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★★★
However, even if it was something given for free, he would accept it.
"Actually..."
After Hirata sat down, he seemed to be gathering his thoughts.
Hachiman probably guessed what he wanted to say.
Because during the study session, Hirata had been worried.
Isn't that right?
Not to mention that the underachievers in the Class were not very cooperative, and their motivation was not very strong either.
At the same time.
Some students' basic grades were really too poor.
Like Kanzaki said about Sudo, Sudo didn't even know how to do a linear equation with two variables.
This almost required teaching from elementary School.
So.
Even with such an ordinary study session, three weeks would not be enough to make Sudo pass.
Rather, the scores for the subject of mathematics, which Chabashira Sensei had announced, might have been obtained by guessing in the fill-in-the-blank questions during the written interview exam before.
So, was he asking if he had another solution?
Yes, he did.
And Kushida had already been assigned this task.
Didn't he see that she didn't come to the study session tonight?
It's just.
"Actually, there's something I've been hesitating to say." Hirata said.
Hmm.
He could speak his mind.
Hachiman thought.
After all, it was a Class matter.
Then.
"I want to tell you my true self, Hikigaya." Hirata Yosuke said.
"..." Hachiman.
???
"True self?" Hachiman looked over.
"You might look down on me." Hirata said.
"But I cannot accept a classmate dropping out. That's my bottom line. It's also a form of redemption for me."
Eh.
Hachiman felt that he really should have drunk coffee tonight instead of coconut juice.
Because he didn't believe in absolute good.
And Hirata had always been working hard for the Class, trying to be a bonding agent, which seemed very strange.
Moreover, Hirata was excellent in all aspects.
But he was assigned to Class D, so it must be that... in some aspects, the School had found out and deemed him unacceptable.
So, what was Hirata's unacceptable aspect?
And as he thought about it.
Hachiman began to listen.
"I, ah, have high expectations for my classmates, and I also long for a peaceful School life. I don't want anyone to fall behind. That's why I've always been doing the mediation work." Hirata said.
And everyone knew this, so Hirata was very busy every day.
Because both boys and girls would look for him.
All sorts of problems.
And conflicts with all sorts of people.
And Hachiman himself had received kindness from Mother Hirata on the first day.
It's just.
Hachiman felt that the main event was probably about to begin.
Indeed.
Hirata said, "During junior high, my good friend was bullied, and I was afraid and didn't reach out to him."
"And turning a blind eye to others' pleas for help is what I dislike the most. But I did just that, and because he didn't receive help, my friend committed suicide."
"Uh--" Although he thought Hirata might make a big move.
But this big move was too terrifying.
Hearing this, Hachiman felt a heavy heart for a moment.
"How did the topic suddenly become so heavy—"
"It's not that terrifying. That friend didn't actually die." Hirata said.
"But because of that, we completely drifted apart."
"In short, I feel that coming to this School is a form of redemption for me." Hirata said.
"And I am powerless on my own, so I hope Hikigaya, you can help."
"And for this exam, I hope no one in the Class has to drop out."
"I don't want to turn a blind eye to others' helplessness anymore."
In other words, because of his past experiences, Hirata had developed his current obsession.
And he would provide assistance, with the bottom line still being... no classmate could drop out.
Because once someone dropped out, for him, it would probably be like abandoning a companion again.
And now, although he had revealed his past, the essence was still his concern that the Classmates' academic abilities were insufficient, that they would fail the exam and be expelled.
It's just.
"So after that friend's suicide attempt, Hirata... what did you do?"
Hachiman still had some doubts.
Because if it was just that his friend was bullied and he didn't help, and the friend committed suicide, then the School would not use this as a judgment standard to throw Hirata into Class D.
"My friend's suicide attempt, I found that the people who bullied him didn't stop, but instead started bullying someone else."
"Then."
"I used violence to dominate the Class, beating up everyone."
"..."
Beat up everyone?
Is that so.
Turns out you're also Ryuen 2.0.
Hirata Yosuke, who seemed completely harmless, gentle as a little sun, full of responsibility, helping others, and living for others, was actually a hot-headed guy.
But this also showed the extent of the damage to Hirata's heart from not helping that friend.
Because of the accumulation of guilt, he became somewhat pathologically eager to help others now.
