『』『』『』『』『』
"Next week, in preparation for the second semester's final exam, there will be a short test with problems from eight subjects. You're all likely aware, and I'm sure that some of you have already started studying, but I just wanted to remind you,"
Standing at the podium, right after entering the classroom, Chabashira immediately announced the upcoming exam without any small talk. As usual, she went straight to the point.
"Geh! Another test?!" Ike wailed. "That means there's only a week left until the next short quiz! I didn't hear anything about this at all!"
Of course, it wasn't just Ike. Several students let out similar cries of despair.
"Saying that you haven't heard about it won't help, though I'd love to tell you otherwise." Chabashira-sensei smiled at Ike as if she were offering him a lifeline, but no one believed she was acting out of kindness. They knew her better than that.
"But before we go any further, I want to ask you something. What do you think of this school? I'd like to hear your honest evaluation."
She stepped down from the podium and walked past several desks. Her ponytail swayed behind her as she slowly made her way around the classroom.
Then she stopped.
At Ike's desk.
"What do you think about this school, Ike?" She asked.
"Well, I guess... it's a good school. If you do well, you can get tons of spending money. The food's tasty, and the rooms are nice and clean." He counted on his fingers as he continued, "You can buy games and stuff. Plus, there are movies to watch and karaoke. And the girls are cute."
That last part, of course, had nothing to do with the school itself.
"Um... d-did I do something wrong?" Ike blurted out, looking at Chabashira-sensei in fear.
"Don't worry. Just as I said, I'd like to hear your honest evaluation."
Being suddenly questioned first thing in the morning, Ike naturally wondered if he had done something wrong and was about to be expelled.
To be fair, he had done things worthy of expulsion before, but that was another matter.
"From a student's perspective, this place must seem like paradise," she continued. "Even as a teacher, I feel this school is almost excessively lavish. It treats its students so well that it nearly defies common sense."
Then passing Ike desk, Chabbahsira coontinue to walk around the room, and she stopped next to Hirata's desk.
"Hirata, do you like this school?"
"....."
"What's wrong? I'm asking you a question. Or do you not like this school at all?"
Hirata remained silent for a while, which was unlike him. That alone drew the attention of most of the class, including Ayanokouji and Horikita.
The only ones completely uninterested and absorbed in their own worlds were Kumagawa and Kouenji.
"No, sensei... I like this school. I've made a lot of friends, and I'm enjoying a fulfilling life. It's just that..." Hirata trailed off as he lightly clenched his fist.
"Go on."
"It's just that I feel completely dissatisfied with the expulsion system. There's nothing I can do about it right now, but if something like what happened with Sakura-san happens again... I want to believe we can work harder together. I want to make sure we never make that kind of mistake again."
Even though Hirata's words of camaraderie rang clearly, there was still a hint of hesitation in his voice. What happened with Sakura seemed to remain a bitter memory in his heart, one he had been forcefully suppressing this whole time.
"Whether you're dissatisfied or not, it is the school's policy and has been its intention since its founding. Still, I appreciate your honest evaluation."
After saying that, Chabashira continued walking past Hirata's desk.
Then she finally reached the back of the classroom.
She stopped and looked at the student beside her.
"What about you, Kumagawa?"
『Hmm?』 He looked up at her.
"What do you think about this school? As someone who managed to enter the student council and take the vice president seat despite only being a first-year, you must have some thoughts about this school, right?"
As she asked that question, around six or so students focused completely on what kind of answer Kumagawa would give.
『Well, you could call it a habit of mine, but you know I'm a transfer student, right? 』
"You're not a transfer student. You enrolled here."
A transfer student.
Chabashira did not think it was a bad description considering the last-minute circumstances forced by the chairman. Even so, in the end, he had enrolled here, not transferred.
『Man, you're so strict. You don't need to worry about the small stuff.』 Kumagawa replied cheerfully, like a normal high school student fooling around. At times like this, he really did not seem to understand the mood of the room.
『Anyway, I've had to move schools a lot because of what you'd call family issues, or maybe personal issues. So often that I don't even remember how many schools I've entered. 』
"Transferring really must be tough. The entire environment around you changes."
『True. But I've gotten used to it. Anyway, every time I transfer, or in your words, enroll into a new school, there's something I do right away. What do you think it is? 』
"What do I think... Greeting the teachers?"
『I don't always. 』
"Wait, you don't?"
『Of course not. 』
"....."
Chabashira felt like she had been led around from the moment she started speaking with Kumagawa, though she could not remember when it began. There were people who could easily be pulled along by a conversation, but she had never considered herself one of them.
Especially with her personality.
Yet contrary to what she believed, it seemed she could be led around after all.
Or perhaps it was simply Kumagawa.
But even so...
"You still haven't answered my question. What do you think about this school?" Chabashira returned to the main point after being dragged off course.
『I don't know what I'm supposed to expect from this school, but should I say it's good? Then again, it could also be bad depending on how you look at it. 』
Kumagawa gave a half-hearted answer, as if he had just come up with it on the spot.
『I mean, in the first place, I was only asked by someone to enroll here. 』
"Asked by someone?"
『Even though I said "asked," it was more her decision than mine. In fact, I had no choice at all and was forcefully shoved into this school without my consent. That former girlfriend of mine really is selfish. 』
"....."
While it was somewhat surprising, it was not entirely strange. Every student had their own aspirations in life, and naturally, their own reasons for enrolling in this school.
But a girlfriend?
That was hard to imagine.
It was probably just his delusions.
