Chapter 043: Inviting Kushida! Kushida: ? I Don't Believe You, You're a Bad Person!
"What do you think about this exam?"
"Are you asking me?" Ichinose pondered seriously for a moment. Normally, a written exam meant reviewing the syllabus, filling in gaps in weak subjects, and then taking the test. As the top scorer on the entrance exam, she naturally had no reason to worry about her own grades.
"If it's for the sake of protecting our classmates, I might not aim for a high score. I'd probably control it to stay around 51 points," Ichinose added.
Since failing students are expelled and the passing mark is set by dividing the class average by two, high-achieving students can deliberately lower their scores to pull down the average. This lowers the passing threshold, giving struggling students a chance to clear the bar.
1
This strategy was based on Class B's own controllable performance. But that was just conventional reasoning.
This school was anything but conventional. In particular, Hoshinomiya-sensei's comment—"If the entire class passes and no one fails, there will be an opportunity to receive a bonus of up to 100 Class Points"—weighed on her mind.
Does "up to 100 points" imply that a full reward won't be granted if certain criteria aren't met? And what are those criteria? Is it simply ensuring no one is expelled, or is there a final comparison of total scores between classes to determine the reward ranking?
She was filled with confusion.
"That is indeed a strategy," Hikigaya replied. "If the goal is purely to save every student, controlling scores is a viable method to ensure zero expulsions by keeping the 'elites' within a safe low-score range.
But that's not the optimal solution. Ichinose, do you know the current Class Points for 3rd-year Class D?"
"Um... someone in class took a photo of the third-year bulletin board earlier... let me see." Ichinose tapped her phone and pulled up the image. "3rd-year Class D has 120 points."
"Right." Even though it was old data (updated as of today), the fact that 3rd-year Class D still had any points at all proved the point.
"I believe the school wants the four classes to compete. However, a gap in strength truly exists. This makes it very disadvantageous for the lower classes.
While the school provides free mountain vegetable sets and near-expiry daily necessities for students with no points, staying penniless for a long time will inevitably cause a student's mental state to collapse.
They'd lose the will to compete. If they just give up entirely, the school saves on living expenses, but their presence still incurs operational costs. The finances wouldn't allow for a 'dead' class. Therefore, the school must give them a glimmer of hope to keep them hooked—letting them taste success so they feel it's worth fighting for.
Thus, the four classes continue to grow through competition," Hikigaya summarized.
"That is the school's ultimate goal."
"You mean..." Ichinose seemed to realize something.
"So the school actually provides some... 'welfare' to the lower classes?"
"Yes, that's how I interpret it. Take the current 0-point situation of Classes C and D. Since the deduction items aren't made public, the school could have easily left them with some points if they wanted to. Otherwise, the lower classes would have thrown in the towel long ago. But the school didn't; they flatly gave them 0 points."
"Even though this is an unprecedented result, having both classes at 0 might cause them to lose motivation early on, defeating the purpose of competition. Isn't the school worried? Therefore, one can only conclude that the school does this because they periodically provide 'freebie' special exams to pull up the lower classes, allowing them to earn some evaluation points."
"And this written exam, despite the harsh rule of expulsion for failure, definitely won't result in too many expulsions. There must be a specific 'clear' method—one that is particularly easy for lower classes to discover and utilize," Hikigaya stated with certainty.
Ichinose was struck by a sudden realization.
"So, that's why you specifically asked President Horikita at the Student Council if the upperclassmen were also taking a written exam this month?" She recalled the President's answer: 'Generally speaking, the second month of every new school year is a written exam, and the senpais are no exception.'
This was a fixed, traditional written test. Studying hard would get you through, but that wasn't the true answer—because this was Advanced Nurturing High School, not a normal school. Hoshinomiya-sensei's mention of "up to 100 points" stemmed from this.
I see.
"This is just my speculation," Hikigaya said, "but after school, we should observe the senpais. Check the status of the 2nd and 3rd-year C and D classes. If they are also frantically cramming and tutoring in the library, terrified of expulsion, then I have nothing to say.
But if they are perfectly relaxed, with no sign of exam prep... then that's proof enough that there's another way to pass this test.
This is a 'welfare' exam," he declared. "And by mastering the rules, we can get the full 100-point reward.
For us freshmen, it's likely the same."
"Mm-hmm." Ichinose nodded, her mind racing.
"Since it's a welfare exam, the senpais must know the inside scoop. Maybe we can buy information from them... I even think they might be testing us on past exam questions?"
Her hypothesis was bold, but in this school, it wasn't impossible.
Therefore, if this exam wasn't testing academic knowledge, it was testing whether the students truly grasped the essence of the school's system.
Specifically, this exam was announced after the teachers told everyone the truth about the school.
The school was effectively telling them that things were different now, so they shouldn't use a standard exam-taking mindset to deal with the rules.
What were the rules they already knew they could use?
Points can buy anything. Naturally, they can buy scores.
So, could points also buy the exam papers themselves? It wasn't a pipe dream.
Having thought this through, Ichinose smiled at Hikigaya. Her smile was like a blooming crabapple flower. Hikigaya usually hated girls who smiled too much because it always made his heart race.
But since it was Ichinose, he didn't hate it.
Over the next two days, the Class B students moved quickly. They soon figured out the situation of the 3rd and 2nd-year C and D classes: these senpais were nowhere to be found among the freshmen fighting for study spots in the library. Instead, they were seen leisurely strolling through the mall.
Facing an exam that threatened expulsion, these "academic dregs" weren't worried at all? Clearly, they already had the questions.
"I think we could probably buy the test papers directly from a second-year student," Ichinose said decisively, though she showed a hint of hesitation in her expression.
Essentially, buying the papers before the exam felt a lot like cheating.
For "good students" like those in Class B, this was a challenge to their morals.
Moreover, they worried about acting independently and getting caught, which would drag the class down—especially with the example of Class 1-C fresh in their minds. Although Hikigaya
had been the one pulling the strings behind the scenes for Class C, if the information about buying papers leaked and they were reported, it would lead to point deductions.
Class B had achieved such a great score that everyone cherished it and feared losing it.
"While it's clear this is how the exam should be handled, buying papers is something that requires us to protect our reputation. Class A is likely watching us," Hikigaya said. "Ichinose, you don't need to be involved in this part."
"I have the perfect candidate," he added.
Oh.
A perfect candidate?
"Help me invite Kushida Kikyo out."
Ichinose blinked softly. In other words... was Kushida-san going to be the one to take the fall for this?
Hello everyone! I'm VarieTL
Thank you as always for your support!
I wanted to announce that I posted a new Fanfiction!
Saving the World with Crossovers, starting with replacing Natsuki subaru with Hikigaya Hachiman
Kawata Osamu transmigrated and became a God.
Wonderful start, right? Unfortunately, this world is destined to be destroyed by the Abyss...
The only thing he can do is try to merge many worlds together thanks to the "Children of the World."
If he can show everyone their adventures and evoke enough emotion, the worlds will merge! Kawata Osamu decided to start by replacing Natsuki Subaru with Hikigaya Hachiman!
2nd Arc: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka in Redo of Healer
3rd Arc: Shirogane Miyuki in Inuyasha
4th Arc: Kousaka Kyousuke in Overlord
I have already posted 264 Chapters of this Fanfiction!
Mostly because it's really really good, so I wanted to continue working on it XD
Read ahead (50 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting