August 10th.
The third day after the uninhabited island exam.
Outside the rooftop cafe.
Hikigaya used his left arm as a pillow, looking at the phone in his right hand.
[Kushida Kikyo: I'm really sorry about today. I've explained everything to Ike and the others. Hikigaya-kun can rest assured that it won't have any impact on you (^▽^). (Last night)]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: Sorry, my phone died yesterday. (This morning)]
[Kushida Kikyo: It's fine, it's fine. It was my fault for disturbing your rest so late. I just couldn't contain my feelings. I hope Hikigaya-kun isn't angry (????). (This morning)]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: Sorry, I went to eat and didn't see the message. (Three hours ago)]
[Kushida Kikyo: It's fine, it's fine. Speaking of which, I want to officially apologize again for yesterday's matter. If it's convenient, I'd like to treat Hikigaya to a meal as an apology. (Three hours ago)]
"Stare..."
Hikigaya stared at the text message in a daze.
A normal person would have blocked her long ago; this girl is way too persistent.
Anyway.
What should I do now?
He felt that even if he refused, this girl would just pester him in person.
So troublesome.
Just then, a sharp, high-pitched sound came from the phone, and a broadcast rang throughout the ship simultaneously.
[We hereby notify all students. The school has just sent out emails regarding contact matters to all students. Please check your phones individually and follow the instructions. If you did not receive the email, please apply to nearby faculty members. Since the content is very important, please do not omit anything during confirmation. Repeating once again——————]
Hikigaya sat up.
This was the first time since entering the school that he had received such an email.
It seemed to force a sound out; isn't this invading their privacy?
[The special exam is about to begin. Students please gather at your respective designated rooms and times. Those more than ten minutes late will be penalized. Please gather at Room 201 by 8:40 PM tonight. The required time is approximately twenty minutes. Please come to the gathering place after using the restroom, etc., and turning your phone to vibrate or turning off the power.]
Hikigaya clicked on the email.
As expected, the school wouldn't let them spend their time so easily.
After a while, he received a message from Ichinose.
[Ichinose Honami: I suspect Hikigaya might not have looked at the group chat. Is everything okay on your end? What's your gathering time and place?]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: I'm fine. The time and place are 8:40 PM tonight at Room 201.]
[Ichinose Honami: That's the same as Kanzaki and Mako-chan. Great! If there are any problems, you can contact Kanzaki. Oh.]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: Understood.]
As expected of Ichinose.
In just a few minutes, she had mastered the overall information of the whole class.
He opened the group chat, and sure enough, everyone had posted their times and places and was discussing the exam content.
Ichinose even had time to care about him.
What a kind girl.
In the dormitory.
8:00 PM.
"Alright."
Kanzaki finished dressing: "Hikigaya, you're with me. Let's go together?"
"Eh?"
Hikigaya, who was lying on the bed reading, was slightly stunned: "Isn't it 8:40 PM?"
"Going early to observe the environment always has some benefits."
Kanzaki explained calmly: "Moreover, being ten minutes late will result in a penalty. It's better to arrive early."
"Ugh."
Hikigaya stood up reluctantly: "I think saying being ten minutes late will be penalized means being a little late is allowed."
This kind of explanation.
Isn't it basically telling them.
That even if you're slightly late, it's fine~
It's the same thing.
"Your thinking is quite proactive."
Kanzaki's eyes sharpened: "I advise you not to have such a fluke mentality. In the end, the only one who loses will be yourself."
"Alright, alright."
Shibata smoothed things over with a smile: "Anyway, Hikigaya, you're just reading in the dorm. What's wrong with going a bit early~?"
"Well."
Hikigaya had already dressed. He was just complaining a bit.
There was no choice.
The leader of this group seemed to be Kanzaki.
Hikigaya followed Kanzaki listlessly with his hands in his pockets and soon arrived at Room 201. Kanzaki knocked politely.
"Oh, Kanzaki and Hikigaya? The teacher isn't here yet, come in quickly."
A female voice came from inside the room.
It should be the other companion, Okakura Asako.
Hikigaya didn't have much of an impression of her. He only remembered that she also seemed to be on good terms with Ichinose. Speaking of which, the girls in Class B all get along very well with Ichinose.
Ichinose could actually eliminate the barriers of the entire class single-handedly.
