"Wait, wait." Hikigaya babbled in a panic, "Look, if you're sick, you'd have a legitimate reason to refuse the exam and could go back to the cruise ship to enjoy yourself. Isn't that good luck?"
Hmm?"
Horikita Suzune turned back and looked Hachiman up and down, looking as if she had misjudged him.
She sneered, "I originally thought you were a more serious student. I didn't expect your thoughts to be so ugly and pathetic, just like those incompetent low-achievers."
"Skipping the exam will result in a thirty-point deduction for the class. You should feel ashamed of your ideas."
This girl's insults are really harsh...
Hachiman's mouth twitched.
However.
Something felt off.
The rules clearly stated that "the leader cannot be changed without a legitimate reason." A cold is obviously a legitimate reason, so this is clearly a good thing.
Even though it would cost thirty points.
As long as the leader is changed at the last moment, it would be extremely difficult for any other class to guess correctly. As a defensive measure, it's practically invincible.
With such a method available.
Class D should be happy and utilize it properly. By handing the leadership to Horikita Suzune and then changing the leader at the end, they could pass the exam smoothly.
Is Horikita Suzune actually despising his idea right now?
Could it be...
That she hasn't discovered the use of this rule yet?
It shouldn't be possible.
The words were so big; did these people really not notice?
Hachiman felt it was impossible no matter how he thought about it, but then again, thinking about it being Class D, it felt possible.
In the end, he still didn't know if it was possible.
"Did you not notice?"
Since he couldn't figure it out, Hachiman asked directly.
"What do you mean?"
Sure enough, it wasn't that easy to test her.
The person in front of him was an 8th-dan in Aikido; her brain surely wouldn't be bad. He was really not good at communicating.
"I mean... that..."
How should he test this? It felt like the moment he said it, even if she didn't know, she would know.
Although human observation and psychological maneuvering were his strengths.
Having rarely interacted with people since childhood, he really didn't know how to guide the other person to say the answer he wanted.
"Have you thought about going back to the ship to rest?"
Hachiman scratched his head and said.
"I don't have a cold."
Horikita Suzune said coldly, "Why should I go back to the ship to rest? Although I am very dissatisfied with the fact that I am in Class D, since I have been assigned there, I will fulfill my responsibilities properly. Don't compare me to yourself."
He didn't know what had triggered Horikita Suzune's guard, but this girl was playing a tight defense.
But this defensive attitude.
Made Hachiman feel that Class D really hadn't noticed this rule—at least Horikita didn't know. He wasn't sure about the others.
Speaking of which.
Class B and Class D are in a partnership, right?
He believed he had some understanding of Ichinose.
He didn't know what Class D would do, but Ichinose probably wouldn't do something like backstabbing a partner by guessing their leader.
Could he perhaps fish for some benefits along the way?
"Horikita."
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Hachiman's mouth as he said: "Do you want me to tell you an absolutely safe way to pass the exam?"
"Hmm?"
Horikita Suzune was slightly taken aback before saying: "Setting aside whether an absolutely safe method exists, why are you telling me this?"
"Just say if you want to know or not!"
"Tell me first."
Horikita Suzune said, unsurprisingly.
This person really refuses to take any loss.
"Well."
Hachiman said directly: "That depends on whether you are the leader of Class D."
If Horikita Suzune wasn't the leader, then it was all for nothing.
Changing two people would cost 60 points.
That price was a bit too high.
Even if they passed the exam, there wouldn't be much gain; it would be better to just take the exam normally.
"Ridiculous."
Horikita Suzune shook her head with pity in her beautiful eyes: "You think I would tell you that? I don't know if there's something wrong with your brain or mine. Talking to you this much is utterly foolish of me; something must have broken."
With that.
Horikita Suzune turned and walked away.
What was the connection between whether she was the leader and an absolutely safe way to pass?
However.
Her slightly heavy head felt like mush.
She couldn't figure it out no matter what.
But passing the exam was a must. Once this exam failed, Class D, which was already at the bottom, might give up on the possibility of rising to Class A.
And live out their days aimlessly like the upperclassmen of Class D.
With no more chance of rising to Class A.
Horikita Suzune bit her silver teeth.
Although it was impossible to tell him whether she was the leader, she hoped Hachiman would call out to her to make some kind of deal.
This was also a form of indirect pressure, wanting to hold the leading position in the transaction.
While preventing the other party from learning information about Class D, she would conduct a transaction more favorable to her.
But.
This was also a choice of a last-ditch battle.
Once she turned back now,
It would undoubtedly be telling him that she was indeed the leader of Class D.
Not only would she lose the lead, but Class D might be finished, and they might even be blackmailed or coerced by Class B.
Even though they were in a partnership.
Horikita Suzune didn't quite trust Ichinose's character yet, although she didn't think Ichinose would backstab Class D.
In short,
Caution was paramount.
Necessary vigilance was definitely required.
She could only pray that Hachiman would take the initiative to speak and show weakness.
On the other side.
Hachiman followed behind; anyway, I don't care.
The goal of delaying time has been achieved. I hope Ichinose has already forgotten what happened just now.
Though it's a bit of a pity.
He didn't manage to get the benefits he wanted.
But his own desire to rise to Class A wasn't high to begin with.
If he could get the benefits he wanted, great; if not, then forget it.
No forcing it.
As they got closer and closer to Class B's camp.
Neither of them spoke again as they walked one after the other. Horikita Suzune was unconsciously rubbing her arm; she obviously had a cold.
And she still refused to admit it!
Persisting with the exam despite a cold—this self-important woman was unexpectedly tough.
If it were him.
With a legitimate reason, he would have slipped back to the ship long ago.
Exam? What exam?
You should know that back in middle school.
Even without a legitimate reason, he would pretend to be sick to take leave. But now it would affect the class, so it's better not to affect Class B.
Finally.
"Fine."
Horikita Suzune stopped her pace and said with a slightly unwilling tone: "I'll count it as your win."
After speaking, she turned around and stared stubbornly at Hachiman. She didn't expect to lose on a mental level to this man with eyes that showed zero motivation.
It was simply humiliating.
In fact,
Horikita Suzune didn't know.
The man in front of her really just had no motivation.
"Well."
Hachiman raised his hand and spoke the truth: "Though I didn't intend to compete with you in the first place."
Finally, he could fish for benefits.
He suddenly felt that saving up 20 million points over three years might not be out of reach.
It seemed that upon graduation,
The remaining personal points could be converted into cash at a certain ratio.
When the time comes, I'll treat Komachi to a big meal.