The exam day continued, and the tension in the air was palpable as the commanders from both Class A and Class C faced off for the next round of events. The first event had ended with a victory for Class C in basketball, but that was only the beginning. As the second event was announced, all eyes were now on the English Quiz, and both classes braced themselves for another intellectual battle.
English Quiz
Participants:
Class A: Satonaka Satoru, Sugio Hiroshi, Tsukaji Shihori, Tanihara Mao, Motodoi Chikako, Fukuyama Shinobu, Rokkaku Momoe, and Nakajima Riko.
Class C: Okiya Kyōsuke, Minami Hakuo, Karuizawa Kei, Satō Maya, Shinohara Satsuki, Inokashira Kokoro, Sonoda Chiyo, and Ichihashi Ruri.
The teams from both classes stood ready, the participants sitting at their respective desks as the quiz began. The questions started off relatively simple but quickly escalated in difficulty, demanding a high level of comprehension and vocabulary.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka watched the screen from his command station, his expression calm and calculated. Though he wasn't actively involved in this round, his influence on Class C's participants over the past week had been undeniable. During their training, he had subtly guided them on how to approach these kinds of exams, from understanding the patterns in complex questions to managing their time wisely under pressure. He had been preparing them to withstand Class A's overwhelming pressure.
As the quiz progressed, Class C struggled to keep pace with the more naturally gifted Class A participants. But despite this, they remained resilient, answering each question with increasing precision.
When the scores were tallied, the results were:
Class C: 621 points
Class A: 651 points
Class A took the victory, but the scoreline was much closer than anyone had expected. Ayanokoji's subtle guidance had paid off, as Class C's participants had performed better than they themselves had anticipated.
The atmosphere shifted again as the third event was announced:
Mathematics Quiz
Participants:
Class A: Matoba Shinji, Shimazaki Ikkei, Morishige Takurō, Tsukasaki Taiga, Ishida Yūsuke, Yamamura Miki, and Nishikawa Ryōko.
Class C: Hirata Yōsuke, Yukimura Teruhiko, Ishikura Kayoko, Wang Mei-Yu, Azuma Sana, Kushida Kikyou, and Nishimura Ryūko.
This time, Ayanokoji's preparations were even more evident. Over the past week, he had spent significant time teaching Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyou specific mathematical concepts, focusing on speed and accuracy. Hirata, usually more known for his social skills, had managed to grasp the fundamentals with surprising ease, while Kushida had worked tirelessly to improve her own weaknesses in the subject.
As the quiz unfolded, the competition became fierce. Class A was known for its intellectual dominance, but Class C had made surprising strides. Hirata, Yukimura, and Kushida held their own against the opposing team, answering question after question with precision.
The final results came in:
Class C: 658 points
Class A: 655 points
Class C had narrowly secured victory in the Mathematics Quiz. The joy on the faces of Class C's participants was clear as they realized the significance of their win. Once again, Ayanokoji's guidance had played a pivotal role, tipping the scales in their favor.
The fourth event was announced:
Flash Mental Arithmetic
Participants:
Class A: Katsuragi Kōhei and Tamiya Emi.
Class C: Kōenji Rokusuke and Matsushita Chiaki.
Kōenji Rokusuke, who had a reputation for being an eccentric and often unpredictable student, stepped up with his usual air of superiority. Matsushita Chiaki, on the other hand, was calm and focused. While many had doubts about Kōenji's willingness to perform, Ayanokoji had devised a special strategy during the week. He had Kushida subtly threaten Kōenji, ensuring that if he failed to contribute to Class C's victory, the entire class would work to have him expelled. Of course, Kōenji didn't take threats seriously, but he did recognize that it was easier to win the event than to deal with the hassle of potential conflicts.
The Flash Mental Arithmetic event began, with questions flashing on the screen for mere seconds before disappearing. The participants had to calculate the answers in a matter of moments, relying on their mental agility. Kōenji, despite his often carefree attitude, excelled at this, answering every question with ease and even seeming slightly bored at times.
When the event concluded, Class C had secured another victory, primarily due to Kōenji's flawless performance. Matsushita had also performed well, but it was Kōenji who had truly carried the team.
Class C had now won three out of the four events, placing them in a strong position. One more victory, and they would win the entire exam.
