Leaked Exam Questions and the Whole Grade's Shock

In the distant Class D, under the hints and suggestions of Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, the students worked with Kikyo Kushida to track down upperclassmen and secure the previous year's exam papers, releasing them to the class two days before the test. This news quickly leaked from the porous Class D, acting like a massive boulder crashing into the already tense surface of the school's lake, stirring up an unstoppable frenzy.

The Class D classroom was already filled with the anxiety and unease of those facing a dead end. The unity that Yosuke Hirata had fought so hard to maintain was crumbling; Suzune Horikita curled up in a corner, aloof and indifferent to the surrounding chaos; Ken Sudo, Kanji Ike, and others were dejected, convinced they would fall below the passing line and become the first victims of the special exam. It was only when Kikyo Kushida walked into the classroom clutching a stack of neatly copied papers, her perfect, gentle face wearing just the right amount of surprise and joy, that a crack of hope finally appeared in the despair of Class D.

"Everyone, wait a moment!" Kikyo Kushida stood on the podium, her voice clear and sweet, instantly drawing everyone's attention. "I managed to get the actual midterm exam papers from last year from some upperclassmen! They say the overlap between this year's questions and those from the last two years is extremely high. As long as we master these, we're guaranteed to pass!"

As her words fell, the Class D classroom erupted instantly.

"R-really? Last year's actual exam?"

"Does that mean we don't have to drop out?!"

"You're amazing, Kushida! This is so reliable!"

Cheers, gasps of disbelief, and the release of long-suppressed tension mixed together, nearly blowing the roof off. Ken Sudo rushed forward, grabbing the papers with trembling hands: "Is... is this for real? Can I... can I pass too?"

"Of course you can." Kikyo Kushida smiled, gentle and harmless. "As long as you memorize them carefully and keep the problem-solving steps in mind, there won't be any problems."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji huddled in the most inconspicuous corner of the classroom, calmly watching the revelry before him without a ripple in his eyes. Everything was within his calculations—using points as leverage to buy the test papers from upperclassmen in need, then using Kikyo Kushida to make them public. This saved the crumbling Class D without exposing himself to the spotlight. From start to finish, he had only given a gentle push; all the credit went to the girl on stage.

However, Class D had never been a place capable of keeping secrets.

The excited students could not suppress their inner joy. On their way to the cafeteria, the convenience store, and the dorms, they couldn't help but share this "stroke of good luck" with their friends. The news grew wings, spreading from Class D to Class C within an hour, then to Class A and Class B, eventually permeating the entire first year.

"Did you hear? Class D somehow got their hands on last year's midterm exam papers!"

"For real? Doesn't that mean they're guaranteed to win?"

"That's unfair! Isn't that cheating? Won't the school do something?"

Questioning, anger, anxiety, and jealousy spread wildly across the campus. The atmosphere, already strained by the upcoming exams, was now on the verge of igniting.

Class C was the first to erupt in turmoil.

Kakeru Ryuen kicked over a desk, his eyes scanning the trembling students around him with a violent glare as he roared: "A bunch of losers! Even Class D can get their hands on the test papers, yet you lot can't do anything! If anyone fails this exam, I won't let you off!"

Daichi Ishizaki, standing behind him, quickly stepped forward: "Ryuen, should we try to get a copy too?"

"Get one?" Kakeru Ryuen sneered, his eyes sinister. "So what if those trash in Class D got them? On the day of the exam, I have plenty of ways to show them that such petty tricks are worthless in the face of absolute power."

Despite his dismissive words, a hint of gravity flashed in his eyes. The sudden counterattack by Class D had disrupted his original plans.

The atmosphere in Class A was even colder.

Upon hearing the news, Kohei Katsuragi slammed his hand on the table, his expression furious: "This is too much! Class D is violating the rules! We must report this to the school!"

The students of the unity faction behind him echoed his sentiments, their emotions running high.

Meanwhile, Arisu Sakayanagi simply leaned on her cane, listening to Masumi Kamuro report the intelligence, a faint smile still lingering on her pale face as if she were hearing about something trivial.

"Actual exam papers?" Arisu Sakayanagi repeated softly, a playful light flickering in her eyes. "I wonder how Class B, where Kiyotaka Ayanokoji... and Yoshikage Kira are, will react?"

Masumi Kamuro said in a low voice: "Class B is still very calm; there hasn't been any commotion."

"Calm is the most interesting part." Arisu Sakayanagi laughed softly. "Katsuragi, go ahead and report it if you wish. But let me remind you, there is no rule in the Advanced Nurturing High School that forbids obtaining past exam papers. Points can buy anything—the school told us that themselves."

Kohei Katsuragi froze, his face turning ashen.

He realized then that Class D's actions were walking the edge of the rules and could not be prosecuted. Arisu Sakayanagi had known this from the start, yet she had watched coldly as he acted like a clown in his rage.

The rift between the two factions in Class A widened further due to the Class D exam paper incident.

Yet, at the center of this storm, Class B maintained a rare stability.

