The special exam known as "Paper Shuffle"—a total of eight subjects spread across two days—had finally begun.
The first morning. First period.
In the silent classroom, only horoom teacher Chie Hoshinomiya's voice and the dry rustling sound of test papers being distributed echoed through the room.
"Alright then, begin the exam! Everyone, do your best so you don't get expelled~!"
At Hoshinomiya's signal, the students all flipped over their test sheets at once, and the classroom filled with the frantic scratching of pens.
The paper placed before had been created by Class B, the intellectual elite led by Arisu Sakayanagi, our opponents for this exam.
(Well then… let's see what Sakayanagi can do.)
I picked up my chanical pencil and calmly scanned the entire test.
(…I see.)
I couldn't help but admire it internally.
(As expected of Sakayanagi. She didn't just make the questions difficult. The first half is packed with dummy problems designed to waste huge amounts of ti and make people panic. Then the word problems in the middle are layered with traps that only students with perfect understanding of the fundantals can avoid. It's a parade of maliciously crafted questions. She clearly designed this while calculating how the middle and lower-tier students in our class would lose track of ti and panic. …This is going to be a rough battle.)
While honestly acknowledging the enemy commander's brilliance, I looked back down at the paper.
(…Though none of it works on .)
I lowered my pencil to the page and began filling in the answers without the slightest hesitation.
With the brainpower granted by the so-called Aizen Specs, a re high school exam was child's play no matter how many traps were hidden inside. The mont I read a question, the answer appeared in my head instantly. All that remained was the simple chanical task of writing it down.
While the students around sweated nervously and wrestled with the problems, only my pencil continued moving through the classroom at an absurd speed.
(Alright. First subject complete. Even including reviewing my answers, that only took ten minutes.)
I set my pencil down and waited for the bell while staring out at the winter sky with boredom.
That brutal cycle repeated itself over the course of two days, and at last, all eight exams were over.
"Ughhh, it's finally over…! My brain feels like it's smoking…"
"I totally gave up and randomly filled in the last part of the math exam…"
The mont the final bell rang, exhausted sighs mixed with relief spread throughout the classroom.
Ichinose stood at the front of the room and addressed everyone warmly.
"Everyone, thank you for all your hard work over these two days! Make sure to get so good rest today!"
After school.
As I packed my bag, I reviewed my schedule for the day in my head.
(Since today was the final day of the exams, student council work is canceled. Not having to see Nagumo's face is honestly refreshing. Since we got out early, maybe I should just head back to the dorms and play gas… no.)
My gaze naturally drifted toward the silver-haired girl carefully putting her textbooks into her bag beside .
(It's been a while since we've had free ti. I want to spend so peaceful ti with Hiyori.)
I slung my bag over my shoulder and called out to her.
"Ah, Sousuke-kun. Good work on the exams."
Hiyori looked up at with a smile as lovely as a blooming flower.
"Mm. You worked hard too, Hiyori."
(Alright, let's invite her to the library for the first ti in a while. Reading quietly together is the perfect cure for exam fatigue!)
Suppressing my excitent, I wrapped myself in the aura of a perfect demon king and spoke.
"—The battlefield overflowing with chaos has finally been cleared away. To rest one's wings, would not a silent forest of wisdom be most fitting? …Co with ."
(Translation: Let's go to the library together for the first ti in a while!)
"—!"
Hiyori blinked in surprise for a mont before her cheeks turned pink with happiness, and she hugged her bag to her chest.
"Yes! I'd be delighted to accompany you!"
(Yessss! She understood perfectly like always! And her smile is way too cute!!)
The two of us left the classroom together and headed for the library.
The heated library was filled with the calming scent of old books, and perhaps because the exams had just ended, there were only a few students around.
We sat together at the farthest seat by the window and opened our favorite books.
The winter sunset streaming through the windows dyed Hiyori's silver hair gold. The soft sound of her turning pages and her steady breathing beca the perfect background music in my ears.
(Ah… bliss. My exam fatigue disappeared instantly. Spending ti like this with Hiyori really is the best dicine for .)
While pretending to focus on my book, I occasionally stole glances at Hiyori's profile as she read intently beside , quietly savoring the peaceful afternoon.
---
The next day.
Horoom.
A heavy atmosphere hung over Class A.
"Um… everyone. The results of the Paper Shuffle are in, so I'll announce them now."
Standing at the podium, Hoshinomiya raised a sheet of paper with an unusually subdued tone.
"You all worked really hard, but… the winners this ti were Class B."
"…Eh?"
