Thursday morning, Kamio Tatsuya changed into his gym clothes, packed his spare clothing, and left.
As for other entertainment, he only brought his phone; after all, he was going for an exam, and other items might not be useful.
"Good morning, Tatsuya."
Kamio Tatsuya met Shiina in the first-floor lobby. They had arranged this because they would be taking a long bus ride.
So, they decided it would be better to sit together.
At the school entrance, the bus they had ridden during the summer vacation was waiting. The homeroom teachers for each class stood by the door, waiting for the students to arrive.
But this time, it wasn't just the first-year students; second and third-year students were also present.
After taking attendance and confirming their luggage, students boarded one by one. Once everyone was accounted for, the convoy of buses departed.
Even though he had gotten plenty of sleep the night before, Kamio Tatsuya started feeling drowsy as soon as he got on the bus, for some reason.
Shiina was, of course, sitting next to him. Perhaps because Kamio Tatsuya was sleeping so soundly, Shiina also yawned while watching him.
Then, their heads leaned against each other, and they quietly dozed off.
Although some people were chatting on the bus, everyone refrained from being too boisterous because Ryuen was quietly reading a book.
Only occasional laughter could be heard.
After sleeping for an unknown amount of time, Kamio Tatsuya was woken up by Shiina next to him.
"Tatsuya, wake up."
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Kamio Tatsuya yawned.
"What's wrong? Did we arrive?"
"Not yet, but Okabe-sensei seems to have something to say," Shiina briefly explained the current situation.
Looking towards the front of the bus, Okabe was indeed adjusting a loudspeaker.
"We have about an hour until we reach our destination. Next, I will explain this special exam."
"It takes that long to explain? Kaneda Satoru adjusted his glasses. "Could it be another survival challenge on a deserted island?"
"Don't worry, large-scale exams like deserted islands won't be held so frequently," Okabe answered Kaneda's question. "This explanation won't take an hour either; we're leaving some buffer time for you."
Now everyone understood, and no one else asked Okabe any irrelevant questions.
Because they didn't need to do anything about these matters; all they needed to do was follow Ryuen's arrangements and execute the plan.
"Next, you will be taken to a forest school in a certain mountain."
Forest school. Kamio Tatsuya knew the term, but these events were usually held in the summer. Participating in a forest school in winter was a first, even considering his past experiences.
"Due to the special nature of this school, students who don't participate in club activities usually have no opportunities to interact with upperclassmen.
However, this forest school will involve an eight-day, seven-night cross-grade group activity. This special exam is called 'Mixed Camp.'"
"You might not feel it just by hearing this; next, I will hand out the relevant materials."
Saying this, Okabe-sensei handed a stack of documents to the student in the front seat, and the materials quickly passed back.
Compared to the survival guide on the deserted island, this material wasn't thick, only about twenty-odd pages.
"Next, I will explain the rules in detail. The materials will be collected before we get off the bus, so please try to grasp the rules by then."
Damn it, they're collecting them?
How stingy can they get?
Kamio Tatsuya was speechless but still focused, preparing to listen to Okabe-sensei's explanation.
"This special exam is a camp primarily aimed at spiritual growth.
Simply put, it's about you confirming whether you can build relationships with people you don't normally interact with.
This is a fundamental skill for surviving in society after graduation, and you will master it through this exam."
Okabe first explained the exam's theme, but Kamio Tatsuya scoffed at it.
Just like the deserted island exam, they talked about testing everyone's unity and wilderness survival skills, but in the end, most of Class C spent a few days living in luxury and then dropped out.
An exam is an exam; using a theme feels a bit ridiculous. This school really knows how to sugarcoat things.
Testing the ability to build relationships with strangers?
Are you sure you're not training students in the art of hitting on people?
"First, upon arrival, boys and girls will act separately. Then, after the entire grade discusses, each will be divided into six groups."
Okabe-sensei took out the same documents as the students and began to explain. "Each group has a maximum and minimum number of people. The materials distributed earlier have the group size allocation on page five."
The boys and girls have to act separately? Kamio Tatsuya glanced at Shiina beside him, feeling a little regretful.
Then, following Okabe-sensei's instructions, Kamio Tatsuya opened to the fifth page of the documents, where the grouping details were clearly recorded.
Each group has a maximum and minimum number of participants. For students of the same grade and gender, if there are sixty to sixty-nine people, each group will have eight to thirteen people.
For seventy to seventy-nine people, each group can have nine to fourteen people. The first-year boys number seventy-nine, which fits this rule.
The first-year girls number eighty, requiring group sizes of ten to fifteen people.
