Following the orientation ceremony that was held the following morning to welcome the first-year students, the first class of 2-C was held the following morning. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat in the seat that he had always occupied, his composed exterior concealing the thoughts that were churning under the surface. In the moment that the bell sounded, Chabashira Sae entered the classroom, and everyone's focus was immediately drawn to the serious expression on her face.
"Good morning, everyone," she welcomed in the manner that was distinctive of her, her eyes searching the room to make sure that each and every kid was paying attention. "I have a number of significant announcements to make today, and I will require each of you to pay close attention to what I have to say because the information will have an effect on your future as students in their second year."
Ayanokoji noticed that his classmates were standing up straight, and he noticed that there was a murmur of interest that went around the room. Everyone was paying attention, although some were thrilled while others appeared apprehensive.
"To begin, the school has recently implemented a new tool that each and every one of you will be utilizing from this point forward, and that tool is the OAA application." When Chabashira touched on her tablet, the digital screen that was located at the front of the classroom began to light up. It was prominently stated that the OAA app was available, along with a list of requirements.
"The OAA, or Overall Ability Assessment, will be the major method by which our institution evaluates each of you going forward. The purpose of this is to provide you with a complete score that illustrates your specific capabilities across a number of different categories. The categories are as follows."
The categories displayed in bold lettering as she made a gesture toward the screen.
"To begin, your academic ability will be evaluated based on the scores you received on written examinations during the course of the academic year. It is not difficult at all."
While a couple of the students nodded their heads in agreement, Ayanokoji remained silent and kept his attention locked on Chabashira as she moved forward.
"Physical Ability: This is based on your performance in physical education classes, club activities, special exams, and any other physical endeavors."
'Physical ability… So the school is now putting more weight on aspects other than academics. Quite fascinating.' Although Ayanokoji was thinking to himself, he was contemplating what this meant for the challenges that were to come.
""Adaptability is a measurement of your ability to adjust to the environment that you are presented with. It takes into consideration things like whether or not you are able to think quickly on your feet, how well you communicate, the number of people in your social circle, and whether or not you conduct in a manner that is commensurate with your position within that circle."
A faint frown appeared on Karuizawa Kei's face as she sat in the rear of the room watching this. It was clear to Ayanokoji that she was feeling anxious because adaptability was not one of her strong suits, at least not until she started depending on him instead. He made a mental note to assist her in navigating this specific statistic while he was thinking about it.
"And then there's Social Contribution: This category will take into consideration a variety of aspects, including your demeanor, your attendance, your attitude during classes, and any contributions you make to the school, such as being a member of the student council."
Before going on to the next topic, Chabashira halted for a time to give the students a chance to process the material.
"Lastly, Overall Ability: This is your comprehensive ability, which is determined from the ratings you received in the four areas that we have just gone over now. However, in comparison to the other three categories, Social Contribution will have just half the influence on your final score.
While the students were muttering to one another, Ayanokoji maintained a neutral expression on his face. 'The school's focus on well-rounded individuals is becoming clearer. Students will be able to achieve success not only in their academic pursuits but also in all other parts of their lives. This is likely to force students out of their comfort zones, which will force them to improve in areas where they are the least proficient. Furthermore, it opens up additional options for manipulation.'
Before going on to the next issue, Chabashira waited for the commotion to subside before moving on by herself.
"At this point, let's talk about the new special exam."
As everyone's attention was immediately drawn back to Chabashira, the mumbling came to an end completely, and quiet descended upon the room simultaneously.
"This special exam will have you, second-years, partner with first-year students for a written test," she explained. "The exam will test not only your academic abilities but also your communication and cooperation with students from a different year. This exam is designed to foster a cooperative relationship between different grades."
The screen behind her displayed the basic format of the exam.
"You have two weeks to choose your partner from the first-year students. On the day of the exam, you'll be tested on five subjects, with each subject worth 100 points, for a total of 500 points. If a pair's combined score fails to reach 500 points, the second-year student will be expelled, and the first-year student will lose their private points for the next three months, regardless of how many class points their class earns."
