Chapter 105: The Uninhabited Island Exam Begins, It's Really Sad That You Couldn't Come, Sakayanagi!
Hachiman understood better than anyone what kind of person he wanted to become.
However, he still tried to mediate the relationship between these two siblings.
"Since you know about your sister's situation, how about telling her?" Hachiman said.
"It's meaningless," Horikita Manabu refused. "People in this world are not that easy to change. There are very few who manage to correct their flaws even when they are aware of them."
"And I thought she would only change when she finally hit a wall."
"But yesterday..."
"She changed."
"She chose not to chase after my shadow anymore," Horikita Manabu said, adjusting his glasses. "And this is thanks to you, Hachiman."
Is that so?
Hachiman didn't respond but waited for Horikita Manabu's attitude.
Was it a form of accountability or a reward?
As he thought about this, Horikita Manabu continued.
"Suzune always looks down on others, so she's always alone. But I think that no matter how excellent a person is, there's a limit. However, if two or three people work together, the majority of people, if they collaborate with others, might break through the limits they can't reach on their own. That's what I think, and that's also what I want her to understand."
"She was assigned to Class D, and I think her failure to understand this is the reason why she ended up in Class D."
"At the same time..."
"I know she can't make it to Class A on her own, so if she does achieve that, it means she relied on others' strength. And once she relies on others, it means she understands this concept."
I see.
So, it turns out that the argument they had near the vending machine earlier, and even when Horikita Manabu had the posture to hit Suzune, or when he ordered her to pay attention to him, all of it was for this purpose.
It was to help his sister understand the need for others' strength.
In other words...
You actually want your sister to seek your help.
Horikita Manabu, you want to be Suzune's strength.
Hey, hey, hey.
Are you the kind of person who likes using others as tools?
But…
Since you hope and want your sister to get better, even paving the way for her…
Why not just tell her directly?
Instead, you make your sister feel like you dislike her, that she's a burden.
Hachiman felt that Horikita Manabu was actually a bit of a tsundere.
"Yesterday, I indeed pointed out that no matter how much she chases after you, she will never catch up because you two are fundamentally different people."
Hachiman said. "Rather, I asked her what kind of person she wanted to become."
"She was confused about it."
"By deciding to stop chasing your shadow, maybe she has found herself," Hachiman continued.
"And then..."
"I made an agreement with Horikita to work together to get into Class A and show you what we can do."
"I see, a bit of a spiteful rivalry, huh—" Horikita Manabu suddenly stared at him. "Isn't that your goal?"
"..."
Hmm.
Hachiman didn't like dealing with smart people.
Although Hachiman had been speaking as if he was praising or using Horikita as an excuse to remove himself from the equation, Horikita Manabu had seen through him.
The one who actually wanted to get into Class A was Hachiman.
All this talk about improving Suzune's weaknesses was just a facade.
Because...
Although Suzune had told him she hoped he would help her and join her in moving to Class A, almost as if treating him as a tool, the truth was…
Suzune was the one being used as a tool for Hachiman's goal of moving up to Class A.
It was Hachiman who wanted to get into Class A.
Hachiman wanted to use Horikita, and Horikita wanted to use him as well, while the student council president also hoped that Hachiman could help his sister grow.
So, overall, the three of them were just using each other.
Nothing more to say about it.
However, since Horikita Manabu didn't get angry, it meant his mood was still fine.
Maybe he could get some more information out of him.
Thinking this, Hachiman said:
"By the way, can upperclassmen reveal exam's information to lowerclassmen?"
"You mean information about some of the exams," Horikita Manabu replied. "In the first and second months after new students enroll, revealing any information is not allowed."
"But after those two months, it's okay to give a hint."
I see.
Hachiman thought he somewhat understood now.
The first month is for the students to discover the unique aspects of the school on their own, then participate in assessments of behavioral standards.
The second month's old exam papers are designed to prevent students from having rigid thinking.
So once students find the old questions, they realize that they can approach things flexibly.
