Light pov:
It now had been a day since the island exam had fully concluded. All of the results had already reached me, courtesy of Karuizawa. As expected, Ryuen was proving to be increasingly useless as a leader. His downfall was becoming more inevitable. Ideally, expelling him would be the best course of action, but if properly guided, he could still serve a purpose because of his assets.
Karuizawa held up a dress, pressing it against herself. "Do you think I'd look good in this?"
"Of course," I replied smoothly. "But for now, I'd like to focus on what I actually came here for."
I had originally ventured to the store to pick up a "Get Well Soon" card for Ibuki. The plan was to gather signatures from a few classmates before she woke up. Of course, I had to coincidentally run into Karuizawa along the way who was out dress shopping I can only imagine.
As I walked toward the card aisle, she trailed behind me. I scanned through the selection when her voice, barely above a whisper, broke the silence.
"A card, huh?" She paused before speaking more clearly. "Who's it for?"
"It's for Ibuki," I answered, still browsing through the options looking for something that suited the occasion.
A beat of silence. Then, with a hint of something that seemed to be jealousy perhaps, she added, "And why's that?"
I let out a quiet chuckle, which only seemed to irritate her more. "She fell ill. I figured it'd be nice to get her a card, even though she'll probably dislike it."
Karuizawa composed herself, nodding slightly. "I see." She scanned the cards for a moment before pointing at one. "If it were me, I'd like something like that."
It was over-the-top and obnoxiously pink. This was the complete opposite type of thing for Ibuki, she wasn't into things like that. Instead, I scanned over the cards again and ended up selecting a simple blue card. It matched her hair, and more importantly, it already had the message I was looking for.
After paying, I stepped out of the store, intent on heading to Ibuki. Separating from Karuizawa would be ideal, but before I could take another step, she grabbed onto me.
"You okay?" I asked, noting how she instinctively used me as a shield.
She didn't answer, so I followed her gaze.
In the distance stood Ayanokoji and Horikita. Ah.
According to Karuizawa, Ayanokoji had supposedly stolen her underwear back on the island. I hadn't pegged him as the type, but maybe he was just one of them.
"Well, I'd love to stay, but I have signatures to collect," I said, using their brief disappearance into the crowd as my cue to leave.
Karuizawa hesitated but didn't follow. Good.
After making my rounds and gathering a few signatures, mainly from those Ibuki hadn't completely alienated, I made my way to the nurse's office.
Stopping at the door, I knocked once. No response. Well, the nurse had told me I could visit anytime, so I let myself in.
Inside, Ibuki was already awake, sitting upright in bed. Her expression softened for a fraction of a second before shifting to its usual irritation though, notably, with less intensity than usual.
"Someone's finally up," I remarked in a light, teasing tone, pulling up a chair beside her bed.
She averted her gaze. "What do you want?" she muttered bluntly.
"I came to check on you," I said casually, then added, "Plus, I figured you'd want to know the results."
That obviously got her attention. She eyed me expectantly not wanting to wait.
"From what I was told, Class B took first, Class A second, Class D third..." I paused slightly before continuing, "an our Class C placed dead last."
Ibuki's eyes widened slightly. No doubt, my words from yesterday were beginning to resurface in her mind becoming bigger.
"Class C earned exactly zero points," I continued. "Not to mention, Class B has now become the new Class A, and vice versa."
She didn't react immediately, but I could tell the weight of reality was sinking in. To her, Ryuen's plan had probably seemed flawless. If only.
Reaching into my bag, I pulled out the card and handed it to her.
She took it, giving it a quick glance before setting it aside. Not unexpected. A brief silence settled between us, one that was promptly broken by an announcement echoing through the speakers.
"Could all students on the cruise ship please make their way to the main lounge area? I repeat, could all students on the cruise ship make their way to the main lounge area."
I stood up to leave, and to my mild surprise, so did Ibuki.
Well, tried to, at least.
She was clearly still weak, her body not fully recovered.
"Ibuki, you should rest. This probably isn't anything important," I told her, glancing back.
She shook her head stubbornly. "We both know that's unlikely. I'm going. That's final."
