Chapter 154: Delivering Victory Speech, Super-Quant Club's Summer Plan Starts with Hunting the Serial Killer
Hearing the middle-aged female teacher's words, the entire auditorium fell silent.
Shuchiin students looked at each other with incredulous expressions.
"The first place is... is Sobu High?"
"That Yoru... took first place in this exam?"
"Wait a minute, what about Shinomiya Kaguya? Shinomiya Kaguya... lost!?"
"Shuchiin... lost to Sobu High?"
....
Compared to others, as the student representative holding all hopes of Shuchiin authorities, the person involved, Shinomiya Kaguya, had a calm face without the slightest fluctuation in her eyes.
Perhaps, from the moment she heard Yoru hand in the paper forty minutes early, she had vaguely realized the outcome of this battle.
The opponent's confidence wasn't ungrounded arrogance but based on powerful strength.
Looking at the surrounding Shuchiin students staring at her with shocked and surprised faces, a burst of bitterness suddenly welled up in Shinomiya Kaguya's heart.
In these people's eyes, she lost to Yoru.
But only Shinomiya Kaguya knew.
She didn't just lose; she lost by being completely crushed.
Imagine.
If this wasn't a joint exam but an internal Shuchiin exam, would Shinomiya Kaguya, as the first in the grade, choose to hand in the paper early just to surpass Shirogane Miyuki, the second in the grade, in answering speed?
Impossible.
Yoru handing in the paper early not only meant that the quality of his answer sheet in just forty minutes surpassed Shinomiya Kaguya's.
It also meant.
From beginning to end, he never thought about the possibility of not taking first place.
What Yoru considered was no longer winning or losing.
But how to win by more in this joint exam.
The gap between the two...
Was really too big.
It wasn't that Shinomiya Kaguya had never lost. Sometimes, to integrate into a group, she would deliberately choose to go easy on certain things.
But to go all out on something and lose so miserably was a first in her life.
Shinomiya Kaguya's expression and eyes had no fluctuation; this was her cultivation as the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family.
In a place no one could see, her hands tightly clenched the hem of her clothes, exerting so much force that her knuckles turned slightly white.
And on Sobu High's side...
"Yoru won!"
"The Great Demon King of Sobu High!"
"As expected of the madman who dares to molest female teachers in the office; he really has some skills!"
"Is this the first time Shuchiin has lost since its establishment?"
"Whatever, anyway, our Sobu High is the first place in this joint exam!"
"As expected of Yoru-sama!"
....
The Sobu High students were completely ecstatic at this moment.
Looking at the Shuchiin students who were just arrogant and full of confidence like superiors, now with complicated and depressed faces as if they had eaten shit-flavored chocolate, they could only use one word to describe their current feeling.
Refreshing (Cool)!
Too refreshing!
Even though Yoru was the first place in this year's Sakura Prefecture Joint Exam, to be honest, most Sobu High students didn't think he could win.
After all, the first semester had reached its end.
In these few months, under the huge difference in teaching staff between the two schools, no matter how outstanding the talent, it couldn't bridge such a gap.
It seemed now...
Their vision was too small.
A true genius isn't changed by the environment but changes the environment.
The first place in this joint exam was the strongest proof.
A small part of Shuchiin students seemed unable to accept this fact, looking at Yoru sitting beside Hiratsuka Shizuka with doubtful and suspicious eyes, whispering.
"How could he beat Shinomiya Kaguya? Cheated, right?"
"Must have used some trick; otherwise, it's impossible."
"An ordinary student from Sobu High actually defeating the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family? It doesn't conform to logic at all."
...
Just when Hiratsuka Shizuka frowned, displeased, and wanted to stand up to fight back against those people, the middle-aged female teacher on the stage suddenly raised her hand and knocked hard on the podium in front of her.
Bang bang bang!
This sudden noise directly quieted down the entire auditorium again.
The middle-aged female teacher pushed her gold-rimmed glasses, scanning those Shuchiin students doubting the authenticity of Yoru's score with cold eyes, speaking slowly.
"Emphasize once more."
"The location, rules, setting questions, invigilation, grading, and scoring of this joint exam are all handled by our Private Shuchiin Academy."
"The Sobu High side is only responsible for checking the candidates' papers after we complete the ranking to prevent omissions."
"Whoever doubts the authenticity of Yoru-kun's score this time is equivalent to doubting the ability of our Shuchiin."
Speaking of this, the middle-aged female teacher paused and spoke slowly.
"Then now, does anyone still doubt the authenticity of the scores in this joint exam?"
The auditorium was dead silent.
Just as the middle-aged female teacher said.
This joint exam was basically completely in the charge of Shuchiin; the Sobu High side only played a verifying role.
Doubting Yoru's score was equivalent to doubting that Private Shuchiin Academy didn't have the ability to guarantee the authenticity of this exam score.
No one dared to say such a thing.
"Very good."
