The Irregular At Elite High School's
Chapter 4 Zero

'The final stage special test will be housed inside the main building.'

I followed the information from Haruka sensei and went to the main building of Golden Star Academy. Percis is like my previous image of an elite school, this place is indeed more like a castle that is converted into a school.

The hallway just looks so elegant. A long red carpet with gold embroidery stretched along the way. When you look up, you will see the sparkling crystal lights lined up illuminating every corner of the hallway. Actually I want to stop for a moment lucky to look at it, but because of a staff accompanying me to undo the intention.

"Here is the exam room. Please come in."

The staff stopped in front of a room with the inscription 'Aula No. 3' on it. Number three? All right, no need to be surprised if it seems like this is different.

I opened the door and entered the room. Inside the hall that was perhaps twice the size of this basketball court there were many people who had gathered. Maybe they're my age. Here there are those who wear high school uniforms, but there are also those who only wear free clothes.

The conditions here are pretty bad. Someone grumbled because being annoyed had been waiting for a long time. There were also those who were only silent with anxious faces. I guess only a small part of it seemed calm as if it had no weight on its shoulders.

I took a sitting position at the back near the entrance. After I sat down, an announcement came from the loudspeaker.

"Observations of the test takers. Please take the seat because the exam will start."

The announcement instantly made everything quiet. People sat up neatly and put on serious faces.

"I will read the rules in this exam, and the rules are as follows."

Each person will be given 60 minutes to complete 50 multiple choice questions consisting of 5 subjects, namely: Mathematics, English, Japanese Literature, Natural Science, and History.

Of the 100 children who take the exam then randomly will be formed into 10 teams. Each team was then given 30 minutes of discussion time to guess the 1 child with the lowest score on the team.

If the team's guess is correct, the child with the lowest score will drop out. Then for the child with the highest score will be given the right to choose 1 more person who will be dropped out.

However, if the team guess is wrong, the child with the highest score will be dropped out. For children with the lowest score will then be given the right to choose 1 more person to be dropped out.

The atmosphere was silent again after the announcement was read. For me, this is something quite surprising. I mean, these kids are supposed to be taking the general exam track where all they have to do is solve problems and get high grades.

I feel a little guilty. It seems that there is a possibility that the change in the concept of the general exam this time is due to my existence. Just sorry. But if the exam is only this limited I think there is nothing. I who once heard can immediately know the easiest way to pass this exam.

***

Sixty minutes passed. Unlike writing exams where people immediately release tension after all answer sheets have been collected. They actually seem more anxious considering there are still more heavy things waiting for them after this.

"Observations of the test takers. Now we'll announce for group division."

A screen appeared on the stage in front of the hall displaying group divisions ranging from group 'A' to 'J'. There are ten groups of ten members each. I also found my name in the group 'J'. But for the other nine names in the group it was not a name I knew.

My attention turned instead to the list of 'A' group members where Ichiji Sei's name was in the first place. He can graduate, right? I'm a little worried.if he doesn't pass means I'm free to take this exam.

A glimpse of my childhood memories of that woman suddenly flashed. When we were little we met and I remember his performance was more tomboyish. However, somehow she who is now can be so feminine that I do not recognize her. Did other things about him change as well? Especially his recklessness, who likes to act without a second thought.

"Now please head to the respective discussion room."

Participants are then directed to a discussion room where one staff member will be in charge of overseeing the exam.

In the group of 'J', me and nine other people were sitting at a large round table. Here we can see everyone's face for discussion, no. Maybe this is more like a conference.

"You have thirty minutes. For testing.. Please start!"

Supervisory staff gave a sign of the start of the exam while bringing this tension to its peak moment.

At first no one wanted to speak until one of the female participants sitting next to me started speaking up. He has short hair that does not reach his shoulders and sharp eyes. His voice sounded clear and firm to the point of making everyone's attention toward him.

"My name is Kitagawa Mio. For this discussion to go well, I think we need a chairman who is in charge of organizing the discussion. Here I want to run for chairman, does anyone mind?"

No one disputes, whether they agree or they don't care how thin it feels.

"Alright, first of all I want to explain our current situation. This exam we will have a discussion to guess who is the child with the lowest score on this team. The problem is, after collecting the exam answer sheet we immediately gathered here without being told how many grades we got. Now how do we know who is the child with the lowest value when we alone do not know whether our value is good or not."

"Yes, that's weird."

A male participant sitting opposite him.

"I think it's almost impossible to guess who is the lowest value at our own level we're not sure"

"Yes yes. Value alone does not know what else the value of others. Means the chances of us being ranked one through ten is arguably the same."

Another male participant chimed in.

People seem to be starting to dare to argue. What they say makes sense, but they don't realize that it adds to the pessimism.

"Gwa haa haa. It sounds ridiculous."

A participant suddenly laughed loudly while insulting the opinion of the participants just now.

"Please have a polite opinion!"

Kitagawa immediately took a stand and rebuked the man.

"I'm sorry, but it does suit you."

The man still felt right and put on a defiant face.

"That's arrogant. Who are you?"

Other participants were also emotionally disturbed.

"Oh, you don't know what it looks like? If I hear this well.. My name is Daemon Ryoma, the second son of Daemon Kenji."

"Daemon Kenji?!"

"Have he got that big politician?"

The people who were previously opposed even instantly became afraid. I don't know who the Daemons are, but from their response they must be influential people in this country.

"Continue?"

Kitagawa coldly returned to the attention of the forum. While others are frightened by what Daemon says, this woman is just plain cute.

"You mock the opinions of others. Do you have a better opinion?"

"Yes clear. I also have a way of knowing who owns the lowest value here."

