On the podium.
Hikigaya first organized the things the class was capable of.
According to Hoshinomiya Chie's explanation.
No matter what the theme was, once it was selected, the school would provide corresponding rules, though they would make slight changes to make the project more suitable for a special exam.
However.
As a member of the Student Council.
Hikigaya naturally had some "rumors" that weren't exactly rumors.
Previously, under Nagumo Miyabi's leadership.
The school's special exams, while still testing team cooperation ability, put more emphasis on individual strength.
Now, under his philosophy.
The school's special exams put more emphasis on team cooperation ability.
Basketball, soccer, tennis, table tennis, flower arrangement, piano, guitar, even street dance, ballet, and various other dances.
He had to admit.
Class B could certainly be called multi-talented; everyone had their own talents.
It made Hikigaya feel a bit ashamed.
It should all be related to their respective growth environments. Class B's Kanzaki, Ando Sayo, and others had more or less attended interest classes when they were young.
Therefore.
All their skills stopped at the level of "knowing how," but they weren't in the category of being proficient.
Highlighting a sense of mediocrity.
Fortunately.
In order to be popular with girls in junior high, Hikigaya had studied the guitar for a period of time.
It's just that it didn't even reach the "knowing how" category.
It was a bit embarrassing to show.
However.
The strongest person in Class B was still the ace, Shibata.
"Are there only four people who can play soccer?"
Hikigaya looked at the few people who raised their hands and then turned to look at Shibata below.
"Shibata, you are the captain of the soccer club now, right? How about it? If it's a soccer match, can we win the game with this configuration?"
"No problem."
Shibata scanned everyone in Class B and said with some helplessness:
"Although I really want to say that, it would probably be very difficult. If the opponent is Hirata, I'm very confident, but I don't know if Sudou and the others can play soccer. In the end, it depends on what level we can master soccer before the exam."
The exam is at the end of the third semester, but in reality, there are only two months.
For people who have never touched soccer at all, they might only be able to barely master the rules; as for tactical execution, they probably couldn't have high expectations.
Wanting Shibata to win the game by himself.
Leading those of them who hadn't really touched soccer.
Might not be very realistic. ====================
=======
Of course.
There weren't many people in Class C who could play soccer either.
The only person who participated in the soccer club was Hirata; as for whether he had previous experience related to soccer, it was unclear.
In the end.
It still depended on whose learning speed was faster and their skill in mastering new skills.
Anyway.
The soccer club ace, Shibata, said he wasn't confident, so it was better to trust the judgment of a professional.
"That..."
Ichinose sat in her seat, also looking somewhat perplexed:
"The teacher said they would test all our abilities. I don't know much about soccer. If the selected project is soccer, how can it be linked with academic ability?"
"Also..."
Ando Sayo also looked at the people around her with some doubt:
"Generally speaking, girls' physical strength can't compare to boys'. If it's a sports project, what should the girls do?"
"Hmm... I don't know."
Hikigaya spread his hands helplessly.
After all.
The rules were not clear yet.
Perhaps this was also something they needed to think about.
If a sports project was chosen as Class B's theme, the girls' participation would definitely be greatly reduced, making it difficult to utilize the abilities of Ichinose, Ando, and others.
If a mental project or one purely based on testing was chosen.
Those who aren't good at studying would also have difficulty playing a role.
"Anyway, let's first select a project that most of our Class B knows and is relatively good at. Next item: baseball. Please raise your hand if you can play baseball or understand the rules."
After saying that.
The boys of Class B raised their hands with a "Ah," and quite a few girls also followed suit.
After all, it is a national sport in Japan; basically, as long as it's a boy, they've played baseball, or at least have some understanding of baseball rules from TV.
However.
Understanding the rules and being good at it are two different things.
"There are actually so many people."
Hikigaya nodded with satisfaction:
"Then, for those who have played baseball with others, or participated in the baseball club in elementary or junior high school, please raise your hand."
"Hmm? Since we raised our hands, it means we've played it, right? Hikigaya, could it be that you're half-asleep?"
Shibata looked back at the crowd, who were somewhat puzzled.
Since they raised their hands.
It certainly meant they had played it.
"That's not necessarily true..."
Hikigaya said awkwardly: "Even though I know the baseball rules, I've only ever played by myself."
If it was just understanding the rules and not having played with others.
Hikigaya could actually be considered "knowing how."
But just throwing, hitting, and catching the ball by himself certainly couldn't compare to someone who had played baseball properly.
"How is that possible?"
"No, Hikigaya was quite introverted when school started, so it should be possible."
"We'll talk about those things later. Is there anyone who is relatively confident in their baseball skills, or someone who participated in the baseball club in junior high?"
Hikigaya asked nonchalantly.
Six people still raised their hands, which was more than expected.
"How are there still so many?"
Hikigaya looked at the few people who raised their hands and asked with some doubt: "What positions did you each hold in junior high?"
"..."
The few people looked at each other.
Sumida Makoto was the first to speak:
"That... in junior high school, I was the team's pitcher and fourth batter. I did participate in the prefectural tournament, it's just that we were eliminated in the semifinals."
"What? Doesn't that mean you were the team's absolute ace?"
"And you even participated in the prefectural tournament. Isn't that super strong?"
"No... so I said we were eliminated in the semifinals. Shibata even won the championship in soccer back in junior high."
"That's also super strong, okay?"
The class instantly became heated.
No one expected there to be such a hidden master in the class.
Even Hikigaya was a bit shocked, and at the same time, he was somewhat puzzled:
"Wait, I remember Sumida, you're a member of the karate club, so why didn't you continue playing baseball?"
Hikigaya had already brainstormed a long story.
For example, a right-hand injury, starting to learn to pitch with the left hand, currently in a dormant period, preparing to amaze everyone, and so on.
He remembered last time Sumida was a member of the karate club, which was why he was targeted by Nagumo Miyabi's people.
"I do quite like baseball."
Sumida said with some helplessness: "It's not that I don't want to participate, it's just how should I put it... the baseball club is a club similar to the sheep-wool club."
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya was momentarily stunned.
Although he hadn't been to the baseball club, as a member of the Student Council, he remembered that the baseball club had quite a few people.
However.
Hikigaya quickly reacted.
Similar to the sheep-wool club.
It meant the baseball club at this school was basically a "salted fish" (slackers) club.
Mainly to fleece the school for points.
I knew it.
People who would want to fleece the school in this kind of school.
How could there only be me?
The baseball club basically existed for fleecing, it just wasn't as blatant as the sheep-wool club.
It made sense.
If you think about it carefully, you can understand.
Not counting those who were expelled, there were 480 students in total in the school. Boys only accounted for half, 240. Subtract half for those who don't participate in clubs, leaving only 120.
And then there were miscellaneous expulsions.
There were only around a hundred boys participating in clubs.
A hundred people.
It wasn't enough to sustain three major sports clubs—soccer, basketball, and baseball—plus a bunch of other small clubs.
The baseball club thus became a salted fish club under the name of baseball to fleece the school.
Even if he liked baseball.
Sumida naturally wouldn't join such a club.