Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju:Volume9 The Fifth Question

The Fifth Question

Question: Please state a synonym to the words ‘Incorruption’ and use it to form a sentence.

Himeji Mizuki’s answer:

“Synonym: Upright.

Example: He is an upright person, so he weren’t do evil things.”

Teacher’s comments:

Correct answer:

Correct answer. ‘Incorruption’ means ‘not doing bad things, having pure and upright thoughts and actions’, and ‘upright’ means ‘having proper thoughts and actions’. Some other synonyms are ‘honest and dilligent’, ‘being found completely innocent’ and so on.

Koyama Yuuka’s answer:

“Synonym: Rolling blank eyes” [1]

Teacher's comments:

I thought for a moment that you were correct, but you’re wrong here. Were you anxious here? You wrote ‘白目’ instead of ‘白日’. This will be thought of as ‘I’m telling others of my innocence, but everyone rolled their eyes back at me. Tests do involve a race against time, but it’s most important that you remain calm and make sure not to be careless.

Nemoto Kyouji’s answer:

“Synonym: Upright.

Example: Everyone in school would say ‘Nemoto Kyouji is an upright person’.”

Teacher’s comment:

Looks like we can use rolling blank eyes here.

“Yuuji, the test subject might change again.”

“Nn? What’s going on?”

After sending Himeji and Shimada off, I was preparing for the final battle when Hideyoshi came in.

“Just before this, I saw B class’–I don’t know if he’s Itou or Ito, I can’t remember—her came down the corridor and entered C class’ base. It’s likely that he’s the one changing the subjects.”

“Changing subjects. Now…?”

“Did things get even worse?”

“No, it’s better for us this way, but…”

To put it clearly, if we switch subjects, it will be beneficial for us instead of being detrimental. This is obvious. Up till now, we’ve been using up one subject and switching to another one. It’s obvious here.

“Then, do they have some other plan?”

“I guess so.”

There must be some other reasons why they’re changing subjects, but can this force us into a tight spot…?

No, if it’s just a normal strategy, there’s no need for B class’ envoy to pass by our F class. They just need to go by the fourth level of the new building and make contact with Koyama, who set her base at the roof, without being discovered by us. If they’re the ones who can use such intricate plans to force us in, it’s impossible for them to change subjects without us noticing.

Then,

“Is there any other reason why they can’t go through the fourth level of the new building…?”

I never heard of any construction works going on, and A and B classes aren’t fighting on the fourth level.

Physically, it’s still alright, and they can go through.

“If they go by the new school building, Himeji’s group should be able to see him.”

“Himeji’s group…”

Speaking of which, if we just saw the envoys from B class, it seemed that he followed Himeji, who went to the fourth level. He could just go forward, but why did he have to go by our classroom and even appear in front of Himeji?

“If he goes by that way, if he’s nothing careful, he might get involved in our war and even lose…”

From the positions of both A class and B class, it’s hard to imagine that there may be A class’ forces on the linkway at the fourth level. In that case, why would the envoy from B class go through the dangerous corridor on the third level where it’s in war?

“It is really dangerous. If he appears in C class’ base, the guys from B class will be thought of as a member of C class and attacked.”

“Yeah…if that happen, it’s not going to be helpful to either us or B class. Only C class will be celebrating.”

If F class’ students attack the B class student, they’ll commit a foul. F class is in a war with C class, and B class is in a war with A class. F class will wear down B class’ fighting ability, and will undoubtedly cause interference to the other classes’ summoning war. It’s okay for the one being attacked, but the one attacking will be disqualified and sent to the remedial room.

“Nn…? Disqualified…?”

This term caused me to have a bad thought in my mind.

The B class guy went by our classroom and deliberately chose a path where Himeji will bump into him. Leaving girls aside, it’s normal for Himeji not to know him as he’s a guy. If the very enthusiastic is to meet that guy who’s walking over from C class—

“Hideyoshi! When was it that you saw that guy!?”

“Nm? I think…about 5 minutes ago?”

“Did you see him go back to B class?”

“Speaking of which, I didn’t see him go there.”

Hideyoshi was on standby at the entrance close to the stairs. If he didn’t see the guy, it means the guy didn’t go back. It won’t take that much time to pass a message. In other words—

“THOSE GUYS ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH SUCH A PLAN!”

“Wha, what!?”

IS THE ENEMY AIMING FOR HIMEJI!? THEY’RE MAKING HER ATTACK ‘A B CLASS GUY SHE DOESN’T KNOW OF’ WHILE SHE’S BEING VERY ENTHUSIASTIC AND DISQUALIFY HER! IS THE WAR BETWEEN A AND B CLASS FOR THIS!?

“What do you mean by that, Yuuji?”

“Himeji’s in trouble.”

“Trouble? What about it?”

“The enemy’s plan is probably to disqualify her.”

“What!?”

Now I understood everything. Even if we see him when we’re trapped in the classroom, we can’t do anything to him in this situation. Of course, it’s an obvious consideration they made to make the B class guy walk from C class’ base and meet up with Himeji.

