The first day of exams ended.
The last person, Hondo, looked gloomy. Before leaving the classroom, he looked back at Hikigaya, wishing he could give him a beating.
It hardly seemed like an interview; it was entirely humiliating people.
The questions asked were all bullshit; they were entirely insulting them and were disgusting.
If there were such a company.
They certainly wouldn't go to work at that kind of company.
However, endurance is one line, and ability is another; between the two is the space for survival.
Clearly.
Thinking that ability reigns supreme.
Most young people do not possess the capacity to endure, and they don't even have a clear understanding of themselves.
Stuttering wording, gloomy expressions, and the acting used for pretense—in the eyes of the referee group—looked as ridiculous as a clown.
On the other side.
Looking at the score sheet in her hand, Chabashira Sae was somewhat hesitant.
Stress tolerance.
From the standards of Hikigaya's class, whether it was Sotamura, Hondo, or the short-tempered Onodera and others.
Their performances were completely failing.
There were even short-tempered types like Onodera.
Who directly questioned the interviewer what exactly they meant.
Saying things like this didn't look like an interview at all; it was purely deliberate bullying. It was only natural to feel anger and humiliation.
However.
It was mainly Hikigaya.
Although the main standard for assessment was stress, the pressure Hikigaya gave was simply too great.
Even the referee group was somewhat speechless.
They had never seen an interview like this; who interviews like this?
It was entirely discouraging.
Subduing the enemy without fighting, making the other party retreat in the face of difficulties.
This was also the creativity of the students.
Ryuen's class and Hikigaya's class.
Both held interview methods that exceeded imagination, while the other two classes were considered relatively conventional.
Time passed.
These three days of exams soon ended.
The strategy of spying on the themes of enemy classes completely failed to work.
No matter how perfect the disguise, the fake remains fake.
It might be perfect at the start, but as long as pressure is continuously applied and difficulty increased.
The impatience on the face, the complaints murmured in the mouth, and the disdain in the heart could ultimately not be completely hidden.
Not just the referee group.
It couldn't even escape the eyes of the students.
Isolating everyone individually.
This exam.
Tested each person's true level.
If you're capable, you're capable; if you're not, you're not.
This day.
No. 1 Gymnasium.
Ichinose, as a Class A graduate.
Stood at the front of the stage giving a graduation ceremony speech.
Whether it was grades, teacher evaluations, or reputation in school, Ichinose was the undisputed choice.
And on the other side, the teacher's seats.
Hoshinomiya Chie sat next to Chabashira Sae and lowered her voice with some pride.
"Sae-chan, failing to rise to Class A is really a pity."
Chabashira Sae did not respond, only keeping her gaze on the class over there.
Failing to graduate from Class A was indeed a depressing thing.
But in reality.
Only a few people, like Horikita Suzune, showed disappointment on their faces, while others like Matsushita Chiaki only felt it was a pity.
Sotomura and others didn't even show a hint of disappointment.
Clearly.
Aside from it being a pity.
Failing to graduate from Class A would not have much impact on them.
"Nothing to be pity about... besides that, the graduation ceremony is still ongoing, so now isn't the time for talking."
Chabashira Sae laughed indifferently.
She had a sense of letting go.
This year was undoubtedly the most outstanding class she had ever had.
There was no right or wrong; it was just that the people she met weren't suitable.
Her approach couldn't lead the class to rise, because it failed to consider the obsession of people like Hoshinomiya with Class A.
Horikita Suzune's approach couldn't lead the class to rise to Class A.
Because the people around her didn't have much obsession with it, while she was too obsessed.
One could only say they were all not quite suitable.
Failing to consider the feelings of others, only unilaterally using her own influence to force her ideas upon the other party.
It was only natural not to achieve the desired result.
"Hmm?"
Hoshinomiya Chie was stunned for a moment.
She had thought Chabashira Sae was still pretending not to care as before.
But after observing for a while.
She only then felt that Chabashira Sae seemed to be serious this time.
Realizing this.
Continuing to bully Chabashira Sae suddenly felt a bit boring to Hoshinomiya Chie.
But accepting it just like that also seemed a bit unsatisfying.
"Hmph..."
Hoshinomiya Chie snorted lightly and lowered her voice in some sarcasm.
"I mean, it's obviously your fault that our year didn't graduate from Class A, and Little Sae, you actually don't have any reflection, do you?"
"Regarding that point, I have already apologized to you many times, but if you find it unacceptable, Chie, then I have no other way."
Chabashira Sae watched the front of the stage intently, completely not taking Hoshinomiya Chie's words to heart.
In the past, she was too obsessed and too self-reproachful.
She always felt she owed something to Hoshinomiya Chie and the others, letting her have her way in everything.
Of course.
As a former class leader, and since Hoshinomiya and Chabashira have always been close friends, Chabashira Sae naturally still had some apologies.
But now.
If Hoshinomiya Chie kept dwelling on this point, Chabashira Sae didn't intend to indulge her anymore.
"Hmph..."
Hoshinomiya Chie snorted again, somewhat dissatisfied.
But this dissatisfaction was different from before.
It was just that seeing Chabashira Sae let go made her feel a bit bored.
People are like that.
When the other person cares, they like to play with them.
When the other person truly doesn't care, they feel like a fool for continuing to play with them.
But Hoshinomiya Chie still didn't quite believe it.
"Speaking of which, Little Sae, you shouldn't have forgotten the agreement with me, right? If you don't rise to A, you have to pay the price."
"I know, that should be fine then."
Chabashira Sae watched the graduation ceremony, her tone even more indifferent.
It was precisely this indifferent attitude that made Hoshinomiya Chie even more annoyed.
"Hmph, you just wait, we go after school, don't you regret it."
"Ah, as you like."
Chabashira Sae finally glanced at her.
"Chie, you still have this childish mindset even now; it's a wonder that guy can accept it."
"Hmph, so what? I'm very popular! Speaking of which, it's your personality, Little Sae, that no man has ever liked."
Hoshinomiya Chie retorted proudly.
While watching the graduation ceremony, the two were subtly competing.
Although they were hostile at work, their private relationship was actually very good; they were essentially best friends.