Classroom Of The Elite Year 1 Vol 8

INTRODUCTION

On a Thursday morning not too long after the 3rd semester began, several

buses travelled on a highway. The 1st years weren't the only ones on the

buses. The 2nd years and the 3rd years are also on board. In other words, it's

a wholesale migration for the entire student body of the school. The bus that

we, the 1st years' Class C, were riding on entered a tunnel and soon

afterwards, our ears were assaulted by the sensation of being clogged up.

This is my second time on a bus since enrolling in this school. Where we're

going and what we'll be doing there are things we haven't received the

slightest bit of explanation on.

At this stage, all I can tell is that we were all instructed to wear our jerseys

and that it is strongly recommended we prepare several spare jerseys and

underwear. However, at the very least it's probably not going to be a field

trip. The travel time is about 3 hours, a rather long travel time, and so within

the limits of what's allowed the students brought with them their favourite

things. Things like cell phones, books and cards or snacks and juice.

There were also students amongst them who brought along gaming devices.

Since the seats on the bus were ordered according to our names, it was 'Ike

Kanji' who happened to take the seat beside me. I had intended to get along

with him after enrolling but when I realized it, we had became 'only

classmates' and our opportunities to hang out drastically decreased.

Even now it's not me, sitting beside him, that he's talking to. He stood on the

seat with his knees, turned back, and talked to Sudou and Yamauchi and the

others in a loud voice since they were seated far from him. From time to time,

I could hear the girls warning them about their voices being annoying but

they don't seem to be paying attention to that. The bus interior is quite

raucous. No wonder they aren't being considerate. I do feel a bit lonely but

there's no helping it.

Fortunately enough, through the exams I was able to befriend students like

Keisei and Akito. We were inside a bus with a harmonious atmosphere about

it but I could tell that this won't be a mere picnic. I may have been able to

consider it mere leisure if it had been in the middle of the winter vacation but

the 3rd semester is already underway.

In that case, assuming that this is going to be a special exam like it had been

with the uninhabited island is best for peace of mind. However, it's not like

Ike and the others haven't matured either. Probably. Chabashira observed the

students going about their own business curiously. Close to my seat and near

the driver's seat, she's there just observing the students. Since it'd be

troublesome if our eyes met by any chance, I decided to look out the window.

This is a long tunnel.

It's been roughly 2-3 minutes since we entered the tunnel. Just as I thought

that, slowly I could feel my field of vision brightening up. We had left the

tunnel. As though she had been waiting for that, Chabashira moved. At the

same time, the pain in my ear increased.

"Sorry about cutting your fun short but pipe down."

Chabashira said that to the students while holding a handheld microphone in

her hands.

"I thought you lot might like to know where this bus is going and what we'll

do then."

"Of course we're curious about that. You're not going to tell me it's the

uninhabited island again, are you?"

Receiving Ike's complaint, Chabashira answered.

"Looks like what happened on the uninhabited island is hard to forget for you

lot since it's sticking around in your memory. But calm yourselves. An exam

of that scale isn't something that can be held frequently. It means we're not

cruel enough to force you into that now that summer's over for you lot.

However, as you may have already inferred, a new special exam will be held.

Your living standards will be extremely high compared to the uninhabited

island."

She said that but it's not something particularly trustworthy. Leaving aside

the uninhabited island, up until now there have been special exams held that

ordinary students would have considered difficult. Most importantly, a

student will be forced to directly confront the pitfall known as expulsion that

lurks behind the special exams.

"The special exam that will be demanded from you Class D students from

now is!"

She went that far yet Chabashira stopped speaking.

At that moment, my classmates gave little, proud smiles.

Immediately afterwards, Chabashira lowered her head as though in respect

and apologized.

"My apologies. You're already students of 'Class C'. Now then, since you've

been promoted, I'll explain the details of the special exams to you lot."

Having overcome multiple special exams, the students who have finally made

their way up to Class C in the 3rd semester appeared to be accepting their

current situation calmly. The fact that the explanation will take place in the

bus means that from this point onwards, it's possible to prepare

countermeasures to a certain extent or I'll at least have the chance to do so.