It’s alright if they simply limited the subjects, but I didn’t expect them to eliminate Himeji like this. Normally, that will be dangerous, but Himeji’s being really into it during the summoning war today. If the enemy gets in her way and announces his name, she will definitely start a battle without hesitation. This is bad…”

“Can we get contact with Himeji?”

“Impossible. We’re being sealed inside once Himeji left. You knew that.”

“Yeah…damn it.”

If I’m the enemy, I’ll draw a part of my remaining fighting strength onto where Himeji went by, and if F class send people out, I’ll make sure that they won’t meet up with her. If we want to save Himeji, we need the fighting strength to beat these people and also break through the entrances, save Himeji and salvage our fighting strength. If we do this, we’ll use up the strength we saved up until now. Looks like the chances of victory are becoming slim.

My strategy has failed completely. In this situation, I can only give up on my original plan.

This plan definitely didn’t come from Koyama or that Kogure-sempai who’s good at capturing other people’s hearts. It’s something different—tch, now’s not the time to think about this.

“Yuuji, are we going to change the plan?”

“……”

I pondered for a while.

There’s no chance of winning now. Once we lose Himeji, we’ll obviously have no fighting strength to beat Koyama. In that case, I have to find a way such that we won’t lose and ensure that I have a chance of fighting back.

(This is serious, damn it…!)

I can only think of a way not to lose. I’ll use everyone in the fighting force gathered on the path leading to Koyama to save Himeji, find an empty classroom and get back into defense. I’ll join in the defense too. Once we defend till death, we’ll wait for the enemy to come over to the negotiating table impatiently. However, we went through a long defensive battle here, and if we continue on like this, the enemy may come up with a strategy other than limiting subjects, so the chances of us succeeding won’t be great.

(And also…)

If we can’t win this war, we won’t be able to challenge A class, and our plan to make use of C class to challenge A class won’t be able to happen. In other words, we’ll be further and further away from our goal. Right now, A class is being worn out because of the war with B class. If they defeat the lower ranked B class here, A class will not go all out in the replenishing tests which has nothing to do with their grades. I won’t get such a second chance.

(I can only give up, is it? This chance…! This chance that I so looked forward to and longed for…!)

I gritted my teeth hard. I don’t want to give up. I can’t give up.

But if I continue to hesitate. I will only let myself get closer to defeat. If I lose this war, I’ll have to endure for another 3 months. This is something I definitely don’t want.

I can only make a decision here…

“As for this strategy—”

I got ready to announce a change in plans. At this moment,

“Nn? Isn’t that, Yoshii? What’s he doing at such a place?”

Sugawa, who was sitting at the window and going through the replenishing test, muttered. Did he just say Akihisa?

I look over at where Sugawa was staring and peered outside the window. At this moment, I see Akihisa running on the field, showing a completely different look from his usual dazed expression, a serious expression.

“That guy…”

It’s been a while since I got an eyewitness report, and there was no news of him then. I thought he was sent to the remedial room from somewhere, but he’s still alive…

“It’s definitely Akihisa…what’s he intending to do?”

Akihisa darted through the field and ran into the school with blazing momentum, such that sand was being whipped up. He’s looking straight on and is running like an arrow released from a bow, fast and sharp—and relieving.

That idiot, is he—

“…Hideyoshi, stick to the original plan.”

“Original plan? What about Himeji?”

“Leave her alone.”

“You’re saying leave her alone? You…”

Hideyoshi looked worriedly at me. He seemed to understand too that if we leave Himeji like this, we’ll end up losing her.

But it’s not over yet. No matter how low the chances are, once we save Himeji, there’s still a chance that we can beat C class.

“That’s the key to winning this. if we want to win, we can only do this.”

“But no matter what…”

“I know this is reckless.”

“Since you know.”

“I know—but I want to gamble on this.”

“…”

Hideyoshi stared at me silently. He seemed to be bothered over whether he should be stopping me.

And then,

“…I understand. I’ll trust you this time then.”

“……Sorry.”

He agreed with what I planning to do.

I don’t know what this guy did before this or what he’s planning to do. But I know what he’s aiming for, and I know where that guy’s going. I’m going to bet on this.

“EVERYONE, LISTEN UP! EXCEPT FOR SOME OF THE DEFENSE FORCES, GO TAKE THE REPLENISHING TESTS, AND ONCE YOU’RE DONE LAUNCH A FINALL ATTACK! WE’RE GOING TO SHOW OUR F CLASS’ FIGHTING WILL TO THOSE C CLASS PEOPLE HIDING IN THEIR GREENHOUSES!!”

“““OHHHHH!!!”””

The start time for the replenishing test is 14:00, and after that, we’re going to decide this once and for all. Right now, the most important thing we need to make sure of is the area near the stairs leading to the roof, and whether we can get past here will all depend on Himeji.

In other words, if Himeji end up in their trap, everything’s over, and I can’t do anything about that then.

—But the strategy won’t change. This is already a gamble on luck, a gamble to see whether that guy can protect Himeji.

Interesting.

“Very good. I’ll trust you this time around, you bastard…!”

☆