The Special Exam to Shape the Future Begins / Only Cry in Front of Me (5k)

However, because this Special Exam is for all students in the school, the Student Council has to avoid any appearance of impropriety and can no longer directly participate in the formulation and modification of specific rules as before. The tasks assigned to them are purely errand-running and document writing, which are unlikely to yield any useful information.

"But no matter how you look at it, the scale of this Summer Special Exam is unprecedented, and I really don't want to see these densely packed company information forms again..."

Amasawa Ichika stared blankly at the computer screen in front of her, mechanically moving her mouse. Her usual rants lacked energy, and she looked every bit the overworked corporate slave.

"Am I supposed to be the kind of person who just graduated and is already sending out resumes to every company? I'm still a high school sophomore, full of youthful energy."

"To correct you, it's often too late to look for a job right after graduation. If you're a college student, you have to start preparing for the Written Exam and interviews during the summer after graduation. The same goes for high school students, since Ichika isn't one of those Class A students who get guaranteed job placements."

Horikita Suzune focused intently on her work, while also correcting a flaw in Amasawa Ichika's words, who had never worked a day in his life, both in simulation and in reality.

"Just wait for Liang to come back... Ugh, so troublesome."

Ignoring Amasawa Ichika's childish tantrum for the moment, Horikita Suzune turned to look at her vice president Sakayanagi Arisu:

"How's the progress with Arisu? This report is due by 6:30 this afternoon."

"Just finished—phew, Mizowaki- senpai, could you please pick this up from the printer?"

"Okay, Vice President."

Upon hearing this, third-grader Mizowaki got up and stood guard by the printer. While waiting for all the documents to finish printing, he meticulously reviewed each page to ensure there were no printing problems, muttering to himself:

"Wow, there are so many famous companies and firms listed here. Several of them are within my selection range. If I can get a job at one of these companies, I feel like my future will be pretty much set."

The ideal situation for graduates is naturally that they can find a job before graduation, get a job offer from their desired company, and start working directly. Graduating from Class A is precisely the realization of this job offer opportunity. Therefore, students like Mizowaki, who are in Class 3-A, have already started targeting various large companies.

"Isn't Mizowaki- senpai planning to continue his studies?"

First Year Takahashi Osamu asked curiously.

"No, isn't the ultimate goal of going to a good university to get a job at a large, well-paid company? It's better to go straight for it."

As he sorted through all the printed materials, Mizowaki explained with a smile:

"That's the advantage of ANHS. As long as you graduate from Class A, you can immediately get into a big company that only graduates from top universities like the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University can get into. The average lifetime salary for graduates from those two universities is 460 million and 420 million respectively... Hmm, I'd be satisfied if I could earn half of that in my lifetime."

"However, for you First Year, it seems a bit too early to talk about salaries and jobs. Just enjoy your campus life first."

"Yes, thank you, senior."

After taking the documents from Mizowaki and checking them to make sure there were no problems, Horikita Suzune folded them up and put them in a file bag. She then got up to personally deliver them to the Academic Affairs Office, along with the other documents for the day.

"I'll help Suzune move--"

Perhaps because she couldn't stand sitting there for too long, Amasawa Ichika immediately came over and hurriedly helped Horikita Suzune move the documents:

"Let's go, let's go together."

"Alright."

Faced with Amasawa Ichika's semi-public slacking off, Horikita Suzune was too lazy to say anything to her. After all, the other party was originally an "unofficial staff member" that Kitagawa Ryo had specially sent in, and no matter how much she acted, she could never surpass Sakayanagi Arisu.

"Where do you want to go for this Ichika 'Summer Special Exam?"

After the two walked a distance from the Student Council activity room, Horikita Suzune, who was carrying a file bag, suddenly turned around and asked Amasawa Ichika the same question.

"Although I've only been dealing with these kinds of documents these days, Ichika should be able to tell that the school will be holding a Summer Special Exam to let students choose their own future paths. That's why they've been investigating and contacting so many different and diverse companies all at once."

Looking at the chart on top of her hand, which included everything from large national banks to small virtual Vtuber groups, Amasawa Ichika simply looked away, her tone slightly helpless:

"I haven't decided yet."

"Is it because of the White Room?"

