Fated to Meet(COTE X Tomodachi Game)

Chapter 25: The Two behind it all

(Ayanokoji POV)

It all started with a text message I received the day the exam was announced.
Me and Katagiri had planned a little at the Coffee shop after we talked to Kushida, but I wasn't exactly planning on doing something that would make me stand out.

I agreed to do this though, and I offered my own insights for what could be done for us to win the exam.
Why?
Mainly because Katagiri had asked directly for my help. I would deny him, but he promised that he would take credit for everything.

Hearing that, I had no reason to refuse.
He told me a plan, and I helped improve anything I felt was off.

Frankly, the plan he told me could be considered 'evil' in every sense.
You couldn't even count on your fingers how many people have been used.
I'm sure right now, some people are even crying.

I am currently sitting in the sold student room, awaiting to be bought back.

As the ship blew a horn, I thought back to the text I received.
—
I think we should begin with a letter in the lockers downstairs.

We had spoken about creating conflict between Class B and Class C, but we hadn't spoken about how.

What should the letter say?

Despite already knowing based on Katagiri's previous movements, I decided to play dumb.
Why?
At this point, I didn't even know.

A few minutes went by with no message back, I was watching TV when my phone pinged.

Shiho and Ichinose are lesbians.

The plan with this, was to make it look like Ryuuen or someone of Class C wrote this note.
It would work, because Ryuuen had been previously making fun of Ichinose and Shiho earlier.
Putting those thoughts aside, I began to write letters.
—
(Pool Day)

On the day we went to the pool, Katagiri made another movement.
He had set a trap for Kushida, and caught her talking to Ryuuen.
He took a picture, and showed the evidence to Horikita when we sold Kushida.

Not only had we got the traitor out of our group and got money from it, we also pulled the rug out from under Ryuuen during the day one gamble.
—
(The day we arrived on the ship.)

On the first day of the ship, Yuuichi told Hirata something.
He told him to tell every team captain in class D to sell everyone in their group on the second day.

Hirata was skeptical at first, but I did my part, and convinced him otherwise.

I thought I felt bad manipulating Hirata, but Yuuichi said he would take credit, so hatred would probably go towards him if things went south.

The last thing to do on the day we arrived, was to make contact Shiho, and establish trust.
Trust that would be shattered on the second day.
—
(First day of the exam)

On the first day of the exam, we saw our planted letter, working like a charm. Class C and Class B were at each others necks, while Class D mainly stayed in the background, playing mainly against Class B.
We won around half of those games, but it didn't really matter anyway. We could have lost them all, and still have won the exam.

We also sold Kushida for a lot of points, and Chiaki, who would of course make her grand return later on.
We sold her mainly to get information on Class A for the second day.

Horikita then gambled against Ryuuen and Kei, taking a second place medal, and losing half our points.
It still didn't matter though.
This is also where Horikita realized she was being used, and, for one reason or another, agreed to it.