Itozawa sat quietly in his dorm room, his gaze resting on the shadows cast by the table and chairs.
After a while, Sakagami-sensei's voice finally came from the shadows.
"Itozawa, you did well." Sakagami-sensei's voice was low, with a hint of approval. Although he had been dragged into this, he didn't seem to mind at all.
Then, without waiting for Itozawa to prompt him, he began explaining the school's examination system at an unhurried pace.
"The school has three types of exams," Sakagami-sensei's voice echoed through the dorm room. "The first is the Entrance Exam. It's generally a two-way evaluation of teachers and students."
Itozawa's brow furrowed slightly. He knew all about evaluating teachers, but evaluating students...
Sakagami-sensei continued, "On one hand, the students make sure their teachers show no signs of having fallen or become corrupted."
Itozawa looked even more surprised. He had thought it was simply an assessment of whether teachers were qualified. What was this?
The shadow seemed to notice Itozawa's puzzled look, and Sakagami-sensei offered a further explanation. "Some people are transformed after spending a long time in an energy-rich environment. That's what we call falling. Corruption, on the other hand, means being bought off by an organization outside the school. Whether it's an organization that supports humanity or one that opposes it, the school won't accept it.
"Some are even recruited by the financial cliques. That's why, generally speaking, the children of those cliques are assigned to either Class A or Class D. The difference is that Class A supports the Sakayanagi Family, while Class D opposes it."
Itozawa thought it over. It did seem to be the case. Sakayanagi went without saying; even Kiryuuin from the former Class 2-A was an admirer of Onijima, the Kouiku investor, so she naturally leaned toward the Sakayanagi Family. As for Kouenji and Ayanokouji in Class D, one called Sakayanagi a "little girl," while the other was the son of the White Room's director. Weren't they both on the front lines against the Sakayanagi Family?
As for Ishigami Kyo, and even Nanase and Amanawa later on, Sakayanagi wasn't in power by then, so there was no longer any question of who was close to whom.
But Itozawa remembered one exception. What was Kanzaki's deal?
Sakagami-sensei seemed to see the doubt on his face and explained, "As for the children of financial cliques in Class B, they're people the Sakayanagi Family is preparing to win over, so they're monitored less closely. Your classmate Kanzaki Ryūji, for example."
Itozawa nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes.
"On the other hand, there's the evaluation of students," Sakagami-sensei said, his voice turning serious. "The weaker students are abandoned right from the start, which is why the initial expulsions are enforced so strictly."
Itozawa nodded. He knew the school's competition was brutal, and only the strong could survive. That was also consistent with the Original Work: the expulsion requirements were strictest at the beginning. As for the later exams... It would be a joke to say the school knew nothing about the fights between students.
Sakagami-sensei continued, "But since this is a two-way evaluation, this exam only affects the teachers' ratings and the number of Energy Stones you receive. It doesn't affect your class's rating."
Itozawa frowned. "Then how are the ratings decided?"
"That's what the second type of exam is for," Sakagami-sensei explained. "It's the large-scale exam within your grade that you'll be taking next. It mainly evaluates the students. The capable rise to the top; the incapable fall behind."
As he considered Sakagami-sensei's words, Itozawa realized that every exam within a grade was an opportunity for a reshuffle. The students' positions could change dramatically depending on the results.
The generous rewards were enough to cause a major shake-up in the class rankings between grades. If this Entrance Exam didn't count toward the class-ranking points, and Ayanokouji pulled the same trick again, Class C would really be in danger. But it seemed Class A might end up dropping instead.
Itozawa hadn't expected to find himself wondering at that moment whether he should still stop Ayanokouji during the Deserted Island Exam.
Although it was a little odd, Sakagami-sensei paid it no mind. He continued telling Itozawa what he had intended to share. "But since Class A has better students overall, as well as a leader from the financial cliques who knows what's going on, its position generally won't change. Class C is the one in danger. After all, even if most of the students in Class D are a bunch of weaklings, they'd still be a formidable force if they were led by someone from the financial cliques."
After listening to him, Itozawa understood what he meant. He wanted Class B and Class C to form an Offensive Defensive Alliance. But that would put Class B at a disadvantage.
Besides, would Ryuen Kakeru really agree?
So Itozawa made no commitment and waited for Sakagami to continue.
Sakagami-sensei paused for a long while. When Itozawa still gave no response, he understood what that meant. His voice came from the shadow again, this time bringing up the third type of exam—the Cross-Grade Exam.
"The third type of exam," Sakagami-sensei said in a low, forceful voice, "is the Cross-Grade Exam. It usually takes place at the end of the school year. By then, each grade has usually formed several core groups, or even a single one.
"The purpose of the Cross-Grade Exam is to pit students from different grades against each other. This allows the school to identify the most outstanding students."
Itozawa nodded. He was beginning to understand the real purpose of this exam. The Cross-Grade Exam tested not only the students' abilities, but also their leadership and teamwork.
It could bring out the students' potential while exposing their weaknesses.
"For students, this exam is both an opportunity and a challenge." Sakagami-sensei's voice held a hint of seriousness. "Outstanding students can use it to distinguish themselves, while those who aren't strong enough may be eliminated."
Itozawa took a deep breath. He knew that he and his classmates in Class B had to prepare for the exam. They needed to improve their abilities, and learn how to survive and thrive in competition between different grades.
"Thank you, Sakagami-sensei. I know you don't have good intentions, but don't worry—I'll still be grateful to you," Itozawa said calmly. "We'll be ready for any challenge. If you want Class C to overtake Class B, you'd better make sure Ryuen Kakeru is ready."
Sakagami-sensei had nothing more to say. The shadow on the dormitory floor rippled faintly, then settled.
Itozawa stayed where he was. Only after half an hour had passed, with just half an hour remaining before Curfew Time, did he finally
confirm that Sakagami-sensei had left.
Then he got up at once, intending to use the opportunity to tell Kanzaki and Ichinose what he had learned, so they could prepare as well.
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