Chapter 256 082: The joint exam begins, the forest training camp!

October 1st, a new month.

At 7:00 AM, Hachiman's phone vibrated right on time. He picked it up and took a look. Hm. The living expenses, calculated at 100 points per evaluation score, had arrived. 146,600 points—not a huge amount, but stable enough. Immediately following were two more transfer notifications: Class C paid 1.2 million, and Class B paid 1.4 million. This was the agreement signed during the uninhabited island exam, arriving punctually every month without fail. Then came the Class A "boarding fees"—students voluntarily contributed 30% of their income to him, totaling 1.75 million. Although he still had to deduct 800,000 to pay Class D, overall, it was another month of happy living with an income of four million private points.

Hachiman stared at the numbers on the screen for a moment, neither proud nor excited. He simply thought that if Komachi were here, she would probably say in surprise, "Onii-chan, you're actually so rich now." And according to their "online dreaming," he could tell her this soon.

He rolled out of bed and walked to the window, drawing the curtains. The sky outside had brightened; sunlight leaked through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating the playground. Today is October 1st, a new month, a new beginning, and the first month of the new chairman's tenure.

However, according to the original timeline, Tsukishiro shouldn't have arrived this early; he only came during the school-expulsion vote exam. But considering the track record of Ayanokouji, the "masterpiece," it wasn't strange that he was rushing to enter the school ahead of schedule.

After washing up and putting on his uniform, Hachiman was about to head out when his phone vibrated again. He found a message from Horikita Suzune.

Hachiman's fingers paused on the screen as he thought.

Horikita Suzune rarely sent messages just to chat. She wasn't the type to send "good morning" or "the weather is nice today." When he opened the message and saw the content, his brow furrowed slightly: [Hikigaya-kun, I asked Chabashira-sensei this morning, and she told me this month's special exam will be held together with the sepais. The specific details haven't been announced yet, but I wanted to tell you in advance.]

Hachiman stared at the line for two seconds. He naturally knew why Horikita Suzune cared so much about the upperclassmen—her brother, Horikita Manabu, was the Class Representative of Class 3-A and the Student Council President. If the exam were held with the upperclassmen, Horikita Manabu would be involved. She was worried about him. She wasn't one to show concern easily, but the fact that she sent a message specifically about this meant she had already calculated that this exam might affect her brother.

Hachiman didn't reply immediately. He ran the scores of the third-year classes through his mind. At the end of the sports festival, the evaluation scores for the third years were: Class 3-A: 1400 points Class 3-B: 1200 points Class 3-C: 440 points Class 3-D: -280 points

Now, after the last special exam, the scores had become: Class 3-A: 1300 points Class 3-B: 1080 points Class 3-C: 340 points Class 3-D: -380 points

Class 3-A and Class B were both losing points. Classes C and D were also dropping. Every class was heading downward, just at different speeds and magnitudes. Although Class 3-A was still first, its lead had shrunk. Horikita Manabu was carrying his class alone, but others were holding him back. He could hold on for a while, but not for too long. If this joint exam resulted in another failure, Class 3-A might truly be unable to hold its position.

Hachiman picked up his phone and began to type: [Are you worried about your brother?] Horikita Suzune's reply was fast—so fast it was as if she had already typed it out, waiting for his question: [Yes. His class score is dropping. If this joint exam results in another failure, Class 3-A might not be able to hold on.]

[Brother and his class have worked hard for three years, I don't want any accidents to happen.]

Hachiman looked at the line, able to imagine Horikita Suzune's expression—brows slightly knitted, lips pressed into a line, fingers tapping the screen hard. A part of the reason she worked so hard to save points was to help her brother at a critical moment. Now, she felt that moment had arrived.

Sure enough, another message popped up: [If points are needed—]

She didn't finish the sentence, but Hachiman knew what she meant. She had a few million points; although not twenty million, if her brother really needed them, she would transfer them without hesitation. But Hachiman cut her off: [Save your points for your class transfer. As for President Horikita, he has his own judgment. You can trust him a bit more. Of course, if it's truly needed, I will help as well.] After sending it, he put his phone into his pocket.

He recalled what Horikita Manabu had said to him: "No matter what happens, the Student Council will not fall into chaos." Whether in the original story or now, Hachiman didn't think Horikita Manabu would fall easily. He was the representative of Class 3-A, the Student Council President, and one of the most stable people in this school.

Just as Hachiman was preparing to leave, his phone vibrated again. This time it was a message from Horikita Manabu—only one line, as concise as the man himself: [I am going to the Chairman's office.]

Hachiman stared at the line for a few seconds.

'Good grief, it seems Acting Chairman Tsukishiro has already arrived.'

Not "about to arrive," but "has already arrived." And the fact that he went straight to the Student Council President was likely to establish his authority before the exam began. He

probably wanted to build a relationship with the Student Council, or rather, test if Horikita Manabu was someone who would oppose him.

