2
The boys from across all school years assembled in the gymnasium. Feeling uncomfortable, the 1st years immediately assembled and awaited further instructions without making a fuss. Not too long afterwards, someone who looked like the teacher of a different school year stood up on a stage with a microphone in hand and spoke to the students.
“I’ll assume you’ve all received prior explanation in the bus regarding the contents of this exam and that you’ve digested it. As such, there will be no further explanation of it here. Now then, we’ll be forming our small groups here so I’ll have you set aside time for this. Each school year will hold a discussion in order to create six small groups. Furthermore, as for the formation of the large groups, it’ll take place at 8 pm today. That’s all. This is supplementary information but when it comes to partitioning the groups, irrespective of size, the school will not interfere. And we will not act as arbitrators either.”
Instructions for the boys to do as they wish were conveyed. Before we form the large groups, we’ll need to start with the small groups. Alright then, I wonder what sort of the strategy the other classes will go with and what objectives will they be aiming for. They should have, to a certain extent, already come up with a strategy on the bus but let’s see. Each school year took their distance and inside the gymnasium, we began to partition ourselves into groups. I’m curious about the movements of the other school years but from this distance I won’t be able to ascertain the finer details.
As I casually observed the senior students like that, the partitioning of groups commenced and before even a few seconds had passed, there was movement from within the 1st year classes.
I thought we’d be sounding each other out for a while longer but Class A blatantly started forming a massive group. A most conspicuous action considering the stalemate we’re locked in. Inevitably, they drew attention from their surroundings. Eventually, Class A formed a single group consisting of 14 people. And then they made this declaration to Class B and below, that is to say, us.
“As you can see, we Class A intend on forming a group with these members. And as you can see, right now we number 14. If one more person were to join us, we’d meet the prerequisite number. Now then, we’re looking for people willing to join us.”
The one who said that was a student from Class A named Matoba. Katsuragi was also among the 14 that had gathered but the one leading them was the boy named Matoba. So does this mean Katsuragi isn’t the group’s leader? Either way, from the start, Class A played the hand of forming a group made up of their own as much as possible.
“Oi, oi. Why the hell are you guys getting ahead of yourselves? It’s unfair if you’re the only ones in it.”
Sudou angrily glares at Matoba.
“Is it really that selfish of us? If we go with our proposal, each group will be composed of, at most, students from two classes. Even if we’re 1st place, the bonus we’ll get won’t be that significant either. I don’t feel like this is a greedy proposal that favors only Class A.”
“N-No but I mean, it’s unfair that there’s 14 of you.”
“That’s not true. On the contrary, it’s fair. The remaining three classes can create three groups consisting of 15. In other words, wouldn’t it be fine if you form groups just like ours?”
“Is that so?”
Sudou, who didn’t quite understand what Matoba is saying, turned around and looked at Hirata.
“That would be the case, yes.”
“If you understand then this makes things go quicker. By the way, the remaining 6 from Class A are willing to join your groups in whatever form you see fit.”
How does that sound? Matoba smiled as he looked at Hirata. He looked at Class B’s Kanzaki and Shibata the same way as well.
“Umm—…let’s see, I do believe this isn’t a bad deal. What about you, Kanzaki?”
“Sorry but I can’t give an immediate reply.”
“Of course—. I don’t believe the remaining six from Class A will go as far as to pull the legs of the other groups on purpose though. But I guess we’d be cautious after all.”
Class A tried to decide on the groups right away. However, Kanzaki did not make an immediate decision but rather, tried to put their proposal on hold. However, in response to that, Matoba fiercely cut in.
“In that case I’ll give you 5 minutes. Please make your decision by then.”
“A time limit, huh? The group partitioning’s only just begun. This is only Class A’s personal opinion, it’s no good if you onesidedly decide on this. Don’t you think it’s outrageous that you’d only postpone it by 5 minutes?”
Even if you could say every class would be able to make up a group consisting of 14 of their own, it would be a lie to say that it’s a fair proposal for all classes. The only ones who can afford to think they wouldn’t mind even if the bonus points happened to be on the low side would be Class A, who’s currently in 1st place and maintaining the lead.
“I suppose so. It may not be good for us to decide that on our own. However, please don’t misunderstand, we’re not saying we won’t negotiate after 5 minutes have passed. At most, we’re only saying that these 5 minutes will offer special treatment.”
“Special treatment?”
Matoba’s just taking the lead and continuing the conversation. It’s precisely because the other classes have yet to form their opinions and make their move that he’s able to propose whatever he wants.
Truly what you’d call a preemptive strike.
