That afternoon after school.
"Katsuragi, there's a new announcement on the bulletin board."
In Grade 1 Class A, their last Class that afternoon was chemistry, and Katsuragi was still sitting in his seat.
But most of the ordinary Class A students had already left the classroom.
Some went to the cafeteria, and some, of course, went to club activities.
As Class A students, they were practically models among students, loving studies and club activities, and of course, wanting to maintain their position.
So, the students began actively gathering all sorts of information.
Of course, as Class A students, there were also some problems, which was that Katsuragi felt the conflict between the two factions of students was increasing.
It was as if the seats in the Class were being pulled apart.
They were divided into the Katsuragi Faction and the Sakayanagi Faction.
And this was not a good thing.
Just then, his supporter, Totsuka Yahiko, scurried over to report some news.
"The Student Council roster?" Katsuragi said.
The Student Council of this school had considerable authority; it was said that the Student Council President could even have a certain degree of involvement in the monthly special exams.
And wasn't that terrifying?
If they encountered an unfair Student Council President who deliberately targeted Class A, then the pressure on the Class A students would instantly explode.
Of course, this was only a minority of cases; if someone had ulterior motives, they wouldn't be able to climb to the position of Student Council President.
Just that.
The announcement of the Student Council roster.
"It seems a new member has been added, and they're a First Year," Totsuka Yahiko said excitedly. "So, is there a possibility that Katsuragi, you've joined the Student Council?"
"About that…"
Katsuragi spoke, wanting to dissuade Yahiko, because his previous application for the Student Council had been rejected by the President.
Yahiko knew this too.
But even if he said so, Yahiko probably still thought that perhaps...
Yahiko had a fanatical admiration for him.
This feeling wasn't bad, but Katsuragi also felt that he still needed to maintain a sense of composure.
And at this moment.
A Class A student spoke.
"Isn't this quite interesting? Katsuragi didn't join the Student Council, but someone else did," the other person said.
The person had beautiful yellow hair, was tall and thin, and was the most handsome boy in Class A.
Hashimoto Masayoshi.
"Hashimoto!"
But Totsuka Yahiko immediately glared at Hashimoto.
Because Hashimoto was one of the earliest people to join the Katsuragi Faction, but after it was discovered that he also had his name in the Sakayanagi Faction.
The other person even moved his desk to the Sakayanagi Faction's side.
Yahiko immediately understood.
So, this was a traitor to the Katsuragi Faction.
And now he was deliberately trying to annoy Katsuragi, wasn't he?
"I didn't say anything wrong," Hashimoto said. "I received information that the newly joined Student Council member is a student from Class C of Grade 1."
"Class C of Grade 1, huh… that original Class D," Yahiko frowned. "That Class was rotten, but because of Ryuen's own problems, they fell, so they got a free pass to move up."
"Yahiko, don't say that for now." But Katsuragi interrupted Yahiko's words.
On one hand, speaking ill of others was not the behavior of an excellent Class A student, and at the same time, he also deeply considered it.
That was, he received news that Sakayanagi Arisu often ate with a male student from Class C.
The other person was Hikigaya Hachiman.
Hmm.
Katsuragi had already remembered this name.
But this student was not only noticed by Sakayanagi, but even the Student Council President extended an olive branch to him.
So.
Was the failure of Ryuen's assault on Class D during the fight incident because of this Hikigaya?
So.
"Sakayanagi, is this why you're paying attention to Hikigaya?" Katsuragi said.
Because a new Student Council member had just joined, it meant that Hikigaya had ultimately chosen to join, right?
"What do you think?" Sakayanagi Arisu was still in the Class.
She replied upon hearing this.
"The announcement says the newly joined Student Council member is a First Year from Class D named Kei Karuizawa," a student who had already gone to the bulletin board said.
"…" Katsuragi.
Eh.
In other words, Hikigaya had truly rejected the Student Council President's invitation for the secretary position, and instead recommended someone else from his own Class to join, but that would only get them a disciplinary committee member position.