Of course, much of the class thought the same as Chabashira to some extent. Most had already dismissed his answer as nonsense, and most likely a lie.
『Does that satisfy your curiosity, Sae-chan-sensei? 』
Seeing that she likely would not get a serious answer from him, Chabashira simply nodded.
She then returned to the podium. It seemed as though she had been trying to confirm something, though no one understood what. Maybe she wanted to get a better sense of the class's morale. Perhaps she was measuring whether they could handle the next exam.
"Anyway, back to the main point. Just as I said earlier, in preparation for the second semester's final exam, there will be a short test with problems from eight subjects. There will be one hundred questions, for a total of one hundred possible points. However, the questions will be at a third-year junior high school level. This test is meant to confirm that you still remember the fundamentals. Furthermore, much like the mock test you took in the first semester, it won't affect your grades. It doesn't matter whether you score zero points or one hundred. At most, it will be used as a measure of your abilities."
"R-really? Good!"
"However, it's far from meaningless. This test's results will have an enormous impact on your next final exam," she added, "The school has decided that this next quiz's results will help determine which students will be partnered in class," said Chabashira-sensei.
"Partner?" Hirata sounded wary.
"That's right. Partner. Pairs, whatever you want to call it. Based on this test, the school will decide the person you will take the final exam with. There will be eight subjects on that exam, each worth one hundred points. Four hundred questions in total, fifty for each subject. There are also two possible ways to fail that exam. If your pair scores under sixty in even one subject, then both students will be expelled. The sixty-point total refers to the pair's combined score. For example, let's say Ike and Hirata were partners. Even if Ike scored zero, they would both be safe as long as Hirata scored sixty points. Of course, that result is only an example. The actual outcome depends on whether you have been paying attention in class."
With an excellent partner, this would be an easy test. However, there was still the second method of failing. Chabashira-sensei ignored the shocked expressions around her and continued.
"There is however one additional hurdle to overcome. The school has decided that you must secure a certain overall score to avoid failing. Even if you score sixty points or more in each of the eight subjects, failing to meet the overall requirement will still result in expulsion."
"So, the overall requirement represents both partners' combined score?" Hirata asked.
"Yes, exactly. The school has not yet determined the exact score required, but in past years, it has been around seven hundred points."
Seven hundred points.
With two people working together across eight subjects, that meant sixteen scores in total, two for each subject. They would need an average of 43.75 points in every subject.
After hearing that, the class fell silent.
It was as if they had just been handed a death sentence.
With a test like this, even excellent students like Horikita or Yukimura could be at risk depending on their partner. As a pair, their fates would be tied together.
Including expulsion.
In a way, it was a test specifically designed to cull the students who had failed to improve academically. Even those who had improved could still be judged lacking, bluntly speaking.
So, a certain person appeared in everyone's mind.
And almost at once, they turned toward the student sitting in the second-to-last row at the very back of the class.
『???』
Kumagawa was smiling despite the obvious stares directed at him, stares that bordered on hostility.
Seeing that smile only stirred anger in the hearts of the class. Whether he simply did not care or had not listened to the explanation at all, the fact that he was smiling was irritating enough.
If someone unlucky enough to be paired with him during the exam, there would be no need to even take the test.
The result would likely be decided the moment the pair was announced.
Death sentence.
Expulsion.
"P-please don't say such terrifying things, sensei," said one of the girls, her voice trembling.
It certainly sounded terrifying.
"Well, it's the truth. In past years... We call it the 'Paper Shuffle,' but one or two pairs are usually expelled because of this test. Most of them come from Class D. This is by no means a threat. I'm simply telling you the facts."
Chabashira-sensei looked across the room.
"The school will expel any failed partners without exception. If you think this is only a threat, then it may be a good idea to speak with an upperclassman. You should have started building connections with them already."
Depending on who your partner was, your fate could be sealed.
Of course, that did not change the issue regarding partners. By default, there was a strong chance at least one pair from this class would be expelled this year.
Everyone looked at Kumagawa with hopeless expressions.
『Hey, don't look at me like that. It's not like the world is going to end. 』
'Yeah, but our school lives definitely would.'
Ayanokouji, who sat at the very back of the classroom, could almost hear the voices in everyone's hearts.
"Lastly, I'll be talking about the penalties for the exam. Although this should be obvious, cheating is forbidden. Anyone who cheats will be immediately disqualified and expelled along with their partner. This is not limited to this exam, of course. The same applies to all future midterm and final examinations."
Cheating leading to expulsion sounded like a harsh punishment at first glance, if this were an ordinary high school. However, Chabashira-sensei was giving them ample warning to prevent students from panicking and making foolish mistakes.
Even so, the pair system remained the real problem.
"After I receive the short test's results, I'll tell you how the all-important partners will be decided," Chabashira-sensei added.
"Wait, after the short test, not before? What's up with that? If you get paired with Kumagawa, aren't you basically screwed?" Sudou asked.
Ayanokouji glanced at Sudou, who had just openly stated the doomsday scenario every student was thinking about.
This time, Ayanokouji noticed how the students had begun glancing at one another the moment Sudou said it. He immediately understood why they were acting that way. Rather, it would have been strange if he hadn't realized it.
At this very moment, instead of worrying about the other classes, every student in Class D now saw each other as enemies.
They needed all the luck they had ever received in life for this single moment, just to escape the fate waiting for them. As long as they were not paired with Kumagawa, there was still light at the end of the tunnel.
