Volume 4.5 Chapter 6 Part 1

The ship immediately after the date changed to August 9.

It was past 1am, a time when most students had probably already fallen asleep.

In the bar lounge only open for use to adults, three people rendezvoused.

“Uu-, I’m tired. Why do us teachers have to work up to this late every single day? My skin will get ruined. We want summer breaks too~”

Hoshinomiya voiced her complaints lying face down on the bar counter.

“We were able to rest enough weren’t we? We’ve had five or six days to rest.”

“It was only two days right~? I was busy yesterday and today~. What do you mean treasure hunt bonus game, the one who wants a bonus is me.~”

“I understand how you feel, but we’re members of society, Che. We won’t get long breaks like kids do.”

Chabashira sat to Hoshinomiya’s right side and remonstrated her.

“When you consider that the students have worked hard for two weeks on the island, it’s no big deal.”

This time Mashima-sensei from her left side encouraged her to hold out.

“Don’t push facts on me please… I don’t wanna hear I don’t hear it-“

She put both of her hands to her ears and shook her neck in aversion.

“Then at least let us have a vacation while we’re on the ship. It’s unfair for only the students to be allowed to use the pool and the theater and everything isn’t it~?”

The situation had her holding her fingers in her mouth everyday from what was in front of her. Hoshinomiya couldn’t agree to it.

“That’s work.”

“Once you become a member of society, that’ll be usual Che.”

“Ah- no, no, not the workaholics~”

She blocked her ears with both of her hands with even more strength.

But before long she took them off then raised her right hand and her voice.

“Strong sake with which I can escape from reality plea-se. On the Master’s tab.”

Then she banged the table with her left hand and asked for sake.

“Good grief… you don’t change.”

Chabashira sighed exasperatedly upon seeing Hoshinomiya.

“Are you setting me as your goal since I’m always pretty and young?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what~?”

“…No, don’t mind it. Trying to explain would be useless.”

Mashima and Chabashira-sensei ordered beer after. They dinked their glasses together in a toast.

“More wild things happened on this time’s Special Exam. There were too many unexpected things.”

“The seriously injured students and the broken wristwatches that were obviously broken on purpose. Then to think that only 3rd years would get expelled, it was unexpected.”

Hoshinomiya emptied her cocktail with a single mouthful and took a breath.

“I knew that letting the students have too much freedom would be a problem-. We didn’t get any information, but there were definitely couples doing that and getting into moods like that in places we couldn’t see right?”

“I want to think that they at least didn’t cross that line.”

“That’s naive Mashima-kun. The passion of young people flits around and can’t be stopped.”

“That only goes for you.”

Flatly told off, Hoshinomiya ordered another drink immediately.

“Once the summer break ends we’ll become busy again.”

“Uge, I don’t want to do this anymore. To think that I would become an old teacher for a low salary. I’m exhausted goods you know, exhausted goods.”

“You’ve been doing nothing but complaining since a while ago.”

“Of course I am. Isn’t this place built for complaining?”

Without showing any shame Hoshinomiya said that and put her 2nd glass to her mouth.

“You don’t change Che. But that’s also a good thing.”

Chabashira ordered nuts as a light snack.

“In any case I was worried about this special test. I didn’t want the 2nd years to lose-“

“It’s weird that only the 3rd years got expelled.”

Pinched between Hoshinomiya and Chabashira, Mashima quietly listened to their conversation.

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But when they tried to change the subject, he slammed his half-finished glass of beer with a little force onto the table.

“The 2nd years are doing good. But that’ll also invite trouble.”

“What’s that, it’s not good that they’re doing they’re best?”

“It’s not like the school wants people to be expelled, but when all is said and done the 2nd years we’re in charge of practically aren’t letting anyone get expelled in the special exams until now.”

“Practically, huh. They were half-forced by the school to choose someone to expel. Expellees are expellees you know?”

The three of them all remembered the class polls in detail.

“I don’t want to believe that a special exam like that with no way to escape from will happen at any other time.”

Even for Chabashira who usually approaches her students coldly, it’s not as if her heart wasn’t in pain. She was at a viewpoint where she couldn’t approve of driving students who hadn’t actually failed out of the school.

