Class B's Plan

"...This is exactly the same as the test we took last week!"

Ichinose Honami let out a soft gasp, her face full of disbelief.

She turned to look at Kazehara Tetsu, sitting beside her with a calm expression. Her eyes were filled with confusion and shock.

"Kagihara... how did you know even the quiz questions would be the same as last year's? It's almost as if... you'd seen the script in advance!"

"Honami, tell me: how difficult did you find the three bonus questions at the end of last week's quiz?"

"The difficulty... was very high."

Ichinose Honami thought back. "Especially the last mathematics question. It was beyond the level of what even ordinary university students could handle. Only a handful of people in Class B managed to solve even one of the three questions."

"Exactly. That's the point. If the school knew full well that these questions were far beyond what we've learned so far, why put them on the test? Was it to distinguish geniuses from ordinary students? Maybe that was part of it. But more importantly, they were a 'hint.'"

"A hint?"

"Yes, a hint."

"A hint that the 'rules' of This School aren't limited to what's written on paper. When a path looks like a dead end, there must be another shortcut leading to the exit."

"Questions that difficult mean the school doesn't expect us to earn points by solving them the 'normal' way. It's encouraging us to look for 'abnormal' methods. And when it comes to an exam, what's the most direct and effective 'abnormal' method?"

He turned to look at Ichinose Honami, who was deep in thought.

"...Getting last year's questions," Ichinose Honami concluded, following his line of reasoning.

"Exactly right."

Kazehara Tetsu smiled approvingly. "So from the very beginning, I reasoned that there was a strong chance the quiz's bonus questions and the upcoming Midterm Exam would use last year's versions. It's a way to screen the new students, but also a reward for those who know how to 'think about the rules behind the rules.'"

After hearing his analysis, Ichinose Honami fell completely silent.

She looked at the man in front of her, her heart swept by a storm of emotions.

What Kazehara Tetsu had demonstrated was an ability to see loopholes in the rules from an entirely different perspective.

After they chatted for a while, Ichinose Honami said she had something to do and had to leave first.

Ichinose Honami walked alone along the tree-lined path back to the Dormitory, then returned to the Pallet Cafe on the first floor.

As she pushed open the glass door, the wind chime rang out with a clear, crisp sound.

Ichinose Honami immediately spotted several familiar faces seated in a booth by the window.

Kanzaki Ryuji held a cup of coffee, his brows slightly furrowed as if he were pondering something. Across from him, Kobashi Yume and Shiranami Chihiro were quietly discussing some recently released desserts.

"Honami! Have you got time to come have coffee with us?" Shiranami Chihiro spotted her first and immediately smiled brightly, waving her over.

"Everyone's here." Ichinose Honami sat down in the empty seat beside Kanzaki Ryuji.

"I just met with Kazehara Tetsu from Class A."

"Kazehara Tetsu?"

Kanzaki Ryuji's brow furrowed even deeper. "The guy who got a perfect score on the quiz? What did you want with him?"

"I didn't seek him out. He asked to meet me."

Ichinose Honami recounted her conversation with Kazehara Tetsu in full.

She left nothing out, from the bonus questions on last week's quiz to his prediction that the Midterm Exam would very likely reuse last year's questions.

As she spoke, the atmosphere in the booth gradually grew more serious.

Everyone listened intently, their expressions shifting from curiosity to contemplation.

When Ichinose Honami finished speaking, the booth fell into a long silence.

Shiranami Chihiro was the first to break it, her voice tinged with doubt. "But... to predict that the school will reuse last year's exam just because of a few difficult questions—isn't that a bit of a leap? What if it's just a coincidence? What if the rules for this year's Midterm Exam have changed? If we spend all our time memorizing old questions, won't we be doomed?"

Kobashi Yume bit her lower lip, clearly troubled by the same question. "Right, Chihiro has a point. If we bet everything on the old questions and the exam turns out to be completely different, then Class B's score..."

"But the bonus questions on the quiz really were exactly the same as last year's. I confirmed that with my own eyes."

Ichinose Honami immediately countered, "There's no way to explain that as a coincidence. Besides, Kazehara mentioned that the teachers had hinted several times in class that we could respond to the rules 'flexibly.' That sounds like they're encouraging students to find 'abnormal' methods."

"I agree with Honami."

Kanzaki Ryuji, who had been silent until then, finally spoke. "It's a bold theory, but it holds up logically. This school is essentially a filter. It doesn't just test students' intelligence and physical ability; it also tests our ability to make use of the rules."

"Th-then what should we do?" Kobashi Yume asked, a little uncertain.

Ichinose Honami offered a suggestion. "We can memorize these past exam questions and focus on mastering the high-value ones. That would greatly raise our potential score on the Midterm Exam. But we can't rely entirely on the past questions. We have to keep studying the textbook too, so we don't lose easy points. That way, even if the exam is different, we can use our own abilities to maintain a solid baseline."

"A two-pronged strategy."

Kanzaki Ryuji's lips curved into a faint smile of approval. "We'll use a loophole in the rules to pursue a high score, while keeping up with our regular studies to secure a baseline. Ichinose, that's a very sound plan."

Shiranami Chihiro's eyes lit up, and she excitedly slapped the table. "Right, right! That way, we won't have to worry about surprises. If the old questions show up, we'll get a high score. If they don't, our solid foundation will still help Class B hold its ground in the class rankings. Honami, you're so smart!"

Kobashi Yume nodded again and again. "That's a great plan. It's foolproof!"

Seeing her classmates' enthusiasm rise, warmth welled up inside Ichinose Honami.

She knew that although everyone in Class B had a different personality, they could pull together as one as long as they shared a goal.

She suggested, "Since no one objects, let's bring this plan up at Class Meeting tomorrow and have the whole class vote on it."

"Haha, of course!" Shiranami Chihiro laughed like a little fox. "Haha... Honami, with how united our class is, I bet we won't even need a vote. Everyone will definitely support you."

Kanzaki Ryuji also showed a rare hint of a smile. "Then I'll see you at Class Meeting tomorrow. We need to get started right away. The Midterm Exam won't wait for us."

They chatted a little longer about the details, like how to divide up their study time and how to use the past questions to reinforce their learning. Then they finally went their separate ways.