that she could use to wipe her wet clothes clean with as he readily begins her consultation without delay. Upon being asked by him that they should have a talk about it, Honami who is unsure of what Kiyotaka means inquires the topic of the conversation he is referring to. Since she doesn't have the slightest clue, Kiyotaka informs Honami how he is willing to sit down and talk to her of what she is really thinking about and everything related to that. Anxiously stumbling and hesitating over her words that she can't tell him outright, Honami attempts to refuse his help, while feeling seemingly confused with herself and Kiyotaka. It was during that "consultation", Honami slowly but openly reveals to Kiyotaka what she was thinking and worrying about all this while, along with everything related to her troubles besides being a class leader. At first, she was reluctant and wanted to reject his proposal of helping her, fretting on the fact of how she has always been overly reliant on him for dealing with her own problems recently as of late.

**Honami** : *"I've always been relying on you recently, Ayanokōji-kun. I've received more help than anyone else. If I say this audaciously...No, I can't say it, it's too unsightly."*

From this, Honami asserts that she herself received the most help from him more than anyone else and couldn't bear the thought of asking for his emotional support twice, thinking of how showing her weakness to Kiyotaka would be ugly of her to do. In her words, Honami notes if the former were to say to his face that she will accept his consultation audaciously, her doing so will come off as being unsightly, which is so unlike the kind of person she is and didn't want to say it. Though she tries to sway him to stop with assisting the former as he should've already got a clear understanding of her very well personally, Kiyotaka shows no intention of backing down when he insisted on hearing out her own troubles as Class 1-B's leader. Kiyotaka reasoned with Honami that while he is very much aware of her situation, that's the limitation as far as he could judged and deduced on a personal level as the same could not be said with the problems she happened to be going through in leading the class which he doesn't know anything of unless she tells him openly. Upon listening to how much he will go out of his way to do this for her, Honami covered her face with the towel, refusing to be honest with herself or even let him read what her expression conveys. While still hiding her face using the towel, Honami voiced her surprise when Kiyotaka points out that she doesn't trust him enough. When Kiyotaka said it was a mistake on his part for asking her to reveal her thoughts as she was unable to trust him, he then tells Honami not to force herself to speak, stating maybe this was far from a good idea to begin with in allowing others like himself hear her out whatsoever. In response to Kiyotaka's reasoning, Honami denied that ever being the case and admits he was likely the most trusted person to her more than anyone else she was friends with. Although he felt honored by her words, Kiyotaka questions how Honami can say those words so easily without careful deliberation.

**Ayanokōji** : *"If that's the case, then you don't have to force yourself to speak. Rather, It's a mistake to let others hear it at all."*

**Honami** : *"No...That's not it. I probably trust Ayanokōji-kun more than anyone else now..."*

As a matter of fact, he argued that it might've been just him trying to take total advantage of her openness and the bad situation she's in while bringing up the rumor of her past that was exposed and exploited by Arisu Sakayanagi. In addition, Kiyotaka states that one normally should not be going around spilling their own secrets to anyone in the first place, be it a friend or an enemy, not when you don't exactly and clearly know what sort of relationship they had with the other person. Kiyotaka remarks in his mind that though Honami knew she will come to regret her action of doing what she did by revealing her past to her enemy Arisu, she still went and done so anyway despite knowing how meaningless it was to do especially when this secret was very hard to talk about even to a friend. That begs the question from Kiyotaka, he asked Honami of what she will do next if history repeats itself where the same thing happens again, more than once. Being reminded about her own past experience with naively giving away her secret to Arisu by Kiyotaka, Honami told him that she herself wouldn't want to relive such a terrible situation or see it happening to her ever again. With that said, Honami touched her bangs which were glossy from being wet.

**Honami** : *"Ah, no. I definitely...won't suffer a crisis again for the same reasons as before. But Ayanokōji-kun is different."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"I'm not your classmate. I'm still your enemy, and that won't change, right?"*

**Honami** : *"I don't want to use that word so easily."*

Once Honami becomes more aware of her situation she was in, he stops pursuing further on talking about the topic and drops that kind of discussion aside, for her sake. While Honami says she would no longer suffer from a crisis again for the same reasons as before, she told Kiyotaka that her predicament is different this time around when it came to him. Hearing this, Kiyotaka reminds her of the fact that he was not her classmate but her class' enemy and how that status won't change, to which Honami states she does not want to use such word so easily, especially towards him who she harbors the biggest trust for. In spite of her denial, Kiyotaka reasoned how even if she refuses to admit it outright as being true, he points out that is the apparent truth of the matter between them who hailed from opposing classes competing for the same objective of reaching Class A. Since she is unable to accept what Kiyotaka said as true, Honami would go so far as to rephrase her sentence arguing that while he is not an ally anymore, he could still be deemed a trustworthy person to depend upon regardless of what happened to their class alliance. Through conveying it like this, she removed the word "enemy" from being associated with Kiyotaka as he is an exception to such a label. After Kiyotaka finished boiling the kettle of water, he asked Honami whether she preferred either coffee, milk coffee, or hot cocoa to be added in. Having responded with a smile, Honami then receives a cup of hot cocoa from Kiyotaka just as they were done wrapping up that part of their consultation, drinking it to help warm up her cold body. When the heavy rain finally subsided and the sunset glow began to set in, Honami watches this scenery unfolded for a little bit before then turning her attention back on him with faint smile. After a while, Honami opened herself up to Kiyotaka and slowly started to talk about her feelings towards Class 1-B. Honami shares with him that when the former was first assigned to Class 1-B and met her new classmates and friends there, she was absolutely confident in her victory.

**Honami** : *"Although you're not an ally...You're a trustworthy person."*

However, Honami acknowledges how there were some people who says she was being conceited for thinking like that back when they called the former out for it, as she figured her confidence was due to being blessed with excellent companions and how that feeling had not changed even then. Reaffirming her words, Honami felt the one miscalculation was her turning out to be the leader, believing that if only she took better action in making good decisions, Class 1-B would definitely be in possession of more class points than what they had since the end of the Event Selection Exam. Kiyotaka disagrees saying that he had always considered her as an extraordinary person which she responded by shaking her head and refusing to accept the praise. Honami remarks that after her meeting with Suzune and talking to her earlier during the day, the former judged that she, along with Arisu and Kakeru had really grown quite a lot as a person throughout their first year. She observed that no matter which class leader it is, the former describes that each and every one of them are constantly showing growth by growing more stronger than last time. Seeing their tremendous growth rate firsthand, Honami who was losing herself could not say the same applies for her, unable to see her own consistent and quick growth in the past year as comparable to them. Feeling pessimistic after having lost some of her self-confidence in herself from the match with Kakeru Ryūen in the recent exam, Honami nervously began asking questions to Kiyotaka with the impression that the others were leaving her behind in the dust to catch up, while unsure of being able to win in the future. Honami wants to hear out and know what he thinks about her abilities, inquiring him on his honest opinions whether or not she could still hope to stand a chance of winning in future class competitions after their second year starts.

**Honami** : *"Will...Will I be able to win in the future?"*

Rather than being given immediate answers, Honami was vaguely encouraged by Kiyotaka to continue fighting together alongside the classmates who she needed to put her trust on throughout the year, telling her to never stop advancing no matter what happiness, sadness, and hardships she may end up experiencing. According to Kiyotaka himself, the only thing Honami can do as the leader of Class 1-B right now, was to recklessly continue to live her way of life as she has done up until now and not changed it. She needed to maintain trust in her comrades, and fight until the bitter end. That was the
one and only option she had solely available to her, the weapon that only Class 1-B was allowed to have. Hearing Kiyotaka's word of advice, Honami couldn't help but doubtfully wonder about herself if this would be her answer, and uncertain if she would still be able to think like that after one year later. Becoming extremely uneasy and anxious, Honami admits she was fearfully afraid to find out what he would tell her in a year from now, and conveys to Kiyotaka how hard it was for the former to accept that as an answer to her question. Because Kiyotaka has shown to be understanding of what she's thinking and won't ask to take it to be the answer regarding whether she would continue winning in the future, Honami then turned her hopeless gaze away from him to avoid looking at his face. It wasn't the cold but instead the fear that was penetrating her wet body and made her tremble slightly at the thought of what will happen to her Class 1-B within the status quo ranking due to the growing difference in class points and combat abilities over time overall. Along the way, she would weakly and confusedly mumble questions while looking down at herself on what should or can she do next to prevent that from happening down the line. From his point of view, Kiyotaka notes that Honami looked so weak-minded and vulnerable, saying this was a sight that she herself would not allow any other students like her classmates except for him to see her like this.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Throughout the year, no matter what, you'll have to fight together with your classmates. During then, you might experience happiness, sadness, and sometimes hardships as well, but even so, you must never stop advancing."*

**Honami** : *"And then...will this...be my answer...after a year, I wonder?..."*

To Kiyotaka, he knew at this point it would be a simple task to say tender words to the weaken Honami who had opened her heart out to him. Let alone that, it also wouldn't be much harder for him to whisper gentle and sweet words, delivering them right through the gap in her broken heart. Not just that, but Kiyotaka in his mind describes that it might even be possible for him to touch Honami's skin hidden beneath her wet clothes. When Kiyotaka approaches Honami and moved to sit down by her side, she reacted to his sudden action excessively and lifted her head back up to look at his face immediately, unable to escape or turn her tight gaze away from his. Dazed by Kiyotaka's actions, she nervously calls out his name and lets the guy have his way with her without running away from him. As Honami doesn't bother resisting, this in turn allowed him to go on and lightly caressed her wet hair, cheek, and lips one after the other with his right hand's fingertips. Because of the warmth sensation in Kiyotaka's physical touch, she felt her body's trembling lessened and soon her shaking lips also calmed down, leaving Honami to feel really awestruck at how strange and mysterious he was to be able to do something like that. While staring at him with her moist eyes and not bothering to escape the stroke of his palm, Honami was asked to meet up and talk with him again next year on the very same day by him, much to her confusion, and she inquired him about the meaning behind that request.

**Honami** : *"But what if...I at that time...our classes..."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"It doesn't matter. I just want to see the Ichinose a year later."*

After he explained why, she understood that it would only just be between the two alone and nobody else around but them for next year's private one-on-one meeting. Kiyotaka then gently moved his hand away from Honami's cheek, stood up, and distanced himself from her, telling her that in the coming year, he didn't want her to feel trapped by confusion and uncertainty. He advised Honami that she should instead keep on moving forward with her life like how she had done so far before talking to him again next year as a promise. She feels doubtful and hesitant on the matter of accepting his promise due to concerns of what would become of her and for their classes at that time if she did. However, when Honami was told by Kiyotaka that it does not matter to him what will happen the whole of a year, and that he was only interested in seeing the change she would bring to herself in a year later, Honami closed her eyes and nodded slightly. While thanking him, she decided to accept his promise of what he will convey to the former then what the latter wanted to tell her now. Through this verbal exchange, her bright eyes and cheerful demeanor starts returning back to life, initially devoid of energy. Due to her renewed resolve, not only would she wait until the promised day arrived, to hear the answer he could not tell her this time, Honami also confirmed and promised to him that she would go on to fight with all her strength and overtake Class 1-A during their second year, letting out the brightest smile she had all this time. Kiyotaka while thinking in his head comments that if she does happen to fall somewhere during the course of her second year, then he will be the one to make sure in finishing her off.

On a day during spring break vacation, with the second semester just around the corner, Honami came across an area filled with cherry blossoms that were in bloom due to the change in season from winter to spring, and sat beside it. There, while sitting on her own right beneath the cherry blossom tree, she spotted Kiyotaka within her vicinity and cheerfully called out to him in a positive tone, waving her hand at him to get his undivided attention on her to look at where she was in. When Kiyotaka asked about how her day went and had been in school, Honami replies that she had gone there in order to check out the Student Council for a bit since her fellow second year students in the student body said it would get busier from there on due to the incoming first year students. After handling her usual tasks as a member of the student council, Honami left the school and on her walk back home to the dormitory, decided to stop to view some flowers along the way. Hence, explains why she was present underneath the tree until stumbling across Kiyotaka who cross paths with her. In addition, there was a warning sign that said people like her shouldn't touch the tree without any reason to though she was allow to still move closer to it and hide under the shade of the cherry blossoms. Meanwhile, with a delighted and happy smile on her face, she who narrowed her eyes excitedly looks above the sky while expressing her elation at seeing and learning that there is such a small flowers of cherry blossoms, Omuro Ariake.

**Honami** : *"How about we watch them together?"*

Not knowing it was really real before until she saw the 2m-4m cherry flowers firsthand herself, this event happened to leave a strong impression on her whereby proving to the former that it did in fact exist after all as they were intertwining and floating everywhere in front of her as proof. Not long after the two meet and greet each other, Honami tells Kiyotaka that there was a perfect spot she found where they could hang out at in secret to enjoy the beautiful flower viewing, prompting him to come close and sit next to her. Shortly thereafter, upon Honami tapping on the spot reserved just for him, he sat down at the spot together beside her to watch the pretty landscape taking shape. She and Kiyotaka would directly stared straight up ahead toward the sky in amazement as the cherry petals began dancing and scattering around in the air due to a powerful gust of wind blowing it. As they temporarily ignored the upcoming class exam that was soon to appear after the start of their second year for this special moment, Honami admits to him how nice it was for them to appreciate the scenery of flowers every now and then which he agreed with her on. While Honami and Kiyotaka both continued gazing up at the beauty of the cherry blossoms in the sky, the two went on to talk together about the most casual of things as her side story concludes.

On the final day of her spring break vacation, Honami met up with two of her fellow classmates- Chihiro Shiranami and Mako Amikura as they made it their plan to go to Keyaki Mall together as a group. Before the two accompany her, Honami felt refreshed as it had been such a long vacation in which she would frequently spent most of her time off shutting herself in her living room and thinking alone so often. Seeing how it had been a long while since they had last walked side by side with each other, Mako expresses her concern for Honami's health, to which the latter replied she felt fine, okay and well. Because they rarely had seen or accompanied Honami in the middle of spring break, she perceptively notices her classmate's worries about her concerning that, understanding how their group usually always hang out with her more often than not. Afterwards, Honami apologizes to Mako for having to turn down her invitations so many times, stating that she had been busy thinking about strategies for the second-year and how to proceed from there. Honami was then suggested by Chihiro who had been quietly listening on her conversation with Mako, that though it's great the former is trying to help the class, she should reconsider thinking too much on her own and instead discuss it with the others as well rather than just by herself. As the final term exams were already over, Honami surely knew why they were acting so sensitive right now in front of her. Hearing how worried they were over her well-being, Honami reassures her friends that she would be sure to consider relying on them both, telling the two that if something bad were to happen to her, she would talk to the latter about it. Although she said her true feelings to her classmates, Honami, in her mind, also truly did not want the two to appear concerned for her or be the one to share her troubles unnecessarily.

**Honami** : *"Oh, don't worry, really. I'm hundred percent fine! Spring vacation had me fully charged!"*

Because Class 1-B was losing a lot thanks to the bad decisions she forced upon herself to accept during the final exam, Honami understood that someone like her needed to choose her words very carefully and precisely. This is while Honami happened to be talking to them, knowing the possible implications that she could easily cause worry with those two by whatever she said and that would be a loss to her. Reasonably so, Honami told them not to worry as the vacation itself she had on spring break was enough to get her fully charged up and one hundred percent ready to tackle the next exam and year. Reflecting back on her whole spring break, Honami acknowledges that her vacation for spring break with Kiyotaka was unique and one of a kind as it had given her a new kind of energy that revitalize her fighting spirit unlike anything she had been through before. Though it was a bit different from the usual previous ones where she usually went out and played with her friends, Honami did described her time spent with meeting and talking to him to be a far more remarkable and meaningful experience than being with them daily. Just by recalling how her depression vanish from spending time alone with only Kiyotaka and what had transpired on that day whereby exposing her weaknesses to him in his room, Honami immediately felt the hot warmth starts to grow hotter on her chest and thought that she can once again still put up a fight against the other class leaders like Arisu Sakayanagi, Kakeru Ryūen, Suzune Horikita and others. According to her, the moment when she'd revealed her weakness in Kiyotaka's room, something that had been troubling and weighting on her mind, just poof, disappeared without a trace left. Due to Kiyotaka's emotional support, Honami was able to avoid the worst case scenario that can possibly happened to her where she lost the will to fight onward in future class competitions and exams before it even happens.

Honami believes she would not be currently standing strong and walking side by side with her friends without him. Had he not invited Honami to his room on that fateful day in the rain and comforted her through their private consultation, she would have remain in a terrible, depressing state or it might turn out even worse than before. That said, whether she and her fellow classmates could compete with them, Honami admits none of them wouldn't know until they try to face it together themselves. While sorting out her feelings, Honami thinks of Kiyotaka not only as a treasured friend but also someone who is much more than very important to her as well. When she could not properly bring a part of herself to muster up or express the next words to appear in her mind as it refuses to, Honami understood she cannot forget the unchangeable fact that the two of them are part of different classes respectively. Honami thought about how she and Kiyotaka could no longer mingle and meet with each other anymore after their class alliance is dissolved as unlike last year where they can collaborate due to their class points being vastly different, the gap this time around had closed. As she recalls the words Suzune said face to face with her, where they had become rivals competing with each other, Honami in her head believes that they can end up fighting without it being affected by personal feelings getting in the way. Nevertheless, she starts pondering over the possible chances of both herself and Kiyotaka being in one and the same class together, describing that if he was on her side then all her worries would be gone from her mind and she could confidently challenge Suzune's class without feeling any hesitation to do so.

