The Author's POV

'”Bang!

The blaring sound of a table being pounded resounded across the room. Following this, an enraged roar echoed across the room.

"This is bullshit!"

Perry stood up.

"I shouldn't be responsible for our school's lackluster performances!"

"That's not the point"

Sitting next to Perry, Ebonie shouted back. Her voice contained all of the frustration she held back for the past week.

"I've repeatedly warned you about this at the beginning of the week yet none of you listened to me!"

Turning around, Ebonie pointed at the TV screen where the rankings were shown and once again raised her voice.

"Now, look! We're only fifty points ahead of Theodora academy who should've been two hundred points behind according to the initial forecast. Whose fault is it other than yours for this?"

「Rankings」 - 「Points」

Lock Academy - 11,089

Theodora Academy - 11,039

Lutwik Academy - 10,785

Vellon Academy - 10,467

SilverWing Academy - 9,803

Kukz Academy - 9,732

DeathSigil Academy – 9,311

Dusk of Dawn Academy - 8,953

Everlight Academy -8,824

PridedHorses Academy - 8,645

"What the fuc'”"

"Rather than voicing out your complaints, let's talk about the possible solutions to this problem."

Cutting Perry off before he could swear, was Mark. Compared to the first meeting, his face looked a lot more serious. He was no longer treating this as a joke.

He knew just how serious their current predicament was.

"...Right"

Finally, calming down a bit, Ebonie stood up. Biting her lower lip, she looked at everyone that had gathered in the room.

"From what I've gathered, in order for us to win, all we need is four first-years to win their respective games, followed by two by the second years."

Pausing, Ebonie took out a tablet. Tapping on the screen on the tablet, the TV screen behind her changed.

"If they somehow can achieve this, we should be able to widen the gap with Theodora Academy. If we can't achieve that then we have no choice but to..."

Ebonie paused.

"No choice but to...?"

Perry asked as he too seemed to have also calmed down from the previous outburst.

"Win one of the battle royale games..."

"..."

At her words, the room instantly became quiet.

If there was one game that no one could guarantee first place spot, it would be the battle royale game.

The reason was simple.

There was no rule that stated that the other academies couldn't form alliances with one another.

As a result of this rule, every year the Lock and the other larger academies would end up fighting at a numerical disadvantage. Making it much harder for them to win first place.

It was also because of this that the points awarded to the academies upon winning the game were much higher than singular games.

If two academies were neck and neck with each other in terms of points, they'd need to be able to win the battle royale in order to widen the gap.

"That shouldn't be a problem."

The first to speak up was Perry. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Since we're already guaranteed first place in our battle royale, we don't really have to worry too much about it."

"That's easier said than done..."

Ebonie replied as she put her tablet down. From the way that she didn't deny Perry's statement, it seemed as though she agreed with him about the fact that the third year will win their battle royale.

seem to be completely

ones

it was

around, Mark looked at all of the people that had gathered

A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I

Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly

example and nodded my

they were saying. My mind

specifically, regarding

to meet up with him in his room to discuss more

the book with me, I honestly preferred to just ask Kevin. It wasn't because I was too lazy or anything like that,

that happened to Kevin, the book was filled with endless amounts of jibberish that I

of his shower and washed his body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday at the convenience store...''”Now why would

pages it had was scary. It probably numbered in the thousands by

filled with useless stuff like that. This was why I

same roof had its perks. Within a minute I had already

room and started spouting nonstop bullshit about how I had this vision that I couldn't quite make out about the

to get Kevin

to his young age, after a bit of thought Kevin told me everything that he

enough to convince me that something

confirmed that my worries weren't for

Monolith was indeed planning something

matters worse, that thing was going

what I had gathered from Kevin, they were

is good

sure about what they were planning,

least knew that I had some time to work with. It was enough time for me to

all for

with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly

up. I

of the meeting, and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie satisfyingly stood up and dismissed everyone from the

battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best till then. I will not let the technical

the waiting room. Not long after, Mark and Perry also left.

"Ren, come here"

to also leave, Melissa called out for me as she sat on a chair in the corner of the

What do you

replied without moving from

come here, I need to talk to you

rather stay as far away from you

I shook my head.

previous experiences with Melissa, I wanted nothing more than to be as far away

my, am

with her

replied. "...yes

make sure that she didn't misunderstand, I repeated

grow a pair for god's sake. I'm

Melissa was starting

a contestant for the tournament, she wasn't actually participating

Ebonie had stated before,

role was to analyze the student's performances as well as the competitors and come up with a good plan

she was part of the technical team. In all

coming or

joking. What do you

when to push and when to back down, I gave in and

"Here"

me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

need to beat in order to secure

you the confidence that this is the

information

made a rough estimate of her final score. Taking into account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven off ten

Melissa was referring to,

minute and

"Indeed."

her head

data from each game, this should be the target score that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you can beat this score, there is a high possibility of you getting first

direction. With a soft voice, she asked. "Can you

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of my neck,

out, then there was a possibility of me beating this

I wasn't arrogant to the point that I would think that my

was always best to remain a little bit

you can't do it or can do it. I'm just doing my

hand, Melissa put her hands in her pocket

my previous advice about drinking hot

her go like that. I needed to have the

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

around, a sweet smile appeared

try

that comes with the label from

a meaningful

even made

my love into. Trust me. You're going to enjoy