I sighed, though it was more for show than anything. "I suppose I can't stop you."
As she took a step forward, her body wavered slightly.
Her pride was still intact, that much was clear but her body wasn't.
"At least take my arm," I offered.
Predictably, she refused.
I matched my pace with hers as she steadied herself against the wall, her energy already depleting. The hallways were mostly empty now, meaning we'd likely be among the last to arrive.
Lelouch pov:
Four distinct lines formed, each one representing a different class. At the front of each line stood the respective homeroom teacher, silent, their presence alone maintaining order. The only sounds in the room came from the murmurs of students, sharing quiet speculation amongst themselves.
A brief headcount revealed that everyone was present, besides two missing students from Class C. Their absence was short lived, however, as they soon arrived in unison. The moment they stepped in, Mashima, the homeroom teacher of Class B, took the lead.
"Now that it seems everyone is here, please follow your homeroom teacher to your designated area," he instructed before turning on his heel and leading Class B away. The other teachers then followed suit but going in different directions without further explanation.
Hoshinomiya gestured for us to follow, guiding us through a silent but short lived three minute walk. It wasn't long before we stopped in front of a door. Without a word, she opened it and motioned for us to enter before stepping aside.
The room itself was bare, just a set of chairs and a massive monitor mounted at the front. As I turned to gauge our teacher's expression for any further insight, I realized she had already disappeared.
"Odd," I muttered under my breath as I took a seat. Kanzaki followed, settling into the chair beside me.
"Could it be possible the school is already testing us again so soon?" he asked in a hushed voice, careful not to draw unnecessary attention.
I gave a slow nod. "Most likely. Unless the school has something else in mind, another exam seems plausible. The island exam pulled most students into a sense of security. A back-to-back challenge would be unexpected, making it the perfect time to surprise the students with another one."
Kanzaki considered this for a moment. "Well, we can only hope this one is a little more relaxed."
Before our conversation could continue, the monitor at the front of the room flickered to life, displaying the faces of all homeroom teachers. Mashima stood at the forefront.
"I hope you are all settled in," he began, his steady tone as he drew the room's attention. "I know most of you have questions, and in due time, everything will be explained. Some of you may have already suspected it, but I am here to confirm, the start of a new exam has begun."
A murmur rippled through the students. I had my suspicions, but this solidified them. The way he deliberately paused suggested he wanted the weight of his words to fully sink in before continuing.
"This is called the Apex Exam. Each class must select three students to be designated as top-tier participants. On the desk beneath the monitor, you will find a phone. When instructed, send a message containing the names of the three students you wish to represent your class as the top-tiers."
He paused again, allowing us time to locate the device and acknowledge its presence.
"Once the message has been sent, thirty students from each class will then be randomly selected to form the bottom tier."
"Three and thirty, huh?" I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. Kanzaki, however, caught it and turned to me.
"Did you say something?"
I nodded slightly. "Think about it. There are four classes. If we exclude ourselves, we're facing three others. Most likely, each of the top-tier participants will be pitted against a counterpart from another class. As for the thirty... my guess is that ten will face Class D, ten will face Class C, and ten will face the new Class B."
Mashima continued before Kanzaki could respond. "Once all participants have been sorted, a draw will be conducted to determine matchups for the bottom tier. Each match will be one-on-one, with a random game assigned at the moment of the match. Bottom-tier games begin tomorrow, and each student will receive their designated time slot via a text message. A victory will earn your class five points, while a loss will deduct five. However, some matches will have special conditions where the stakes are higher, meaning the possibility of gaining or losing additional points."
He gave another deliberate pause, ensuring the people could fully process the rules for the bottom-tiers.
"As for the top-tier participants, once chosen, they cannot be part of the bottom tier. The stakes for these matches are far higher, winning a top-tier match will earn your class up to fifty points, while a loss will cost your class to lose twenty-five. Another notable difference is that all top-tier matches will be broadcasted live in the main lounge area only for anyone interested in watching. The nature of these games will be unknown until the match begins."
The room filled with hushed conversations as students processed the information. The idea of having their matches broadcasted alone was enough to deter many from considering being a participant for the top-tier.
