Several days had passed since the rules and outline of the Paper Shuffle exam had been announced.
In Class A's classroom, a detailed strategy eting centered around their leader, Honami Ichinose, was underway in preparation for the preliminary "mini-test."
"Everyone, listen up! I think there's a very high chance the school will use the mini-test results to pair top-performing students with lower-performing ones in order to balance things out. So, to avoid ending up with unpredictable pairings because of diocre scores, I want the whole class to intentionally control our scores!"
Standing at the podium, Ichinose wrote several score categories in large letters across the blackboard.
"So, based on everyone's current academic ability, I'm going to assign each person an individual 'target score'! The six score groups will be: 100, 80, 60, 30, 10, and 0 points!"
Looking around at each classmate one by one, Ichinose began giving precise instructions.
"For example, students who are really good at studying, like Aizen-kun, Hiyori-chan, and Kanzaki-kun, will be in the '100-point group'! On the other hand, students who struggle a bit academically—I'll specifically assign so of you to intentionally aim for '0 points'!"
"Seriously, Ichinose!? If we're allowed to get zero, that's easy as hell!"
"Yep! But in exchange, I promise my study sessions will make absolutely sure nobody fails the real exam! And for the middle-tier students too, I'll carefully balance who belongs in the 80-point group versus the 10-point group, and who goes into the 60-point versus 30-point groups. Using the practice problem sets I handed out, we'll individually train everyone on which questions to solve and which ones to intentionally skip in order to hit your assigned score!"
(...As expected of Ichinose.)
Watching from my seat, I couldn't help admiring her.
(There's no way soone could give this level of precise individual score adjustnts without perfectly understanding every classmate's current academic ability, strengths, and weaknesses. And not a single person is complaining—everyone completely trusts Ichinose's instructions. She really is the ideal leader who can unite all of Class A's hearts as one.)
---
A few days later, the fateful mini-test was held, and the day after that, the results were returned.
Naturally, I scored a perfect 100 alongside the top students like Hiyori, Ichinose, and Kanzaki. With Aizen Specs, middle-school-level questions were so easy I could solve them with my eyes closed.
Thanks to Ichinose's accurate planning and the class's unity, the score distribution turned out exactly as intended, and one after another, students successfully ended up paired with the partners they had aid for.
And then ca the final issue.
In Class A, which had an odd number of 41 students, one person would be randomly selected to participate alone.
"Let's seeee... the solo participant for Class A is... Aizen-kun. Since the failing threshold is half that of a pair, you'll need at least 30 points per subject, and the total border score will be around 350. Well, for you, that should be easy. Good luck~"
Their horoom teacher Chie Hoshinomiya casually announced it while glancing at the sheet in her hand.
(Oh, it's ! Well, with Aizen Specs, I'm guaranteed to score perfect marks in the real exam anyway, so there's no danger of expulsion. Honestly, I'm just relieved a low-performing student wasn't randomly chosen.)
I let out a quiet sigh of relief inwardly.
Then the lottery results for each class's chosen "attack target" were announced.
"Okay then, here are the matchups! After the lottery draw... it'll be 'Class A vs Class B,' and 'Class C vs Class D!'"
The mont the matchups were written on the blackboard, a sharp tension spread through the classroom.
"...As expected. Sakayanagi's class chose us as well. Since both sides nominated each other, this matchup was inevitable."
Kanzaki crossed his arms and muttered quietly, a fighting spirit burning in his eyes.
Just as Ichinose had proposed, we had deliberately targeted the strongest enemy—Class B. And because they had chosen us as well, our direct confrontation with Arisu Sakayanagi's Class B was officially decided. In an academic battle, they were unquestionably formidable opponents.
But Ichinose imdiately clapped her hands and smiled brightly, drawing everyone's attention toward her.
"Everyone! Our opponent is Sakayanagi-san's powerful Class B! But rember—we deliberately chose this challenge because we wanted to break out of our shells and grow stronger. With Class A's unity and all the bonds we've built preparing for this together, we absolutely won't lose to Class B! Let's help each other and achieve the best possible result together!"
"OOOOHHHH!!"
"We're gonna do it! Let's beat Class B!"
Ichinose's passionate words instantly lit up everyone's faces, driving away their fear of the powerful enemy and dramatically boosting the class's morale.
