August 10th
The third day after the exam on the uninhabited island.
Outside the café on the top floor, Hikigaya leaned back in his chair, using his left arm as a pillow while staring at his phone.
[Kushida Kikyo: I'm really sorry about what happened today. I've explained everything to Ike and the others, so you don't have to worry. It won't affect you at all (^▽^). (last night)]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: Sorry, my phone ran out of battery yesterday. (this morning)]
[Kushida Kikyo: It's okay, it's okay. It was my fault for disturbing you so late last night. I just couldn't control my emotions. I hope you're not angry (????)]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: Sorry, I was eating and didn't check my phone. (three hours ago)]
[Kushida Kikyo: It's okay, it's okay. Actually, I wanted to formally apologize for yesterday. If it's convenient, I'd like to treat you to a meal as an apology. (three hours ago)]
"Stare..."
Hikigaya stared at the text messages, lost in thought.
An ordinary person would have blocked him by now. This girl was way too persistent.
What should he do?
Even if he refused, she would probably pester him in person.
So troublesome.
Just then, his phone let out a sharp, high-pitched sound, followed by an announcement over the ship's intercom.
[Attention all students.]
[The school has sent an important email containing contact details to all students. Please check your phones immediately and follow the instructions. If you have not received the email, report to the nearest faculty member. This is a crucial matter, so do not ignore it. I repeat...]
Hikigaya sat up.
This was the first time he had received such an email since enrolling.
Wasn't this an invasion of privacy?
Opening the email, he read the contents:
[A special examination is about to begin.
Students must gather in their designated rooms at the specified time.
Those more than ten minutes late will be penalized.
Your designated meeting room is Room 201 at 8:40 PM. The meeting will last approximately 20 minutes.
Please use the restroom beforehand and switch your phone to silent or turn it off before arriving.
Do not be late.]
He sighed. Of course, the school wouldn't let them relax.
A moment later, he received another message, this time from Ichinose.
[Ichinose Honami: I'm guessing you haven't checked the group chat. Are you okay? Do you know your meeting time and location?]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: Yeah, 8:40 PM, Room 201.]
[Ichinose Honami: That's the same as Kanzaki and Asako-chan. That's great. If you have any questions, you can contact Kanzaki.]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: Got it.]
As expected of Ichinose.
Within minutes, she had gathered all the class information and still had the time to check on him.
She really was a kind and caring person.
Dormitory – 8:00 PM
"Alright."
Kanzaki put on his jacket and turned to Hikigaya.
"You're with me, so why don't we go together?"
"Huh?"
Hikigaya, who was lying on his bed reading, blinked. "Isn't the meeting at 8:40?"
"It's always beneficial to observe the environment in advance," Kanzaki replied calmly. "Besides, there's a penalty for being late. It's better to arrive early."
"Well..."
Hikigaya stood up reluctantly. "I think the penalty for being ten minutes late means they allow you to be a little late."
"That's a dangerous way of thinking," Kanzaki said, narrowing his eyes. "I advise against it. That kind of logic will only backfire."
"Alright, alright," Shibata interjected with a friendly smile. "Hikigaya, since you were just reading anyway, it won't hurt to leave early, right?"
Hikigaya sighed. He had no real reason to stay, so he put on his jacket and followed Kanzaki.
No choice.
Kanzaki seemed to be the leader here.
With his hands in his pockets, Hikigaya trudged after him toward Room 201. When they arrived, Kanzaki knocked on the door politely.
"Oh, Kanzaki and Hikigaya? The teacher isn't here yet. Come in."
A female voice greeted them from inside.
It was Okakura Asako.
Hikigaya didn't remember much about her except that she was close with Ichinose. It was well known that the girls in Class B had a strong bond, largely thanks to Ichinose.
Ichinose was really something, managing to unify an entire class like that.
The two entered the room. Asako was already seated, with two empty chairs beside her and another chair opposite the table.
"Ugh..."
Hikigaya slumped into the corner seat.
The teacher wasn't even here yet. Why did they come so early?
"The teacher isn't here yet," Kanzaki noted, scanning the room. "How long have you been waiting, Okakura?"
"Only a few minutes," she replied with a smile. "Just call me Little Mazi. I prefer that."
Kanzaki nodded curtly and took the seat between Hikigaya and Asako.
He didn't seem very social, but he was clearly trying his best to support Class B.
In that sense, Kanzaki was quite admirable.
Hikigaya, on the other hand, had no interest in forcing himself to work with others.
"By the way..."
Before the teacher arrived, Asako started chatting.
"Why do you think the school split us up like this?"
Based on the group chat, students had been divided into two different time slots—6:00 PM and 8:40 PM—across multiple rooms, with three to four students per group.
"Hard to say," Kanzaki mused. "But judging by the setup, this test seems to focus more on individual ability. What do you think, Hikigaya?"
"No idea."
Hikigaya rested his head on his hand.
If he knew what was going on, he wouldn't be sitting here guessing.
This school really had a habit of forcing interactions.
Annoying.
Realizing neither he nor Kanzaki were big talkers, Asako eventually pulled out her phone to pass the time.
8:30 PM
A woman in a black business suit and stockings entered the room.
It was Chabashira Sae.
Her sharp, professional demeanor made her seem far more reliable than Hoshinomiya Chie.
"You're all early," she noted before getting straight to the point.
"Let's begin. I am Chabashira Sae, homeroom teacher of Class D. I will now explain the details of the special exam. Please hold your questions until the end."
The three students nodded.
"This exam divides all first-year students into twelve groups, referred to as 'stems' and 'branches.' The purpose of this test is to evaluate logical thinking and decision-making skills."
Chabashira continued coldly:
"In society, a person's capabilities generally fall into three categories: action, intelligence, and teamwork. Only those who excel in all three can be considered successful adults."
She paused, then added,
"This exam will be conducted within these twelve groups. Each group will work together to navigate the test."
Hikigaya sighed.
So, the ideal person was someone with all three traits?
In contrast, a househusband only needed to know how to cook.
Wasn't being a househusband the ultimate dream?
He nodded to himself.
"Any questions?" Chabashira asked.
Kanzaki raised his hand.
"Why did the school separate us into different groups?"
"The reason is simple," she replied. "Since the groups consist of students from different classes, this setup prevents potential bias and ensures fair evaluation."
Hikigaya frowned.
For a school that didn't hesitate to invade students' privacy, they sure were concerned about fairness.
Something felt off.
But for now, he decided to stay quiet.
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