"I can't say there was absolutely none. After all, I've spent more than half of my life there, both now and in the past, and I haven't had much contact with proper work or social affairs."

In reality, Amasawa Ichika is a pure White Room girl who was sent to the ANHS as an assistant to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, only to defect immediately. In the simulation, it was pretty much the same. Until the war between Yuki and Sakayanagi Arisu ended, she was still just a student.

In fact, none of the simulated trio actually work. Yuki, who is a teacher in the new generation's White Room, and Sakayanagi Arisu, who works at ANHS, are only half-employees, since their roles in their respective workplaces are not just simple employees.

Where's Suzune?

"There are a few areas that I'm very interested in, and it would be great to intern there to test my abilities if possible."

Following Horikita Suzune's pointing finger, Amasawa Ichika also tilted her head:

"Banking, catering industry, food blogger? Suzune's career choices are quite diverse."

"Because what you like and what you are good at often don't overlap, and they can change over time, just like how very few people have only one career aspiration from childhood to adulthood."

Horikita Suzune smiled slightly upon hearing this. She had originally intended to say more, but Amasawa Ichika had already spotted Karuizawa Kei and Shiina Hiyori seemingly walking into the Keyaki Mall together not far away.

"By the way, Suzune, do you remember that bet we made before?"

With a slightly sly wink towards Horikita Suzune, Amasawa Ichika confidently stated:

"I already feel it's almost here--"

"Suzune just needs to wait and obediently accept the bet when the time comes."

"... Can we talk about work as much as possible?"

"It's only good for a dog to back out!"

P. S.: Thank you for reading and subscribing.

py: <My goal is to become a master of magic!>

Chapter Sixty-Six: The Special Exam Towards the Future Begins

The start of the Summer Special Exam came earlier than students expected. Unlike the usual start in late July, this time it began a full two weeks earlier. The school released some information about the Summer Special Exam at the beginning of July, right after the students finished their Special Exam.

Soon, the students of ANHS realized the true intention behind the school's advance announcement.

This Summer Special Exam didn't last two weeks as usual; instead, the duration doubled, lasting a full month.

It's worth noting that even if you consider last year's week on the cruise ship as a continuation of the Summer Special Exam, it would only add up to three weeks. Now, however, it's going to be extended even further, causing a lot of discussion among students and generating numerous new posts on the campus forum.

In addition to the timing, the school also confirmed the rule that the exam content for the three grades would differ to some extent. In fact, everyone had expected this, since the last question in the First Year's Unanimous Special Exam was to select the class's opponent for the next Summer Special Exam. This means that the competition for the three grades should be conducted separately, and it is reasonable that the exam content would differ.

"But this difference isn't about the level of difficulty."

On the evening the rules were announced, Horikita Suzune, while pushing a shopping cart and shopping for groceries with Kitagawa Ryo in the fresh produce section of the Keyaki Mall, also brought up the topic herself:

"Our Student Council has been helping to process a lot of materials related to this Special Exam. Because I am the Student Council, I have more experience with this kind of thing. So in my opinion, the difference between the first and third years is the range of choices available."

"On the selection surface?"

"Well, simply put, the school offers more choices to third-year students, second-year students less, and First Year less. After all, everything needs to be done step by step. Some people need to learn this thing, some people need to know how to learn this thing, and some people just need to know what this thing is. That's it."

As someone who had actually worked a real job in her simulation, Horikita Suzune had a very positive impression of ANHS's approach:

"In my opinion, the best thing about this Special Exam is that it allows students to try as many industries as possible at a lower cost, and then find the industry they really want to work in in the future."

"After all, Liang also knows that it is not an easy thing for graduates to find a job. First, you have to submit your resume. After that, there is Written Exam, which is divided into online and offline Written Exam. Only after passing the online test can you go to the offline test. There is a basic ability test and a professional ability test. Then there is a group discussion selection. Only after passing the group discussion can you have an interview."

"The interview process involved several rounds. The first interview was one-to-many, the second was one-to-one, and the third was many-to-one... Only after overcoming numerous hurdles could I officially start the job. But the most painful part was that after finally passing all the tests, I found that the job didn't meet my initial expectations at all. As a result, quitting was difficult, and I was stuck in a limbo."