In other words, the one who got Kumagawa would die—or rather, the one who died would be the one who got Kumagawa.
Thinking about it that way, in a certain sense, it might even be a good thing.
Still, setting aside that disaster scenario, the school seemed to be intentionally keeping them in the dark about how the pairs would be determined. In other words, there was a high chance some kind of loophole existed, which was why the school was being as vague as possible.
"One more aspect of this final exam will challenge you," Chabashira-sensei said, not yet finished.
"There's more?! How many landmines are you going to throw at us, sensei?!" Yamauchi wailed in despair.
"Yes. First, the school will ask you to create your own questions to appear on the final exam. They will use the questions your class creates for one of the other three classes. That means classes will be able to attack one another, so to speak. The school will compare your class's overall score to the score of the class that received your questions. The class with the higher score will take points from the losing class. Fifty class points, specifically," explained Chabashira-sensei.
To sum it all up, pairs needed to score above seven hundred points in total or be expelled.
At the same time, each subject required a combined score of at least sixty points per pair.
Furthermore, the class's total score had to exceed the score of whichever class received their test questions.
Horikita then raised her hand.
"What is it, Horikita?"
"Is there a way to create a gap in points? Let's say Class A attacks Class B, and Class D attacks Class A. If Class A successfully carries out their attack on Class B while simultaneously defending against Class D, they'll gain a total of one hundred points. However, if Class A attacks Class D and Class D attacks Class A, wouldn't things simply cancel each other out?"
"In a direct confrontation like that, class points may rise or fall by one hundred at a time. There is no issue there. And though it is unlikely, if both classes finish with the same overall score, the match will be declared a draw. In that case, neither side will gain or lose points."
Chabashira drew a diagram on the board for those overwhelmed by the sudden flood of information.
『But wouldn't that still create an imbalance? For example, if Class A, with their stronger academics, attacked us using university-level questions. Even if the school wants brutal conflict between classes, that would be unfair no matter how you frame it. 』
"It is meant to encourage healthy competition, not conflict..." Chabashira replied, slightly displeased by his wording. "However, your concern is valid. If left entirely to the students, that could happen. Which is why teachers will inspect every question your class creates."
She tapped the board lightly.
"If a question exceeds the material you have learned, or cannot be answered with the information given, it will be corrected. We will review them thoroughly to ensure fairness. Is that clear, Kumagawa?"
『More or less. Though it'd be kinder if you leaked us a few answers in advance. 』
"Of course not."
『Cruel world. 』
He slumped in his seat as if deeply disappointed.
"Four hundred questions..." Ayanokouji muttered from behind him.
They had about a month until the exam. If handled by one person alone, they would need to make around ten to fifteen questions each day. Dividing the work would be more efficient, but the quality would vary. And if the school demanded revisions after submission, they would lose even more time. Considering Class D's weaknesses, it would likely become a race against the deadline.
Ayanokouji glanced at Hirata, who looked noticeably troubled. He had likely reached the same conclusion.
"If you fail to complete your questions in time, the school has prepared countermeasures. After the deadline passes, we will provide pre-made questions. However, those questions will be easier."
That sounded like relief, but it was not entirely helpful.
They still needed to create their own questions if they wanted any advantage, which meant someone would have to shoulder most of the burden while also studying.
This test would be brutal.
"You may consult teachers. You may also speak with students from other classes or use the internet. There are few restrictions. As long as the school approves the content, the method does not matter."
"So our final exam will include questions made by another class, right?"
"Correct. I'm sure all of you are curious which class you'll face, but the process is simple. Each class will nominate one class they wish to compete against, and I will submit that request."
Chabashira looked across the room.
"If multiple classes choose the same target, representatives will draw lots. If there are no overlapping nominations, your request will be accepted. I will collect your decision next week, the day before the short test. Choose carefully."
It really did feel less like an exam and more like a street fight arranged by the school.
『But sensei— 』
Kumagawa raised his hand.
『Regarding pairs, since this is the kind of exam where you need to trust your partner more than yourself, what happens if there's an odd number of students in a class? 』
While his comment about trusting a partner more than oneself was questionable, the issue of an odd number of students was a valid concern.
At the very least, it was a valid concern for Class D, who had already lost one of its members back in the first semester because they lacked points for the midterm.
"Regarding that... it is unfortunate, but the exam will proceed exactly as planned," She spoke as if she had already expected the question, "The school has no intention of changing the rules just to accommodate a single class. Therefore, the student left without a partner will simply have to take the entire exam alone."
The classroom immediately erupted once more.
Not only had they already been handed a death sentence for whoever was unlucky enough to be paired with Kumagawa, which was already a serious problem, now there was another disaster waiting for whoever had to face the exam alone.
In a sense, they were not only on a sinking ship, but the anchor was making sure they could never rise back to the surface.
Especially when the overall requirement was seven hundred points.
That meant a lone student would need to score around ninety points in all eight subjects on questions prepared by another class, which would undoubtedly be difficult, just to avoid expulsion.
Even someone like Horikita, whose intelligence was already above average for a high school student, would still face a high risk of expulsion under those conditions.
"But—" Chabashira spoke, cutting through the uproar.
It seemed there was some kind of silver lining.
"The school is not so unreasonable that it would demand a single student earn seven hundred points alone. Therefore, any student who must take the exam without a partner will only need a total of six hundred points. In addition, the minimum sixty-point requirement for each subject will be judged individually, not as a pair total. Naturally, the standard remains strict, but the school has adjusted it to account for the burden of taking the exam alone."
