Chabashira Sae's gaze swept across the several exam papers spread out on the desk. Her fingertips hovered over them as she absentmindedly tapped the wooden surface.
She took a deep breath and silently told herself, Never mind. The data wouldn't lie.
That conclusion seemed to suppress some emotion, at least for the moment.
She looked up at Ayanokoji Kina, who stood quietly before her, and curled her lips into a faintly knowing smile. "Ayanokoji, you're a very interesting student."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough.
Chabashira Sae picked up a sheet showing the entrance exam results, then glanced at the quiz paper beside her, as if searching for a connection between them.
"I got the entrance exam results earlier and planned to think carefully about how to give each of you individual guidance, but..." She paused, her sharp gaze settling on Ayanokoji Kina's face.
"After seeing your results on this exam, I noticed something very interesting. I have to admit, I was quite startled at first."
Chabashira Sae pulled out a report card and pointed at the scores as she read them aloud. Her voice was deliberately calm, as if she were analyzing a puzzle. "Japanese: fifty. Math: fifty. English: fifty. Social studies: fifty. Science: fifty..."
When she finished, she slid the report card to the center of the desk and added, "For the record, you got fifty on this quiz, too. Every subject landed exactly at half the full score."
Chabashira Sae leaned forward slightly and looked from Ayanokoji Kina to Hoshino Kanade and Horikita Suzune. Emphasizing each word, she asked, "Do you understand what this means?"
Horikita Suzune, standing on the other side of the room, was drawn in by the question.
She leaned forward slightly and glanced over the report card, confirming the glaring row of "50"s.
Then, with unmistakable confusion and curiosity, she turned to Ayanokoji Kina. Her usually cool eyes were filled with scrutiny.
Kina, the one being questioned, showed almost no expression. She seemed to shrug casually and answered in a slightly dismissive tone, "It was just a kid messing around on a test. You shouldn't take it seriously." Her words sounded light and breezy.
Chabashira Sae furrowed her brows and got straight to the point. "Did you do it on purpose?"
She stared at Kina, pressing for the reason behind it. "Why take the test like that? Why control your scores so precisely?"
Kina didn't seem bothered by the blunt question. She still looked entirely unmoved, and simply replied, "It's fun."
The three words were crisp and decisive, tinged with indifference.
In fact, Hoshino Kanade had already briefed Kina on what to say.
Kina had followed her instructions.
As her gaze passed over Chabashira Sae's furrowed brows, a ripple stirred in Kina's heart.
Kanade had predicted Chabashira Sae's actions with such precision. After a brief moment of confusion, Kina was left feeling even more keenly that she could never measure up to her. (Of course, Kina was just overthinking it.)
She lowered her eyes and absentmindedly stared at a crease in her sleeve, rapidly replaying everything in her mind: from the tiny differences in the exam scores to the course of the conversation now. Kanade had anticipated every bit of it, without the slightest error.
Chabashira Sae fell silent for a few seconds.
She had prepared a whole speech about how Kina's scores revealed her ability to manipulate her results, but now it was completely useless.
Kina had admitted it so easily, without even bothering to offer a decent explanation.
It had completely thrown off Chabashira Sae's rhythm.
Chabashira Sae turned her gaze toward the window.
At some point, Hoshino Kanade had moved from leaning against the wall to resting against the window frame. She still wore the same air of indifference toward everything.
"What about you, Hoshino?" Chabashira Sae turned her scrutinizing voice toward her. "You got full marks in every subject on the entrance exam, and your written test skills are top-notch, but your interview evaluation was abysmal. Your scores in 'cooperation' and 'group spirit' nearly failed."
She folded her arms and demanded, "Can you tell me why you refuse to fit in? And haven't you considered improving your situation and earning more Class Points each month? With your abilities, you could easily help Class D earn more points, and benefit personally as well."
Hoshino Kanade turned her gaze back from the window and glanced lazily at Chabashira Sae. She answered without much energy, "I just think it doesn't matter which class I'm in."
Her tone was flat. "After all, I don't want to play those boring 'let's form personal bonds' games."
As for points, Hoshino Kanade clearly thought little of them. She waved a hand dismissively. "Points? So what if I don't have any? The Free Meal Set has me covered. I won't starve, even if I don't get full, and it's not like I can't get by."
As soon as this declaration of giving up rang out, Horikita Suzune's brows furrowed slightly.
Chabashira Sae looked at Hoshino Kanade's utterly indifferent, completely resigned attitude. She couldn't hide her disappointment and irritation.
An impolite but fitting thought flashed through her mind: This girl... is a quitter. She had given up entirely on the possibility of getting ahead, and even treated the precious Class Points as if they had nothing to do with her.
That feeling of helplessness, however, passed in an instant.
A more practical question immediately followed: what could she do with the three of them standing before her—Ayanokoji Kina, who could control her scores with precision; Hoshino Kanade, whose conduct was impossible to predict; and Horikita Suzune, who had plenty of ability but was prickly toward her classmates?
How could she get them to lead the class to Class A? Chabashira Sae's mind raced. It was a difficult question, but one she had to consider now.
Just then, the clock on the wall struck the hour.
Chabashira Sae snapped back to herself, glanced at her wristwatch, and quickly began gathering the documents on her desk.
"I have to go."
She picked up her coat and draped it over her arm, then stood. Her voice had returned to a teacher's brisk efficiency. "The staff meeting is about to start. I have to lock up here."
Chabashira Sae walked to the office door and took out her keys. "You three, head out now."
At her words, Horikita Suzune didn't look back at Chabashira Sae, or pay any further attention to Ayanokoji Kina or Hoshino Kanade. She simply set off first, heading straight for the door, her back still radiating an aloof, unapproachable air.
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