After school, students without club activities or errands stayed behind in the classroom, and study sessions between pairs began all at once.
As for creating the "attack questions" for the opposing class, it was decided that a special team centered around the top students—myself, Ichinose, Kanzaki, Hiyori, Tsube, Hamaguchi, and Ninomiya—would handle it.
"We want to target the enemy's weak areas as much as possible, but if we get too clever and make the questions overly difficult, the teachers may reject them during inspection. We have to strike the perfect balance."
Kanzaki wore a serious expression while glaring at reference books.
anwhile, Hiyori looked a little worried as she glanced between Ichinose and .
"Um... Sosuke-kun and Honami-chan both have student council duties too. Are you really okay staying this late every day to work on these questions...? It would be terrible if you pushed yourselves too hard and collapsed."
(Ugh... Hiyori is too much of an angel. She's worried about my health! It's true that participating fully in every study session is difficult because of student council work, but I'll join whenever I can and absolutely help everyone!)
Deeply touched by her kindness, I tried to confidently reassure her.
But naturally, the Stylish Poem System was in top form today as well.
"—Do not worry. There is no need for to oversee the board at every mont. But I swear that the decisive move that cuts off the enemy's last breath will unquestionably be delivered by these hands."
"'It's difficult for him to participate every day, but he'll support everyone with all his strength whenever he can, so please don't worry,' is what he ans."
Hiyori translated with a relieved smile.
"Yep! Once Aizen-kun and I finish our student council work, we'll co straight here too! Let's all do our best together!"
Ichinose agreed with a bright smile, further strengthening the unity of the question-creation team.
---
Several more days passed.
That afternoon, Ichinose and I were once again handling work in the student council room after school.
As always, the new student council president, Miyabi Nagumo, sat at his desk with a nasty grin plastered across his face while openly observing . His handpicked secretaries, Tonokawa and Mizowaki, could barely do any actual work and spent most of their ti simply staring blankly at docunts.
"What's wrong, Aizen? Your hands stopped moving. Is this amount of paperwork too much labor for the great vice president?"
Nagumo mocked with a sneer.
(There he goes again with his annoying little provocations... But after the sports festival, I reflected so hard on how my taunting pushed Nagumo into scheming behind the scenes. This ti, I'll act like an adult, brush it off smoothly, and leave peacefully!)
Sighing dramatically in my head, I neatly aligned the stack of docunts with a loud bam and stood up.
"—To think that an ant crawling upon the earth would attempt to asure the orbit of the stars passing far above its head... Futile struggling only serves to highlight one's own insignificance, Nagumo."
(WAAAAAHHHH!! That's not peaceful at all! I just poured gasoline directly onto the fire! What happened to reflecting on the sports festival!? Why does my mouth instinctively provoke Nagumo every ti I breathe!? He's definitely going to start pulling sneaky harassnt tactics again later!!)
"...You bastard...!"
Veins bulged on Nagumo's forehead at my cold poetic provocation.
"—Ichinose, we're leaving. I refuse to breathe this stagnant air any longer. I've already finished processing my share of the paperwork."
"Eh? Ah, okay! Good work today, Nagumo-senpai!"
With overwhelming processing speed, I completed all my tasks before Nagumo could even complain and quickly left the student council room together with Ichinose.
We then returned to the classroom and imrsed ourselves in the remaining study session and question creation with our classmates.
"Phew... I think that's enough studying for today. Everyone, good work!"
By the ti the sun had fully set, Ichinose ended the day's study session.
Carrying my bag, I headed toward Keyaki Mall to buy more groceries.
"Ah, Sousuke-kun. I also have sothing to do at Keyaki Mall. Would it be alright if I ca with you?"
"Yeah, of course."
Together with Hiyori, who jogged over to , we headed toward the nightti Keyaki Mall.
After finishing our shopping at the supermarket, we walked side by side on our way back to the dorms.
As we passed along a deserted tree-lined path, soone suddenly called out to us from behind.
"Well now, Vice President from the first year. Going on a date this late at night with such a cute young lady? You certainly seem relaxed."
Turning around, we saw a beautiful upperclassman girl standing there, her long silver hair swaying gently in the night breeze.
It was Fuka Kiryuin from Class 2-B.
"Good evening, Kiryuin-senpai."
Hiyori politely greeted her.