I heard Ichinose gasp.
Hoshinomiya wrote the results and averages on the board.
---
Class A vs Class B
Class A Average: 78.4
Class B Average: 78.9
---
"…You've gotta be kidding…"
"Only a 0.5 point difference!?"
The classmates stared blankly at the cruel numbers.
Our class and Sakayanagi's class had fought an almost perfectly even battle of academics. But by a re 0.5 points—just a handful of questions across the entire class—we had lost.
"As a result, the victorious Class B will take 100 class points from us. And in the other matchup, Class D defeated Class C, so there'll be another 100-point transfer there too. The updated class points are as follows."
She wrote the new standings on the board.
---
Class A (Ichinose): 1007 CP (previously 1107)
Class B (Sakayanagi): 974 CP (previously 874)
Class C (Ryuen): 558 CP (previously 658)
Class D (Horikita): 100 CP (previously 0)
---
"…!"
With the numbers laid out visibly before them, the reality of defeat weighed even more heavily on the class.
Though we barely retained first place, the gap between us and Class B had narrowed to just 33 points. If we lost the next exam, the rankings would imdiately flip.
But what filled the classroom wasn't simple despair.
"…Damn it. If only I'd scored a little higher in math…"
"Sorry… I relied too much on Ichinose-san and Aizen-kun and neglected my weak subjects. I should've studied more on my own…"
"Yeah. Even though our pairs covered each other, I realized our individual academic ability still loses to Class B. …At this rate, I'll just drag everyone down."
Though frustrated, the students weren't blaming others. Instead, they reflected on their own shortcomings.
(…They're not just wallowing in defeat—they're properly facing their weaknesses and reflecting on them. Every single one of them is beginning to realize they need to improve themselves too. …This defeat will beco the catalyst for everyone's growth.)
Watching from my seat, I narrowed my eyes with quiet satisfaction.
Then—
Clap!
A loud clap echoed through the classroom.
"Everyone, look up!"
Ichinose stood and addressed the class firmly.
"I know everyone's frustrated. I can feel it. But realizing your own weaknesses will absolutely beco strength next ti! …Before that, though, I don't want any of you to forget how hard you all worked!"
She looked each classmate in the eye as she continued.
"Just look! Even though the exam was way harder this ti, our class average still went up compared to before! We pushed the top academic class, Class B, into an incredibly close match! Doesn't that prove everyone studied desperately and really improved?"
"And not a single person failed, and no pair fell below the expulsion line! 'No one got expelled'… that's the greatest result we earned together through all our hard work! So reflect later! Right now, be proud of your effort and growth!"
Her positive words brought strength back to everyone's faces.
"…Yeah. Our average improved, and nobody got left behind!"
"Right! We'll definitely get revenge next sester!"
The classroom beca filled not just with energy, but with genuine fighting spirit.
(…As expected of Ichinose. Without crushing the independence everyone was beginning to develop, she perfectly controlled morale as a leader by clearly showing them their growth.)
(Yes, Sakayanagi's class slightly surpassed us in pure academic ability this ti. But if we managed to improve our average scores on such difficult exams and, most importantly, avoided any expulsions while drawing out signs of evolution from the entire class, then this defeat was actually a huge gain. Points can always be earned back later.)
---
After school.
At Café Palette inside Keyaki Mall, Ichinose, Hiyori, Kanzaki, and I gathered for a postmortem discussion on the Paper Shuffle.
"Haaah… this is soooo frustrating…!"
Though Ichinose had acted strong and encouraged everyone during horoom, now that she was with people she trusted, her shoulders sagged as she let out her honest feelings.
In front of her sat a gigantic strawberry parfait ant to neutralize stress.
"It was only a 0.5-point difference… If I'd just analyzed everyone's strengths and weaknesses a little more carefully, maybe we could've won…"
Poking at a strawberry with her fork, Ichinose drooped sadly.
"Honami-chan, please don't bla yourself. Your instructions were perfect. Even though we lost, everyone's academic ability has clearly improved. This defeat definitely wasn't aningless—it beca the valuable growth that you hoped for in Class A."
Hiyori gently rubbed Ichinose's back as she comforted her.
"She's right," Kanzaki added calmly while sipping his black coffee. "There was no flaw in our strategy. The enemy simply possessed slightly greater academic ability than we anticipated. All we can do is use this defeat as groundwork for the future."
(Still, Ichinose definitely feels responsible as the leader. I can't let her keep dwelling on this. As vice president, it's my duty to encourage her properly and help her look forward!)
