Cote: Elite in Action

Revelations and Alliances: The Survival Test

In a quiet room, two people sat facing each other. The atmosphere was thick with contained emotions, as if the unspoken words of years were about to burst. One spoke with a trembling voice, while the other listened with almost reverent attention. They were none other than Kayden Osawa and Tsubaki Sakurako.

After all the silences, Kayden had begun to open his heart. He spoke to Sakurako about his life, the struggles he had faced, how he had written a letter hoping to maintain their bond... a letter that, apparently, never reached its destination.

—Kay... I... —Sakurako stammered, her eyes misted with tears—. I'm sorry. I didn't know everything you were going through. In my immaturity, I thought horrible things about you...

She had blamed him for disappearing without saying anything, for leaving her behind. But the truth was that Kayden had been dealing with internal storms that the Sakurako of that time could never have fully understood.

—It's okay, Sakurako —Kayden responded calmly—. I was at fault too. I should have at least called you... But at that moment, I thought a letter would be enough. Now I see that was a mistake.

Sakurako threw herself at him and hugged him tightly, as if trying to erase the distance of all those years in a single gesture.

—Forgive me for how I treated you the other day —she whispered between sobs.

Kayden quickly wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug.

—And forgive me —he said—, for not getting in touch with you after I moved. I failed you.

Sakurako's regret wouldn't disappear overnight, but she had made a decision. She would do everything she could to help Kayden, to support him in whatever he needed. Perhaps by doing so, she could also forgive herself.

—Kay... do you have a partner for the special exam? —she asked, her voice still trembling.

—No, actually... When I saw you, I thought of asking if you'd like to be my partner —he replied, looking at her sincerely.

—Yes! Let me be your partner, Kay —she said, her smile renewed—. I promise I'll give my best. Let's take first place!

—I know how smart you are, Sakurako. I have no doubt... we will make it together.

...

Kayden and Sakurako had finally made peace. Their relationship, though unrelated to the class matters, was important to him, and being able to resolve their differences before the upcoming exam had lifted a weight off his shoulders. With that out of the way, Kayden could fully focus on what lay ahead.

In Class A, all the students had already chosen their partners for the special exam. Thanks to their high individual academic level, it was not difficult to form the required pairs. Unlike other occasions, Kayden didn't play a major strategic role this time. The format of the exam, which focused solely on academic performance, didn't require elaborate maneuvers or complex tactics. The traditional one-on-one tutoring sessions continued, but Kayden decided not to intervene too much.

A few days before the exam, the atmosphere in Class A was unusually relaxed. After everything they had gone through since entering the school —constant tests, ups and downs, unexpected challenges— the students had developed a strong self-confidence. They firmly believed that, no matter what obstacle they faced, they would be able to overcome it.

However, that calm would be interrupted.

Hoshinomiya-sensei entered the classroom with an attitude different from usual. Her smile was more subdued, and her movements more sluggish. She stood in front of the students, gazing at them for a few seconds before speaking.