#36 Strengthening the bonds
I took a look at the list and saw only a few basic rules:
In this test, the cornerstone will be a "target" student that is chosen from each group. By using your critical thinking skills, you will achieve one of the four possible outcomes by the end of the exam.
- 8 AM on the day the exam starts, you will need to mail the other groups of the fact that you have chosen a "target" student from amongst you.
- The exam itself will mostly take place between 4 PM and 9 PM tomorrow.
- For one hour each day, twice, you will need to gather together with your assigned groups and talk.
- The content of the talk will be left up to the discretion of each group.
- At the end of the exam, you will need to identify the "target" students of other groups. This will be done between 9:30 and 10:00 PM. Only one answer can be submitted from each group.
- The answers must be sent to faculty members through a certain address that will be provided to your mobile phones.
- The "target" student cannot be the one to send the answers.
- You must only answer the identity of the "target" student of the group you are assigned. Any other answer will be marked as invalid.
- Details of the results of the exam will be mailed to students by 11:00 PM of the same day.
I memorized the rules and then read the second page of the list where the first and second result of the exam was mentioned.
- Result 1: If the answers of the "target" student as well as the other group members are all correct, they will all receive private points.
- Result 2: If there are incorrect answers or unanswered questions by people other than the "target" student, only the "target" student will receive 500,000 private points.
"Let's say that Yukimura was chosen as the "target". Once you know this, you can simply tell all of the members of your group and all students who will submit their answers with name "Yukimura" will receive 500,000 private points and the "target" himself will get 1 million private points for guiding everyone to the right answer" Mashima-sensei explained when he saw Yukimura and Karuizawa eyeing the first and second result with slight confusion.
Both of them were extremely surprised by the number of points.
Hmm? If it's so easy then there is no reason for the target to actually stay hidden. The other 2 results are on the third page... I took the list and wanted to flip the page but Mashima-sensei stopped me.
"Wait a few seconds before looking at the remaining two results"
...Whatever, it's not like they will run away. I waited for him to explain the 2nd result.
"...Now for the 2nd outcome, if the target would be uncovered by the end of the exam then only the target would receive 500,000 private points"
These two outcomes are similar but second is more useful to use when the target is the student from your class. I still don't know how exactly powerful are private points but it would definitely be better to win only 500,000 for the entire class then win 2,5 million. Why?
Let's say that someone of us 4 would be the target and he would cooperate with everyone. We would definitely have 2,5 million more points but other classes would also receive 1,5-2 million.
The difference of points might be the same as the second outcome but it is too dangerous to give other classes more points than they already have. They are already ahead of us and they might also have better information about private points. Why giving them even more points? I won't even speak about how our class lacks trust and cooperation. Therefore, those won points would be used selfishly. Better to spend selfishly 500,000 points and let other classes have 0. Furthermore, there is still no mention of class points which I believe is far more important than private points.
"The position of the "target" looks really appealing" Karuizawa mumbled but everyone was able to hear it.
"Not really" I said aloud with folded arms.
"Huh? What do you mean, Walker-kun?" Yukimura asked me with a confused expression and Karuizawa looked at me the same way as him.
"We still don't know other results. Just because you see nice things at the beginning doesn't have to mean that it will be nice for the rest of the time. Would you sign the job contract if you saw amazing pay and actually amazing working hours? No, you would also check the other things like the period of employment and place of the working position" I said and looked towards the sensei if I can finally take a look at the remaining results.
"I see..." Yukimura mumbled while holding his chin with a thoughtful expression.
Sensei showed me to go ahead with his hand and I finally took a look at the rest of the exam.
The answers to these two results will be accepted anytime during the exam.
- Result 3: In the case that someone other than the "target" answers the question before waiting for the allocated time and answers correctly, the class the answerer belongs to will receive 50 points and the answerer will receive 500,000 private points. On the other hand, classes whose "target" have been identified will receive a penalty of -50 points for their whole class. Once this has been achieved, the test will be over for the group. However, if a member that belongs to the class of the "target" answers correctly, the previous result will be made invalid and the examination for that group will continue.
- Result 4: In the case that someone other than the "target" answers the question before waiting for the allocated time and answers incorrectly, the class the answerer belongs to will receive a penalty of -50 points but the "target" will still receive 50,000 private points. At the same time, the class in which the target belongs also obtains 50 class points. If the answer is given incorrectly, the group's exam will end. However, if a member belonging to the class of the "target" is the one who answered incorrectly, the answer will be considered invalid and will not be accepted.
Finally the appearance of the class points. So here is the problem. If the target wants to achieve the first result and cooperate with everyone then anyone can betray him. It seems that even results are divided into 2 groups.
The first one is guessing at the end of the exam without any penalty if answered wrongly and the second one is guessing before the allocated time with the risk of penalty if answered wrongly.
