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

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

it was

the people that had gathered in the

A threatening aura started exuding

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

followed their example

they were saying. My mind was preoccupied with other matters at the

specifically, regarding the

night, I decided to meet up with him in his room to discuss more on the

wasn't because I was too lazy or

book was filled with endless amounts

soap that he had bought

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

filled with useless stuff like that. This was why I

under the same roof had its perks. Within a

had this vision that I couldn't quite make out

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 that he knew regarding

was no concrete evidence, it was enough to convince me

confirmed that my

Monolith was indeed planning

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

had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on doing something big during the

information is good enough for

they were planning, this was

some time to work with. It

you all for coming. You

thoughts, Ebonie's

the room stood up. I too

minutes had passed since the beginning of the meeting, and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie satisfyingly

If we fail to win to get enough points in the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale.

Not long after, Mark and

"Ren, come here"

for me as she sat on a chair in

do you

without moving from my

to talk to you

rather stay as far away from you as

I shook my head.

previous experiences with Melissa, I wanted nothing more

my, am

her mouth with her hand,

I replied. "...yes

that she didn't misunderstand, I repeated

pair for god's sake. I'm

Melissa was

for the tournament, she wasn't actually

Ebonie had stated before, there was a technical

as well as the competitors and come up with a good plan for

case, Melissa was talking to me because she was part of the technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to talk to me about my upcoming

coming or

joking. What do

down,

"Here"

handing me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

the time that you need to beat in order to

you the confidence that

solemnly looked at the information displayed on

account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven off ten seconds off of her estimated

time Melissa was referring to, I

and

"Indeed."

nodded her head and

that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you can beat this score, there is a high possibility of you

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

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of my neck, I

a possibility of me

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

was always

I don't care if you can't do it or can do it. I'm just doing

put her hands in her pocket and

always. Do think about my previous

of course wasn't going to let her go like that.

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

smile appeared on

then how about you try the

with the label

a

made from her. Just something she got off the market as a

of my love into. Trust me.