Chapter 264: Two Actors Matched Together
Chabashira Sae had already made it clear that this test would cover middle school knowledge.
The school's objective was to disrupt the students' actual grade rankings and influence their matching for the pairs.
The score control tactic adopted by Horikita Suzune could precisely and efficiently manage the grade rankings of every student.
This score control tactic wasn't exactly brilliant.
In essence, it was almost the same as Hirata Yosuke's "safety net tactic," except that in the details of its execution, some new problems would arise...
For example, a certain free-spirited and beautiful man.
"Koenji, I wonder if you have any differing opinions on my arrangements?"
Horikita Suzune was using the midterm exam rankings as a reference, and Koenji Rokusuke happened to be in tenth place.
But Koenji Rokusuke's grades were completely unpredictable!
Sometimes he could take first place, and sometimes he could drop to the very bottom.
Being paired with him—one really wouldn't know if it was good luck or bad luck.
"Not at all.
I quite approve of Horikita-girl's plan."
Koenji Rokusuke praised her casually.
"Then could I trouble you to score above 90 points?"
As one of the few high-tier performers in Class D, Horikita Suzune naturally didn't want to let his talent go to waste.
"That's hard to say...
What if I have an off-day and underperform?"
Koenji Rokusuke said while holding a small mirror, meticulously grooming his hair.
'Like hell you will!'
For a test at the middle school level, you're telling me you'll "underperform"?
"Sigh."
Horikita Suzune let out a helpless sigh: "Koenji-kun, I won't ask too much of you. But just one thing: please do not occupy a spot in the bottom ten. Otherwise, it will severely destabilize this fragile matching mechanism..."
"Alright."
Koenji Rokusuke agreed readily.
One just didn't know if he was the type to "read the message but reply with whatever he wants."
On the day of the test.
Once the exam papers were handed out, the questions were indeed very simple.
Honor students and average students could easily get a perfect score, and even the failing students could score above seventy.
If Horikita Suzune hadn't formulated the score control tactic in advance, the test results would have been a mess, and the associated pairings would have been even more chaotic.
Hikigaya Hachiman calculated the grade rankings and confirmed that his matched partner was Sato Maya.
"Yay!
To actually be matched with Hikigaya-kun, it must be the blessing of the God of Love!"
Sato Maya was overjoyed.
"I say, is there a possibility that it's just because your grades were too poor?"
Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
"Heehee~ such a small thing doesn't matter~~"
Sato Maya laughed lightheartedly.
"No, it matters a lot.
Don't forget, the final special exam papers are created by the opposing class.
The difficulty will likely be much higher than a normal exam."
Hikigaya's expression was serious.
Actually, he wasn't that nervous.
With his excellent grades and Sato Maya putting in just a little effort, it wouldn't be particularly difficult for the two of them to exceed the absolute safety line of 800 total points.
The reason he said this was purely to scare Sato Maya so that she would be more diligent in her studies.
"I'll work hard!
For Hikigaya-kun, and for Kei and Chiaki!"
Sato Maya instantly ignited an active fighting spirit for studying.
Regarding the pair matching, the reactions of the crowd on-site varied.
Some were wailing, obviously having been matched with a deadweight teammate.
Out of curiosity, Hikigaya looked in the direction of a certain "fake person."
"Why does it have to be him..."
One could see a look of deep gloom appearing on Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's usual deadpan face.
"I originally had absolutely no interest in this exam.
I didn't expect the matched partner to be 'Actor Boy'; this makes it a bit more playable!"
Koenji Rokusuke stood up and walked over to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's seat, staring down at him with a condescending, mocking gaze.
"Hehe~ two actors matched together. It looks like there will be a good show to watch in the future!"
Hikigaya had a face full of schadenfreude.
Even he couldn't predict that man's behavior; he just wondered if the "Masterpiece" could hold his ground.
"Whether you are willing or not, the final special exam will be taken in pairs.
For your teammate's sake, and also for your own, please make sure to study together and improve your grades as much as possible."
Horikita Suzune instructed seriously.
"Study together? How is that possible..."
"That's my line!"
Sudo Ken and Shinohara Satsuki were matched as partners. For the two of them, who were mutually hostile, this was an unacceptable situation.
"I'd rather be expelled than study with someone like you!"
Shinohara Satsuki spoke with venom.
"Don't make me laugh, you bottom-tier woman!"
Sudo Ken shouted loudly.
The two of them were already arguing incessantly early in the morning!
"If you don't want to tutor each other, you can join the study group held by Horikita-san, Kushida-san, and me after school."
Hirata Yosuke provided a new way out.
Hearing this, the two finally quieted down a bit.
Under the threat of expulsion, most of Class D joined the study group.
Hirata Yosuke even went out of his way to book a KTV room as a place for everyone to study.
Studying in a KTV room...
Why did this operation look so familiar?
That's right.
Hikigaya suddenly remembered that during the first semester, Ryuen Kakeru had hired him to tutor Class C, and the location had been a KTV private room.
After studying, they could also sing for a bit to relax; it could be considered a balance of work and play.
"Sato-san, you're too close."
"Just call me Maya."
"Alright, Maya."
"Ya~ Was the first step of changing the name really that easy to complete?"
Sato Maya wiggled her body excitedly, then looked up at him shyly: "So, Hachiman-kun, can I call you that from now on?"
"You can."
"So, can we start studying now?"
Hikigaya urged.
"Eh~ but I still want to talk to you~~"
Sato Maya held his arm and shook it while acting spoiled.
"Sorry, right now I only want to study."
Hikigaya emphasized again.
"Hmph~ okay."
Sato Maya pouted. Despite being unwilling, she still obediently took out her books and exercise sheets.
Seeing this scene, the other girls who were observing in secret all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hikigaya-kun really loves studying."
Wang Mei-Yu stayed in a corner, occasionally looking up to steal a glance.
A handsome face, plus a meticulous attitude toward studying—for a fellow honor student, this was definitely a plus!
After Kushida Kikyo noticed this from the side, alarm bells immediately rang in her heart!
'Dammit!
I can't have any more love rivals!'
"Mei-chan, there's a question I don't quite understand. Can I ask you for help?"
"Uh, okay."
Wang Mei-Yu had no choice but to withdraw her peeping gaze.
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