Hoshinomiya’s viewpoint coincided with that. But severeness remained on Mashima’s face.

Seeing that, Chabashira looked into Mashima’s eyes to get a peek.

“Impossible. Are you preparing for another special exam with compulsory expulsion?”

“Not even the school can force another class expulsion poll.”

“Then there’s no problem. As long as expulsion isn’t compulsory, my class will make it through.”

“Ararara? You’re saying some remarkable things, Sae-chan.”

Hoshinomiya poked Chabashira’s side across Mashima’s back.

“Stop it.”

Chabashira grabbed her hand with a little anger, and Hoshinomiya looked at her with sharp eyes.

“You don’t think you can make it to A-Class do you?”

“…No one is saying that. Though I just want to say that this class is more excellent than usual.”

“Hhmm?”

Within an electrified atmosphere, Mashima gulped the remaining half of his beer.

“Indeed, there is no compulsory expulsion. However…”

When Mashima’s words didn’t come out, Chabashira and Hoshinomiya both turned their eyes to him.

“We were given the outline of the next test the other day. The truth is, it’s being put into place for the first time in 11 years.”

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“11 years… we’re 29 years old this year… so before we were 3rd years in this school? That’s rare, to think that such an old special exam would be used.”

Memories from highschool. Most of them have melted into their brains.

What kind of conversations did they have and what kind of special exams did they take?

Even if they were told to remember them right away, they probably wouldn’t be able to answer.

“The school fits special exams into one-year schedules. If we’re going deeper, the rotation is based on four years cycles. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“It’s so it doesn’t leak to the other kids who are attending this school right?”

Many tests have been held in the history of []. From things that have never happened except once, and very versatile, repeatable things, various things are fitted into the 4-year frameworks.

“Of course there are special exams that deliberately repeat within a short period of time in order to test information sharing. But it’s fundamentally a pre-ordained rotation. But depending on the flow of the year, there are tests that are brought back from over 4 years in the past.”

“So you mean to say that old special exams being used isn’t such a rare thing?”

“That’s right. As long as the test doesn’t have too great of a 『problem.』”

Mashima spoke in a way that implied something, but the two didn’t think very deeply.

Rather they were showing ambition for the start of another special exam.

“It might become a proxy fight between Sae-chan and I~”

“It looks like you’re looking forward to that. Do you think you can win if you fight with me?”

“That’s not it. But don’t you feel it’d be better for Ryuuen-kun and Sakayanagi-san to fight?”

As she smiled catishly, Hoshinomiya’s mouth reeked of alcohol.

“My class has grown considerably. Don’t think it’ll go smoothly.”

“Hee~. To think that Sae-chan would say something like that-. As I thought Ayanokouji-kun is a special kid so you’re getting confident?”

“Indeed Ayanokouji is also an outstanding talent. However, there are many students in my class who make me feel potential.”

“Mo? Aren’t you just relying on Ayanokouji-kun?”

“What on earth are you talking about? When did I rely on Ayanokouji?”

It looked like they were having a nonchalant catchball game with their words, but for Mashima-sensei sitting in between it wasn’t difficult to feel terror from the two’s conversation.

If he kept quiet and continued listening like this, it would develop into a quarrel lasting for a few minutes.

“Keep it there. There’s no use in competing here and now.”

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“Yeah, I might’ve gotten a bit frisky.”

While expressing reconsideration, Hoshinomiya poured the sake into her throat until there was none left.

“You’re drinking fast.”

“It’s okay it’s okay-, I’m not weak enough to collapse so easily.”

“No that’s not it. Tomorrow… today’s work will be affected, I mean.”

“I said it’s okay, it won’t, it won’t.”

Hoshinomiya showed no signs that she would stop drinking at all and ordered her 3rd glass.

“…Then I’ll tell you before you get drunk. It’s okay for you to see the outline of the next special exam.”

Mashima operated his phone and placed it onto the table.

“The important thing is the special test’s name. Once you see that you’ll be able to understand right away.”

“The test’s name?”

