Chapter 4: Encirclement : Koenji VS Free Group

 Intro

Kouenji's departure doesn’t fade even after the second stage of the exam. Until today, on the tenth day, he has been scoring points to stick with Nagumo's group. After 5pm, when today's test ended, Ikuto Kiriyama, 3rd year of B-class, who finished speaking into a walkie-talkie, quietly closed his eyes once. He was a bit surprised that Kouenji was on the top podium when the top team’s scores were posted, but at that time there was nothing close to impatience in Kiriyama or Nagumo.

Everyone thought that he would reach the limit soon as long as he was alone.

“Kiriyama. Don’t you think Nagumo's answer is a step backwards? If so, you would have been in a position to take the lead by starting of the second part of the test. That’s why we have been postponing it, and it has not yet been resolved until the tenth day, because it is completely even. "

Mikitani, a student from class 3B, talks to me while showing me his tablet. The overall score of the tablet shows that Nagumo's group has 236 points, while Kouenji has 230. The difference between the two is 6, and yet they are in a position to turn the cake if they get first place in the order of reward of arrival. Nagumo's group, which has a much larger group and more members than Kouenji's group, can secure 7 points in the arrival reward as long as they arrive on time.

The Kouenji group, meanwhile, only has one point, but that makes it the only group that can easily get a reward for finishing first, and has the most rewards for finishing first of all groups.

“Even if Nagumo can get away with it, you'll finish third if you're not careful. If you lost to a loner sophomore( 2nd year), our reputation as your supporters would take a nosedive. "

Kiriyama and his team now have a total score of 188 points. The difference between them and Kouenji begins to widen slowly.

“Oh, by the way, there was a rumor last year. Shortly after Kouenji entered the school; it was about the sophomores and juniors in a familiar way, flirting with the purchase of private points. What did you think at that moment?

"All I could think was: 'Don't get carried away just because you're wealthy.' ”

His academic ability was moderate, his physical ability appeared to be high, but he had no outstanding grades, and his family was wealthy. That was undoubtedly the image that all the students of this school had.

Mikitani nodded once at Kiriyama's reply.

“The main reason why Kouenji has not been appreciated is that he doesn’t have a sincere attitude towards things. He has not taken things seriously, he has gone against what he is supposed to do as a student, and he has had a strong attitude of dropping out of the exams from the beginning”.

It was a fact that had spread not only to second-year students, but also to third-year students.

If Kouenji had been a serious and sincere person, he would have been recognized as an enemy to be watched by Nagumo long before.

“I don't know what happened, but Kouenji has literally gone all out in this special survey of the uninhabited island. And the result is that he has become the strongest opponent of all the students. His stamina, especially his tirelessness, was terrifying. I could go all the way like this. "

He advances with his inexhaustible physical strength, taking advantage of being able to move alone. At this point, even as a third year student, I had to think of a move.

If left unchecked, Kouenji will definitely finish the exam in the top three places.

In some cases, it wouldn’t even be possible for me to reach Nagumo. Losing to a group from the younger years was a problem, but losing to a loner would be a disgrace for the third year.

As an adversary to be defeated, one must confront him as soon as possible.

Of course, violence should be avoided as much as possible. If a third year student had attacked Kouenji by surprise, injuring him and forcing him to retreat, there would naturally be a problem.

If they had tried to prevent him from entering the top ranking, they would inevitably face expulsion. We have to sink Kouenji as peacefully as possible.

"Have you decided what you are going to do? Kiriyama ”.

"We will use the Free Groups."

Free groups. It is a group of three people selected from among five groups of each class, from B to D, prepared by Nagumo, which act as his hands and feet. There are a total of 15 groups, and two of them are assigned to follow the instructions, while the remaining group is assigned to follow the designated area in order not to receive any penalties.

This means that there are two students per free group who can move freely.

"Well, you're right. So how many are you going to use?

“The six groups that I have in custody. I am mobilizing them all ”.

"Six? Are you serious? You're dealing with just one person, and no matter how many there are, four groups with my custody should be enough. The other two groups will be in your custody... "

As if to interrupt Mikitani's words, Kiriyama continued.