Therefore, seeking information from upperclassmen is not out of the question.
"Then for the special exams every month..." Hachiman said.
Because if upperclassmen can reveal exam information, does that mean information about the exams will be leaked?
"You don't need to worry about that," Horikita Manabu said. "Because the exams change every nine years."
"So students in the current year won't be tested on the same exam that were used in the previous year."
I see.
The school has considered the possibility of leaks, so the exams are adjusted accordingly.
But.
There's something wrong with that statement.
Because…
The exam change every nine years, but since Teacher Chabashira is a student from nine years ago, doesn't that mean some exams from her year might overlap?
So perhaps it's possible to get some exam information from Teacher Chabashira.
But this has a suspicious hint of cheating, so Hachiman decided to set that thought aside for now.
After all, he had already tricked Sakayanagi into going for the student council. If he then went to Teacher Chabashira to get exam questions, it would look like he had no shame.
"However, you new students will have a two-week break next," Horikita Manabu continued, unaware that Hachiman was thinking about cheating. "This has been a tradition since the founding of the school."
"After you've experienced the school's exams, naturally, you'll also be given some privileges," Horikita Manabu said.
"Is this break part of the exam?" Hachiman quickly asked.
"Heh..."
Horikita Manabu seemed to chuckle for a moment, but then pushed his glasses up and said seriously, "As student council president, I won't casually reveal information."
"And besides, if you want to move up to Class A, shouldn't you be thinking for yourselves?"
With that, he turned and left the sauna room.
But the information had already been dropped.
It needed to be thought about.
So, even though the exams were different from the previous two years, the core of the exam questions remained the same.
The school is cultivating students according to a template.
And the core of the next exam questions is thinking.
Think, think, think!
Although Horikita Manabu had already left, Hachiman had already paid, so he obediently stayed and enjoyed the sauna.
"Seems like I can't take it."
Feeling a little dizzy, Hachiman also left the sauna.
Then, he headed to Horikita Suzune's dormitory.
...
"Why do you look so weak?"
At the entrance of the girls' dormitory, Hachiman pressed the doorbell twice and waited for about 10 seconds. Horikita Suzune opened the door.
Upon seeing him, she gave him that comment.
Hmm.
Horikita, maybe it's not that you don't need friends, but sometimes you drive them away.
Don't casually call a guy weak, okay?
But Hachiman also noticed Horikita's gaze.
When she looked at him, her eyes seemed to shift slightly.
She probably wanted to know what her brother had said to him.
However, there was not just Horikita Suzune in the room.
There was also a short-haired blonde angel.
She was sitting on the edge of the table, and when she noticed Hachiman arriving, she gave him a smile like an angel.
It was the kind of smile that made you feel encouraged.
Though Hachiman knew that Kushida was a two-faced girl and not an innocent angel, there was no denying that her act was indeed quite cute.
"Well then." Hachiman suppressed his nervousness and looked at Kushida. "Kushida, what information have you gathered?"
"Next month, we will have a two-week luxury cruise vacation." Kushida said. "The second-year students had done this, and the third-year students did as well."
"But it's not just for fun; there's a special exam."
"According to what the senpai can reveal, one of the exam locations will be on the ship, and the other will require us to go to an uninhabited island for a group activity."
"And for the third-year students, they had to trek across the uninhabited island to check in at designated points as part of their exam."
"However, our class might not have the same setup." Kushida said.
Hmm.
Hachiman nodded.
This aligns with what the student council president mentioned; even if some information is leaked to you, the exam questions will definitely not be the same.
But it's still good to prepare in advance.
Because, since we need to live on an uninhabited island, we will need camping experience and other related skills.
So, it might be a good idea to visit the library soon and borrow some books on these topics.
However.
Since Horikita Manabu can reveal some information, it also means that, apart from the students in Class B, the students in Class A and C, who are intelligent and skilled at gathering information, probably know about this as well.
...
The next day.
