Chapter 151: Shuchiin's Strongest Representative, The Gap Between Genius and Genius
Visit and Guide (Gracing with my presence to instruct).
The absolute arrogance contained in these simple four words made everyone present feel a sink in their hearts.
Even the teachers and students from Sobu High felt Yoru's words were a bit too arrogant.
"Wait a minute..."
A relatively sharp student noticed a detail in Yoru's words just now.
"Did Yoru just say... first in the Joint Exam?"
"Could he mean... that Joint Exam of the entire Sakura Prefecture?"
"Yoru-kun... is first in the Joint Exam!?"
.....
Realizing this, the Sobu High students finally reacted.
It turned out Yoru wasn't just the first place in the last Spring Exam.
He actually entered Sobu High with the first-place score in the Sakura Prefecture Joint Exam?
No wonder.
No wonder even facing a behemoth like Private Shuchiin Academy, he could say such arrogant words.
What does first in the Joint Exam mean?
It means among all the candidates of this grade in Sakura Prefecture....
He is the strongest.
And Yukino, standing in the queue with other Super-Quant Club members, looked at Yoru's back, her eyes showing a thoughtful look.
She didn't quite understand one thing.
Why did Yoru, clearly the first in the Sakura Prefecture Joint Exam, a genius even more outstanding than her sister Haruno, choose to enroll in Sobu High instead of Private Shuchiin Academy?
According to the logic of normal people, as long as one could enter this high school hailed as the cradle of talents in Sakura Prefecture, it was equivalent to having already achieved success on the path of life.
Between Sobu High and Private Shuchiin Academy, as long as one had a normal person's thinking, they would know which one to choose.
But Yoru chose to enroll in Sobu High.
Yukino herself also enrolled in Sobu High while qualified to enter Private Shuchiin Academy.
She had an inexplicable feeling.
Perhaps there were some places where she and Yoru were actually very similar?
Just then.
The Shuchiin student representative, who had been keeping silent, with long straight black hair and a pair of ruby-like eyes, exuding a noble and inviolable aura just by standing there, finally spoke.
"Yoru-kun."
The girl walked slowly to Yoru, those ruby-like eyes staring straight into his eyes, saying word by word.
"First in the past doesn't mean you will still be first this time."
Seeing this girl taking the initiative to step in front of Yoru and fighting back with words, the Shuchiin teacher, who originally frowned and seemed to want to say something, immediately chose to remain silent.
Just as Sobu High placed all hopes of winning on Yoru alone.
Shuchiin authorities obviously understood too.
In this joint exam, the average scores achieved by the students had no meaning.
This wasn't a team battle deciding victory or defeat by average scores.
But an individual battle competing for the first place and obtaining the title of the strongest.
The strongest of Private Shuchiin Academy...
Was this noble girl with black hair and red eyes, outstanding in temperament.
The eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Group, with no flaws in appearance, speech, behavior, or abilities in all aspects, can be called a perfect genius....
Shinomiya Kaguya.
In the Spring Exam of Private Shuchiin Academy, Shinomiya Kaguya ranked first, and Shirogane Miyuki, born of commoner origin, ranked second.
This was also why these two were selected as student representatives.
As for Fujiwara Chika...
Mainly because of her family background and personality, appearing as a diplomat to harmonize the atmosphere.
The plan thought of by Private Shuchiin Academy authorities was actually very perfect.
First, let the capable and prominent Shinomiya Kaguya suppress the momentum of Sobu High.
When the time was right, let Fujiwara Chika step forward to adjust the atmosphere so it wouldn't become a deadlock.
This was also a means of psychological warfare.
From the moment they got off the bus, Shuchiin authorities had to continuously exert pressure in all aspects on Yoru, whom they regarded as a serious threat and who had taken first place in the Joint Exam.
This wasn't considered a despicable means or off-board trick.
In the eyes of Private Shuchiin Academy, from the moment the Sobu High teachers and students arrived at their school gate, the joint exam had already begun.
But the school authorities absolutely didn't expect.
On their home turf, Yoru, just a first-year high school student, could actually be this arrogant.
Shuchiin, which was supposed to be the attacker, under the opponent's words just now, actually became a challenger half a head shorter.
Looking at Shinomiya Kaguya with a flat expression and momentum not inferior to his at all, Yoru thought, As expected of the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Group.
