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However, Kushida looked in one direction.
Completely unaware of being questioned by her best friend for leaving, Kushida smiled sweetly, her big eyes curving into crescent moons.
"This time, it's not because of me or Hikigaya, it's because of Karuizawa. If Karuizawa hadn't worked hard, I wouldn't have gotten the exam paper. Everyone should really thank Karuizawa."
"Karuizawa?"
"Kei? What did you do?"
"So it was you, Kei, who did it?"
They didn't know until it was said, and when it was, the students in the Class were instantly surprised.
"No, not really."
Karuizawa had been sitting in her seat, and now she seemed a little unaccustomed to the gazes directed at her, her face slightly flushed as she whispered,
"Actually...actually, it's like this. Didn't I join the Student Council before?"
Karuizawa joining the Student Council.
Although it was announced on the bulletin board.
Some students in the Class didn't know about this, but her small group of gal friends did.
"And then..."
"I felt that if we took the exam like this...then many people would definitely be in danger. Although I'm not familiar with many people yet, I don't want anyone in this Class to drop out." Karuizawa said.
Eh!
As Karuizawa said this, the students in the Class looked at her in surprise.
Because...
You don't usually say that. You usually dislike some boys. So you don't want them to drop out either?
This surprised Ike and the others, who were usually scolded.
And the girls on this side also breathed a sigh of relief.
Before, they didn't understand why it would be related to Karuizawa, but now it was much clearer.
This must have been Karuizawa using her position to steal it from the Student Council!
Hey, hey, hey, could it be... an exam paper taken by secret photography?
And such a thing, in the eyes of ordinary people, is a violation.
It might even... lead to punishment.
But.
"Karuizawa, I'm so touched."
SatĆ Maya jumped up, hugging Karuizawa tightly, practically moved to tears.
Her grades weren't very good, at most hovering around the passing line.
But Karuizawa's actions undoubtedly gave her more confidence in passing.
"Karuizawa, this is truly wonderful, thank you."
Hirata also breathed a sigh of relief, nodding solemnly to Karuizawa, also looking grateful.
With Karuizawa's identity as a 'Student Council member' as a foundation, and the exam paper being stolen by her from the Student Council, there was no doubt that this almost confirmed the authenticity of the exam paper.
This way, they could confidently memorize the exam paper!
In other words, the students in the Class were very realistic.
Upon discovering that the exam paper was stolen by Karuizawa, what everyone cared about first was... that they were saved.
After all.
If they failed, they would be directly expelled.
Now they could aim for Class A again.
If they got lucky and made it to Class A, then it would be a successful comeback.
And even if it wasn't successful.
They still had living expenses every month.
Which other School outside could provide such facilities?
"In any case, everyone, please keep this a complete secret this time."
Kushida watched as the exam papers were distributed, also breathing a sigh of relief, but still clasping her hands together and whispering, "If it's exposed again, not only might everyone fail. Even Karuizawa will be expelled from the Student Council."
"Don't worry, Kushida, Karuizawa, this time it's all thanks to you two. If anyone dares to betray you, I'll smash their heads."
It was Sudo Ken who spoke, the violent man now clenching his fists, his face showing a hint of ferocity.
Fully displaying the demeanor of a hot-headed older brother.
His athletic talent was high, but his academic ability was a major weakness now.
At the same time, having experienced great joy, sorrow, and then great joy again, he felt that he really should study seriously.
He just didn't know if Kanzaki from Class B would still be willing to tutor him after this exam.
Thus.
Exam Paper B was distributed.
And everyone also discovered that this exam paper was indeed secretly photographed because it was a photo version, but it came with a set of answers.
In other words, it was definitely not a past paper obtained from an upperclassman, but rather Karuizawa perhaps discovered the exam paper while passing through the Student Council and then secretly photographed it opportunistically.
Therefore, the authenticity of this exam paper was extremely high.
Only.
When Hachiman returned to his seat, he found the black-haired girl next to him staring with sharp, fox-like eyes.
"Is something wrong?" Hachiman asked.
Then he looked at the paper Horikita held in her hand. "If you don't want it..."
"No, I want it." But Horikita took the paper.
"I mean, is it really okay to directly publicize this kind of thing in a place like the Class?"
Yes.
You stole the exam paper! Are you really announcing it directly in the Class?
You should know there's a camera in the classroom.
"About that." Hachiman said.
"I'm waiting."
"Waiting?"
"It's already been ten or twenty minutes since Exam Paper B was released. So if the School was dissatisfied with this action, someone should have come by now." Hachiman said.
"But no one has."
He took out his phone and checked.
And Horikita also noticed that his phone screen displayed a timer.
22 minutes had already passed.
"You mean..." Horikita Suzune looked over.
"I was just testing the School's tolerance." Hachiman said.
"And concluded that this School has its own bottom line, but it will also significantly loosen up in some areas."
"Because what the School wants isn't students who look academically and morally excellent."
"Rather, once you enter society, there are actually very few positions or projects that truly assess your learning ability or athletic ability."
"So what needs to be assessed more is your method of handling troublesome situations, your way of thinking, and other things."