Hachiman and the others went to the library to start borrowing relevant books.
After all, as ordinary students, they didn't have much camping experience. Hachiman's experience was probably limited to a nature class in Chiba Village during middle school.
But back then, all they did was make coffee, so it doesn't really count as camping.
So, as time passed, the day of the 1st arrived.
The weather was somewhat gloomy, and it seemed like it might rain. Although the students stayed on campus, there was still a distance between the school building and the dorms.
Hachiman decided to bring an umbrella.
As he checked his phone, he received a transfer notification from the school.
[Your private account has received 55,000 private points. Current balance: 279,000 points.]
On the 1st of every month, the school transfers living expenses to students based on their class evaluation scores.
Hachiman's Class C rating score was 550 points, so he received 55,000 points.
However, since his account had a relatively large balance, Hachiman didn't really pay much attention to the 55,000 points. What mattered more was that the 1st was also the day when they were notified about the special exam.
However.
"Today's homeroom is self-study." Teacher Chabashira said. "The details about this month's special exam will be notified on another day."
I see.
That means they have a little more time to prepare.
"By the way, Teacher, will this month's special exam still be a written exam?"
A student asked, and it was Kushida, the little angel. As soon as she asked, several classmates looked at her nervously.
Clearly.
This wasn't Kushida asking for herself, but for the other students.
It had to be said, this was very much Class C.
After all, they had just been promoted from Class D, so students who were less academically inclined were still very nervous about written exams, which would test their actual abilities.
But don't worry, the school knows your level, so they won't immediately give you a real written exam.
Otherwise, if they flunk a large portion of the students, it would be difficult to simulate society.
With that in mind.
During lunch break, Hachiman was called by someone.
...
During lunch break, in the third-floor cafeteria's private room.
"You really are a strange person."
When Hachiman arrived, there was only one girl sitting in the corner. She had purple long hair, and her legs were long and strong. Her presence wasn't strong, but her attacking power was.
"Before, Sakayanagi invited you several times, but you didn't come. But this time, as soon as she transferred points to you, you showed up."
"Do you really love money that much?" she asked.
Hmm.
This was someone familiar.
After all, she had treated him to meals many times before.
This was Kamuro.
But it seemed like after he sold her the exam papers at a high price, Kamuro had always looked at him with a stern expression ever since.
But making sarcastic remarks at him? Kamuro, you have no right to do that.
Because aren't you the same type?
You get points from Sakayanagi every month, which is why you can afford such an expensive computer.
Though, it must be said, Sakayanagi is really rich.
Hachiman checked the transfer details on his phone.
[Your private account has received 100,000 private points. Current balance: 379,000 points. Transfer from A54674]
The transfer message had a note attached.
[Note: Come for lunch.]
Given the amount, Hachiman knew he had to show up.
"So, what's for lunch today?" Hachiman asked.
Actually, Horikita had also made a bento today, so Hachiman felt a little guilty as he pushed it aside.
"We didn't prepare anything." Kamuro said. "Sakayanagi didn't give instructions."
I see.
It seems like Kamuro isn't happy.
Of course, she wouldn't be happy.
After all, she was constantly running around for Sakayanagi, almost like a servant, and she received an extra 100,000 to 200,000 points each month because of it.
The classmates' ability to gather information is pretty good.
They've already found out that the school will, at graduation, buy back students' points in proportion with cash.
Additionally, even if a student is expelled, personal items purchased with points can still be taken out of the school.
So.
Points aren't just money in the school; they can also be converted into cash outside.
Who wouldn't want money?
However.
After transferring points to Kamuro, Sakayanagi casually transferred another 100,000 points to Hachiman as an invitation.
"Hey, hey, hey.
What did she do to deserve that?
You should spend that money."
Naturally, Kamuro felt it was unfair. She wouldn't be in a good mood and was even a bit jealous of Hachiman.
Just then.
Click, click, click.
The sound of a cane echoed outside the door.
It seemed like Sakayanagi had arrived.