**Honami** : *"Stop stop. Don't think any further...!"*

Upon realizing that her thoughts were taking a turn for the worst, Honami frantically shook her head with great vigor to dismiss the possibility of being alongside Kiyotaka altogether, refusing to think or dwell on it any further. After doing this to calm down her feelings from welling up and keep them buried deep within herself, Honami was worriedly called out by Mako for the sudden, strange head-shake movement she had done a moment ago, to which the former apologizes for and replies that it was nothing out of the ordinary. Because she was becoming too relaxed around her close friends no matter what even during the last day of spring vacation, Honami vows to get her act together and dispel her thoughts on Kiyotaka for the time being as her classmates were looking forward to meeting her at the Keyaki Mall. To stop thinking about it anymore, Honami figured she would be able to have some more proper time to properly reflect on that later once the situation finally cooled down and when the former has the spare time. Moving alongside her friends to their meeting place, she resolved to keep herself keenly focused on the first period of their class's second-year. Honami recognizes the fact that even though the former and her classmates were still in Class 1-B at the moment, they had almost no more leeway left. In spite of this bad situation, Honami intended not to remain on standby still regardless as it was never an option to her, but follow through with the same goal she had retained ever since the entrance ceremony from last year when they had all stood line in line for. This side story ends with Honami anticipating that a new war would be coming for Class 1-B, beginning tomorrow when they would officially be second-year students.

#### 2nd Year Volume 1

On April 1st of the 2nd year, it was revealed that Class 2-B, led by Honami, had 542 class points overall and following only just barely behind them, was Class 2-C, led by Kakeru with 540 class points in total. Last month during late March when she was still a first-year freshman, the class points that Honami's Class 2-B had were originally supposed to be 550 after getting defeated by Class 2-C in the Event Selection Exam. Comparing between late March and the beginning of early April, it could be highly implied that Honami ended up getting her Class 2-B to lose 8 more class points during or after spring break vacation.

During the Partner Exam, Honami put forward a request to the school for holding an official meet-and-greet event with the first-years, managed by Class 2-B. After the school accepted her request, allowing her to do as she pleases, Honami posted a message in the global chat the school had provided for students to have in their phone app, making complete use of it to notify the new first-years about the meeting she had arranged between her class and them. According to the post made by her, Honami had her message centered on about how she was given permission by the school to hold a meet-and-greet gathering for the first and second-year students in the gymnasium for on a day from 4:00 to 5:00 PM, asking them to participate alongside her class if they could spare some free time on their end. Because a majority of the students did not show up because of confidence in their academic abilities, only a handful-less than half of the first-year students invited to the meeting agreed to her invitation to join Class 2-B in the event. As the person responsible for making the meet-and-greet event possible, Honami later attended the meeting in the gym along with about half of her classmates from Class 2-B who were present there to welcome the new first-year students. Particularly, the students of Class 2-B she brought along in that meeting place were considered the more sociable type of classmates in her group who happened to be academically secured and influential. Observing how difficult it was for her classmates to approach the first-years and convince them to pair up with Class 2-B, Honami decided to avoid bringing up the topic of the special exam in the first place and thought about a different strategy to earn their trust. For that reason, she instead opted to primarily focus her time and efforts on trying to become friends with the first-year students through first introducing herself and sparking up casual conversations with them as a starting point from there while backed by her Class 2-B.

In other words, rather than prioritizing the rewards and benefits of the Partner exam, she was focusing on building up mutually trusting relationships between her class and the first-year students who were academically weak and in need of assistance. Through this sort of strategy that was exclusive to her, Honami placed more emphasis on saving and helping out the weak first-year students instead of winning the top-place rewards in the exam, for Class 2-B. She had already ditched the idea of taking the top spot in the Partner Exam and was rather planning to fight to prevent any of her own classmates and the first-years from being expelled. Understanding the drawbacks of the strategy from the start, she was aware of the fact it was not going to be easy for the first-years to open themselves to her or her classmates right away. Honami did not consider rushing through the process behind her strategy whatsoever, but waited patiently for as long as she could until the first-years finally took action for themselves. She approached and talked to the first-year students with a gentle smile on her face, slowly melting away the walls of ice that had closed off their hearts. Not long after doing this, it only took a few minutes of close observation by Honami while watching them that they started to begin developing and deepening friendly relations with her fellow second-year classmates. Both she and her classmates were enthusiastically able to draw and influence the first-years into their influence regardless of their Academic Ability rating as a way of providing salvation to the weak and vulnerable. As a result of this meet-and-greet session that took place successfully without any problem, Honami's actions helped both the first and second-years alike, and both the sides reaped several benefits from the talks. Furthermore, leaving a good positive impression on the freshmen, Honami's name and face had started to become well-known and infamous amongst many of the first-year students who gathered before her Class 2-B in that meeting, over the course of the time spent chatting there.

Once the meet-and-greet event concluded, it was revealed that the first-year students had later carefully considered their options and decided to form pairs with Honami and her classmates. On Wednesday, the third day of the Partner Exam, it was said that fifty-six pairs had been formed in total, where over thirty percent of students had already decided on who their partners would be out of which many had to do with the handiwork of Honami. In particular, Kiyotaka confirmed that a lot of the first-year students with low Academic Ability ratings had since found a partner and paired up with the people hailing from Honami's class. Excluding Class 1-D, Honami's strategy effectively works as intended to be when she was able to get all her classmates to pair up with most of the students of other first-year classes with a D rating or lower which saved them from possible expulsion. For instance, a majority of the Class 1-C wherein which thirty out of their forty students had signed partnership contracts with Honami and her classmates of 2-B after attending the meet-and-greet she set up at the start of the week. While Arisu and Kakeru were busy attempting to buy out the talented, academically or physically capable first-year students using their reputation and private points, Honami who did not possess a lot of points anymore unlike she used to a year ago, had instead built up trusting relationships by becoming a beacon of hope through saving and protecting the weak. After the special Partner Exam was declared over, the official class ranking changes as Honami and her classmates dropped down to Class 2-C with 539 class points, while Kakeru and his classmates rose up to Class 2-B with 565 class points. Compared to Kakeru's class that attain 25 points and Honami's class which happen to lose 3 points after the Special Partner Exam's test results were announced, this was what allowed the promotion and demotion between their two classes to occur.

#### 2nd Year Volume 2

As of May 1st of the Second Year, the difference in class points between Honami's Class 2-C and the new Class 2-B led by Kakeru Ryūen, whom she was in competition against, was only 26 points. Honami believed it was possible to catch back up even without a special exam, as points could still be affected by other possible factors like student absences or tardiness during class. She understood that over the past year as a former freshman, the small point differences created from everyday actions did accumulate up and ultimately affected the class points by a lot. However, when Kakeru and his classmates rose to Class 2-B, she realized there were no more holes left found in his class from such everyday actions that would have decreased their class points over time as they stopped missing out on attending school, and refrained from getting involved in other undisciplined activities. As June approached, the gap was reduced, but only by 2 points Honami is closely paying attention to of even the smallest bit of change. From that point on, Honami could sense how strong-willed Kakeru and his Class 2-B had grown to become when compared to last year and how it can't possibly be surpassed by her own side.

**Kanzaki** : *"So you're saying that you've been hiding it all this time. It looks like you're even more of an issue than I thought."*

**Honami** : *"Kanzaki-kun, don't say it like that. No matter what class it is, they'll have their own ideas, and of course, their own strategies."*

On the morning of May 1st that same day, at 7 a.m., Honami and her right-hand man Ryūji Kanzaki planned to go to Keyaki Mall and hang out with their classmates. On their way there to the entrance of the mall, she happened to spot Kiyotaka Ayanokōji within her vicinity from a distance and called out to him. When she asked Kiyotaka if he happened to be waiting on someone at the moment, she learned that he was going to eat with his circle of friends which was the Ayanokōji Group, telling him she was doing something similar as well, with Ryūji and her band of classmates. Honami and Ryūji replied in time with each other to him coincidentally, without even exchanging looks but the latter was noted to have his gaze more focused on her than Kiyotaka. She later proceeded to bring up the topic regarding his recent exam result, lavishing wonderful praises to Kiyotaka of how amazing he is for being able to achieve a perfect score in the math test than them. Although Honami didn't bother questioning Kiyotaka about why he had hidden his real strength until that exam, Ryūji opposed her and refused to stay quiet, as he couldn't bear to hide his own displeasure with the results. Unlike her, he chose to state it outright that Kiyotaka should not have been able to achieve a full score in the exam, especially based on his current stats in the OAA app. When she heard Kiyotaka's reason for hiding his excellent math skills was due to a decision made by his classmates after they had held a discussion with him, Honami understood the intent behind his actions without question. However, Ryūji did not want the matter of Kiyotaka hiding his abilities up to now be ignored and told her that he was a bigger issue that posed a dangerous threat to Class 2-C, than they had initially thought. Honami disagreed with him, believing it was the choice of his class rather than of Kiyotaka for keeping their own ideas and strategies a secret from them as they are of no exception to it either. She told him to not say or phrase it in that sort of negative way again about Kiyotaka as he was not to be blamed.

**Kanzaki** : *"That's true. He didn't use dirty tricks as Ryuuen did as well. Still, there's a few things I don't like about him. Ichinose, you should be very aware of the fact that it's not at all easy to be able to solve that extremely difficult question to get full marks. He says he's following his comrade's instructions but-"*

**Honami** : *"Ayanokouji-kun is not our enemy."*

Despite Honami having criticized her classmate for making such terrible allegations against Kiyotaka, Ryūji had no intention of retracting his words of concern for their class. Although Kiyotaka didn't resort to using dirty tricks like Kakeru did, there are a few things Ryūji disliked about him and what he was doing, not easily accepting that the guy was merely following the instructions of his classmates. Honami was reminded by Ryūji that she should be aware of the fact how it was not at all easy to be able to solve that one extremely difficult question and get full marks perfectly on his math test, indirectly cautioning her to be wary of Kiyotaka, moving forward. Before Ryūji could pursue any further with his critical comments concerning Kiyotaka, Honami stopped him with a rare forceful tone that she hardly shows until this moment, feeling displeased at her classmate's thorny, hostile attitude. Honami asserts that Kiyotaka was by no means an enemy of Class 2-C and expressed her dissatisfaction on how he, someone who she trusted the most, had been poorly treated by her classmate. Ryūji tried to refute what she said as wrong, saying that because the alliance between their two classes was no more as it is terminated, Kiyotaka and Class 2-D were in fact their enemy from this moment on, without a shadow of a doubt. However, Honami reasons that there was no actual point for them to engage in a needless but meaningless dispute with Kiyotaka over it. Yet Ryūji thought otherwise as he figured his action was actually necessary for both her and him to gauge the true strength of their opponent Kiyotaka who they did not have much information on to go by, to reach a definite conclusion. While she acknowledged that Kiyotaka being good at math all along was something he had hide and kept hidden along from them is a fact that cannot be refuted, Honami doubted it would be enough of a reason to view him as an enemy or a threat. Hearing Honami's statement, Ryūji then questioned if there are more things that Kiyotaka has been hiding from the two of them, doubting how it can't simply be just his math skills alone but other abilities as well he is possibly keeping secret of.

**Kanzaki** : *"Our alliance has been dissolved. There's no doubt that Class 2-D is our enemy."*

**Honami** : *"That's...but there's no point for us to engage in a pointless dispute!"*

As Ryūji remarks whether Kiyotaka hiding and then revealing his true speed physically and athletically in the Sports Festival was done under orders from his classmates too, Honami listening watched her classmate expresses that the worst thing their own class have to deal with is how he still have other strengths unknown to them they need to be wary of. She tried to explain to Ryūji that there was a limit to each test score, which was a maximum of 100 marks on a subject and the highest grade being an A+. To support her claim, Honami reasoned that even if Kiyotaka were to perfectly obtain full marks in all of them altogether, she thinks there was not much of a difference between him and Arisu Sakayanagi overall no matter how skilled a student is at studying. What Honami is saying was that it's only a 9 point difference between Kiyotaka and Arisu and even if the two had the same difference in all five subjects, it would only add up to 45 points which she didn't think that was much of a threat. Taking her analysis into consideration, she reassures Ryūji that their overall scores in Class 2-C were still a lot higher than that. In order to overcome the point gap created from Kiyotaka after using his true strength, Honami suggests that only means they will just have to make up for such a difference with their class as a whole. Though she tried hard to persuade Ryūji that Kiyotaka was not someone the two of them should fret over, the latter could not help but remain doubtful as that sort of logic applies solely on the written tests they are competing by and not everything outside of that. For this reason, whether or not his abilities on the written tests were the only things they should be wary about if his true strength went beyond the academic areas is what Honami knows to be Ryūji's main concern. In the end, she decided to stop the argument right then and there with Ryūji, telling him that he should know this was not the kind of discussion topic they should continue to be arguing and bickering about heatedly among a crowd of people, to which the latter realizes their position and backs down.

**Honami** : *"Yes, you told me to stick with my classmates and go forward, right, didn't you?"*

**Ayanokōji** : *"There may be students who want to change their own class appearing from now on, just like Kanzaki. Or there may be some that are dissatisfied with you and want to stop you. Maybe even some that will betray the class too. It won't be surprising to think some will do whatever just to make a change. Class 1-B, the class that only you protected, that class doesn't exist anymore."*

Honami, who had always been a pacifist, was worried that if they kept talking intensely in front of Keyaki Mall, which was a crowded place, it would sooner or later descend into chaos. Upon ending the conversation with Honami to calm down, Ryūji quickly sets off on his own and enter into Keyaki Mall before the former could, leaving her and Kiyotaka alone together to watch him disappear before their eyes. With him gone, she politely apologizes to Kiyotaka about his hostile behavior, given the sad situation where her classmates had lost their position as Class 2-B and had been recently demoted to 2-C, admitting that Ryūji's action toward him was not without a reason. Considering the failure of her class' fighting style that was working initially now required a new change in its direction, Honami wondered if she happened to be in the wrong as they are left with no other choice but to start changing their old ways of doing things. Yet she could not bring herself to follow Ryūji's suggestion by thinking they should abandon their naivety in the future and instead, prefers to continue being pleasant around Kiyotaka despite the bad situation her class was in. Before long, she and Kiyotaka began to have a talk privately about herself and her classmates. When asked by Kiyotaka if she remembered his words to her, Honami said she did, which was to stick with her classmates and go forward running without ever stopping or looking back. Since she recalled his statement to her, Kiyotaka informed Honami that there may likely be other students who were going to desire change within her own class appearing henceforth, besides Kanzaki, who perhaps felt dissatisfied with her ways and wanted to stop her. She was advised by Kiyotaka to consider the possibility of her classmates betraying the class as they would be doing whatever they could to bring forth better changes than what she could give them. Due to Kiyotaka's words resonating with her the most, she more or less understood that the previous Class 1-B, the group of classmates who she been protecting a year ago, does not exist anymore as it's different and no longer the same in the second-year.

**Ayanokōji** : *"I won't ever let you get expelled."*

**Honami** : *"T-that...y-yeah...I'll...definitely...stay."*

As a result, Honami decided to take his advice to heart, agreeing with him that she needed to maintain her priorities and focus on trusting her classmates, putting their safety first and continuing to fight for them no matter what happened in the future. Honami solemnly vowed to him that she would be the first one to sacrifice herself and leave school first before her classmates can when protecting her class from expulsion while taking responsibility for their recession. However, Honami was met with disapproval by Kiyotaka as the latter declared that he is dissatisfied with one thing about what she said selflessly. When she didn't take the hint of what his words meant but tilted her head slightly in confusion, Kiyotaka had to spell it out for Honami revealing that he had no intention of ever letting her go off and get expelled for their or anyone's sake. In Kiyotaka's mind, just from the look of Honami who gazed at him directly in the eyes upon hearing this, it lighted a blazing fire inside the depths of her pupils. He did this intentionally to give Honami a bright light that would never fade away, making himself out to be her ray of light spiritually. To Kiyotaka, if there was ever a slim possibility where the light in her eyes would end up spreading in the wrong direction, he would take it as his own, for himself. Shocked by what he had said to her, Honami who became embarrassed looked up at him and nervously mumbled that she would accept his words, promising to definitely do her very best to stay in school and avoid expulsion, too.

**Honami** : *"Even so that's still amazing. It just means you have a weapon that won't lose to anyone else."*

**Ayanokōji** : *"You are the same too. You certainly have such a weapon yourself."*

Trying to change the mood and topic of the conversation, she embarrassingly looked another way and avoided his gaze later complimented Kiyotaka to be a really amazing person for managing to get a perfect math score on that hard exam. Although he downplayed his math skills as his only redeeming feature at the school, Honami still viewed it to be something incredible to have nonetheless, calling it as a kind of weapon that won't lose to anyone who he might face up against. When he delivers respect and a praise back to Honami as the same like him for also having her own powerful weapon as well, Honami seems clearly unsure about what to make of that, not thinking it to be as strong as he made it out to be though she admitted it would be nice if that were the case. Soon afterward, needing to leave soon, Honami proceeds to go through the entrance of Keyaki Mall, bidding farewell to Kiyotaka beforehand as she could no longer afford to stand out too much with him in the crowd of people. This was while she was also feeling bad for having kept Ryūji waiting on her for too long during their talk.

**Arisu** : *"That's not what I meant. I've done some terrible things to you before, Ichinose-san. It wouldn't be surprising if you hated me."*

**Honami** : *"Well– I don't think you did anything excessive, Sakayanagi-san. Indeed, I have to reflect on what happened during middle school, as I also think that it was a shameful act. Also, it's not like I asked you to keep it a secret, so I don't think it's right to blame you for exposing it."*

On a certain day, Honami received a sudden invitation by Arisu Sakayanagi on short notice to have a face-to-face meeting privately with the latter at a café in relation to the Uninhabited Island Exam that was set to take place in the summer without giving her much time to think it over. If Arisu didn't carry out this strategy earlier than anticipated, and had she been told a few days in advance, Honami would have speculated on what the meeting would be about. Depending on the occasion, she might have even ended up going of her way to ask a classmate like Ryūji Kanzaki for help about Arisu's invitation. However, since it was already Friday of the first weekend when the group formations had started, Honami decided to accept Arisu's invitation anyway, and arrived at the designated, where the latter was already waiting for her. Upon arrival, Honami was then questioned by Arisu why the former had accepted the latter's sudden request while preparing a rejection from her and not come, to which she replied that it was because she had nothing special planned or scheduled for the day. Though Honami states it was not really a problem for her whatsoever, she admits that she didn't expect someone like Arisu to contact her which surprises the former. Realizing that was not what Arisu meant by her question, Honami convey her own feelings how she isn't bother by the terrible things Arisu had did to her as she wants to let bygones be bygones. In fact, Honami explained how she herself did not harbor any hatred or resentment towards the former for exposing her past or betraying her trust. Honami said she didn't think whatever Arisu had done was anything excessive, telling the latter that it had helped her reflect on what happened during middle school and come to terms with her shameful act. To begin with, Honami understood that had been her own fault from the start for not asking Arisu to keep her past a secret between them only, believing the former was not in the right to blame the latter for revealing it to everyone. If anything, Honami recognized that openly disclosing her past crime to someone was a mistake she had made and took responsibility for it.

