When it was lunchtime, I got out of my seat with a goal in mind. Then I headed to the cafeteria.

Where are you going?

After having noticed me rush out of the classroom, Kushida followed. Stopping in front of me, she leaned over and looked up to me.

Because its lunch, I thought I would go to the cafeteria.

Fuun. Is it fine if I go with you?

Its fine, but you have a lot of other people you can ask too, you know.

Even though I have a lot of friends I can eat with, you have no one. Also, although you would usually talk to Horikita-san first, you didnt say anything today. Didnt you say yesterday that you were worried about something in the staff room? What was that?

As usual, Kushida was listening to the surroundings; or rather, observing her surroundings. Honestly, I thought it would be annoying if someone was always, but I think its fine if its Kushida. I only got to know her secret by chance. I wont do anything bad.

I can tell you, but will you promise not to tell anyone else?

Keeping secrets is my strong point!

We made our way to the cafeteria. Before long, we entered the confusion of the cafeteria and got to the meal ticket machine. After buying a ticket for two portions, I moved away from the ticket vending machine and didnt line up at the counter. From there, I looked at the fingertips of the students who were buying their food.

What is it?

Kushida looked at me in curiosity.

There is a possibility that this will lead to an answer to what I was concerned about.

I looked at all the students who were buying lunch. After about 20 students, I found my target student. The student bought the meal and walked over to the counter with heavy steps.

Alright, lets go.

What? Ok.

Quickly exchanging our tickets for meals, I walked over to the student and sat down.

Um, excuse me. Youre a senpai, right?

Huh? Who are you?

Quietly looking up, he looked at me, uninterested.

Are you a second-year? Third-year?

Third year. Youre a first-year, huh.

I am Ayanakouji-kun of class D. Senpai, youre also in class D, right?

What does that have to do with you?

Kushida looked at me in surprise, asking How did you know?

Because he was restricted to the free meal. Its not very tasty, is it?

Senpai was eating the free vegetable meal.

What the hell, making me feel annoyed.

He tried to get up with his try, but I stopped him.

I have something to ask you. If you listened to me, I would show my gratitude.

Gratitude?

My small voice was lost in the confusion of the cafeteria.

The nearby students were also engrossed in their conversations with friends.

Do you still have the problems on the midterm from your first semester? Or if you know someone that has all the previous test problems, can you let us know who he is?

Hey, do you even understand what youre saying?

Its not anything surprising. I dont think its against school policy to use old test problems to study.

Why are you asking me?

Thats easy. I thought it would be easier to cut a deal with someone without points. Honestly, the free vegetable meal isnt that tasty. Of course, things are different if you actually like eating that meal. What do you say?

How much?

10,000 points. Thats as far as I can go.

I dont have any of the problems, but I know someone who does. If you want to ask him to help, you need at least 30,000 points.

30,000 is way too much. I dont have that kind of money.

How much do you have, then?

20,000 points.

Then 20,000 points No, 15,000 points will do. Nothing less.

15,000 points, huh

If you would go as far as to ask a complete stranger about past problems, you must be really desperate. After all, the school expels everyone who fails. Ive already lost a lot of my friends.

I see. Ok. I will pay 15,000 points.

Then the deal is good. Of course, youll have to pay in advance.

I dont mind, but if you go back on your word, I wont forgive you. Ill make sure you get expelled.

Fine. I dont want any bad records. If rumors pop up that I ripped off a kouhai, I probably wont be forgiven.

Now then, senpai, since I will pay you 15,000 points, can you give me a freebie? I want to see the answers to the mock test.

Alright, Ill include that. Well, I think that whatever youre trying to do is useless, but sure.

It looks like senpai understood what I was thinking.

Thank you.

The senpai quickly left his seat. I guess he didnt want to be noticed.

H-hey, Ayanokouji-kun Was that was that really ok?

Theres no problem at all. The transfer of points is allowed by school rules, so there arent any violations.

Thats fine, but isnt it dishonest to get past years questions?