Since we were still in motion, it's forbidden to carelessly get up from your

seat but inside the bus, one's voice will easily reach everyone. If you use a

phone then it's possible to talk only with a specific person. Even Ike and the

others who are usually very rowdy, immediately stopped to listen to what

Chabashira had to say.

Even if it's just this, it still shows that they've grown somewhat.

"From this point onwards, you will be taken to an outdoors school deep in a

certain mountain. In all likelihood, we'll arrive at our destination before

another hour passes. The shorter the explanation takes the more of a 'grace

period' you will have available."

So this means there's approximately one hour to go until the special exam

starts.

Even if it takes 20 minutes to conduct the explanation that still leaves 40

minutes. That much time would be left for me to formulate a strategy in

regards to the special exam. That's probably what she meant by 'grace

period'. "Isn't outdoors school something you attend in the summer?"

The mountains we can see from the highway are still covered in white snow.

A question came forth from Ike, who's an expert when it comes to mountains

from his time as a boy scout.

"Can't you keep quiet and listen to me? I believe I've just told you about the

'grace period'". Chabashira said so more pleasantly than angrily. Ike

apologized and scratched his head. A brief laughter ensued.

Outdoors school.

Since I haven't heard of that word before I looked it up on my phone.

"Taking place mainly in summer, it commonly takes place on a day with

pleasant weather in places like mountains or other locations where greenery

is abundant. Collective action is undertaken with the aim of promoting

students' health. Also could refer to facilities used for that purpose."

I see. Like Ike said, it usually takes place in the summer. But still, it's not like

it absolutely has to take place in that season or anything.

"Opportunities to meet senior students normally…especially for students not

participating in any club activity are limited. But at the outdoors school, we'll

be taking collective action that goes beyond school years for 7 nights and 8

days. It's like something beyond even what the sports festival offered. The

name of the special exam that will be taking place is 'Mixed Training Camp'.

Since you'll still be anxious if it's just a verbal explanation I'll be distributing

the materials now."

Chabashira began walking and handed over a bundle of the materials to the

student sitting in the front row seat. We each took one and passed the rest

behind. The material itself was rather thick and amounted to multiple pages.

Since we weren't instructed in particular not to go ahead and look, I flipped

over and looked through it.

There were pictures of what appears to be the training camp properly

included.

Rooms where students can sleep, large baths, cafeterias and the such are

included. Seeing all this makes it look fun, or rather, like reading a travel

guidebook though... But it's inevitable that every important word

regarding the special exam we see would make our moods somber. Even if

it's a special exam, there's the relatively thick paper we were handed on top

of the verbal explanation.

Even if you think of it as being the same as the explanation for the Paper

Shuffle we received not too long ago, this special exam seems like it's

shaping up to be something bothersome.

Not too long after, it appears everyone got their hands on the paper. After

confirming that, Chabashira continues speaking.

"Feel free to read ahead but I'm going to go ahead with the explanation for

the Mixed Training Camp. Since I'll be collecting the materials before you

get off the bus, make sure you understand the rules well. I'll be accepting

questions at the very end so make sure to shut up and listen. Do you

understand that?"

Chabashira said so as she looked at Ike again. Ike made two or three zipping

motions over his mouth.

"This time around, the special exam will be a training camp focusing mainly

on mental development. In order to accomplish that, we'll start with the

ABCs of integrating into society and we'll confirm whether or not you can

live in harmony with those you don't interact with commonly. And each and

every one of you will learn it."

So would that be the reason why we'll have to take collective action

alongside the senior students? Chabashira said so as well but students

engaged in club activities will have established relationships between senior

students and junior students but even so, most of that will be limited to club

activities only. Students outside of that category will have had absolutely no

contact with the senior students and those students aren't a minority by any

measure.

Essentially it'd have been great if such exchanges were to be carried out

voluntarily without the need to use club activities as an intermediary but it's

also a fact that reality isn't that simple. However, how exactly are they going

to involve the senior students in this? Unless contact between us isn't an

absolute necessity, then just like during the sports festival, students will

probably keep their distance.