Judging from the opponent's long straight black hairstyle, obviously still in the Ice Kaguya period, and didn't know Shirogane Miyuki aside either.
Facing Shinomiya Kaguya's counterattack, Yoru just smiled, then said softly so only the two face-to-face could hear.
"If you want to send someone to follow next time, hope you can send a more professional one."
Hearing this sentence, Shinomiya Kaguya's expression didn't change at all, just saying faintly.
"I don't understand what you are talking about. Did you mistake me for someone else?"
"Playing dumb?"
The smile on Yoru's face gradually disappeared, his tone plain.
"The tracking level of that maid named Hayasaka Ai beside you is really too poor."
Seeing him call out Hayasaka Ai's name directly, although Shinomiya Kaguya still maintained an unchanged expression without showing any flaws, she was very surprised inside.
One must know, Hayasaka Ai had undergone years of professional training; ordinary people couldn't discover her trace at all.
Otherwise, Shinomiya Kaguya wouldn't have let the opponent probe the intelligence of Yoru and the people around him.
Unexpectedly, she was discovered by the opponent?
Not only discovered, but even Hayasaka Ai's name and the relationship between Hayasaka Ai and herself were known so clearly?
Even inside Private Shuchiin Academy, few people knew the relationship between Hayasaka Ai and Shinomiya Kaguya.
Moreover, Hayasaka Ai didn't even know her tracking had been discovered.
Thinking of this, Shinomiya Kaguya's vigilance against this opponent who once defeated her in the Joint Exam increased a few more points.
"Shinomiya Kaguya, you still haven't realized one point."
"Then you might as well tell me, Yoru-kun."
Looking at Shinomiya Kaguya standing in front of him, Yoru spoke slowly.
"The gap between you and me isn't just in ranking."
"First place is success. All other rankings besides that, whether second or third, only have one general term."
"That is, Losers."
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes flickered, fighting back without weakness.
"Who is the loser this time, is still hard to say."
....
After entering Private Shuchiin Academy, the momentum of Sobu High teachers and students was obviously different from when standing at the gate.
Although still amazed at the various facilities of this high school, compared to the initial surprise and shock like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, it had turned into the confident strut of superior leaders inspecting the grass-roots level.
Noticing this scene, Shinomiya Kaguya remained calm on the surface, but added an evaluation for Yoru in her heart.
Good at using words to mobilize people's hearts and reverse the atmosphere in the venue.
As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Group, Shinomiya Kaguya received professional training from an early age on how to guide others' thoughts using words and her own demeanor.
People who can control people's hearts and public opinion trends are those holding truly powerful forces.
Growing up in the environment of the Shinomiya Group, Shinomiya Kaguya always held a subconscious contemptuous attitude towards people she met for the first time, and calculated the opponent's utilization value in her heart.
But this time, it was different.
Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't generate contempt towards this peer beside her.
Even because of the words Yoru just said, she had unconsciously placed herself in the position of a challenger.
When arriving at the teaching building of the exam venue, everyone could see the first-year students of Shuchiin had been waiting there for a long time.
The gazes of hundreds of students opposite gathered on Yoru beside Shinomiya Kaguya in unison.
"That is... the genius of Sobu High?"
"Looks very handsome indeed, but unfortunately, handsomeness can't add points."
"What kind of genius can appear in mere Sobu High?"
"Even if he was originally a genius, choosing such a path of self-depravity, he ultimately reduced to mediocrity."
"He doesn't think he can really defeat Kaguya-sama in the joint exam, right?"
"Truly overestimating himself."
.....
Most Private Shuchiin Academy students were confident, not taking any Sobu High student, including Yoru, seriously.
First in the Sakura Prefecture Joint Exam?
Indeed considered a true genius.
But even a genius could absolutely not bridge the gap in teaching staff and educational level between Shuchiin and Sobu High.
"Welcome, everyone."
A middle-aged woman wearing a formal suit and gold-rimmed glasses stood in front of the Sobu High crowd.
Between her brows carried an undisguised look of arrogance, speaking slowly.
"Welcome to the best high school in Sakura Prefecture, Private Shuchiin Academy."
"Next..."
Before the middle-aged woman finished, Yoru, standing at the very front with Shinomiya Kaguya, shook his head with a chuckle and interrupted.
"Wait a minute."
"What?"
