Chapter 060: Clearly, leaving Sakayanagi in another class is indeed going to be troublesome!
"Seven hundred points for eight subjects combined."
Hashimoto calculated quickly.
"That's eighty-seven point five points per subject. If your partner's academic ability is too poor, you'll have to work harder. At the same time, if both you and your partner happen to be weak in the same subjects, you'll need to score even more in the subjects you're good at.
Of course, for our class, this shouldn't be a problem."
Yes.
It shouldn't be a problem.
Because.
This rule favors classes with strong academic abilities—the former Class A, now Class C, already has the highest academic standing in the entire grade. Regarding the bottom-ten penalty from the Sports Festival, their class only had Sakayanagi occupying a spot due to her withdrawal, but there is no need to worry about Sakayanagi's academic ability. Therefore, this rule is a good thing for them.
"This rule is to our advantage," Katsuragi also began to speak, "As long as we perform normally, we won't face a risk of expulsion."
Several students nodded.
Because this is the confidence of the former Class A.
But Katsuragi's gaze fell on Sakayanagi Arisu.
After the Sports Festival ended, he had actually sought Sakayanagi out once. The failure of the Sports Festival was due to his strategy and shortcomings; if Sakayanagi was willing to return to her position, he was willing to step into a secondary role and act as her assistant.
After all, they are now 1,000 points behind Class A, a gap he cannot overcome on his own.
Therefore, perhaps they need Sakayanagi's aggressive strategies.
However, Sakayanagi refused.
And now, Sakayanagi's expression is also very calm, with a faint smile hanging on the corners of her mouth. She didn't participate in the discussion; she just sat there quietly, as if waiting for something.
"Sakayanagi," Katsuragi said, "what do you think?"
Sakayanagi, however, appeared quite composed, and he only heard her say, "The Sensei still has more to add, right? He wouldn't just assign a topic randomly."
Hmm.
Katsuragi's brow furrowed. He also felt it was strange. If it were just a pairing exam, there would be no need for the school to go through such a long process. There must be something else.
Mashima Tomonari looked at Sakayanagi, was silent for a second, then nodded.
"Sakayanagi is right. Just now I said that the school is not setting the test papers. The assessment content is only at the third-year middle school level. For the eight subjects, fifty questions per subject, all of them are to be set by the classes themselves."
The classroom fell silent again. Setting their own papers? Not the school, but the students themselves?
"That is to say, you must think of and create the questions for the final exam yourselves," Mashima's voice was very steady, "And then assign those questions to one of the other three classes. You can give the paper you created to Class A, you can give it to Class B, or you can give it to Class D. Any class is fine, but you can only choose one.
Eight subjects, you prepare them yourselves. Then you initiate a challenge to one of the other three classes. Two classes set papers for each other and compete for scores. The class with the highest total score can take two hundred class evaluation points from the losing class."
Huh?
Wait!
This!
The classroom exploded.
Of course, this wasn't panic, but excitement.
Two hundred evaluation points—direct plunder.
Furthermore, it's not given by the school, but snatched from the opposing class.
Then.
If Class C can win, they can snatch two hundred points directly from Class A, which would narrow the gap with Class A by four hundred points.
Yes, not just snatching, but directly shortening the gap by four hundred points!
Katsuragi's eyes lit up. He stood up, unable to stop his body from leaning forward slightly. "Sensei, this rule—if we face Class A and win, we can take two hundred points from Class A?"
"Yes," Mashima nodded, "Direct plunder."
Hearing this, Katsuragi couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Two hundred points.
Not adding two hundred points, but grabbing two hundred points.
Class A loses two hundred, Class C gains two hundred; back and forth, that's a four hundred point difference. If Class C can beat Class A in this exam, the gap with Class A could shrink from one thousand points to about six hundred.
Although it is still a long way, at least there is a chance.
At the very least, it can suddenly ignite the spirit that is currently wilting!
So, Class C still has a chance!
And it wasn't just Katsuragi; even the other Class C students quickly entered a fantasy moment.
The discussion in the classroom grew louder and louder.
Just as Katsuragi was about to speak, Sakayanagi's voice came from the side.
"Sensei." That is what Sakayanagi said.
"Since we are plundering points from the losing class, can we also plunder negative points?"
The classroom was silent for an instant. Everyone's eyes turned toward her.
Mashima Tomonari's brow furrowed, then slowly relaxed. He looked at Sakayanagi with some surprise and was silent for two seconds.
"What do you mean?" Katsuragi's voice sounded a bit strained.
Sakayanagi did not look at him. Her gaze was on Sensei Mashima.