“Try reading it.”

The two exchanged looks and peeked at the phone at about the same time.

And at that instant, Chabashira inhaled. Hoshinomiya as well.

It was a special exam that Chabashira and Hoshinomiya had experienced when they were students.

And it was set to occur at the very beginning of the 2nd term.

“11 years ago… even though it happened way before, you should remember this special exam well.”

Chabashira looked at the Special Exam Name again and again at a loss for words.

Hoshinomiya turned her eyes away from the phone, took her 3rd glass and held it.

Seeing her reflection, she laughed in self-deprecation.

“Impossible, to think that this special exam would happen again eh…”

Chabashira simply lowered her eyes in silence without any answer.

“I thought for certain that last year’s class polls… were a substitute for this, weren’t they?”

As if to confirm, Hoshinomiya looked towards Mashima.

“It just means that the school didn’t have any choice but to use similar methods in the end. It seemed that if someone from the 2nd year had been expelled in the Uninhabited Island Exam, the next test would have been different.”

“Well, there’s no helping it, I guess. It’s not as if they can make the written exams harder in order to have people expelled. Sae-chan’s class is too good isn’t it~? So they brought out a special exam that didn’t seem to have any big problems-“

Hoshinomiya stressed as if she were fault finding.

“It’s premature to decide on any big problems. Depending on your viewpoint it’s nothing but an easy test.”

“But if they make a single mistake it’ll become a challenge. Right-? Sae-chan?”

Chabashira had closed her eyes and didn’t answer yes or no.

“That’s right… you two in particular suffered in this test.”

“I think for us it was in the 3rd term of our 3rd year. I’ve never forgotten that day.”

Her reminiscing words were directed to herself and Chabashira.

“So then how long do you intend to be silent? Don’t you have any comments?”

Although she was asked that, as if she hadn’t arranged her thoughts, words didn’t come from Chabashira.

“Paaathetic.”

After giving a small complaint, she ignored the silent Chabashira and turned her gaze towards Mashima.

“What do you think, Mashima-kun? In the next special exam… will someone get expelled?”

“Leaving aside A-Class which is a cut above the rest, B-Class and those below still have a chance. If they challenge it with the intention to win, there’s a big chance that they’ll follow the path you took.”

“An unlikely premonition – huh.”

Hoshinomiya muttered and asked for her 4th glass from the bartender.

Her drinking pace was gradually increasing.

“Well, I think my class is okay in a very bad sense, but what do you think about Sae-chan’s? Right now they’re crawling up from the bottom with tremendous energy. If they increase their class points here they can make it to Class B in one go. If you ask me-“

“I’ll go back to my room.”

After being silent for some time, Chabashira spoke and stood up without finishing her first glass.

“I thought you’d finally talk but you’re going back, way to dampen the mood-“

“Sorry but go on by yourselves.”

In reply to Chabashira who turned her back on her, Hoshinomiya’s my-pace attitude until now completely changed.

“I’ll tell you what-!”

Hoshinomiya strongly slammed a glass without alcohol onto the table.

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Then she stood up vigorously.

As if not only Chabashira, but also Mashima was surprised, they shook slightly without saying anything.

It was a good thing that no guest was there except the three of them.

“How long are you going to keep chasing that foolish love!?”

“…What are you saying?”

“Do you know how old we are right now? We’re 29 you know? I’m talking about the romance you had how many years ago!”

“Hey, you drank too quickly-“

“Mashima-kun be quiet!”

“…”

The bartender who was wiping glasses nearby felt something important was going on and went to the bathroom.

“Even though you’re stuck in your 3rd year of high school, you’re a fully grown adult but only in age. So you’re placing weight on the kids of today… haa? Are you an idiot?”

Without replying to that series of jeers, Chabashira left this place silent.

Silence flowed between Hoshinomiya and Mashima who were left in this place.

“A-rara, she left.”

After being let down, Hoshinomiya drank the liquor Chabashira left behind and sat back down.

“You’re malicious yourself, Hoshinomiya.”

“I mean there’s no helping it. It’s because of all the things, this special exam came out.”

