7.1
THE FIRST PART of the final exam was here. The minimum overall score each pair needed to pass was 692 points, which was lower than expected, but we couldn’t afford to be careless. The outcome would be set in stone by the end of the day—that is, the end of the first half. How challenging the exam would be came down to the difficulty level of our questions and each student’s ability to pressure the rest.
The first day covered four subjects: social studies, English, Japanese, and mathematics. That meant that the outcome of Horikita and Kushida’s battle would be revealed very soon.
As I walked into the hall on my way to the classroom, I met up with Satou. For better or worse, she seemed to have been waiting for me.
“Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun. It’s almost time for the test, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Did you sleep well last night?”
“I studied until about one o’clock. I feel a little nervous,” said Satou, putting her hand to her chest and taking a deep breath.
“Well, I can’t say it’s going to be easy, but let’s do our best. You should do well if you just apply everything you’ve learned,” I told her.
“Okay!”
No matter what, we were partners in this. I couldn’t deny our shared destiny. If either of us failed, so did the other. Each of us could drag the other into the abyss with them.
Just then, Karuizawa arrived. “Good morning, Satou-san.”
“Oh, good morning, Karuizawa-san.”
“Did you already have plans with Ayanokouji-kun? It’s rare to see the two of you together,” said Karuizawa.
“N-no, we met up by chance.”
“Is that so? Well, how about we go get a drink at Pallet before class?” asked Karuizawa.
“Okay. Well, see you later, Ayanokouji-kun,” said Satou, turning away bashfully. Karuizawa looked at me for an instant before heading away.
“Those two are close, huh?” I muttered to myself.
“I think Karuizawa-san is a surprisingly jealous person,” Hirata said, walking over.
“Huh?” I said.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. What did you mean?”
“I’ve pretended to be Karuizawa-san’s boyfriend for a while now. I noticed that she’s been paying more attention to you lately, Ayanokouji-kun.”
“I don’t think that’s right.” Karuizawa had been forced to remove herself from Hirata and attach herself to me, kind of like a remora with a shark.
“Really? Well, I’m glad. I don’t think it’s healthy to be in a fake relationship. That’s probably selfish of me to say, though,” Hirata replied as we made our way to the classroom. “Horikita-san’s questions will definitely sting Class C. I don’t think it should be that difficult for Class D to win, provided that everyone handles the exam well.”
Hirata overflowed with self-confidence. Despite one unforeseen matchup, everything else had gone according to plan.
“To tell you the truth, there was something I wanted to talk to you about, Ayanokouji-kun,” Hirata added. “Do you know Shiina Hiyori-san?”
“She’s in Class C. We met the other day when she showed up at Keisei’s study group,” I replied.
“She came by my study group, too. It seems that Class C is looking for the mastermind hiding in Horikita-san’s shadow.”
“Seems like it.”
“You’re the one pulling Horikita’s strings, Ayanokouji-kun,” said Hirata. It wasn’t a question, just a statement of fact. “I wouldn’t tell anyone else, of course. I’m sure that you have something planned. Besides, you’ve saved Class D many times over.”
“I see. I’m grateful to hear you say that.”
“So, you don’t deny it?”
“Even if I did, you wouldn’t believe me.”
“I suppose I wouldn’t.”
“I’m not some kind of hero, and I’m not hiding my identity, either. I just don’t want to draw attention,” I told him.
“I assume that you had a reason for what you did at the sports festival. Still, are you okay? Class C is on the offense. If required, I’ve got your back,” said Hirata.
Although I appreciated Hirata’s offer, it wasn’t necessary. “I’m good. I’ll come to you if I need to, though.”
“I understand.”
We arrived at the classroom. I observed Sudou and the other guys from a distance, noticing that they looked quite different from how they had during previous exams. Instead of huddling and cramming in a panic, they calmly used their time to review final details. Nearly half the students were seriously concentrating on the material.
“Quite a difference, huh?” Hirata said.
“Definitely.” If you’d told me months ago that this was what Class D would look like now, I wouldn’t have believed you. However, this school was an institution that prioritized results above all else.
Horikita was reading a book instead of studying. “Are you prepared?”
“You’re reading just before the test?” I asked. “What’re you reading?”
“And Then There Were None,” replied Horikita.
“Agatha Christie, huh? Well, let’s hope there’re more than ‘none’ left when this is over,” I joked.
Horikita closed her book and shot down my dark humor. “Nobody is leaving the school. It goes without saying that neither you nor I will disappear, either.”
“The look on your face says that you’re going to win no matter what,” I told her.
“Of course. That’s because I prepared to take first place in our grade this time around,” she replied.
“If the questions Class C set turn out to be really simple, that’s going to be tricky.”
“Even so, I’ll win. That’ll only motivate me more,” she replied.
Well, now I really looked forward to this. Come on, Horikita. Show me your stuff.
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