**Arisu** : *"As you wish, I'll get to the point, but you might not be very comfortable with that either."*

**Honami** : *"Please have mercy."*

When Arisu described her to be a good person for that reasoning, Honami becomes a bit embarrassed by the compliment. Meanwhile, Honami would scratch her cheeks lightly and avert her eyes away from Arisu, stating that she is not too sure of that, while the former was unable to handle the sight of the girl gently gazing at her. Hoping to move on from that conversation topic, Honami insists Arisu to get to the main subject of their discussion and what the latter wanted to talk to her about for the day. Honami thought that the former would feel uncomfortable if they continued with this topic and hence, explains why she urged Arisu to get to the point of the meeting. In response, when Arisu decided to do just that and respect her wish yet noting it will only make her more uncomfortable, Honami sees whatever she was about to say as a warning, began mumbling to herself, hoping there to be mercy behind Arisu's next words. Although Honami was not comfortable with the direction the talk seemed to be heading towards, Arisu started with it anyway, explaining Class-A's predicament before the Uninhabited Island Exam, saying that Class 2-A was naturally feeling the danger of Kakeru Ryūen's Class 2-B approaching them again. After Arisu stated her concern regarding the situation of Class 2-A, Honami who was the leader of Class 2-C was then asked by the former about her thoughts on that potential problem looming in the horizon. In more ways than one, Arisu had mercilessly pointed the other worst dilemma besides Class 2-A where Honami and her Class 2-C were also being left out in the cold from both Class 2-B led by Kakeru and Suzune's Class 2-D. Hearing Arisu's blunt statement, Honami's mind went blank for a moment, unable to answer momentarily and then started fanning herself with a bitter smile on her face. After getting some time to process what Arisu had said, Honami admits and acknowledges the fact that it was true that Class 2-C was feeling excluded and ostracized from the two classes, which was not a good sign.

While Honami accepts how formidable Class 2-B was at the moment, she still believes there was still a possible way to beat and overtake them, however, Arisu disagrees with her thoughts. Honami was told by Arisu that Class 2-B had not been causing any problems lately, unlike with the previously disruptive strategies Kakeru had used for them, leaving the former to rethink and come up with the best way to go about overcoming the rival class. In other words, Honami's attempt to have Class 2-C catch up to Kakeru's Class 2-B through daily life was pointless since that was not their weakness anymore and her only hope now was to come out on top in the Uninhabited Island Exam and future special exams from now on. Reasonably so, Honami agreed with Arisu's implications of Class 2-B, and could see that Kakeru was indeed a troublesome, tricky opponent for the former to face off as she tended to confront her problems head-on. Quietly listening to Arisu's words, Honami knew it was not an exaggeration by Class 2-A's leader to say he was Class 2-C's greatest nemesis within the class conflict, understanding very well he was by no means an ordinary person based on her experience of fighting him at the end-of-year exams. Despite her wish to avoid confronting such an aggressive, unconventional foe who was a rule breaker if possible, Honami knows she couldn't do that as he stood in the way of Class 2-C's goal of climbing the latter to the top and reaching the position of Class A. Let alone the idea of avoiding Kakeru later down the road but having the desire to beat him as an opponent, Honami told Arisu that Class 2-A's leader was not one to be easily defeated either as the two of them were a large threat not just to each other but to her Class 2-C as well. When Arisu brought up the topic of Class 2-D who was also becoming a huge threat due to them steadily gaining momentum, so much so that they were close to overtaking Class 2-C, the difference being just over 200 class points, Honami agreed while conveying her awareness and wariness of them, not overlooking or underestimating their growth within the year.

**Arisu** : *"Sorry for continuing with the tough words, but I think it's only a matter of time before your class falls to Class D."*

**Honami** : *"Right now, that evaluation might be accurate, but—"*

**Arisu** : *"But what? Are you going to talk about the value of effort and friendship, those kinds of abstract concepts?"*

Looking at this way, Honami mentions that she didn't really have any much room left to spare, judging how Suzune Horikita and her classmates of 2-D had been rapidly gaining strength at a fast pace and in terms of individual strength, some of them wouldn't lose to anyone else in the other classes, including the former's own. Honami was informatively reminded by Arisu of how there were other interesting talented individuals from Class 2-D to watch out for as the latter points out their adversary's hidden trump card-Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (suddenly got a perfect score on an extremely difficult math test) and Rokusuke Kōenji whose exact strengths and limits were yet to be determined but remain a mystery, apart from Yōsuke Hirata, Kikyō Kushida (strong communication skills and well-balanced grades), or Ken Sudō (A+ rated physical ability) who they already knew a lot about. Hearing what Arisu said to her deliberately, Honami pondered along with Arisu, about the thick layer of talented students in Class 2-D that had yet to show off or reveal all their unknown potential abilities. After Arisu touched on the topic of how Suzune had been the leader who brought the students of Class 2-D together and led them forward, Honami had to once again reaffirm her predicament of having been kept in the dark, taking keen notice of both her rival's excellent academic and physical abilities along with her recent induction in the Student Council. Arisu states that it was only a matter of time before Honami and her Class 2-C eventually lose their position to the growing might of Class 2-D, who were seeking to climb above their group and make them fall down to Class D. While Honami does accept Arisu's evaluation of Class 2-C and Suzune's Class 2-D to be accurately true for now, she tries to argue and refute her with her own reasoning but the leader of Class 2-A immediately thereafter stops the former in her tracks from talking back. When Arisu guesses what she would say next by downplaying the power of friendship and effort as nothing more than abstract concepts that are meaningless, Honami simply could not utter another word as the leader of Class 2-A took them out of her mouth, leaving herself to swallow back what she was going to say as an argument upon being seen through by the girl.

**Arisu** : *"It's impossible to win with these kinds of vague things, no matter how hard you try. While every class has clearly increased their strength over the course of the year, I don't see much growth in yours, Ichinose-san."*

**Honami** : *"That...that's not the case. We've grown as well."*

Remaining speechless and silent by that statement, Honami was attacked further by Arisu who asserted that it was almost nigh impractical to win with simply believing in these kinds of vague things no matter how hard the former tried to make such abstract values work successfully as they would always fail in the end. Honami continued to get belittled and denigrated by Arisu who explained that three of the four classes (A, B, and D) had been clearly been improving and increasing their strength over the course of the year, while the same could not be said for Class 2-C as the latter did not see much growth happening in it. Honami weakly tried to refute Arisu's harsh criticisms by stating the fact that there had been some sign of growth happening in her classmates of 2-C since last year, just like the others. Arisu didn't argue against the notion of them growing up but stated it was a matter of the *amount* of growth in how much they grown, highly implying their improvements were too little and minuscule to compare with Classes 2-A, 2-B, or 2-D. Honami tries to put up a strong bravado, determinedly telling Arisu that she and Class 2-C won't be losing to neither her or the other classes. Arisu, not believing a word she says, counters her statement saying that if Honami had looked at the OAA app and analyzed very carefully, it was obvious at first glance that Class 2-C was the one who has grown the least among the four classes after comparing the overall abilities of when they were 1st years to 2nd years. Arisu thought Honami would've already done that level of analysis as her and reached the same conclusion like she did, which caused the former to cast doubts on whether the latter even knew the facts all along and pretended not to notice or did not even dare check them for fear of facing the cruel reality of Class 2-C's situation. Being driven into a corner by Arisu who came off as harshly critical on her and her class, Honami recalled the time where she was alone with her and how the two of them were like a child and an adult arguing back and forth respectively.

Honami felt it was only natural that she, the child, would end up being refuted by the grown-up, unable to have her say in the adult's argument due to Arisu having rationally blocked off her rebuttal with facts and not feelings. Hence, Honami had her weaknesses relentlessly attacked on by Arisu without finding a logical way to resist or retort the latter's remarks but backed down for the time being. On the other hand, the criticism on Honami was not without respect by Arisu as the latter calls the former to be a smart student who is by no means weaker than her if they were to fight fairly on even grounds. At the same time, Honami's inability to act decisively due to her weak foresight was also exposed by Arisu who states that whenever Honami was in an unfavorable situation outside her strategic control, she failed to make use of her true strengths to the fullest effectively. Honami was unpleasantly bad-mouthed by Arisu for falling silence the moment she gets attacked through her weaknesses continuously, failing to resist and fight hard to the very end even if she was in a disadvantageous situation when compared to her. Under the barrage of verbal assaults one after the other, Honami could do nothing but feebly accept her cruel words to be the harsh truth. Once again, having said all the facts to prove Honami is not in the right, Arisu confidently declares that she stood no chance in winning against any of the three classes due to how less Class 2-C's growth had been the last year. Hearing enough of the argument, Honami asked Arisu if this discussion was what the meeting was all mainly about finding fault with her, and why she had been invited to the café. Arisu replied that it was not the real reason Honami had been given an invitation in the first place, explaining how she could've persisted with this kind of conversation anywhere else that is not related to the meeting and not waste her precious holiday time on it. Finally deciding to get to the main point of the meeting, Honami was then asked by Arisu to work on cooperating with her between their two sides, Class 2-A and Class 2-C much to the former's disbelief and astonishment at the unexpected preposition.

Bewildered by the sudden proposal, Honami was asked again by Arisu to consider the latter's offer as this was the only way for the former to catch up to Class 2-A. Before she could completely give her own input on the proposal, Arisu tries to reason with her that a cooperative relationship between their two classes was not entirely a bad idea for either side to have, taking the example of Honami's cooperative relationship with Suzune of Class 1-D when they were 1st years. She found out Arisu was able to completely deduce how her class alliance with Suzune had ended due to recent achievements of Class 2-D having given that group a lot of incredible momentum going on for them to catch up when it came to accumulating more class points than any class, while being the most successful of the four classes last year despite starting from nothing but zero. In short, Honami realized this had happened solely because of her own negligence with her classmates where they took a step back and fell down from Class 2-B to Class 2-C was what allowed Suzune to think there's no longer any advantages in continuing to work with them. With everything correctly pointed out to her, Honami couldn't deny what Arisu had said, admitting in a form of near admission that partnerships didn't always last forever. When Arisu revealed that she knew the reason why the alliance with Suzune came to an end had been due to one of their conditions for the partnership not being met anymore, Honami agreed that requirement was what had allowed the two sides to establish a good class relationship without conflicts last year. Not only did it ceased their hostility towards one another, this even helps Honami and Suzune to keep both Class 1-B and Class 1-D in the past from uselessly competing with each other back then, which such a condition happened to be the difference of class points between the two classes being too large of a gap to overcome.

**Arisu** : *"Although it wasn't intentional, right now there's a sufficient difference in class points between our classes. In other words, I don't think it's impossible for us to join forces."*

**Honami** : *"What makes me sad is that this isn't a happy proposal. After all, it implies that our class is not worthy of your caution, an insignificant existence to you."*

At this moment in time however, where the huge disparity of points was no longer a thing when Class 2-D happened to be nearly closing in on Class 2-C, separated by only a small amount, Honami was able to discern why Arisu was reaching out to her in the same manner now as she had with Suzune a year ago. Due to the new big sufficient difference in class points between Class 2-C and Class 2-A appearing unintentionally, Honami had come to learn the reason behind Arisu's approach to her when asked to cooperate together under their agreement as class leaders and how an alliance between them is not impossible. Examining everything her negotiator had to say this way, it made Honami feel utterly sad to hear that what Arisu suggests to her as a partnership offer is not a happy proposal, making the former thinks how Class 2-C is not actually worthy of Class 2-A's vigilance but be viewed as an inconsequential existence of no importance to the latter. Arisu crudely said outright that was exactly why the alliance was more or less made possible to happen between their two classes as it met one of the requirements for fulfilling the partnership conditions. While such crude words struck the mind of Honami, she remained outwardly composed and smiling in the face of Arisu's intolerant remarks towards her. Though emotional denial was easy for Honami, she could not easily ignore the cruel reality that her class was being pushed down into desperate straits. Honami points out that she is unsure how establishing an cooperative alliance with her Class 2-C will prove beneficial for Arisu or Class 2-A. Arisu disagreed reasoning that this partnership is of value when the powerful weapon Honami possesses known as "trust" was what she greatly wants in an alliance and could care less about the shortcomings of her fighting strength. For this, Honami is reminded by Arisu that "trust" is something the former can never bring herself in using to betray others with later as the latter felt confident she is not the type who will turn her backs on an ally.

**Arisu** : *"Although it's nice to receive that evaluation from you, we're in asituation where we don't care anymore, right?"*

**Honami** : *"Still, I don't think you'll let go of the weapon known as trust that you have built up so far. If there is a betrayal, then it would be my own fault for having misjudged you."*

In other words, Arisu emphasized to Honami that it's a very important factor to consider as worthwhile when seeking to create an alliance based around trust, thinking she can be entrusted to watch her back. Despite appreciating the nice evaluation Arisu had gave her, Honami however informs her that Class 2-C is currently in a bad situation where they don't care much about the weapon being "trust" anymore. On the other hand, Arisu cast her doubts if Honami and her class will really go as far as to relinquish their "trust" and throw it away after spending one year of building up such a weapon and developing it. Honami was informed by Arisu that if Class 2-C's betrayal occur, it will be the latter's own fault for having misjudged the former. Even if this proposal of an alliance was a trap, Honami did not consider being trusted by Arisu to be a bad thing for she or her Class 2-C and is more than willing to consider the merits and benefits of joining hands with Arisu. However, she already knew that Arisu was an opponent who couldn't be taken lightly. As a result, Honami egged Arisu to be a bit more specific with the details on her proposal of an alliance as the former decided to be all ears on hearing out what the latter had to say until the end of their meeting.

**Honami** : *"If both of our classes work together..."*

**Arisu** : *"Although the gap with our class wouldn't be narrowed, you can catch up with Ryūen-kun's class, and widen the gap with Class D."*

Seeing that she was ready to make a compromise and move forward with her proposed partnership, Arisu begins the explanation to bring Class 2-C led by Honami under her banner and have them work alongside Class 2-A collaboratively. When Arisu reveals there is an annoying rule for the upcoming Uninhabited Island Exam where only students of the same year may form a group and the rewards is divided equally among the classes, Honami was cognizant of her words that even if the best members from each class are selected to form a group, it would not be enough to create a large difference in class points won at the end of the test. Honami deduced that both Class 2-C and Class 2-A will inevitably have to build a winning group from their own respective class. However, she worries that by having Class 2-C work together with Class 2-A, the gap wouldn't narrow down or change much whatsoever in this sort of relationship due to the class points being split equally between them. Honami was reasoned by Arisu that the former should at least be able to gain up on Kakeru's Class 2-B and broaden the gap between Class 2-C and Class 2-D without difficulty through this partnership deal. Honami argued with Arisu that her Class 2-C will end up losing their chance in this exam to catch up to Class 2-A if she agreed to that offer. By considering the benefit behind the offer, Arisu reminded her the fact of how Class 2-C needed it to restore their stable position, telling Honami that this should be her first priority to prepare for the 2nd and 3rd semesters. Trying to refuse Class 2-A's offer won't do any good for Honami or Class 2-C as Arisu doubts they can surely win the exam and reach the top on their own without an ally to collaborate with them. She tries to speak back in rebuttal but Arisu stop her by saying that if Honami were to suffer another loss again to the other classes, Class 2-C will undoubtedly drop down to Class 2-D after having already lost their position as Class 2-B not too long ago.

**Honami** : *"It'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about that before."*

**Arisu** : *"Right? However, the strategy for the three classes to form an alliance is not realistic. Tell me Ichinose-san, have you received any invitations to this since the day the rules were announced? It's been a few days since then already."*

At the same time, Arisu adds to her statement that Class 2-C will also end up in an extremely difficult situation where they could possibly lose a lot of class points as well, making Honami's aim for Class A nearly impossible to reach in the long-term if she chooses not to accept her proposal. After hearing everything and being unable to refute Arisu's words, Honami couldn't help but remain silent in contemplation over the deal. Since Honami still looked uncertain and hesitant about the offer, Arisu understood that explanation wasn't enough to clear up any suspicion of herself. Arisu then ruthlessly said that there were not many opportunities available for Honami to take up, such as working with Class 2-D or Class 2-B. However, Honami was cognizant for sure that those two classes were also not looking to join forces with Class 2-A either as they seeked to catch up to Arisu. Meanwhile, Arisu speculated that if both Class 2-B and Class 2-D were planning to cooperate, the only option would be to form an effective alliance of three classes rather than two to challenge Class 2-A as that way, strong groups on their side could be created. Listening to her words and knowing it would be very hard for Arisu to win against a cooperative relationship between the three classes, Honami admitted that she herself had thoughtfully mused about putting together a strategy of trying to form an alliance with them to topple Class 2-A before. Arisu deliberately and falsely told her that the strategy for the three classes to form an alliance was not realistic or possible to begin with. She attempted to convince Honami that her words were the truth, as the two of them had not received any invitations to a similar kind of meeting about a partnership deal since the day the rules were already announced a few days beforehand. Honami lowered her eyes, and slowly shook her head in acknowledgement. Nonetheless, Honami clearly knew that Arisu was doing everything she can to make the alliance between their two classes from happening because the latter was afraid that Class 2-A wouldn't be able to compete well on their own alone against the possible unified strengths of the three classes altogether with Honami at the helm of such likely negotiation for cooperation.