Seeing no student expressing objections anymore, the middle-aged female teacher continued.
"Then next..."
"Wait a minute."
Just when the middle-aged female teacher was halfway through speaking, Yoru, who was originally sitting offstage, suddenly interrupted and walked directly onto the podium.
"What are you...?"
The middle-aged female teacher looked puzzled.
Yoru smiled and uttered an abstract sentence that made all students present speechless.
"I am first place; I want to deliver a victory speech."
The middle-aged female teacher froze for a moment, showing an expression of not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and handed over the microphone in her hand.
"Then go ahead."
Losing is losing.
Yoru-kun defeated all first-year students of Private Shuchiin Academy in such an away game environment and took first place in this joint exam.
If he wants to deliver a victory speech, let him deliver it.
Must have a broad vision.
"Ahem, hello everyone."
Facing thousands of students offstage, Yoru didn't have stage fright at all, a relaxed smile on his face.
"Now, I am going to start delivering my victory speech."
Hearing this sentence, while Shuchiin students felt unwilling, they also had a little bit of curiosity.
What did the opponent want to say?
It was their first time seeing someone snatching the microphone from the teacher to deliver a victory speech after taking first place in an exam.
What is this?
Social terrorist?
Yoru maintained a smile, speaking slowly.
"Taking first place this time is not just my credit alone. I also want to thank here the girls who are very important to me and have been supporting me all along."
Everyone thought, a very conventional opening remark.
But the Super-Quant Club members, and acquaintances like Hiratsuka Shizuka who knew Yoru's personality, suddenly felt a very ominous premonition in their hearts.
Is the abstract moment... about to come?
Sure enough, Yoru's next words made the entire auditorium silent.
"Let me see..."
Yoru first took out a list from his bosom, looked down seriously, then spoke.
"The list I want to thank is as follows."
"My homeroom teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka, members in the same club as me Yotsuya Miko, Futaba Rio, Yuigahama Yui, Touma Kazusa, Yukinoshita Yukino, Amano Hina, Kitagawa Marin, Kawasaki Saki."
"Also a club member, but a senpai one grade higher than me, Sakurajima Mai."
"And Yukinoshita Haruno far away in Chiba Prefecture."
Hearing this long list of names, everyone present was dumbfounded.
No, when others give speeches, there are only a few people to thank.
How can you report so many names?
Is this delivering a victory speech or reporting a menu?
No...
Why are there two girls with the same surname?
Sisters?
Bro, you play this wild?
Immediately after, Yoru uttered the astonishing sentence that would be passed down as a good story in Private Shuchiin Academy in the future under the respectful gazes of all male students.
"The list to thank is temporarily only these; when I come next time, it will become more."
After saying this, Yoru walked off the stage.
After a brief silence, thunderous applause rang out in the auditorium.
All male students showed deep respect for him.
As expected of the first place in the joint exam.
The gold standard of Yoru-kun from Sobu High was recognized even by the male students of Shuchiin at this moment!
"Sigh, really..."
The middle-aged female teacher sighed helplessly, but also felt a bit fortunate in her heart.
She originally thought Yoru's victory declaration would be to intensify mockery towards Shuchiin.
Unexpectedly, the opponent didn't even mention it, just finished after reporting a long list of names like a menu.
This actually changed the middle-aged female teacher's attitude towards Yoru from initial hostility to appreciation.
Before the exam started, having absolute confidence, even could be called arrogance.
After the ranking was announced and victory confirmed, being very composed as if this was a matter of course.
At such a young age, having such a general's demeanor.
Truly an excellent talent.
The middle-aged female teacher composed herself, then spoke.
"Next, the second place in this joint exam."
"Private Shuchiin Academy, Shinomiya Kaguya."
No one felt surprised at this result.
Just in Shinomiya Kaguya's mind, the sentence Yoru said echoed constantly.
First place is called success.
Other than that, are all failures.
She... failed.
"Third place, Private Shuchiin Academy, Shirogane Miyuki."
"Fourth place, Private Shuchiin Academy..."
"Fifth place, Private Shuchiin Academy..."
....
The middle-aged female teacher read out more than a dozen names in a row, all prefixed with Private Shuchiin Academy.
This didn't make the Shuchiin students feel any joy.
On the contrary, they looked at Yoru sitting there chatting casually with Hiratsuka Shizuka, admiration emerging in their eyes.
Many people knew that the first place in this year's Joint Exam didn't choose Shuchiin.
At first, Shuchiin students and parents thought this represented the opponent's stupidity.
Not even distinguishing which is better between Sobu High and Shuchiin, isn't this stupidity?
But now, no one would give Yoru such an evaluation anymore.
Among the top twenty in this joint exam, except for him being the first, the remaining nineteen places belonged to Private Shuchiin Academy.
What did this mean?
The teaching level of Sobu High hadn't risen.
