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.

didn't seem to be

the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The

it was Mark

the people that had

don't disappoint during the battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we don't

Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly nodded

example and

cared about what they were saying. My mind was

specifically, regarding the

last night, I decided to meet up with him in his

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

was filled with endless amounts of jibberish that

and washed his body with the new soap that

of pages it had was scary. It

it was filled with useless stuff like that. This was why I just chose to directly ask

under the same roof had its perks. Within a minute I had already arrived at

how I had this vision

to get Kevin

a lot, or just because he was still immature due to his young age, after a bit of thought Kevin told me everything

there was no concrete evidence, it was enough to convince me

confirmed that my worries weren't

was indeed

that thing was going to without a doubt

from what I had gathered from Kevin, they were planning

information is good enough for

they were

to work with. It was enough time

for coming. You are

thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly

up. I too subconsciously followed the

beginning of the meeting, and after coming up with a

points in the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best

long after, Mark and Perry

"Ren, come here"

about to also leave, Melissa called out for me as she sat on a

What do you

moving

here, I need to talk to you about

as far

I shook my head.

with Melissa, I wanted nothing more than to be as far away from her

my, am I

mouth with her hand, Melissa

I replied.

sure that she didn't misunderstand,

for god's sake. I'm not doing

her tongue, Melissa was starting to

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

before, there was a

analyze the student's performances as well as the competitors and come up with a

was part of the technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to talk to me

coming

stop joking. What do you

back down, I gave in

"Here"

Melissa pointed towards a certain section

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

that you need to beat in

what gives you the confidence that this

at the information displayed on it.

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

time Melissa was referring to,

minute and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

nodded her head

this should be the target score that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you

in my direction. With a soft voice, she asked. "Can

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

of my neck, I

went all out, then there was a possibility of me beating this score, but I wasn't

in beating the score, I wasn't arrogant to the point

actually won, it was always

I don't care if you can't do it or can

her pocket and left. From the looks of it, she didn't want to stay

think about my previous advice about drinking hot

of course wasn't going to let her go like that. I needed to have the last

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

around, a sweet smile appeared on

try the new

with

made a

me it wasn't even made from her. Just something she got off the market as a

personally poured all of my love into. Trust