Several students gasped, and Ayanokoji noted the look of fear that crossed some of their faces. Expulsion was always a terrifying prospect.
Chabashira's eyes swept across the room, her expression unchanged. "Additionally, if anyone is found deliberately marking answers incorrectly or manipulating scores, they will be expelled, regardless of their school year. Similarly, if any third party is caught coercing someone to lower their scores, that third party will also face expulsion."
'This rule makes it difficult to sabotage others directly, but indirect manipulation is still possible,' Ayanokoji mused. 'The key here is subtlety and precision. If I can identify the White Room student, I could use this exam to test their limits, force them to reveal themselves.'
"Now, let me explain the rewards and penalties in more detail," Chabashira continued. "First, there are two types of evaluations: one based on your individual performance and one based on your class performance."
She pointed to the screen, which now displayed a breakdown of the rewards.
"Class Rewards: The inter-class competition will be based on the average score of each class in your school year. Each class will receive either 50, 30, 10, or 0 class points, depending on how their overall average compares to the other classes."
Kushida Kikyou, sitting a few seats ahead of Ayanokoji, smiled brightly. "So, if we work together as a class, we can earn more points than the others!"
Chabashira nodded, though her expression remained indifferent. "Exactly. However, you'll also be judged as individuals. The top five pairs will each receive a special reward of 100,000 private points, while the top 30% of pairings will receive 10,000 private points each."
Ayanokoji could sense the greed and ambition flare up in some of his classmates. Private points were crucial, and for many, this was a major incentive.
'This is where I can leverage my influence,' Ayanokoji thought. 'By using Kushida, Ichinose, Karuizawa, Sakura Airi, and even Chabashira herself, I can manipulate pairings, control information flow, and ensure I get what I want without directly drawing attention.'
Chabashira continued, outlining the rules for choosing partners. "Once per day, you can send a partnership request to a first-year student through the OAA app. If the student accepts, the partnership will be finalized, and you won't be allowed to cancel it afterward. The only exceptions are unavoidable circumstances such as expulsion or serious illness."
Ayanokoji's eyes narrowed slightly. 'A straightforward rule, but one that can be exploited if you understand the psychological pressure at play. Many of the first-year students will be anxious about making the right choice, and that anxiety can be used to sway their decisions.'
"Lastly, if a second-year student fails to form a pair, a partner will be randomly assigned to them on the day of the exam, with a 5% penalty applied to their score," Chabashira stated. "The three leftover first-year students will have their exam scores doubled to compensate for their missing partner, but they will also receive a 5% penalty."
With her explanation complete, Chabashira glanced around the room, her gaze resting on each student for a moment before moving on. "The stakes for this exam are high, and it's clear that the school expects you to put forth your best effort. You have two weeks to decide on your partner, so use your time wisely."
She then turned her gaze directly to Ayanokoji, her eyes narrowing slightly as if to issue a silent challenge. "That's all for now. If you have any questions, feel free to ask after class."
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. The students began to talk among themselves, their voices filled with excitement and trepidation. Ayanokoji, however, remained seated, his mind already racing through possible scenarios.
'The White Room student will need to form a partnership just like everyone else. This means they'll have to interact, make choices, and show their hand, even if only slightly. I can use my connections—Kushida's manipulative charm, Ichinose's influence over Class B, Karuizawa's position as my pawn, Sakura Airi's loyalty, and even Chabashira's authority—to apply pressure where needed.'
As the students filed out of the classroom, Ayanokoji stayed back, his gaze meeting Chabashira's briefly before she nodded and left. He would need to be careful, calculating each step to ensure that he remained in control of the situation.
'The stakes have been raised, and the game has entered a new phase. But as long as I have my pieces in place, I will always be several moves ahead.'
With that thought, Ayanokoji stood up and exited the classroom, his expression as unreadable as ever. The clock was ticking, and he had no intention of wasting a single moment.
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A/N: Check out my new original novel Harem Master: Seduction System. If you like harem stories with a Harem God System, you will love it. Check it out.