Hikigaya doesn't want to be a force of strength

Kushida Kikyo was openly leaning towards Hikigaya, with a brilliant smile without any concealment, and her whole body was almost sticking to Hikigaya.

"Too close, too close..."

Hikigaya felt somewhat helpless with Kushida's attitude, but he couldn't find a place to escape.

Because if he fled in the opposite direction of Kushida, his whole body would stick to Horikita Suzune, and he would definitely be beaten to death on the spot!

But Kushida's behavior was too blatant, forcing him to hide in the direction of Horikita.

Hikigaya thought that Horikita would at least push him away, if not beat him up on the spot.

But to his surprise, the black-haired girl seemed to have not noticed his approach at all. She sat there calmly without showing any emotion.

Huh? Has my favorability increased without me noticing?

While Hikigaya was surprised, Kushida Kikyo smiled and said, "It's great to be in the same group with Hikigaya-san. I feel so happy."

The girl said this with a look of joy on her face, but Hikigaya had no idea whether that smile was real or fake.

"Humph, I'm actually in the same group with you... If you dare to hold us back, I won't show any mercy in the future."

Horikita Suzune showed her sharp attitude as always.

Well, it turns out that the increase in favorability is just an illusion.

Faced with two teammates with such distinct personalities, Hikigaya was really a little overwhelmed. He didn't expect that he would be so unlucky.

Is this really necessary? Can't you just let yourself go to a slightly more normal group?

Hikigaya felt a little unhappy in his heart, but he said nothing on the surface.

After all, right now, Mr. Tomoya Mashima's aura is very serious, as if he will jump into the situation and start explaining the exam content at any time.

However, the other party seemed to be a very strict punctual person. There were still a few minutes before 8:40, so he simply closed his eyes and meditated, intending to wait until the clock reached 8:40 before officially starting.

As a result, the room was now plunged into complete silence, with only the music box clock specially set up in the room constantly turning, and the ticking sound of the second hand echoing throughout the silent room.

As the time reached the agreed time of 8:40, Mr. Majima, who had been motionless, suddenly opened his eyes, scaring Kushida and Hikigaya.

However, Horikita Suzune's expression did not change throughout the whole process, and she was not shaken at all by Majima-sensei's performance.

"You are Kushida, Hikigaya, and Horikita from Class D, right?" Majima-sensei glanced at the three of them and spoke silently, "Next, I will explain the special exam to you."

It really is the exam instructions.

It is impossible to conduct an exam covering the entire grade in just twenty minutes, so this is most likely just a precursor to an exam.

Horikita and Kushida seemed to have understood this in advance and did not raise any questions at this time.

Teacher Majima nodded in approval and took a special look at Hikigaya.

My goodness, what’s going on with the head teacher of Class A?

Why do you keep looking at me?

This guy can't be a Nantong...

While Hikigaya was confused, Mashima Tomoya continued, "For this special exam, the school will divide all first-year students into twelve groups, likening them to the Chinese zodiac. We will hold exams within those groups. The purpose of the exam is to test thinking ability."

"Thinking ability? What does that mean?"

Horikita and Kushida asked the question at almost the same time.

Although Hikigaya was also very curious about what Mr. Majima said, he didn't want to attract attention, so he decisively gave the opportunity to ask questions to the two people around him.

I always felt like these two guys were leaning towards me when they were asking questions...

Is it an illusion?

"I will not accept any questions at this stage. Please listen to me quietly."

Mashima Tomoya stopped Horikita and Kushida's questions with cold words. His attitude was calm and natural, without revealing any unnecessary clues.

Judging from his attitude alone, the other party is very similar to Chabashira Sae, the homeroom teacher of Class D.

The only difference between him and Chabashira Sensei is that compared to Chabashira Sae who is completely uncooperative, Mashima Tomoya only showed pure indifference, with no emotional ups and downs.

Compared to Chabashira-sensei who keeps a distance from everyone, Majima-sensei seems to keep the same distance from everyone.

