Hiyori: "Hikigaya? Who's That?" (Part 2)

Class A, 1088 points (Sakayanagi Class) – 988 + 100

Class B, 851 points (Class Ichinose) – 751 + 100.

Class C, 550 points (Horikita's class) – 450 + 100

Class D, 0 points (Ryuen Class) — 0+0.

"You've secured your place in Class C. I hope you can achieve good results in the Special Exam next month as well."

"Then, if there are no objections, this concludes the class meeting," Chabashira said.

"No."

The fact that all students passed the assessment is the most reassuring thing.

If they weren't still in the classroom, they would all want to have a proper celebration.

Only.

Do you have any thoughts?

As her seatmate, Suzune Horikita noticed Hachiman's state.

Despite passing the exam smoothly, Hachiman was deep in thought.

"It's nothing," Hachiman said.

Although the exam has been successfully completed.

No student scored below 60 on the exam.

But.

Kanji Ike around 60 in two subjects.

Sudō scored around 60 in one subject.

Haruki Yamauchi scored around 60 points in three subjects.

"..."

So, even with the test papers, none of you can get 100 points?

Chabashira seemed to be preparing to end the class meeting, giving up both time and space.

Hachiman also started checking his phone.

Because he received a message.

[Call Horikita over to the rooftop.] by Sae Chabashira.

"..." Hachiman.

Is it really that real?

Chabashira-sensei.

He seemed quite relaxed during the class meeting, but was he actually so anxious inside?

Hachiman probably knows the reason.

Because the current class evaluation score for Class C is 550 points, while Class B only has 851 points.

If we put in a little more effort, it's possible to make it through.

So the Chabashira were probably meant to give them a shot of adrenaline to press their advantage.

The rooftop of the teaching building.

Just by pushing open the door, you can feel the cool breeze blowing in your face.

This is where Hachiman and Classmate Sakayanagi first met, and of course, it's also where he sometimes meets Chabashira-sensei.

"You did a good job this time."

Standing inside the protective netting, Chabashira, with her back to Hachiman and Horikita, held a cigarette between her fingers and lit it.

Hachiman and Horikita have arrived here as agreed.

There aren't many places in this school without security cameras, and the rooftop is one of the few.

Of course, people rarely come to this kind of place, so it's suitable for saying things that can't be heard by others.

Is it okay to vent my emotions here?

But being witnessed by someone must be terrifying, because this is a rooftop, so students from the four first-grade classes or other teachers could also come here.

From this perspective, it's really difficult for you, Kushida, to find a way to vent your emotions. Unless you find another way to vent, there's no other way.

Therefore...

Even though he was called over by Chabashira-sensei, Hachiman was thinking about completely unrelated things.

And on the first floor...

In Class A, First Year, a bald, muscular man in a school uniform who doesn't look like a high school student at all stands in front of the blackboard with a petite, silver-haired girl leaning on a cane.

The blackboard also displays the score changes for each class.

Although the homeroom teacher had already written the score on the blackboard during the class meeting.

Meanwhile, Sakayanagi Arisu stared at the displayed score.

Class A, 1088 points

Class B, 851 points

Class C, 550 points

Class D, 0 points

"Katsuragi."

Banliu suddenly asked, "What's your view on the current situation?"

"The current situation?"

"Our class has 1088 points, Class B has 851 points, and Class C has 550 points," Katsuragi said calmly.

"Judging from the scores, Class B is climbing up."

"The distance between us hasn't completely widened."

"This needs attention."

"As for Class C, their score last time was 450 points, but now it's 550 points, which means they received the highest reward in this written exam."

"But based on what I've gathered, most of the students in their class are academic underachievers."

"So, I think something might have happened," Katsuragi said.

And then Katsuragi stopped after saying that?

Is that so?

Katsuragi suspects that Sakayanagi leaked the exam paper to Class C as well.

And this kind of thing... is certainly true.

Even Hachiman from Class C passed the test to Class B.

That's when classes A, B, and C all achieved the highest class evaluation score of 100.

"Why don't you talk about Class D?" Classmate Sakayanagi asked without changing her expression.

Rather, if Katsuragi is only now suspecting that she is a spy for Class C, then he is far too naive.

Because from the very beginning, she had revealed the true nature of the school to Hachiman in Class C.

This is also... something that makes Classmate Sakayanagi feel somewhat depressed.

Only.

As a representative, a thick skin might be necessary.

Classmate Sakayanagi is cute, but she's shameless.

"Class D? They're no match for us."

Katsuragi stared blankly at the blackboard and said in a deep voice, "I think the focus for the upcoming exams should still be on Class B, as for Class C..."

"Although it was just a fluke, it was almost impossible for them to climb up."

Is that so?

Sakayanagi closed his eyes.

Kamuro already reported the situation yesterday.

Next month, there will be Special Exam, which will take place on Uninhabited Island.

While the specific content of the assessment cannot be disclosed, information from senior students indicates that the Uninhabited Island Exam was worth more points than the regular exam in both last year and the year before.

A high score can be either an opportunity or a blow.

Seizing the opportunity can quickly close the gap, but it can also cause the higher-ranked class to lose a lot of points.

And now.

Katsuragi, you've made Class B, the least offensive class, the one you need to be wary of.

So, in the upcoming Uninhabited Island Exam, Katsuragi, you might be in for a big surprise.

Sakayanagi Arisu thought to herself.

Because in this exam, the best performer and the most aggressive was not Class B.

Rather, it's more accurate to say...

Class B received a perfect score of 100 in the class evaluation, which ironically made Sakayanagi Arisu look down on them.

Because.

The Academic Ability in Class B are quite capable; they can earn a class evaluation score of 80 points on regular tests, which is a reward.

As a result, Class B needed test papers to secure the reward of getting 100 points, which was really inconsiderate.

Therefore, Sakayanagi Arisu does not value Class B.

It's actually more dangerous for Class D.

This time, Ryuen's class refused her deal, refusing to give her votes for Student Council President and even rejecting the offer of 3 million points to buy exam papers.

But.

Please read this score carefully.

Class D scored 0 points.

Although no one in Class D received any points in this exam, no one dropped out.

Illustrate.

This class may have used a score control method, where everyone scored low to ensure everyone passed. However, the controlled score was too low, so no reward was given.

Only.

Sakayanagi Arisu still considers Class C, where Hachiman is, to be the most dangerous class.

Then she gripped her cane and prepared to leave.

"..." Katsuragi.

Katsuragi watched Sakayanagi Arisu figure.

"Ultimately, the reason why Class B can receive the reward of 100 points in the class evaluation is because many students have achieved perfect scores."

At that moment, a tall, thin boy with short, light green hair arrived at Katsuragi.

This is Yahiko Totsuka, Katsuragi's henchman.

After the class meeting ended, he went to squat in Class B's classroom.