"You may now send in your three top-tier representatives via the phone. You have a twenty-minute deadline. If no decision is made in time, the selection for the participants will be random."
A brief silence hung in the air before Ichinose stepped forward, retrieving the phone. "Does anyone want to volunteer as a top-tier participant?"
The answer was obvious. I raised my hand without hesitation. "Let's not overcomplicate this. It should be me, Kanzaki, and you."
"I agree," Kanzaki said instantly.
The rest of the class took a moment to consider before eventually nodding in agreement. The pressure of being watched on live TV in front of the other students was enough to dissuade most. That, coupled with the high stakes of each match, ensured little resistance.
With no objections, Ichinose input the names and sent the message. She then took a seat beside us as conversations sparked around the room, some students hoping they wouldn't be picked for the bottom tier even though only a couple wouldn't, while others were already preparing for the possibility.
Kanzaki crossed his arms, breaking the silence between us. "If Lelouch is right, and each of us is up against a different class's top-tier, then we should narrow down who we might be facing."
I nodded, pondering the matchups. "Class B will almost certainly choose Katsuragi. Beyond that, it's harder to say, but he'll likely pick people within his faction. Class C will undoubtedly have Ryuen, he'll want redemption. They may also pick Light due to his popularity, though Ryuen might oppose that. As for Class D, Horikita is the most obvious choice, as she too will want to redeem herself."
A pattern was forming, though the secondary choices remained unclear. We discussed a little more about possibilities before the monitor let out a chime, signaling Mashima's return.
"It seems all top-tier selections have been submitted. However, they will not be revealed until tomorrow, following the final bottom-tier match."
The screen now displayed four labeled pots, each marked A through D, signaling the upcoming draws.
"Though before we draw the matches, first we must announce the randomly selected students," Mashima stated before listing them all.
Most classes would only be missing seven participants in this event. As he went over the names, none particularly caught my attention as Class A and B were as expected, and Class C had no surprises. However, Class D had Ayanokoji's name called out, confirming that he was in the bottom tier. It was a shame he didn't aim for the top, but who was I to judge?
"With all the students now determined, it's time for the draw. Since each class has thirty members in the bottom tier, every class will compete against each other ten times. We will start with Class A, who will draw a member from Class B, then Class C, then Class D, and so on in that cycle until all Class A participants are assigned. We will then move to the remaining members of Class B, drawing from Class C, then D, and repeating until every name has been paired."
So, I was right in my assumption. This format ensured fairness, no class would be forced into only facing one particular group.
Hoshinomiya stepped up to her bowl, drawing a small piece of paper before revealing the name, "Amikura."
Mashima followed suit, pulling out the name "Machida."
This process continued for a while before a particularly interesting match surfaced near the end, Shiina from Class C was drawn, followed by Ayanokoji from Class D.
With all the matches finalized, they briefly reviewed everything once again, adding that the top-tier draw would take place at 8 PM tomorrow in the main lounge. The top-tier games would commence in two days, while bottom-tier participants would receive their match locations and times at 8 AM the next morning.
As the monitor powered down, conversations erupted around the room. Ichinose was the first to speak in our small group.
"Well, it would be safe to assume Light will be a top-tier participant for Class C."
"Same with Hirata from Class D," I added.
There was a chance they hadn't been chosen for the lower tier, but given their influence in their respective classes, it seemed highly unlikely.
"Well, it's not like we can form any real strategies just yet," I said with a small sigh. "After the lower-tier games, we'll have a clearer picture on how the games might work, but for now, there's nothing to go on."
Kanzaki nodded in agreement. "In this case, we also don't know our direct opponents yet. But speaking of that, we have to hope we can avoid someone like Ryuen."
He had a point. Depending on the game, Ryuen could be a problem for them. For me, I wasn't particularly worried about anyone.
"If given the chance, I'd like to play against someone from Class B," I stated.
"Someone's confident," Ichinose teased in her usual playful tone.
"If I can beat one of them, that's a seventy-five point swing. They lose twenty-five points for the loss, and we gain fifty for the win."
