dictatorkoji

The Calm Before the Strategy

The atmosphere was tense as the students gathered to discuss their next steps. They had just been informed of the exam's rules and regulations, which laid bare the reality that this supposed vacation was a grueling test of endurance and strategy. Some students were still in disbelief, while others were more pragmatic, already thinking about how to secure the basic necessities for survival.

The debate over how to allocate their points started to grow heated, especially when it came to the issue of sanitation. Shinohara was the first to voice her concerns, her frustration clear in her voice. "Are we seriously expected to just bathe in rivers and use some makeshift toilet? This isn't a camping trip; it's an exam! We should be spending points on proper facilities, or we'll all end up sick!"

Her outburst set off a chain reaction among the girls, who quickly joined in to express similar concerns. The boys, on the other hand, seemed less concerned about the matter, with Yukimura leading the opposing view. "If we waste points on things like that, we'll have nothing left for essential supplies or emergencies," he argued, crossing his arms defiantly. "We need to be smart about how we use our resources."

"Easy for you to say," Shinohara shot back. "You don't have to deal with the same problems we do. Hygiene is important, and we can't just ignore it."

As the argument escalated, Ayanokoji stepped forward, his presence immediately drawing attention. He hadn't said much since the exam rules were announced, but the class had already come to respect his opinions in previous situations. Now, they waited to hear his thoughts, hoping he could provide a solution to their dilemma.

"Quiet," he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority that made everyone fall silent. It wasn't just what he said, but the way he said it that commanded their attention. There was a quiet intensity in his gaze, a subtle intimidation that seemed to suggest he knew more than he was letting on.

He continued, "Arguing about this won't help us. We need to accept the reality of this exam. It's about survival and resource management, not luxury. The rules are clear—we can only gain points by occupying spots and maintaining control. Every point we spend must give us a strategic advantage."

Shinohara, still not fully convinced, frowned at him. "So what do you suggest we do, then? Just tough it out and hope for the best?"

Ayanokoji met her gaze, unflinching. "No. We'll compromise. We can make a single purchase to ensure we have basic sanitary facilities. A toilet setup, nothing more. For bathing, we'll make use of natural water sources on the island. It's not ideal, but it's practical. We need to preserve as many points as possible for more critical needs."

His response seemed to calm the girls somewhat, though there was still some murmuring among them. It was clear that this wasn't the solution they had hoped for, but at least it was something.

Kushida, sensing the tension in the group, spoke up in a soothing tone. "I think Ayanokoji has a point. We need to think about the bigger picture. If we waste our points on unnecessary comforts, we might end up in a worse position later on."

Yukimura nodded in agreement. "Exactly. It's better to endure a bit of discomfort now than to run out of resources halfway through the exam."

Seeing that the class was slowly coming around to his way of thinking, Ayanokoji continued, "We'll also need to be aggressive about occupying spots on the island. The more locations we control, the more points we'll accumulate. Our goal should be to gain as many points as quickly as possible, while keeping our spending minimal."

He turned to Horikita, who had been quietly observing the exchange. "Horikita, you're good at analyzing the movements of others. I want you to keep an eye on the other classes and report back on any significant patterns or strategies."

Horikita raised an eyebrow but nodded. She was curious to see how Ayanokoji's plan would unfold, especially since he seemed more assertive than usual.

"As for identifying the leaders of the other classes," Ayanokoji continued, "we'll have to draw them out. We'll create situations that force the leaders to act, revealing themselves in the process. The key is to manipulate the flow of information to our advantage."

There was a moment of silence as the class absorbed his words. For the first time since the announcement of the special exam, they felt a sense of direction. Ayanokoji wasn't giving them false hope; he was presenting a practical approach that played to their strengths while exploiting the weaknesses of the other classes.

Sudou, who was often blunt with his thoughts, spoke up, his voice less confident than usual. "So... we're just gonna rough it out and play the long game, huh?"

"Exactly," Ayanokoji replied. "We'll set a daily budget for point expenditures—no more than 20% of our starting points. This way, we'll have a safety net if we encounter any unexpected challenges."

Shinohara, though still concerned, seemed to accept the plan. "Fine, but if we end up needing more supplies, we'll revisit this discussion. I just don't want us to regret not preparing properly."

Ayanokoji gave a small nod of agreement. "Fair enough. But remember, this is a test of endurance. The more discomfort we can endure, the more resources we'll have to leverage against the other classes."

With the class now calmer, Ayanokoji turned back to the board, where a list of supplies and potential strategies was forming. He had set the groundwork, but there was still much to do. His mind was already several steps ahead, anticipating how the other classes would react and how best to manipulate the rules to Class C's advantage.

The true test had just begun, and while the others saw this as a challenge to survive, Ayanokoji viewed it as an opportunity to dominate.