Furthermore, each group must be composed of students from at least two different classes.
Noticing this number, a smile appeared on Kamio Tatsuya's lips as he thought of a possibility.
Taking the first-year boys as an example, there are six groups to be formed in total, and the minimum number of people per group is six. This means that only fifty-four people are needed to form the six groups minimally.
And with fifty-four people, four classes are not necessary; three classes can meet the required number.
If handled properly, it's entirely possible for three classes to cooperate and exclude the fourth class.
Then, what will happen to the students from the class that cannot form a team?
"They want us to team up with students from other classes... We're enemies."
Students from Class C had caused trouble for other classes quite a bit before, so students generally didn't have an optimistic outlook on this grouping.
"There's no choice, these are the rules."
Okabe pushed his glasses up and continued his explanation.
"You can discuss how to form groups later. Now, I will start explaining the specific content of this special exam and the final judgment results."
"The groups you form will be like temporary classes that only exist during the forest school. However, although they are called temporary, the activities will be geared towards close interaction.
You will attend classes together as group members, cook, do laundry, bathe, and sleep; you will share various daily lives."
Okabe-sensei's words caused most students in the bus to start murmuring.
"We have to live with people from other classes? That's impossible!"
"Exactly, how can this happen?"
Okabe-sensei remained unfazed by the students' complaints.
"Of course, there are benefits to this arrangement, but we'll discuss that later. First, take a look at the general content of the test.
On page seven of the documents, the final results of this special exam will be determined by a comprehensive test held on the final day."
According to the information on page seven, the contents of this special exam are roughly divided into four categories:
"Morality," "Mental Training," "Discipline," and "Independence."
Although the categories are vague, the specific tasks required are clearly stated.
Each day after waking up, complete morning assignments, then meditate in the dojo, perform labor (cleaning, etc.), and then have breakfast. After breakfast, you need to study in the classroom.
Studying will last for the entire morning, followed by lunch, afternoon assignments, and then meditating again.
And so it repeats, day after day, until the week's lessons are all completed, and then the exam awaits.
Saturday is different from regular holidays; there are classes in the morning and no classes in the afternoon. Sunday is the only full day of rest.
Formal classes begin tomorrow, Friday, and next Thursday is the day of the final exam.
"A more detailed schedule will be announced upon arrival at the forest school. I cannot tell you at this stage the order and specifics of the special exam on the final day."
"Also, deciding your group members is extremely important. All six groups must cooperate to get through a week of camp.
No matter the reason, you cannot leave the group midway or change members. If a student drops out due to illness or injury, you will have to fill that vacancy."
This means that if someone falls behind, others will have to complete their work, and depending on the situation, it might even affect the outcome of the final day's exam.
After Okabe said this, Kamio Tatsuya thought of the previous deserted island exam. That guy Kouenji pretended to be sick and directly dropped out of the exam.
This time, he might do the same thing and cause trouble for the people in his group.
"Finally, after the first-year students form six groups, they will team up with groups formed by second and third-year students simultaneously.
The groups from each grade will form a larger group, and the exam results will be determined by the scores of all members of the larger group, so the results of other grades will significantly impact the final outcome."
Kamio Tatsuya wasn't surprised by this, as the sports festival had a similar rule.
What he was more concerned about now was the reward for this exam.
Since he wasn't the student council president, he didn't know the specific details and rules of the exam.
"Next, I will announce the rewards and penalties for this exam. Please turn to the end of the document."
Upon hearing this, Kamio Tatsuya flipped to the last page of the document, where the penalties and rewards for this exam were written.
The rewards or penalties this time are not on an individual basis but ranked by large group. Then, rewards and penalties are given on an individual basis.
First, for rewards, members of the first-place large group will receive three class points and ten thousand private points each.
Members of the second-place large group will receive one class point and five thousand private points each.
Members of the third-place large group will receive no class points, but they will receive three thousand private points each.
Members of the fourth-place large group will have five thousand private points deducted from each person.
Members of the fifth-place large group will have ten thousand private points deducted, and three class points deducted from each person.
The penalty for last place is the most severe: twenty thousand private points deducted from each person, and five class points deducted.
Looking only at this, the penalties seem harsher than the rewards. However, after seeing the subsequent rules, Kamio Tatsuya immediately felt that this might be an opportunity.
The above rewards are basic compensation, applicable when a group consists of two classes.
The exam rewards will be multiplied based on the number of classes in the group. For each additional class, the reward will double.
This means that if the members of a group consist of three classes, the reward will double. If four classes are involved, it will be triple.
These apply to the rules for fourth place and below, not to the point deductions from fourth place downwards.