While Hikigaya was observing and thinking about Class A's homeroom teacher, Mr. Majima glanced at Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo, who already understood the rules, and nodded silently.

This group is full of smart people who are very cooperative. In comparison, the other students in Class D probably have a lot of idiots whose brains are as dull as those of primitive people.

If the other party had just communicated with the other students in Class D in advance, he must have experienced enough similar stupidity.

Therefore, Mr. Majima continued with great satisfaction:

"Then let me continue... The basic abilities required of people in society can be roughly divided into three categories - Action, Thinking, and Teamwork. Only those who possess these abilities will be qualified to become excellent adults. The previous uninhabited island exam focused on Teamwork, and this special exam focuses on Thinking."

"Thinking ability means the ability to analyze the current situation and clarify the issues, the ability to understand the process of solving the problem and prepare for it, and the ability to use creativity to create new value - you will need these in the future."

Tomoya Mashima spoke out the contents of the exam in one breath, but although he got the answers to the questions, the people present became even more confused.

Hikigaya also didn't fully understand what this exam was about.

If Thinking means being in a daze, he feels that he can definitely win the championship.

"Anyway, this exam will be divided into twelve groups, and you are one of the twelve groups." Mr. Majima said everything silently, and added, "Are there any problems here?"

"I wonder why they are divided into groups like this!"

Hikigaya was the first to ask a question. The last thing he wanted to do now was to be in the same group with Horikita and Kushida. For him, it would be a pure stomach-aching experience.

In response to Hikigaya's question, Mashima Tomoya calmly replied:

"The division of the groups was decided by the school and a special rule was adopted. It is a reasonable allocation and there is no need to object to it."

Reasonable distribution?

You're asking an ordinary person like me to compete on the same stage with these two freaks from Class D. Are you sure this is a fair assignment?

I am just as pitiful as a little white rabbit!

However, since the other party had already said so, he no longer had any doubts about it.

Next, Mr. Majima looked at Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo, wanting to see if the two had any questions to ask, but found that after a brief pause, their gazes were focused on Hikigaya, as if they had already decided to make Hikigaya the center of this conversation.

Not expecting things to turn out this way, Hikigaya could only bite the bullet and say, "Well, there are only three of us in a group? If we divide the whole grade into twelve groups, each group should have about ten to fifteen people."

"Yes, there are indeed more than ten people in a group. Currently, other rooms are also explaining the same thing to the members in your group."

"I see. We are actually going to work together with people from other classes this time."

Hikigaya instantly figured out the key points of this exam.

This quick reaction ability further caught Majima-sensei's attention, making his already existing scrutiny of Hikigaya even more surprising.

On the other hand, Kushida Kikyo, who was standing by, seemed to have not figured out the situation yet, and said with a look of surprise:

"Collaborate with other classes? Why did it turn out like this?"

"Yeah, we've been competing with other classes all the way here, and now we're suddenly asked to form a team with other classes. This is too weird." Horikita didn't expect this to happen, and couldn't help but speak in surprise.

"You've come all this way to compete? Your school life has only just begun for half a year. If you panic at this stage, your future is really worrying, Horikita."

"This……"

After hearing Mr. Majima's comments, Horikita Suzune seemed to have no reaction, but there was a hint of darkness in her eyes.

The failure of the uninhabited island obviously still binds her.

Majima-sensei looked at the two people's reactions and shook his head casually. "Now you should not try to understand, but think. The group you are assigned to is 'Tatsuya'. Here is the list of group members. Please return this paper when you leave the room, so if you think it is necessary, write it down here first."

"Team list?"

Hikigaya was the first to take the piece of paper handed over by Mr. Majima, and found that the group name and the names of a total of fourteen people were written on it.

Just as Mr. Majima said, except for the three of them, all other students are composed of classes A to C.

The meaning of the Chen group seems to be the twelve zodiac signs of the Celestial Empire, also known as the [Dragon] group.