Japan companies place great importance on lifetime employment, thus placing high demands on employee loyalty. Frequent job hopping or resigning after only a few days of employment is definitely a stain on one's resume, which is why Horikita Suzune specifically complained about this.

"From what I've seen, the school must have gone to great lengths this time, negotiating with numerous companies, large and small, in Tokyo. Each student has been given at least one opportunity to switch careers, meaning they can choose at least two industries they are interested in to try their luck."

"But even if we do it this way, it doesn't necessarily mean we'll learn anything truly valuable?"

"The internship is only for one month. Even for third-year students, the school is just letting them come out to get acquainted and adapt. After all, staying in ANHS for a long time will change their way of thinking, right?"

"It would be even better if you performed well and got a job offer in advance. If you performed poorly, the school has already done its best. Besides, ANHS has a good reputation. As long as you can show your abilities, most companies will not refuse ANHS graduates. After all, they don't know anything about Class A not."

"Too."

Kitagawa Ryo tapped his phone against the machine at the front desk to pay smoothly, then he and Horikita Suzune picked up one side of their shopping bags and strolled leisurely towards their dormitory.

"If what Suzune said is true, then this is definitely a good opportunity for students who are not in Class A."

"Well, Ryo, is there anywhere you want to go or anything you want to do? Although second-year students don't have as many options as third-year students, they can still choose from most industries."

"Let me think... Does the school offer the option of starting one's own business?"

"Starting your own business? I think I've seen similar criteria before, such as independently operating a platform account with a certain number of followers in the self-media industry... I guess that counts as starting your own business?"

"I see. Then I'll probably choose in that direction. It seems like it would be quite interesting."

Perhaps because Kitagawa Ryo brought up the topic of starting her own business, Horikita Suzune naturally thought of the successful dessert shop she and he had opened in the simulation. She smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear and tentatively asked him:

"If we could team up, would Ryo be willing to try opening a dessert shop with me again? After all, our attempt at the Cultural Festival last year was very well received, and several guests even gave me their business cards..."

She hesitated for a moment, then muttered to herself:

"Now I'm not just a mascot to attract customers at the door anymore."

"A dessert shop... but it would be a lot of trouble without start-up capital, and with only one month left before the Special Exam, we wouldn't even have time to handle basic issues like choosing a location, decorating, and sourcing ingredients. The school certainly wouldn't allow us to just rent another complete shop and open for business directly."

"... Too."

Ultimately, opening a dessert shop at the school's Cultural Festival and opening a small shop in Tokyo are two completely different things. After listening to Kitagawa Ryo's explanation, Horikita Suzune could only regretfully give up the idea.

"Furthermore, I don't think the school will allow students to form teams for this Special Exam. With over four hundred students from three grades at ANHS scattered across Tokyo, a city of millions, it wouldn't even make a ripple. Moreover, if teams were allowed for this Special Exam, it would be no different from the regular class system at ANHS, making it impossible to comprehensively assess a student's abilities."

As he spoke, Kitagawa Ryo couldn't help but think of a passage he had read in <Tokyo Tower>:

In springtime Tokyo, like a vacuum cleaner constantly sucking in garbage, young people from all over Japan gather here. The dark little hoses are like tunnels leading to dreams and the future. But if you go through the tunnels, all that's left is garbage.

From this perspective alone, perhaps Ryuen Kakeru's words have some merit.

In a sense, this Summer Special Exam is a survival test similar to the one on the Uninhabited Island.

It's just Uninhabited Island standing in another steel forest, bustling with people, yet seemingly unrelated to you.

On July 3rd, just two days after the Final Exam, Kitagawa Ryo and the students of Class 2-D were summoned back to the classroom. Their homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, would be explaining the specific rules of this Summer Special Exam to all the students.

"First of all, this Special Exam will officially begin tomorrow, July 4th, and officially end on August 3rd, lasting a full month."

"The location for this Special Exam is Tokyo, a location chosen by all students in the last Unanimous Special Exam."

"The school hopes to enhance students' vocational skills and social adaptability through this Special Exam, strengthen their sense of responsibility and teamwork through practical work experience, and assess each student's ability to solve specific problems in real-world social environments."

