Victory is Already a Foregone Conclusion (Skippable)

First exam—Politics.

Should I call it unexpected, or completely unsurprising?

In any case, Oreki prepared to take the stage himself.

However...

"The rules are as follows: each group will send one person from each class to participate. The group score will be calculated based on fifty percent of the average score of these two individuals, plus fifty percent of the average score of their respective classes."

It seems like a reasonable rule.

But how is it in reality?

Regardless, at least the students from all four classes had no objections.

Besides, just watching others take the test is truly boring.

More importantly...

This test focuses on challenging everyone.

Not just a few select individuals.

At least, not yet.

"Oreki-kun... good luck..."

"Good luck!"

"Houtarou, after this exam is over, let's go back to our hometown and get marr..."

Wait a second!

Hey, hey, classmate.

Did you just set up some kind of strange flag?

Amidst the chorus of well-wishes, Oreki arrived at the designated room.

Uh...

It was exactly as the name implied.

A completely enclosed, small room.

Three-hundred-sixty-degree surveillance with no blind spots.

The footage would even be broadcast onto a large screen.

Since Class A and Class B were up first, Class C and Class D didn't have to go yet.

However...

That didn't mean they had nothing to do.

Their task was to monitor Class A and Class B.

If one cheater appeared, the group score would be deducted by ten points.

If there were two or more, the group score would be rendered void immediately.

What a terrifying rule.

For the sake of the class's interests—no, to be more precise...

For the sake of their own interests, surely everyone would be watching the screen intently.

Now, even cheating would be difficult.

Because, unlike teachers monitoring the students, students understand students better.

The version updates are too fast; the teachers can no longer keep up with the times.

Oreki picked up the test paper and took a look.

Question one:

Why is the birth rate currently declining in (Japan)?

Hmm?

Hmm???

Isn't this a question with an obvious answer?

He wrote down without hesitation... (invisible)

Simply put, organisms adapt to their environment.

Whatever the environment, the corresponding organisms will naturally emerge.

It is a matter of course.

An eternal, unchanging truth.

Question two:

How should one view the current employment environment in Japan?

Answer:

Far ahead.

Far ahead of the world.

Far ahead of history.

Third question:

How should one view current marriage in Japan?

(Invisible)

Huu...

Oreki let out a sigh of relief.

What a thorny set of questions.

If I'm not careful, I'll end up writing down my true, inner thoughts.

Dangerous, dangerous...

Must not say anything detrimental to unity.

"Time is up."

As the bell rang, Oreki's test paper was collected.

It took less than five minutes to grade.

The score...

One point shy of a perfect score.

Ninety-nine points.

A pity.

So, where did that one point go?

It was deducted because Oreki didn't use a red pen!

No red spirit!

Just kidding.

Actually, the point was deducted from the analysis of the constitutional revisionist faction.

I forgot to write about the spirit of pacifism.

Even though it's extremely important, it's always so easy to forget.

Why is that, exactly?

Who knows.

Back to the main topic.

After the scores for the Class A candidates were announced, the scores for the Class B contestants were released as well.

Himeno Yuki: 94 points.

Oreki knew this girl.

Twin tails, black stockings.

She wore a very conspicuous gray school uniform.

Though, one couldn't really call it knowing her...

I had only seen her photo in the Class B intelligence files.

Uh, the ones collected by Yamamura Miki, whom I mentioned earlier.

Despite her cold demeanor, she is unimaginably skilled when it comes to gathering information.

Forgot to mention.

She is also one of Sakayanagi's subordinates.

The reason she was so cooperative with Oreki before was probably because Oreki has a good relationship with Sakayanagi.

In any case, half of the group scores for Class A and Class B were out.

(94+99) / 4

48.25

If we calculate the scoring rate...

96.5%

An incredibly exaggerated number.

But that is simply because Houtarou Oreki and Himeno Yuki are both very formidable.

But it wasn't enough for just them to be formidable.

After all...

The remaining points still had to rely on the students from both classes.

--To be continued

ps:

Because I was stuffed full by the empty promises painted by those old fogies.

That is why I wrote this piece.

Everyone can just treat it as a side story.

(Deleted)