“We Class A will form a group with the 14 of us and welcome just one person from another class. Leaving aside whether or not this is the optimal strategy, it is true that we’re selfishly forcing this on you. As such, the one person we’ll be welcoming, in other words, if it’s now that person will receive special treatment from us.”
Matoba smoothly conveys the strategy they must have come up with in advance on the bus.
“If you’ll join our group, we will ensure there’s no risk to that student. Katsuragi-kun will be this group’s leader but even if, by any chance, we’re last place then Katsuragi-kun will be the only one to bear the responsibility for it. I promise that we won’t drag you down through joint responsibility. Ahh, of course, that’s only if you won’t intentionally lower our scores or deliberately hurt our allies though. If your exam scores are legitimately bad then we’ll pardon it all.”
So that’s the special treatment he referred to.
“Are you serious……?”
Some students saw some value in that proposal of special treatment. Taking the class into account and forming a group geared towards obtaining the most bonus points in case of victory and assembling group members in order to do so. Such acts are also necessary but the ones who’d think that are the individuals who make up the core of the class. For your average student, afraid of expulsion, the ‘special treatment’ proposal that’d allow them to clear this exam with a 100% guarantee of safety isn’t such a bad proposal. Even though Katsuragi ended up as the leader, the one in charge here is the boy named Matoba. Judging from his tone of voice, I could tell he’s a relatively capable student.
It probably means that Class A still possesses talented individuals who have not yet revealed themselves.
However, I wonder exactly why Katsuragi did not come forward. Having lost his status within his class, is he being made to bear the responsibility for that? “Since the 14 of us intend on being first place, there’s a good chance that person will also be rewarded with private points. In each class, in regards to this exam, shouldn’t there be those without much confidence in themselves?”
Saying that, he looked around at all the students. Now Matoba’s words resounded especially in the students who didn’t feel like passing up on his offer of special treatment.
“However, if you cannot decide within 5 minutes, we will withdraw our offer of special treatment. If, by any chance, our class receives a penalty, then we won’t hesitate to drag you down with us.”
“I think this is certainly an interesting proposition but in that case, the benefits of joining your group after 5 minutes would plummet. There isn’t a single student who’d want to join when the possibility of being dragged down is high.”
There’s no need to even say it, Kanzaki added.
“That’s right. Nobody’s going to join a group knowing they’re going to do something like that.”
The students who, for a brief moment, considered the special treatment said so in response.
“I don’t care how you think of us but we definitely won’t break.”
Saying that, Matoba dragged his group off and retreated.
It’s a way of saying they have no intention of participating in the discussion.
“It’s fine if they ignore us. If 5 minutes pass, there’d be no one willing to join that group. Given time, they’ll be the ones to return for discussion.”
“Suppose so.”
Kanzaki and Shibata said so and decided to keep their distance and calm. I couldn’t see any strange movements from Kaneda and the others of Class D. However, Hirata, who received that offer from Class A, appeared to slightly differ in his train of thought. Approaching me, Keisei and Akito, he called out in a soft voice as though asking for our opinions.
“…what do you guys think?”
“Do you mean about Class A’s strategy?”
Keisei took the initiative and asked Hirata.
“Yeah. Surprisingly enough, I don’t think their proposal is that bad. The one, absolute condition of this exam is that we, Class C, all overcome it safely. Because we’ve risen to Class C after all. I don’t want to ruin this good mood and I don’t wish for the expulsion of a student from the same class. However, the group in last place carries the risk of expulsion. If we have Class A protect the students without confidence in themselves then for one we could rest easy is what I think.”
Certainly, if we’re going for defense then Class A’s proposal has its merits.
“However, it’s just whether or not there’s any guarantee that Class A will uphold their promise of special treatment to the end. If they happen to be in last place, there’s the possibility they’d forcibly go for the joint responsibility. A verbal promise may yet be broken.”
Hirata’s anxiety over that is understandable. Essentially speaking, a verbal promise too, can be binding. However, even if we shout that at them they can simply turn it into a pointless argument. If Class A denies all knowlege of what we’re talking about then it’ll just muddy the waters and most importantly, their promise to not drag us down is based on the assumption that we won’t ‘intentionally’ sabotage their group.
Even if a student’s exam scores happened to be on the low side, it’s difficult to distinguish between an intentional act and a non-intentional one. Still, in a place like this without any pen or papers, we can’t leave it in writing either. Even if we attempt to rely on the teachers, they’ve already stated that they won’t be involved in the partitioning of the groups. It’d be meaningless to ask them to remember this verbal promise. But still, Matoba’s promise of special treatment is something that’s reached the ears of all 1st years.