Archery
Participants:
Class A: [Names Unknown]
Class C: Akito Miyake and [Unknown]
This was a crucial moment for both classes. If Class C won this event, the exam would be over, and they would be declared the victors. The Archery event was announced, and the participants took their positions.
Akito Miyake, known for his calm demeanor and precision, represented Class C in the archery event. His skill with a bow was unparalleled, and though there was tension in the air, he remained focused.
As the event unfolded, it became clear that Akito's training had paid off. Each arrow he released flew true, hitting its mark with deadly accuracy. His opponent from Class A struggled to keep up, missing several shots and losing confidence as the match progressed.
By the end of the event, Class C had emerged victorious once again, securing the win with Akito's exceptional performance.
The sixth event, a Typing Speed Test, was a relatively simple affair. Class A had selected Yoshida Kenta, while Class C's representative was Sotomura Hideo.
Sotomura, being a computer enthusiast, won the event easily, scoring 90 points to Yoshida's 83.
With this victory, Class C had officially won five out of the seven events, securing their overall victory in the Event Selection Exam.
The final event, International Chess, was a mere formality.
Class A's Hashimoto Masayoshi faced off against Class C's Kushida Kikyō. Though Kushida was competent, Ayanokoji saw no need to intervene.
Sakayanagi, on the other hand, personally guided Hashimoto, ensuring Class A won the event.
Still, it was too late for them to make a comeback. Class A had lost the exam, winning only two out of the seven events.
The gymnasium hall erupted into cheers as the news spread. Class C, the underdogs who had been seen as no match for Class A, had triumphed against their superior opponents.
The students of Class C were ecstatic, dancing and celebrating their victory with pure joy. For the first time, they felt like they had truly earned their place among the top students of the school.
Ayanokoji observed the celebration quietly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His work was done. He had led Class C to victory, just as he had promised.
The sly glance he sent toward Chabashira Sae didn't go unnoticed. The homeroom teacher was practically vibrating with excitement, her usual composed demeanor barely holding back the urge to celebrate openly. She looked over at Ayanokoji and gave him a subtle nod, her eyes shining with a mixture of relief and gratitude.
Sakayanagi Arisu, on the other hand, had an expression that was far from her usual sly smile. Instead, she looked shocked, almost disbelieving at what had just occurred.
She had clearly expected Class A to dominate the competition, especially in the intellectual events like the Mathematics and Flash Mental Arithmetic.
But her miscalculation had cost her dearly.
The confidence she had exuded throughout the week had crumbled, and for the first time in a long while, she found herself on the losing end of an important battle.
Meanwhile, Ayanokoji's thoughts briefly drifted back to how he had ensured victory. Over the past week, he had given his classmates the motivation they needed to push themselves beyond their limits. For the guys, the promise of attention from Class C's beauties—Kushida, Airi, and others—had served as an effective incentive. For the girls, it was Hirata's charm and support that had spurred them to excel. Though unconventional, it had worked.
"Well," Ayanokoji mused internally, "it's a good thing it ended well."
Not only had he secured victory for Class C, but he had also won his personal battle against Sakayanagi. And, of course, there was the matter of Chabashira Sae, who now belonged to him—his very own sex slave, just as promised.
The plan had worked perfectly, and Ayanokoji was already thinking about what lay ahead.
On the scoreboard, the results were clear. The class points had shifted dramatically:
Class A: 837 points
Class B: 681 points
Class C: 642 points
Class D: 448 points
Class C had made a huge leap forward, closing the gap with Class A. The landscape of the school had changed drastically, and Class C was now a force to be reckoned with.
As the celebrations continued, Ayanokoji leaned back in his chair, satisfied. He had won the exam, outmaneuvered Sakayanagi, and secured a personal victory with Chabashira Sae. The school year wasn't over yet, but for now, he could enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Meanwhile, across the room, Ichinose Honami was grappling with her own class's defeat. Though Class B had fought hard, they had lost to Ryuen's Class D by a narrow margin of one event.
The class points for each class now stood:
Class A: 837 points
Class B: 681 points
Class C: 642 points
Class D: 448 points
With the end of this special exam, the competition between the classes had tightened considerably.