The first History exam ended in an extremely oppressive atmosphere for the entire class.
No one complained.
Nor did anyone blame Hirata.
But this… only made Hirata feel even more intensely self-reproachful.
As soon as the first exam ended,
He headed towards the restroom.
Ayanokoji, sitting behind Amane, subtly followed him.
All of this was under Amane's observation.
However, she felt nothing.
Yes.
Just as the literal meaning suggests, she felt no difficulty in the questions at all; she had completed exams of this level when she was ten.
The main reason she was allowed to leave home for school was to complete all her studies as a scholar.
Amane had already achieved that goal three years ago.
These questions seemed like child's play to her.
However, everyone's mood was very subdued.
She couldn't appear too out of place.
Here, it was called 'reading the atmosphere'.
One of her friends had once been incredibly exasperated by her lack of this common sense.
Although Amane's ability to read the atmosphere was still not great,
She compensated for it with another method.
That was cold reading.
Analyzing the psychological activities of those around her to deduce the current mood.
And what kind of expression she should make.
Amane looked back at Horikita.
Horikita was looking through her textbook with a somewhat worried expression.
Clearly, she had also been misled by Chabashira during her review.
However, with Horikita's ability, even performing at eighty percent of her capacity would be enough to pass the exam.
Seeing Horikita start to cram,
Amane didn't disturb her.
Instead, she found Wang Meiyu.
"Amane, aren't you going to use this time to review?"
Seeing Amane approach, Wang Meiyu's face showed a puzzled expression.
That innocent, naive, and shy face made one I couldn't help it want to kiss her.
However, Amane managed to restrain her desires slightly.
Because she wanted to ask some answers she sought.
"Wang Meiyu, did you find the last exam difficult?"
Amane organized her words a bit.
But it still sounded a little strange.
Indeed.
Wang Meiyu's face also showed a confused expression.
"Huh? Amane, didn't you just participate... Oh, I get it, so that's how it is. Amane-san is so amazing!"
???
What did you get?
Amane really wanted to know what Wang Meiyu understood.
But she also felt that asking directly might be impolite.
"It seems Amane, you're even more amazing than I thought. The content of the last exam and the key points outlined before the review, they weren't exactly the same; you could say they were completely unrelated. People who usually get sixty points probably only got about twenty, and I probably scored around ninety points."
Although her tone was a bit soft,
Giving a feeling of lack of confidence,
The content, however, was very convincing.
Wang Meiyu's usual scores were around one hundred points; this time, it dropped by ten percent.
It didn't look like much difference.
But in reality, it was a very dangerous signal. Usually, she got one hundred points because the exam's maximum was one hundred. But this last exam directly cut Wang Meiyu's unmeasurable upper limit to ninety.
Given this, Wang Meiyu's estimate should be correct.
In that case, Class D would probably be in big trouble.
If someone who should score sixty can only manage twenty.
Then those below sixty, one could even say, can only rely on guessing and leaving it to fate.
Hirata-san probably already guessed D-Class's solution, which is why he became like that, right?
"I understand, thank you, Xiaoyu."
"Ah... it's nothing, we're all good friends."
Good friends.
"Yes, we are good friends."
"Um..."
Wang Meiyu seemed to want to ask something, but it looked like she found it inconvenient to speak.
"Xiaoyu, is there something you want to ask?"
Amane-san looked at Wang Meiyu curiously.
"Amane-san, you haven't shown any expression on your face today; you look a bit serious. That kind of expression is a little... scary, you know."
At Wang Meiyu's reminder,
Amane-san finally realized.
Just now, in order to adapt to the class atmosphere, she hadn't gotten into her usual state.
"Because everyone else is so serious, you know. Being too cheerful might lead to gossip."
Amane-san's face returned to her usual smile.
Wang Meiyu thought about it, and indeed, that was the case.
So she patted her rather ample chest.
"So that's it! You scared me; I thought you were angry, Amane-san."
"No way~ You must be tired from studying so hard recently, right? How about we go see a movie this weekend? My treat!"
"Amane-san, do you really have time?"
Wang Meiyu was actually teasing someone!
"Probably..."
When Wang Meiyu asked, Amane-san also became a little uncertain.
"Amane-san and Horikita-san really have a good relationship, don't they? I often see you two inseparable."
As soon as Wang Meiyu finished speaking, she quickly covered her mouth.
Those words sounded a bit like jealousy.
Sure enough, Amane-san winked at her.
Suddenly, Wang Meiyu's face turned completely red.
"Then we'll see about the time."
After making plans with Wang Meiyu,
Amane-san returned to her seat.
The expression on her face reverted to the serious one that blended in with the class.
Wang Meiyu, on the other hand, was still sighing with emotion.
She and Amane-san both scored perfectly on the entrance exam.
Originally, she thought the gap between them wouldn't be too large.
But Amane-san's performance made her realize that there's always someone better.
If a person cannot determine the difficulty of a test paper,
Then there are only two possibilities: either they didn't do it, or their ability far exceeds the standard of the test paper.
If you always get a perfect score no matter what, you can't feel how the difficulty of the test paper changes.
Amane-san was one of those monsters.
Wang Meiyu could be sure.
Amane-san's natural expression showed no hint of pretense.
That is to say, she simply didn't feel how difficult this exam was.
"Amane-san is really amazing! I need to work harder too."
...Unlike the classroom shrouded in silence,
Roaring sounds came from the men's restroom.
"Why is this happening!!! Damn it!!! Why didn't you tell us!!!"
Hirata-san roared at his incompetent reflection in the mirror, his voice hoarse.
But no one there could respond to him.
Chabashira-san's actions made him feel confused.
Why?
Chabashira-san didn't seem like she had truly forgotten.
That is to say, Chabashira-san deliberately created this situation.
What did she want to do?
No!
Hirata-san stopped thinking.
He didn't dare to continue thinking.
Because no matter how he thought about it, one word couldn't be avoided.
"Selection."
To filter out those who still had value.
And then discard all the useless dregs.
Hirata-san knew Chabashira-san's thoughts.
But he was unwilling to accept reality.
"Hirata-san, you look like you're in pain?"
The moment Ayanokoji's calm voice sounded,
Hirata-san's shoulders trembled violently twice.
Then he forced a smile.
"Sorry, am I holding things up here?"
Hirata-san made way for Ayanokoji at the sink.
Ayanokoji walked to the sink and began to wash his hands.
"There's still a chance."
"Huh? Ayanokoji, what are you saying?"
"I said, we still have a chance to grasp the last glimmer of hope, but I need your assistance."
Ayanokoji looked at Hirata-san seriously, saying words that Hirata-san couldn't ignore.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
👉 patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!