"Class D's current evaluation score is -270 points. And if we challenge Class D and win, can we snatch two hundred points from that -270? Does negative score minus two hundred remain negative? And what we get, is that a negative two hundred? Or what?"
Mashima Tomonari was stunned. He stood there, his mouth slightly open, then closed. He has been a Sensei for so many years and never has a student asked this question. It wasn't written in the rules because there was no precedent.
After all, even the situation of having negative points is a first for this year.
And are the points plundered from a class with negative points actually points?
"This question," Mashima was silent for two seconds, "I need to confirm with the school authorities. Although if the opposing class has negative points, you cannot possibly receive negative points, but it is possible that you simply receive +0 points.
There is indeed a situation like this that needs to be addressed now," Mashima said.
The classroom fell silent again.
And Katsuragi's complexion changed; it turned into fear.
Yes.
He suddenly realized one thing—if Class D is manipulated into initiating a challenge against Class C in advance, then Class C will have no choice but to accept the fight. If they win against Class D, they get no points. If they lose to Class D, they would have two hundred points deducted instead. Class D has negative points; losing doesn't matter, it's already negative anyway. But Class C cannot afford to lose.
"Sensei," Katsuragi's voice was a bit tight, "Can the request for battle be refused?"
Mashima looked at him. "No. Once a class proposes a battle, the opposing class cannot refuse."
Katsuragi's face turned completely grim.
And he finally realized what Sakayanagi was implying.
It must be, it must be that Sakayanagi had predicted it; predicted that if Hikigaya manipulated Class D into initiating a challenge against Class C, then Class C would be forced to fight.
At that time, if Class C wins, they get no points; if they lose, they get points deducted. This is a trap. A trap specifically designed for Class C.
As for the claim that Class D consists of academic failures, don't forget that Class D also has a poisonous snake named Ayanokouji.
Therefore, Katsuragi could not be entirely certain that just by facing Class D, Class C would be guaranteed a victory.
Totsuka Yahiko, as Katsuragi's underling, didn't look too good either. Clearly, as a former Class A student, he also understood, so he couldn't help but say, "Katsuragi-kun, if Class D really initiates a challenge against us—"
"Then we have no choice but to fight," Sensei Mashima said, "The rules do not allow for refusal."
"Then if we win and get no points..." Totsuka Yahiko couldn't help but let his voice tremble.
"That's why we can't let them make the first move," Katsuragi raised his head, "Before Class D makes a move, we must initiate a challenge against another class first."
"To whom?" Totsuka asked.
Katsuragi was silent for a second. "Class A.
If we can directly shorten the 400-point gap, then that is the best option for us," Katsuragi said.
Indeed.
The current Class A has 1,666 points, while their Class C only has 625; the gap is too large, but if they shorten the distance here, there is still hope.
However.
"Directly challenge Class A, but can we... really win?" Student Morishita Ai, who was sitting in the front row, suddenly said.
Uh.
She shouldn't have intended to interject, but once those words were out, everyone fell silent.
Class A.
They defeated them and widened the distance by so much.
It can be said.
Even with the strongest comprehensive strength, they actually don't have that much confidence.
But.
If they don't challenge Class A, and Class A's Hikigaya strikes first by bribing Class D to attack them, then their class will also face a passive situation.
Meanwhile, Mashima Tomonari walked out of the classroom, stood by the window in the corridor, and took out his phone. On the screen was a message from the question-setting committee. He stared at those few lines of text for several seconds, then turned and walked back to the classroom. When the door pushed open, the classroom was quiet for a moment. Everyone's eyes fell on him.
"The question-setting committee has replied," Sensei Mashima returned to the podium and said, "The rules have not changed."
The classroom was even quieter. That kind of silence wasn't waiting; it was tension.
"First, when a class proposes a battle, the opposing class has no opportunity to refuse. Once a class proposes a battle, the matchups for all four classes will be decided," Mashima held up one finger, "That is to say, it is not a one-on-one selection of opponents. If one class initiates a challenge, the opponents of the other classes will all be determined."
Several students furrowed their brows. This meant they couldn't just pick the soft persimmons; if you challenge someone, it doesn't mean others won't challenge you.
"Second, if a class with negative points loses the competition, their negative points will increase. However, the winning class cannot receive any reward from the class with negative points," Mashima held up a second finger, "That is to say, if you challenge Class D and win, you won't get any points."
A low sound of discussion erupted in the classroom.
"Third," Mashima held up a third finger, slowing his voice down a bit, "This exam includes an expulsion penalty. Therefore, do not look at the scores alone."
Hmm.
That is true, because they are required to pair up to handle the exam.
So.