Well, we're probably heading over into the mountains for the 'training camp'

to ensure that doesn't happen though... Either way, as long as the rules for

the special exam aren't properly set, it's easy to figure out loopholes.

There's a massive gap between the 1st years and the 2nd years in terms of

physical and mental development. For teenagers, the period of a year is very

significant. It won't be by that much but we probably won't be able to fight

against them on equal terms.

First off, once you lot arrive at the destination, I'll have you split up based

on gender. Then you'll hold a discussion across all school years and then

you'll divide yourselves up into six groups."

"Six groups, based on gender..."

As though to memorize it, Ike muttered to himself beside me. The

explanation has just begun but Chabashira continued on without stopping.

"The lower and upper limits for the number of people in a group have been

decided. Look at the fifth page of the material in your hands and have a good

look at the patterns for the number of people written down there."

All at once, the students turned their eyes to look at the fifth page of the

material. It appears the rules pertaining to the groups in the training camp are

written there.

"When establishing a group, there's both a lower and an upper limit to the

number of people that can be in it. That number has been calculated from the

separation of boys and girls as well as the school years. For instance: - If

there are 60 boys in the same school year then 8-13. - If there are 70 boys in

the same school year then 9-14. - If there are 80 boys in the same school year

then 10-15. will be the lower and upper limits for a group.

However, if the number is below 60 then please refer to the special section.

That was written there. If there is no difference in the ratio of boy to girl

across school years then in theory one class should have 40 and if the ratio of

boys to girls is 5:5, then the total number of boy for the 1st year would be 80.

10-15 would form one group and in total, six groups would be formed. The

fact that they referred to the total number of students means that depending

on the number of expulsions for the entire school year, the amount of people

required would change as well.

"I think you're already aware of it but the fact that the division into six is

based on gender means that you'll have students from other classes mixed in

hen the groups form. Also, for the duration of the outdoors school, you'll

have to overcome the special exam with that group. It means your fates are

tied to one another."

"It's unreasonable to ask us to form a group with guys from other classes.

Aren't they the enemy?"

Perhaps he couldn't stand to keep quiet any longer, as Ike muttered that so

Chabashira could hear. But maybe he struck on a good idea, as he then spoke

as though a light bulb had been lit above his head.

"Is that so? Then we don't really have to care about that, right? We can

simply divide ourselves, Class C, into two groups and that'll be the end of

that. That's what it means, right? Ayanokouji."

Ike asked me that in a loud voice. Certainly, it's possible to go with the lower

limit of 10 to form two Class C groups and this problem can be solved that

way. However, that idea of Ike's unfortunately won't fly.

"That sounds good but things won't be that simple. The rules don't permit a

group to be formed from just one class alone. As long as the number of

people in your group meet the quota it doesn't matter which class you team

up with but at the very least, there needs to be two classes or more mixed

together."

That statement of Chabashira's also happened to be properly written under

the heading of dividing up people.

"Each group must have students from at least two or more classes as a

prerequisite."

"Do you mean we'll be forced to work together with the enemy?"

It's not so much a question but more along the line of words that

unexpectedly leaked out of Ike. Chabashira, looking slightly exasperated,

replied.

"That would be what it means. Of course, it's not impossible to try and form

a group composed of students from your class as much as possible. As long

as there's even a single student from another class then you'll have formed it

after all."

In short, make two groups and go with the lower limit of 10 people. And of

those, 9 would be from Class C. If we do so, we can form a group that's

'mostly Class C'.

However, I doubt a group like that will be acknowledged by all school years

when the discussion takes place. There aren't many students who'd join a

group that's made up mostly of people from another class. Also, would

having more people be better? Or having less people be better? And if it will

change or not? If this is an exam where advantages and disadvantages can

occur based on the difference between the number of people in each group

then having a group with few people would be risky.

