And just like that a week passed by.
Today is finally the exam day.
This special exam was included in the year 1, volume 11 of the original light novel.
Unfortunately, I was only able to read the novel up to volume 10 of year 1.
It implies that I have no idea about what happened in the original story in this particular special exam.
Moreover, due to my involvement, there has been many significant changes in the story.
Sakura was expelled instead of Yamauchi.
Yamauchi became the commander of this special exam instead of Ayanokouji.
And many more minor changes too.
But, I can't back down now.
As I don't have a protection point, if class C loses this exam, then it would be over for me.
So, the option of bailing out of the exam for sick leave is an available option for me.
If I do that, Ayanokouji would have to be the commander.
Over the past week, there has not been any improvement in the class's situation.
Even if the previous incident was disclosed, proving me innocent, most of the students still believe that I did tamper the votes.
However, the distrust between students has just widened, since the last few days.
I was absent during this period, so Horikita updated me about everything.
Hence, I have prepared my own plan of action, considering all the variables.
But, why am I risking my own expulsion, when I clearly have a way out this time?
First thing is the contract with Horikita about giving me private points is still valid.
So, I would be able to gain a huge amount of private points if this gamble pays off.
Second thing is for the story's sake.
I have said it multiple times, but COTE is a story close to my heart.
The same goes for the characters too.
If class C loses this special exam, then I don't think it can recover for a long time, which would just remove this class from the race to class A.
Call it my instinct or stupidity, but I want to see the story I love the most till the very end.
Third thing is the contract with Sakayanagi.
She has promised me to hand over the win to class C, in return of my cooperation with her as a spy in class C and a match of her with Ayanokouji in this special exam itself.
This deal was made in the presence of Hoshinomiya, but there is no mention of penalty for breaching the contract.
That's why I am still skeptical about what move would she make.
Well, enough thinking for now.
As the scheduled time for all the commanders to reach the special building approached, I decided to just go at a slow pace.
I don't want to get caught up in their drama after all.
Ichinose might be having the day of her life right now.
Moreover, the other students should be in their positions too.
As I walked towards the special building, a sense of tranquility washed over me.
The path to the special building stretched before me, bathed in the soft light of a spring morning.
The crisp chill of winter had loosened its grip, giving way to a calm warmth that brushed against my skin with each step.
The sensation of spring unfolding around me was soothing, yet strangely unsettling.
It was as though the world was mocking my inner turmoil with its serene beauty—the warmth of the sun, the gentle breeze, the budding leaves—each a contrast to the chaos stirring within me.
In my past life, moments like this would have passed unnoticed, swallowed by the incessant noise of my failures.
I had been too wrapped up in the fear of disappointing others, of falling short yet again.
The weight of those failures had pressed down like chains, dragging me deeper into despair.
But today, as I walked toward the special building, something felt different.
There was a shift inside me, subtle but unmistakable.
The memories of my past, which had once felt so inescapable, now seemed like distant echoes—faint, almost irrelevant.
It was as if the person I had been, was slowly being erased, overwritten by this new life.
I wasn't just surviving in this world; I was changing, evolving.
Psychologically, I had always clung to the familiar, even if it meant clinging to pain.
It was safer that way, predictable.
The mind seeks patterns, even in suffering, and I had been a slave to mine for as long as I could remember.
But now, walking under the soft light of spring, I felt something I hadn't allowed myself to feel in years—liberation.
I wasn't bound by the same mental chains anymore, and that terrified me as much as it thrilled me.
This was no longer just about survival.
This was about rewriting the script that had defined me for far too long.
Today, I would confront the ghosts of my past, not as a man afraid of failing, but as someone ready to embrace whatever came next.
Because failure was no longer something to fear—it was simply part of the journey forward.
And this is my journey, not as Yuichi Amamiya, but as Yamauchi Haruki.
***
As I reached the special building, Sakayanagi was already standing in front of the entrance.
It seemed like class B and D were having their match in the next room, with the two commanders along with Chabashira and Mashima.
Sakayanagi waved her hand towards me in a gentle manner.
"Good morning, Yamauchi-kun."
"Yeah, morning, Sakayanagi."
"You took quite a while. The other pair has almost started."
"I am sorry for being late. Should we go now?"
"Yes, let's go."
As we both entered, two empty seats with computers and equipment were waiting for us, along with Hoshinomiya and Sakagami.
The homeroom teachers were just swapped for invigilating.
Displayed on my computer screen were pictures of the faces of everyone in Class C. Thirty-eight people, excluding me.
These were the people I would be assigning as participants to the events that were selected.
Next, the ten events that we had prepared were displayed.
"I am Sakagami, and I will be in charge of proctoring this special exam for you. So, without further delay, let us begin the final special exam for the first-year students. We ask that the representatives from each class press select five events and then press the confirm button."
I selected the events and so did Sakayanagi.
The five events that class A chose were Chess, English Test, Contemporary Literature, Mathematics Test, and Flash Mental Arithmetic.
Then, the five events I chose for class C were, Archery, Basketball, Typing skills, Karate and Tennis.
"Now, we'll be holding a completely randomized drawing to determine the seven events you'll be competing in," said Sakagami.
Hoshinomiya and Sakayanagi both were awfully silent the whole time, though.
"The results of the drawing will be displayed on the large monitor in the center. Please take a look," said Sakagami, urging us to look at the screen, which was now displaying something new.
A 3D image flashed on the screen, followed by the titles of the selected events displayed. The first event that came up on the screen was…
.....................................................................
Basketball
Required Participants: 5 Persons
Allotted Time: 20 Minutes (Two 10-Minute Halves)
Rules: Standard basketball rules apply.
Commander: The commander can switch out one player at any point in the game.
.....................................................................
And thus, the final special exam of first year students officially starts.