The member structure is as follows:

Class A: Katsuragi Kohei, Nishikawa Ryoko, Toba Shinji, Yano Koharu

Class B: Honami Ichinose, Sayo Ando, ​​Hitomi Tsube

Class C: Ryuen Sho, Shiina Hiyori, Suzuki Eitoshi, Sonoda Masashi

Class D: Kushida Kikyo, Horikita Suzune, Hikigaya Hachiman

If Hikigaya were to use one word to describe this grouping, it would be "unbelievable".

Which idiot came up with such an outrageous grouping?

If I am guilty, please let the law judge me instead of throwing me into such a torturous group, which is simply worse than death!

Hikigaya now wishes he could stab himself to death rather than take part in this outrageous exam that could be called a Shura field!

Chapter 348: People without friends are so pathetic!

The special exam on the cruise ship divided the first-year students into twelve groups, and Hikigaya was assigned to the Tatsuni Group, also known as the Dragon Group.

However, the members of the Dragon Group are just like the name of the group, and each of them seems to be extraordinary.

Katsuragi Kōhei from Class A, Ichinose Honami from Class B, Ryuen Sho from Class C...

Being in a group with this bunch of guys is no longer stressful, it's basically a hellish level of difficulty grouping. I even suspect that someone is secretly manipulating it.

In other words, it would be impossible for such a group to be formed if there was no conspiracy behind the school!

Why should I include myself in this group?

It is easy to understand why Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo appear here. Why would a lone ranger like myself with no sense of existence be assigned to the Dragon Team?

The person sitting here shouldn't be Ayanokouji Kiyotaka or Koenji Rokusuke, at least it should be Hirata Yosuke...

Hikigaya was complaining in his heart. At the same time, Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo on his left and right were also shocked by the names of the members on the group list.

The two stared at the list in their hands in amazement. Even though they didn't know the specific rules of the exam at this stage, they could already feel the pressure.

"Have you finished reading the list?" Teacher Mashima Tomoya looked at the three people in front of him calmly, as if he was taking in their different expressions. "Now, I will formally explain the content of this exam to you. If you have any questions, please wait until I have finished explaining everything before asking."

Then, without waiting for Hikigaya and the others to respond, he spoke on his own: "First of all, I hope you can confirm a major premise, that is, in this exam, you should ignore the relationship between Class A and Class D. Doing so may be a shortcut to passing the exam."

"..."

Majima-sensei's words were so shocking that Horikita and Kushida couldn't help but reveal expressions of excitement.

However, due to the premise just put forward by the other party, the two of them could not ask questions at this time and could only suppress their confused looks.

At the same time, Mashima Tomoya continued:

"From now on, you will not act as Class D, but as the Dragon Team. The results of passing the exam will be set individually for each group."

"Each team will aim for a special result in this special exam, and the exam results will be determined by the final result. In order to make it easier for you to understand, the school has also prepared a document with the results, but it is forbidden to take it out or take pictures of it. Please check this place carefully in advance."

Majima-sensei said as he handed over a few crumpled papers, obviously because many people had seen them before.

Hikigaya silently read the rules written on the paper.

【Summer Group Special Examination Instructions】

This exam is based on the "favored students" assigned to each group.

If you answer the questions at the school using the prescribed method, you will definitely get one of the four results.

1. The school will send out emails to notify all students at 8: a.m. on the day of the exam, and will also inform those who have been selected as preferential candidates of the fact that they have been selected.

2. The exam schedule is from tomorrow to four days later at 9 pm.

3. Team members must gather in the designated room twice a day at the designated time and have a one-hour discussion.

4. The discussion content is entirely decided by the group itself.

5. Regarding the answer section, after the exam, the school will only accept answers to the question "Who is the preferential treatment recipient?" between 9:30 pm and 10 pm on the same day. In addition, each person can answer the question only once.

6. The school only accepts students to answer questions by sending emails to the designated mailbox using their own mobile phones.

7. The recipients of the preferential treatment do not have the right to send the answers by email.

8. All answers to groups other than the one to which you belong will be considered invalid.