To ignore this and go with the dragging down approach would be a huge disadvantage for them too. In theory, it should be fine to trust them.
“…it might be possible to have them shelter one.”
I got in on Keisei and Hirata’s conversation.
“That’s right. If we make our move then the rest is how Class B and Class D choose to act.”
If we accept their special treatment, it could be seen as siding with Class A, after they used a brute force method. Even though it was only a short time, Hirata seemed to want to persistently think about it until the very last moment. Roughly three minutes have passed since the sudden proposal.
I don’t know whether or not they’re faithfully counting down each second but Matoba and the others are leisurely standing by. Perhaps they’ve assumed someone would raise their hand. Or perhaps they’re thinking up a different strategy. We watchfully waited down the remaining two minutes to see whether or not we should wait for Matoba and his group to make their move. That depends on the leaders of classes B and under.
“Kanzaki-shi. I have an idea, may I?”
Class D’s Kaneda approached Class B’s Kanzaki. Rather than whispering in a soft voice, it was a bold approach that everyone around could hear. Kaneda beckoned Hirata over too and in response, Hirata went over to him.
“I’ve determined that this could be considered an opportunity. Thanks to Class A assembling together, even if their class is to win, they’ll only be able to gain two classes worth of bonus points. On top of that, considering the conditions they’ve laid out, we’d be able to position the Class A students however we want. In other words, it means we can form the remaining groups out of all four classes. Can’t it be said that the higher our rank, the closer we’ll be to Class A and this is the chance to do just that?”
“That’s if we can beat the Class A group.”
I don’t know the exact scores but during Paper Shuffle, Class A destroyed Class B. If this exam is a showdown of academic abilities then we’d be at a disadvantage.
“Sure there are risks. However, this isn’t a simple showdown of academic abilities. How about it? I think it’s best if we take action to overthrow Class A here. I believe it’s not a bad idea.”
Kaneda said. To lay siege to Class A through the cooperation of three classes B, C and D is the objective here.
“Well, in order for our three classes to cooperate, we’d have to acknowledge Class A’s group of 14 though. But, considering the four classes worth of bonus points we’d get, wouldn’t that be nothing much? Furthermore, they’re even offering special treatment so everything works out perfectly.”
“That’s right. I think Kaneda-kun’s strategy is sound.”
Hirata gave his support. Kanzaki must have been more cautious, since he didn’t give an immediate reply. He seems to be thoroughly mulling over the advantages of having four classes.
“But who are we going to place in that group? At the very least, I doubt there are any students in Class B willing to volunteer for a group that’s made up chiefly of Class A. That includes me too.”
Even if we’ll be protected by their special treatment, that person will have to spend a week with that Class A group. One thing’s certain and that’s that it won’t be comfortable.
“I’d like to ask Class B and Class D. Are there any candidates?”
In response to Hirata’s words, the students from those two classes look at one another. However, nobody quite raised their hands.
“Then, I’d like to ask everyone from Class C as well. Do you have any candidates?”
This time he asks his own class. However, the reaction was the same as Class B and Class D’s. There are probably a few students who’re considering the special treatment but being concerned about everyone’s gazes as well as the uncomfortableness, no volunteer came forward.
“This is just my onesided guess but you’re all thinking that Class A might just keep their promise.”
“How can you tell?”
“Because they’re Class A, I suppose. Despite having declared they won’t drag anyone down, if they still forcibly drag us students from the lower classes into it, then in the future they wouldn’t be able to make deals like this anymore. We’re still in the 3rd semester of the 1st year, so if they lose trust from us going forward, it would be a huge loss for them, I think.”
Hirata’s opinion makes sense. If this is the final, decisive fight then Class A won’t care. However, there’s still more than two years left to go.
If they keep their promises to a certain degree here then they’d be able to use a similar strategy in other exams as well. In time, wouldn’t they do something absurd like that, is what Hirata is thinking.
“I don’t want to praise the enemy but they are Class A. Their grades are simply better than ours. In other words, I don’t think they’d be last place or fall below the borderline by a large margin. That’s why I’d like you all to be aware that you are not being assigned to a losing group.”
What Hirata is trying to say is something Ike and the others understand well too.
“Fortunately, Class B and Class D don’t seem to have any candidates so I’d like to pick someone from Class C to join the Class A group. Even if they win, our class will still receive a reward and we’d be able to avoid an expulsion on the off-chance it should occur. How does that sound?”
He said so and looked at Ike and Yamauchi in particular. He probably wants to protect the students who feel unsure about their own capability, even if he can only do so for one. Hirata makes one, final push.
“Even if the student receiving special treatment falls below the borderline score, can you promise me that you won’t blame them for it?”
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