Chapter 257: The Two-Person Matching Exam
"No complaining! These are the school rules!"
Chabashira Sae shut down the protests of Class D with a single sentence, then continued on her own: "I will now announce the results of the midterm exams. Please verify them yourselves. If you have any objections, apply for a regrade at my office within the day..."
"Is it absolutely necessary for the report cards to be public?"
"This violates the students' privacy!"
In most ordinary high schools in Japan, for the sake of protecting students' self-esteem, exam results are kept private by default.
The usual practice is to hand out a small slip of paper recording the individual's scores for each subject.
However, the Advanced Nurturing High School's method was to display everyone's scores for every subject clearly on the projection screen—using a neatly organized Excel spreadsheet, no less—sorted from highest to lowest score. Everyone's performance was clear at a glance.
"This is a school where meritocracy is paramount." Chabashira Sae looked on with disdain: "Stop repeating such stupid questions!"
Hikigaya glanced at the total score rankings. First place was Horikita Suzune, second place was Yukimura Teruhiko.
No explanation needed for the academic elites.
To his surprise, he actually took third place, surpassing Hirata Yousuke by a single point!
"Congratulations, Hachiman.
This is the first time your exam results have broken into the top three." Horikita Suzune offered a rare word of compliment.
"No, this is just the bonus points from the sports festival reward. It's nothing special." The ranking rewards from the sports festival had added 6 extra points to his exam score. If those 6 points were subtracted, his true level would likely be fifth place, below Hirata Yousuke and Wang Mei-Yu. However, to Hikigaya personally, there was no difference between third and fifth place anyway.
"There you go again with those uninspired words... can't you work a little harder and progress a bit more?" Horikita Suzune couldn't help but urge him.
"Please spare me!
I have no interest excessive competition."
Once grades reach this level, every single point gained requires double the effort. Much like Horikita Suzune, who spent nearly ten hours a day studying.
Hikigaya did not have that kind of resolve.
"Hmph! If you messed around with fewer girls, your grades would definitely improve further!" Horikita Suzune's gaze was cold as she glared at him.
This statement was so accurate that Hikigaya couldn't even attempt a rebuttal. However, he had already learned the conversational tactic of "using offense as defense."
"I refuse. If I had to see Suzune less just for a few extra points, the loss would outweigh the gain."
'Ugh~ What a terrible, cheesy pick-up line!'
The moment Hikigaya said it, he was so embarrassed his toes nearly curled through the floor. He expected to be hit with Suzune's sharp tongue next.
'Why aren't you roasting me? No, seriously, say something!'
The sight of Horikita Suzune actually considering it seriously made Hikigaya feel even more ashamed!
"If that's the case, then it can't be helped." Horikita Suzune turned her head away.
'What do you mean 'it can't be helped'?'
According to Horikita Suzune's usual style, shouldn't she reject all unnecessary social activities and devote herself wholeheartedly to studying? Or are you afraid that if I study with all my heart, I'll... overtake your first-place spot?
"Suzune, oh Suzune, I didn't expect a refined-looking person like you to turn bad too!" Hikigaya teased.
"Your brain's logic is truly as eccentric as ever." Horikita Suzune sighed with a look of helplessness.
"Chabashira-sensei, one thing I want to confirm: the quiz next week will not be counted toward the S-System rating, correct?"
Hirata Yousuke asked a key question.
"Yes, you can rest easy on that point.
Even if you fail the quiz, you won't be expelled."
Chabashira Sae's answer allowed everyone in Class D to breathe a sigh of relief. They had just escaped the threat of expulsion from the midterms; having another one immediately would have been far too much pressure!
Hikigaya narrowed his dead-fish eyes, keenly sensing that there was definitely a catch! Given this "garbage" school's pattern of tormenting people, he didn't believe for a second they would arrange a completely useless test.
"However, The ranking of the quiz scores will serve as the reference for the two-person matching for the final exams."
'See? There it is!'
"Final exams... two-person matching?" Everyone looked bewildered; they had clearly never heard of such a gimmick.
"The passing line for this exam is different from before. Each subject will be calculated based on 60 points. If even one subject fails to reach it, both people in the match will be expelled!" The moment these words were spoken, the classroom exploded into chaos.
"What?! Both people in the match will be expelled!"
"That rule is way too ridiculous!"
"And a passing line of 60 points? That's way too high!"
Seeing the room in an uproar, Chabashira Sae tapped the blackboard and said in a heavy voice: "What's the rush? I haven't finished yet!"
"This score is also calculated by combining the two people's results.
To give a simple example: if Shinohara and Hirata are matched together, even if Shinohara scores a 0, as long as Hirata scores a 60, there is absolutely no problem."
"Oh, well that's much simpler."
"Wait, why would I score a zero?!" Shinohara Satsuki was initially quite happy to be "matched with Hirata," but when the second half of the sentence assumed she'd get a zero, she was not pleased!
"In other words, as long as everyone scores above 30 points, it should be fine, right?"
Hirata Yousuke didn't focus on the matching person, but rather on the details of the score.
"Of course it's not that simple.
There is another important rule. This exam will add a new standard for expulsion; a passing line has also been set for the total score.
There are eight subjects totaling 800 points. If the combined score of the two matched people does not reach the total passing line, they will similarly be judged as expelled."
The difficulty level spiked instantly!
"Excuse me, Chabashira-sensei, what is the passing line for the total score?" Hirata Yousuke's face darkened, sensing that the situation was bad.
"The total passing line is calculated based on the grade's average exam score."
Chabashira Sae analyzed: "I can only tell you that in the past, the line was around 750.
However, for your year, the line might even reach 800 points."
This was because during the summer, the three students who were the "bottom of the barrel" in Class D had been expelled.
This was equivalent to artificially raising the class average.
"800..."
"That means the two matched people need to average over 50 points per subject."
The members of Class D all wore miserable expressions. Looking at the midterm report cards, there were quite a few students below 50 points.
Moreover, this exam wasn't just about one's own grades; it depended on the matched teammate.
The sense of crisis had instantly doubled!
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