With that, I stood up. "Well, there's not much left to discuss, so I'll take my leave."
Ichinose gave me a casual wave goodbye as I exited the room. The exam's structure seemed simple enough. Objectively, Class B had the advantage—if not for the internal division within their ranks, which could hold them back. However, I was certain some of them wouldn't purposely throw, even if they supported the opposing faction as I'm sure they would like to be only just behind class A on points at worse.
As I approached my personal room, I noticed someone leaning casually against my door, eyes closed, as if waiting for me.
"Ayanokoji, is there a reason you're standing outside my door?" I asked, stopping a few feet away.
His eyes opened, and he pushed off the doorframe with an almost lazy movement. "This is your room, huh? I didn't notice."
I lightly let out a small sigh, shaking my head. "What an odd coincidence." Then, cutting through the pleasantries, I continued, "Though I suppose the real reason you're here is to understand how I managed to guess you as the leader of Class D."
His gaze remained unreadable, those sharp yet detached eyes giving nothing away. Silence stretched between us before he finally spoke. "I have an idea of what happened, but it's better to hear it firsthand."
"Well, it was a combination of deduction, probability, and a little bit of luck." I paused for a moment. "The whole case with Sudo and the way Ichinose started praising you was enough to make me suspicious, but I put it aside at first. Then, I received a warning, a subtle one at that, but one that made me pay closer attention. When I learned about what happened on the island, i wondered why was you was targeted, so as my mind wondered i decided to test something and made you a true threat. What's something a person hiding in the shadows would do?"
I watched his expression closely, but there was no change. As expected.
"The key moment was when Ryuen revealed Horikita's key card. Class D had to make a move, but what exactly? So, I reread the guide we were given and thought about what I would do in your position. If the goal was to ensure the real leader remained hidden, then the logical approach would be a misdirection. That's when I realized our strategies were more alike than I initially thought, because Ryuen didn't particularly made himself hidden. I'm confident you saw him and did nothing to stop him."
I allowed myself a small smirk before continuing. "I had Kanzaki drop out at the last possible moment and had a random selection determine who held the key card in the end. That made it nearly impossible for anyone to guess correctly. When I thought about Class D, I suspected you might have done something similar, except in your case, you were the unknown variable. You, someone inconspicuous, who no one would think to suspect. It was risky, but I had no doubt I was right. Ironically, your efforts to stay hidden only made you stand out more in my eyes."
Ayanokoji closed his eyes briefly, as if processing the information. "I see."
I stepped toward my door but stopped just before entering. Placing a hand on his shoulder, I leaned in slightly. "Your plan was good, no doubt. But it had one flaw."
He didn't react, waiting for me to continue.
"That flaw was me."
I gave his shoulder a small squeeze before walking past him into my room. The door shut behind me as I told him only the thing i wanted to tell him. Even after all this, Class A and D would remain allies, for now. The only person who truly knew everything was Ayanokoji himself. As for the rest of my class, they would likely assume we had guessed Class A and Class C's leaders. It was a safe assumption since Class A lost points as a result, but the real truth was still buried under layers of deception. For now, that's was how it would remain as ayanokoji wouldn't reveal himself just yet.
Ayanokoji POV:
**The Next Day**
I checked my phone one last time before looking up at the door in front of me, confirming that I was in the right place. The time on the screen read 2:14 PM, one minute before the game was scheduled to begin. Without hesitation, I stepped inside.
The room carried a minimalistic elegance, furnished with just the essentials. At the center of it, Hiyori Shiina sat calmly in her chair. She looked at ease, her eyes trailing the covered object in front of her. Another seat awaited me directly opposite hers. However, before I could take my place, the administrator's voice cut through the silence.
"Please pass me all belongings you have on you."
I complied without protest, handing over my phone and room key. After a brief pat-down from the waist down to ensure I had nothing else on me, he gestured toward my seat. I took it, and silence filled the air for several moments until the clock struck 2:15 PM.
"With both participants present, the game will now commence."
At his words, the administrator removed the sheet, unveiling a roulette table.
