Year 2 Class C.
The second lesson since the introduction of the OAA.
On the podium, Hoshinomiya Chie casually explained the rules of the special exam.
"On the day of the exam, five subjects will be tested at once, each worth one hundred points, for a total of five hundred points."
"Regarding the most important rules, there are two types prepared this time—class-based competition and individual-based competition."
Class Competition by Grade:
Competition will be based on the average score calculated from the entire class's score and all partners' scores.
Rewards will be given in the order of highest to lowest average score: fifty class points, thirty points, ten points, and zero points.
Individual Competition:
Scoring is based on the combined score of yourself and your partner.
The top five pairings will each receive one hundred thousand private points as a special reward.
The top thirty percent of pairings will each receive ten thousand private points.
If the total score is below five hundred, the second-year student will be expelled. Regardless of how many points they keep, first-year students will not receive private points for the next three months.
Additionally, any student judged to have intentionally answered questions incorrectly or manipulated their score to be lower will be expelled regardless of their year. If a student forces a third party to score low, that student will also be expelled.
That's right.
For this exam, second-year students will be paired with first-year students.
Once an invitation is sent via the OAA and both parties agree, a team is formed, and it cannot be dissolved for any reason.
The only requirement: only one invitation chance per day.
It's quite a test of everyone's communication skills.
The special exam explanation ended.
Hoshinomiya Chie left the classroom indifferently.
The class members began to gather around Ichinose.
The matter regarding the three of them had indeed caused a stir.
But after some simple conversation, Ando Sayo and the others weren't as bothered anymore; as long as they were happy themselves, it was fine.
Moreover, it was during a special exam now.
They didn't have the energy to worry about those things.
Only Shibata stood unhappily next to Kanzaki, still seemingly unable to wrap his head around it.
Since the three of them didn't care, it wasn't anyone else's place to point fingers.
But Shibata just found it hard to accept.
Yet he also knew the big picture was more important.
"Everyone."
Ichinose analyzed with furrowed brows: "The teacher just said this exam involves establishing partnerships. In the future, there will likely be situations where different grades compete against each other. I think this is the key to the exam, what do you all think?"
"I agree."
The others naturally had no objections.
"In that case."
Ichinose nodded: "Rather than class points, the focus of this exam should be on building good relationships with the first-year students, what do you think?"
Ando Sayo and the others had no objections, and Kanzaki also nodded after a moment of thought. Finally, their gaze fell on Hikigaya.
"It's good."
Hikigaya nodded in agreement.
Leaving private points aside, he wasn't short on them, and one hundred thousand private points weren't of much value to him anymore.
First place only offered fifty class points.
Even the last place resulted in no change.
Working so hard for such a small amount of class points was slightly not worth it. Focusing on making friends with first-years was fine.
As seen from this OAA exam, under Nagumo Miyabi's leadership, the school's direction had begun to change. In the future, there would surely be more inter-year exams emphasizing individual ability.
In this exam, establishing relationships with first-years was no problem.
The question was whether those relationships could be utilized in the future.
Next, Ichinose and the others began to discuss. Hikigaya stood by, nodding from time to time, though he was mostly zoning out.
This exam wasn't hard.
The two only needed a combined score of five hundred to pass.
As long as one didn't intentionally hold the other back, they could easily pass by just studying normally.
Hikigaya felt that this exam was likely designed specifically by Acting Director Tsukishiro for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, intended to arrange for a first-year student to force Ayanokouji into expulsion.
This is what happens when you oppose those in power.
If a first-year intentionally scored zero, it would basically be an unsolvable dead end.
However, the most important thing was whether Tsukishiro's person could successfully pair with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
Otherwise, it was impossible for all 160 first-year students to be Tsukishiro's assassins; if that were the case, Ayanokouji could just surrender directly.
Hikigaya didn't care.
They could fight however they wanted, as long as it didn't involve his side.
It would be even better if Ayanokouji Kiyotaka just got expelled!
"So, Hikki."
At this point, Ichinose looked up at Hikigaya beside her: "What do you plan to do? Do you want me to help arrange a teammate, or will you act on your own?"
"Don't worry about it, I'll do it myself."
Hikigaya snapped out of it and nodded.
Although communication skills were being tested, he didn't need Ichinose and the others to help.
In this exam, second-years bore the risk of expulsion, while first-years, even if they failed, would only lose out on private points for three months.
The exam was undoubtedly more favorable for the first-years.
Those with good grades would naturally be more in demand.
Moreover, with the OAA containing everyone's information, one could see the academic results of everyone in the school at a glance.
Likely, many people would be begging to pair with those who had good grades.
Some might even be willing to spend private points to pair with excellent students, if their goal was the school's reward points.
Of course, looks, appearance, and communication skills were also indispensable.
If someone had strong communication skills or was cute, they might easily team up with an high-achieving student.
None of that mattered.
Hikigaya's B- grade couldn't be called good, but it wasn't bad either.
If he waited until the end, his grades would naturally make him a sought-after choice. By then, first-years would surely take the initiative to invite him to a team.
He would only need to choose the one with the best grades among them.
Of course, private points didn't need to be considered.
He wasn't short on those few private points anyway.
After school, while Ichinose and the others were preparing for the special exam, Hikigaya and Himeno Yuki left the school together.
"In the future, if any girls contact you, you have to tell me immediately!"
Himeno Yuki put her hands behind her back and said in a low voice.
Although she didn't need to worry about Hikigaya, she had to stay on guard against those girls; she wasn't as naive as Ichinose.
"Understood..."
Hikigaya nodded and glanced at her: "But is it really okay to leave it to you?"
He never wanted something like that to happen again.
However, it felt like Himeno Yuki wasn't very reliable either.
She was fine as long as she could remain assertive, but it felt like she would cower as soon as there were too many people.
"Hmm? You don't believe me?"
Himeno Yuki raised an eyebrow at him.
Although things did get troublesome when there were many people, Hikigaya himself was already a handful.
As long as she didn't let Hikigaya be alone in a room with a girl, it wouldn't be too difficult.
As they walked, Hikigaya suddenly stopped. Himeno Yuki also turned to look ahead; Karuizawa and Kushida Kikyo were walking toward them.