The first day of Final Exam.
For this Advanced Nurturing High School, every Special Exam is a war without smoke.
The class teacher Majima Tomoya stepped on the preparation bell and walked into the classroom. His serious face looked particularly upright today.
He slapped the lesson plan in his hand on the podium and looked around at the students below.
"The final Passing Score about Final Exam."
Majima's voice echoed in the quiet classroom.
"After calculation by School Authority, the total score Passing Score for this two-person partnership exam is set to be - 692 points."
If it were Class D or Class C, someone might even whisper and calculate it after hearing this number.
If calculated based on the total score, 692 points for two people combined, on average, each person does not even need to score 43 points per subject.
For Class A, this is as low as a joke. As long as it is not an extremely difficult question, it can be overcome.
"Passing is not your goal."
Majima also seems to know that this score poses no threat to Class A, "Your goal is to defeat Class B. Don't capsize in the gutter."
"Okay, let's start distributing test papers."
With the rustle of test papers being passed from the front row to the back, the originally relaxed atmosphere tightened instantly.
The subjects on the first day are Japanese Language, English, society, and Mathematics.
Fifty minutes for each subject.
When the first Japanese Language test paper was spread out on the table, Kazehara Tetsu turned the pen in his hand and scanned the test questions.
"Is this the question Class B asked..."
He glanced briefly and felt confident.
It is not full of malicious traps or arcane knowledge as previously expected.
These questions show an extremely "orthodox" level of difficulty, both in terms of selection of materials and questions.
The difficulty level is indeed above average, and the knowledge points tested are very comprehensive and in-depth. If you usually just fish in troubled waters, you will definitely have a hard time in front of this test paper.
But for students like Class A who never relax in their studies, this is just a "somewhat challenging" exercise.
There is no such problem that makes people blind at first glance and completely unable to understand the meaning of the question.
"So gentle, Honami."
Time passes quietly in the flow of pen and ink.
One subject after another.
Until the last class in the afternoon...Mathematics.
This is the real highlight.
Not only because Mathematics is the easiest to widen the points difference, but also because on the other side of the battlefield Class D and Class C.
Kazehara Tetsu answered the questions very quickly. When he finished writing the Mathematics test paper, there were still thirty minutes before the exam ended.
He stopped writing and looked out the window.
"The exam is over. Everyone stops writing and collects papers!"
With the command from Majima Tomoya, the long day finally came to an end.
"Phew... so exhausted."
"Hey, have you figured out the last big question Mathematics? How on earth do you do that?"
"I think it's a bit difficult to read English, there are so many new words..."
While packing their schoolbags, the students gathered together in twos and threes to work on the answers.
Kazehara Tetsu did not participate in this meaningless discussion.
He packed up his things, carried his schoolbag on one shoulder, and walked straight out of the classroom.
Walking out of Teaching Building, the cold wind hit my face.
Most students did not choose to go back to Dormitory directly or go have fun.
There are still subjects left tomorrow, and the price of failure is Expulsion, which forces everyone to go to Library or a coffee shop for the final sprint.
Kazehara Tetsu was walking alone in the corridor of Teaching Building.
Although "Kazehara Group" still exists, at this critical moment, Ichinose Honami is busy appeasing Class B's emotions after finishing the exam, and everyone at Class A also has their own arrangements.
Just when he was about to walk out of Teaching Building, a familiar figure appeared in his field of vision.
Kushida Kikyo.
Normally, she should be surrounded by countless friends at this moment, like the sun, discussing topics such as "Although it is difficult, let's work together and try our best tomorrow."
But now, she is alone.
She seemed to be waiting for someone, or maybe she was just standing here in a daze.
When she saw Kazehara Tetsu approaching, her body visibly stiffened.
But in just a moment, she adjusted herself and put on the smile with that symbol on her face.
"Ah, isn't this Kazehara-kun? What a coincidence."
Her voice still sounded full of energy, as if the slightly gloomy figure from her back just now was just Kazehara Tetsu's illusion.
"How was the exam? It should be easy for everyone at Class A, right?"
Kazehara Tetsu stopped and his eyes fell calmly on her face.
Although she was smiling, her eyes were bloodshot.
"It's okay."
Kazehara Tetsu did not expose her disguise, but just replied lightly.
"Thanks to Class B, the questions were asked in a very orderly manner. But you..."
"Standing here blowing the cold wind, are you waiting for someone? Or... are you reviewing the Mathematics exam just now?"
Hearing the word "Mathematics", Kushida Kikyo's smile instantly froze for a second, and then became a little forced.
"Ha, haha... Yes, Mathematics is indeed a bit difficult... I am also worried about whether I can do well..."
"Are you worried about whether you can do well in the exam, or are you worried about... the outcome of the bet?"
A cold voice suddenly broke into the conversation between the two.
"...Horikita."
Kushida Kikyo looked at the visitor, and the smile on his face finally lost its hold and became a little stiff.
Horikita Suzune stood still in front of the two people.
She didn't look at Kazehara Tetsu, all her attention was focused on the "trouble" in front of her.
No pleasantries, no courtesy.
Horikita Suzune directly raised the core issue.
"Kushida."
"This Mathematics exam... how sure are you?"
This is a question that does not require euphemism.
According to their bet, Single Subject Math Score determines the outcome.
Kushida Kikyo is silent.
"... sure?"
Kushida Kikyo repeated the word with a self-deprecating sneer on his lips.
"Horikita Since you are so anxious to come over and ask me, you must have done well in the exam, right?"
"Two points is a reasonable estimate. I have checked all the questions twice... My estimated score is 98 points."
98 points.
That is almost Perfect Score.
Even without cheating or knowing the questions in advance, with absolute hard power, I achieved a lot of points.
Upon hearing this number, Kushida Kikyo's shoulders visibly slumped.
Of course she knew that Horikita Suzune would not lie about this kind of thing. That woman was too arrogant to even bother to falsely report her scores.
"98 points..."
"Heh..."
Kushida Kikyo looked at Horikita Suzune with an extremely complicated look, and then glanced at Kazehara Tetsu next to him with a look on his face.
"It seems... you have colluded with each other a long time ago."
"Ryuen That bastard... actually betrayed me at this time."
She gritted her teeth, a trace of resentment flashed in her eyes, but more of it was powerlessness.
The moment she saw the test paper in the examination room, her mind went blank.
The answer I had memorized by heart didn't add up at all.
The huge psychological gap and the panic that followed prevented her from performing even half of her usual level.
"Looking at my expression now... you should also know what's going on, right?"
"There is no answer... I made a lot of mistakes in my panic. Probably... only about eighty points."
Eighty points.
Normally, this might be an acceptable result.
But in front of 98 points, this is a complete defeat.
"This time... you won, Horikita."