I set down my iced tea and delivered my full-powered comfort poem.
"—There is no need to grieve, Ichinose. A single sunset does not diminish the value of the sun. Having known darkness, that light shall shine even brighter upon the next dawn. …Do not halt your steps."
(Translation: We lost this ti, but don't let it get you down, Ichinose. If you use this frustration as motivation, you'll beco an even better leader. Let's keep doing our best.)
"…Eh?"
Ichinose froze mid-motion with a spoonful of whipped cream in hand.
"…Sunset… the sun… so the defeat is being compared to dusk… no, wait, illuminating the ga board ans…"
Across from us, Kanzaki folded his arms and furrowed his brow, desperately trying to decode my words.
Seeing the two of them, Hiyori let out an elegant little laugh and translated perfectly as always.
"'We may have lost this ti, but there's no reason to be discouraged, Ichinose-san. If you use this painful experience as motivation, you'll definitely beco an even more wonderful leader. So let's keep moving forward together'… that's what Sousuke-kun is trying to say."
"Ah…!"
The mont Hiyori translated, light returned to Ichinose's face.
"Fufufu… ahaha! So that's what you ant, Aizen-kun! You were trying really hard to comfort ! Your words sounded so cool I had absolutely no idea what you were saying!"
"So that's what it ant… As always, Aizen's words are ridiculously hard to understand."
Ichinose burst into laughter, and Kanzaki finally relaxed.
(Good! As long as Ichinose is smiling again, it doesn't matter whether my poem was understood or not! I'll have to thank Hiyori later for translating.)
I inwardly struck a triumphant pose while outwardly sipping my iced tea with composure.
"Thank you, Aizen-kun. Hiyori-chan too, and Kanzaki-kun!"
Ichinose finished the last bite of her parfait and smacked both cheeks with renewed determination.
And then—
"Fufu. This is quite the cheerful atmosphere for a defeated class's strategy eting."
The sound of a cane tapping approached our table.
Looking up, we saw Arisu Sakayanagi, leader of Class B, standing there elegantly with Kamuro beside her like a bodyguard.
"Sakayanagi-san…"
Ichinose straightened slightly.
"A re 0.5-point difference… how unfortunate, Ichinose-san. But a loss is still a loss. The gap between Class A and Class B has finally shrunk to the point where our fingertips can almost touch."
After directing a provocative gaze toward Ichinose, Sakayanagi's eyes shifted to .
"It seems that even your flawless command couldn't completely overco the difference in pure individual ability, Aizen-kun."
(Ghh…! I know I have absolutely no right to complain since I'm always acting arrogant myself, but getting smugly provoked to my face is seriously frustrating…!)
(Still, this defeat is making the class realize they can't keep relying solely on Ichinose. Everyone understands they need to grow stronger themselves. Losing isn't always bad. In this school, it doesn't matter how many tis you lose along the way—as long as you graduate as Class A, you win.)
I concealed my frustration behind the perfect aura of a demon king and smiled calmly after taking a sip of iced tea.
"—Evolution requires fear. The fear that, if things remain as they are, one will soon perish and vanish."
"…Oh?"
"—Thank you, Sakayanagi. Thanks to you, my class shall ascend to even greater heights."
Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes and chuckled in amusent.
"I see. So even this defeat and the resulting growth of your class are all within the palm of your hand? …Fufufu, how interesting. I look forward to seeing how long that confidence lasts."
Smiling with satisfaction, Sakayanagi departed with Kamuro.
After the storm nad Sakayanagi left, Ichinose finally let out a huge sigh of relief.
"That surprised … Sakayanagi-san's pressure is still incredible. But… yeah, you and Hiyori-chan are right!"
Ichinose looked at us with even stronger determination than before.
"We lost points by challenging Class B, but… I think everyone now feels genuine frustration and understands that they need to beco stronger themselves. This defeat will help our class grow! Next ti, we absolutely won't lose!"
"Indeed. A temporary twilight is rely the prelude to a new dawn. Let us sharpen ourselves and evolve even further."
Kanzaki nodded seriously while mixing in stylish dramatic wording.
Watching our burning determination, Hiyori smiled warmly like a blooming flower.
"Yes. Let's all do our best together for the next third-sester exam!"
Outside, the winter wind blew bitterly cold.
But around our café table, there was only warmth, determination, and the bonds tying us together.
Having overco the trial of the Paper Shuffle and learned the painful hunger for growth, Class A's unity continued to sharpen itself further in preparation for the turbulent third sester that awaited them.
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