Shortly later, Arisu told Honami that if the three classes were to come together and create a group, the class point rewards would be divided evenly among themselves which would be too less to do anything to hurt Class 2-A's position which had the highest amount of points with a sizeable lead. To further prevent her from considering to make an alliance with the other classes, Arisu says that even if she were to do her utmost and secure 1st place, the point disparity would only be decreased by 100 points, the same can be said for 2nd place by 67 points, and with 3rd place by just 33 points for each and every one of the three classes involved in the effort. Factoring in the ideal scenario where all the second-year classes of 2-B, 2-C and 2-D took all the top three spots, Honami was aware that the point difference between Class 2-A and the three classes would somewhat be lowered by 200 points overall which wasn't by no means a small amount but felt it would be hard to monopolize the rankings and rewards due to the third-years and first-years also competing against them simultaneously. Arisu points out that it was natural for any class like Honami's to deliberate wanting to win alone and narrow the gap themselves by 300 to 400 points. While thinking about whether to have Class 2-C allied with Class 2-A or not, Honami states her concern that if she and Arisu were to group up, both Suzune and Kakeru would tried to do the same thing as them, and group up together in response to their action. Another thing which Honami had went out of her way to inform Arisu of was the fact that some people in her class and other classes as well had already formed groups before this meeting took place. Anticipating this moment, Arisu said that she had expected something like that to happen ahead of time and claims that she has a plan underway to share with Honami while waiting for the groups to start to be formed. In the current situation where none of the classes wanted to ally themselves with one another on a class level, Arisu proposed that she and Honami select just the main forces from Class 2-A and Class 2-C to form the strongest group within their alliance together.

Unclear as to what she meant by having to gather their "main forces", Honami asks her to elaborate further, learning from her that Arisu was in a special position where she was allowed by the school to participate in this exam despite her handicap of being unable to move around, which had caused her to stay back during last year's Deserted Island Special Exam. Reasonably so, Honami even learns that Arisu was participating in this upcoming second-year Uninhabited Island Exam as a 'semi-eliminated' student,' which was said to be different from other students who were eliminated from the start of the exam due to being ill health and unable to participate. Not understanding what it meant for the leader of Class 2-A to be semi-eliminated, Honami was then given more information by Arisu, that although she could not walk around the island freely because of the handicap being her disabled legs, she still had the right to remain at the starting point and compete within the same rules as everyone else was. Realizing the implications behind the leader of Class 2-A's words, Honami became apprise of the bigger picture whereby she could reach out to Arisu and rely on her whenever seeking help, like asking the girl for advice, and if there was a difficult problem, the two could solve it together. However, such a strategy between the two was not without a downside to it. Arisu states that if the only person left in the group was herself alone and not Honami who didn't retire, at that point their group would be eliminated since she who was in a crippled state would be unable to gather points for them, causing them to drop down in rankings over time during the exam from beginning to end. With all things considered including Arisu being able to participate in the exam under this special position, Honami immediately understood that the leader of Class 2-A would play an important factor in functioning as the big brain of the group, while understanding that a tool to communicate from a far distance would be required to get in touch with her along the way.

As negotiations are still underway, Honami was permitted by her to freely choose from among four students of Class 2-A, who were Masayoshi Hashimoto, Hayato Kitō, Masumi Kamuro and Arisu herself to include within the alliance's strongest group. Through this information shared between the two classes, it was revealed that these four aforementioned were undoubtedly the main fighting forces of Class 2-A while as for the main fighting forces of Class 2-C, there were Honami, Ryūji Kanzaki, and Sō Shibata. All of the students that had been listed including Honami herself had not yet formed a group of their own, and were observing how the situation would work out for them especially when an alliance of Class 2-C and Class 2-A was being planned and when at this stage, there was no inconvenience for both sides. Noticing the strong lineup of students, Honami acknowledged that while it was true how physical strength was a necessity to have on the uninhabited island, she pondered on the possibility of there being no guarantee when and where the two classes would be able to merge as they wanted, after the special exam begins. While Arisu expresses her confidence that getting the big group together was not impossible to do no matter what the difficulties may be, Honami on the other hand surmises differently, ruminating to the leader of Class 2-A how she really felt about the girl's real reasons behind suggesting the creation of this alliance. Honami who had been defending herself all this while proceeds to turn the tide around by going on the offensive in their discussion, remarking how Arisu didn't want the three classes to fight together, more than she had originally thought, as the former keenly deduced that Class 2-A's leader was afraid of the prospect of Class 2-C's alliance happening with Class 2-D and Class 2-B instead of Class-A. Honami explains that while Arisu could hold trust in her and Class 2-C as the former doesn't believe it to be a lie, she could not overlook the fact how the most important thing for the latter was preventing the other three classes of 2-D, 2-C, and 2-B from working together to catch up to Class 2-A.

**Honami** : *"You said we were someone you could trust, and I think you meant that. However, the most important thing for you is to prevent Class B, Class C, and Class D from working together to catch up to Class A. Indeed, the amount of class points we can get if we win together will decrease, but there's no guarantee that such a development wouldn't appear in the future— That the three classes would continue to help each other."*

Particularly, she was sharply aware that Arisu could cared less about any of the lower classes possibly attaining more than 300 class points in the special exam, but was far more fearful and concerned over the possibility of an alliance of Class 2-B, Class 2-C, and 2-D being made by her to force Class-A out of their position. Honami goes on to say that even though the amount of class points Class 2-C can get would decrease if they win together alongside the other classes, it won't deterred her from lending aid to them. As a matter of fact, she strongly emphasizes the point of how there was no formal promise that such a development would not show up in the future where the three classes can still continued to work with one another and help each other out, irrespective of the alliance with Class 2-A. In turn, Honami, who had been relentlessly pushed back by Arisu's words earlier and remain on the defensive until then, offensively attacked the leader of Class 2-A with her own heartfelt feelings, leaving the leader of Class 2-A surprised that the former had been able to counterattack and counterargument her after everything the latter said. Upon strongly steering the argument back to her advantage whereby she took control of the conversation flow, Honami again boldly argues that an alliance between the three classes to face a common enemy like Class 2-A can likely force them out of their top position was not impossible to start with, reasoning if that turned out to be successful, Arisu would be forced into experiencing a hellish, hard fight from that point on. Due to Honami's argument coming off as powerful, Arisu admits that she had underestimated her a bit after realizing how the leader of Class 2-C was not just resiliently on the defense with her words but on offense as well. Since Class 2-A is in the leading position with a lot of class points above everyone else, what Arisu should do to avoid the most in this exam is not allowed the lower three classes to form an alliance under Honami's guidance. If there was a talent in their grade level who could bring together the three classes, Arisu knows it would probably be none other than being the person Honami Ichinose herself that fit the bill. Which was why Arisu was trying so hard to get Honami on her side, before this scenario could even take place.

**Honami** : *"An alliance between the three classes to force Class A out. If that is successful, you would be forced into a bitter battle from now on, Sakayanagi-san...Isn't that so?"*

**Arisu** : *"I guess I've underestimated you a little, Ichinose-san."*

Acknowledging her words, Arisu again asked for Honami's cooperation as Class 2-A's objective all along was indeed to primarily have the latter's class work together with them and not anyone else, leaving Honami to carefully think over and decide on whether to accept her proposal or not. Honami was also offered a special condition by Arisu that if she agreed to the alliance between their two classes, three student's worth of deposits from Class 2-A would be transferred to her as payment for cooperating with them. In short, Honami could spend a total of 3 million private points and save three of her classmates from Class 2-C who were at high risk of expulsion in the upcoming exam, using this to pay for their relief in case they received the penalty. Arisu was cognizant that Honami wouldn't want anyone from Class 2-C to drop out of school, more than any other class, considering that this proposal would be of great help to her who cared about one's classmates a lot. Fearing rejection from Honami, Arisu held out her hand to the leader of Class 2-C in hopes that she would humbly agree to this proposal. However, Honami was not easily swayed by her words of persuasion and asked Arisu to sacrifice more than the offered amount, demanding at least five people's worth of private points from Class 2-A to be given over to Class 2-C before agreeing to such an alliance. Honami asked of this from Arisu in order to feel completely reassured the price was actually high enough to protect her classmates. Seeing that she needed to cough out a higher cost for this alliance to work out as planned, Arisu caved in to Honami's pricey demand promising to finance it specially, just for her while stating that she, the leader of Class 2-C was being greedy. Not before long, Honami finally shook hands with Arisu to show her approval and acceptance of the cooperative alliance between their two classes being established. Since they had already completed the contract behind the alliance proposal, Honami reveals that even if Arisu had not offered to loan her the deposit of private points, the former would have still chosen to join forces with the latter in the end anyway.

**Honami** : *"With that our contract is complete. Even if you hadn't offered to loan me the deposit points, I would have chosen to join forces with you. Our main goal is of course to reach Class A, but as you said, we fell to Class C and we can't afford to fall even more. Since, if we fall down to Class D, our class's motivation would surely be greatly reduced, and that is something we want to avoid."*

While the main goal of reaching Class A remained important to her and her classmates, Honami avows how the previously Class B dropping down to Class C was a grim reminder to herself to not afford to let them fall any lower and planned on regaining back the class's stabled position first. The one thing Honami wanted to avoid and prevent at all costs from ever happening was her own classmates losing the morale to succeed in the class's main goal, that was reaching Class A. She knows that if Class 2-C were to also fall down to Class 2-D after having already lost their position of Class 2-B, her classmates' motivation to rise higher would be heavily diminished. Since she could go on to confidently fight reassuredly after obtaining the promised 5 million private points through the creation of the proposed alliance, Honami had immediately began thinking and working with her to form the best strategy to go forward with the combined strengths of Class 2-C and Class 2-A. Alongside Arisu, Honami deliberates on maximizing the alliance's chances of winning and obtaining first place in the exam through necessarily giving the main forces of Class 2-A the "More People" card that Class 2-C had in their possession to use as their battle strategy for forming a group of seven members. This was another reason why Arisu had decided to fight beside Honami as an ally since she and her classmates are the only one to have the "More People" card, out of all the four classes. At the same time, the two allies also share their wariness of how formidable Kakeru and Suzune were as opponents from each of their respective classes, understanding the battle ahead of them would be difficult as their common enemies were not to be underestimated.

Once the meeting was over, it was revealed that both Honami and Arisu had their main forces consolidated, readily prepared to challenge Class 2-B and Class 2-D along with the first and third-year classes. Kakeru Ryūen of Class 2-B mentions in his meeting with Kōhei Katsuragi and Kiyotaka that the group Honami was in, happened to be with Sō and Arisu. In addition to that, there were Class 2-A's Masayoshi, and Masumi, who had formed a group with one of the best students from Class 2-C, Ninomiya under Honami's permission upon allying with Arisu. Along with that, it can be said that Honami had also permitted her classmate Asakura of Class 2-C to freely hand over the "More People" special card to Masayoshi of Class 2-A as part of the class alliance's battle strategy that was planned out beforehand in preparation for the Uninhabited Island Exam.

On the last day of forming groups, Honami was later approached by Takeko Nishino of Class 2-B who reached out to the former, imploring her for help in finding a partner from Class 2-C as the latter was unable to find anyone in her own class to team up with. Honami kindly accepted Takeko's plea by allowing Hitomi Tsube of Class 2-C to group up with her despite the girl being from Class 2-B.

#### 2nd Year Volume 3

After the Uninhabited Island Exam began, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji encounters Masayoshi Hashimoto and Masumi Kamuro of Class 2-A alongside Ninomiya of Class 2-C before quickly parting ways with them thereafter, deducing that if the three of them were following Arisu Sakayanagi's instructions, then sooner or later, they would probably join up with their ally group led by Honami herself and form a six-member team together.

Once Kiyotaka met up with Kakeru Ryūen and Kōhei Katsuragi of Class 2-B, he told them his strategy to stop their classmates' possible expulsion, the kind of plan which would lead to a direct confrontation with the first-year students using their students of Class 2-B, Honami's Class 2-C, and Class 2-A led by Arisu. Upon successfully getting the two to cooperate in his grand scheme of things, Kiyotaka asked Kakeru to relay and explain the same details of this battle strategy he had told them, to Honami so that she could work together with them too while he seeks out Arisu for help to make the plan bear fruit.

According to Arisu, both Honami and Sō Shibata of Class 2-C were giving their all by putting forth their leading efforts for her sake who unchangingly remained at the starting point of the Uninhabited Island Exam ever since the exam started. While she was the brain of their group, Honami and Sō on the other hand were her arms and legs that moved to act accordingly on carrying out the battle strategy they had planned together as a class alliance. Since Arisu could not move together with her group due to her pseudo-retired state, Honami and Sō Shibata could only earn a maximum Arrival Bonus of two points per designated area due to the lack of physical strength and stamina from the leader of Class 2-A to harvest points in their endeavors. While so, Arisu of Class 2-A informs Kiyotaka that she, Honami, and Sō of Class 2-C who were in her group were still eligible to earn the Early Bird Bonuses as the school had graciously decided to make an special exception for them. Thanks to that exemption given to Arisu's group, Honami and Sō were properly able to receive the arrival rewards on time even if she was not present with them or participating in the tasks. Arisu recognizes that at the moment so far in this exam, the group comprising of her, Honami, and Sō was said to have been ranked lower than the other top ranking groups. Kiyotaka noted that though the group of Honami, Sō, and Arisu wasn't part of the top ten at the time, he figures it was probably safe to presume that they had already went and achieved fairly decent results thus far regardless of where they were at, at the them.

When Kiyotaka meets three members of Class 2-C who were camping together, he was informed by them that Honami had been frequently having a lot of talks about him as of late, in Class 2-C. Honami's action and behavior had caught the profound interests of some of her own classmates who attentively grew curious regarding the current development of their relationship and whether there had been any new progress between them so far. In other words, Honami had lately been dropping his name pretty much most of the time those days, so much so that they had grown accustomed to hearing it come out of her mouth on various occurrences. Particularly, her three classmates: Tetsuya Hamaguchi, Minamikata, and Andō of Class 2-C had the impression that the relationship between Honami and Kiyotaka of Class 2-D would at the very least be at the stage where 'they were more than just friends, less than lovers.' Some of Honami's classmates including the three aforementioned are positively supportive of her growing relationship with Kiyotaka even if they're separated in a different class or grade, believing it won't stand in the way of love and the two dating each other.

Since Tetsuya, Minamikata, and Andō of Class 2-C were able to accumulate a considerably large amount of canned food and had an abundance of cooking supplies that ensured their group a week to survive at the least, Kiyotaka bet that was all of that had been a part of Honami's ideas she had thought over beforehand. Kiyotaka deduces that because all three members had the card that gave their group 50% more provision points when the exam started, Honami had utilised it strategically and beneficially for Class 2-C, knowing how her classmates would never act greedy or selfishly. Hence, thanks to Honami's strategic planning, Tetsuya's group was allowed by her to keep the cards they had and obtain 22,500 provision points rather than a usual group of three who would've had 15,000 to work with normally. As it would be extremely difficult for her three classmates to move about the map with such heavy items like gas stoves, cooking utensils and such they had in their possession, it was implied by Kiyotaka that Honami had them explicitly tasked with holding onto these things for the time being. Kiyotaka keenly guesses that Honami wanted to have some sort of system set up and put in place for her classmates so that they could helpfully share useful cooking tools with each other. Having already considered what the rules of the special exam were and how it worked such as when the school had officially stated that students were permitted to share food with other groups without consequences, Honami didn't let this chance slip past her and chose to use it effectively to her classmates' advantage.

Honami had figured it would be smart of her to have these three students come together as a group prior to the beginning of the exam and make them play the role of kitchen keepers of Class 2-C once they arrived at the uninhabited island. Tsubasa Nanase, a first-year of Class 1-D student found Honami's strategy to be exceedingly interesting after carefully analyzing the way in which her upperclassman's classmates had been handling the food and tools very skillfully. However, to Kiyotaka, Honami's strategy for this undoubtedly came with its own set of problems as leaving her classmates to stay back and importantly guard the food and supplies and could end up running into other several issues like not being able to score points in the exam. Kiyotaka was concerned that in the worst case scenario, Honami's classmates could end up missing out on the tasks in designated areas nearby by having to remain standby in the same place and position for long without bothering to obtain points. Although the penalty for missing out on designated areas could be mitigated by a single student who could do the heavy lifting of doing the tasks, he believed Honami's classmates would still gradually get outpaced by the rest of the competition at some point over time, leading to inevitably finding themselves standing on the doorstep to expulsion. However, because of the large amount of private points Honami had gained for Class 2-C by partnering up with Arisu and Class 2-A under their alliance, her three classmates were not the least bit worried about the prospect of being expelled whatsoever as she had the funds to prevent that from happening.

Two days later, on the fifth day of the exam, Honami's group which included Sō and Arisu, had successfully managed to take first place in a Task that allowed groups to increase their maximum size, thereby earning the right to have three more people added to their team, and on the sixth day of the exam, Honami and Sō spent a provisional point to use the GPS Searching feature, looking to merge up with Masayoshi's group who had Masumi and Ninomiya on their side. However, not long after they came together as a bigger group, Honami found herself in deep trouble the very next morning the following day after the sixth.

On the seventh day of the exam, just past 7 AM, Honami accidentally ended up damaging her wristwatch and felt bothered whether or not to continue heading over to the designated area with her group members. She tried to test out the functions of the watch, to see if the tools were still somewhat working and usable regardless of the damage sustained to it, but by this time however, Honami had done everything she could think of in her mind to try and fix the damaged wristwatch, noticing along the way that it was no longer working properly as it used to be. Since the device was not responding to her clicks anymore, it indicated to Honami that her wristwatch was indeed completely broken beyond repair, confirming with Sō that such permanent damage was probably done to it sometime during the early morning-may be when she had fell on the ground just by the river and hit the device on a rock. For starters, despite her foremost efforts on attempting to repair the tool, she had not been successful in getting the GPS and heart rate monitor to function at all. In addition to that, nothing showed up on the map when she tried to confirm where her current position was on her tablet either. By keeping around an unusable watch, Honami was cognizant and certain that she would not be able to help her companions with the objective of earning points from any designated areas or "Tasks" for the time being. Due to the dark cloudy sky appearing to indicate that rainy weather would likely occur soon later in the day, Honami figured that it was the right time to have her broken wristwatch be replaced with a new workable one that she could use.