The classroom quieted slightly after hearing that.
It was, at the very least, a form of mercy.
Even so, taking the exam in pairs and taking it alone were two completely different matters.
For a student to reach six hundred points across eight subjects, they would need to maintain an average of seventy-five points per subject, and do so consistently.
The tests from the first semester might have been easier, perhaps because the school wanted to confirm something. It was impressive enough that someone had still managed to score in the single digits then.
But this time, the questions would be prepared by another class as a form of attack.
A smarter student might find it barely manageable.
But if someone who was not academically capable, like Sudou, Ike, or Yamauchi, and heaven forbid Kumagawa, had to take the exam alone...
That might truly be the end of their school life.
"If there are no further questions, that concludes the preliminary explanation. The rest is up to you."
With that, their classes for the day came to an end.
『』『』『』『』『』
"We're holding a meeting, Ayanokouji-kun. Can you get Hirata-kun for me?" Horikita asked Ayanokouji as she slowly rose from her seat.
"Roger."
Without much complaint, Ayanokouji went to fetch Hirata while Horikita headed toward Sudou.
Horikita and Hirata were gradually becoming the class's main driving forces. Ayanokouji felt that he would not be able to remain in the shadows for much longer.
So far, he had maintained the image of someone unremarkable. However, after the relay race, he had become well known almost overnight, to the point that someone had even confessed to him. At the start of school, that would have been unimaginable.
But the real problem was how long he could continue delaying the inevitable. Should he distance himself from Horikita? That would certainly look suspicious. But even if he stayed close to her as usual, he would still attract suspicion as long as he remained by her side.
Their list of enemies was definitely growing—or rather, his was.
He needed to keep Chabashira-sensei satisfied. There was a traitor in the class. Sakayanagi had also taken an interest in him.
And most importantly, there was the existence of Kumagawa Misogi.
Out of all his problems, that existence was the most dangerous one for Ayanokouji at the moment.
He needed to deal with the recording Kushida had mentioned, if it truly existed. Otherwise, his high school life would be as good as over.
After calling for Hirata, Ayanokouji returned to Horikita.
"Hirata's on his way." Ayanokouji said.
"Good." She gave a small nod.
"So, what do you think?"
Horikita got straight to the point.
"It's just like Chabashira-sensei said. This exam will be difficult. The bar is high, and the partner system makes it worse. On top of that, if another class creates the questions we have to solve, the test could become extremely difficult. Depending on how they word them, even simple questions could look impossible."
"That's true. This time, it isn't just about studying. We need to be creative," said Horikita.
"Creative aside, I feel like Chabashira-sensei was trying to hint at something in her explanation earlier."
"Yes, I noticed," she replied quietly. "You pay close attention to people, so I'm sure you understand that the school hides hints in everything. The three key points she mentioned were that the short test won't affect our grades, that the criteria for the combined score hasn't been decided yet, and that our partners will be determined after the short test."
Ayanokouji nodded inwardly at her analysis.
It seemed that after the sports festival, she had truly grown in some ways. She no longer rushed forward blindly or relied only on arrogance.
Not long after, Hirata arrived and joined them. "Sorry to keep you waiting. You wanted to discuss plans, right?"
Hirata then called Karuizawa over to join them. Though she glared at the group as if it were a great nuisance, she still came over in the end.
"Sorry. I thought we should talk things over right away. I'd like to begin now, if that's fine."
"Huh? Wait, right here? No way. If we're going to talk, we might as well go to Pallet. Right, Yousuke-kun?" asked Karuizawa.
She tightly hugged Hirata's arm and leaned against him. It was her usual way of getting what she wanted. She had been doing that ever since they first started dating. Incidentally, Pallet was a café on school grounds that mostly catered to girls. During lunch breaks and after class, it was often crowded.
Ayanokouji's eyes met Karuizawa's for a brief moment.
For some reason, she quickly let go of Hirata's arm.
Then—
"Excuse me, would it be alright if I joined you too? Is that okay?"
With a smile, Kushida unexpectedly asked to join their discussion.
Karuizawa and Hirata obviously did not mind her presence. In fact, they seemed happy that Kushida wanted to join. Ayanokouji also had no objection. But he glanced at the girl beside him and wondered how she would respond.
"I'm... fine with you joining us. You understand our class very well, Kushida-san. Besides, I wanted to hear several opinions, and I was planning to invite you anyway," Horikita replied.
Horikita had agreed immediately, almost as if she had saved herself the trouble of calling out to Kushida first.
That was a surprising move.
"Really? In that case, can I also bring Kumaga—huh? Where's Kumagawa-kun?" When Kushida looked toward his seat, the person in question was already gone.
Without anyone noticing, he had likely left the classroom already.
"Why would you even want to bring Kumagawa-kun...?" Karuizawa's face immediately soured the moment Kushida mentioned inviting him.
"I mean, aren't we going to discuss our plans for the exam? Especially with the pairing system, shouldn't we include Kumagawa-kun and think about what we're going to do with him? If we don't solve that problem, then it's guaranteed at least one pair will be expelled by the end of this exam."
After hearing that explanation, the rest of the group immediately fell silent.
Each of them wore uncomfortable expressions after being forced to face that reality.
"For now, why don't we focus on figuring out how the pairings will be decided," Ayanokouji said. "Worrying about him right now won't lead anywhere. Besides, the person in question has already disappeared, so it's better if we discuss things among ourselves for the time being."
Ayanokouji suggestion was met with an approval nod from the others.
