9:00 AM the next day.
Near Sapporo Station.
Unlike yesterday's all-day free activity, the school arranged a small test today.
Before 5:00 PM.
Among the 15 destinations specified by the school.
Sightsee at six spots.
The group members take a commemorative photo at the specified locations, and then the sightseeing is considered complete.
Each spot is set with a point-collection station.
If the six spots total more than 20 points, all members can receive 50,000 personal points as a reward.
However.
How many points are obtained has nothing to do with whether one passes.
Whether to aim for the reward is a decision left to each individual group.
As for the punishment.
In Hikigaya's eyes, it wasn't very heavy either.
It was merely the cancellation of tomorrow's free activity time, requiring study at the inn instead.
It's just that in the eyes of others.
Missing out on free activities during a rare school trip might be a hard-to-accept punishment.
Clearly.
The school's purpose was to intentionally create friction, testing the students' ability to integrate opinions and mediate conflicts.
When getting off the bus.
Each student received a brochure from the school with the designated sightseeing spots written on it.
Regarding points.
Sapporo Clock Tower, Sapporo TV Tower, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art: 1 point.
Nakajima Park, Hokkaido Shrine: 2 points.
Sapporo Maruyama Zoo, Hokkaido Museum, Central Wholesale Market Outer Market: 3 points.
Moerenuma Park, Shiroi Koibito Park: 4 points.
Mount Moiwa: 5 points.
Sunpiazza Aquarium: 6 points.
Jozankei Onsen: 7 points.
Finally, Lake Shikotsu and Lake Utonai: 8 points.
The further the distance.
The more points are obtained, but it also consumes a large amount of time.
It should be noted.
Even arriving at a spot doesn't mean the task is done.
For example, at Sapporo Maruyama Zoo, the condition for completing the sightseeing is to take a photo with a polar bear or the polar bear pavilion as the background.
"It's really a surprise. Should I say it's worthy of this school's style?"
Stepping off the bus.
Kushida spoke as if nothing were wrong.
Only her gaze was turned to the side, appearing as though she wasn't talking to anyone.
On the side, the corner of Hikigaya's mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly; he was no longer an unlearned person.
With Kushida Kikyo's abnormal performance.
After a whole day yesterday, she must have changed her view of him somewhat; it wouldn't even be surprising if she had some good feelings.
However, right now, the focus was still on the school trip.
The school arranging this kind of sightseeing was also within Hikigaya's expectations; he had already figured out the school's "urine nature" (tendencies).
"That's so true."
Hikigaya also looked ahead and nodded, saying: "The school always does meaningless things."
"Hmm?"
Although Kushida Kikyo still kept her head lowered, she still asked with some confusion:
"The school is letting us decide the group policy ourselves, right? Like betting tomorrow's free time to pursue the personal point reward, or directly sacrificing tomorrow's free time to enjoy today's trip."
"How could it be meaningless?"
Clearly.
The school wanted them to discuss.
"But in reality."
Hikigaya said somewhat helplessly: "In a company, decisions are basically made by leaders. Those underneath don't even have the power to offer opinions due to various circumstances; even if they could, they wouldn't have much of a say."
"Since the school's purpose is to cultivate social elites, don't you think this is a waste of time?"
To put it simply, rights and responsibilities are unclear.
Since they want to mimic society, they should at least set a small team leader, class monitor, or similar position.
Although every class has a leader, there are no matching positions. Whether to fulfill responsibilities depends entirely on the leader's self-awareness.
This isn't necessarily bad.
But what if the leader doesn't fulfill their proper responsibilities?
Similarly, there wouldn't be any punishment.
This kind of small test is neither here nor there; it feels like just doing halfway things.
Unfortunately.
Thinking like this was useless; in the end, one had to listen to the school.
"Hmm..."
Kushida Kikyo asked with some confusion: "Hikigaya, do you know a lot about company matters?"
"No... I can't say I know a lot."
Hikigaya said with some helplessness: "It's just that my old man often complains to me about company things, so I know a little bit, maybe?"
"Eh? Would an ordinary father say those things to his child?"
"It's precisely because he's an ordinary father that he'd say those things, right?"
Hearing Kushida Kikyo's puzzled voice, Hikigaya was equally a bit puzzled.
"My family is a dual-income household. My old man often complains at home about how life is difficult. I think most ordinary people should be the same as me."
Given his family situation.
He should be able to represent the vast majority of Sakurajima's populace, right?
"Is that so?"
Kushida Kikyo was also somewhat confused:
"In my house, only Dad works, and he never talks about work matters at home."
Looking at it this way.
Kushida Kikyo's family environment should be quite good.
However.
Although he was the one who spoke first, seeing that Kushida Kikyo was willing to open up about her family situation, yesterday's communication had indeed had an effect.
Even if it couldn't make Kushida Kikyo completely follow his every word.
She would at least lean toward his side more or less.
Several people stepped off the bus.
Traveling along with them were groups from three other buses.
Some people stayed in place to discuss strategies, but most people still moved forward in the same direction.
They probably planned to talk while walking.
" Hikki, what should we do on our side?"
Sakura Airi, following behind, was a bit excited, while Tsube Hitomi on the side looked away.
Even.
Ibuki Mio, walking at the very end, was glaring at him fiercely, though she shifted her gaze guiltily after a moment.
Only Kamuro Masumi had a playful smile on her face, watching this side with full amusement.
Hikigaya frowned.
He truly felt a trace of abnormality.
These few people looked like their states were a bit off no matter how you looked at it, especially Ibuki Mio and Tsube Hitomi.
Unfortunately, now was not the time to probe these things.
As long as the few of them were still standing by his side, that was enough. Judging from the performance of Sakura Airi and Kamuro Masumi, it wasn't hard to tell.
The few of them gathered together.
But looking at the smiling Machida Koji, the cold-looking Tokito Yuya, and the timid-looking Sotomura Hideo.
Hikigaya truly had a bit of a headache.
At this time.
The two loners, Tokito Yuya and Ibuki Mio, stood on the outside with their arms crossed; the others huddled together and remained silent.
As expected, no one spoke; he still had to be the one.
In short.
Let's integrate opinions first.
"What should we do? You should all know the rules by now. Do you have any ideas?"
"..."
Sotomura Hideo stammered and glanced at Tokito Yuya, perhaps having some ideas and hoping the other could take the lead.
After all.
Kamuro Masumi had been visiting them in secret for several nights. It was possible they had discussed something behind Hikigaya's back.
But that possibility was simply too low.
It's just that Hikigaya also knew very well that the ones who might cause a surprise here were basically Tokito Yuya, Machida Koji, Ibuki Mio, and Kushida Kikyo.
He also turned his gaze toward that guy.
However... it was likely just a probing