Grateful of the fact that they were not on the other side of the uninhabited island, Honami then tells her companions-Masumi, Masayoshi, and Ninomiya, to keep going ahead to the designated area D5 and to the task of the day. Meanwhile, Honami had made it her plan to travel all the way back to the starting area of the exam and have her acquire a new wristwatch with usable functions to replace the broken, unworkable device that she had on her. Honami and her fellow group members together were at the time located in the southwest of area E6. Though returning to the starting area would only take an estimate of about two hours to make it, her group members felt it would be fairly dangerous for Honami to make the trip on her own with a destroyed watch that had its GPS broken. In other words, she had to move in pretty much the opposite direction of the starting area from where the rest of her group members were going to. So not only would she have to miss out on the valuable Arrival Bonus, but the entire group would be badly affected too since they would also lose out on the chance to earn any Early Bird Bonuses as well. Though Honami understood what she had to do, the former instead looked back at the three people, Kamuro, Hashimoto, and Ninomiya, who were waiting to depart after her began to state their thoughts on what needed to be done. Honami was advised by Masumi along with Masayoshi and Ninomiya that if she were to head out right then, she might be able to make it back in time later for the third designated area to complete the task alongside them as a group. While Honami felt happy that the three did not held any sort of blame against her for holding them back, she could not help but harbor some feelings of guilt that began to well up deep inside of her.

After giving a formal apology to Masayoshi's group for the inconvenience she was causing them, Honami was voluntarily asked by Sō to accompany the former on her way back, which she apologetically accepts to have him as a guide on her way since he had a working GPS watch. After Sō's self-nomination, Honami buckled down and together, the two of them hastily set off towards the south where the starting area was located, feeling concerned that she couldn't keep the others-Masumi, Masayoshi, and Ninomiya waiting for them on the opposite direction and wanted to return to their side as fast as possible. Henceforth, she, accompanied by Sō spent the next hour or so restlessly and tirelessly walking south along the river until they arrived at area E9. At 8 AM, once she and her fellow classmate finally stepped foot onto the sandy beach, the starting area was close at hand for the two to reach within just a matter of time. All Honami needed to do now was push westward and she would eventually turn up near the port (starting area) which would take less than even half an hour. However, since this meant that the round trip would take around an hour to move back to where the former was at last time with Masayoshi's group in E6, Honami tells Sō to return first and go to the next designated area before her as she would be fine alone to take care of the rest from here on out. Sō expresses his doubt and the danger of leaving Honami on her own, reasoning that the forest was like a maze and the dark cloudy sky didn't make her situation any better, and would only become worse if it began raining. Despite what Sō said to her, Honami states that she herself should be able to make it back to the port from where the two of them are currently positioned in without getting lost.

In order to convince him, Honami further explains that if their group seeked to catch up to the top ranking groups, they couldn't afford to miss out on even a single point because of her. She told Sō to consider about how if she and him were to stick together for as long as the possible rainy weather appeared before them, both of the two would end up getting caught in a terrible situation and wouldn't be able to meet back up with the others. Though it was somewhat greedy of her, Honami felt strongly that Sō should continue going after obtaining as many points as possible with Masayoshi's group rather than letting herself be the one to slow him down from doing so. Honami reassures Sō that as long as she focused on walking a straight to the port, she would remain safe and won't get lost on the way there, hoping and wanting to get him back onto the field swiftly so he could earn his points for their group. As the one holding everyone in her group back with the Early Bird Bonus, she thought this was the ideal course of action to take in minimizing their burden that she guiltily placed on herself. Having fully persuaded Sō to go his own separate way from her, Honami also made a promise to him that she won't do anything foolish like recklessly pushing herself to move in the rain once the raining happens, vowing not to overwork herself and wait it out until the bad weather clears up. After promising to her classmate that she would be careful of not getting herself injured and retired in the process, Honami proceeds to wave her hand back and forth at Sō, urging him to hurriedly meet back up with their other groupmates.

With the general directions Sō had given her still fresh in her mind, Honami resumes her walk into the forest and begins searching for the starting area of the port. Even if she could not make it in time for the next designated area, it did not bother Honami in the slightest as her resolve was to get back in time for the third designated area which drove her to keep pushing forward continuously. Originally, Honami had thought that she would be able to ask another group for help if needed for when and if she got lost. However, as time went by while walking alone in silence, Honami realized just how naive her line of thinking had truly been having not once spotted a single person thus far since splitting up from Sō, realizing there was nobody around in the area to reaffirm with her that she was going in the right direction. After quietly trudging forward for about ten minutes straight, Honami notices that the already-poor visibility of the dimly-lit forest she was in, gradually began to deteriorate before her eyes as the grey clouds lining the sky had become even thicker and darker than before. As a result of the weather taking a turn for the worst, Honami began having trouble maintaining a walk in a straight line due to how dense the thicket of trees had become over the course of time, an obstacle standing in her way of moving carefully. Realizing how treacherous the path ahead of her was turning into by struggling to work her way around the thicket of trees left and right, Honami eventually began to lose confidence in herself that she was walking straight at all as time went by. Seeing how tricky this maze of a forest was proving to be for even Honami to overcome, Honami started mumbling to herself why she felt like everything had been going horribly wrong for some reason.

Realizing how bad the situation was turning out to be for her, Honami lets out a quiet laugh of self-derision creep past her lips, thinking there was no other way out of this obstacle. Honami had no choice but to keep pushing herself to move forward in the direction of where the port was, which she believed was theoretically only a couple hundred metres away from her. She continued walking for twenty more minutes or so before finally coming to a stop, at a complete and utter loss for what to do next in that predicament. Doubting her judgement and abilities to assess the situation, Honami starts worrying if she had made a mistake along the way during her journey as the former figures she should've been able to arrive at the port by then yet wasn't still there as far as she could tell, wondering that she had perhaps taken a wrong turn at some point. Honami anxiously mutters her own confusion at what she had been doing and tried checking her tablet again, but like before, her current location didn't show on the map. Honami understood well enough that even if she attempted to head back towards the way she came from prior to leaving Sō's side, there was no guaranteeing that she'd be able to do so by specifically returning to that exact position. Honami was not usually the type of person to make imprudent choices like this, but ever since the time she and her classmates got demoted to Class 2-C, she recklessly found herself becoming more and more impatient rather than calm and composed like she used to be. Despite her growing impatience back then and now, she had still successfully managed to form and bring together a formidable group at the request of Class 2-A's leader, Arisu. In order to maintain equality with Class 2-A, Honami felt more than ever before to demonstrate her competency so that Class 2-C didn't look any weaker than them but rather as equally powerful.

Although she had no idea where she was or where she was going, Honami had an obligation to keep pushing forward without stopping. After deciding where to go and in which direction, Honami attempts to dispel the anxious questions running through her mind and head mentally by steeling herself to take the right step forward. Hearing a faint noise nearby, Honami stops moving momentarily and deliberates over whether or not to shout out, excited of the prospect of running into somebody else but decided not to go through with it in the end considering it might likely have been the work of a wild animal. Thinking that she might as well just go and take a look for herself, Honami quietly and carefully begins moving towards the source of the sound. Not before long, while in hiding, Honami secretly comes across the figures of two people: Tsukishiro, the school's Acting Director, and Katsunori Shiba, the homeroom teacher of Class 1-D. Upon finally finding them there besides her in the dimly-lit, maze-like forest after not having been able to meet anyone for a long while, Honami lets out a deep, prolonged sigh of relief to herself since that meant she could now ask the pair for their help in telling her the directions to the port. However, just as she was about to reveal her presence and call out to the two adults, Honami stopped herself in her tracks immediately from leaving her hiding place, feeling a bit hesitated and worried that she might end up making a careless decision again like last time. It was upon Honami instantly coming to the sudden realization how that foolhardy attempt to make a move on them by her was in fact the same naive line of thinking from before that had gotten her into this type of situation in the first place.

Even though Honami's wristwatch breaking unintentionally was an accident to begin with, it did not really change the fact that she was still currently active in the middle of an ongoing special exam, making her doubt whether these faculty would really lend her a hand at the time. Considering the strict nature of how following the rules of the exam worked, Honami felt it did not seem very likely that the pair would openly give her directions to the port (starting area) even if the former reasonably told them that she had lost her way, harboring uncertainty whether the school officials would believe whatever she said. While it would be one thing if her wristwatch had broken due to some technical issue, given the fact that she was the one who had broken it, Honami thinks the two adults would try to chalk it up as her own responsibility and have the former bear the consequences for her action. Reaching to that conclusion, she figured her precious chance to get out of the forest would slip through her fingers as a result of such a possibility happening and hence, decided to continue staying in hiding from Tsukishiro and Katsunori Shiba. Doing so, Honami wanted to hold onto another method to escape her situation by waiting on any possible chance to appear where the grown-ups would eventually head back to the port from where they were positioned in at the time. This was an idea that surfaced in her mind, thinking it might be the best decision for her to just quietly and discreetly follow after them and observe their movement until they reach near the starting area. In other words, to avoid the worst-case scenario of confronting them face-to-face, she hinges ideally on the pair to either just go back to the starting area from where she was or if they ended up heading off to an upcoming Task site instead, where other students were likely to be present in.

After thinking about the matter for a bit longer, she ultimately settled on tailing them from behind while making sure to carefully maintain her distance from the two. Since both Tsukishiro and Katsunori seemed to be immersed in an unknown conversation of some sort as they walked together, Honami figured that it would be relatively hard for the two adults to notice her presence near them. Even in the off-chance she did get caught by these grown-ups, Honami felt it may not end up becoming a very big deal as long as she feigned ignorance of accidentally overhearing whatever they were talking about between them. When the sound of their voices reverberated clearly throughout the quiet, tranquil forest, it allowed Honami to somewhat make out most of what Tsukishiro and Katsunori were discussing like how the teachers of Class 2-A and Class 2-D, Tomonari Mashima and Sae Chabashira were highly suspicious of the two. Since Honami was not the very least bit interested in the contents of their conversation, she did not bother to listen in very closely about what they were discussing, choosing to instead remain focused primarily on staying concealed in the meantime while the adults moved in front of her. However, when they suddenly mentioned Kiyotaka and his involvement with the actions of the two teachers, it caught Honami's undivided attention, leaving her to hold her breath back with newfound interest on their discussion upon hearing his name come out of the Acting Director's mouth. Although the topc of Kiyotaka being brought up by the Acting Director was unexpected for Honami, she could feel that listening to Tsukishiro's words about him at this moment in time subconsciously made her heart to start throbbing and beating.

Growing curious of where their conversation was heading into concerning Kiyotaka, she keenly listens on what they had to say next, learning that the Class 1-D homeroom teacher, Katsunori had been manipulatively altering the logs and records to prevent both himself and Tsukishiro from being traced by the second-year teachers who were wary of them and not on their side. Furthermore, Honami was also able to overhear the two deliberating on whether they could succeed in cornering Kiyotaka and forcing his expulsion to happen along with them remarking about the White Room much to her confusion over the term. Despite straining her ears to try and comprehend what had just been said, Honami could not quite accurately make out all of the words that were mentioned in their statement, but could only distinguish some of them. Kiyotaka's name together with the word 'expulsion' ceaselessly echoed throughout the back of her mind, making her ponder why two adults like the Acting Director and a first-year teacher were talking about something like that among themselves rather than with students. Desperate to find out just a little bit more of their conversation, Honami unconsciously and carelessly began to close the distance between herself and the two grown-ups, a distance she otherwise knew she ought to continue maintaining but did not do so in the end. Because the sound of the gale wind had picked up strength and drowned out their voices, it was apparent why she had chosen to move further to where the two figures were at in order to clearly hear out and discern the discussion. Once she got closer to the two, Honami happened to now faintly hear what sounded to be that Tsukishiro and Katsunori had their secret plan already set in motion of getting Kiyotaka to disappear in I2 during the last and final day of the Uninhabited Island Exam where everything finally came to an end for him. Feeling pretty certain that they would not have been able to hear her muffled movement in the middle of them talking to each other, Honami continuously crept closer upon hearing what would happen to Kiyotaka that day. With Honami coming close enough to make out the gist of what was going to be said by the two, the Actor Director then sharply looks back behind him at her hiding place and notices that someone had been tailing after him and Katsunori.

Sensing the danger of having been found by them, Honami's intuition told her to hurry up and instinctively make a fast run for it before they could capture her. This in turn, compelled Honami to turn her back away from them and flee the scene as fast as she could shortly thereafter without a moment's hesitation after having carelessly exposed her presence. After trying to rapidly sprint forward in action and widen her distance from the two, it was not before long that Honami ended up stumbling upon a major setback that was slowing the former down. Due to her own backpack weighing far too much for herself to carry in the midst of escaping the two adults, this badly hampered Honami from increasing her running speed. As a snap judgment, without a moment to spare, she swiftly unbuckled the fasteners and strongly hurled them into the thicket. Honami was aware that if Tsukishiro and Katsunori were to get their hands on her backpack, they'd be able to easily pin down her identity by looking at the tablet inside, but she was at the time far too frantic to act with that level of foresight. While she was certainly confident that the the pair hadn't seen her face yet, there was no shred of doubt in Honami's mind that they must have already realized that someone unknown to them had been eavesdropping on their private discussion. At that same time, Honami also begun to keenly notice that their entire conversation was something she was never supposed to hear or be allowed to catch wind of. To Honami, it was like a deadly premonition, one that sent a chill down to her very bones and spine as she continued to run for her dear life. Fearfully, Honami wondered whether or not she could somehow escape their pursuit safe and sound just fine without getting harmed, telling herself in her mind that they wouldn't possibly dare come and chase after her until the very end of the forest. In more ways than one, while charging ahead and feeling very proud of her speed, she tries to affirm herself countless times repeatedly, believing that neither Tsukishiro nor Katsunori will travel so far and wide in great lengths to track and hunt her down. However, what Honami heard from behind, was the sound of twigs breaking and leaves crumbling underfoot by her pursuers who had no intention of ever letting her slip away unscathed.

With her own life put in imminent danger, Honami couldn't care less about which direction she was heading to since it didn't matter to her anymore where she went as long as she could successfully flee without getting captured by them. Reasonably so, Honami just kept on running and running for however long she could without stopping to rest, ending up completely lost within the forest, and losing further control with each and every mindless step she took. Ever since she developed the strange, almost surreal feeling that came with bearing witness to the conversation that should not be heard by a student like herself, it had also became an important driving force to her that encouragingly drove her forward without looking back. Honami's eyes had been glued to the path straight ahead within her line of sight as she ran tirelessly, sparing not even a single glance to where she placed her feet. So, in the midst of Honami's delirium, her foot inevitably got caught on something, sending her tumbling and toppling down to the forest floor. When she looked back what had happened to her, Honami saw the obstacle: a large tree root protruding up and out of the ground that was the apparent cause for her falling over. Although there was a sharp, biting pain in her knee due to her fall, Honami endured it painfully, doing whatever she could to try and stand back up on her feet again. Just as she slowly began to put strength and weight back into her legs to run once more, a large hand reached out and clamped down on her left shoulder from behind. Honami immediately froze in place where she was, becoming extremely surprised to the point where her heart nearly stopped for a moment, and dreadfully looked over her shoulder and saw that it was none other than the Class 1-D teacher, Katsunori himself who had gotten a hold on her.

Intimidated by Katsunori's powerful gaze who stood towering over her, Honami sank back down to the ground the second time out of fear and resignation. With her back against the forest floor, Honami tried desperately to scramble backward, but couldn't as there was simply no escaping his discerning eyes fill with indecipherable emotion. When Katsunori questions her if she happened to be the second-year student *Honami Ichinose* from Class 2-C, the latter uneasily admits that that was indeed the case. When inquired by Katsunori as to why she was there alone in the forest with him and the Acting Director Tsukishiro, Honami nervously states that her wristwatch was broken and was going to get it looked at for repairs or have the device be replaced. Hearing Honami's reason, he begins to understand why there wasn't any GPS signals including her own detected nearby but still had no intention of letting the former free. Considering the consequence and the punishment for her actions, Honami was told by Katsunori that it didn't really matter how much she overheard even if it was only a couple of words here and there, as the fact of the matter remains is she had got herself involved with them by eavesdropping on their talk. To both himself and Tsukishiro, Honami was intimidatingly warned that it just meant she was an unlucky bystander to find herself dragged into their circumstance unintentionally. Terribly frightened out of her wits, Honami timidly asked Katsunori if she would be penalized for it under the school's rules and penalties. However, she learned from Katsunori that it had nothing to do whatsoever with whatever regulations the school had set for them to follow in this exam as it was a different matter entirely altogether that required herself getting disposed of immediately by him and Tsukishiro. At that point in time, Katsunori slowly began to reach out for Honami, planning to physically assault her with violence until he was stopped by Tsukishiro who reminded him to avoid acting prematurely by resorting to such violent methods.