"Ugh..."
However, halfway through his explanation, Hachiman noticed that Horikita's expression seemed off.
"It's like you're completely denying me." Horikita Suzune said.
Is that so?
Because her academic ability was good, and her physical fitness was also decent.
In other words, her hardware was standard.
But now he was saying these weren't important.
Then she couldn't find her own advantages.
"I didn't say that." Hachiman said.
"All these abilities of yours are the result of your daily efforts."
"And good academic ability is always more advantageous than bad academic ability."
"Because I think, though rarely, the School might also assess students' basic abilities."
"..." Horikita.
Horikita Suzune felt that he was comforting her.
But if she excluded academic ability and athletic ability, then she really had no advantages.
Thinking of this, she sighed a little.
Perhaps her brother saw this point, which was why he wanted her to drop out.
And she knew nothing.
Meanwhile.
Because they had obtained the exam paper and were also worried about problems, many students chose to take advantage of the break to run back to their dorms with the paper and put it away.
This was the psychological trauma from Ryuen Class's Student Council inspection and the mention of stealing exam papers.
No one wanted their hard-won pass-through item to fail.
So, the Class suddenly became very empty.
But there were still a few students in the classroom.
"..." Kei.
"..." Sato.
? Kei, what are you looking at?
SatĆ also got the exam paper.
For her, who wasn't good academically,
Karuizawa's statement of "not wanting students in the Class to drop out" felt like it was for her.
Because her relationship with Karuizawa was good, and she also struggled with studies.
And yesterday, she had complained to Kei about what she would do if she failed.
Then today, the incident of Karuizawa secretly photographing the exam paper happened.
Therefore, SatĆ was a little moved.
So, her address for Karuizawa naturally changed from Karuizawa to Kei.
"Nothing." Karuizawa retracted her gaze.
She felt that Hikigaya and Horikita had a very good relationship.
Speaking of which.
When her secret was leaked before, she had also borrowed Horikita's room.
And it would certainly be strange for a girl to lend her room to a boy.
They would at least have to be especially close, right?
So.
Is it possible that these two are actually dating?
But she couldn't imagine them dating.
Rather, she couldn't imagine Horikita falling in love at all.
Ah.
"This is just too strange!"
Karuizawa thought.
It was all Hikigaya's fault.
His defending her and giving her credit made her think he had a good impression of her.
The facts proved she was mistaken.
But even if she was mistaken, she would subconsciously care about him.
She stayed up late last night, so she was probably sick.
Karuizawa quickly cleared her head.
...
Thus.
Because they obtained the exam papers, Class C acted swiftly.
After School in the afternoon, they immediately rushed back to the dorms.
As for Sudo, he naturally took the day off from club activities.
After all, how could playing Basketball be as important as memorizing exam papers?
Meanwhile, on the other side.
"Exam papers, huhâ"
Katsuragi's brow furrowed.
Since the exam papers were created by a student from his own Class.
Sakayanagi Arisu shared the exam papers with the students of Class A, and as members of the Katsuragi Faction, they also received them.
However, Totsuka Yahiko felt a bit wronged by this.
Because the leakage of the papers, and Sakayanagi's subsequent remedy, prevented a situation where a large number of students might have been expelled, which means she did a favor for the School.
If Katsuragi had done this, he might have been able to join the Student Council.
But what the Katsuragi Faction thought was not something Sakayanagi cared about.
She sat aside, waiting for news.
However.
"I regret to inform you, the negotiation failed."
Kamuro brought back bad news.
"Ryuen and his group rejected the proposal of 2 million point + 40 votes." Kamuro said.
"He said he wants to clear the exam his own way."
"Then that's truly something." Sakayanagi Arisu said. "Dragon Boy."
"Dragon Boy?"
"That's Ryuen's nickname." Sakayanagi Arisu said.
"If Kamuro wishes, I can also give you the title of Little Dog Kamuro."
"No thank you!" Kamuro immediately rejected.
Not only was the title Little Dog Kamuro not pleasant to hear, but although everyone saw her as Sakayanagi's dog, and she obeyed the other party for her living point, so the "little dog" identity was real, but the reputation was bad, and she didn't want it.
"However, Class D needs some attention." Sakayanagi said.
?
Kamuro looked over, puzzled.
"Why do you think Dragon Boy refused?" Sakayanagi said.
"The current votes are meaningless to their Class because they can't participate in the election. And I also wanted 2 million point. If they get the point and receive the reward of 100 Class evaluation points, they'll recover the cost in a few months."
"So."
"I'm afraid."
"Ryuen has already inquired about the next special exam and decided to implement the 0-point strategy."
"Go collect information on next month's special exam." Sakayanagi Arisu said.
...
The students of Class C were very realistic after getting the exam papers.
After School in the afternoon, most of them returned to their dorms.
There was only one reason: to start memorizing the exam papers.
Now there were only two and a half days left until the exam, but memorizing everything was a difficult task for them.
Regarding this.
Hachiman had only one requirement.
If they got the papers, then they had to maintain a score of 80 or above in each subject.