So, he couldn't understand.
Because compared to a minor disciplinary committee member, the secretary position looked much better.
So, why was this?
"Heh heh—" Sakayanagi Arisu stood up, gripping her cane. Then she glanced at Kamuro.
"…" Kamuro.
Kamuro then went to get Sakayanagi Arisu's bag as well.
So now she was carrying two bags.
Because she had served Sakayanagi for a month, she probably understood what she wanted to do, so now she probably thought the name Kei Karuizawa was unfamiliar and wanted her to investigate.
What a troublesome person who knew how to boss people around.
...
On the other side.
It was also after school.
Quite a lot of students in Class C were still in the Class.
After all, a month had passed, and there were a total of 4 students in the Class who participated in clubs.
Hirata, who knew the number of students in the upper grades as a cost.
Onodera, who was good at track and field but ultimately joined the swimming club.
Then, there was Miyake Akito, who seemed uninterested in other things but surprisingly was good at archery.
And Sudo, who explained the situation of the fight incident and then regained his position as a regular member of the Basketball club.
So most people were part of the go-home club.
Hachiman and Horikita Suzune were the same.
However, some students in the Class had already gone down to the Floor and seen the bulletin board.
"Eh!"
"Invited to join the Student Council by the Student Council President?"
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
"Karuizawa, that's too strong!"
Among the group of girls, it could be seen that Karuizawa's friends were congratulating her.
Everyone had been at this school for a month and understood the value of becoming a Student Council member.
"Oh, it's nothing, just good luck… I was chosen for no reason," Karuizawa said vaguely.
Although there were confusing points, the Class C students wouldn't think that much.
But this also meant that her position as the leader of the gyarus was secure.
She had gained the prestigious halo of being a Student Council member, unlike everyone else.
And this was the solution.
Karuizawa herself said that she came to this school to live a stable life and not be bullied anymore, so she played the type she hated the most. So, let's follow her path.
Give her a buff.
Make her gyaru image more positive.
At the same time, because she joined the Student Council, the matter with Manabe could be completely resolved.
After all.
You're going against a Student Council member? Are you out of your mind?
And facing such a situation.
"It seems you've finished recruiting her," Horikita Suzune said.
She still knew that Hachiman was trying to recruit Karuizawa and make her a partner for promotion.
And now that Karuizawa had accepted the Student Council position, it meant she was already a partner.
"Eh!"
But even though he had accomplished something, Hachiman sighed softly.
"Horikita, am I the kind of person who looks like he can solve all sorts of troublesome things?" Hachiman said.
From Karuizawa's incident this time, he realized that he hoped Hirata would recommend reliable partners.
But Hirata always recommended problem children.
Solving the problems of problem children while also gaining partners.
But.
In that case, you're making it too easy for yourself, Hirata! Because these are all problem children in the Class who need your help when they consult you.
"…" Horikita Suzune.
And Hachiman's words seemed to make Horikita Suzune slightly stunned.
Because.
Aren't you that kind of person?
At least Horikita had personally watched him solve several troublesome matters, and he even got his brother's approval.
Beep beep!
Just then, Hachiman picked up his phone.
He received a message.
[I've got the information.] by Kushida.
"Here it comes!"
Hachiman immediately perked up looking at this message. "The trump card for this exam."
...
So, he and Horikita went to the cafeteria to meet Kushida.
It wasn't necessary to bring Horikita Suzune everywhere, but Kushida was still trying to gain Horikita's favor, so giving Kushida some motivation would make her work harder.
Kushida was in the cafeteria.
The three found an empty spot, away from the crowd.
Because it was still too early for dinner.
So there weren't many people in the cafeteria.
And they were in the corner.
Kushida's left hand lightly gripped her fingers, then she said,
"I've been trying to contact the upperclassmen these past few days."
"And then I finally blended into a small circle," Kushida said. She spoke casually about things others couldn't do.
