Chapter 123 If I Actually Say It, You Won't Be Happy
"The theme of this exam is Thinking; this is an exam designed to test your ability to think. In other words, you need to analyze problems and uncover hidden effective information from them."
Hoshinomiya Chie appeared to be seriously explaining the exam content.
"Interaction between different classes also simulates the communication between different departments when you work in the future. There is no standard answer for this exam. What kind of outcome you choose requires you to weigh the pros and cons yourself. In the adult world, there is no absolute right or wrong; learning to compromise is a quality you must possess to grow into an adult..."
Hoshinomiya Chie talked a lot all at once. It was the same kind of boredom as reading a failed light novel that opens with a massive dump of setting descriptions.
Logically speaking, as an examiner, one should explain the exam content to the students using explanations that are as simple and easy to understand as possible.
Hoshinomiya Chie did the opposite, clearly trying to disrupt the students' train of thought.
This person's personality was even worse than Chabashira-sensei's!
Unsurprisingly, everyone present was listening with a look of utter confusion. Hikigaya, however, remained calm and lost in thought.
"Ara~ Hikigaya-kun looks like he already understands."
Hoshinomiya Chie had been secretly observing the students' expressions.
"Yeah, I get it now." Hikigaya's calm response left the other students present somewhat dazed.
'Wait, brother? The specific exam questions haven't even been released yet—how do you already get it?'
This made the students of Class A, who prided themselves on being elites, incredibly anxious. Yet, for the sake of their pride, they were too embarrassed to ask.
Hoshinomiya Chie gazed at him with a friendly face.
"Oh? Then can Hikigaya-kun tell everyone about it?"
"I refuse." Hikigaya declined instantly.
"Eh, why?"
"I have no reason to share intelligence with people from other classes."
"How mean~ didn't teacher just say it? This exam is conducted in groups; students from different classes must cooperate, too."
"Just like the example Hoshinomiya-sensei mentioned earlier about simulating social work scenarios: even in the same company, there will be infighting between departments. For instance, to compete for a limited bonus quota, one might mislead a colleague into making a mistake..."
"Hi-Hikigaya-kun? Isn't that way of thinking a bit too dark?" Hoshinomiya Chie's expression was a bit hard to maintain.
"If we're talking about dark, that would be Hoshinomiya-sensei, wouldn't it?"
Hikigaya suddenly aimed his spear at the teacher.
"Even if the exam is conducted in groups, the final results are still aggregated into the class scores. Therefore, the so-called communication and cooperation are nothing more than means to trick one another..."
As soon as Hikigaya said this, the room fell into a deathly silence. Hoshinomiya Chie's originally friendly face even became distorted for a moment.
'What is up with this damn dead-fish-eyed brat? He's just a kid, so why is he more difficult to deal with than a seasoned veteran of society! Furthermore, the theme of this special exam is Thinking, so it's easy to deduce...'
"That's enough! Hikigaya!!" Hoshinomiya Chie finally couldn't help but interrupt. If she let him keep talking, would there even be an exam left to take?
'Didn't you ask me to say it? If I actually say it, you aren't happy.'
"Whew!" Hoshinomiya Chie's chest heaved with anger; her facial expression management was nearing a total collapse.
"This is the first time I've seen Hoshinomiya-sensei so angry." Himeno Yuki and the other Class B students watched, dumbfounded.
"You really know how to cause trouble," Kamuro Masumi, sitting next to him, couldn't help but remark.
"Not at all; I clearly just want to stay low-profile."
Hikigaya also knew he had talked a bit too much today. It was only because he had learned from Chabashira Sae last night that Hoshinomiya Chie had been her classmate, and the two were once very close friends. Later, because Chabashira Sae gave up, leading to the failure to reach Class A, their relationship shattered.
Hikigaya faintly felt that Hoshinomiya-sensei's attention on him stemmed from her targeting Chabashira Sae.
So, he wanted to test her. And with one test, Hoshinomiya's true nature came out.
"Alright, I will now distribute the exam materials." Hoshinomiya Chie quickly adjusted her emotions.
Everyone present received an A4 sheet of paper.
[Tiger Group]
Class A: Totsuka Yahiko, Yoshida Kouta, Doi Chikako, Kamuro Masumi Class B: Himeno Yuki, Watanabe Norihito, Amikura Mako, Hattori Kenji Class C: Nishino Takeko, Kinoshita Minori, Kaneda Satoru, Tokito Hiroya Class D: Sotomura Hideo, Okitani Kyosuke, Inogashira Kokoro, Hikigaya Hachiman
'Is it necessary to list every student's name? Or is this part of the exam content?'
He flipped to the back; as expected, these were the specific rules of the exam. Hikigaya browsed through them quickly.
To summarize: each group would be assigned a "VIP" (Target) by the school. Members need to identify the VIP's identity within the specified time.
Outcome 1: All group members guess the VIP's identity correctly. Everyone receives 500,000 personal points; the VIP themselves receives 1,000,000 personal points. Outcome 2: No one identifies the VIP by the end of the exam. The VIP themselves receives 500,000 points. Outcome 3: Someone submits a guess early and identifies the VIP correctly. That person receives 500,000 points and 50 Class Points for their class; the VIP's class loses 50 points. Outcome 4: Someone submits a guess early but guesses the VIP incorrectly. That person's target's class loses 50 points; the VIP receives 500,000 points and their class gains 50 points.
'I see. This is way too boring...'
After a moment of thought, Hikigaya understood the key to this exam. It was nothing more than concealment and discovery. The VIP must find a way to hide, while the other members must find out who the VIP is. Of course, that was just the surface-level explanation. In reality, there were plenty of hidden traps!
"The identity of the VIP will be sent via text message to the target's phone at 6:00 PM.
Please note: once the VIP's identity is determined, it cannot be changed under any circumstances!"
Perhaps spurred by Hikigaya, Hoshinomiya Chie dropped her cutesy tone, and her voice became cold.
"This exam will be conducted anonymously. The identities of the VIP and the guessers will be kept confidential; only the group results will be announced at the end of the exam.
If necessary, you can apply to the school for a temporary account or installment withdrawals."
This move by the school appeared thoughtful, protecting student privacy, but in reality, it was a disguised encouragement for people to guess early to achieve Outcome 3 or 4. At the same time, it invisibly planted seeds of distrust among the students.
It had to be said—this crappy school really had a knack for the field of screwing people over!
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