Truly impressive.
The two entered the room. A girl was sitting in a seat with two chairs next to her. The seats across the table were empty.
"Phew."
Hikigaya sat in a corner seat.
He felt a bit helpless. The teacher still hadn't arrived, why did you guys come so early?
"Is the teacher not here yet?"
Kanzaki looked around with a steady expression: "Okakura, how long have you been here?"
"I've only been here for a few minutes. You can just call me Mako-chan. In fact, I'd prefer if you called me that."
Okakura Asako explained with a smile.
Kanzaki nodded aloofly and sat between the two.
Actually, this guy also seemed not very good at socializing; he was just forcing himself to contribute to Class B with all his heart.
Looking at it that way, Kanzaki is quite impressive.
Actually forcing himself to cooperate with these guys—Hikigaya asked himself and knew he certainly couldn't do it, nor did he want to.
"By the way."
Since the teacher hadn't arrived, Okakura Asako started small talk: "Why do you think the school specifically separated us this time?"
According to the group chat.
They were roughly divided into two time slots: 6:00 PM and 8:40 PM.
Then they were divided into several rooms, roughly in groups of three to four people.
"Not sure."
Kanzaki rubbed his chin in thought: "What I can think of is that this special exam probably leans more toward personal ability. What do you think, Hikigaya?"
"Don't know."
Hikigaya propped his head with his left hand against the armrest.
Without even knowing what they're doing, what's there to infer?
However.
This school actually forces people together through exams.
How annoying.
Seeing that both he and Kanzaki weren't the talkative type, Okakura Asako also started playing with her phone.
Close to 8:30 PM.
A female teacher dressed in a black OL business suit walked into the room, her shapely legs clad in black stockings.
It was Chabashira Sae.
Her cold, beautiful face looked much more reliable than Hoshinomiya Chie's.
"You're early."
Chabashira Sae walked across from them and sat down, immediately getting to the point:
"Since that's the case, let's begin. I am the homeroom teacher of Class 1-D, Chabashira Sae. Next, I will provide explanations regarding the special exam. If you have questions, please wait until after I'm done. I will leave time for you to ask."
The three nodded slightly.
This was obviously much more reliable than Hoshinomiya Chie.
"This special exam."
Chabashira Sae spoke with a cold expression:
"The school compares all first-year students to the Zodiac and divides them into twelve groups. We will conduct exams within those groups."
"The purpose of the exam is to test Thinking ability."
"The abilities required of members of society are generally divided into three categories."
"Action, Thinking, and Teamwork. Those who possess these will be qualified to become excellent adults."
"Therefore, this exam will be conducted in twelve groups."
In other words.
One must possess these three abilities to become an excellent "corporate slave."
While a househusband only needs the "Action" to cook.
Looking at it that way.
Being a househusband is simply the greatest dream.
Hikigaya couldn't help but nod.
"Teacher."
Kanzaki raised his hand and, after receiving permission, asked:
"Although I generally understand, may I ask, what is the reason for the school separating us for these explanations?"
"The reason is simple."
Chabashira Sae explained flatly: "Because the groups are composed of students from four different classes, if we didn't explain in advance, it would likely cause confusion at that time."
Confusion?
Eh?
Hikigaya looked up at her.
It was truly hard to understand.
Even with the reason of full tuition exemption, this is a school that dares to invade personal privacy. Would they really worry about a bit of confusion?
"I see."
Kanzaki nodded, seemingly accepting it: "Sorry for the interruption, teacher. Please continue."
"The rank you have been assigned is the Dragon Group."
Chabashira Sae took out an A4 sheet and three cards from a folder and placed them in front of the group before continuing:
"Here is the list of group members. It is forbidden to take it out of the room. If you feel it's necessary, memorize it here."
Hikigaya took only one look, and his expression turned a bit sour.
Class A: Katsuragi Kohei, Nishikawa Ryoko, Matoba Shinji, Yano Koharu.
Class B: Hikigaya Hachiman, Kanzaki Ryuji, Okakura Asako.
Class C: Oda Takumi, Suzuki Hidetoshi, Sonoda Masashi, Ryuen Kakeru.
Class D: Kushida Kikyo, Hirata Yousuke, Horikita Suzune.
