Backup Exam Paper (Seeking Everything)

"Then Classmate Sakayanagi is truly generous. Since that's the case, I'd be remiss to decline any further; I'll reluctantly accept this heavy gift." Watanabe Hayabara's lips curled into a faint smile as he responded unhurriedly.

"Hehe, Classmate Watanabe, don't say that. It's just a small token of my appreciation." Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled, seemingly quite satisfied with Watanabe Hayabara's reaction. "However, time is tight and the midterms are imminent. You should get moving as soon as possible, Classmate Watanabe; let's not delay the real business."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Watanabe Hayabara's face stiffened slightly, but he quickly returned to his usual composure. He stood up slowly, locking eyes with Sakayanagi Arisu, a flash of helplessness in his gaze. "Classmate Sakayanagi, you're treating me like a donkey at the mill, aren't you? Constantly prodding me to keep moving forward."

Yet, Sakayanagi Arisu remained unfazed by his words, her smile unwavering. "You exaggerate, Classmate Watanabe. I simply hope you can complete the task efficiently. After all, time is money."

Watanabe Hayabara shook his head helplessly. "Fine, fine. Since I've taken your money, I suppose I have to play along. As they say, he who takes bribes is soft-spoken and he who accepts gifts is short-handed. I'll go handle it now. But, Classmate Sakayanagi, you must take good care of Kamuro Masumi for me."

With that, Watanabe Hayabara ignored the reactions of Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi, turned, and walked away. As his figure grew smaller and eventually vanished through the cafe entrance, he headed toward the school's administrative building.

"Knock, knock, knock." The door to the Student Council president's office was rapped.

"Come in." A stern male voice came from within.

Watanabe Hayabara pushed the door open and stepped inside, meeting the gaze of Horikita Manabu, who had just looked up from organizing documents at the sound of the knock. Morning light filtered through the blinds, carving patterns of light and shadow across Horikita Manabu's sharp-featured face. His knuckles were white as he gripped the files, as if he had just finished dealing with a thorny issue. On the desk, the midterm exam schedules for each class were neatly arranged, the priority dates marked in red ink standing out sharply.

"President Horikita is in high spirits, organizing files personally during exam week?" Watanabe sat down, spinning his chair halfway around, the tips of his leather shoes tapping rhythmically against the floor.

This rhythmic tapping always seemed to irritate people—a conclusion Watanabe Hayabara had reached long ago. Watching the slight frown on Horikita Manabu's brow, Watanabe Hayabara responded with a smile.

Horikita Manabu closed the folder, the metal clasp making a crisp "click." "Is there something you need, Classmate Watanabe?" His gaze swept over the coffee stain on the corner of the other's jacket like a scanner. "It seems that after a conversation with someone, you headed straight for my office."

Watanabe Hayabara looked down at the stain on his jacket, a meaningful curve touching his lips. "As expected of President Horikita, you can glean so much information even from a coffee stain." He flicked the armrest of his chair with his finger, and the tapping of his shoe tips accelerated. "Actually, I came to see you to talk about the 'Pre-exam Gift Package' that's been circulating lately."

"Oh? And what is this Pre-exam Gift Package?" Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses, staring into Watanabe Hayabara's deep eyes.

"President Horikita, are you unaware that second-year students are selling midterm exam answers to first-year students?" Watanabe Hayabara's words were filled with skepticism and accusation, as if blaming President Horikita for his negligence regarding the matter.

Horikita Manabu's reply was somewhat dismissive: "That matter? The Student Council has a heavy workload; we haven't been able to attend to it yet."

Horikita Manabu knew Watanabe Hayabara wouldn't let the issue go easily, so he continued to explain: "Furthermore, the midterm exam questions have been the same for years. Some first-year students discovering this can be considered a reflection of their own capabilities, so the Student Council does not intend to handle this publicly."

Watanabe Hayabara was clearly unsatisfied with this explanation. He laughed, "Is that so? President Horikita, this greatly affects the fairness of the midterms. Even in a school that prioritizes ability, we must ensure fairness in competition, don't you think? How would the school administration handle this if they found out?" Watanabe Hayabara observed Horikita Manabu's reaction.

But Horikita Manabu's response remained calm: "You are welcome to go to the school administration. The answer they give you shouldn't differ much from mine."

"That goes without saying, because the Student Council is an extension of the administration; I know that well. However, using this as an excuse to suppress the second-year students would be a good choice, wouldn't you agree, President Horikita? After all, it is the second-years who are selling the answers." Watanabe Hayabara tossed out a proposal that was hard for Horikita Manabu to refuse.

The air instantly solidified, with only the faint hum of the air conditioner unit outside the window. Horikita Manabu took off his glasses to wipe them, and the moment the reflection on the lenses vanished, his scrutinizing gaze was revealed: "So, what is Classmate Watanabe's suggestion?"

"Issue a new set of Backup Exam Paper." Watanabe Hayabara sat back in his chair, crossing his legs, his toes beginning to tap the floor again in a slow, steady rhythm. "Consider it for the sake of fairness—after all, some say there are people within the Student Council involved..." Before he could finish, the "click" of the metal clasp sounded again as Horikita Manabu slammed his glasses onto the files, the lenses hitting the surface with a crisp echo.

The office was so quiet that the faint sound of paper rubbing could be heard. Horikita Manabu's slender fingers gripped the metal frames of his glasses, his knuckles turning pale. Watanabe Hayabara leaned back in his chair, appearing casual, yet a meaningful smile hung on his lips, as if he had long anticipated such a reaction.

"Who is your recommended candidate, Watanabe Hayabara?" Horikita Manabu looked at Watanabe Hayabara with a different expression.

"Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A."

"Classmate Sakayanagi?" Horikita Manabu spoke slowly, his voice low and cold, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth. "Letting a student create the new questions for the midterm exam is against the rules."

"And is it 'according to the rules' for second-year students to privately sell answers and destroy the fairness of the exam? Rules are things that can be established, and isn't that within your authority as President Horikita? It would suffice if Classmate Sakayanagi were simply barred from participating in this midterm exam, and then you could supervise her as she creates the new questions. That would solve it. I believe you know something of her capabilities. Letting her create the Backup Exam Paper would ensure the quality and fairness of the test while teaching the second-years a lesson. Why not?"

Does he know about Chairman Sakayanagi? This was Horikita Manabu's first internal reaction.

However, Horikita Manabu's response remained very calm. "And then you would be the beneficiaries of this trade. I imagine that also violates your so-called principle of fairness." Horikita Manabu countered using the very principle of fairness Watanabe Hayabara had proposed.