"Now that that's settled, could you three head over to Pallet first? I have a few things to take care of." Horikita looked at the three of them as she spoke.
Kushida, Karuizawa, and Hirata agreed without any particular objections and headed straight for the Pallet café.
Kushida, for her part, took a glance at where Horikita and Ayanokouji had remained. It seemed the two of them were discussing something, but there was no way for her to hear it.
Without lingering any further, Kushida continued walking with the other two.
The distance between the main school building and Keyaki Mall, where Pallet was located, was not far at all. Especially when Keyaki Mall had been designed to be easily accessible to all students within the school grounds. It served as the main hub for leisure and shopping outside class hours.
"Ah, can you two go on ahead first?" Kushida suddenly stopped halfway to Pallet café.
"What's wrong, Kushida-san?" Karuizawa asked, tilting her head.
"I think I forgot something in the classroom. You two can go first, I'll catch up later."
Without waiting for their reply, Kushida turned around and headed in the opposite direction of the café.
Of course, that was a lie.
"Now then... at a time like this, where would he be?"
Kushida quietly sorted through her thoughts, trying to guess his location based on his usual habits and strange way of thinking.
There were several places he could be. However, since this was what he liked to call a special kind of time, only one or two places came to mind. For now, Kushida decided to check the first one, especially since she was still near the main school building.
She climbed the stairs and made her way to the rooftop.
As expected, it was empty.
Well, considering how close Keyaki Mall was to the school building, it was hardly surprising that very few students chose to spend their time here when a mall was only a short walk away.
Kushida then climbed the ladder attached to the rooftop bulkhead. There, she found the person she had been looking for.
He was lying down, covering his face with a Shounen Jump magazine.
"Enjoying your Monday Shounen Jump time, Kumagawa-kun?" She casually lifted the magazine from his face.
『Hmm? Huh? I thought you would've gone out with the others... Anyway, hey there, Kushida-chan.』He greeted her with his usual smile,『You know I can see your underwear from this angle, right? Well, it's not like I mind a little reward like this. In that case, let me enjoy it a bit mor—』
Before he could finish, a kick landed directly on his chin without the slightest hesitation.
"Could you not start with harassment the moment we meet? What am I supposed to do if I start getting used to it?" Kushida spoke in a flat tone, almost completely emotionless.
Her underwear being seen was one thing, but getting used to this kind of treatment would be a problem. In many ways, that would be troubling for her already unhealthy personality.
『Hahaha, how rude. Aren't you the one standing over me in such an exciting way that I know I always enjoy? 』
He laughed.
It was the kind of annoying laugh that made it clear he was enjoying himself, and he did not look bothered by the kick either—rather, he looked as if he had not felt any pain despite the considerable amount of force behind it, which only made Kushida want to kick him again.
『But I guess we're like family at this point, so maybe I can't blame you. 』
"...Like family?"
In other words, not family?
It was such a strange phrase that the meaning did not fully register in her mind. Neither the intent nor the reason behind it was clear.
『By the way, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be planning Horikita-chan's downfall or something? 』
"Hmm? Ah... that. I am planning to, of course. But aren't you the one in trouble right now? What are you going to do?"
『Trouble? Did I somehow stumble into a predicament without being aware of it? Or perhaps, I've committed some unconscious transgression against a third party without realizing it myself? 』
"I'm not talking about that..."
Just how did he manage to entertain the idea of 'unintentional wrongdoing' as a first instinct? Kushida wondered what kind of psychological gymnastics his mind had to perform to even consider that as a viable option. But still, the idea of him getting into trouble unknowingly, and him being an accidental villain to others unknowingly, were equally possible in Kushida's eyes.
But that was not the issue.
"It's about the next exam. Aren't you basically doomed with the pairing system? But setting the pairing system aside, what are you going to do about your scores? If things keep going like this, you're going to be expelled, you know?"
Honestly, passing the exam alone was not an impossibility. If one were to calculate the probability, it was certainly non-zero.
But the hurdle was so high for the average student that it was practically impossible without a partner. Unless they could consistently score around ninety points in each subject, that was a different story.
Kushida thought that someone like Kouenji could probably clear this exam alone if he wanted to.
However, the real problem was not the overall seven hundred points.
Most people naturally saw that as the biggest hurdle. Anyone would instinctively think that the higher the number, the greater the difficulty. That kind of thinking worked especially well for an exam like this.
But that was not the true problem.
It was the sixty-point minimum in each subject.
If someone scored below sixty in even one subject, the result would be expulsion for the pair.
The only saving grace of that rule was that the sixty points were based on the pair's combined score, which should normally go over sixty if both students studied even a little. But the problem with that was Class D. And above all, Kumagawa himself, whose scores were so terrible they could almost be called a natural disaster.
Anyone paired with him would inevitably be handed a death sentence—in other words, expulsion.
『Are you talking about the sixty-point thing? 』
Kushida nodded.
It seemed Kumagawa was at least aware of his predicament.
Even so, he did not look nervous in the slightest, which made Kushida think he might have some kind of plan to save himself in this exam.
Or so she thought.
『What should I do, Kushida-chan? At this rate, aren't I going to get expelled? Can you save me? Help me!』With exaggerated dramatics that could only be called shameless, Kumagawa begged for Kushida's help. Yet she could not find even a trace of sincerity in his words.
"So you don't have any plan? None at all?"
『I mean, what can I do? If the pairing system sticks me with someone like Ike-kun or Yamauchi-kun, then no matter how you look at it, it's instant expulsion for both of us, hahahaha. 』
Once again, he laughed.
