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English Test
Required Participants: 8 Persons
Allotted Time: 50 Minutes
Rules: Students will answer a set of questions within the scope of what they would find in the first-year curriculum. The winner will be decided based on total points.
Commander: The commander can answer one single question on behalf of a participant.
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Just after the crushing defeat for class C in their own area of expertise, namely basketball, they were thrown into another predicament of an academic-oriented test.
It's not like there was no academically talented students in class C.
Apart from Horikita and Yukimura, there was Hirata and Mei Yuu-Wang, particularly excelling in English subject.
However, class A had already taken that into account and set the required number of participants to 8.
Most of the students of class A excel in nearly every subject, but that number is a select few for class C.
Moreover, if they used most of their talented students like Horikita and Hirata right off the second event, then if another academic test pops up, class C would be doomed.
So, it was quite logical to assign some mediocre students from class C for this test, to save the talented ones for later events.
However, there are disadvantages to this choice too.
That is, if class A does the same and appoints their mediocre students for it, then they would be killing two birds with a single stone.
In that way, class A would win this event very easily, and save their best students for later events too, which would be detrimental to class A.
Nonetheless, class C would have to lose this test in order to focus on the next ones.
And, losing 2 events in a row would put a lot of pressure for students participating in the next events too.
But, they simply had no choice.
Sakayanagi's devious smile, and Yamauchi's perspiring face along with Hoshnomiya's dejected sighs, said the gist of the situation their battle was in.
However, the most alarming thing was that, class C's morale is at an all time low.
"Please assign the students quickly before time runs out."
Sakagami's stern reminder was like a tight slap for Yamauchi who was struggling to think, who to appoint.
After a few seconds, the appointed students were shown on the screen.
Class C's eight students were: Okiya Kyousuke, Minami Hakuo, Karuizawa Kei, Satou Maya, Shinohara Satsuki, Inogashira Kokoro, Sonoda Chiyo, and Hasebe Haruka.
Class A's eight students were: Satonaka Satoru, Sugio Hiroshi, Tsukaji Shihori, Tanihara Mao, Motodoi Chikako, Fukuyama Shinobu, Rokkaku Momoe, and Nakajima Riko.
It was clear from this draft that class C had given up on the English test.
Meanwhile, class A's draft was not exactly the best they had got, but even if the students were quite mediocre, it was a pretty solid lineup, meant for winning this test.
"It seems like you have given up on this test, Yamauchi-kun. Just as expected.", Sakayanagi continued her poking.
Yamauchi clenched his fists, feeling the weight of Sakayanagi's words pressing down on him.
Her mocking tone, the sharp contrast between her confidence and his growing sense of failure, only deepened the sense of despair that had been creeping over him since the basketball loss.
Before Yamauchi could respond, the test had begun. The students in both classes opened their exam papers, and a hush fell over the room as the ticking of the clock became the only sound that filled the space.
Hence, he kept silent, trying to maintain his composure.
On Class C's side, it was clear from the start that the participants were outmatched.
Okiya Kyousuke, Minami Hakuo, and the others struggled through the questions, their pens hesitating on every answer.
It wasn't that they lacked the will to try, but this wasn't their strength. They were average students, doing their best in a battle already lost before it began.
Class A, meanwhile, moved with a calm precision.
Satonaka Satoru, Sugio Hiroshi, and the rest of their team were not the top students in their class, but they were competent enough to handle the material with ease.
Sakayanagi had chosen them specifically for this—students strong enough to secure the win without wasting her elite players.
As the exam wore on, Yamauchi could feel the growing sense of dread in his chest.
Every tick of the clock felt like another nail in Class C's coffin.
The weight of a loss right off the bat was already suffocating, and they hadn't even reached the end of the test yet.
The commanders were able to switch between viewing the students' answer sheets in real-time during the test.
Both Yamauchi and Sakayanagi put their ability to intervene to use and helped with a problem that many students were struggling with.
But the impact of Yamauchi's doing so was minimal at best.
It would only influence the scores by a matter of a few points.
Yet, this shocked the teachers in presence.
Sakayanagi was taken aback as well.
Yamauchi is not thought of much in terms with his academic or athletic skills.
So, when he answered a difficult question, everyone was surprised.
"It seems like I had underestimated you, Yamauchi-kun. I admire your courage to even answer a question."
This was a sarcastic remark, because she thought that Yamauchi just answered the question.
Whether it was right or wrong, only God and the student he told the answer would know.
Finally, the proctors called time. The exam papers were collected, and everyone sat in a tense silence, waiting for the results.
The room felt heavy with anticipation.
Everyone's tests were graded immediately, and shortly afterward, they were given the final results.
The outcome of the test was based on the total score of all eight participants.
Both Class C and Class A waited in anticipation, knowing the significance of this test for their ongoing battle. The scoreboard flashed, and the final results were revealed.
"Class C, a total of four hundred and thirty points. Class A, a total of six hundred and fifty-one points. Therefore, Class A is the winner."
An overwhelming victory for class A.
With this the score was 2-0, with class A's lead.
There was 5 more events to go.
The winning condition for class C was to win 4 of them.
And if, class A wins another 2 events, then it would be game over for Yamauchi Haruki's high school life.
Moreover, if class C loses, then according to the demoralized situation it is in, dream of reaching class A would be over for them.
"That's unfortunate, isn't it? 2 losses in a row is a pretty dicey situation to be in. But I am sure with the next event, you would be able to redeem yourselves. Best of luck, Yamauchi-kun."
Yamauchi still remained silent with his heads down.
The students of class C were despairing, while Horikita has lost all hope.
However, time waits for none.
Neither the winner nor the loser.
Hence, the next event to be competed in was shown on the screen.
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Chess
Required Participants: 1 Person
Allotted Time: 1 Hour (Going over time results in a loss)
Rules: Standard chess rules apply. However, the allotted time will not increase, even after the forty-first move.
Commander: The commander can give instructions to their respective player for up to a maximum of thirty minutes at any time. Time spent by the commander in this way will use up the allotted time.
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Author's Notes :
I am not very good at chess, so I have no idea if I should copy the original novel for the moves, or something else.
If you have any idea, put it in the comments below.
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