(Ah, this woman... she must be the 'free spirit who's the only second-year not under Nagumo's control' that Kiriyama keeps complaining about in the student council. Sohow, she gives off the sa vibe as that weirdo from Class D... Kouenji. Totally the type who lives by her own rules.)
"So then? A man like you—why are you serving beneath soone as dull as Nagumo? I truly don't understand it."
Kiryuin narrowed her eyes with amusent as she questioned .
(I'm not serving under him! I'm only doing this because Manabu-senpai asked to! There's no way I'd willingly work under soone as petty and annoying as Nagumo!)
Wanting to firmly deny her misunderstanding, I answered—
Naturally, in the most stylish way possible.
"—Fuh. Are you hallucinating? To imagine that I would ever kneel before any throne? I rely mingle among monkeys because it is easier to destroy the cage from within."
"'—"
Just as Hiyori was about to begin translating—
"Ahahahahaha!!"
Kiryuin burst into loud, hearty laughter that echoed through the nightti path.
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Calling Nagumo a monkey—what a masterpiece!"
After clutching her stomach and laughing for a while, she suddenly returned to a calm expression and gazed directly into my eyes with a seductive smile.
"So then, Sousuke Aizen... if you're willing, would you like to join for dinner after this? I'd love to hear more amusing things from you."
Tug.
At that exact mont, Hiyori tightly grabbed the sleeve of my uniform.
Looking down, I saw her staring up at with slightly anxious, almost wary eyes.
(WOOOOAHHH!! Hiyori's grabbing my sleeve to stop !! That's unbelievably adorable!! Also, this gorgeous upperclassman suddenly invited to dinner, but I already planned to eat with Hiyori! Don't interrupt this precious ti with my best friend!!)
To reassure Hiyori, I firmly rejected Kiryuin's invitation.
"—The course of the stars has already been decided. I have no ti to halt my journey for the whims of a wandering teor without direction."
"Fufufu, how unfortunate. I've been thoroughly rejected."
Despite my cold refusal, Kiryuin didn't look bothered in the slightest. If anything, her smile only deepened.
"But now I'm even more interested in a fascinating man like you... Ah, that's right. Perhaps I should join the student council as well."
(EH!? NO THANK YOU!! She definitely won't do any work! She'll just wander around causing chaos!!)
I instinctively rejected the idea with all my might.
But then—
(…Wait. If this woman joins the student council, Nagumo and his followers might get thrown off balance by her overwhelming personality and calm down a bit. Fighting poison with poison, right? As long as my workload doesn't increase, maybe it's fine.)
Changing my train of thought, I gave her permission with a demon king's smile.
"—Very well. I shall prepare a seat for you at this banquet of madness. Co to the student council room tomorrow."
"Haha, understood. Then I'll look forward to tomorrow. Good night, Vice President... and to the lovely young lady as well."
Waving cheerfully, Kiryuin disappeared into the darkness of the night.
After she was gone, Hiyori slowly released my sleeve and looked up at with slightly puffed cheeks.
"...Sousuke-kun. Are mysterious and mature won like Kiryuin-senpai your type?"
(Hmm!? Hiyori's in a bad mood!? Could it be because Kiryuin invited to dinner? Is she jealous!? No no, there's no way my best friend would feel that way about ... If I misunderstand this, it'll be incredibly embarrassing! Besides, while Kiryuin-senpai is definitely beautiful and model-like, she's totally different from my type! I much prefer spending ti with gentle, comforting friends like Hiyori!)
Still completely oblivious to the true nature of my feelings toward her, I poured all my sincerity into comforting Hiyori.
"—No matter how extravagant and thorn-covered a magnificent rose may be, it could never stir my heart. The only thing that brings peace is the single white lily quietly blooming beside ."
"...!"
The mont she heard those words, Hiyori's cheeks turned faintly pink.
"Fufu... I'm relieved."
(Thank goodness!! She smiled again after cheering up!! I'll keep treasuring her as my greatest best friend forever!)
Internally striking a victorious pose, I continued walking back to the dorms together with Hiyori.
Afterward, we ate dinner together in my room and spent a peaceful evening soothing away the exhaustion of the day.
As the brutal Paper Shuffle exam and the upcoming battle against Sakayanagi's Class B approached,
The existence of the maverick Fuka Kiryuin, who was about to leap into Nagumo's student council, threatened to throw the entire board into even greater unpredictability.
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