Well, what he was saying was fairly obvious, and there was nothing Kushida could object to, or wanted to object to. It was factually true, and it was clear that he fully understood the position he was in.
Which meant this was hardly something a person should be laughing about.
If someone from the class heard him saying that, he would probably become public enemy number one. Though, considering his current reputation, the difference would be so small Kushida might not even notice it.
Because of that, she could not help but doubt his carefree attitude.
『Hmm? Are you worried about me by any chance? 』Kumagawa tilted his head.
"Well, I wouldn't exactly call it worry... but it's definitely going to make things harder for me in the future. If you get expelled, that is."
It would definitely make things far more troublesome for Kushida now that he was already in the same boat as her.
『Don't make such a sad face, Kushida-chan. 』
"I'm not making a sad face though?"
It was closer to pity than sadness.
And more pity for herself than for Kumagawa.
Ignoring her reply, Kumagawa slowly stood up from where he had been sitting and looked out over the school grounds visible from the rooftop bulkhead.
『Whether I like it or not, I'll probably have to leave this elite academy someday too. It'll become a place too difficult for me to stay in, and I'll be forced to leave. But even so, it'd be a boring turn of events if I were expelled because of my own mistake. And I definitely don't want Anshin'in-san loomed over me in my dream if that happens.』Said Kumagawa, 『So maybe I'll think about it. A strategy to avoid expulsion. 』
Whether he was trying to make himself look cool or not, it seemed he had finally found the motivation to act.
『』『』『』『』『』
After talking with Kumagawa for quite some time, Kushida left him alone after he said he had no intention of joining the discussion when she asked him earlier during their conversation.
And by this point, she was already quite late.
When she arrived at the Pallet café, Kushida stepped into the already crowded store and looked around to find where the others were seated.
Thankfully, Hirata noticed her as soon as she entered and signaled to her from afar.
"Sorry I'm late. I had something to take care of after going back for my things." Kushida approached the table with an apologetic smile.
Seated there were Horikita, Ayanokouji, Hirata, and Karuizawa. And for some reason, she also noticed Sudou had joined the discussion. Kushida only gave him a brief greeting.
"Since you're a little late, Kushida-san, maybe I should explain what we've discussed so far," Hirata offered.
Then he began summarizing things for her.
Even though she had arrived late, the discussion had not gone very far. Most of it had been about the pairing system, how partners might be decided, and whether there was some loophole they could use to influence the results.
Surprisingly, they had reached a fairly plausible conclusion.
"So it's based on scores?" Kushida asked.
"We can infer that from the process and likely results," Horikita replied. "The pairs would be made by matching a high-scoring student with a low-scoring student. For example, if I scored one hundred points and Sudou-kun scored zero, then we would be the pair with the largest gap between our scores. That would also create a balanced result overall, since our scores would offset each other.
"But wouldnt that make the average student at risk?"
Poor performers would be paired with the top students, but students in the middle would most likely be paired with one another. That meant the average students could end up in the most unstable position. It also explained why the short test was likely set at a somewhat higher difficulty level. While that might make it harder to accurately measure everyone's academic ability, it still seemed possible for the school to use it as a basis for arranging the pairs.
"Which is why, could you help us ask some upperclassmen if they know anything? Of course, I'll ask some seniors from the soccer club as well, and you can ask any seniors you're close to. Would that be alright, Kushida-san?" said Hirata.
"Of course," Kushida replied immediately.
To be fair, the pairing system was troublesome even from her point of view. Getting more information about it was something she definitely wanted, so she had no reason to refuse.
Horikita then clapped her hands lightly, drawing everyone's attention at the table.
"Now that we've discussed the pair system, we can move on. But there's one more thing. Which class do we nominate as our opponent Which class should we nominate as our opponent? Personally, I think we should target Class B." Before hearing anyone else's opinion, she stated her own. "It goes without saying, but their overall academic ability is their biggest weakness. Class B is below both Classes A and C when it comes to studies."
Even though Sakayanagi's class, which had previously been Class A, had fallen to Class C, that did not change the fact that many of its students were academically superior to those in the other classes. Meanwhile, Ichinose's class, now Class A, was far more balanced and academically stable than the rest. It was also fairly obvious that Ryuuen's class ranked below them in academics.
Because of that, deliberately challenging an academically stronger class would be close to suicide, which made Horikita's suggestion reasonable.
However, Hirata offered his own view.
"I agree with you, Horikita-san. But Classes A and C will naturally think the same way. If Class B is the weakest academically, then multiple classes will probably target them. That could be bad for us."
Hirata began writing out a possible scenario in his notebook.
Class C nominates Class D → No conflict with other classes → Class D becomes the target.
Class A nominates Class B → Wins the lottery → Class B becomes the target.
Class B nominates Class A → No conflict with other classes → Class A becomes the target.
Class D nominates Class B → Loses the lottery → Class C becomes the target by default.
"Even if this is the worst-case scenario, it's still possible," said Hirata.
"Whoa, that'd be terrible. We'd have to solve questions made by the smart kids, and then make questions for them too, right? There's no way we'd win," Karuizawa said as she looked at the scribbles in Hirata's notebook.
"Yes, you're right. The other classes will probably target Class B. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't do the same," Horikita replied. "We have to do everything we can to increase our chances of winning."
She did not seem concerned about possibly losing the lottery.
"There's clearly an academic gap between Classes A and C, isn't there? I'm curious how big the difference is between us and Class B," Ayanokouji suddenly asked.
