Ikuei High School's Entrance Exam

The lingering chill of late winter still permeated Chiba Prefecture in March. As the evening breeze swept past the budding street trees, it carried the crisp, moist touch of a spring night.

Kei Karuizawa successfully received her graduation certificate with excellent grades.

Her fingertips pinched the certificate, the hem of her uniform skirt swaying gently with her steps, and her face held an irrepressible sense of excitement.

Three years of tempering and growth had finally crystallized into glory on this day.

At the school gate, she spotted her parents and Hoshida No from afar. Instead of following tradition and going home to celebrate with her family, she went to karaoke with a few close friends and dragged Hoshida No by the wrist without a word of protest.

A cunning, bright light shone in her eyes: "Let's go, to karaoke! You're paying today since you're so happy!"

Hoshida No was speechless, but he could only sigh and offer a brief farewell to Kenichi and the others.

Neon lights flickered and flowed within the private room. In the corner, Hoshida No held a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice, sipping it slowly while the sounds of their singing and laughter rose and fell around him.

Someone egged them on, urging Kei Karuizawa and Hoshida No to sing a duet of "Kiseki" (Miracle).

He picked up the microphone half-reluctantly and began to sing. His off-key performance made everyone burst into laughter, but with Kei Karuizawa there to anchor the song, the score on the screen still reached 78.

After graduation, Kei Karuizawa had more free time and often visited the general store. She met Honami Ichinose there, and the two hit it off, eventually becoming friends.

In mid-March, the three were chatting at the store as usual when they each received a school invitation letter.

When opened, the contents of the letters were surprisingly identical:

"After a preliminary investigation, we congratulate you on meeting the requirements for an invitation to Advanced Nurturing High School. Please report on March 22nd of this year to take the entrance examination. Successful completion of the test is required for admission. This school is committed to the principle of meritocracy; students enjoy free tuition, high-quality education, and a premium learning environment..." (The rest of the official rhetoric was omitted).

Kei Karuizawa was the first to lose her composure, her eyes sparkling: "Honami, Hoshida! Look, I received an invitation from that Advanced Nurturing High School!"

She immediately turned her phone screen toward the two of them.

Surprise appeared in both their eyes. Honami Ichinose's surprise stemmed from the fact that she had also received an invitation, while Hoshida No's surprise was internal; he knew his own background—he had no formal schooling and no academic record, yet he had received an invitation.

A sense of unease stirred in his heart, and he couldn't help but think of the director who had escaped the laboratory, Kaneda Yamano.

At home, the four sat around the corner of the living room. Kenichi and his wife were delighted to hear the news and readily agreed to the two of them attending the school.

Over the phone, Honami Ichinose also clearly expressed her desire to go. For someone from a difficult financial background, free tuition was already a blessing; now, not only could she continue her studies, but she could also ease her family's economic burden. She was moved.

On March 22nd, Hoshida No resigned from his job at the store. Although the woman who ran the shop was reluctant to see him go, she told him he was always welcome back.

Because the three had different testing locations, they parted ways early at the subway station, agreeing to meet back there once the exams were finished.

At the moment of parting, there was a hint of reluctance in Kei Karuizawa's eyes, but Hoshida No pacified her with the milk candies he held; Honami Ichinose received some as well.

Hoshida No arrived at his destination. Along the way, he didn't see any other students taking the exam, which led him to believe the locations were separated. He couldn't help but ponder the sheer influence of this school.

The door was pushed open silently, and two interviewers in crisp black suits stepped out. Hoshida No could tell that both men were trained fighters.

Their sharp gazes swept over Hoshida No. After briefly confirming his intent and identity, they turned and led the way without a word, signaling him to follow.

The enclosed room at the end of the corridor felt oppressive. The moment the door was pushed open, a gust of cool air rushed toward him.

The room was completely empty, save for a solitary desk and chair in the center. There were no other furnishings.

Hoshida No's gaze darkened, his hands curling into fists.

He quickly scanned the armrests, the seat, and the underside of the desk, checking for loose parts or hidden protrusions. Only after confirming there were no traps did he sit down calmly.

The walls were stark white, and surveillance cameras installed in the four corners were silently capturing his every move.

Next to one of the cameras was a black communication device with a single small button on its surface.

The space was so quiet he could hear his own breathing. The sealed layout, the omnidirectional surveillance, and the minimalist furnishings felt exactly like an isolation cell used for interrogating prisoners.

The black communication device suddenly emitted a static-like crackle, followed by a cold, emotionless electronic voice that pierced the silence: "First assessment: written exam."

As soon as the voice fell, the interviewer on the left stepped forward and placed three test papers covered in dense text onto the desk in front of Hoshida No.

The paper made a faint sound as it hit the desk. He looked down at Hoshida No, his tone steady and devoid of ripples: "You have three hours to complete this."

Hoshida No rested his fingertips on the edge of the papers and flipped through them quickly. Mathematical functions, reading comprehension and essays in Japanese, cloze tests and translation in English—they were standard middle school subjects, with no trick questions.

He withdrew his gaze, gripped his pen, and began to write rapidly.

Although he had never received a formal school education, the cognitive training from his time in the laboratory, combined with his extensive reading over the past few years, provided him with a deep reservoir of knowledge.

Complex mathematical formulas were deduced in his mind in an instant, the core of the reading comprehension was pierced at a glance, and the logical relationships of the long English sentences were clearly dismantled.

The pen raced across the paper, leaving behind neat handwriting. Time slipped away in his focus.

When he finally put his pen down, the timer on the wall showed that only 1 hour and 36 minutes had passed. All three papers were completed, the pages neat and without a single correction.

Before the bell for the end of the written exam had even faded, the communication device emitted the cold electronic voice once more: "Second assessment: interview."

The two interviewers moved chairs to sit in front of Hoshida No, their gazes locking onto him with the sharpness of surveillance cameras. There was no small talk.

The interviewer on the left asked first, his tone steady and calm: "Please describe yourself in three keywords and explain why."

The interview lasted for an hour, and Hoshida No answered every question fluently. The two interviewers nodded at each other, signaling the end of the interview.

Then, with expressions still stern, they led Hoshida No to an open area.

There were no extra furnishings here, only clearly marked testing zones. A timer, tape measure, pull-up bar, and other equipment were neatly arranged, and hidden cameras all around were silently recording everything.

"The physical fitness test covers speed, endurance, strength, and agility. Complete the 50-meter sprint, 2000-meter run, standing long jump, pull-ups, and sit-ups in order. Failure to meet the standards for any movement will result in a failing grade."

The interviewer's voice echoed across the empty field before he raised the starting pistol.

His movements were standard throughout, without the slightest hesitation. Hoshida No didn't know if it was due to the genetic serum, but even during this high-intensity test, he still felt no fatigue.

The assessment ended, and Hoshida No was the first to return to the subway station. It took an hour of waiting before Ichinose Honami appeared, her hair somewhat disheveled, and the last to arrive at the designated spot was Karuizawa Kei.

On the way home, Karuizawa Kei was still complaining about the content of the assessment.

Meanwhile, in the office of the Ikuei High School chairman, a middle-aged man looked at the two entrance assessment forms in his hands, a smile appearing on his face.

Name: Hoshida No

Academic Ability: A

Physical Ability: A

Adaptive Thinking: C+

Social Contribution: Unknown

School Evaluation: This student possesses top-tier academic ability while also having outstanding physical functions. Based on the unconventional answers provided during the interview, he is capable of high-level camouflage in accordance with utilitarianism. The student's background lacks reference value and is considered an unstable factor. Final enrollment determination: Class 1-D.