When the news reached Class B, there was only a brief stir in the classroom before it quickly returned to calm.

Sou Shibata frowned, muttering with some dissatisfaction: "Class D is too cunning, isn't it? This is so unfair to us!"

Some students had a hint of unease in their eyes: "If their scores improve significantly, our class ranking..."

Ryuji Kurata was more composed: "The rules don't forbid it, so there's nothing we can do. We just have to review more diligently and pass on our own merits."

Honami Ichinose stood at the front of the classroom, pressing her hands down gently to soothe everyone's emotions, her tone gentle yet firm: "Everyone, calm down. Class D has their methods, and we have our persistence. If we work hard to review together during this time and help each other, passing on our own strength is far more reliable than relying on outside help. Don't let outside news disrupt our rhythm; just doing our best is enough."

Her gentle words acted like a sedative, quickly settling the restless hearts of the Class B students.

They were already accustomed to maintaining order under Honami Ichinose's guidance, used to unity and self-discipline, and would not be easily swayed by outside temptations or turmoil.

Yoshikage Kira sat in the last row by the window, taking it all in.

He had no opinion on Class D's act of obtaining the papers. At the Advanced Nurturing High School, points could buy anything; that was the established rule. Using the rules to gain an advantage was perfectly understandable. What truly concerned him was the hand hidden behind the test papers. Someone like Kikyo Kushida would not complete such a task alone, and the person with her was clearly unwilling to step into the light.

This person, like him, pursued a low profile, but unlike his own pursuit of peace, this person was laying out plans, guiding and pushing the class toward victory.

If they were to stab someone in the back during a class confrontation, it wouldn't be strange if Class D—which had fallen to zero class points in the first month—surpassed convention and imagination, leading to unexpected situations. The level of danger was soaring, no less than the organized Kohei Katsuragi and Arisu Sakayanagi of Class A.

Just as Yoshikage Kira was silently observing, Honami Ichinose walked softly to his desk, her tone carrying a trace of subtle unease: "Kira, you must have heard about Class D getting the test papers, right? Do you think... it will affect us?"

Yoshikage Kira looked up, meeting her gaze with a calm expression, his tone steady and ripple-free: "It won't. Class B's review is already sufficient, and everyone passing is a foregone conclusion. External variables cannot affect our order."

Honami Ichinose breathed a sigh of relief: "I hope so."

Unknowingly, she had already grown accustomed to Yoshikage Kira's calm and precise judgment.

Yoshikage Kira nodded slightly, said nothing more, and lowered his head to continue organizing his notes.

He still did not want to be drawn into any disputes, did not want to judge Class D's actions, and did not want to participate in the anger of Class A and Class C.

He only wanted to maintain the stability of Class B, maintain his own order, and pass through this exam in peace.

Yet he was also clear that the leak of the past exam papers in Class D had completely shattered the original balance of the grade.

This written exam, held in the name of survival, was no longer a simple contest of academic ability; it had transformed into a game of undercurrents played beneath the rules.

As evening fell, the campus was shrouded in twilight.

Kira followed his established route to the convenience store to purchase necessities, but just as he reached the entrance, he encountered Sakayanagi Arisu once again.

The young girl remained alone, leaning on her cane, standing quietly before the shelves as if she had been waiting there all along.

Seeing Kira, she slowly turned her head, revealing a gentle yet highly inquisitive smile: "Kira-kun, it seems you aren't concerned at all about Class D obtaining the past papers."

"I'm not," Kira replied indifferently, his tone calm. "Class B doesn't need such methods to pass."

"How confident." Sakayanagi chuckled softly, walking slowly toward him, her voice light and measured. "But Kira-kun, have you considered that the rise in Class D's scores will raise the class average, and the higher the class average, the more Class Points can be awarded? The stability you speak of may very well be drifting away, bit by bit, because of these exam papers."

Kira's fingertips paused, ever so slightly.

It was not that he hadn't considered this possibility.

He had simply judged that Class B's preparations were sufficient; even if the passing threshold rose slightly, it would not affect the outcome of everyone passing.

But Sakayanagi Arisu's words were like a thin needle, gently piercing his perfect composure.

"Even so, Class B can handle it." Kira maintained his calm, his tone showing not a hint of wavering.

Sakayanagi Arisu looked into his eyes, which remained ripple-free, and her smile deepened. "I am looking forward to it more and more. Looking forward to this exam, looking forward to what lies beneath your mask of calm, and looking forward to the moment you are forced to break your own order."

With that, she said no more, leaned on her cane, and slowly turned to leave.

She left Kira standing alone before the shelves, a faint trace of vigilance flashing in his eyes for the very first time.

He knew that Sakayanagi Arisu was not merely fear-mongering.

Because of a set of leaked exam papers, this test was now fraught with variables.

And the peaceful daily life he pursued was being gently pushed toward the edge of a cliff by an invisible hand.

Kira silently picked up the items he needed and walked toward the checkout counter.

His movements remained steady throughout, yet they carried a hint of imperceptible tension.

The day of the exam was drawing ever closer.