Naturally, Horikita answered him.
"Even if they've dropped in ranking, there's no doubt Class C is stronger academically. But I don't think the gap between them and Class A is overwhelming. There does seem to be a larger difference between Classes A and B, though. Hmm... I'll need to look into that."
Horikita was likely thinking about how Class D performed academically, and how little they truly knew about the other classes. In that sense, the school may have intended for students to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of the other classes themselves.
And based on points alone, they could not judge academic ability.
For example, if Ichinose's class turned out to be stronger academically than Sakayanagi's class, the results could become far more complicated. Perhaps that was one reason exams like this existed.
"In any case, I think class B should still be our target. Even though class C is the closeset to our class, it would be a suicede to attack them, and it would be btter if we can dragged class B down. With that having Class B as a target hasn't changed. Let's assume one class will go after them, whether it's us or not."
While targeting Class C could lower their points, it was not a realistic option if Class D could not compete with them academically.
That left Class B as the only practical choice.
"It seems everyone agrees with Horikita-san's plan, so I'll support it too," said Hirata.
Hirata likely disliked the idea of overlooking risks, which was why he had laid out several possible outcomes first.
"Thank you. I think we can move on to the next discussion..." Horikita's tone immediately turned sour.
"Honestly, I don't know what to make of this discussion, or rather, this problem."
She looked around at everyone at the table with a complicated expression.
"What should we do regarding Kouenji-kun and Kumagawa-kun...?"
"....."
Everyone else fell silent as well.
Rather than a question, the way Horikita said it sounded more like a statement.
After speaking, she picked up the teacup in front of her and elegantly took a sip.
"As you all know, we have an odd number of students. That means one person will have to take the exam alone, without a partner. And in this exam, going solo is practically a one-way ticket to expulsion. To be honest, other than Kouenji-kun, I can't imagine anyone in our class being able to pull that off."
But Horikita was not finished.
"And then there's the problem of Kumagawa-kun. I don't know how he managed to enter this school with scores like his, but anyone paired with him would also be in danger of expulsion."
Now they were facing two major problems.
Kouenji and Kumagawa.
In Kouenji's case, the issue was whether he would cooperate or not.
The ideal pairing would be to match stronger students with weaker ones, which meant the number of useful combinations was limited.
If someone with high scores like Kouenji ended up paired with Horikita, Hirata, or Kushida, then one or two weaker students would likely be left in a terrible position. So the real issue with him was whether he would cooperate or not.
As for Kumagawa, the problem was also the pairing itself.
But in his case, it was not only about who would be paired with him.
It was also about raising his scores.
With the sixty-point minimum required in each subject through combined scores, someone could still fail if Kumagawa scored in the single digits again and the other student could not make up the difference. At the same time, they still needed to reach the total seven hundred point requirement. In other words, his partner would have to carry him while meeting the overall standard, otherwise, the burden called Kumagawa would drag them both into expulsion.
Honestly, he was trouble in every direction.
"About that..."
"Do you have something to say, Ayanokouji-kun?"
Horikita turned toward him, and everyone else at the table did the same.
"If it's about Kumagawa, I can pair up with him if nobody else wants to."
The moment he said that, the others looked at him as if he had a death wish.
"Are you sure, Ayanokouji-kun? You don't need to force yourself if you don't want to..." Hirata asked with concern.
To be fair, Ayanokouji's previous exam scores had been average at best. So when he volunteered to partner with Kumagawa, the others, especially Hirata looked genuinely worried.
"If it's just about the scores, I can manage somehow."
"Really? Are you hiding another one of your abilities like during the sports festival?" This time, it was Horikita who looked at him strangely. Unlike Hirata's worried gaze, Horikita's eyes were filled with skepticism.
Ayanokouji understood where she was coming from. To be honest, she had probably already noticed that he was still holding himself back, but chose not to say it aloud.
"Of course, I'd have to study like crazy. But it should be doable. I'm a fast learner, after all."
"Hold on, hold on! Wait a minute!" Sudou, who had been quiet until now, suddenly cut in. "Instead of Ayanokouji, why don't we just pair Kumagawa with Kouenji? If that narcissistic jerk gets stuck with a guy like him, he'd actually have to put in some effort, right? He'd have to try for once if he doesn't wanna get expelled, right?"
The others fell silent.
"What? Did I say somethin' weird?" Sudou asked.
"No, it's just... I'm surprised. That was far more observant than I expected from you."
Horikita had likely assumed he would contribute nothing useful to the discussion. Because of that, Sudou's unexpected opinion seemed to shock her more than usual.
"Of course, what you're suggesting is possible, Sudou-kun," Horikita continued. "But the problem isn't as simple as forcing Kumagawa-kun onto him. The real issue is whether Kouenji-kun would agree. In the first place, pairing someone with Kumagawa-kun is only possible if someone willingly accept that role because of his low score. If we told Kouenji-kun to pair with him, there's also the possibility that he would intentionally lower his own score, get paired with another strong student, and leave someone else to take the exam alone."
"So in the end, the problem is Kumagawa, huh...?"
"That's right." Horikita nodded.
To be honest, Horikita herself could pair with Kumagawa. However, the number of academically capable students in Class D was limited, and there was also the risk factor, something she had no intention of taking lightly. Even someone as dependable as Hirata seemed hesitant when it came to being paired with Kumagawa because of his atrocious academic ability.
Which meant that, if things came down to it, someone would have to be sacrificed.
