Part 1
After Chabashira-sensei left, there was still a little free time in class.
The students see the paper in front which contains the rules of the event.
"Excuse me."
Horikita broke into the crowd and photographed the note with her cellphone.
In order to return to her seat and see it early, she takes this initiative.
She sat on her chair and looked through everything.
"I'll show you, even though you might not be interested."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Thens he sent two photos in the chat application.
"Special event selection exam and rules for deciding an event."
・ About small events, complicated events, and rules restrictions.
Overly detailed rules are not permitted.
In matters such as written examinations and other events, the school will issue questions to ensure fairness.
According to the content of the event, it is forbidden to set game rules that are too far from the basic rules.
・ About the facilities that can be used.
On the special examination day, the Commander will see the process of the event in the multipurpose room. In addition, the gym, the field, facilities at the school, such as the music room and science room will basically be available, there are also some exceptions.
・ About event boundaries and deadlines.
Only one event per class can be selected for events rated as equal. Events that are too long or have no time limit may not be allowed.
・ Regarding the number of people needed to participate.
The number of people needed for the event must be different for 10 events, except for substitute players.
The minimum number of participants for one event is 1 and the maximum number is 20 (excluding substitute players).
There must be at least two events with more than 10 people in each class including reserves.
・ About the conditions of participation
Each student can only participate in one event and cannot participate in more than one event. However, if all members in the class have participated, they can participate more than once.
・ Regarding the Commander's role.
The Commander has the right to interfere in the seven events. The way of intervention is determined by the class that determines the event. This intervention can only be done with school approval.
The rules are roughly divided into these five categories.
The number of participants in each event, between 1 and 20 people. Events that require 20 participants are quite limited, but that can be entered in several ways. If almost 40 people have already played in the event, then they can play a second time, and even students can play three times depending on the situation. Although we try to reduce the number of participants and use some elites to compete, we must change the number of participants depending on the type of event. That will be increasingly difficult.
"Really, the school is making us prepare for the special exams with hard work."
"Yes, but this is probably the biggest event of the year."
This is a difficult mechanism to win unless many students participate and work together.
This is somewhat similar to a sports festival, but this time it's not just good physical strength that will benefit. Depending on the point of view, there are battles that use academic abilities, flexible ways of doing things, or doing things in dexterity. This advantage also has the potential to shine.
We not only have to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses, but also to find out the strengths and weaknesses of other classes is the key to the test. Taking into account the selection of these events, the special exam time arranged by the school is also very clear. It is important to listen to the opinions of all parties to maximize the power of the events in this special exam.
In addition, in our class, there are still people who we are unsure whether or not they will participate in the events. If one person cannot participate twice, we must make adjustments in this regard.
After understanding the entire description, Horikita still showed an unsatisfactory expression.
"You don't seem to be satisfied with this special exam."
"Yes, there are a number of things, many of which make me dissatisfied, especially what class program to choose on that day is the key to winning or losing. It can result in a pretty big loss if we end up with competing in events prepared by the opposing class. "
Because of the absolute trust in the event that they have prepared, they will attend the shows.
In addition, compared to attending other classes chosen by the program, of course, they want to compete in their own events to ensure results.
"The school will collect 10 events and notify each class, and then lock 7 events on exam day. Isn't this more fair?"
Indeed, from the point of view of justice, Horikita's opinion is correct.
"The lower classes have a lower chance of winning, but if luck is with them, the lower classes can also defeat the upper classes."
But, in general, the higher the class' skill level, the better in many ways.
"That's for sure ... there is a view like that. After all I don't really like this special exam."
She muttered-
It is time for students to understand the event through discussion.
But Hirata continued to bow his head and wait for time to pass.
"He was still the centerpiece of the class a few days ago."
"Are you trying to say that this is my fault?"
"It's hard to say."
Even though this was Hirata's own problem, no one could understand his problem, including himself.
"Oh, I want to confirm something before discussing it."
At this moment Sudou spoke. While Hirata continued to stay motionless, even though the discussion was about to begin in class.