And if one or two people couldn't achieve that, but everyone else scored 80 or above, then the failing score line would also increase.
So, he let some students with poor academic performance struggle.
If any student scored below 80 after getting the papers, then their living expenses for the next month would be confiscated.
This statement seemed merciless, even excessive.
Some even thought it was Karuizawa's credit, not Hikigaya's.
However.
Karuizawa, who "did such a big thing," said that if everyone could score high and get the reward of 100 Class evaluation points, then it would be good.
In other words, after getting the exam papers, they could only try their best to score high.
After all, this was a statement from Karuizawa, who had acted against regulations.
Moreover.
This was great joy after great sorrow.
At first, they were told there would be old questions, so everyone was at ease, but then they were suddenly informed that old questions would not be tested, so most people panicked, and now the exam questions were recovered.
So, even if they were asked to score high, they could accept it.
Therefore.
Even the underachievers had high morale.
And, with the papers, and all being multiple-choice questions, if they reviewed them dozens of times.
Then scoring 80 or so should be easy.
However, if they did this.
Hachiman and his group had new tasks.
During the previous study session, Hachiman and Ichinose exchanged phone numbers.
But Hachiman still left the task of contacting Ichinose to Kushida.
This time, Hachiman's Class C got the exam papers, but this was obtained through "Karuizawa's violation."
However, Hachiman knew that in this Grade 1 special exam, Sakayanagi would definitely tell her own Class's students the exam papers, and then also sell them to Ryuen.
So.
Probably only the Little Angels of Class B did not have the exam papers.
So, among Grade 1, only Class B was left behind.
However.
Now Hachiman, Horikita, and Kushida had to ask Ichinose and her group out.
But it wasn't to share the exam papers, but⊠to trick them.
The reason was also simple: because Hachiman's explanation was that Karuizawa had acted against regulations, and everyone in Class C tacitly agreed to this.
So, should the papers obtained this way be shared with Class B?
They couldn't do it.
Because they had to "protect" Karuizawa, who had "acted against regulations."
Thus.
Kushida went to contact Ichinose.
And Hachiman and Horikita had already arrived at a small private room in the cafe.
Perhaps in a good mood, Hikigaya paid for the drinks in the private room today.
However.
Although the waiter had already served coffee, Hachiman noticed that Horikita seemed to be deep in thought.
However.
Hachiman also realized that Horikita Suzune, who usually looked meticulous and sharp-eyed, being able to keep her composure instead of speaking directly was already very different from before.
Perhaps she hadn't noticed, but Horikita-san had actually changed a little.
Otherwise, why would something like an exam allow cheating, or rather, why would cheating be required to meet the School's demands?
She could accept things she completely couldn't understand, and even went to borrow books for old questions and read through knowledge points she hadn't learned.
In other words, Horikita-san had changed without realizing it.
"Do you think it's unfair that we're going to trick Ichinose?" Hachiman said.
"For this written exam, our Class borrowed ten top students from them to tutor our Class's students." Horikita Suzune said.
"And I myself participated in the tutoring, so I know very well how difficult it is to lead underachievers."
In other words, she felt that the students of Class B had made an effort.
"Then."
Hachiman looked at Kushida.
"Kushida, what do you think?" Facing such an honest Horikita Suzune, Hachiman looked at Kushida Kikyo.
"Eh? Me?"
Perhaps because the big problem in the Class was solved, Little Angel Kushida was in a good mood today.
But now, Hikigaya, you've thrown a troublesome question my way.
"Actually⊠how should I put itâ" Hmm.
Kushida actually understood that Hikigaya was trying to protect Karuizawa.
Speaking of which, why would Hikigaya specifically protect Karuizawa? Does that mean something has happened between these two recently?
She had no idea.
Even though she was thinking such things, Kushida said, "Although I'm very grateful for the contributions of Class B's students, this current paper isn't really suitable for sharing with other ClassesâŠ"
Not suitable for sharing.
"This is a form of protection for Karuizawa." Hachiman said. "It's a cover-up."
"â" Horikita.
Indeed.
Horikita Suzune didn't know that Karuizawa's violation was just an excuse.
The exam papers were actually obtained for free from Sakayanagi.
"It's just." Horikita said.
"That's not what I'm concerned about."
"Oh?"
"Speaking of which, why would she do such a thing? To prevent students from dropping out or something, I find it unlikely." Horikita Suzune said.
Then.
"Could it beâŠ" Horikita then began to stare intently at Hikigaya.
So that's what she was concerned about.
She thought Hachiman instructed Karuizawa to secretly photograph the exam papers.
Hey, hey, hey.
He wouldn't do something like that.
And even though it was for the Class, he always felt like it was some bad deed.
And he was still the culprit, the worst person.
He had wanted to occasionally teach Horikita-san a lesson, but now, he felt somewhat speechless instead.
And as he thought this.
"Ding-dongâ"
The door to the private room was pushed open.
Kanzaki and Ichinose, who were already old acquaintances, walked in.
I have to say.
Although he had tried to get used to it, Hachiman still felt that he was surrounded by cute girls.
....
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