Hachiman didn't reply. He put his phone away, pushed open the door, and headed toward the school building. Walking on the path, his pace slowed. He remembered what Sakayanagi said yesterday: "I received a message from my father." Sakayanagi's father had been taken away, but he had sent one last message. Hachiman took out his phone and opened the stored message. The content Sakayanagi Narumori sent him wasn't long, but he had read it many times:

[You know a lot. I will leave things to you from here on. I believe Tsukishiro might make Arisu do some foolish things.]

Hachiman stared at the line for a few seconds and then put his phone away.

Sakayanagi's father's meaning was clear—he trusted that Hachiman knew enough to judge the situation. He also trusted that Hachiman could protect Sakayanagi. Tsukishiro might use Sakayanagi to achieve his own goals, such as making her do things she otherwise wouldn't. And as a father, he was no longer at the school and couldn't protect his daughter personally. He could only leave this matter to Hachiman.

Hachiman continued walking forward. He didn't know what Tsukishiro would make Sakayanagi do, but he knew Sakayanagi's father's judgment was likely correct. A person like Tsukishiro, who would stop at nothing to reach his goals, using a student's family relationships was exactly the kind of thing he would do. After all, the Tsukishiro of the original work was essentially what Ayanokouji's father hoped Ayanokouji would become. A "jack-of-all-trades" who would do anything to achieve his goals.

At 8:00 AM, the classroom was already full. Sunlight poured in from the windows, casting patches of light on the desks. Some people had their heads down reading, some were asleep on their desks, and others were chatting in small groups. The atmosphere in Class A was no different than usual, at least on the surface. But Hachiman noticed that the expressions of a few people were tighter than usual—they had probably heard about the change in chairman and the fact that Sakayanagi Arisu was the daughter of the former chairman.

However, the students of this class were "little angels" and wouldn't openly discuss rumors that sounded like hearsay or manipulations. Therefore, although rumors about Sakayanagi had spread, they didn't cause much fluctuation.

When Hachiman walked into the classroom, Ichinose was sitting in her seat, holding her phone as if waiting for a message. Hearing the door, she looked up and nodded at him. "Hikigaya-kun, morning."

"Morning." Hachiman walked to his seat and sat down. "The teacher isn't here yet?"

"Not yet." Ichinose put down her phone. "She's usually here by this time. It's a bit strange today."

Hachiman didn't respond. He leaned back in his chair and waited. The wind from outside the window blew in through the gaps, carrying the chill of early autumn. It was already 8:00 AM sharp. But Hoshinomiya Chie, the homeroom teacher, hadn't arrived. 8:05 AM, 8:10 AM. Some people in the classroom started to feel uneasy. Shibata poked his head out from the back row.

"Why isn't the teacher here yet?" Amikura Mako also put down her phone.

"Could something have happened?" Beppu Ryōta frowned. "No, it's just that the special exam hasn't been announced. If the teacher doesn't come, how will we know what the exam is this month?"

Ichinose looked at Hachiman. Hachiman shook his head slightly. He wasn't sure what had happened, but he could guess—the only thing that could make a homeroom teacher late by ten minutes was the special exam announcement. If the teacher hadn't come to announce the rules, then it was likely the exam plan for the test-setting committee hadn't been finalized. And the reason for that was likely related to Tsukishiro.

Finally, at 8:15 AM, the door was pushed open. Hoshinomiya Chie walked in. Her pace was faster than usual, her chestnut-colored hair was a bit messy, and her face carried a hint of exhaustion. She held a folder, but it looked much thinner than usual—it probably only had a few sheets of paper, or none at all. She walked to the podium, put down the folder, and took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress some emotion.

"Sorry, I'm late. Something came up." The classroom was quiet for a moment, then someone asked, "Teacher, what is this month's special exam?"

Hoshinomiya looked at her and was silent for two seconds. "This month's special exam," her voice slowed down, "will be postponed and announced tomorrow."

The classroom exploded. Shibata's voice was the loudest. "Postponed? Why?"

Hamaguchi Tetsuya frowned. "Isn't it supposed to be announced at the beginning of the month?"

Shibata stood up. "What happened?" Voices poured in from all directions, mixed together like a hornet's nest. Hoshinomiya raised her hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. The classroom slowly fell silent, and everyone looked at her.

"The teachers are protesting jointly." Hoshinomiya's voice was calm, but every word sounded like it had been weighed.

"Chairman Sakayanagi has been taken away because he is under investigation. Acting Chairman Tsukishiro has taken his place. He is not satisfied with the special exam planned by the test-setting committee."

Ichinose's brow furrowed. "Not satisfied?"

"He is demanding that four students from each class drop out," Hoshinomiya said. "Therefore, 16 students per grade level need to drop out."