Dishonest? I dont think so. If the school didnt allow it, there wouldve been something in the rules. Also, I confirmed another thing when I was just talking to the third-year senpai. It looks like these kind of transactions arent that strange.

Huh?

He wasnt particularly surprised, and he quickly agreed to listen to my proposal. It probably isnt his first time negotiating. He has not only the answers to the midterms, but even the mock test. Theres no mistake.

Her eyes were spinning in astonishment.

Ayanokouji-kun, you were really different. I was surprised.

Its just insurance to make sure that Sudou and the others dont get expelled.

But this might turn out to be useless. Past questions are past questions, right? This years test may be completely unrelated.

The problems may not be exactly the same, but there will definitely be some similarities. The last mock exam gave me that hint.

Hint?

You noticed that there were really hard problems along with easy ones, right?

Well, yea. Those were the last problems of each section. I didnt understand those questions at all.

When I looked into it after, those were problems that second-years and third-years were learning. In other words, they dont expect first-years to be able to solve those problems. Isnt it useless to throw in those kind of unsolvable problems? Theyre probably there for a reason other than to actually test us. If the problems on the mock exam were the exact same as previous mock exams, what would happen?

If I saw those problems, I would be able to ace the test.

The same thing is applicable to the midterm.

Soon after, I got a message from the third-year senpai with an attachment. It was the old tests.

First, I checked the mock test. The key question is, are the last three problems the same?

Kushida also tried to look at my phone.

Are they? Are they the same?

Its completely identical. The problems, sentences, and all the words are the same.

Thats amazing! If we showed this to everyone, it would be an easy success! Dont show it to only Sudou-kun, but everyone else too!

No, we wont show it to Sudou, Ike, and Yamauchi yet.

W-why? You went as far as to use so many points.

If they hear that these are the test questions, theyll lose all motivation and focus. Above all, overconfidence is the biggest problem. The midterm may not be the same as the mock test; theres a possibility the problems are different on the midterm.

Its essential to keep in mind that these old tests are insurance.

Then what are you going to use them for?

Release these problems the day before the test. Then we tell everyone that these problems are roughly the same as this years test. What would everyone do then?

That night, everyone would try to memorize the problems!

Thats how it is.

The students who are dont understand the basics probably cant memorize all the problems in a single day. But, its not difficult to understand the problems beforehand. Were not trying to get the highest score possible on this next test. Were trying to avoid failing. If we ask for too much, the plan might fail.

But with this, we can probably get everyone to pass in class D.

Hey When did you think to get these old tests?

Since we learned that the test was different. However, I had an inkling that the old tests might be similar ever since the midterm was mentioned.

Eh!? T-that early!?

When Chiyabashira-sensei first mentioned the midterm, she was speaking in an unusual manner. Even though she knew Sudou and the others grades and attitudes, she spoke with absolute confidence. In other words, she confirmed that there was a surefire way to save them.

Is that the old tests?

The reason why Sudou, Ike, and Yamauchi were all admitted to this school, despite their academic ability, must be connected to this somehow. If they cant get good grades by studying hard, this is a sort of escape route for them. In other words, its possible for everyone get near perfect scores by getting the old tests. Thats how I understood it, at least.

Ayanokouji-kun, youre really observant, arent you?

Im just being cunning. I didnt think that I could pass the midterm without any help anyway. I was looking for a way to reliably pass.

Fuun.

As if she had something on her mind, Kushida had a mischievous smile.

I have a favor to ask. Could you say that you got the old questions? Say that you got the old tests from a third-year senpai that you get along with.

Im fine with it, but are you really ok with that?

I like to avoid trouble, after all. I dont want to stand out. Also, our classmates trust you. Itd be a lot better for you to tell everyone else.

Ok. If you say so.

Thanks. I dont to stand out unnecessarily.

Well then, lets keep this a secret between us.

Yea, that sounds good.

Dont you feel like theres some kind of trust between us when we share this kind of secret?

Well, dunno. I hope so.

Thanks.

Kushida curtly replied. I dont know what her thanks was exactly for, though.