Time passed and arrived in February.
Graduation was only one month away.
At this time.
The terrace of Palette Cafe at Keyaki Mall.
Hikigaya, Ichinose, Katsuragi, and Ryuen sat around a table.
"Poaching someone's corner, you really have the nerve to sit here, Katsuragi."
"That was Kaneda's own choice. Rather than that, why not think about your own problems, Ryuen?"
Ryuen and Katsuragi glared at each other.
The specific reason.
Was naturally that in the last exam, Kaneda also betrayed the class, allowing Katsuragi to achieve a victory.
It was a natural outcome.
Although Ryuen wasn't without feelings, he was actually very loyal.
But Ryuen's feelings were always hidden and not expressed.
Making them difficult to detect.
Except for those close to him, no one would study his specific thoughts.
In Kaneda's eyes.
Ryuen was a jerk who ruled the class through violence, purely for his own pleasure, and a bastard who liked to hit him for no reason.
Furthermore.
Kaneda himself wasn't a very outstanding person.
As long as there was a choice, he was easily persuaded by Katsuragi, and betrayal became a natural progression.
"You two, calm down. Now isn't the time to discuss these things, is it?"
Ichinose smiled and comforted them; Katsuragi and Ryuen glanced at each other and said no more.
The current class points for each class.
Class A (Ayanokouji): 2432 points.
Class B (Hikigaya): 1459 points.
Class C (Katsuragi): 1410 points.
Class D (Ryuen): 1219 points.
"Ha... then what should we discuss?"
Ryuen sneered and leaned against the back of the chair with some disdain.
"We surely can't discuss the special exam, hoping that in the next special exam we can help you?"
"Impossible, there's only one last exam left. Even if we were willing to help, there wouldn't be a chance to rise to Class A, right?"
"Furthermore..."
Katsuragi didn't finish.
But everyone present knew what he wanted to say.
It's already impossible to rise to Class A...
With the current point gap and only one special exam left, even if they could win, it would likely be difficult to surpass Class A.
Furthermore.
They simply couldn't win...
Page 13
Having held several exams during this period, they finally recognized Ayanokouji's strength...
This guy is simply a monster...
Whether it's exams, sports, learning ability, knowledge reserve, etc., he's flawless.
In the exams some time ago.
Even.
Ayanokouji almost broke several world records during the competitions.
His abilities were comparable to professional athletes.
If the number of events he participated in was counted, perhaps Ayanokouji was even stronger.
It was fine if he was just personally strong...
As long as group tactics were used, it wasn't impossible.
However.
Ayanokouji's power seemed to have no limit...
Ryuen had already tried.
Even if dozens of people attacked at the same time, Ayanokouji could handle it.
One could even feel that Ayanokouji was still very calm.
It couldn't be helped.
After all, at five or six years old, Ayanokouji could chase and beat over a dozen professional coaches with a stick, comparable to Captain America...
A group of dozens was meaningless in front of Ayanokouji.
To deal with Ayanokouji, it was feared that at least a hundred people would be needed to have a chance.
Just like the last mixed-class pairing exam...
Ayanokouji was fully capable of contending against one or even several classes single-handedly; he was such a monster without weaknesses...
Like an insurmountable peak.
No matter what was done or how it was done, he couldn't be defeated.
It made people lose their will to fight completely.
It even made Ryuen and Katsuragi feel somewhat desperate.
But.
Because of this.
The people around didn't say much.
Seeing Ayanokouji's results that nearly broke world records several times, the people around were only shocked, dumbfounded, and didn't know what to say.
After all.
The gap was vast, reaching a level nearly unreachable by human effort.
At least.
None of them were qualified to be Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's opponent.
The only ones happy.
Were probably Soto-mura, Hondo, and others in Class A now; recently, they could be seen looking triumphant walking on the road.
Ryuen had also tried.
Continuing to talk about the matter of the unanimous voting exam.
But they didn't care anymore; they had long since put what they had done before behind them, as they were the ones who would ultimately graduate from Class A.
Nothing else mattered anymore.
They were arrogant to the extreme, even getting carried away to the limit.
Unfortunately, it was useless.
Opposite them.
Hikigaya's mouth twitched, and he was also helpless.
One could say.
Ayanokouji simply had the word "invincible" written on his head.
"You guys deal with it yourselves."
Things that cannot be won simply cannot be won.
Just based on personal strength alone, Ayanokouji could face several classes by himself.
No matter the field.
It seemed as if there was nothing Ayanokouji did not know.
Even if there was, he could cram and study before an exam to quickly master it.
Ryuuen and Katsuragi had completely lost their will to fight.
It was completely understandable; even Hikigaya felt somewhat depressed.
If it were possible.
Naturally, he hoped to win the exam fair and square.
But there was no other way.
Ayanokouji's strength completely exceeded the scope of their understanding.
In front of Ayanokouji.
Even Koenji only seemed barely worth a look.
"Could it be..."
Hikigaya looked at Ryuuen and the others and said:
"Are you two just going to give up like this and let Ayanokouji run solo?"
"Then what else can be done?"
The two looked at each other and shrugged indifferently.
Yes, what else could be done.
Even if Hikigaya had a way to defeat Ayanokouji, why would they help Hikigaya?
Graduation is approaching.
Personal points have almost lost their meaning.
If it were just to ensure graduating from Class A, personal points would indeed still be of some use.
However.
The two were not the type to care about that.
Otherwise.
They would have long ago obtained enough personal points to guarantee graduating from Class A.
Furthermore.
With only one month left until graduation, there is likely only one special exam remaining.
With their current gap of nearly eight hundred class points.
Even if they achieved a decisive total victory, it would likely be impossible to overtake Class A.
To put it simply.
Wanting to graduate from Class A now is just impossible.
Ayanokouji is no fool, and they simply don't have the strength to compete with him.
In fact.
They aren't even worthy of being Ayanokouji's opponents.
The disparity in strength was too vast.
Ryuuen and Katsuragi both clearly understood this.
Even in competitions emphasizing teamwork.
Ayanokouji has the ability to fight several classes single-handedly...
They have already lost...
A complete defeat.
Whether in strength or timing, there is no possibility of a comeback...
Therefore, Ryuuen and Katsuragi had already given up.
Yet they must be persuaded.
Hikigaya turned to look at the two and said:
"Well, don't be so quick to judge, I have a slight idea...".