!?! No way! The classroom was completely silent. But that silence wasn't calm—it was shock. Then someone spoke up, their voice trembling with uncontrollable fear.

"Drop out... four people?"

"Why? We've all been taking exams properly. Why must someone drop out?"

"And four students! That's too much!"

"Is the new acting chairman really that extreme?"

The voices grew louder and more chaotic. Some people slapped their desks, some stood up, and some just sat there, their faces pale. Ichinose's fingers pressed against the desk. However, she did a quick calculation in her mind—Class A's current point reserves could only save one student. If they demanded four dropouts, she couldn't protect everyone.

In other words, people would leave. People would disappear from this class. She didn't want to see that happen. Her gaze turned to Hachiman, her eyes filled with worry and unease. She hoped he would say something, tell her "don't worry, I have a way." But Hachiman didn't speak immediately. He just sat there quietly, his expression calm, showing no emotion.

The noise in the classroom went on for a long time before it slowly subsided. Some people were still whispering, others just sat in silence. Hachiman leaned back in his chair and waited until the commotion had died down before speaking.

"This is actually a broken-window effect." The classroom was quiet for a moment, and everyone's gaze turned to him. Ichinose also turned her head to look at him. "Propose an unacceptable condition first, one that is impossible to agree to," Hachiman's voice was calm, "and then modify it to a second condition that is still harsh compared to the norm, but because of the precedent of the more extreme one, everyone becomes more willing to accept it."

Ichinose's brow twitched slightly. "You mean—the new Acting Chairman Tsukishiro never intended for four people to drop out of each class from the start?"

"He intends to," Hachiman said. "But he knows the teachers won't agree. So he presents the most extreme version first to make the teachers oppose it with all their might. Once the teachers have exhausted their opposition, he takes a step back and brings out a slightly less harsh plan. By then, the teachers will have spent most of their energy and won't have the strength to oppose the second version."

Ichinose was silent for a few seconds. "So he came here with a purpose."

"Yes." Hachiman nodded. "He wants this month's special exam to go according to his plan. The expulsion is the goal, not the means. He wants to make this school accustomed to the fact that people will drop out."

The classroom went quiet again. That silence was heavier than before, as if something was pressing down on everyone's chest. The word "expulsion" was never unfamiliar in this school,

as upperclassmen had long been missing members, but the first years hadn't experienced it yet. And now, the new acting chairman, Tsukishiro, wanted to make "it will definitely happen" a norm.

Shibata sat in the front row, his fists clenched tightly. Amikura Mako kept her head down, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on the desk. Kanzaki Ryuji had a composed expression, but his brow was slightly furrowed. Ichinose sat next to Hachiman, silent for a long time, then spoke in a very soft voice: "The teachers' protest... will it succeed?"

Hachiman looked at her and was silent for a second. "I don't know. But at least they are trying. Besides, the Student Council President also rejected such a punishment." He paused. "President Horikita has already gone to the Chairman's office."

Ichinose's brow twitched slightly. She didn't ask again. She just sat there quietly, looking out the window. The sunlight was nice, but the wind felt colder than before.

She didn't know what exam plan would be announced tomorrow, nor did she know what punishment Tsukishiro would ultimately produce. She only knew—this month would not be as easy as the ones before.

Hachiman withdrew his gaze and leaned back in his chair. He was thinking—Tsukishiro had only just arrived today and had already sought out Horikita Manabu.

He was probing, feeling things out, seeing who in this school would resist him. Then he would deal with them one by one. He could hold off the teachers, and he could make the Student Council President talk in his office, but this was only temporary. Sooner or later, Tsukishiro would produce the plan he truly wanted, and at that time, no one would be able to stop him.

Tsukishiro and his group's goal was to have someone like Ayanokouji, a product of the White Room, defeat the education system of the Advanced Nurturing High School to prove the success of the White Room, and then turn that into political leverage.

However, it was truly excessive to arrange for someone to come, fail, and then return as a judge and test-setter. Shameless adults.

He closed his eyes and opened them again. He remembered the message Sakayanagi's father sent: "You know a lot. I will leave things to you... I believe Tsukishiro might make Arisu do some foolish things."

Now he understood the meaning of that sentence. Sakayanagi Arisu was smart, but her father was her weak point. A person like Tsukishiro wouldn't let such a weak point go.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Hachiman took it out and glanced at it. It was a message from Sakayanagi, only one line: [Tsukishiro has arrived. He's already started making trouble.]

Hachiman stared at the line for a few seconds, then locked the screen and put the phone back. He sat there, expressionless and motionless, just waiting quietly. Waiting for tomorrow's exam notice. Waiting for Tsukishiro to produce his plan. Waiting for the storm to truly arrive.

But one thing was certain: he would not let Tsukishiro's plan succeed, nor would he let Ayanokouji succeed.

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