After Sudou looked at me, he began to look around the classroom.
"Many people could not accept the results of last weekend. Right, Kanji?"
"... Well, that's unacceptable, I don't understand at all. Everyone is confused, why the first place in the praise poll was Ayanokouji. How did you end up getting 42 praise votes?"
Many of the students' lines of sight are directed at me. It was not an exception from the Ayanokouji group.
"This means you get a lot of praise from other classes, right?"
At the end of last week, I didn't get the chance to explain.
I had predicted that they would bring this up sooner or later.
The problem is that I can't tell everything here.
My position in this class is at the lowest level, in my current position, there was nothing I could say.
"I'll explain it to you."
Horikita takes the initiative.
"Wait, we want Ayanokouji to explain it himself ... Me and my friends ... But he is no longer here."
"I don't think Ayanokouji-kun can explain it himself."
Horikita stood up and started talking, as if she was trying to protect me.
" ... So what ?"
"Maybe Ayanokouji-kun himself doesn't know what happened."
"You said ... Ayanokouji himself doesn't know?"
"Yes, simply put. This was all planned out by Sakayanagi-san. Regarding why she did this, I tried to deduce myself. Let me explain myself about the reason. "
To explain step by step, Horikita answered the question in a way that is easy to understand.
"First, after she saw Yamauchi-kun as a target, she told him that she would give her class' voice of praise to convince him. In fact, there was no doubt after Yamauchi-kun said it himself at the last moment. So there must of been a promise like that. But instead, she decided to give a voice of praise to another student. "
"M-maybe like that. But, why she gave it to Ayanokouji?"
"Then what do you think? Sudou-kun."
"That ... for example, Ayanokouji is actually a very great person, so Sakayanagi thinks that he deserves praise ..."
"Do you see any great things about him? I have the impression that he is a student who could run fast. Nothing more."
"That ... Well, I suppose so too."
"He didn't get good grades in the written exam, and besides his fast running, he has no ability that I can see in other sports. Even if you observe other things that aren't accompanied by his foot speed, there is no good picture to talk about . "
These words are fully consistent with the understanding of the people around me. There is no denying evidence.
"In other words, your assumptions are incorrect."
Horikita did not hesitate to emphasize.
"Do you want to say that he was only chosen by chance? This would be a little strange."
"Try to think about it. If Ayanokouji-kun was a great person, would you deliberately give him a 'protection point'? No fool would give it to a difficult opponent. If there were exceptions, it would have gone to 'Ichinose' who had already many predicted from the start that she would end up with a lot of praise. "
In fact, a total of 98 praise votes have been received by Ichinose. This is the result of the idea 'it's better to send it to someone than to gather it to strangers'.
"I'm sure there are no fools who give 'protection points' to tough opponents." Said Horikita.
"Right, it's impossible to do that."
With an explanation from Horikita, so Kei, Sakura, and many other boys also agreed.
"Even though I don't know why Yamauchi-kun was Sakayanagi-san's target. If I assume that she wants him out of the school, then I would be able to understand the series of problems that have occurred. As planned, let's look back at what Yamauchi-kun did before in class. us. He formed a targeted Ayanokouji-kun, and then Sakayanagi-san gave many voices of praise to Ayanokouji-kun, so she could get Yamauchi-kun expelled from the school. "
"In other words ... Haruki was expelled, all because of Sakayanagi's plan."
"Yes, and the choice of Ayanokouji-kun, was merely a coincidence. She wanted to choose someone who was inconspicuous and would not harm Class A. Maybe through these two considerations, she ended up choosing Ayanokouji-kun."
This explanation was very useful for me.
They couldn't find a way to get away from me in Horikita's explanation.
"That's what I thought. She was aiming to take out Yamauchi-kun resulting in why she protected Ayanokouji-kun."
Sudou and Ike had no choice but to convince themselves.
Even so, Sudou still couldn't take it.
"Is it because I support him like this, which makes you very upset?"
Horikita looked at Sudou and asked.