"The following is the basic explanation of this Special Exam. More detailed information will be distributed to you in paper form later."

Sakagami Kazuma's tone remained unhurried, and after receiving the thick stack of documents, Kitagawa Ryo began to multitask, listening to the homeroom teacher while quickly scanning the specific sections.

As Horikita Suzune had predicted in advance, the differences in the Summer Special Exam for the three grades were indeed only reflected in the choices available to them, with the third-grade students having the widest range of options.

After all, each of them had discussed their future plans with the school during the tripartite meeting a few months ago, and they were indeed among the students closest to graduation. Therefore, the school generously offered them almost all the options, including internships at relevant companies and opportunities to ANHS at universities, whether for employment or further studies.

The third-year students have one month to prove their abilities to the school, the company, and the university. After the Special Exam, these parties will jointly score the students' performance. Those who perform well can receive recommendation letters or even interview opportunities. At the same time, there are also Class Points and Private Points rewards within ANHS. Those who perform poorly will do the opposite. If they cause particularly big trouble, they will face the punishment of expulsion.

Compared to the third-year students who received preferential treatment in all aspects, the treatment of the First Year was undoubtedly much more meager. This was mainly because the school was well aware that it was impossible to actually send these first-year high school students, who had only graduated from junior high school two months ago, to work in the workplace. Therefore, the various projects arranged were more like a job encyclopedia than social internships. The requirements for them were very simple and even down-to-earth: to see how much salary each of them could accumulate after starting from scratch for a month.

Of course, the school will still provide them with some initial funding to cover basic expenses such as rent.

In this respect, the exam content for First Year is closer to Shiina Hiyori and the variety show that was previously criticized for challenging how many yen one could spend to survive in Tokyo for how many days.

The second-year students, including Kitagawa Ryo, are somewhere between the First Year and third years. They can either immerse themselves in the work of laborers like the First Year students, or they can challenge themselves by boldly entering companies for social internships with the third-year students. However, they do not have the option to audit classes at university. If they choose the former, the exam rules are the same as for the First Year, while if they choose the latter, they are the same as for the third-year students.

As for the specific scoring criteria, the school stated that they have a complete and comprehensive evaluation system that dynamically adjusts the goals based on each student's chosen industry. In addition to a major phased task, during the month-long exam period, corresponding Tokito will be refreshed daily and weekly, similar to a game. Completing these tasks will also earn certain monetary rewards and increase the score.

"So, please confirm whether you choose to work or intern before 5 p. m. today, and then fill in the specific field or industry you want to go to. The school will assign you the corresponding work location or internship company before you depart tomorrow."

"At the same time, if you are not satisfied with the assigned location, you can submit a transfer application to the school before or within two weeks after starting your job. The school will then arrange another company based on the range you provided."

"Each student has one basic job change opportunity. Of course, you can also purchase additional opportunities using Private Points, with each opportunity costing three million Private Points."

"However, please remember that Private Points have only one use in this Special Exam. During the Special Exam, Private Points cannot be used in any other way, including trading Private Points for real money with other students."

"What you all need to do in this Special Exam is to use your own hands to survive, and to earn as much higher pay as possible while achieving your milestones and saving as much money as possible."

"These savings, besides affecting the final grade, will also serve as a credit limit for each student upon graduation."

"As we all know, the school will buy back students' Private Points at a ratio of 10 to 1 before graduation. If you save up 500,000 yen in this month and still have at least 500,000 Private Points when you graduate, then the 500,000 points will be exchanged at an equivalent ratio of 1:1, not 10:1."

"For many of you here, this is the best opportunity you've ever had, because it's Special Exam that Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School has never held before. In that respect, you are more fortunate than your predecessors."

After speaking, Sakagami Kazuma gave his students a rare smile:

"Finally, regardless of Class Points or Private Points, on behalf of myself, I hope that everyone in the class can use this Special Exam to clarify their future direction and take a solid first step towards the near future."

P. S.: Thank you for reading and subscribing.

PS2: The story is entering its final chapter. If it ends in April, it will be exactly three years since the book started. I just don't know if it will match that timeline.

Chapter 67: Just Cry in Front of Me (5k)