If there is someone very troublesome, then, making the other party get expelled in this exam might also be a good plan.
It could increase the difficulty and the breadth of thinking for this exam.
And for Class C, if Hikigaya could be expelled, that would certainly be a good thing.
Of course, that is also impossible, after all, the points Hikigaya possesses are terrifying.
"Sensei," Totsuka Yahiko's voice sounded a bit strained, "If we lose in the class duel, will we be expelled?"
Mashima looked at him. "The class duel does not affect expulsion. There are only two conditions for expulsion—failing a single subject, or a total score of less than seven hundred. And both members of the pair are expelled together."
Totsuka breathed a sigh of relief, but his face still didn't look good.
The classroom was silent for a long time. No one spoke; everyone was calculating the score in their hearts. Challenging Class A or Class B, winning gains two hundred points, losing gives away two hundred points.
And challenging Class D, winning gains nothing, losing incurs a two-hundred-point penalty.
Three options, each with risks, each with opportunities.
Katsuragi Kohei kept his mouth shut, but he was calculating, weighing, thinking about every possibility.
"We must make a decision now," Katsuragi said, "Before Class D is bribed by Class A, we must strike first."
And Class D being bribed by Class A—this is not a guess, it is a certainty. Hikigaya has Karuizawa Kei, Kushida Kikyo, and Horikita Suzune in Class D. For him to manipulate Class D into initiating a challenge against Class C is just a matter of a single sentence.
"Katsuragi-kun," Totsuka's voice came from the side, "Which class should we challenge?"
Katsuragi was silent for a few seconds. "Sakayanagi, what do you think?"
Clearly, such a big decision that needed to be made quickly, Katsuragi was not confident.
And with that, everyone's eyes turned to Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Challenge Class A." Sakayanagi seemed to have thought of this a long time ago.
But this caused a low gasp to erupt in the classroom.
Some people widened their eyes, some opened their mouths, some just sat there, not knowing what to say.
"Sakayanagi," Katsuragi's brow furrowed, "Challenging Class A, winning could shorten the 400-point gap, but losing would mean being pushed further away by another 400 points. And this risk—"
"I know," Sakayanagi interrupted him.
Katsuragi looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"Challenging Class B has a higher probability of victory. Class B is Class B now, but in essence, it is the original Class C. It's full of academic failures; they occupied three spots in the bottom ten penalty of the Sports Festival. If Class C and Class B duel, the probability of us winning is very high," Sakayanagi's voice was very calm, "And, once we choose Class C, then Class A can only face Class D; if Class A wins, they won't get any points. If Class C wins against Class B, we snatch two hundred points. In this way, the gap between Class A and Class C could actually shrink."
"Isn't that pretty good?" Totsuka's voice came from the side, "Class A won't win any points, we win two hundred points, the gap shrinks—"
"And then?" Sakayanagi looked at him.
Totsuka opened his mouth and did not answer.
"Then we will never be able to catch up to Class A," Sakayanagi withdrew her gaze, "Because we chose the safest path when we should have acted.
Why would the evaluation points for this exam be 200, and even if we face a class that needs the distance shortened, could we possibly shorten or potentially lengthen the gap by 400 points?
Have you thought about this point?"
Sakayanagi said.
And the students in the class began to think.
After all, from the special exam last semester, it could be discovered that the point values of the special exams each month are inconsistent.
Therefore, if this opportunity is missed, will the school give such high points in the next special exam?
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Announcement
I'm happy to announce that there are 2 new Fanfiction!
Hachiman wants to escape the Romantic Minefield in COTE
Why are Yukino and Yui in this school too?!
To ensure a comfortable future, Hikigaya Hachiman chose to attend a highly advanced high school with a 99% college entrance and employment rate.
However, upon entering, Hachiman immediately noticed something was amiss.
Karuizawa : "If... you hadn't been there back then, I probably wouldn't have made it..."
Kushida Kikyo: "Hachiman-kun, if you dare tell anyone about what happened in middle school, I'll make sure you can't stay here!"
Yui: "Hachiman... if the lights are off, can't you just pretend I'm Ichinose-kun?"
Yukino: "Hachiman-kun, it seems you need to explain how many people you've messed with since transferring schools!"
Shirou's multiverse selves
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Realizing this, countless ideas flooded Shirou's mind. Just as he was about to put them into action, Shirou suddenly found himself in a space filled with white mist, where he encountered two other versions of himself.
But these versions have different powers and their world are familliar, and with only a touch we can share memories and powers.
Massive Multi-Crossovers and multi protagonist(the protagonist are the various Shirou in their world)
One Piece, FGO, Food Wars, Slime Tensei, Fairy Tail and more