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.

to be

It isn't right if the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up.

it was Mark who started

all of the

during the battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we don't go down in history as the worst team to have

to Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly nodded

followed their example and nodded

they were saying. My mind

regarding

to meet up with him in his room

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

book was filled with endless

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

the same size, the number of pages it had was scary. It

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

Within a minute

had this vision that I

managed to get Kevin

was still immature due to his

to

that my

indeed

to make matters worse, that thing was going to without a

they were planning on doing something big during

is good enough for

I wasn't yet sure about what they were planning, this

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

all for

preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly resounded across the

room stood up. I too

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

in the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best till then. I will not let the technical staff brief some individuals on their upcoming games. Good

long after, Mark and Perry also left. Behind them

"Ren, come here"

also leave, Melissa called out for me as

do

replied without moving from my

talk to you about your game that is coming up

far away

I shook my head.

experiences with Melissa, I wanted nothing more than to

am I that

with her

I replied.

make sure that she didn't

pair for god's sake. I'm not doing this because

tongue, Melissa was starting

for the tournament, she wasn't actually

had stated before, there was

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

because she was part of the technical team. In all likelihood, she

coming

joking. What do

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

"Here"

handing me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section of

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

is the time that you need to beat in order to secure first

what gives you the confidence that this

information displayed on

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

at the time Melissa was referring to, I softly

and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

nodded her head and

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

felt Melissa's stare directed in my direction. With

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of my neck,

there was a possibility of me beating this score, but

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

I actually won, it was always best to

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

pocket

think about my previous advice about

course wasn't going to let her go like

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

a sweet smile appeared

about you try

one that comes with

a meaningful

wasn't even made from her. Just something she got off

all of my love into.