Class B coach's bench.
"Sorry, because of me, we gave up four points at the end."
Hikigaya said somewhat apologetically.
Hearing Ayanokouji's final words, it felt like they won, yet also felt like they didn't win.
How many points did that guy get in total?
Out of 14, at least 10 must have been taken by Ayanokouji.
"No, that wasn't your fault; I also agreed with the strategy of walking him, I just didn't expect Ayanokouji to be able to hit even that kind of ball, and it was a home run at that."
"Was that guy holding back at the beginning?"
Kanzaki looked at Ayanokouji on the opposite side, full of wariness.
"Yeah, that guy is simply a monster."
Sumida's gaze was also somewhat complex.
Having observed baseball matches frequently, he could be certain.
Even professional players weren't as outrageous as Ayanokouji; it felt as though that was no longer within the realm reachable by human power.
It had nothing to do with Hikigaya.
Furthermore, he also agreed with the walk.
If Ayanokouji had shown such performance from the very beginning, they would have definitely lost.
Gazing at Ayanokouji's non-human-like strength.
Even though they won the match.
A shadow inadvertently cast over everyone's hearts.
On the other side.
"Ayanokouji..."
Sudou was extremely excited, his hands squeezing Ayanokouji's shoulders and shaking them.
"To what extent are you going to surprise us? Amazing, truly too amazing."
"I've never seen that kind of home run."
"Yeah, how on earth was that done?"
Quite a few people were extremely excited, and even Chairman Sakayanagi on the platform was extremely shocked.
That strike.
That sword-swing-like batting style, and being able to hit a home run, had already exceeded everyone's inherent perception of baseball.
Even if he became a professional baseball player, Ayanokouji would surely have great prospects.
"I just played baseball in middle school, and there was some element of luck involved."
Ayanokouji turned to look at Horikita Suzune and said flatly:
"Originally, Horikita and I decided to keep me as a hidden card, using me at the final moment to widen the score gap; unfortunately, we still lost in the end."
Hmm?
Horikita Suzune immediately caught on.
Ayanokouji's words hidden two pieces of information: he couldn't do it every time, and there was an element of luck.
Even if he had shown his strength from the start.
He couldn't be expected to hit a home run every time.
Therefore, the blame couldn't be shifted onto Horikita Suzune, with remarks like "it would have been better if he used his strength earlier."
But.
Such words couldn't be spoken by Ayanokouji, and naturally couldn't be said by Horikita Suzune, otherwise it would only give the impression of evading responsibility.
Saying it like this.
Was to give others a chance to speak up.
Anyway, with so many people present, someone would eventually provide a way out.
Although this strike was indeed stunning, the result was still a loss.
The class would likely be shaken.
The strength Ayanokouji displayed could also, to some extent, serve to stabilize the morale.
"Sorry, it was all my error in judgment."
Horikita Suzune lowered her head in apology: "I wasn't able to play much of a role in this exam."
"There's no such thing."
Hirata wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly offered comfort:
"This judgment should have been correct; if the strength were shown earlier, Class B would have definitely walked Ayanokouji like they did at the very end, and in fact, they did do exactly that."
"It's just that Ayanokouji's ball was truly too unexpected."
As one of the members who knew part of Ayanokouji's strength, Hirata's face was flushed with genuine admiration.
This ball.
It was truly too stunning.
If it weren't for Ayanokouji, it would be normal for them to have hundreds of points directly plundered and deducted.
Seeing this.
Yukimura and the others, who originally wanted to say something, were too embarrassed to say anything more.
After all.
To some extent, this was also the truth.
If Ayanokouji's strength had been known in advance, given Hikigaya's personality, he would likely have walked Ayanokouji even if it meant losing points.
They might not have even gotten a single point.
Of course.
With Ayanokouji's strength.
Even if it were a ball, he could probably hit a home run just like at the end, it was just that Ayanokouji deliberately hid that point.
"However, in this way."
Hirata's gaze as he looked at Ayanokouji was somewhat worried.
"Other classes will definitely be more wary of Kiyotaka in the future."
"That can't be helped."
Horikita Suzune also sighed and glanced at Ayanokouji.
This time wasn't without gains.
At least Ayanokouji had shown his strength, and such an astonishing display was, in her eyes, his full power.
It would be impossible for him to slack off or play the fool again.
Otherwise.
It would only lower Ayanokouji's evaluation within the class, making him an eccentric existence like Kouenji who didn't care about the class.
In the future, it would be impossible for Ayanokouji to slack off again.
However.
She didn't know what the reason was for Ayanokouji to suddenly show his strength.
"Fortunately."
Horikita Suzune said in a somewhat unwilling tone: "This time Class B only had one female student, Ichinose..."
"Yeah, in that case, there's still a chance."
"And Ayanokouji doesn't need to hide his strength anymore, so he can go all out."
It was a blessing in disguise.
Class B only had one female student competing.
The Class Points gained weren't few, but they weren't many either.
Of course.
If it hadn't been just one female student.
Whether Class B could have won the match was another story.
And.
Most importantly.
Horikita Suzune and the others had already noticed.
Future competitions would no longer test individual strength as in the past, but would rather test unity and coordination.
This was the first special exam since Hikigaya took the stage that was influenced by the Student Council.
Just like her and Kouenji.
Even though they possessed such talents, they couldn't play a very large role.
The times had changed.
Past methods seemed to no longer play a significant role.
However.
There was one person who was still useful.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
No matter how the times changed.
That unparalleled strength was truly enviable.
Class B.
After a temporary rest.
Everyone returned to the class, waiting for Hoshinomiya Chie to announce the exam results.
Second year ended.
Changes in Class Points for each class:
Class A (Hikigaya): 1325 points.
Class B (Katsuragi): 1058 points.
Class C (Ryuuen): 898 points.
Class D (Horikita): 753 points.
This time, a total of 200 Class Point rewards were obtained.
One hundred was the doubled reward for Ichinose being the leader, and the other hundred was the scoring reward plundered from Class D.
PAGE 8
Of course.
In this match, no one was expelled.
It merely ended with Horikita Suzune utilizing Protection Points.
"That means..."
After a short silence, the class suddenly erupted in a burst of cheers.
Sumida stood up, the joy on his face beyond words.
"Sensei, does this mean we are now Class A?"
"You could say that, but the ranking won't officially change until next month, which is the start of the third year."
"Great, but how did Class A lose?"
"That doesn't matter, now it's a celebration party, celebration party!"
Looking at the cheering crowd, the smile on Hikigaya's lips involuntarily felt a bit heavy.
I hate it.
I really don't want to fight some "Masterpiece."