But since the conditions of the exam aren't clear yet it's impossible to judge

the merits and demerits of the number of people. Whether it be luck or

misfortune will depend on the essence of this exam.

"Is it better for a group to have many people? Or few people? That will have

a significant impact on the 'outcome' I am going to explain now."

Saying that, Chabashira laughed lightly.

It's easy to figure out since everyone's thoughts were pointed in the same

direction.

"Could you please continue with the explanation of the rules? I'm curious

about the outcome but first I'd like to know what sort of things we'll be doing

as a group."

Hirata, who felt uneasy, said so and urged Chabashira to continue.

"That's right. If I answer every single one of Ike's doubts we won't make any

progress."

Ike apologetically scratched his head.

"The groups will be something akin to temporary classes formed for the

outdoors school only. However, even if it's only temporary, the contents of it

will be intense. Members of a group will take lessons together, will cook and

wash together and will even bathe and go to bed together. You will

experience daily life of all different kinds together."

If they knew that they'd be taking baths and going to bed together, both boys

and girls alike would scream.

"I don't feel like I can live together with folks from other classes—..."

I can understand why Ike would grumble like that. We did cooperate with

another class during the sports festival, but that was a temporary thing. It can

hardly be said that we went through thick and thin together. By the way, after

coming here, we were about to take part in an exam that would cross class

boundaries. Depending on the circumstances, we may yet form a group that

has all four classes mixed in it.

"How the outcome of the special exam will be decided, that will depend on a

comprehensive exam that will take place on the last day of outdoor school. A

rough idea of the exam's contents are written on the page 7. Go through it."

We were told to do such, and inevitably everyone checked it simultaneously.

"Morals" "Mental Discipline" "Order" "Individuality"

Subjects we would never have to learn in an ordinary school were lined up

there. In other words, I should view this as an exam separate from things like

English and mathematics, which fall under academic ability. The troublesome

thing is, there is no 'clear answer' in an exam like this. There is information

on each subject in the materials we were given but they are all abstract.

There's nothing about how exactly, in detail, the exam will be conducted.

Furthermore, I looked at a sample schedule. After we wake up, we'd work on

our morning assignments. Then we'd gather at the dojo for Zazen and then

we'd go to work (such as cleaning). Then we eat breakfast. Afterwards, we'll

study various things in a classroom. After that, we eat lunch. We then receive

assignments for the afternoon and once again we practice Zazen.

Then we'd have dinner and a bath and go back to bed. It's an entirely

different lifestyle from the one we've lived up until now. By the way, unlike

our usual holidays, lessons will be held throughout the morning on Saturdays.

It appears we'll only be able to rest on a Sunday.

"More details on your schedule will be announced upon arrival at the

outdoors school. What kind of special exam will take place and in what order

on the last day is also something I cannot tell you at this stage."

It means that we'll have to play it by ear for the duration of the special exam.

It could be that the subject they listed as 'Zazen' will also be a part of the

exam. It would be best if I assumed little things like posture and attitude will

also influence the exam. Other than that, words like 'speech' and

'fabrication' are also disturbing signs.

"Deciding your groups is of utmost importance. All six groups must be as

one and must be capable of overcoming a week of the camp. No matter what

the reason may be, you are not allowed to withdraw from your group halfway

through or change members. If a student is forced to retire from either

sickness or injury, then the group must deal with that gap on their own by

assuming 'that student exists'". In other words, if there's discord between us

or if we antagonize one another, then we won't be able to proceed. More and

more it's starting to look like on top of forming our groups, we'll also have to

eliminate the other classes. Full-scale lessons will start on Friday morning,

that's tomorrow, and until Wednesday next week there will be lessons held at

the outdoor school.

And also, on the 8th day which will be a Thursday, all school years will take

an exam simultaneously and we will be graded.

"After the 1st years have established their groups, they will rendezvous with

the 2nd and 3rd years who will have established their groups at the same

time. In short, it means six groups will have formed numbering around 30 to

45 people composed of 1st years up to 3rd years."

The situation's already a chaotic one having to form groups amongst fellow

1st years, but other school years will be added to the mix as well.

