Chapter 051: Hikigaya: Based on My Experience, Sakayanagi Is Far Too Quiet!
After calling Katsuragi out and tricking him into filling out three sets of test papers, Hikigaya rubbed the space between his eyebrows with a hint of fatigue before setting off to meet Ichinose Honami.
Ichinose had already finished her inquiry with Hoshinomiya-sensei.
She was currently standing at their designated meeting spot, staring at a memo pad with a slight frown. Noticing Hikigaya's approach, she snapped out of her thoughts, a warm smile gracing her face as she handed him the note.
Ichinose had previously asked Hoshinomiya-sensei about the specific requirements to obtain the 100 Class Evaluation Point reward for the upcoming exam.
The answer she received was: 50 points if the entire class passes with zero expulsions; an additional 50 points if the class average reaches 60 or above. Both conditions must be met to receive the full 100-point reward.
"However, these are things students have to ask the teachers themselves before the teachers are allowed to tell you," Hoshinomiya had added with a playful smile.
This meant the school's rules weren't limited to the "truth" they were told that morning; there were many more layers they had to figure out for themselves.
"Even now, it feels unbelievable," Ichinose sighed softly, unconsciously twirling a strand of her hair, her bright eyes showing a hint of distress.
"But if the exam is based on old questions, it will be very difficult for us to get a high score. We might only manage to avoid expulsions."
Even if the students had decent academic abilities, how could they answer questions based on a syllabus they hadn't studied?
This included the three sets of papers Hikigaya had brought back. They had been filled out by someone, but there were still a dozen or so blanks because the answers couldn't be found.
Clearly, the school didn't intend for them to take the exam "normally."
"These are Katsuragi's papers," Hikigaya said.
"I had him write down the answers. Now we have a copy with his handwriting. Since digital cameras record the time a photo is taken, we can prove Katsuragi 'did the test' before the actual exam began.
So, if they try to report the leak, the fact that Katsuragi did the papers in advance will also be exposed."
Though Hikigaya suspected that Katsuragi, in his earnestness to solve the problems, hadn't even considered that angle.
Regardless, Katsuragi would likely restrain Class A from reporting the leak.
He was a man who prioritized the big picture; unless it was an accident or offered immense benefit to Class A, he wouldn't commit an act of sabotage.
Therefore, the person the first year needed to guard against was Class A's other leader, Sakayanagi Arisu.
Or rather, by calling Katsuragi out, Hachiman intended for Kamuro to deliver information to Sakayanagi.
The message was clear: the rest of the grade had decided on this strategy for the exam. Could she, Sakayanagi Arisu, really afford to oppose three classes combined, especially if it meant sacrificing Class A's own interests?
The current Sakayanagi shouldn't be the "love-brained" brat from the later parts of the original story yet, so Hikigaya's evaluation of her was actually quite high.
'So, don't make things difficult for me, Sakayanagi' he added silently in his heart.
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Consequently, as almost every class in the grade had obtained the "test papers" for the end-of-month assessment, the campus became much quieter.
However, because the original owners of the old papers had mediocre grades, there were many blanks. The top students of each class were forced to spend their time diligently filling in the missing answers.
Naturally, since some content was outside the current syllabus, they had to head to the library to find old textbooks.
"To think they'd go back as far as the first edition." Kanzaki Ryuji crouched before the tall library shelves, his fingers tracing rows of yellowed book spines, his eyes wide with surprise.
"And they've prepared so many. The school's resources are incredibly abundant," Ichinose Honami nodded, pulling a worn old textbook from the shelf. Her tone was full of sentiment as she flipped through the pages.
Hikigaya Hachiman, Ichinose Honami, and Kanzaki Ryuji were currently in the school library. Although he intended to use Kanzaki as a sacrificial lamb for a future expulsion exam, Hikigaya had to admit that for now, Kanzaki was quite capable.
After all, the man was willing to take on the burden of filling in the blanks for two whole subjects by himself—a truly selfless spirit.
"However—" Hikigaya's gaze moved from Kanzaki to the lower section of the old textbook area. He crouched down and pushed aside several thick high school textbooks to reveal the rows underneath. Aside from high school materials, there were middle school textbooks as well.
His finger stopped on a middle school physics book.
This was a high school; why prepare so many middle school textbooks?
It was obvious. If the exam could use old versions of high school textbooks, it wasn't impossible for the school to expect students to create their own questions. Worried that the students' academic levels might be insufficient, they prepared middle school content as a backup. It was perfectly logical.
This school truly aimed to cultivate students in every aspect.
"Oh, if it isn't Hikigaya-kun? And Ichinose-san." While Hikigaya, Kanzaki, and Ichinose were selecting textbooks, a cute greeting drifted from the other side of the shelf.
Hikigaya and Ichinose looked up simultaneously.
Kushida Kikyo leaned halfway out from behind the shelf, her short blonde hair catching the light. She wore a perfect, angelic smile as she waved enthusiastically.
Standing beside her was a girl with long black hair and fox-like eyes—the cold-faced Horikita Suzune.
Currently, Horikita was holding two old textbooks, Japanese and Physics. Her brow was slightly furrowed as her gaze swept over the three from Class B. When her eyes landed on Hikigaya, she seemed to purse her lips, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Kushida-san, hello. It looks like you're here too," Ichinose said, standing up with a warm smile.
"Hello," Hikigaya added politely.
However, his inner monologue was very active
'It's Kushida and Horikita.
Which means Kushida dragged Horikita here to help fill in the blanks for the old papers. But your class actually has super-geniuses like Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, monsters like Koenji Rokusuke, and high-achievers like Yukimura Teruhiko. Even Hirata and Matsushita Chiaki are quite capable. Class D is overflowing with talent. There are so many people you could have picked to share the workload.
And yet, Kushida Kikyo, you're dead set on torturing Horikita? Making her responsible for two subjects alone?'
Wait, what?
'Hey! Stop it!'
Kushida heard Hikigaya's inner voice clearly, but she didn't even have time to protest. She was shocked to find that while she was listening to him, Horikita's expression also froze for a split second.
Then, Horikita turned to look at her with an unpleasant, piercing gaze.
It seemed her favorability had dropped again.
'Damn it.'
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