"I'll partner with Aigis-chan," Minako said to the room at large. Yukari supposed she wasn't that surprised. Taking one for the team was entirely in character for her.
"Thank you, Minako-chan," Aigis said, showing a rare genuine smile. Yukari had never heard Aigis use that honorific before. She wondered if maybe something was going on there. There was certainly no doubt that that whenever she was around Minako, Aigis always seemed a little more human. Regardless, by process of elimination this meant that Yukari would partner with Fuuka. This was hardly the worst possible outcome, Yukari reasoned.
"I guess this means we're working together, Yukari-chan," Fuuka said.
"Yep," Yukari agreed simply as they sat opposite Minako and Aigis. Yukari had to admit that this was probably as close to even as a game with Aigis in the mix could be. Minako was easily the best in their year, so handicapping her with Aigis was definitely fair. Fuuka was nearly as good in academics department as Minako, however Yukari suspected she might become far less reliable at answering questions if she were embarrassed. So, Yukari knew it was her job to keep Fuuka as modest as possible so she could stay in top form. Otherwise, the two of them might just find themselves totally naked and at Mitsuru's mercy, and Yukari highly doubted she would show much of that.
Yukari didn't think there was much chance Minako would lose her cool, even if naked, which given her teaming up with Aigis seemed a very likely outcome (something Yukari had to admit did not sound totally unappealing). Dealing with stressful situations and staying calm under pressure was kind of her forte, so it would probably be a while before Aigis had nothing left to lose. She just hoped she and Fuuka could hold out that long, or perhaps they could strip Mitsuru and end this whole thing.
"It seems both teams are ready, so without further adieu, let's begin. Aigis, since you're having the most trouble we'll start with you," Mitsuru said. She rattled off a question from their last exam. It wasn't even a hard one. To no one's surprise, Aigis answered wrong.
"I'm sorry, Minako-chan," Aigis said sounding, Yukari noticed, legitimately apologetic. Yukari knew she wouldn't have sounded that glum if she had lost her or Fuuka's clothes instead. Maybe this meant Mitsuru's plan actually made a crazy kind of sense. That didn't mean it didn't totally suck to get caught in the middle, though. Aigis meekly pulled off Minako's brown loafers, fully exposing her knee-high white socks. And just like that, first blood was drawn.
"Alright then, I believe we will try Yamagishi next," Mitsuru said. She began detailing a problem to Fuuka, and Yukari had to admire how clever Mitsuru was being with the order she was asking in. She had made sure that Minako and Fuuka were not asked questions at the same time, as that would mean Mitsuru would have very likely had to strip every other round. Yukari knew this meant that, in addition to trying to keep Fuuka modest, she was also likely the only person who had a chance of getting Mitsuru to lose the game.
Mitsuru finished explaining the question and Fuuka prepared to answer.
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