Sudou did not answer directly, but averted his eyes.
"I support him because I realize that the reason why Yamauchi-kun left school is not because of him, but because of myself. "
Horikita was the one who exposed Yamauchi's strategy in class and forced him into a desperate situation.
"If you want to blame someone, then you should blame me."
"That ..."
Sudou cannot blame Horikita.
In fact, he also knows that unneeded students will be expelled - there is no way to prevent this.
However, no matter how well it is explained, it is difficult for everyone to accept.
Because now, I did end up getting a 'protection point'.
Because only I am in the safe range in the upcoming exam.
"This special exam... Can I recommend myself as the Commander?"
I saw an opportunity and said this.
Although Sakayanagi has not contact me, this time, it is guaranteed that she will be a Commander.
So, I have to act as the Commander to match my agreement with her to compete with her in this exam.
"It's true, in the class vote, I gave distrust to my friends, so by becoming the Commander of this special test, I want to dispel any suspicion."
"Ayanokouji ..."
Sudou looked at me in surprise.
"This proposal is very good, as no one will be expelled, and there is no need to be suspicious of Ayanokouji."
This will lead to nobody dropping out of school. Because of that Ike supported to let me be the Commander.
"Wait a minute, I'm very happy with Ayanokouji-kun taking the initiative to become a Commander, but I mind letting you serve as the Commander."
The person who unexpectedly raised an objection to this problem, was Shinohara.
"If we ask Ayanokouji-kun to be the Commander, no one will leave the school even if we lose, because we have 'protection points'. But doesn't this mean that we surrender to defeat from the beginning? It feels like we will just be preparing for defeat. After all, Ayanokouji-kun is a very ordinary person, as Horikita-san said. "
In other words, she doesn't think we can win with the instructions I will be giving as Commander.
"If we are confronting Class A or Class B, we will have to face Sakayanagi-san or Ichinose-san? The position of the Commander seems very important. If we let Ayanokouji-kun do it, we have no chance of winning. If we lose, we will return to Class D. You know? "
Some students expressed their agreement with Shinohara's opinion.
"I think it would be better to recruit candidate Commanders for now."
However, this position risks dropping out of school. I'm afraid no one will raise their hand easily.
If it's a normal situation, we might be able to count on Hirata, but this time, it seems to be impossible.
Up until now, Hirata had not participated in the discussion, but only kept his head down.
If you have to say that under these circumstances, the only student who isn't afraid of dropping out of school to become a candidate for Commander is ...
Everyone looks at Horikita.
However, in the current circumstances, maybe-
"Sorry, but I also want to avoid the risk of dropping out of school ... If, Ayanokouji-kun is a candidate, I want to say something about that ... As Shinohara-san said, when it comes to battles against Class A and B, there is no guarantee that we can win at this stage. "
"But, Horikita-san, you doubted Ayanokouji-kun's abilities before, but now why do you want him to be the Commander?"
Hearing these words, Kei suddenly interrupted.
"I thought, maybe because I had tried to help him prove that he had nothing to do with Yamauchi-kun's withdrawal from school. As a thank you, he might volunteer as a Commander. "
In some ways, Horikita smoothly blocked my escape.
Not surprisingly, there was an intention from Horikita to force me into the Commander's position.
In her eyes, my abilities were far higher than any other student.
Instead of handing over the Commander to students who can't do it, it's better to encourage me to be more stable. She made this judgment. Even if I lose, I have protection points and it won't be a problem.
"Are there no other candidates for the Commander?"
If there are objections, then people who want to be Commander can say it.
But there are no other students who want to risk dropping out of school.
"Even though Ayanokouji-kun is the Commander, we can also have a thorough discussion with everyone beforehand. On that day, he will act according to the instructions and planned patterns. There will be no big difference with that."
Students who do not want to think too much, gave their approval.
"However, it's almost time for class to end. The school won't give us time to discuss it. I suggest that we find time to gather and discuss it."
Because Hirata doesn't care, it's likely that Horikita will have to carry heavy responsibilities in the class.