"I recommend you to read what is prohibited during the exam on the last page" Mashima-sensei said and we looked at the rules on the last page.
Pretty simple rules like prohibited stealing of other student's phones or sending the answers from someone's else phone. Of course, violence to intimidate someone to reveal the "target" is also prohibited and even communication between students of different groups is also forbidden for a certain period of time. Rules are quite simple but the penalty for breaking those rules is the same for all cases...expulsion.
Mashima-sensei then explained when our first group meeting will be and which room.
...
*sigh* "Even though it might seem impossible, we are still part of the same group. How about we deepen our unity as a group since we are all from the same class? Although the target will be selected tomorrow, we can still talk a bit before leaving..." Yukimura suggested with a helpless look.
He certainly takes it seriously if he even wants to spend more time than needed with Karuizawa...
Karuizawa was getting ready to decline but she stopped and suddenly turned to look at me.
*sigh* What do you want me to say? If you don't want to be here then go, I won't force you to be here.
Her act was unnoticed by Yukimura but Ayanokoji was a different case. He was probably already suspicious of me arriving here together with Karuizawa and her actions didn't help it.
"I don't mind but what about others? Ayanokoji-kun, Karuizawa-san?" I showed my indifference to this matter.
"...I have 20 minutes" Karuizawa accepted with a slightly annoyed expression which greatly surprised Yukimura. It also seems that he changed his opinion of her just a little bit.
"What about you Ayanokoji-kun? You have been pretty quiet the entire time, I hope you don't have any problems with understanding this exam"
"I understood most of it and since everyone is staying I have no reason to leave..." Ayanokoji answered with an aloof expression.
...
We formed a small circle with chairs and started to talk to each other about ourselves and the strategies we could use during the exam.
...
"20 minutes are up. I will go back to my room" Karuizawa said and stood up and she was getting ready to leave but Yukimura stopped her before she could open the door.
"Wait"
"Hm? What is it? I already said that I have only 20 minutes..." Karuizawa turned around with an annoyed expression.
"That's not it...I just- I just wanted to apologize for what I have said to you. You might not be the brightest when it comes to academic things but at least you stayed here with us and actually tried to talk to us" Yukimura said with an embarrassed face. Well, it's never easy to apologize and realize your own mistakes. It seems that he is slowly accepting Karuizawa as a classmate. Please, just don't fuck it up, Karuizawa.
"...Maybe I have been a little bit childish during the survival test and even now...so I apologize too. Now we are even, aren't we?" She looked a bit surprised by his words but she also realized her previous behavior. Well, it's not like she totally changed her way of looking at Yukimura but at least now there was less of the disgust in her eyes. I would say a good start. There are simply people who needs friends and require their protection or at least support to be able to live a fairly good life. I believe that Karuizawa is one of them, however, she chose a different path by staying close to the most popular boy.
She exited the room and closed the door behind her.
"I guess this group won't be so bad in the end" Yukimura mumbled and adjusted his glasses with a hint of a smile on his face.
"By the way, Walker-kun, I believe your academic results are just above average but man...your information processing ability is amazing. You were able to understand the outcomes of this test almost immediately" Yukimura turned at me with a light smile. I guess he is serious type of guy who can also appear to be cold but once you show him your ability or at least your effort, he will accept you.
"Nothing of the kind. I just understood the surface of the exam, that's all" I said honestly. I still had no idea about the inside of the exam. There must be a lot of ways to clear this exam but I will first have to collect more information. I guess it's time to make contact with Horikita...
"I will go back too if there is nothing else. See you tomorrow" I said and waved at them before leaving the room.
Ayanokoji... I thought at the time when I noticed him looking at Karuizawa with an interest visible in his eyes.
I hope you won't do anything stupid because she is the first person that became my friend in this world. Of course, the way she is right now I wouldn't trust her with anything too important but I could have stayed behind and prevent her from getting traumatized from bullying but I left without caring for her emotions. I was getting too attached to her and was starting to view her as my little sister, however, I selfishly thought only about my emotions and left anyway. If I can't view her as a friend anymore then I will at least try to protect her.
...These thoughts make me feel like I am some kind of hero...disgusting. I am slowly forgetting human's true nature by being among the naive teenagers. But it is said that baby can't be born corrupted, it can only be corrupted by society or parents and I don't think Aiko is that kind of person. I will protect her for now and if she can become as hardworking as in the past then I might think about getting closer to her and accepting her as a true friend.
...
[Do you want to meet up?] I sent a message to Horikita.
[We are on the first floor, near the cafe] She almost immediately replied.
We?
[Are you perhaps with Ayanokoji-kun?]
[Huh? How did you know?] Sounds like she was surprised by my guess.
[He is the only one you spend time with...nevermind, I will join you shortly] I sent the last message and hid my phone.