It was also because he had used violence to dominate the Class that a significant mark was left on his record, so he was judged to be a bomb and thrown into Class D, right?
Well, this bomb was okay.
Hachiman felt that Hirata's nature was not bad.
Even if exposed, there wouldn't be too big of a problem.
Rather, Hirata was so gentle that people wouldn't believe it.
"Actually, there's also a plan to deal with this exam." Hachiman said.
Since the other party had revealed his dark past, Hachiman also provided corresponding countermeasures.
"A plan to safely pass the exam. And as long as the School doesn't stop it, it can be used repeatedly."
"That is, score control." Hachiman said.
"The judgment for a failing score is the Class average divided by two. For example, if the Class average is 50 points, then the passing standard is 25 points."
"As long as the exam score is higher than 25 points, it's a pass." Hirata began to murmur.
"And this score, most people can pass it, and then let some good students hold back, then the Class average will drop further. Then the failing score will drop again, for example, to 10 points, then that's a score anyone can get."
"Even Sudo could pass."
"This plan works!" Hirata's eyes instantly lit up.
He must have thought that this plan could be implemented, and once implemented, all the Classmates would be able to pass smoothly.
"This is information obtained by analyzing the tiers of Class evaluation points, up to 100 points, that Chabashira-sensei provided for this exam."
"But."
However, Hachiman shook his head again.
"If we take the exam like this, what's being tested is the Classmates' mutual trust and cooperation."
"Oh." Hirata understood then.
"But that would cause problems. Because some people might want to deliberately do fewer problems to suppress the average score, but if they do fewer and get them wrong, and their score is too low, they might still fail."
In other words, score control wasn't something everyone could do.
If score control failed, they themselves would fail and be expelled.
It was very terrifying.
In other words, all the Classmates would have to trust each other and work together.
But as the central figure of the Class, like a bonding agent, Mother Hirata knew very well that this Class was still a scattered mess, and it was already very difficult to barely bring them together.
So Hirata's expression became a little more serious.
Because if it wasn't handled well, a large number of students in the Class might drop out.
This kind of thing was very risky.
"But I'm waiting for another plan." Hachiman said.
"Hirata, you asked the seniors and found out the number of students in the upper grades, right?"
"Except for Third Year A Class, all other upper-grade Classes have had students drop out."
"But how many academic underachievers do you think our Class has, and how many do the upper-grade Classes have?"
"So if there were really so many written exams, then there wouldn't be that many students left in the upper-grade Class C and Class D," Hachiman said.
"Then you mean..."
"I'm looking for the plan that the upper grades have been using to safely pass the exams." Hachiman said.
"And then I'll use it."
"I see."
Discovering that Hachiman was truly thinking about this exam for the Class, Mother Hirata breathed a sigh of relief.
"But I also have a troubling problem." Hachiman said.
"Remember when we went to the Student Council yesterday?"
"Yes." Hirata nodded.
"You mean the Disciplinary Committee position obtained from Horikita's president, right? Is there no candidate yet?"
Currently, there was no candidate.
Hirata was too busy.
And Kushida was focused on her interpersonal relationships, while Horikita Suzune was the Student Council president's sister, so this news could not be revealed for now.
Therefore.
He had no one on his side.
"If there really isn't a suitable candidate, I can recommend someone to you." Hirata said.
So Hachiman looked over.
Hirata and Kushida had good relationships with others in the Class, so they knew more information about other students.
So who could he recommend?
"It seems you got along well with Sakura before." Hirata said. "And now..."
"I think you could try to approach Karuizawa."
"..." Hachiman.
Karuizawa?
He was referring to the one who was on his little blacklist and had a strong desire to show off in the Class.
Then.
Kei Karuizawa, with her blonde hair tied in a ponytail, was slender yet lively.
He had heard her speak with boys, like when she told Ike, who was blocking her way, "You're blocking me… it's disgusting." in a particularly dismissive tone, yet Ike would still retort back at her.
It could be said that despite her cute appearance, she wasn't very popular among boys.
Moreover, she looked like a gyaru, forming a small gyaru clique with Sato, Shinohara Satsuki, and Matsushita Chiaki.
And she seemed to have become their leader.
