Chapter 168 – Yukio’s proposal

When everyone present heard Horikita Manabu mention the special exams for all three grades, there was no surprise. The upperclassmen didn't even need to mention it; they're old hands at this and could almost guess the school's arrangements without any panic.

Yukio and Ichinose displayed no doubts, nor did they question why a special exam was following right after the sports festival.

After all, during the previous summer break, wasn't it just a few days of rest after the deserted island special exam before the privilege exam kicked off?

Having gone through two consecutive special exams, the appearance of another right after the sports festival didn't phase them emotionally.

More than the special exams, they were actually more concerned about the internal turnover of the student council.

Kiriyama had some thoughts in his eyes, but those thoughts evaporated when he saw Yukio sitting across from him.

He should understand that even if he personally wanted to sit in the president's chair of the student council, with Nagumo before him and the newly joined Yukio after him, that coveted position was nothing more than a pipe dream for him.

In contrast to Kiriyama, Tachibana was about to exit the student council along with Horikita Manabu as a third-year student, so the turnover hardly concerned her.

Ichinose seemed to guess that Horikita Manabu planned to appoint Yukio as the new president of the student council. Her eyes gleamed joyously at Yukio, as if congratulating him.

This time, possibly due to Nagumo's absence, Horikita Manabu's voice wasn't so cold; he detailed the upcoming special exams quite meticulously: "Let's talk about the special exam first, which is different from the sports festival."

"This time, it's not a grand competition involving all three grades. Each grade will undergo a separate exam, each facing different challenges."

Yukio slightly nodded his chin, indicating that this was the norm for the school's special exams, and the sports festival where all three grades participated together was an exception.

In general, each grade would face its own unique special exam.

"For your first year, the special exam will be a team-based one. Kiriyama, the second year will face a group collaboration test, and for us third years, it will be about career courses."

"The school hasn't told us much, only a few points that we could adjust."

"Yukio, Ichinose, your first-year team exam roughly involves pairs passing the final exam together, where even if you score perfectly, if your partner fails, you both fail."

"Really?" Ichinose reacted, not out of concern for the difficulty of teaming up, but merely surprised at the simplicity of this special exam.

Compared to the uninhabited island and the preferential special exam, this team-based special exam seemed particularly easy. Especially for Ichinose's class or Sakayanagi's class, both of which excel academically.

No matter who they pair up with, they likely wouldn't fail, so it didn't seem risky. Without risk, this kind of special exam seemed too simple, right?

Yukio focused on the timing: "So it's going to be during the end-of-term exam? This special exam gives us plenty of preparation time. Does that mean some first-year classes need extra time to prepare?"

Horikita Manabu, facing their different reactions, didn't provide definitive information: "The school hasn't disclosed all the details, so I can't answer all your questions."

"I can only give you my personal opinion, based on nearly three years of experience at this school. Firstly, Ichinose, don't think the school will make things easy. Special exams are not designed for easy passing."

"Next, Yukio, whether time is given or not is up to the school. I've encountered very sudden special exams before, completely unanticipated, which caused our class some losses."

"So you need to always maintain a calm demeanor to handle the school's arrangements."

"And lastly, Kiriyama, for your second-year group cooperation exam, it's quite simple. You'll just need to form several groups and complete some task, not too difficult."

Perhaps to provide the juniors with more information, even though it didn't concern them, Horikita Manabu didn't skip over the third-year special exam content: "Our third-year workplace training exam is more complex."

"It's essentially to let us graduating students experience the workplace atmosphere in advance, and face some workplace challenges."

As the others processed the information given by Horikita Manabu, Yukio was the first to speak: "It sounds like your special exam is the most interesting, President Horikita."

Compared to other types of special exams, the third-year workplace exam seemed much more intriguing.

Horikita Manabu, usually showing a poker face, rarely smiled: "If you're really that interested, I can apply to the school to let you experience it. However, this experience wouldn't provide any rewards for you."

"Is there such a privilege?" Yukio was genuinely surprised this time. The student council president's privileges extended to allowing someone to participate in cross-grade special exams.

Horikita Manabu shook his head slightly in denial: "Strictly speaking, it's not a student council privilege. It's just that the student council president is highly regarded by the school, so any application I submit is generally approved."

Yukio clicked his tongue in his mind, pondering the similarities between this and actual authority. If the student council president's suggestions are always accepted by the school, isn't that practically real power?

With this thought in mind, Yukio got an idea: "How about this, President Horikita, why don't you suggest to the school that we skip the team-based special test, and also cancel the collaborative test for the second years?"

"Instead, let's have all three grades participate in the workplace special test together."

"!?" Kiriyama's eyes widened. What? Have them directly participate in the third years' special test? If he wants to participate, he should go alone! Why involve all of the second years?

"!?" Tachibana also raised her hands, covering her mouth slightly, afraid of exclaiming aloud. This junior is quite extreme, isn't he? Isn't he worried about causing significant harm to his class by rashly wanting to participate in the third years' special test?

Even Ichinose wanted to dissuade Yukio. Despite Horikita Manabu previously informing her that special tests always contain challenges and are never easy, the team-based special test seemed simpler than the workplace special test, right?

However, in the end, she didn't speak up. Ichinose felt that, after knowing and being around Yukio for so long, she understood his character somewhat. She wisely concluded that Yukio wouldn't listen to her advice, so she could only wait and see what Horikita Manabu would decide.

Horikita Manabu also had a peculiar expression. It was the first time he'd seen such a bold junior. Even before, when Nanami frequently challenged Horikita Manabu, he never dared to suggest that the entire grade participate in the third years' special test.

He didn't believe that Yukio was so reckless and thoughtless, which didn't match the Yukio he knew. "Do you simply think it's interesting and want all three grades to take the special test together?"

"No," Yukio waved his hand, indicating that it wasn't for such a childish reason. "I just want to see the true strength of your class, President."

"During the sports festival, although our class surpassed the third-year Class A and took first place, our two classes never clashed in the team events, so it feels like this first-place ranking is somewhat inflated."

"So, President Horikita, how about we officially compete in this special test?"

***

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