As soon as that fact was conveyed, a strange atmosphere came over the bus

interior.

"If I have to put it simply, the groups you'll be forming with your school year

are the small groups and the groups that will be formed from all school years

will be the large groups."

Each and every group we form from our school year will be 'small groups'.

The small groups will rendezvous with small groups from the 2nd years and

the 3rd years and ultimately we'll end up as six 'large groups'.

"Now moving onto the important topic: the outcome. That will depend on the

'point averaged' from the exam results of every member in the six, large

groups. It means the talents of the other school years will also play an

important role."

Basically, an average point will be calculated from all 40 people making up a

large group. What worries me is the difference in the number of people. If it's

an average point we're talking about, even though it should be hard for

inequality to creep in, depending on how the small groups are assembled

there could be a considerable difference in the number of people once we

form a large group.

The crucial thing here is 'how to form a large group'. If this is an exam where

we'd simply have to compete against one another in terms of academic ability

then it's obvious the large group where all the talented students have gathered

will win. Conversely, students judged talentless will inevitably be chased out

of the top groups and will have to form low ranking groups.

However, it's not like you're guaranteed to win out in this special exam just

by gathering talented students.

"You've gotten the gist of it to a certain extent, haven't you? Then now for

last, I'll be explaining the most important thing here. That is, to say, the result

of this special exam's outcome."

So basically what we'll stand to gain and what we stand to lose, huh? Once

again, the reason why we're divided based on groups and not classes should

be hidden here.

"For large groups whose average points put them in 1st place through 3rd

place, all their students will receive private points as well as class points. For

large groups that come in at 4th place all the way down to last place, let's just

say you'll receive a demerit."

The details regarding the outcome was, of course, also written on the

materials we were given.

"Basic Rewards."

1st Place: 10,000 private points. 3 class points.

2nd Place: 5000 private points. 1 class point.

3rd Place: 3000 private points.

The aforementioned rewards will be distributed to each and every student.

If in a small group of 10, 9 happened to be from the same class, they will

stand to gain 27 class points by coming in at 1st place. Of course it's only

describing an ideal scenario but it would be for the best if we could collect

students from the same class to the utmost of our ability and come in at 1st

place. However, the more people we have, the greater the damage we'll

sustain should we lose. Furthermore, if the number of people increases, the

more difficult it will become to control the group. By the way, the minus

factors that concern me hold far more weight than the few plus factors there

are.

4th Place: 5000 private points. 5th Place: 10,000 private points. 3 class

points. 6th Place: 20,000 private points. 5 class points.

The aforementioned points will be deducted from each and every student.

Private points and class points won't fall below zero but it'll remain behind

as cumulative deficit and it'll be calculated out whenever we receive rewards

in future exams. It can be said that this is an element that hadn't been present

up until now. The reason why one would feel the rewards for 1st place

through to 3rd place are somewhat lacking is because there's a huge trick

behind it.

On the subject of rewards, this sentence was written down. Chabashira went

ahead and read it out.

"It's set up such that depending on how many of a particular class is present

in a small group, the reward may be doubled. On top of that, the more people

there are making up a small group, it will be amplified even further. These

are rules that apply for 1st place through to 3rd place and this won't apply for

the deduction for 4th place and below so relax."

If two classes make up a small group then 1st place through to 3rd place will

be rewarded as aforementioned but if it's composed of three classes then both

those points will double. If it's composed of four classes then it will triple.

Furthermore, since the amplification appears to change depending on the total

number of people, 10 people would cause it to be multiplied by 1, 15 people

would cause it to be multipled by 1.5 at most.

This would be an exception but if a group should be formed with 9 people in

it then it would be multiplied by 0.9 in that case. According to calculations,

the greatest reward for taking 1st place would be triple if students from all

four classes are present and in addition, for a group with the maximum

number of 15 it would be multiplied by 1.5 (rounded to the nearest integer)

and each person would receive 45000 private points as well as 14 class

points. So far, this covers the good parts of the special exam and a

troublesome yet interesting part also exists.