"The game is called Special Roulette. Each of you will receive a roulette chip at the start of every round. Once the ball leaves my hand, you will have exactly three seconds to place your chip on any number between one and thirty-six. The first to correctly predict the winning number wins the game."
He paused, making sure we understood before continuing.
"If neither of you predict correctly, the number that the ball lands on will be eliminated from future rounds. This process will continue until one of you guesses the correct number. However, you cannot place your chips on the same number, if you attempt to do so, only the first person to place their chip will be eligible for victory."
His hand then reached under the table, producing a golden chip, different from our standard red ones.
"As the name suggests, this game has a special rule. Either of you may choose to use this golden chip at any time. However, there is a risk involved." He placed the chip directly in between us. "If you guess correctly with the golden chip, your class will gain twenty points, and as per usual, the loser will only lose five. However the golden chip can only be used once and the game will end after it's been used no matter what round you use it on. If you guess incorrectly with the golden chip, your class will lose fifteen points, and your opponent's class will gain ten points."
He took a step back and moved back to the roulette wheel, allowing his words to sink in.
"Lastly, if one of you wins with a normal chip while the other loses with the golden chip, only the golden chip penalties and rewards will be applied. Your normal chip victory will not count for any extra points."
It was a high-risk, high-reward situation. Given the state of our respective class standings, the golden chip would likely come into play sooner rather than later. With numbers being eliminated every round, the game was structured to push players toward using it as late as possible.
"So now that the rules have been explained, the game will begin."
As soon as he finished speaking, both Hiyori and I picked up our red chips. The administrator released the ball into the spinning roulette wheel, and we placed our chips within the three-second window.
I chose 16, while Hiyori placed hers on 21. The ball slowed, bouncing several times before settling.
"The winning number is 33. No one has won this round."
The administrator reached beneath the table and retrieved a small wooden block, carefully placing it over 33. From this point onward, if the ball landed there, it would be forced to deflect toward an adjacent number. A subtle but significant factor that could alter the trajectory of the game.
"Next round begins now."
This time, as he released the ball, I noticed he applied more force to it than before, making it spin faster. Regardless, we placed our chips again. I went for 13; Hiyori chose 3.
"The winning number is 6. No winner."
Another block was placed on the board.
"Third round begins now."
Once again, the ball was released, this time without additional force. I placed my chip on 36, while Hiyori chose 19. The ball bounced erratically before settling.
"The winning number is 28. No winner."
Another number was removed from play. The board was slowly narrowing down.
"Fourth round begins now."
The administrator spun the ball again, this time applying no push like round one and three. I placed my chip on 10, while Hiyori chose 22. The ball landed, deciding the result.
"The winning number is 11. No winner."
Another number vanished, further limiting our options.
The rounds continued, numbers gradually disappearing: 18, 14, 35, 2, and 20. The administrator alternated between pushing the ball with force and releasing it naturally, adding an unpredictable element to the game. By the tenth round, nearly a third of the board was covered.
"Time for round number ten."
This time, I noticed Hiyori's hand hover over the golden chip for a brief moment before she hesitated and placed her normal chip instead. She had picked up on it too.
"The winning number is 21. No winner."
Something changed. This time, the ball had initially been headed for 20, but the wooden block altered its course, bouncing it into 21 instead. The realization had now fully solidified my earlier suspicions. The game was rigged in a way.
"Round eleven begins now."
As he let go of the ball with no push, I acted without hesitation, reaching for the golden chip and placing it down.
A flicker of surprise crossed Hiyori's face, but she quickly placed her normal chip on the number next to mine. The ball spun, each rotation feeling longer than the last until it finally dropped.
"The winning number is 26."
The administrator approached the table, verifying the result before turning to us.
"It seems we have a winner," he said with a slight pause before continuing, "The winner of Special Roulett. Is Kiyotaka Ayanokoji."
***
How do we feel about the format of the original exam? I wanted something that wasn't overly complicated but still fit something that would fit the style of the exams.
(I also suck at names, if you've got any better names for the exam it let me know.)
Also out of curiosity, what matchups would you want to see? I know I haven't said who exactly the top-tiers are, but it's fairly obvious who most of them would be.