The daemon started boasting and it seemed that it managed to make everyone curious.

"Then try to explain."

"Prophets head.. Before that I still can't accept that someone said the possibility of us being ranked one through ten was the same."

The daemon stared at the participant who had commented like that.

"Don't equate me with you guys! Me? This Ryoma Daemon could exist in rank ten? That's the insult to his name!"

"Why can you be sure you're in the top ten? Do you know your worth and the people here?"

Ask Kitagawa.

"I don't know your grades. But I know my own value."

Everyone was shocked to hear the Daemon's words. Disbelief was clearly visible on their faces considering that no one should be able to get information about the value of the school.

"Where would he know?

"Eh, is it possible that her father helped her?"

Other participants began to speculate on how Daemons knew their value. But hearing all the accusations actually makes Daemon laugh again.

"Hoi. you don't need to be suspicious of that. If you're smart enough, you'll know your own value."

"If it's true, try to prove it. As long as there's no evidence I'm assuming it's just your one-sided confession."

Sindir Kitagawa who seemed curious as well.

"alright. Maybe you think I'm a fool against a politician's son. But you need to know that I always ranked first in every test in school. Yeah, in other words, I'm very good at lessons."

This is the first time I've heard of anyone admitting that he's smart. If only he kept his attitude and did not put on a scary face maybe people would immediately believe

"If you don't know what you're worth, you're not sure how many of your answers are right and wrong!"

"Isn't that natural?"

A female participant asked back.

"Then don't equate me with losers like you. You need to know yes.of the fifty questions that were in the test I am sure and know all the answers."

"Know all the answers he said?"

"That means it.."

"Hundred points. That's the value I got."

The daemon steadily ended its explanation. He who said that his value amounted to a hundred points meant being the person with the highest score on the team 'J'. If the next team 'J' managed to guess correctly the participant with the lowest value, means Daemon will be ensured safe from the threat of drop out.

"Wait a minute!"

Kitagawa.

"Where can we believe that it's just a talk. Can you prove that you know all the answers?"

"Surely the chairman said. Maybe he lied to you because it's actually the lowest value."

The participants again suspect Daemon. Like I said earlier, people wouldn't believe he was smart if he was still so arrogant.

"Then let me show you who's a loser."

Daemon took out a slip of paper from behind his suit pocket. As soon as he unfolded, everyone immediately realized the familiar contents of the paper.

"The exam sheet that was given by the pantia, you all must still bring it, right? I have a suggestion to determine who is the participant with the lowest score."

"Continue Daemon."

Kitagawa immediately gave him the green light.

"This is the rule. Each of us will choose one question in turns so that there will be ten questions selected. The answers are then written on a piece of paper and collected at the chairman. After that we will discuss the ten questions and determine the key to the answer. With that key the chairman will do the assessment and eventually the person with the lowest score will we consider as the last rank on the team and deserve to be dropped out."

Everyone was shocked by the proposal made by Daemon. It does sound a little unfair if we decide to drop out people just from ten questions only. But on the other hand it's the best proposition there is for now.

"We'll vote."

Kitagawa left the decision to all the members.

"For those who agree with the Daemon proposal please raise your hand!"

Ten people, that number who raised their hands expressed agreement with the Daemon proposal. A unanimous vote and a landslide victory for a politician's son.

"Because all agree then the first turn will start from Daemon."

One by one the participants issued a question they chose. The question that everyone chooses seems to be the most difficult for them but they can still answer. Of course, no one wants to look stupid about what they choose.

Unlike the Daemon who chose the hardest problem among the fifty questions. I who got the last turn actually chose the easiest question and it obviously made Si Daemon upset.

"Hoi you!"

"Yes?"

"Well, you're picking about easy like gini?"

"Easy? Ah. sorry. I just don't know the answer."

I saw the veins on the Daemon's head poking out to the surface. He must be really upset to hear me.

"Enough you two! Our time is limited!"

Aware of the time thinning, Kitagawa immediately collected the answer sheet and began to discuss the problem. In the discussion it turns out that the Daemon is really smart. He was even able to explain the answers to questions selected by other participants in more detail.

All felt devastated, especially when Kitagawa read out the participants with the highest order of value where rank one is held by Daemon. Kitagawa was second and I was third. Then for the last rank is a male participant who was the loudest against Daemon.

"Gwaa haa haaa."

Daemon laughed satisfied.

"One-way. One person is definitely in the drop out. The other one I'll choose is that fool!"

The daemon looked at me like it was looking at a prey. It seems that after we select the participant with the lowest points, he who feels he has the highest points will exercise his right to drop me.

"All right. This way the person with the lowest points of the 'J' team is Takahashi Kenta."

Kitagawa's voice sounded heavy as he delivered that. What can I do. Being in second place was actually not too bad, but to the point of losing to a person like Daemon was definitely disappointing.

Thirty minutes have passed. The supervisor also received the results of the 'J' team's decision and a few moments later made an announcement to us.

"I'll read the results. The team's guess 'J' for the kid with the lowest point. was declared wrong."

"Well?!"

The announcement read out by the supervisor seemed to be like a thunderbolt in broad daylight. Everyone looked dumbfounded, especially the worst-hit Daemon.

"Ga might be! If not who did he go on?!"

Daemons protested vehemently against the results read out by the examination overseer.

"Please look at the screen."

Answer the supervisor while pointing to a screen the size of a whiteboard in front of the room. The screen then lit up, displaying the ten names of the 'J' team members along with the numbers next to our names.

It was a sudden moment of silence and everyone's eyes were on me. Even for a Kitagawa, this seems to be more surprising than the announcement just now.

How not.. Besides my name, there is only one digit of the number, and that number is..

'Zero'

***