The result…
Hirata, you need a disciplinary committee member, and you're actually recommending someone with such a poor reputation?
…
"So, that's why you kept staring at her during gym Class?"
The next day, Hachiman and the others had gym Class.
After talking with Hirata yesterday, Hachiman began to observe the target person.
But it seemed Horikita had misunderstood him.
Although he wanted to complain about Horikita's poor performance at the study group yesterday.
Still, he decided to get some information from Horikita Suzune.
Because she was responsible for tutoring Karuizawa and Sato at the study group.
"What do you think of Karuizawa?" Hachiman asked.
"At least I don't keep staring at other people's swimsuits." Horikita Suzune replied.
"…." Hachiman said.
That was really unfair.
His gaze had only been forced to drift over there.
Because it was gym Class now, everyone was playing in the water.
And Kouenji was showing off, swimming so fast in front of Sudo that Sudo couldn't catch up, leaving Sudo frustrated and withdrawn.
He probably wondered why Kouenji was so amazing.
Hachiman's attention was more ordinary.
He focused on the girls.
Karuizawa was currently playing ball with Sato and the others.
Sakura, whom Hachiman knew, didn't go into the water.
She didn't even change into the school's plain swimsuit, staying on a chair under the pretense of being absent.
Hachiman understood.
She probably had too good a figure.
She would be stared at if she changed into a swimsuit.
Besides her, Hachiman noticed Hasebe was also there.
It was probably for the same reason.
However, Hachiman noticed Hasebe seemed to be trying to talk to Sakura.
And many friendships start from mutual understanding in similar situations.
Come on, Sakura.
Hachiman hoped Sakura could make some friends.
But for now, he would focus on the other person.
Horikita didn't know Hachiman was thinking about other people and contributed what she knew.
"Her academic performance is terrible." Horikita Suzune said.
Hmm.
As expected of her.
So, he still had to seek information from Kushida?
As he thought this.
"But there's something strange about Karuizawa." Horikita Suzune said.
"Before swimming Class, she wears her swimsuit underneath."
Oh.
Is that so?
But there are people like that, aren't there?
Because they like playing in the water and are a bit excited, like children, they put on their swimsuits first and then put on their clothes over them.
"There's nothing strange about that." Hachiman said.
"But she continues to wear her swimsuit after swimming Class." Horikita Suzune said.
"…It's like she doesn't change clothes with everyone else."
Is that so?
If that's the case, then it certainly needs attention.
Is there some reason she can't expose her body in front of others?
Even though they are all the same gender.
"Whoosh—"
At this moment.
A splash appeared in the pool in front of Hachiman.
It was Kushida, who had just been playing in the water with someone, "I couldn't swim in middle school, but I worked hard and finally learned."
What an incredibly cute girl.
From Hachiman's angle, his heart would probably just race.
Only.
Kushida, we weren't talking badly about you, so you don't need to come over and butt in every time.
It wasn't the first time he had been talking to Horikita during gym class and been approached by Kushida.
And to this day, Kushida still hadn't "conquered" Horikita Suzune.
In fact, it had been over a month, and she was still insisting on waiting at Horikita Suzune's dorm door every day to go to school together.
Only.
Such behavior only made people feel annoyed.
It even caused a blockage in one's heart.
So, it was hard to tell whether Kushida wanted or didn't want to get along with Horikita Suzune anymore.
Thus, it was lunchtime.
Having received information that someone had sponsored lunch, Hachiman abandoned the idea of eating in the Class with Horikita Suzune and opted for the free feast instead.
Hachiman chose to eat the free meal.
As Class C—well, for now, Class C, but after all, they were originally from Class D, so they would probably drop down after provoking Class A, and then their living expenses wouldn't be much.
Therefore.
Isn't it a great thing that someone is treating them to a meal now?
The location was the usual spot.
While waiting for the staff to bring the meal, Hachiman's gaze shifted.
Because.
Next to him sat a petite girl with silver-white hair and fair, translucent skin.
Her features were well-defined, even excessively cute.
This was Sakayanagi Arisu, a girl as if from another dimension.
A black cane rested on the edge of the table, suggesting she was in poor health, looking frail and delicate, which filled one with a desire to protect her.
Of course, even Hachiman knew this was just an appearance.