"Then, instead of Ayanokouji-kun, I can pair with Kumagawa-kun." Hirata spoke after a long pause.
"Yousuke-kun...?" Karuizawa looked at him worriedly.
"It's okay, Karuizawa-san. If it's about the pairing, I should be able to manage somehow. Besides, it wouldn't be right to place that burden on Ayanokouji-kun. That would be unfair to him."
Ayanokouji looked at Hirata curiously.
The idea of sacrifice—of forcing someone to be a martyr, was likely something Hirata could not accept. That was probably why he had stepped forward and tried to take Ayanokouji's place. But the fact that he would volunteer despite his obvious hesitation made Ayanokouji feel that something in Hirata's mindset was off.
"No. Hirata, you can't pair with Kumagawa."
"...Why? Wouldn't it be unfair if you were the one forced to pair with Kumagawa-kun? Wouldn't it be better if I did it instead?"
Despite looking calm, Hirata's tone had changed slightly, though not enough for Karuizawa, who was sitting beside him, to notice.
Based on ability alone, Hirata should have been capable of pairing with Kumagawa even with the risk involved. Though it certainly seemed dangerous, he would likely be able to manage if he truly pushed himself.
Ayanokouji remained silent for a few moments.
Then, after considering his words, he answered.
"It's not about whether it's fair or unfair, at this point, the class can't afford to lose you. You're one of the key people holding it together. If you were expelled, our situation would only get worse. That's why it's not a good idea for someone like you, Horikita, or Kushida to pair with him."
Since those three were the ones holding the class together, pairing any of them with Kumagawa and risking their expulsion right now would maybe seal Class D's fate. Their dream of reaching Class A before graduation would vanish.
Forget "maybe," the chances were extremely good.
That kind of situtaion is perfectly plausible.
And so—Ayanokouji couldn't simply leave it at that.
"I agree with Ayanokouji-kun."
Thankfully, Horikita stepped in before Hirata could respond.
"Even you too, Horikita-san..." He looked at her with a conflicted expression.
"Don't misunderstand. It's not as though I'm pleased with this situation. But what Ayanokouji-kun said is correct, to some extent. At this stage of the competition, Class D cannot afford to lose its key people if we intend to graduate from Class A."
She then looked toward Ayanokouji once again with the same skeptical eyes as before.
"And if Ayanokouji-kun wants to pair with Kumagawa, then that means he has confidence in his academic ability. With that in mind, I approve of his nomination."
Hearing that, Hirata could not offer a rebuttal.
Sudou and Karuizawa also seemed to accept Horikita's conclusion.
"Kushida-san..."
Hirata turned toward her.
"Hmm... Of course, it doesn't feel right to suddenly place that burden on Ayanokouji-kun. But if he's confident in his ability, then I can only say I trust his judgment. I just hope he doesn't get expelled because of it. That's all."
Kushida said those words with a bright smile and cheerful encouragement.
But Ayanokouji only felt emotionally wounded.
Especially because those words had come from the person who likely wanted him expelled the most. Still, perhaps time would deal with that lingering contradiction on its own.
In the end, the group reached a unanimous decision.
Ayanokouji would pair with Kumagawa for the exam.
"But what about Kouenji-kun? We can't just leave him alone, can we?" Karuizawa asked.
"For now, we'll leave him be. We still have a week before the test starts. In the meantime, I'll think of something."
Horikita spoke as though she had already decided.
"Now then, for the next topic—"
Though there had been a few moments of friction during the discussion, everyone had eventually settled on a direction, and the meeting broke up a little after four in the afternoon.
Hirata and Sudou both left for their respective clubs, while Karuizawa followed Hirata.
Kushida also left to take care of her own matters.
That left only Horikita and Ayanokouji in the Pallet café.
"What are you planning?"
She immediately got to the point.
"What are you talking about?"
"You suddenly nominated yourself to be paired with Kumagawa-kun. You, who usually avoids standing out and insists on acting mediocre, suddenly taking the initiative like that... You must have some kind of intention."
Horikita's gaze carefully examined him from top to bottom.
What she said was not wrong.
If Ayanokouji were paired with Kumagawa, then he would almost certainly have to carry Kumagawa's scores by himself if the latter ended up scoring in the single digits again. And if that happened, Ayanokouji's own scores would likely shock many people if he managed to average around ninety points.
For someone like Horikita, who knew how much he preferred to stay unnoticed, his actions were clearly contradictory.
"I have my own reasons. Let's leave it at that."
"So you have no intention of telling me?"
"That's right."
Ayanokouji did not hesitate.
However, Horikita was the furthest thing from undemanding.
"Aren't we both members of Class D? Is it something you absolutely cannot tell me?"
"Who knows..."
Ayanokouji did his best to avoid answering.
"But Horikita, regarding the pairings, it would be best if you withhold the information about how they're decided from the class. At least until just before next week's test."
"Withhold it? Why... Ah."
Just as she was about to ask, Horikita seemed to reach the answer on her own.
"Is it to make use of the timing?"
"That's right." Ayanokouji nodded.
He did not explain any further.
Horikita seemed to understand enough from that short exchange, and there was no need to put everything into words. If handled well, the information itself could become useful depending on when it was revealed.
Besides, saying too much here would only lessen its value.
Horikita quietly accepted it and gave a small nod.
Now, all that remained was to prepare for next week's test.
『END』
『』『』『』『』『』
Here you go peasants, another chapter.
Anyway, that's it for today's chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it.
[Thanks for reading!]