Classroom of the Strongest Assassin

Manabe Shiho's words carried a sharp edge, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

Even Kure Ragna, who had been lounging with his legs crossed and arms draped over the back of his chair, lifted his head slightly.

"Uh… what's going on?"

Kei Karuizawa, though in better spirits than the past few days, still carried a hint of gloom. She was clearly caught off guard by being called out so suddenly and seemed momentarily lost.

"There's something I need to confirm with you," Manabe Shiho said slowly, locking eyes with her.

"Of course, if I'm mistaken, I'll apologize. But… Karuizawa-san, did you have some kind of conflict with Ichida before summer break?"

"Ichi—who?"

Karuizawa frowned, clearly puzzled.

She wasn't the best at lying—unlike Kushida Kikyo, whose acting skills were nearly flawless. And judging by her reaction, it seemed like she genuinely didn't recognize the name.

But Manabe Shiho remained unfazed, pressing forward step by step.

"She's a girl in our class. Wears glasses. Ring any bells?"

"...I don't know her. You must have the wrong person."

Karuizawa still looked clueless. Rolling her eyes in irritation, she casually pulled out her phone and started scrolling, as if she had lost interest in the conversation entirely.

But the next sentence out of Manabe Shiho's mouth made her pause ever so slightly.

"That doesn't add up. Mei, Shizu, and I all heard her say it herself. She claimed that a girl named Karuizawa from Class B shoved her out of line at a coffee shop and sent her flying."

"Sent her flying…?"

Kure Ragna, unaware of this incident, couldn't help but chuckle at the exaggerated description.

He turned slightly, tilting his head as if to size Karuizawa up from a different angle.

Damn, I didn't know you were a wrestler.

"It has nothing to do with me. I don't know what you're talking about. And even if I did, what's it to you?" Karuizawa's tone sharpened as she suddenly grew defensive.

But if she thought that would intimidate Manabe Shiho, she was mistaken.

Shiho had spent enough time under Ryuuen's rule to be unfazed by something as minor as this. After just a few exchanges, she seemed to have gauged Karuizawa's temperament and relaxed slightly.

"I just wanted to confirm. If it's true, I think an apology is in order. Ichida is the type to suffer in silence, so as her friends, it's only right that we stand up for her."

Karuizawa said nothing.

Manabe Shiho shook her head, pulling out her phone.

"Let's do this—I'll take a picture and ask her to confirm. If I was wrong, I'll apologize to you right here and now—"

Before she could finish, Karuizawa's expression changed, and in a flash, she swung her hand to slap the phone out of Shiho's grasp.

Smack!

The attempt was stopped midair.

A strong hand caught Karuizawa's wrist effortlessly—like a steel clamp.

"Alright, alright—let's cool it here."

Kure Ragna's voice came from a slightly different angle than before.

At some point, he had gotten up from his seat. With his free hand, he casually placed four fingers in front of Manabe Shiho's phone camera, blocking the shot.

"Let me go!"

Karuizawa struggled, trying to yank her wrist free. But against Kure Ragna's grip, she might as well have been pulling against iron. He didn't budge an inch.

"You…"

Manabe Shiho seemed startled for a moment before regaining her composure. Her tone was surprisingly sincere.

"We just wanted to confirm if Karuizawa was the one involved. There's no ill intent here."

"I get it," Kure Ragna smiled. "But right now, we're supposed to be discussing the special exam. Personal disputes can wait. No need to rush."

"Hmm…"

"Here." He handed her a slip of paper. "That's my number. If you still want to talk about this later, just send me a message. Two days should be enough time."

Manabe Shiho considered for a moment, then nodded. This temporary truce was enough for now.

Karuizawa, on the other hand, yanked her hand away the moment Ragna loosened his grip, shaking it in frustration.

Regardless, the situation had been defused before things could escalate further.

"Alright then," Ichinose Honami clapped her hands lightly, standing up with her usual gentle smile. "Before we start our discussion, I'd like to ask everyone something."

She glanced around the room.

"If we assume that none of us are the preferential student, what do you think is the best outcome for this exam?"

"What? Isn't it obvious?"

Having loosened up after the earlier argument, Karuizawa answered without hesitation.

Ending with Result 1 was, of course, the best-case scenario—everyone in the group would earn 50 personal points, and the preferential student would receive the full 100 million.

But that only worked under the assumption that no one would betray the agreement after learning who the preferential student was.

After all, while both Result 1 and Result 3 awarded 50 personal points, the latter also granted an additional 50 class points.

And class points were far harder to obtain than personal points.

For anyone aiming for Class A, those 50 class points would be tempting.

"In theory, Result 1 is the most optimal choice," Yukimura Teruhiko adjusted his glasses.

"Then let me add something," Hideo Sotomura said, patting his round belly.

"I want points too, so I'll cooperate… that is, if I'm really a 'non-preferential' student."

"Huh?"

His wording immediately put everyone on edge.

Ichinose blinked.

"Kure Ragna… what exactly does he mean by that?"

"No, no, you've got it all wrong," Sotomura waved his hands.

"Actually, neither Yukimura, Karuizawa, nor I know our identities yet. Our phones have been with Kure Ragna since last night. We haven't checked our text messages at all."

"Wait…"

Ichinose's gaze drifted toward Kure Ragna.

"Then that means you're the only one who knows which student in Class B is the preferential one?"

"Nope," Kure Ragna rejected the notion instantly.

The grin on his face sent a wave of unease through the room.

"I deleted the school's text message without even reading it. So, unless our group's preferential student happens to be in one of your A, C, or D classes…"

He leaned back.

"Nobody knows who the preferential student is anymore."

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