Although she looked delicate, with a clear voice and a soft body that seemed easy to push over, this Sakayanagi Arisu was a genuine scumbag loli.
And her attack power was super strong.
Hachiman wanted to provoke Class A, but once he faced her, he wouldn't have much chance of winning, so Hachiman hoped Sakayanagi Arisu wouldn't control Class A.
Clearly.
That was impossible.
"You seem to be in a good mood." Sakayanagi's pleasant voice came over.
"After all, someone is treating us to a meal." Hachiman said.
"Then do you have any special requests for the food?" Sakayanagi Arisu continued to ask.
"Mom said not to be picky." Hachiman replied.
Meaning he would eat anything, right?
"Then you're really easy to feed." Sakayanagi Arisu said, as if making a judgment.
"…." Kamuro said.
But don't forget that although this was Sakayanagi Arisu's private room, there were often three people here.
And as an observer, Kamuro didn't think Hikigaya was easy to feed at all.
Because he demanded expensive things.
And Sakayanagi Arisu usually gave him expensive things.
However, Kamuro also knew that Sakayanagi Arisu didn't treat people to meals for nothing.
In other words.
"Since you've eaten my food, you can tell me now, can't you?" Sakayanagi Arisu said.
"What are your thoughts on this special exam?"
Thoughts?
Hachiman thought for a moment.
Sakayanagi Arisu had said she wanted to experience a different kind of school life in this school.
In other words, she was actually quite bored and hoped for something interesting.
And for her, this special exam… well, for Class A, it was indeed underwhelming.
Because it was just a written test, their Class could get the first-tier score given by Chabashira-sensei with their eyes closed.
That is, [If no one fails the exam and the average score for each subject is above 80, then a full score of 100 Class evaluation points will be awarded.]
The students of Class A were confident they could get the 100 points reward.
So, for Sakayanagi Arisu, she probably already knew the result of the exam, so naturally… this exam became boring.
So she called him over, under the pretense of treating him, but actually wanted to find some fun?
Yes.
For Class C, with a pile of academic failures, this exam would be a disaster for them.
And for this situation, Class C also had a plan, such as inviting academic elites from Class B to help.
But Hachiman felt that Sakayanagi Arisu definitely wasn't interested in such normal methods.
"For Class C, there's a solution that can definitely pass." Hachiman said.
"It's score control."
"Score control?" Kamuro muttered.
"Yes."
Because he seemed to notice Kamuro was interested in exam scores, Hachiman glanced at her and then talked about the score control method he introduced to Hirata.
"Then your Class C probably can't do it." Sakayanagi Arisu said.
"Because of the mutual distrust among you, if someone writes too much and gets a high score, it might raise a part of the average score, which then leads to an increase in the failing score."
Meaning she also saw it that way, thinking that Class C wasn't united.
Not only were they not united, but even now, they needed Hirata to act as a binder to keep them together.
"But this plan actually has another way for Class C to complete it." Hachiman said.
"And I call it the 0-point strategy."
"0-point strategy?"
"Yes." Hachiman nodded.
"It means that after the test papers are handed out, everyone just writes their name and then puts down their pens."
"That way, if someone answers, it will be very obvious, so students around can supervise each other."
Hikigaya said, "That is to say, everyone gets 0 points, and 0 points is the average, which is either the passing score or the failing score."
"Or will the School allow students from one Class to drop out?" Hikigaya asked.
"That is indeed an interesting proposal." Sakayanagi Arisu said.
"And if I were the School, I might give you this one chance, but I would not agree to such a plan again next time."
"You are the School." Hikigaya said.
"..."
Sakayanagi Arisu, "I mean I am someone who likes interesting people."
"Is that so?" Hikigaya didn't pay much attention to that remark.
Sakayanagi Arisu was probably the daughter of some wealthy family.
She liked things that were different from ordinary people.
"Beep beep!"
At this moment, Hikigaya noticed a message from Hirata.
[Tomorrow during lunch break, please accompany me again. I have information about Karuizawa that I want to tell you privately] by Hirata.
Is that so?
Tomorrow's lunch break.
So Hikigaya continued to eat the expensive meal Sakayanagi Arisu treated him to, then replied to the boy's message.
...
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