The Acting Director Tsukishiro, who having shown up slightly late with Honami's backpack in hand, spoke up to rein his subordinate back in before turning to take a look at her with an ominous smile on his face. Shortly thereafter, Tsukishiro approached her and Honami was then formally inquired by him if she happened to hear anything important during their discussion to which the latter anxiously and falsely said she had not, as an attempt to lie her way out of the situation. While it had only been a few bits and pieces, Honami had indeed overheard their unsettling conversation, refusing to honestly reveal the truth to them, worried that the two may do something terrible to her if she knew what it had been they were talking about. No matter what she chose to say in response to his interrogation, Honami knew they were not likely going to believe her anyway regardless of how much she tried to spin the truth around to her favor. Understandably so, Tsukishiro tells Honami that he was not so naive as to easily trust those words of hers at face value without any question. He explains to Honami that because him and his colleague were adults, they always had to assume the worst and act accordingly to deal with removing the problem before them. In other words, Honami was reminded by him that he had no choice left but to proceed forward under the premise that she had heard everything they were talking about in their conversation from beginning to end. After saying all that, he proceeded to crouch down on the forest floor to match her gaze with his own, belittling Honami that accidental as it may be, she had still learned what they were planning on doing with Kiyotaka. It was the kind of information which should've never been able to reach her ears in the first place, but here they were now conversing about what she heard from their private talk, leaving Tsukishiro and Katsunori wondering what they needed to do next with her to prevent their secret plan from leaking to the school.

Honami frantically tries to reason with Tsukishiro again that she had not heard anything they said during their conversation but her words were cut short by him who interrupted her, declaring what she told them was untrue and reminded her what he was interrogating her for was done under the firm premise that she did. Being told this, Honami could only swallow back her bated breath in deep shock. When Tsukishiro intimidates the girl, saying that him and Katsunori are considering the idea of perhaps roughening her body up a bit until she finally forgot the memory of their conversation, Honami could not help but cower in extreme fearfulness at the scary thought of what might possibly happen to her next based on what the former had said just now. Due to the Actor Director's ruthless words, Honami became increasingly more than horrified over the prospect about what would become of her in the island. For instance, this was upon understanding the possibility that she would most likely be forced to retire from the exam against her own volition thereafter if the two agreed to commit a vile act as laying a finger/hand on her. After giving Honami a fright for her life and seeing how she reacted in sheer terror, Tsukishiro smiled again and stood back up before jokingly telling her it was a lie. Honami was vaguely reassured by Tsukishiro that as long as he remained the Acting Director who was entrusted with continuing to protect this school, he would never truly say something like that to her or follow through with such a plan. Tsukishiro admits that he too would prefer to avoid using a violent solution with Honami if at all possible which therefore lead to his next statement as a way to guarantee the safety of her life.

Henceforth, he offers the latter a special proposition and condition where they were willing to reach to a compromise with Honami, whereby they overlook her actions without punishment or consequences as long as she upheld her promise. Such condition behind this proposal arranged by Tsukishiro is that if Honami were to ever tell a soul about any of what she heard in their private conversation, he would personally see to it that a group composed entirely of Class 2-C students retires from the exam and be expelled. Shockingly devastated by the proposal imposed on her, Tsukishiro threatens Honami in a way saying he would target a specific group from her class that did not have the private points they'd need to save themselves against expulsion as his hostages in the event that she revealed their plans to anyone, be it to anyone of the teachers or even a fellow student like Kiyotaka. Despite what he said, she felt unsure whether to believe Tsukishiro could actually come out successful in forcing her classmates to be dealt with mandatory expulsion, thinking it might well have been an empty threat. However, clearly understanding what she was thinking, Honami was warned by Tsukishiro further that it was not an impossible job for him to complete, reasoning he was in a high position of power as their school's Acting Director to make such a thing occur. Through Tsukishiro's words, Honami was scared stiff of the fact that he was the one who held strict control and power over the rules for the exam manipulatively, threatening her about how the task of fabricating a justification for her classmates' expulsion would simply be a trivial thing to work around without issues on his end. Not only that, but Tsukishiro tacitly also reminded Honami that there was no telling what might happen to she or her classmates during the ongoing exam, where they were participating on an unsupervised, vast deserted island.

Though Katsunori was not without complaint, as the former voiced his displeasure on the mere idea of having such leniency towards Honami, stating to Tsukishiro that he was better off exorcising his authority as the Acting Director right then and there. He explains that if Honami were to silently be dispose of and disappear from the entire island, he expresses his confidence that neither Tomonari Mashima nor Sae Chabashira would notice it occurring behind the scene in their grand scheme of things. Katsunori comments that unlike with Honami, those two second-year teachers were only cautious when it came to matters concerning what happens to Ayanokōji rather than her. When Katsunori took out a pair of rubber gloves from his pocket and states that he alone would physically handle Honami with his own hands, she knew it was the end of the road for her. Any and all hopes that Honami had of getting away from the two were long gone by then after seeing Katsunori's terrifying resolve to finish her off clean without leaving evidence like fingerprints behind through wearing his protective gloves. This in turn, convinces Honami that she was left with no other choice but to wait for her sentencing while watching on hopelessly and helplessly in the sideline as the two adult men continued discussing the matter of how to deal with her. Based on the mortified look that seemingly showed on her face, it became clear to Honami that she couldn't even begin to imagine what Katsunori intended to do once he wore the gloves. Without a further ado on wasting any more precious time, Tsukishiro sets down her backpack he was holding onto for a while throughout their interrogation in front of Honami before stepping away again to indicate to the girl that she was permitted by him to get off scot-free instead of agreeing to follow through with Katsunori's vicious method.

Before dismissing her, Tsukishiro informs Honami that the port (starting area) was located about 150 meters straight ahead of where the three of them were at, telling her to hurry up and get moving quick. Overcome with a sense of panic, Honami hurriedly put on her backpack, desperate to get away from the two grown-ups as quickly as possible. After the girl was fully-prepared to depart, Honami was sternly advised by Tsukishiro that it was not her enemies that she should be looking out for and protecting, but her own classmates first as the main priority above all others. Heeding his words nervously, she nodded her head in response to his final warning one last time before then promptly setting off in the direction of the port that Tsukishiro had specified to her without a moment's delay.

#### 2nd Year Volume 4

After reaching the port (starting area), Honami gets her broken wristwatch checked by the school officials. Not long afterwards, she gets the device removed from her wrist and handed over to them, swapping it out with a new workable wristwatch that possesses usable functions like the GPS. At that same place where she had turned in and exchanged her previous watch, Honami also had a rendezvous with Arisu there who acutely noticed that the leader of Class 2-C was acting unusual and different than how the former had been, before.

When Arisu had a light conversation with Kiyotaka on trivial topics during the time after the 13th day of the exam, she happened to inform him about Honami's mental state as of late that had been, for the last few days a little strange to say the least. On the day of the first graders' attempted attack against Kiyotaka, it was revealed by Arisu that Honami had went off by herself and disappeared at sunrise.

According to Arisu, it was said to have been a voluntary action on Honami's part to do something out of the ordinary and that the latter had seemed to be behaving a weirdly recently for the past few days ever since she made a return back to the starting area that is, the port. Apparently when Arisu did a GPS search earlier, Honami was found in the same area as Ayanokouji, albeit on the opposite edge. Furthermore, Arisu discloses to Kiyotaka of the fact that Honami lost one point in the morning. Since none of the other group members in their team were using GPS search at the time, she deduces that it was clearly the work of none other than Honami alone who used it in order to track down a certain someone. Arisu discerningly speculates on the possibility that she might be looking for the whereabouts of Kiyotaka most likely but had no idea of why she would have any business with meeting him face-to-face. Since Arisu's group was in 4th place within the team ranking, she felt it was very bad timing for Honami who was also part of that same team to go AWOL (absent without leave) during the 14th day of the special exam which was the last and only time left to participate in the designated areas and tasks.

In her side story, Honami admits that she almost overlooked the fact that she should have known how important the final day of the special exam would be now that it was around the corner, considering and remembering what was going to happen to Kiyotaka. And reasonably so, as soon as the morning hour came, Honami had chosen to leave her group led by Arisu behind and set off dashing inside the forest in search for Kiyotaka. Although Honami had no clue how long she had been running for, it could be said that the former was beginning to lose patience and endurance with herself. Unable to resist anymore with the self-restraint, she came to a decision and ended up choosing to spend a point in using the GPS search from her wristwatch to specifically find and pinpoint where Kiyotaka was that morning. While thinking if Kiyotaka was anywhere near I2 on the last day of the exam, before shortly checking his location, Honami hopelessly prays to herself, pleading the device to let it be revealed to her that he might be located somewhere in the south. Contrary to her making such a wish, Honami looked at the results on her wristwatch and found out that he was present in the northern part of the island rather than what she had hoped for. Nonetheless, Honami's intuition was telling her that Kiyotaka was definitely planning to head out over to I2 at the moment, on the last day, understanding the Acting Director Tsukishiro was manipulatively leading him there alone in that isolated location where only he and Katsunori were, waiting for his arrival before cornering the target student. Based on the Acting Director's words she heard from Tsukishiro and how influential he was in affecting the exam to the point of fabrication, the conversation Honami overheard between him and Katsunori before still lingered in her ears and wouldn't get out of her head mindfully.

Merely thinking about what they were planning to do to Kiyotaka, she could not reign back her emotions for him any longer, refusing to follow through with Tsukishiro's proposal to her. As she had made up her mind to not turn a blind eye to the grown-ups' action, Honami stops herself in her tracks out of ragged breath and soon falls down on her knees to the ground momentarily. Honami remarks on how she has been running single-mindedly and desperately so far in the wild while feeling as though the former was almost at her physical limit and wits' end. Not before long, though, Honami promptly erases those thoughts after noticing she was already way past the stage of giving up on her pursuit of Kiyotaka who was trying to venture out to I2. Honami adamantly steeled her resolve, vowing and wanting to meet up with him no matter what as she felt it was of great importance to confront him in-person and warn the latter about Tsukishiro's plan. She felt it was the only thing on her mind supporting her two legs. With exhaustion kicking in and putting a heavy toll on her body physically, she began to have the thought of wanting to lie down on the forest floor and rest, unable to keep these sensation in-check from slowly taking over her. Letting that sense of urge get a tight hold on her, Honami shut her eyes closed and threw herself into the pitch darkness as a sign of resignation to give in to the growing exhaustion. Although she felt the exhaustion dissipating slowly through attempting to take a breather and sleep, Honami reminds herself that she had no time to go and do something like that. As a show of resistance, Honami proceeded to move forward with her own fingertips to grasp the earth, letting the sand on the ground to become stuck beneath her fingernails. By doing so, it helped Honami discover a way to keep herself awake from the discomforting sensation of fatigue and resume her run.

Incapable of being able to muster up all her strength to stand properly, Honami reaffirms once again that she could not afford herself to falter or fall asleep during the middle of daylight, not when Kiyotaka was in danger of being expelled from the school by Tsukishiro and Katsunori. On another note, she gravely recognizes the dire consequences of abandoning her precious classmates and friends for the primary goal of chasing after Kiyotaka, choosing to find a way of protecting him first out of concern instead of prioritizing them over everyone else-failing to uphold her belief. Knowing she unquestionably deserted her companions to fend for themselves on their own, Honami more or less understood that she had betrayed their trust to come that far in order to reach Kiyotaka's side. When Honami questions herself for what reason and purpose of why she had committed the act of betrayal by forsaking them over him, the former professes that she does not really know a clear answer to such question. Reflecting on it even more, Honami starts asking herself further if she had what it would take to rescue Kiyotaka from the evil clutches of Tsukishiro and Katsunori and ponder on the notion of what it meant to save someone like him from them. The last question on the back of Honami's mind was whether or not somebody like herself alone was capable of possessing the power to even pull off something remotely as that through coming to his aid. Honami admits that although she doesn't know anything such as what was going on or happening between Kiyotaka, Tsukishiro, Katsunori and the second-year teachers behind the scenes, the former wonders if it was alright for her to warn him to be careful, but felt unsure whether that was even important to say to his face. After deliberating over her thoughts, Honami came to the realization that the actions she had been doing until now had no substance to them.

If so, it didn't seem to make sense to Honami why she was covered in sweat, tired as the former recalled running for her life back then when she had tried to flee from Tsukishiro and Katsunori. To her, what she does was nothing but never-ending question and answers that continued to remain floating in her head. After traveling for some time and moving through a long distance, Honami then immediately spotted Kiyotaka on the other far edge of the river, that happened to be at the opposite direction of where she was at after stopping herself in her tracks upon coming across his stature from afar. Just as she thought after finding him and observing his movement momentarily, Honami could determine that Kiyotaka was indeed heading towards the area of I2. Honami tries to holler her voice at him but couldn't bring herself to make the call. No matter how much she tried to raise her voice, no word came out of Honami's mouth. Exhaustion, surprise and impatience. This was due to Honami's own voice being blockaded by a torrent of feelings surfacing in her mind at the same time. Despite that, however, even though she didn't manage to calm down her racing mind, Honami loudly cried out to Kiyotaka in a way so that he could be able to hear her from the opposite side and capture his attention. After squeezing out the one word that allowed Honami to call out his name, it was enough to successfully reach Kiyotaka's ears from a distance as he stopped moving to I2 and looked back at her on the other side. Right then and there, what Honami proceeded to declare next was that she had personally came there to meet him herself. After saying that, Honami reconfirmed her resolve once more that it was all for that sole reasonable purpose alone she had the strength and willpower to run this far close in catching up to Kiyotaka and meeting him privately.

Shortly later, Honami tells Kiyotaka she would be coming over to his side in just a matter of time. Even though she should not have been able to run and walk for much longer anymore after wasting nearly all her energy, Honami was still able to somehow manage getting her feet to take a step forward while thinking to herself that she just wanted to see and meet him all this time. For Honami, Kiyotaka being there by her side was already more than justifiable enough to be the only thing presently supporting her in front of the former after bumping into him at long last as she was feeling eagerly yearning to stand right next to him up-close.

From Kiyotaka's point of view, the direction from where he heard Honami's voice was originally from the northern part of the river he had just went around not too long ago. Over there was Honami, who appeared to be seemingly covered in mud, looking at him, gasping for air. With them close by to each other, it was revealed that the current area both Honami and Kiyotaka were together in was H3. Much to his confusion, Honami should have been in E3 by now according to the information Arisu had told him beforehand. At this point, the time was just about 10 AM if the sun had started to rise at 5:30 A.M, Kiyotaka discerns that perhaps Honami probably had to walk alone endlessly for 4 and a half hours from where she was before to reach H3 where they were at then. Stammering to say the words, Honami tiresomely notifies Kiyotaka why she had chosen to arrive at H3-due to her main objective of seeking to see him all the while. Before long, Honami tells Kiyotaka that she would be moving to where he was standing at the moment in time to rendezvous with him as the former speaks. Even though Honami looked like she could barely speak due to exhaustion, Kiyotaka could tell from a glance that she was still able to gather the strength in calling out to him from across the river. Seeing her say all that, Honami ran staggeringly along the river from north to south to where he was. Because her backpack was in the way of being too heavy for her to carry on much longer, Honami had decided to take swift action in leaving behind all her personal belongings there where she was before. Upon making the choice to lower the huge weight that was weighing her down slowly, she could then then proceed to quickly pick up speed to reach Kiyotaka in no time at all who was within the southern edge of the river.

Noticing that the place where Honami was walking on seemed dangerous to him, Kiyotaka sprints immediately and turns back the way he came, and hurriedly met up with her. Kiyotaka acted out of consideration for Honami's sake, considering how difficult it should have been to walk over to his side with her remaining strength that was almost close to reaching it's limit. Since he could not allow himself to freely let Honami exert herself anymore like that, he volunteered to cross the river to the north in her stead. As a result, it took about no less than at least five minutes for both Honami and Kiyotaka to meet up with each other along the river, and then walk to a place where they could congregate and talk. Honami felt elated that she had finally managed to catch up to Kiyotaka and suggests he stay put and wait for her to come to his side, feeling responsible due to calling out to him first that she kept chasing after the latter like this.

Just as she was about to move to his side, Honami lost her balance and accidentally fell. However, before she could stumble frontwards to the forest floor, Kiyotaka caught Honami in a hug successfully to prevent her fall from transpiring. Noticing that she could no longer grasp control over her own footing any more, she embarrassingly apologizes to him for what happened and attempts to weakly laugh it off, pondering upon realization about why her own legs weren't obeying her. Honami panicked at the inappropriate action of disrespectfully laying a finger and hand on Kiyotaka. She wanted to leave his touch, but her knees wouldn't respond to her intention of moving away from him and managed nothing except tremble wearisomely, as if she couldn't stand up in the correct position but do so improperly towards him. When inquired by Kiyotaka of what was going on with her, Honami could not help but look up at him, and spoke, desperately trying to sort her thoughts on the situation out. Responding to his inquiry, Honami explains that Kiyotaka that she had something she wanted to tell him, no matter what, to which he asked her what the former meant by that response questioningly. Honami tells him that she had always been feeling deeply troubled with herself in recent occasions to protect her friends and classmates. She questions the strength of her own firm determination to continue protecting and looking out for her companions during this exam when a special someone else more dearly important to her had become a greater priority than them. In spite of making that resolve to fully assist them, Honami could not help but remain overly concerned about the safety of Kiyotaka's well-being regardless of the protective feelings she had for her classmates and friends.

According to Kiyotaka, throughout the course of the two-week special exam, he and Honami did not once have a consistent point of contact until this face-to-face meeting ultimately occurred between the two where they met one another for the first time in a long while. She distressingly tells him about how her previous wristwatch had broken a few days ago and how she had to go back to the starting point to change it for a new functional tool but ended up encountering Acting Director Tsukishiro, and Katsunori Shiba along the way before that could happen. Honami was so tired that her breathing hadn't even stabilized yet, as she stuttered along those lines. Filled with a sense of dread, Honami warns Kiyotaka that if he happened to be safe till the last day of the special exam, the latter would then be called upon to go to the designated area I2 alone by himself and be buried by those two adults. When Kiyotaka confirmed with Honami desiring to protect her fellow classmates yet was threatened by Tsukishiro who had vowed to eliminate them if word got out to the public that she overheard the grown-ups' plan, she nods her head in surprise at his guess as he deduced it correctly. To backup his statement, Honami also adds that if she were to try and tell something like that to him, Acting Director Tsukishiro would make his move to have her classmates drop out of the exam and school altogether. In defiance of that threat handed down to her by Tsukishiro, Honami admits she couldn't bring herself to turn her back on Kiyotaka no matter what the Acting Director had said to have her go along with their proposal. Despite her deep concern for Kiyotaka, he advised her that she should've given up on him and let him get expelled from the start for the beneficial sake of her class winning in the future. She was told by Kiyotaka to protect her classmates foremost rather than someone like him who saw himself as an enemy from a different class, telling Honami that there was no need for her to care about the consequences of her actions concerning what may happen to him if she did not inform him of Tsukishiro's plan.