“The only threat is Kouenji, and other than that, there is plenty of time to go after destroying him. We will be able to see the results until the end of the 12th. In two days starting tomorrow, we will fully contain Kouenji. Once Kouenji loses his momentum, he won't be able to surface again. "

Even if we met with some other group, it would be the same “Didn't Nagumo say that there were other groups that interested him? If we attack Kouenji with all the available groups, we will not have enough personnel to dedicate ourselves to the others. "

Mikitani was not told which group it was, but if it was one of the top ten, it was Ryuuen's second year group, Sakayanagi's group, or Utomiya's group and the others in first year.

"I don't think you have to worry about that anymore. Nagumo's fears are unfounded." Of course, Kiriyama knew which group he was looking for.

However, that group has not appeared in the top ten in ten days. Even if they keep scoring points at a fast pace, they will never reach the podium.

"Blame it on Nagumo"

"... It's rare that Nagumo makes a mistake in that kind of decision." "An invisible ghost grabbed me by the shoulders, I am not surprised."

The only man Nagumo recognized, the only thing left of Manabu Horikita.

It's no wonder that Nagumo's eyes, which can see the battlefield with an eagle's eye, are clouded. "So we'll let the six groups take care of Kouenji and we'll just score points as usual, okay?"

"No, I will take direct command to contain Kouenji."

"You? That's a bit inefficient, don't you think? Let me do it."

Kiriyama's Group is currently in third position, so it will affect the score if he moves to prevent Kouenji from advancing.

"Do you want me to put you in charge?"

“It's not that I have decided to win. Unlike you, who have decided to win, I have to earn Nagumo's reputation. "

Mikitani advised him to do so, but Kiriyama didn't seem to listen to him. "That's not good. There are six free groups so, if you fail, it's a pretty big blow. "

“But you also have to get second place, right? Don't waste your time on unnecessary things. ". Mikitani , eager to get the credit, insisted.

“There is no one who can stop Kouenji except Nagumo and me. That is the end of the story. "

 When Mikitani heard these words, he slightly frowned and made a disgusted face. But Kiriyama didn't notice, because he didn't even look at Mikitani.

To stop a student, six groups of students led by Kiriyama rushed to move at night.

If it were a normal opponent, Kouenji's unfathomable ability would be unheard of for Kiriyama. The question was, where would the designated zone be at 7:00 am tomorrow, the 11th?

Depending on where Kouenji starts moving, east, north, south, or west, the scope of the siege (encirclement of enemy) will change.

Therefore, the ideal would be to complete the siege of Kouenji between the hours of the night, when he would have to decide the camping place and stop moving, and 7 in the morning tomorrow.

Fortunately, B3, Kouenji's current location, and E3, where Kiriyama and the others are located, are relatively close to each other.

Since the scores of the groups in the highest places could only be monitored until the end of the twelfth day, there were only two days left, tomorrow and the day after, to see if they had made any progress.

"How far do you plan to go today?"

At the beginning of the long journey, Mikitani asked Kiriyama to ease his boredom.

"As much as possible. I know it's risky to proceed at night, but I want to get to an area around Kouenji in the worst case. We have to reach them before seven in the morning”.

Once he starts to move, the difficulty of catching him goes up two or three degrees.

“I think it will be easy to kick him out if we have two days. There are seven groups here, including the six from Kiriyama, for a total of 18 people. "

When Mikitani turns around, he can see sixteen third-year students.

“Don't let your guard down. It is a large forest, there are many possibilities that he will escape. "

"I know he's a bad boy for a second year. But he's still younger than you."

Since neither Kiriyama nor Mikitani directly saw Kouenji's incredible physical abilities, it is difficult to make an accurate assessment. However, as third-year students they have worked with on various assignments have provided them with data on Kouenji's physical abilities.

"Be cautious. Recognize your opponent as your greatest enemy."

 "The oldest? "

Kiriyama said to himself: "I knew I couldn't trust someone like Mikitani with this."

If we have become the enemy to defeat, we have to act with the intention that he stops breathing. If they respond with little enthusiasm, they could find themselves in the situation of being defeated.