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.

so, she didn't seem to

the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The first and second years need to hold

it was Mark who

the people that had gathered in

started exuding

Mark's glare, everyone in the room

example and nodded my

what they were saying. My mind was preoccupied

specifically, regarding the

with him in his room to discuss more on

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 long for me at the

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

body with the new soap that he had bought

remained the same size, the number of pages it had was scary. It probably numbered in the thousands by

useless stuff like that. This was why

its perks. Within a minute

his room and started spouting nonstop bullshit about how I had this vision that

managed to get Kevin to spill

to his

no concrete evidence, it was enough to convince me

talk pretty much confirmed that

was indeed planning something

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

what I had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on doing something big during the battle royale event next

good enough

they were

to work with. It was enough time

for

was preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly

I too subconsciously followed the other's

of the meeting, and after coming up with a

battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best till then. I

long after, Mark and Perry also

"Ren, come here"

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

do you

without moving

I need to talk to you about your game

rather stay as far away from you as

I shook my head.

with Melissa, I wanted nothing more than to be

am I that

with

I replied. "...yes

didn't misunderstand, I

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

her tongue, Melissa was starting to

the tournament, she wasn't

had stated before,

performances as well as the competitors and come up

of the technical team. In

you coming

joking. What

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

"Here"

handing me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

you need to beat in order to secure

gives you the confidence that this is the

the information displayed on it. By

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

time Melissa was referring to, I softly

minute and

"Indeed."

nodded her head and

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

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

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

the side of my neck, I

a possibility of me beating this score,

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

won, it was always best to remain a little bit

can't do it or can do it.

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

my previous advice

to let her go

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

around, a sweet smile

how about you try the

with the label from W.V.

a

wasn't even made from her. Just

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