Even though Kiyotaka told her that she should not have told him such details in order to maintain protection of her classmates from Tsukishiro and Katsunori, Honami thought differently on it when the girl shook her head strongly to express her disagreement after hearing what he said. Honami obstinately states how she would never come to that decision of hiding information from Kiyotaka or desert him to get expelled by Tsukishiro and Katsunori, insisting he was not the person she would ever view as her enemy in the first place. After rejecting Kiyotaka's opinion of how she should see him, Honami began clutching his shirt near his chest in denial. Regardless of what Kiyotaka said by thinking he was an enemy detrimental to she and her class, nothing could change the feelings in her mind about him who Honami had already set her heart on. Honami became bolder with her choice of words, revealing to Kiyotaka the true reason behind why she chose to go out of her way in order to save him as it was because she liked him-only that pushed herself to act for his sake and benefit. Shortly before it happened however, Honami's two hands on Kiyotaka's chest that was clutching his shirt tightened once more as a mean to strengthen her hold on him in preparation of what she was going to say next. As a result of her unintentional action where she was unable to keep control of her feelings towards him, Honami accidentally and instinctively blurted out her feelings to Kiyotaka without meaning to do so. Upon confessing to Kiyotaka that she liked him romantically, Honami suddenly realizes the implications of the words she just said, not expecting to say it out loud for him to hear. As soon as those words came out and Kiyotaka heard everything that was said, Honami awkwardly averted her eyes away from him, as if she was trying to hide the expression on her face and forget her confession.

Finding an excuse to amend her words, Honami tries to reason with Kiyotaka that whatever she had told him was not completely true, becoming shockingly uncertain and perplexed as to why she went and confessed to him like that out of the blue. She herself didn't understand her embarrassing action and demeanor, falling into a state of panic, shaking her head repeatedly to remove the thoughts popping up in her mind. Feeling frantically flustered about the revelation that was told by her, Honami once again asked herself what she just said to Kiyotaka while still in shock, not yet remembering and understanding the things she had admitted openly to him a moment ago. When Kiyotaka asked Honami if he could give his comment about the confession, she nervously asked him not to answer as she had yet to say any word of it, telling her crush that she remembered wrong as an excuse to get away from that subject. Once Kiyotaka thanked Honami as a show of gratitude and respect for her confession, she becomes increasingly surprised by his way of responding and handling it. Appreciating the fact and sentiment of what she had done to help him out, Honami learns from Kiyotaka that if not for her informing him about Tsukishiro's scheme with Katsunori in the area I2 ahead of time, he wouldn't been able to know for certain what could have possibly become of him or happen to his life, had he gone there unplanned and unprepared. After Kiyotaka asked her if she truly meant to stand by what she just confessed as the truth, Honami couldn't help but stutter of what to properly say about that confession, acting anxious and tense whether to clear up that matter as a misunderstanding. Hearing how unclear she was with her words, Honami was told by Kiyotaka to rectify the confession, or else it would turn out to be his own fault for misunderstanding the fake feelings she was playing him into thinking and assuming as genuine.

Seeing that Kiyotaka believed her feelings were likely nothing more than a mistake on her part, she soberly states the confession was not completely a misunderstanding whatsoever, admitting the honest fact that she did indeed like him. Honami initially wanted to deny her feelings towards Kiyotaka at first, but the former felt that she could no longer keep on running away from the unquestionable truth or lie to him anymore about what they were. Having earnestly acknowledged how her love for Kiyotaka was heartfelt, Honami proceeded to once again admit in a faint, hoarse voice that she truly liked him as a person of the opposite sex. Honami apologizes to Kiyotaka for not honestly recognizing her own feelings about him sooner, telling the latter how she was thinking over it and eventually came to just noticed this herself after confessing not once but twice. Kiyotaka also acted honestly with Honami, admitting he was a little surprised by how she felt and thought that kind of way towards him. Due to his words, Honami could not help but offer her apology once more, telling Kiyotaka that she was sorry about how her own feelings for him must seem like a pain to him. However, Kiyotaka believes otherwise as it was nothing of the sort to belittle her sentiment for, reasoning to Honami that he was not in a fair, stable situation at the moment where he could give an answer to her feelings. Honami depressingly believed it to be his indirect way of saying he did not mirror her feelings, believing her words of confession alone were not deemed worthy enough of Kiyotaka's affection and attention or be reciprocated back. To prevent Honami from falling into despair and losing her chances of hope during the middle of an exam, Kiyotaka reassures Honami that that was not what he meant, stating that there were still a few things that had to be addressed first before he revealed his true thoughts to her confession. Honami was reminded by Kiyotaka that he doesn't think someone such as him could answer yes or no in the current predicament while dealing with Tsukishiro, and Katsunori.

In short, Kiyotaka did not have the right time and place to respectfully respond to Honami's feelings then, not when there was a dangerous exam still ongoing that had yet to come to an end. Although he states it may not seem like an acceptable reason for keeping her confession on hold, he tells her that it was the best logical answer he could give her for then as he was busy with finding a way to save himself from facing the likelihood of expulsion. Understanding the intent behind him coming to that decision, Honami nodded in acceptance, neither disdainful nor dissatisfied with the reason he had explained to her out of consideration for his own personal problem he needed to prioritize in dealing against. When Kiyotaka told Honami that he would continue planning his travel to I2 anyway regardless of Tsukishiro's scheme as he had things that still had to be done there, she voiced her discontent on the idea of endangering himself while pleadingly begging him not to go. Despite her warning that it was too dangerous to head there, Kiyotaka comforts Honami saying if he doesn't follow along with whatever Tsukishiro had planned for him, he wouldn't be able to successfully protect either her or her precious classmates. It's because Honami herself had been so deeply troubled about choosing between Kiyotaka and her classmates that she understood his dedication to take action for her well-being as a way to ease the former's stress. Honami was suggested by Kiyotaka to use the time she had available to get some rest, and then later rejoin her group led by Arisu Sakayanagi, which the former agrees to take into consideration, taking his trusting words to heart. Before he begins setting off to go to I2 where both Tsukishiro and Katsunori were waiting for him, Honami receives a gentle head-pat from Kiyotaka who patted her head in order to comfortably cheer her up due to the sad state she was deppressingly in.

Thanks to Honami relaying to Kiyotaka the valuable information concerning the situation of Tsukishiro and his scheme with Katsunori, he was able to move forward with his next course of action which was to get in contact with Arisu ahead of time about their plan. If not for Honami's intervention in his matter, he wouldn't have been able to successfully request assistance to report to the second-year teachers, Tomonari Mashima and Sae Chabashira while making the appropriate preparations for it before heading over to I2 to confront those two adults. Once the Uninhabited Island Exam concluded, it was revealed by the test results that the Bottom five groups all belonged to third-year students who are bound to be expelled, indicating Honami's class was safe and sound from possible expulsion and she had lost none of her fellow classmates. In addition to this, Acting Director Tsukishiro declares that the Top 3 groups in the exam ranking were Arisu's group comprising of Honami and her classmate Sō Shibata with 261 points which came in 3rd place, 2nd place being Miyabi Nagumo's group with 325 points and 1st place was Rokusuke Kōenji who won solo with 327 points without being in a large group. Based on the results of the exam's competition, where both Class 2-C and Class 2-A emerge victorious as a large group landing in one of the three top spots, it could be said that the alliance between Honami's class and Arisu's class together had earned their large group a total of 100 class points which were rewarded to them for coming in 3rd place.

Because of the group Honami and her classmates of 2-C were part of also included Arisu and other students of Class 2-A, the 100 class points were equally spit among themselves. In other words, while Class 2-A gained 50 class points, so did Class 2-C led by Honami also attaining 50 class points as well. Due to the class points almost each and every second-year classes managed to obtain with the sole exception being Kakeru Ryūen's class who obtained nothing but also did not lose anything, the class ranking between all the four classes drastically changed in the order of hierarchy once again. Class 2-A remained at the highest position above every other class with 1169 + 50 = 1219 class points while the other second-year classes were no longer in the same position prior to the end of the exam as Honami's Class 2-C was able to climb back up to their original status being Class 2-B with 539 + 50 = 589 class points. With more class points, she and her classmates had overtaken Ryūen's former Class 2-B who had now dropped down in the class ranking to Class 2-D. While Honami and her classmates had returned to Class 2-B, Suzune's former Class 2-D on the other hand had ascended up to the position of Class 2-C for the second time but with the effort of Rokusuke having acquired 300 class points for them by achieving 1st place in the exam, which lead to 283 + 300 = 583 class points, also overtaking Kakeru's class too who still had 565 class points.

#### 2nd Year Volume 4.5

Starting August, it was said that Class 2-B led by Honami had reach around 578 class points through the cooperation of Arisu and her Class 2-A back in the uninhabited island exam.

On August 4th, onboard the Luxury Cruise Ship, Honami received a text message from Kiyotaka, who requested her to meet up with him briefly in the evenings in three days' time regarding his answer to the confession.

Later on, Honami and his friends are found spotted near the pool area by Kiyotaka. When she took notice of Kiyotaka on sight, Honami who felt awkward after the confession quickly hid behind her classmates, searching for an exit to get away from him. Seeing the sudden strange movement, Honami's classmates begin to express their concern for her.

Along the way, it was revealed by Kobashi that Amikura and 10 of her female classmates are going to host and attend a celebration party with their leader Honami to celebrate the end of the uninhabited island exam. At the same time, they made it their objective to extend an invitation to Kiyotaka and told him that he would be the surprise guest, suggesting the class kept his attendance a secret from Honami so they could shock her later when she finds out.

Around 8 pm that night in Room 5034 where the party was held, Honami got to hang out with Kiyotaka as her classmates urged him to sit by her side which he got no other choice but to do while she nervously accepts his presence. There, they alongside Honami show gratitude to Kiyotaka for helping Chihiro Shiranami when she was lost in the island and escorting her back to their base. Some time passes, her classmate Yuki Himeno then asked how she's been feeling tired and has a headache lately, explaining to Honami and the rest of them that she needs to take her leave. Hearing this, Honami and her classmates volunteer to escort Himeno on her way back but the latter shot down that idea. Before long, Kiyotaka uses this chance to separate himself from Honami and leave while he still can when the atmosphere among them shifted to Himeno as she bid him farewell.

On August 6th, after lunch time in the cafe was over, Honami approached Arisu on the ship's deck and apologizes to her for the inconvenience she had selfishly caused during the final day of the uninhabited island special exam. Seeing Honami bowed her head in apology, Arisu told the former that she is not the least bit upset about her actions, considering how her contributions to the partnership between their two classes are more than enough to put them at the top spot which was 3rd place of the exam results. According to Arisu, it can be said that Honami's action were nothing major to be considered a setback as it only cost their group a few points at most and nothing more than that. If they do end up in 4th place however, Arisu was sure that Honami would've taken some of the blame which didn't happen.

**Honami** : *"It's about the special exam...I just felt like I had to apologise. On the last day, I did something really selfish...so, I'm really very sorry!"*

Additionally, it was revealed by Arisu that Honami has managed to score highly in all of the tasks she took part in and organized groups of allies who were spread all over the place. Arisu went on praising Honami that despite the harsh conditions and terrains on the uninhabited island, she was still somehow able to pull through by playing a central role brilliantly within their group, not something deserving of reproach even after leaving them behind to find Kiyotaka. Honami reasoned how Arisu was merely looking back on everything in the exam with an understanding of their situation after it concluded which the latter thought was good to do. Arisu reminded Honami that some things will never go according to plans, believing it won't always work out the way they should after careful planning. As a matter of fact, had Honami fought as hard as she can and came in at a close 4th, the former would have suffered a great deal of psychological damage anyways despite giving her all which Arisu knew it can't be helped.

**Sakayanagi** : *"Certainly, it's true that you acted a bit selfishly on the last day of the exam, Ichinose-san. However, that cost the group a few points at most. If I compared it to your contribution, it's not something deserving of reproach. Now if we had fallen into a close 4th place, then you might have taken some of the blame, but that did not happen, right?"*

**Honami** : *"But that's only when looking back on it with hindsight..."*

When Arisu had chosen to overlook Honami's actions due to her positive contributions for the class alliance in the exam, it only made Honami feel even more guilty than before and refuses to back down on her apology. Seeing that Honami wishes to take responsibility no matter what, Arisu realizes she is in need of a punishment and decided to offer one to her. Although in denial at first as well as being pressured Arisu's fearless look on her face, Honami quickly came around in acknowledging that to be the case as she felt a just punishment was the only sure method in making herself feel better and forgiven. Not soon after, Honami was urged by Arisu to come sit in front of her which she follow suit but was left baffled by how the latter proceeded to ask the former to order food which isn't how the punishment supposed to go. Honami then learned from Arisu that the former's punishment all along was really just keeping the Class 2-A girl company in the meantime for thirty minutes straight during an afternoon tea.

Initially doubtful of whether this was even a punishment in the first place, Honami who didn't quite get it ended up agreeing to Arisu's demand anyway and sat herself down to order a drink as instructed by Arisu. While they were chilling and drinking together, Honami was called out by Arisu as an extremely honest person even after all the humiliations she went through because of her back then yet still choosing to accompany the latter. Honami admits she doesn't feel the slightest trace of humiliation done to her by Arisu, explaining how the mistake she made in the past was truly her own fault to begin with which allowed whatever the latter did to happen. Even if what Honami said is the truth or not, Arisu states it's a natural thing for someone as she to hide her guilty past from everyone and not wanting anyone to know about.

**Sakayanagi** : *"If that is the case, I can punish you for it if you like?"*

**Honami** : *"Yes. I think that would make me feel better."*

Let alone being described as a strange but honest person to say the least, Honami learned of Arisu's thoughts on her whereby the latter viewed the former to be very terrifying. Although it was hard for Arisu to give a proper description, she vaguely explains that Honami doesn't have an evil side to her character as she is genuinely good compared to everyone else in the school who does. Arisu went on to call her a walking mass of goodness which Honami refutes as far from being true by mentioning the bad things she had done in the past previously. While Honami disagreed with Arisu for overestimating her evaluation as a good person, the latter still see it to be the truth nonetheless stating that the goodness she speaking of at the time has nothing much to do with those kinds of things the former brought up. Arisu argued with Honami about how even if she was once involved in some wrongdoing that one time, this doesn't really change or affect her good-nature in a bad way when her motive remains the same where it was all done for the precious love she had for her family.

**Sakayanagi** : *"You're a hard person to describe. That's why you seem so scary to me at times."*

**Honami** : *"I'm...scary?"*

Having said that, Arisu reminded Honami that her goodness is both a strength and a weakness, be it her allies and enemies. Honami was advised by Arisu to take better care of herself and be careful not to let others take advantage of it any longer. Honami assumed she was talking about Kakeru but the former corrected her saying how it's not only just him alone, but a few others too like herself, Suzune, and Kiyotaka whom will want to take advantage of her goodness to win. Hearing that Kiyotaka was on the list of people to be deemed as such agitated Honami visibly. Meanwhile, Arisu also deduces that Kiyotaka was most likely saved on the last day of the uninhabited island exam thanks to Honami intervening and warning him ahead of time about what will happen to him. Honami remained utterly confused by how Arisu was able to figure out this much already without her being involved a lot in Kiyotaka's predicament which the Class 2-A girl told her to take it as a soliloquy and ignored it.

Nearing the end of their conversation, Arisu tells Honami that she can already somewhat guess what her true feelings are for Kiyotaka based on her recent actions up to now, recognizing how it's different from those she have for other students. Just as Honami was squirming to find the right words to respond back, she was cautioned by Arisu to not be too overly nuts about Kiyotaka any longer and move on since those special feelings towards him might likely one day come back to bite her in the ass. This was Arisu's way of warning Honami to take a step back and reconsider Kiyotaka as a member of the opposite sex. Refusing to elaborate or continue this sort of conversation about him any further, Arisu decided to end it right then and there while beginning their afternoon tea. When Honami took a sip of the tea that had been brought to her, she couldn't enjoy the taste of it very well, due to her not forgetting what Arisu said, as it was currently stuck in the back of her mind until the end.

**Sakayanagi** : *"That's good isn't it? It's a human instinct to have special feelings for a particular member of the opposite sex. But...if you get too attached, it may come back to bite you. If the other person is Ayanokōji-kun, then even more so."*

**Honami** : *"I don't really understand the meaning of what you're saying, Sakayangi-san."*

On August 7th in the evening, Honami arrived at the appointed destination as agreed upon between she and Kiyotaka to have a one-on-one talk together, in regards to her spur of the moment confession to him on the uninhabited island and to hear what response the former will get from the latter. Having already gone there ahead of time first before Kiyotaka did, she silently waited for his arrival while gazing out at the sea until he comes. Once Kiyotaka finally shows up and after the two greet each other, Honami was then asked by him of whether or not she was still going to follow through with the idea of using the same strategy as before from last year, whereby she will act as a bank for all of her classmates' private points. Although it had nothing to do with the main topic of their meetup at hand, Honami however didn't look displeased at all as this was merely the start of their conversation.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Are you still continuing with your strategy to act as a bank for your class' private points?"*

**Honami** : *"Yeah. We decided there was no harm in keeping it up. We'll save up as much as we can and then, should we not need it, I can just return all the points that were deposited at the time back to everyone. It’s easy."*

In response to his inquiry, she states that sort of strategy by using herself as the bank is what she will continue to do as it hasn't proven to be anyways detrimental yet to the class overall. Honami told Kiyotaka that she and her classmates will consistently have to save up as many private points as they could over time, in preparation for any possible exam involving expulsion for one of their own. To Honami, this easy strategy from their class can effectively last quite a long time without causing any problem of unity between her friends as it has managed to keep on working like before, for as long as she was so trustworthy to be entrusted with their points. Nonetheless, she does acknowledged that if such strategy is no longer needed anymore, she will considered giving the points they transferred to her back then to them, as it was initially theirs to begin with.