However, you could say that what's truly important is what comes after this.

"Also, the large group that comes in at last place will incur a massive

penalty."

"Penalty...it can't be."

"That's right. It's 'expulsion'".

That penalty, which in itself is no longer a surprise, was revealed.

"Still, it's not like we're going to expel everyone in the large group that

places last. Because if we did that then we'd have approximately 40 expelled

students on our hands. The criteria by which the expulsion will occur is

limited to only the small groups whose average point falls below the

borderline average point set forth by the school."

This is a rather troublesome setup. The overall ranking will be calculated

from the average points of the large groups yet when it comes to expulsion,

it's the average point of the small group that matters.

"If a small group should happen to fall below that border, then their 'leader'

will be expelled."

"How exactly will that leader be chosen?"

"You will discuss it within your small group in advance and elect one. That's

it."

"What the hell? Who the hell would want to be the leader when expulsion's

on the table."

Going forward, I wonder just how many students would volunteer.

"There are upsides to it too. Students who are classmates of the leader will

receive double the reward."

"…double, you say?"

Horikita, who had been silent up until now, muttered in surprise.

"That's right. The greatest reward for this special exam would be

consolidated by the 12 students from Class C within the group. And the

remaining 3 will be drawn from A, B and D each. On top of that, if the leader

happens to be someone from Class C and you manage to take 1st place

then..."

"W-What'll happen then?"

Yamauchi, unable to perform the calculations, rubbed his nose excitedly.

"1.08 million private points. 336 class points. Is what you stand to gain."

"T-Three hundred and thirty six!"

If we acquire that then in one stroke, our class will change significantly. It

depends on the score the other groups receive but it's not impossible to rise

up to Class A in this exam. The more risks you take, the greater the rewards.

Moreover, the chances of receiving that greatest reward aren't low by any

measure.

"After the small group has been established, you'll need to discuss amongst

yourselves and decide on a leader before daybreak of the next day. If, by any

chance, you are unable to decide on a leader for your group then your group

will be immediately disqualified. In other words, all of you will be forcibly

expelled. Of course, there haven't been a single group in the past so foolish

as to be unable to decide on a leader and be expelled."

So the school won't be the ones deciding. It's something that's up to the

students to decide for themselves.

Naturally, we'd end up quarrelling while attempting to decide on a leader.

However, if by the end there still aren't any candidates, then we'd have no

other choice but to decide it with a lottery or a game of rock-paper-scissors.

It's inevitable considering everyone would know that they could be expelled.

In a situation where it's already going to be difficult bringing it together as

one, there's also a high possibility that the unity of the group will be a

doubtful one.

"Also, if the leader is to be expelled, they can choose another person from

their group to bear joint responsibility and be expelled alongside them. You

could say it's sort of like dragging them down with you."

"H-Huh? What's with that? That's fucked up! By appointing some random

guy as leader, does it mean we'd be able to crush the leaders of the other

classes that way?"

I doubt something like that can be accomplished this easily. If we're going to

be electing a leader then we naturally we should select and screen him to a

certain extent.

A student who's clearly a throwaway pawn won't simply be made the leader.

If such a thoughtless act were to be allowed then that's on the group. There

aren't any students who'd be willing to self-destruct for the sake of their

comrades and drag a student from another class down with them in the first

place. It'd be a different story if that student happened to be chained down in

Class D and already harbored thoughts of dropping out anyways but

information about students like that will probably spread around anyways.

"Relax, it's not like just about anyone can be made to bear joint

responsibility. Only students who are a contributing factor to the group

falling below the border, as judged by the school, will be liable for that. Like

deliberately failing or boycotting the exam, unless you do such things there'll

be no problem."

Certainly if that's the case then you could say that both the leader and their

group members are well protected. However, for this exam, one can't help

but doubt the way the leader ought to be. Things are different this time

around compared to previous special exams. What I should focus on is the

fact that the assignments for this special exam will be shared across all school

years. And that the same explanation is probably being given right now on

the other buses as well.