Chapter 45: A Way for the Whole Class to Pass
In the following days, Horikita continued tutoring the group. From the initial basic test, Sudo, Ike, and Yamauchi had progressed to the second page of the basic test.
Yes, this explosive progress was their fastest pace yet. During this time, Horikita was also frustrated but never lost her temper.
Kushida Kikyo stayed by their side, as if waiting for something to happen, but in the end… she left with a hint of anger.
Hikigaya, meanwhile, made explosive progress. Since his humanities were already strong, he focused on science. With his terrifying self-awareness, he successfully lowered the class's average score.
It wasn't no progress, but the progress was in the wrong direction.
This couldn't continue, and Hikigaya realized it.
From Horikita, he'd learned the passing line was based on the class's average score. In that case, if the class was united enough to lower their scores to the minimum, it could provide a safety net for the lower-scoring students.
This was the simplest method but also the hardest. For the current Class D, it was nearly impossible. Class B, led by Ichinose, might be able to pull it off.
Hikigaya kept thinking about the feasibility of various methods. At this rate, their chances of passing the midterms were almost nil.
Time passed day by day, and the midterms drew closer.
[Sudo: "If I remember right, we passed that exam thanks to the test papers Kushida got from the upperclassmen."]
[Kushida Kikyo glanced at Ayanokouji, then nodded lightly.]
[Ike: "Yeah, we really owe Kushida for that. Otherwise, we'd have been done for."]
[Yamauchi: "Kushida's the best. Even though Horikita didn't kick us out this time, at our current pace, we'll probably still rely on Kushida."]
[Sotomaura Hideo: "Yeah, yeah, compared to slowly studying to improve, Kushida's way more reliable."]
[Horikita shook her head helplessly. With this mindset, even if they passed this exam, Class D wouldn't go far. The uninhabited island exam had already sent a dangerous signal. If not for Ayanokouji's intervention, relying blindly on others would only lead to self-destruction.]
[Clearly, they hadn't realized this.]
[Kushida Kikyo kept responding with awkward smiles. Everyone thought she was the one who did it, but only she knew that without Ayanokouji, she wouldn't have thought of that method. Or rather… she'd originally planned to let those idiots get expelled.]
[So… what will he do? Without Ayanokouji, how will he keep these guys from getting expelled?]
Class D had the lowest overall quality in the grade and faced the greatest risk in this exam crisis. Other classes surely had flawed students too, but this time, Class D was truly on the brink of collapse.
The key issue was that the high-achieving students didn't care about the fate of the others. They hadn't yet realized how great a loss it would be to their class if they lost any classmates.
If the number of students in each class was fixed from the start, then for Class D, which aimed to rise to Class A, losing members right at the beginning would only widen their disadvantage.
Hikigaya understood this well, and Horikita was now fully aware of it too.
To safely pass this exam, there was only one way.
By limiting each student's answered sections, their total scores could be controlled. If everyone kept their scores low, Ike, Sudo, and Yamauchi could reliably reach the passing line.
Through email, Hikigaya first informed the class's two pillars, Hirata and Kushida, of his plan. He asked them to collect all the previous quiz papers and compile a comprehensive analysis.
In any test, there were parts people excelled at and parts they struggled with.
By analyzing and consolidating everyone's strengths, factoring in all mistakes and variables, that was Hikigaya's plan.
First, he excluded those close to the passing line and unpredictable factors like Kōenji. Then, through Hirata and Kushida, he informed the class of each person's assigned sections and scoring points, while they'd abandon the rest—leaving those sections blank. Even if they didn't get everything right, through Hikigaya's calculations, he could ensure the entire class stayed above the passing line.
If Hikigaya explained the plan himself, since his grades weren't particularly outstanding, the class might think it was a selfish scheme to secure his own passing.
But with Kushida and Hirata, it was different. Since this was everyone's first time facing an expulsion exam, feeling the power of unity, with the class's pillars leading and excluding a few variables, most were on board with Hikigaya's plan.
With some time left before the exam, this plan wasn't a pipe dream.
To be honest, Hirata wasn't fully on board with such a risky plan. The massive calculations were all on Hikigaya's shoulders, and a single mistake could lead to someone's accidental expulsion.
But… because of the previous incident, Hirata felt guilty toward Hikigaya. He also knew Hikigaya's abilities were far beyond Class D. After all, back then, Hikigaya had seen through Hirata's near-exposure of his true self and stopped him.
So… he chose to trust him again.
When Kushida heard the plan, she was initially shocked but was willing to help. To keep her classmates from being expelled, she was ready to take the risk.
Naturally, this came with a condition.
After the exam, regardless of the outcome, she demanded Hikigaya go on a date with her.
At this point, Hikigaya couldn't refuse.
Besides, he was curious to see what lay beneath Kushida Kikyo's mask.
[Hikigaya didn't mind, but… the members of the Service Club felt differently.]
[Suddenly, a sharp gaze came from somewhere. Yukinoshita was staring at Hikigaya with a resentful look.]
( End of this chapter)