Chapter 53: The Final Exam and Unmasking the Traitor

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The final exam had begun, and I stood ready to face off against Class A’s Hashimoto. I could feel the eyes of my classmates on me, their silent encouragement giving me the focus I needed. But as the questions started, it became clear that Hashimoto was a step ahead. It was almost as if he already knew my strategy.

Hashimoto smirked, clearly pleased with himself. “Looks like I’ve got you all figured out, Horikita.”

But I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of winning easily. I smirked back, shifting my tactics on the spot, adapting to counter his every move. Bit by bit, I threw him off-balance, and the surprise in his eyes told me my plan was working. Finally, I defeated him in our round, and Hashimoto’s smug demeanor cracked as he muttered angrily under his breath.

“Unbelievable,” he spat, clearly frustrated. “You just got lucky.”

I kept my gaze steady, refusing to be rattled by his words. “Maybe you should rely less on ‘luck’ and more on skill, Hashimoto.”

Next was Sakayanagi, and as she approached, I could sense the calm confidence radiating from her. Unlike Hashimoto, she didn’t need anyone feeding her information. She simply knew my weaknesses and exploited them with every question. Her strategies were calculated, and even as I tried to adapt, I found myself falling behind.

Each loss chipped away at my confidence, until finally, she won our match. The taste of defeat was bitter, and it was hard not to let the frustration show.

I stepped outside, my mind swirling with disappointment, when Ayanokoji came over and gently placed a reassuring arm on my shoulder. “You did well, Horikita,” he said softly. “There’s no shame in doing your best.”

I sighed, grateful for his support. “Thank you, Ayanokoji-kun.”

He gave me a small nod. “Now, it’s my turn.”

I found a spot with the rest of our classmates, watching the match unfold on the screen. The room was tense, every eye glued to the display as Ayanokoji faced off against Sakayanagi. He was calm, collected, using his unparalleled mental sharpness to counter her every move. Bit by bit, I could see her faltering, clearly shaken by his precision.

Silently, I cheered him on, feeling a surge of hope as he pulled ahead. Each victory brought us closer to a win against Class A. When the final question was answered, and Ayanokoji secured the victory, a wave of cheers erupted from our classmates. Our class had beaten Class A, an accomplishment that filled everyone with pride.

Ichinose’s Class had also managed to pull off a win against Ryuuen’s Class and later the new class rankings were announced:

Class A: Our Class

Class B: Ichinose’s Class

Class C: Sakayanagi’s Class

Class D: Ryuuen’s Class

When Chabashira-sensei announced our new ranking, the classroom exploded with excitement. Finally, we were now in Class A. Chabashira-sensei offered her congratulations to everyone for our hardwork but Ayanokoji and I quickly stepped forward to interrupt.

“Before we celebrate, there’s something important I need to address,” I announced, my voice steady.

The room fell silent, the energy shifting as everyone sensed the seriousness in my tone.

“Sakayanagi's class somehow knew our every strategies and it was because there's a traitor in our class who was leaking our secret informations to Sakayanagi's class. After investigating, Ayanokoji and I discovered the identity of the traitor.”

A wave of shock rippled through the class, and I could see disbelief in their faces. Slowly, I made my way toward the table of the girl who had betrayed us. Her friendly demeanor and sociable nature had made it hard for many to suspect her. Leaning down, I whispered, “Isn’t that right… Maezono?”

She stammered, her eyes widening. “W-what? You don’t have any proof!”

I pulled out my phone, playing the recording I’d captured of her conversation with Hashimoto. Gasps filled the room as her betrayal became undeniable. Kushida, who sat nearby, reached out to Maezono, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Is it true, Maezono-san?” she asked gently.

In a sudden burst of frustration, Maezono slapped Kushida’s hand away, her expression twisted with anger. “Yes, it’s true!” she cried. “Hashimoto is my boyfriend, and he promised to bring me into Class A! But you two just had to ruin everything.” Her tone grew more frantic, her eyes wild.

Ayanokoji stepped forward, his calm voice cutting through her frenzy

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Ayanokoji stepped forward, his calm voice cutting through her frenzy. “Hashimoto and Sakayanagi were only using you, Maezono. They had no intention of welcoming you into their class.”

Maezono’s face contorted with disbelief. “That’s a lie! He cares about me. He said he would save me.”

I took a deep breath, my resolve hardening. “Chabashira-sensei,” I said firmly, “I’d like to use the expulsion points we earned to expell Maezono.”

Panic set in on Maezono’s face as she realized her fate. “No! You can’t do this!” she screamed, her voice bordering on hysterical. Chabashira-sensei stepped forward, escorting her out of the room as she continued to protest, her voice echoing down the hallway.

Once the door closed behind her, a heavy silence settled over the classroom. Some of Maezono’s friends looked upset, but I could see the anger in their eyes as well, the sting of her betrayal cutting deep. We had worked so hard to reach Class A, and she had almost cost us everything.

As we prepared to leave for the day, the mood in the class was somber yet proud. We had finally reached the top, and while it had come at a cost, the class seemed united, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

That night, as I lay in bed, my thoughts drifted back to Maezono’s expulsion. While there was satisfaction in seeing justice served, a pang of sadness lingered. We had been classmates, after all. But I reminded myself of our accomplishment, of how we had finally reached Class A. Soon, our final year would begin, and I knew we’d have to be stronger than ever.

With a mix of pride and anticipation for what lay ahead, I closed my eyes, ready to face whatever the future held.

--Chapter 53 ends--

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