"And I heard from a senior that the test papers for our exams have always been recycled from previous exams. So, the upper two grades have the test papers for our upcoming exams."
"Then this exam might be the same."
"Because their grade, and the previous grade, were all like this. Everyone had the same paper circulating."
Kushida said.
After saying this special news, she looked at Hachiman and Horikita Suzune.
Of course, as Kushida's important target, Kushida first looked at Horikita Suzune.
However, Horikita Suzune's expression remained unchanged.
But.
In reality, her heart was in turmoil.
Is there such a thing?
"The school actually allows students to cheat directly?" Horikita Suzune said.
As a top student, she was very surprised. She even felt it was unfair.
"..." Hachiman.
"Normal exams are a test of learned knowledge. But."
"The special exams at this school cannot be dealt with by common sense," Hachiman said. "It might want to refine us through exams, training us to be able to meet societal demands."
"So, the exam after the first month of enrollment might be to test whether we can discover the true nature of this school."
"And even if I didn't destroy the camera, and let the Class evaluation points be exposed, and the teachers could only tell us the true nature and rules of this school in advance. But it would also be announced on the 1st of this month."
"So, this might be guiding us not to be too rigid in our thinking."
And if it's really as Kushida said.
If the test papers are recycled from previous exams, then you only need to memorize the answers to pass!
And is this the key to passing this exam?
If you think about this, then you can get the test papers from the upperclassmen.
Just.
"Just to ask," Hachiman said. "Which grade and Class is the senior you contacted, Kushida?"
"Third-year D Class, is there a problem with that?" Kushida said.
Hmm.
Of course, there's a problem.
"Then did she make you an offer?" Hachiman asked.
"Eh? How did you know? She said if we wanted it, she'd only charge 40,000 points."
40,000 points.
In other words, it was to sell the papers.
This is very real.
Because the students of Third-year D Class are very poor. They don't have much money and are all eating unpalatable wild vegetable sets. Of course, they want to earn some extra money. But this also means that students buying and selling papers among themselves is also reasonable at this school.
However.
"Then let's contact Ichinose first," Hachiman said. "To deal with this exam, their Class also contributed to us."
In other words, sharing information, right?
"Mm-hmm." So Kushida continued to work. But she wanted to take out her phone but then put it away.
Because Ichinose Honami was also in the cafeteria.
"Ichinose."
"Kushida."
From a distance, Kushida waved to Ichinose, greeting her with a joyful expression.
"What a coincidence."
Kushida had a joyful expression, with a hint of relief, "That's great, to actually meet Ichinose here."
"Huh? Is something wrong?"
Ichinose was slightly surprised, asking softly.
"Hmm, it's like this."
Kushida paused, as if organizing her words, and whispered, "I got a message from a senior that the content of our current exam was actually from a previous exam. So the Grade 2 and Third Year seniors still have the same test papers. So I thought it might be helpful for your Class B, and I rushed to tell you the news."
"I see."
Ichinose nodded lightly, but her expression didn't change much.
"I already knew about this. In fact, I was thinking of telling you all about it too."
Ichinose nodded lightly, a sweet smile on her face, and said softly, "But still, thank you, Kushida."
"Eh? Is that so?"
Kushida looked surprised. Why would Ichinose know?
"Hmm, a senior from the Student Council told me."
Ichinose saw Kushida's expression, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "That senior wants me to join the Student Council to help him. So, he told me this news."
"I see."
Kushida nodded, smiling sweetly.
Originally, the authenticity couldn't be confirmed, but now that Ichinose said a Student Council member vouched for it.
Then, it can basically be confirmed as true.
Only Hachiman was thinking.
Because the Student Council senior who would tell Ichinose such a thing might not have pure intentions.
Because it's also a written exam, as an experienced person, and also a relatively close relationship, Horikita's brother didn't say anything.
So this Student Council senior might have ulterior motives.
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