In addition, the number of people in the group will also affect the final reward. If the final group size is 9, the final result will be multiplied by 0.9. If the final group size is 15, it will be multiplied by 1.5.
For example, if the boys form a group with the maximum number of 14 people, and it includes 11 students from Class C, one student from each of the other classes.
And if this group wins first place.
Then each person will receive 3 * 3 * 1.4 = 12.6 class points.
Fractions of an integer will be rounded to the nearest whole number. This means that each student from Class C in this group will receive 13 class points.
11 people would amount to 143 points.
What if this group had 12 students from Class C and students from 3 different classes?
The girls' side could achieve this grouping result.
If successful, it would be 3 * 3 * 1.8 = 13.5 points per person. After rounding, it would be 14 points, and for 12 people, that would be 168 points.
Additionally, Kamio Tatsuya saw another crucial piece of information.
Each group must select a representative. The representative and students from the same class as the representative will receive double the reward.
If these two representatives are also from Class C, it would be doubled again, meaning 143 * 2 plus 168 * 2, which is 622 class points.
So many class points could even allow Class C to contend for becoming the 'A' class.
However, it is a pity that there are no particularly outstanding students in Class C's girls. Even if they form the best team, it will be difficult to defeat Sakayanagi and Ichinose.
Moreover, if they fall to last place, they will be heavily penalized.
Also, becoming a representative is not without its disadvantages.
If the average score of a group falls below the school's prepared average score threshold during the final exam, the group representative will be expelled.
Simultaneously, 100 class points will be deducted from their respective class.
Note, here's the important part.
Unlike before, all deductions in this exam will go into negative points.
This means that Class D's current class points are 0.
If their earnings in this exam are less than their penalties, their class points will fall into deficit.
Although their class points will remain at 0 and won't deduct their existing private points each month, any class points they subsequently earn will first be used to pay off the deficit.
If a group's average score is insufficient, leading to the group representative's expulsion, that group representative can order one person in the group to be expelled as joint responsibility.
However, this is not without its limitations. After the representative designates an accomplice, the school will review it.
Only if the school acknowledges that the student was one of the reasons for the score falling below the threshold can that student be designated as such.
Heh, interesting.
More review, huh.
In addition, the school does not interfere with the selection of representatives. However, if representatives are not decided before classes begin tomorrow, all students in the group will be expelled.
"Okabe-sensei, if anyone is expelled from this exam, is there any way to remedy it?" After Okabe finished reading the rules, the student with the prominent back hairstyle, Shi Ren, immediately raised his hand.
"Of course, there is. It will cost 20 million private points and 300 class points.
However, Class C currently has 319 class points. If someone is expelled, 100 points will be deducted, leaving 219 points, which is insufficient to avert expulsion."
Hearing Okabe's words, Shi Ren lowered his hand, his gaze wandering.
Hearing this guy's words, Kamio Tatsuya and Ryuen both felt the same sense: this guy might be planning something disruptive in this exam.
Is he planning to push Ryuen into the preferential seat and then intentionally drag the group members down to get Ryuen expelled?
Heh, isn't this guy too fanciful?
If it were a normal exam, Kamio Tatsuya wouldn't mind taking this opportunity to get rid of him, but not this time.
The one hundred class points deducted are a minor issue; the key is that this exam, if successful, can earn a large amount of class points.
Therefore, he couldn't just stand by and watch this guy cause trouble.
"There's a little time left until we reach our destination. You can use this time as you please. The documents will be collected upon arrival.
Also, you are forbidden to use your mobile phones this week; they will be collected when you get off the bus. Additionally, daily necessities and toys you bring are generally free, but you cannot bring food.
Perishable items like raw food must be put in a trash bag and discarded when you get off the bus, or be eaten before arrival. That's all."
The explanation finally ended, and Kamio Tatsuya finally raised his hand, intending to ask the question he had been wanting to ask.
"Is there something, Kamio?"
Okabe was very polite to Kamio Tatsuya because he knew Kamio Tatsuya would be a key player in whether the class could be promoted.
"I understand how the groups will be formed, but what about the larger groups? Will students decide that themselves as well?"
"That's right. If it's not decided by the end, then it will be combined randomly."
Kamio Tatsuya nodded and then asked another question about the idea of three classes cooperating to isolate another class.
"If this situation occurs, what will happen to the students from the class that cannot form a group?"
"This situation has never occurred in the past, but if it happens this year, students who cannot form a group will likely all be expelled."
The students of Class C were suddenly in an uproar. It seemed they had to do their utmost to avoid this situation.
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