Yoru stared straight into the middle-aged woman's eyes, not disguising his contemptuous attitude at all.
"Is Shuchiin the best high school in Sakura Prefecture?"
The middle-aged woman frowned slightly, snorting coldly.
"If not our Shuchiin, could it be your Sobu High?"
Yoru maintained a kind smile, uttering an extremely aggressive sentence.
"Old geezer (Lao Deng), I think your menopause has arrived; a bit muddle-headed."
As soon as this was said, the venue was instantly in an uproar.
Old geezer?
Shuchiin students were filled with righteous indignation.
Isn't this guy too arrogant?
Yoru didn't give the middle-aged woman a chance to speak at all, continuing on his own.
"I am the first-ranked student of this grade..."
Immediately after, Yoru pulled Hiratsuka Shizuka standing behind him to his side and smiled.
"And this person beside me is the most excellent teacher in Sakura Prefecture."
"First in both aspects, if our Sobu High isn't the best high school, could it be your Shuchiin?"
"On what basis? On your large land area, or long name?"
Hearing these words, the most surprised in the venue wasn't the teachers and students of Shuchiin.
But Hiratsuka Shizuka pulled to Yoru's side.
Although in private, the opponent also told her he thought she was the most excellent teacher.
But Hiratsuka Shizuka absolutely didn't expect.
Yoru would actually solemnly emphasize the words spoken teasingly in private again in front of so many people from Shuchiin and Sobu High.
While Hiratsuka Shizuka was at a loss, there was also an inexplicable throbbing in her heart.
Looking at Yoru standing beside her, facing all the teachers and students of Shuchiin without any restraint, arguably extremely arrogant, she realized for the first time...
This kid seems really a bit handsome.
"Hmph, pointless verbal dispute."
Hearing the middle-aged woman's words, Yoru replied with a smile.
"Yeah, you yourself also know that current Shuchiin can hardly be said to be the best high school. Otherwise, why bother emphasizing it specially?"
"Old Sister, you feel guilty inside."
The middle-aged woman's face twitched twice, gritting her teeth tightly, feeling her blood pressure rise.
"Anyway, the rules for this exam are very simple."
The middle-aged woman pushed her gold-rimmed glasses, a bit of smugness showing in her eyes, speaking slowly, stating an astonishing rule that made Hiratsuka Shizuka's face change.
"Humanities, Sciences, English, three subjects in one test paper, question order completely scrambled."
"Total exam time of three hours, no rest in between."
"Separate single rooms in the exam venue, all candidates answer alone, cameras monitoring without blind spots throughout."
"Any questions?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka and Kirisu Mafuyu looked at each other, both with heavy faces.
Who takes exams like this?
Not to mention three subjects on one test paper, the question order was scrambled.
That means.
The question you answer this second might be a multiple-choice question in Humanities.
The next one becomes a short-answer question in Sciences.
Even if you look at the corresponding positions of the three subjects' questions before answering, it's hard to reach the fluent answering state of usual exams.
Moreover...
Three hours?
Calculated on average, that means the questions for one subject must be answered within one hour.
Hiratsuka Shizuka and Kirisu Mafuyu didn't know the difficulty of the test paper set by Shuchiin this time, but it was foreseeable that it definitely wouldn't be lower than the difficulty of Sobu High's test papers, maybe even much higher.
For ordinary students, finishing the answers within an hour is a very difficult thing, let alone checking a second time.
No...
Maintaining high concentration for up to three hours is already an extremely severe test.
Hiratsuka Shizuka and Kirisu Mafuyu didn't believe that the usual exams of Private Shuchiin Academy were such torturous rules.
This was obviously specially prepared for this joint exam.
"This is absolutely no..."
Just when Hiratsuka Shizuka was halfway through speaking, Yoru said disapprovingly.
"Then start as soon as possible."
Seeing Yoru agree, Hiratsuka Shizuka couldn't say much more, only nodding helplessly.
"Alright."
....
Before entering the exam venue, Shinomiya Kaguya deliberately walked to Yoru and spoke softly.
"I know this exam rule is more advantageous for me fighting on my home turf, so...."
"It doesn't matter."
Just as Shinomiya Kaguya was somewhat surprised, thinking Yoru was magnanimous, she heard the opponent add a smiling sentence that ignited her competitive spirit again.