According to Kiyotaka, even if Honami and her classmates' point balances were automatically diminishing to the extent that some inconveniences may arise during their financial endeavors, they were still guaranteed to get back what was filtered off in the end regardless. Kiyotaka admitted it was a good move on Honami's part to have a massive sum of money readily available just in case as that was the one and only advantage given to her and how this was an important factor to their strategy. However, Kiyotaka felt that alone won't be enough for Honami to surely rely on using when the strategy of continuing to store up points is just a provision reserved for emergencies. Hearing all that, Honami can't help but ask what he thinks her class is lacking in, considering how she was just trying to maintain the status quo all this time and did not know what new strategies to prepare.

**Ayanokōji** : *"What your class is lacking?"*

**Honami** : *"Yeah. I mean, we can't really see that part properly ourselves...I was wondering how you see our class, Ayanokōji-kun."*

As she belongs in the same class as them, Honami tells Kiyotaka how neither neither she or her classmates can accurately figure out what part of themselves they seem to be missing in their class. To that end, she questions if an outsider like Kiyotaka who is not in her class from the start was able to notice something about them that they haven't caught on yet, asking the latter's opinion on the class from his point of view. When Kiyotaka gave his take on the matter, Honami was informed how there were simply too many good-natured students that shape their class mindset overall, based on her classmates he interacted with during the uninhabited island and the celebration party. Despite getting his opinion, Honami already knew full well this was an integral factor to their weakness beforehand, understanding how none of her classmates would fundamentally like to pick a fight, even if class points are on the table but they wouldn't proactively pursue it.

For that reason, she was advised by Kiyotaka of how important it is for her and the class to act a little bit forceful and aggressive at times whenever they deemed necessary to do so against their adversaries, when push comes to shove. In other words, Kiyotaka suggest she should considered acting slightly deceptive and resorting to dirty trickery sometimes while reminding her not to always use it if no foul play is involved from the opposing party but only crucial in undertaking against those who tried to do it first. Taking into consideration what he has said to her, Honami agreed with his words and believed it was about time that they have to make a stand or they won't be able to go on fighting the good fights. At this point in time after that topic concluded, it was painfully obvious to Kiyotaka of how Honami was trying her utmost best to push forward towards her uncertain future if she and her classmates can still achieve Class A no matter the setbacks.

**Ayanokōji** : *"It might be important to be a little more assertive. I'm not saying you should use foul play or subterfuge, but I think it's essential to be strong against rough play."*

**Honami** : *"Rough play...huh. Yeah, you're right. We have to be more firm or we won't be able to fight."*

When Kiyotaka finally mentions the main subject of their meeting, Honami nervously understood that was what they were here to talk about and begins readying her heart and mind to hear his answer to her confession. Just as Kiyotaka gently pulled his face close to Honami's ear and was about to whisper his response, Student Council President Miyabi Nagumo step in to stop him from answering by intervening in the two's conversation. Surprised by Miyabi's arrival out of nowhere, Honami hurriedly moved away from Kiyotaka and keep her distance. Rather than Kiyotaka alone being kept a close eye on by the third-year students, the former noted how Miyabi along with his subordinates has been secretly following Honami as the latter had his sights set on targeting her and how this inconvenient timing done on his part was the Student Council President's way in confronting him. Attempting to return her state of mind back to normal, she tried to give the usual greeting to the president despite not managing to completely sweep away her agitation and bewilderment from showing when her confession went unanswered.

To Honami's surprise, Miyabi pointed out that he is very well aware of the fact that both she and Kiyotaka have met up with each other on the final day of the Uninhabited Island Exam. The Student Council President gone on to accuse Honami and Kiyotaka of how this private talk between the two of them wasn't really their first meetup together as Nagumo more or less understood that they must've already been through a few clandestine meetings in secret and how he was fortunate enough to catch them red-handed this time around. Suddenly having recalled the incident on the uninhabited island being brought up to her out of the blue, Honami was at a loss for words on how to respond back to Miyabi's accusation. As it was an incident where she accidentally confessed to Kiyotaka due to her own emotional outburst at the time and failing to suppress her feelings from back then, Honami realizes how it was not a simple thing to cover up or be sweep under the rug anymore, now that the Student Council President knows about it.

Thereafter, Miyabi admits he could care less about what Honami and Kiyotaka are sneakily doing and didn't pursue further than that while dropping the accusation entirely. However, Honami got warned by Miyabi that he was concern for a fellow Student Council member as she cannot be left alone with someone like Kiyotaka, when the latter told her she will end up drowning in tears because of him. Once Miyabi approached Honami and stood next to her, she confusingly ponder the meaning behind what his statement was to which he shortly later made mention of Kei Karuizawa as that girl has something do with what he's about to say next may break her heart. Mumbling Kei's name that she didn't expect to hear, Honami couldn't fathom why she would be mentioned at a time like this and how it got anything to deal with Kiyotaka. After which, Honami learned from Miyabi about Kiyotaka's relationship with Kei and how he has been going out with her secretly as boyfriend and girlfriend, without even telling her or anyone else except for his closest friends who was informed of it beforehand.

Even upon hearing it, Honami didn't immediately grasp the meaning behind Miyabi's words straight away. Seeing the look of confusion on her face as well as how she seem oblivious regarding his romantic relationship with Kei, Miyabi asked Honami that she should've already known about it by now when she and Kiyotaka are supposed to be good friends. Along the way, Miyabi interrogates Kiyotaka if whether or not he was plotting to two-time both Honami and Kei without neither of them finding out about each other's secret relationships. Soon after, Honami asked for confirmation from Kiyotaka if what Miyabi said to her is true concerning the relationship between himself and Kei which the latter admits to be the truth of the matter. As Kiyotaka is not denying Miyabi's baseless claim of him being in a relationship with Kei, Honami can't help but be emotionally shocked and shook by his honest admission. Supposedly for Honami's sake, Miyabi reminded Kiyotaka that he has no intention of getting in the way of his kōhai's love life, as long as it doesn't involved Honami who is still a member of the Student Council at the time who has the potential to become President in the near future while vowing to protect her from him.

After Miyabi left, the lighthearted atmosphere between Honami and Kiyotaka that had been present earlier when they first met up with each other had now disappeared. To dispel the heavy silence, Honami who is heartbroken mentally tries to laugh it off by stating that their conversation ended up a little sidetracked after Miyabi crash the two's meeting unexpectedly. At the same time, Honami anxiously asked of the purpose for why she was invited to come to this desolate location with him in private but before he could give a proper answer to her question, she stopped Kiyotaka in his tracks from talking over her with a loud shout while in self-denial and an attempt to backtrack. Honami acting dumbfounded proceeded to quietly asked Kiyotaka to not speak any further about the the accidental confession she made to him. Having come to terms that he and Kei are a couple, Honami dismissed and shrugged her confession off by suggesting Kiyotaka should just forget everything she said back then in the uninhabited island, as she felt it is better off forgotten. According to Kiyotaka, Honami's smile never once faltered one bit when she was forcefully squeezing each and every last word out of her mouth by telling this to him.

**Ayanokōji** : *"Like Nagumo said, I didn't tell anyone. It was only natural that you didn't know."*

**Honami** : *"T-that's right isn't it? That may be so, but...as I thought, I was just being an idiot! I-I mean Ayanokōji-kun, you're so kind...really, so great...there was no way you wouldn't already have a girlfriend, right...?"*

Along the way, Honami offers her apology to Kiyotaka for having remain ignorant all the while in regards to his apparent relationship with Kei and how she knew next to nothing of it until now. Meanwhile, accepting the cold hard fact that she was letting her own feelings of excitement about realizing love for the first time get the better of her judgement and blurting out such a confession openly without taking into consideration either Kiyotaka or Kei who are already dating. As she was in the dark of things and feeling responsible for getting in the way of their relationship, Kiyotaka reasons with Honami how natural it was for her to not know anything and act by her own feelings when he didn't bother to disclose his love life to anyone publicly first. Although she frantically agreed with his words at first, Honami still couldn't help herself in thinking that she was acting like a clueless idiot without considering the possibility that Kiyotaka may have already found himself a girlfriend of his own who appreciate his kindness and greatness. Despite Honami's strong will to never lose her smile, it was said that her downhearted eyes were clearly moist and watery during this moment, while they were beginning to fill with tears. Attempting to stay calm and pretending that everything was going to be okay, she tried her very hardest to keep the tears from overflowing. Before long, she tearfully bids her farewell to Kiyotaka, running away from him without looking back.

On August 8th, Honami attended a Treasure Hunt Game meeting alongside her senior Miyabi, who was there at the venue to give a speech explaining the origin behind making that event possible. As she was a member of the Student Council, Honami sat beside other members of the faculty and listened to him talk from start to finish including the outline of the game. From what Kiyotaka could see while watching her body language, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary as she looks a little better and stable than the day before. He recalled the tears that Honami had unexpectedly shed yesterday and how the wound she suffered in her heart surely wasn't something light that can be recovered completely. According to Kiyotaka, she was acting naturally at the moment, but it should take a certain amount of time for her broken heart to heal. At that time, Kiyotaka speculates that any love she might've had for him previously would dissipate, or may even turn into hostility against the former or Kei. He wondered what kind of changes Honami would undergo, and he was quite certain that this would be a major turning point for her development as both an individual and class leader in the future.

#### 2nd Year Volume 5

In chapter 4, under her leadership, they were able to breeze through the special exam questions. However, a roadblock showed up at the last question which was to either agree or disagree to having a classmate be expelled to get class points. 39 voted against, while 1 was in favour. The one lone vote was Kanzaki who angrily made his case that the class is going to fail if they do not change ‘Ichinose’s way’ of doing things. Honami silently listened to his case, as well as their teacher’s story, only speaking up when Kanzaki threatened to never change his vote.

She made the case that their class would not be a class that sacrifices people to get points. Enough of them are not going to change their minds for him either. He refutes that there was no guarantee a chance to gain points so easily could happen again, and so, if they were to lose 300 points for not picking unanimously, it would be the same result if he were to choose their side. Solidifying her class resolve, she states that a class that weighs such an option for one of their own was already wrong. There were some things that should never be chosen, choosing his side was one of them.

After the second attempt ended with the same result, Honami was more dumbfounded than angry. Kanzaki tells her that if it’ll take hours to change their minds, he’s fully prepared to commit. He welcomes them to expel him if it meant they’ll vote yes. He chose self-sacrifice and another route than see them repeat the same mistakes. Honami asks Kanzaki if they could stop this stalemate. She understood his plight and said the only way both parties would be happy is by attaining Class A without expelling their classmates. He rebukes her for being idealistic but she steadfastly said they'll strive to be that class as everyone else nodded their head. Knowing he has failed, the result ended with 40 people opposing expulsion. She requested for them to work together and on the bright side, they still received 50 class points.

#### 2nd Year Volume 6

Honami knocked on the door to the student council room and was shocked by Kiyotaka’s presence. For the past few days, Ichinose and Nagumo had been having lunch in the room as he commented that her secretary keeps him busy. Nagumo also apologised for being unable to accompany her to buy lunch as well.

Despite being told that a visitor was coming, having it be Kiyotaka was still shocking. Nagumo tells him to join them the two second years sat on his sides. Ichinose handed them their lunch boxes but tried her best to not look at Kiyotaka. The latter was still able to see her downcast expression, knowing the president would not miss it either. Kiyotaka finished his meal when the other two had not even half. Nagumo continued looking at her without paying attention to Kiyotaka. She was forced to continue looking at Nagumo to avoid focusing on him.

Under her leadership, Honami’s class achieved Third Place behind Horikita and Ryuen. Her class neither gained nor lost Class Points in the Sports Festival. However, as the first and second place classes achieved 150 and 50 class points respectively, they expanded their lead over her class significantly.

#### 2nd Year Volume 7

Kanzaki and Honami went to do some reconnaissance at the gymnasium. She lowered her head and averted her gaze after seeing Kiyotaka in the queue as well. She requested for Kanzaki to take over as she had some urgent business to attend to, leaving the two boys behind as she was unable to maintain her composure.

Much later, Honami was talking to Yagami in the student council room. Nagumo tells her to begin the meeting with her report, as she stated that all the classes are planning to partake in the rehearsal before the actual day's festival. It was Nagumo's idea and it was not uncommon for him to do things without knowledge or consent of other members, as he brushed off the vice-president's comments. However, the president was crossed of a certain rumour going around. Honami inquired about the source when someone was spreading the rumour that Nagumo was gaining points from betting on expulsions of certain students. She was surprised when Nagumo announced the council to be in a state of suspension for a period of time. They usually meet once a week barring exam periods so this was unprecedented.

During the November Cultural Festival, her class chose to sell sweets. Despite being a smash hit for the children, the adults were less than receptive. In the end, Honami’s Class D had 675 class points to Ryuen’s 750, Horikita’s 966 and Sakayanagi’s 1201.

#### 2nd Year Volume 8

Honami entered an open-air bath and found Kushida and Horikita in it as well. She quickly stopped Horikita from leaving when the latter saw the former being uneasy of her presence. She decides to stay as Kushida asks whether Honami was dating anyone. The question made her panicked as Kushida elaborated that many boys from different classes have been asking if she's available. Kushida already knew the answer. Honami's heart was already for Kiyotaka, something she knew more than Honami's classmates. She adamantly refused that she was dating anyone but became more obvious after she hid her face when asked if she likes anyone. Honami then said many boys also asked for Kushida's availability, but she answered that it will only be a waste. Honami sympathises with her feelings of not wanting to be hurt. She was discomforted when the other two girls kept being on the verge of arguing. After being called away by her classmates, she tells them not to stay for too long as their feud ended.

Later in the night, Honami's classmates were trying to find her whereabouts who seemed to have disappeared. Kiyotaka joined the search, cutting his time with Sakayanagi short as Honami's presence was considered indispensable to him. Close to 9pm, Kiyotaka walked to the top as he saw her back out in the open platform. He asks her whether he could come over, which shocks her as she did not expect anyone to be around. He wanted to have a chat with her, to quell her classmates' anxiety, but the first question Honami asked was whether he has been talking with Mako Amikura. He affirmed the question, saying that since they were in the same group for the school trip, communication is often. After passing on the information that she has been found, he said that her classmates should be more relived now. Honami apologised and thanked him after she was told that the curfew was not broken and it was up to the individual if they wanted to come here as long as they went back by 9.

She kept silent after Kiyotaka mentions how everyone wants alone time sometimes and guessed he was in the way. At the coldness affected them both, he asked Honami for how long she had stayed. Initially saying 5 minutes, she backtracked saying it has been more like 30 to 40 minutes. It sounded more believable since any footprints has long been covered up. Just then, the snow stopped as he asks what she was here for. She rejected him slightly, saying she wished to be alone. He tells her frankly that he doesn’t feel like leaving her alone, saying that the current trend leads to danger. She thanks him for his concern but bought up Kei Karuizawa, saying she’ll be sad. Knowing Kei will misunderstand, Kiyotaka looked at Honami’s feeble figure and said that he’ll head back first. Honami thanks him and tells him to be careful, but that’s when the snow fell stronger.

He decides to stay and wait, sitting down on the steps. Honami asked emotionally why he is staying, saying she has nothing to do with her so he does not have to wait. Kiyotaka evaded with a who knows. After some silence, Honami softly invited him to chat. He said that he’s been waiting for her to ask, his bottom already freezing cold in the process. Honami first asked about his knowledge of the White Room. He played ignorance to which Honami accepts. She was worried since teachers were trying to expel him as she asks if he’s out of the woods now. He says that the matter was settled and no other details can be given. Possibly shocked or sadden she could not be relied on with the information, Kiyotaka switched topics so they would not have to dwell on it.

He confronts Honami, stating the person he knew would never shiver alone in the darkness. The person he knows would surround herself with friends and laughter, constantly encouraging one another. He rejected her lies that she was having fun, stating that her face conveyed her true emotions and it was the opposite of the purpose of the trip that revolves around fun. She asks if he was really waiting to which he affirms. She resigns and invites him to join her before his butt gets cold to which he hurriedly did, being grateful to her that his butt did not have to freeze further. They had at most 10 more minutes before being forced to return. She began with stating that with her methods, she would not win against any class anymore. Tears overflowed as Kiyotaka recited her old words of moving forward without hesitation in her old way. She remembers them but said that the results only shows the opposite. She wanted to be like Sakayanagi who could direct anyone, Ryuen who leads with strength, and Horikita who could gain their cooperation. He tells her that she could only be herself, aiming for something she does not have is frivolous. She remains stuck at his words, saying she does want things she could never get.

## References

*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Honami Ichinose's Everyday" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 1
*You-Zitsu* Anime — Episode 4
*You-Zitsu* Anime — Episode 6
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 2
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Oh, One Page of Youth!" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "The Circumstances of Honami Ichinose's Test" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 3
*You-Zitsu* Anime — Episode 10
*You-Zitsu* Anime — Episode 12
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "In the Cracks between Dream and Reality" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 4
*You-Zitsu* Anime — Episode 7
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Swimsuit Short Story: Honami Ichinose Chapter" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 4.5
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Sports Festival: Ichinose's Battle" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 5
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 6
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Honami Ichinose's Everyday 2" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 7
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 7.5
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Weariness of the Heart" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 8
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "The First Gift (Volume 9 SS)" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 9
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "A Small Being" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Apparent Difficulty" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Small Heartbeats" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 10
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 11
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — Volume 11.5
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "The Second Chapter is about to Begin" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Honami Ichinose’s Spring Vacation - The Final Day -" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — 2nd Year Volume 1
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — 2nd Year Volume 2
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "An Enjoyable Moment" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — 2nd Year Volume 3
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — "Something I Have to Tell You" Short Story
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — 2nd Year Volume 4
*You-Zitsu* Light Novel — 2nd Year Volume 4.5