Before they knew it.
The exam had reached the second half.
"Finally here."
Hearing the bell from the watch, Amikura Mako had a smile on her face and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"What exactly is the point of the school holding this kind of exam?"
Looking at the two girls in front of him.
Hikigaya was breathing heavily, complaining a bit.
Having reached this stage.
Several consecutive days of high-intensity exercise were simply exhausting.
Nothing could be done.
After all, the school designed the exam this way; it was impossible for them to pass it easily.
"Honestly..."
Amikura Mako said somewhat helplessly:
"Hikki is doing it again; don't always say such negative things. Alright, let's hurry to H3 to prepare for camping."
It was still early.
The group was currently at position G3.
Although camping on the spot would be fine, moving to the river at H3 to camp was obviously better; as for tasks, they only chose to participate in those along the way.
Hikigaya had no objection.
But he glanced at Chirami Chihiro, who was already crouching on the ground.
Clearly, it was a bit difficult for her.
"Should we rest for a bit before heading over?"
"Eh?"
Only then did Amikura Mako react, looking at Chirami Chihiro and nodding:
"Alright, let's rest first. Chihiro-chan, are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Chirami Chihiro showed a smile to reassure them:
"I'm sorry, I keep letting you guys take care of me."
"It's not like that..."
...
H3.
Approaching five in the afternoon.
The group finally found the river following the GPS.
Looking at the clear stream, Chirami Chihiro finally breathed a sigh of relief; she could finally rest for a while.
"Who?"
Right then.
A wary voice gave everyone a start.
Hikigaya pushed aside the bushes, and Ibuki Mio, who was setting up a tent, appeared before them; she was half-crouched on the ground, turning her head to watch this side with vigilance.
Discovering it was Hikigaya and the others.
Ibuki Mio sighed slightly in relief, quickly figuring out the group's intention.
"I was here first."
Ibuki Mio remained wary, her voice somewhat raspy:
"You guys find another place!"
"What kind of reasoning is that?"
Amikura Mako furrowed her brows and said:
"This place isn't your house..."
"Calm down."
Before Amikura Mako could finish, Hikigaya interrupted softly.
Physical fatigue made Amikura Mako's emotions a bit agitated, and Ibuki Mio also seemed to have not communicated with anyone for a long time, looking like a mother leopard that could bristle at any moment.
Fortunately.
Amikura Mako could still listen to her companion's advice, and her expression settled into silence with some hesitation.
"Do you guys have some kind of objective?"
Ibuki Mio's gaze was fierce, and her vigilance instantly spiked:
"I advise you to stay away; it's better for both of us. Don't think I'm afraid of you just because I'm alone."
"..."
Hikigaya did not respond.
Looking at Ibuki Mio's cherry-colored lips, which appeared somewhat dry and cracked, she had clearly been lacking water for some time.
Although he didn't know her ranking.
But taking the exam alone must be very difficult.
Even though the river was right next to them.
If she became physically unwell due to drinking unclean river water, she would be disqualified from the exam immediately.
The disadvantage of taking the exam alone became apparent.
One person cannot safely drink river water, let alone afford a water purifier; Ibuki Mio probably only considered the river water as a backup measure.
She would absolutely not drink it unless absolutely necessary.
"Don't be nervous, we have no ill intentions."
Hikigaya tried to keep his tone as calm as possible:
"Are you lacking water?"
"Ha?"
Ibuki Mio's gaze became even more defensive:
"Which eye of yours saw that I'm lacking water? I'm currently ranked 32nd, how could I be lacking anything?"
Uh.
Hikigaya looked the other party up and down.
He truly hadn't expected Ibuki Mio to be ranked 32nd.
She had probably pursued scores too much without correctly planning her itinerary, which led to this dilemma.
If this continued.
A drop in ranking would be considered a good outcome; if she withdrew due to physical discomfort, all previous efforts would go to waste, and she might even face expulsion.
Although not weak in strength.
Ibuki Mio's weakness was that she was easily affected by her environment and was slightly emotional.
After all, the classes were different.
And she was taking the exam alone, having not communicated with people for a long time.
It was only natural for her emotions to be a bit unstable.
Not much operation was needed.
If he were to convey information to nearby people in Class B now and block off the surrounding drinking water tasks.
Other than drinking river water, Ibuki Mio would have no other option.
With bad luck, she would be expelled directly.
It was only natural to be so guarded; Hikigaya didn't take it to heart.
"Don't be so wary."
Hikigaya said in a deep voice:
"We have a water purifier here that we can lend you, and if you're still not at ease, we have some extra pure water we can give you."
"Ha?"
Ibuki Mio was instantly dumbfounded.
"We are from different classes; why would you help me? What is your objective?"
"..."
Hikigaya was a bit speechless:
"No objective. We aren't lacking drinking water to begin with, and you're only in the thirties, so your grade is right there; you won't pose a threat to Class B. Helping out should be a matter of human decency, right?"
"If you mind, you can exchange some things with us, or give some individual points."
No one from Class B fell into the bottom ten.
Very few distress signals were received on the walkie-talkie.
There was no need to worry about anyone facing expulsion.
Although he didn't have his phone on him now, Ibuki Mio's credit could still be guaranteed.
"How about it? Up to you."
Hikigaya didn't force it.
A lone wolf like Ibuki Mio wouldn't easily accept help from others; Hikigaya was just lending a hand in passing.
"What a do-gooder."
Ibuki Mio pursed her somewhat dry lips, hesitated for a moment, and found some dried meat in her backpack.
"I'll use six pieces of dried meat and three thousand individual points to exchange with you for 2L of water; the insufficient part will be replaced by purified river water."
"No problem."
Hikigaya nodded indifferently.
Soon.
The several of them finished exchanging rewards.
Ibuki Mio suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, looking up at the departing backs of Hikigaya and the others with a complex expression.
On the other side.
Moving a bit further away.
After setting up the tents, Hikigaya called Amikura Mako and Chirami Chihiro together.
"I'm sorry, I made such a decision on my own."
"Don't worry about it, we certainly aren't lacking in drinking water anyway, and being able to help the other party isn't a bad thing."
"That's good, I'll give the five thousand private points to you then."
Without waiting for the two to speak, Hikigaya hurriedly changed the subject.
In a somewhat forceful tone, he said:
"Starting now, let's speak ill of the school!"
"Eh?"
As soon as these words came out.
Amikura Mako and Chirami Chihiro were momentarily stunned.
"Don't be so surprised."
A trace of a smile appeared at the corners of Hikigaya's mouth as he said:
"Anyway, let's just try saying it first, I'll start, and then each person will say a sentence."
Under Hikigaya's forceful lead, Amikura Mako and Chirami Chihiro also began speaking ill of the school and complaining about this exam.
These past few days had indeed been too exhausting.
Amikura Mako's emotions were also clearly a bit off.
Unable to regulate emotions.
This was Amikura Mako's shortcoming as a leader.
After a bout of complaining.
Amikura Mako had clearly relaxed a lot.
"I feel much more relaxed, Hikki. it's truly incredible."
"It's nothing like that."
Hikigaya said somewhat proudly:
"Right? Let's continue talking about things we dislike."
He had a feeling.
Amikura Mako and Chirami Chihiro were about to be led astray by him.