After Teacher Mashima's thorough explanation, all the classes finally understood the rules of this exam.
The most important point was how to use the 300 exam points each class had at the start.
These 300 points were exclusive to this exam and had no usage restrictions. They could be used to buy any necessary tools, food, and so on from their homeroom teachers.
In other words, as long as they made good use of these 300 points, getting through the exam would be no problem at all.
But that was exactly the problem. If things really were that simple, this exam could hardly be called an exam. At best, it would be a slightly difficult test.
There was no conflict, let alone any clash of interests between classes. Could an exam like this really improve their teamwork or abilities? The answer was no.
Sure enough, the very next thing Teacher Mashima said put all those concerns to rest.
"Finally, all the points remaining at the end of this Special Exam will be converted into Class Points and take effect once you return to school."
"What?!"
"Seriously?!"
It was no wonder so many people started shouting. As long as they made good use of those 300 points, they could narrow the gap between themselves and the classes ahead of them. To take it even further, if they didn't use any of the points, they couldn't surpass Class C outright, but the gap between the classes would shrink considerably.
"Hey, hey, did you hear that? We're talking about 300 points here! If we really don't use any of them..."
"Let's calm down first. It sounds like the teacher still has other rules to explain. We can discuss this later."
Seeing his classmates getting more and more worked up, Hirata hurriedly stepped in to calm them down, especially since students from the other classes were beginning to turn their attention toward Class D.
"Three hundred points... If they're converted into Class Points, we shouldn't end up in the red next month, right...?"
Hearing Karuizawa Kei murmur beside him, Chiba Yu said quietly, "Do you really think it'll be that simple?"
Karuizawa Kei looked up at his profile, puzzled. He still had his usual languid air, but somehow seemed a little different from usual.
Before Chiba Yu could answer, Chabashira Sae approached with a guidebook and handed it to Hirata.
"All the other rules are written in this guidebook. It includes some penalties and important information about the exam. Pass it around and read it yourselves."
Those were things a homeroom teacher like you should be explaining, but instead you're just dumping them on the students. How irresponsible.
Perhaps Chabashira Sae still had a shred of humanity left, because she did at least explain a few of the most important rules.
"There are several checkpoints on the island. Each time you occupy one, you'll receive reward points. Each class must choose a 'leader' from among its students. The school will provide a special leader card that can be used to occupy checkpoints. Anyone who isn't the leader cannot use the card."
"Additionally, an occupied checkpoint will become inactive every eight hours, so you'll need to occupy it again. Using another class's checkpoint without permission will result in a penalty. Also, the leader cannot be changed at will unless there's a special reason."
"Finally, after the exam ends, each class will try to guess the leaders of the other classes. A class whose leader is correctly identified will lose 50 points. If the guess is wrong, the class will receive a reward instead."
This was the most important part of the exam, and what would determine whether it went well.
But looking at the situation now... Chiba Yu turned his attention to the group of students in his class.
"Then it's fine if we use some of the points, right?"
"No. We should hold on to them unless it's absolutely necessary."
On whether they should spend Class Points, the girls, with Karuizawa as their representative, thought they should use at least some. After all, the simple toilets provided by the school were pretty awful. The boys, represented by Yukimura, thought it was an unnecessary expense. The two sides began arguing over it.
And they were already at it? Chiba Yu was beginning to despair over this exam.
"I'm starting to think this exam is more complicated and difficult than I expected."
Chiba Yu looked at Ayanokoji and Horikita walking beside him and nodded in understanding.
"Hirata will take care of it. We'd better not get involved in their argument."
"Aren't you going to go over and help?"
Chiba Yu looked in surprise at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had asked the question, then rolled his eyes and replied, "You should know what I'm like. Why would I rush into a situation that's obviously more trouble than it's worth?"
"I thought you might try to put in a good word for Karuizawa," Horikita said casually.
"I'm really not that close to her. I'd appreciate it if you understood that."
"I'm not so sure about that."
"Fine. Think whatever you want." Chiba Yu turned his head away and gave up trying to explain.
While the trio chatted, the others finally finished their discussion.
Oddly enough, they decided to first look for a suitable place to stay. As for the toilets, they would talk about that while they walked.
Hearing their decision, Chiba Yu sighed inwardly, feeling even more helpless than before.
For someone like him, this kind of activity was practically the worst thing imaginable. If he could, he would have claimed he was sick and gone back to the ship instead of staying here to play wilderness survival with this bunch of problem children.
After deciding that Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo would split up to scout out the campsite and checkpoints, everyone else followed the main group, walking slowly through the jungle.
Chiba Yu, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, and Horikita walked at the back of the group, chatting casually as they went.
"Are you not interested?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked, looking at Horikita as she walked beside him with her arms folded.
"This kind of activity doesn't suit me. Having to live primitively is one thing; not being able to be alone is another."
"I completely agree," Chiba Yu chimed in from the other side of them.
Horikita turned and glared at him. "We're not the same."
"Fine, fine. If you say we're different, then we're different. But I really don't think this kind of activity suits me either. I'd be better off sitting in the classroom doing something that requires brainpower."
"So you mean that next time there's an exam that requires brainpower, we can come to you? Is that what you're saying?"
Chiba Yu was stunned by Horikita's response. He couldn't help turning to Ayanokoji beside him, his expression seeming to say, Is she always like this?!
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka: You're only realizing that now?