“This special exam gave birth to something decisive within you.”

“If Sae-chan had picked the correct choice, we would have graduated as A-Class, you know?”

“…As I thought you’re still bitter huh.”

“Of course I’m bitter. We failed and now we’re teachers in this school. Even though we really should’ve had a more dazzling future.”

“After that test, since you and Chabashira shared a room your dorm life got tough.”

“After something like that happened we could never live together. We might’ve ended up killing each other.”

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“You exaggerate… the fact that I can’t say that for certain is a scary point to you two.”

Hoshinomiya took her hair and pulled out a bunch of it.

“You’ve never stopped that habit?”

“Ah, oh no. I did it unconsciously… my precious hair… do you need it?”

“I don’t.”

He ignored the bundle of hair that was offered to him and asked for a 2nd drink from the bartender who had returned.

Seeing that, Hoshinomiya demanded a 4th drink.

“She’s not someone you can share a room with. It’s fine if everything goes well, but if there’s trouble your relationship changes all of a sudden. It has to do with love and the future.”

Before anyone knew it, Hoshinomiya returned to her usual droll expression.

“Even though they finally made it to 2nd year and everyone survived the Uninhabited Island Test-. The school is being cruuuel.”

“In the first place, expellees should come from every year. That’s a policy with which this school was built after all. Too many people have survived within the 2nd year. But the school is also acknowledging their hard work adequately. That’s exactly why it’s this special exam. We still don’t know how it’ll turn out.”

“That’s true but… that test brings out a person’s ugliness and weakness of heart. The good thing is that at least they’ve still just ended their 1st term of their 2nd year. Ah, that also has to do with how the school is acknowledging them right.”

“As short as the time they have left in this school is, they will raise the amount of points that can be earned from the special exams and their difficulty. There are also aids with them compared to when we did it during our 3rd year, 3rd term.”

“I’m definitely not bad… Sae-chan is the one who’s bad…”

“That depends on how you think. You and Chabashira both made correct judgements.”

“I wonder-“

Hoshinomiya suddenly stopped her hand as she tried to reach for a new glass of sake.

“What?”

“My class… will at least not make it to A-Class.”

“What are you saying?”

“You understand. I don’t think they can reach Sakayanagi’s class. But… but, I still definitely won’t let Sae-chan’s class graduate in A. For us graduating as A-Class is our dearest wish. The students of the girl who broke that wish are not qualified to graduate as A-Class. Right, Mashima-kun.”

“…Isn’t that a different matter from this?”

“They’re not different. Definitely not.”

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“Besides, Ichinose’s class is excellent. They can still make it to A-Class. They’ll probably be able to make it through the next special exam easily.”

“That’s no good. No matter how inhuman the future waiting for them is, in order to win as A-Class they have to become demons. Just as I tried to.”

“Even if some people are expelled, you say?”

“Even if some people are expelled, yeah.”

Although, she left unsaid.

“Hirata, Kushida, Horikita, Kouenji and Ayanokouji… no matter how many times I think it’s too unfair isn’t it?”

“Just like last year there are many problem students, but a strange solidarity is being born. As if their flaws are cancelling each other out one-by-one.”

“If only they’d get crushed on the next test.”

Saying that, Hoshinomiya rested her head on Mashima’s shoulder.

“I might be in a drunken sickness… I wanna rest a little in Mashima-kun’s room.”

“If you’ll sleep then sleep in your own room.”

“So harsh-. Isn’t there a bit of a kinder way to say it?”

“If you’ll sleep then you can go back to your room.”

“That’s not so different!”

She embraced his left arm and brought her body near.

But Mashima used his strength and forcefully pulled himself away.

“Are you bothered?”

“I’m not bothered.”

“Eh-, then at least send me off to my room-. Wanna drink there? Until morning.”

“Sorry but I’m going back to my room. Take care not to drink too much.”

“Don’t you think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?”

“Sorry but I don’t intend to get too deeply involved with you or Chabashira. It’d be nothing but trouble after all.”

“So strict~”

On the counter of the bar where no one else was, Hoshinomiya quietly brought sake to her mouth.