"I actually hope the conditions unfavorable to me and advantageous to you are the more the better."
"Otherwise, how can Shuchiin clearly recognize the gap between you and me?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes flickered, saying faintly.
"Just hope your strength matches your words."
After saying this, she stepped into the exam venue.
Although Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't need to take the exam, she was exceptionally nervous at this moment.
She walked to Yoru's side, looking worried.
"If too tired... don't force yourself. The pressure of such an exam is really too great."
"Don't worry."
Yoru waved with a smile, striding towards the exam venue, tone firm.
"Bearing the name of Shizuka-chan (Cute Shizuka), I will absolutely not lose."
Watching him enter the exam venue and hearing the words ringing in her ears, Hiratsuka Shizuka pursed her lips, blushing slightly, muttering softly.
"Stinky brat... what bearing Shizuka-chan... giving the teacher strange nicknames again."
After entering the exam venue, Yoru saw it was exactly as that middle-aged woman said.
All were independent single rooms, top open, four sides blocked by boards.
And on the ceiling were dozens of adjustable-angle cameras, precisely covering every single room.
"This is your seat."
As the key figure in this joint exam, Yoru naturally received special treatment. No need to find the seat himself; an invigilator led him.
When he walked to his own single room, the Shuchiin invigilator snorted coldly, tone carrying a warning.
"Remember, if you dare to cheat, you will definitely be discovered by us."
Yoru turned around, looking at the opponent with a chuckle.
"Your Shuchiin should hope I cheat."
"Because only the possibility of cheating being discovered and score canceled, can I not take first place."
....
Ten minutes later, Shinomiya Kaguya, sitting in the single room with eyes closed sorting out her thoughts, finally heard the bell for the start of the exam.
That three-in-one test paper had been placed on the desk all along.
With camera surveillance, naturally no one dared to start writing in advance, but most candidates had looked at the test paper in advance.
But Shinomiya Kaguya didn't.
What Shuchiin authorities thought about this joint exam, she didn't know, nor was she interested to know.
Shinomiya Kaguya only knew one thing.
According to Yoru-kun's personality, he would disdain using such petty tricks before the exam time started.
Since that was the case, naturally she wouldn't do so either.
Shinomiya Kaguya picked up the pen, wrote her name on the test paper, solemnness appearing in her ruby-like pupils.
Finally, victory or defeat will be decided.
....
Three hours later, the joint exam ended.
"Finally over."
The moment the test papers were collected, Shinomiya Kaguya finally relaxed.
She felt her brain was already somewhat in a trance.
High concentration for up to three hours, plus she answered question after question in order, thinking needed to switch back and forth constantly among Humanities, Sciences, and English.
Even the strong-willed Shinomiya Kaguya's spirit had reached the limit.
Plus, the difficulty of this exam was obviously unknown how many times more complicated than usual Shuchiin exams.
According to Shinomiya Kaguya's estimation, even among Shuchiin first-year students, those who could finish all questions were probably less than 20%.
And among them, those who could reach the passing line might not even be 5%.
However....
Shinomiya Kaguya felt very satisfied with her answering state this time.
The score should be very good.
She stood up and left the exam venue.
When breathing the fresh air outside again, Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't help relaxing completely.
Just then, she saw not far away, Yoru was sitting with that teacher named Hiratsuka Shizuka, holding a bottle of Coca-Cola in his hand, looking completely without any fatigue after high tension, instead showing a relaxed face.
Shinomiya Kaguya frowned tightly, thinking could it be that the exam just now, which even I found extremely difficult and exhausting, was so easy for Yoru-kun?
She completely didn't believe such a thing would happen.
After hesitating for a moment, Shinomiya Kaguya still chose to step forward actively, preparing to greet Yoru.
After all, as the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Group, she wouldn't lose these basic etiquettes.
"Yoru-kun."
Shinomiya Kaguya walked to Yoru, saying plainly.
"Looking at your appearance, it seems the three-hour exam just now posed no difficulty for you?"
Shinomiya Kaguya also had a competitive spirit. Already exhausted, she had now put on an appearance of handling things with ease.
Unexpectedly, Yoru's next sentence broke through her professional skill of disguising her true inner thoughts, meticulously trained for many years, for the first time in her life.
"Three hours?"
Yoru smiled.
"At forty minutes, I had already finished answering everything and handed in the paper early to come out."