Yoru being able to take first place didn't just mean he defeated Shinomiya Kaguya, Shirogane Miyuki, and many other Shuchiin candidates.
It meant even more that he single-handedly bridged, and even surpassed, the gap in teaching staff between the two high schools, Sobu High and Private Shuchiin Academy.
This first place in the joint exam....
Had even more gold content than first place in the Sakura Prefecture Joint Exam.
"Twenty-first place, Sobu High Class 1-A, Yukinoshita Yukino."
Finally hearing the name of Sobu High again, and it was her Class 1-A, the corner of Hiratsuka Shizuka's mouth couldn't help rising.
But as the person involved, Yukino didn't show any joy.
She finally realized now.
She indeed had no qualification to compete with Yoru in studies.
Inside Sobu High, the two were just the gap between first and second.
But this joint exam revealed the true form.
Yoru was still the strongest.
And she could only rank outside the top twenty.
.....
Just before boarding the bus, Shinomiya Kaguya, as the Shuchiin student representative, walked up to Yoru, obvious emotional fluctuation revealing in her tone for the first time.
"Next time, I will definitely win."
Yoru smiled, returning a sentence that almost broke Shinomiya Kaguya's defense.
"Go home and sleep early; you can have whatever dream you want, just don't fantasize here."
The middle-aged female teacher wearing gold-rimmed glasses walked up to Yoru. The hostile expression on her face was gone, instead sighing slightly.
"I originally thought you not choosing Shuchiin was your loss."
"But it seems now, it is Shuchiin's loss."
Yoru replied with a smile.
"Can't be called a loss. I just don't like the place Shuchiin, but the reason I don't like it is also the reason you can become Shuchiin."
"Mmhmm."
The middle-aged female teacher nodded slightly, looking at Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, next time there's a chance, let's communicate together."
Hiratsuka Shizuka responded with a smile.
"Alright, then we will leave first."
....
With the joint exam ending with Yoru taking first place, the first semester also drew to a close.
Sobu High still had to maintain normal classes until after school on Wednesday, when the summer vacation officially began.
After school, Sobu High rooftop.
"The first semester is finally over~"
Yui stretched lazily, looking like she was finally freed.
Rio pushed her glasses, saying faintly.
"The school starts vacation the day after tomorrow, but during these two months of vacation, we can't be idle at all; there are many things to handle."
Every time during internal Super-Quant Club meetings, Rio was responsible for proposing plans, and this time was no exception.
"First of all, what should we do with that little girl named Menma?"
"Do with..."
Mai frowned slightly, hesitating.
"Although she isn't human... but she hasn't hurt humans either, we..."
Miko spoke thoughtfully.
"Eliminate, definitely cannot eliminate. Menma belongs to a very special existence. The best way is to let her fulfill her obsession and pass on like my father, right?"
Mai nodded and smiled.
"Since that's the case, before then, let her live at my house first; I happen to live alone."
Yoru threw out a question from the side.
"Why can't she live directly at my house?"
Noticing the girls' strange looks as if suspecting something, he rolled his eyes.
"Don't be too outrageous."
"Hmph."
Rio said meaningfully.
"Menma is still a child. If she lives at your house, seeing some strange things and hearing some strange noises will damage her young mind. So it's decided, Menma lives at Mai-senpai's house."
Immediately after, Rio spoke again.
"The second thing is also the most important one."
She took out her phone and showed the news report photo on the screen to everyone.
"This is..."
Seeing the corpse of a girl fluttering with the wind like a Teru Teru Bozu, the Super-Quant Club members all showed unbearable expressions.
"Teru Teru Bozu Killer, this is the code name given by the Police Department."
Rio put away her phone and spoke slowly.
"Based on the actions of Yoru and me last time, we can know the danger level of the Otherworld, and the power of the evil spirits inside, most likely originates from the negative impressions and thoughts of humans in Kyoto city."
"Like the doctor and nurse dressed evil spirits we eliminated last time, and that monster with tentacles all over its upper body fused with a human, were probably strangeness formed by the negative impressions of Kyoto citizens towards the hospital."
"A serial killer like the Teru Teru Bozu Killer who committed multiple cases and brought fear to Kyoto citizens will inevitably have a certain impact on the Otherworld."
"To prevent more powerful evil spirits from being produced in the Otherworld and coming to the real world through 'Doors' to cause destruction, I think we must act."
Mai and others nodded in agreement hearing these words.
"Correct."
But next, everyone's gaze gathered on Yoru.
The latter leaned against the railing of the rooftop, looking up at the sky which was already heavily overcast and about to rain, chuckling.
"Why look at me?"
"Letting you make the decision."
"My decision..."
Yoru said faintly.
"Although I am not a hero, doing whatever he wants in Kyoto city like this indeed doesn't take me seriously. Agreed."
Yoru looked at the members in front of him, the smile on his face disappearing, his voice carrying inexplicable excitement.
"I am also very curious about what the soul of such a wicked person tastes like."