"Uwaa..."
Hikigaya couldn't help but make a sound.
Although he didn't know most of them, there were several people he specifically wanted to avoid.
Speaking of which.
Katsuragi, Ryuen, and Horikita Suzune are the leaders of three classes. Isn't the level of the Dragon Group too high?
Kanzaki aside.
He, for one, doesn't seem fit to appear in this place.
No matter how you think about it, Ichinose would be more suitable here.
"Is there a problem?"
Chabashira Sae turned to look at him.
"Uh..."
Hikigaya asked when he didn't understand: "Why was I assigned to this group? It seems a bit inappropriate no matter how you look at it?"
"I wouldn't know about that."
Chabashira Sae quickly withdrew her gaze.
Dammit.
Even though I know compulsory education only goes up to junior high, can she even be called a teacher? Give me back the admiration I felt a moment ago. Hikigaya didn't bother asking any more questions.
He felt that this woman wasn't much better than Chie Hoshinomiya. At most, she just had a more business-like attitude.
"...Let us continue."
Sae Chabashira took out a few more documents and said coldly: "As a major premise, for this exam, please ignore the relationship between Class A through Class D for now; instead, act as the Dragon Group."
"There are only four possible outcomes for each group in this special exam. The exam is designed so that it will definitely result in one of them, without exception."
"To make it easier for you to understand, the school has prepared corresponding materials. These materials are also strictly forbidden to be taken out. Please review them carefully."
"Take a look."
Hikigaya took a copy of the materials and read.
[Summer Group Special Exam Explanation]
This exam is a task based on the 'VIP' (Target) assigned to each group. By submitting answers to the school using the prescribed method, one of four outcomes will inevitably occur.
The school will send an email to all students at 8:00 AM on the day the exam begins. At the same time, the fact of being chosen will be conveyed to the person selected as the VIP.
The exam schedule is from tomorrow until four days later at 9:00 PM (including one full free day).
Group members must gather twice a day at designated times in designated rooms for a one-hour discussion. The content of the discussion is entirely up to the group's autonomy.
Regarding the answering portion: After the exam ends, the school will only accept answers regarding the identity of the VIP during the period from 9:30 PM to 10:00 PM that night. Furthermore, one person can answer at most once.
The school only accepts answers sent by students using their own mobile phones to a designated email address.
VIPs do not have the right to send answers via email.
Answers regarding ranks outside of one's own assigned Zodiac group will be considered invalid.
At 11:00 PM on the final day, the school will inform all students of the detailed results of the exam via email.
Next are the four outcomes:
Outcome 1: If everyone, except for the group's VIP and students belonging to the VIP's class, answers correctly, the school will pay private points to all group members. (Students in the VIP's class will each receive the same amount of points). As a reward for leading the group to Outcome 1, the VIP will receive one million private points.
Outcome 2: If any group member (excluding the VIP and students in the VIP's class) fails to answer or answers incorrectly, the school will pay the VIP 500,000 private points.
Outcome 3: If someone other than the VIP reveals the answer to the school prematurely without waiting for the exam to end, and the answer is correct, the class the answering student belongs to will receive 50 Class Points, and the school will pay that student 500,000 private points. Conversely, the class whose VIP's identity was exposed will be penalized 50 Class Points. The group exam ends at that point. Furthermore, if a student from the same class as the VIP answers correctly, the school will treat the answer as invalid and continue the exam.
Outcome 4: If someone other than the VIP reveals the answer to the school prematurely without waiting for the exam to end, and the answer is incorrect, the class the answering student belongs to will receive a penalty of 50 Class Points. While the VIP receives 500,000 private points, the VIP's class will also receive 50 Class Points. The exam ends at the moment the wrong answer is given. Furthermore, if a student from the same class as the VIP answers incorrectly, the answer will be considered invalid and will not be accepted.
To summarize more concisely:
All members share the VIP's identity and pass the exam. Someone eventually guesses wrong, the VIP wins. Successfully identifying the VIP. PAGE 2 Misjudging the VIP's identity.
"Alright."
Sae Chabashira said with a flat expression: "Next is Q&A time. If there are no questions, you are dismissed."
Hikigaya was somewhat speechless.
As expected of best friends.
She had the exact same temperament as Chie Hoshinomiya.