Light Novel 2nd Year Volume 9/Summary

Prologue
Miyabi Nagumo monologues of his journey as a student. Being the best in academics and sports, many tried to take advantage of him. He wasn't that hard working but rather grasp things faster than others. Popularity was important to him but he couldn’t be rid of a discomfort that was augmented with Horikita Manabu, someone smarter, more impressive and determined than him. Next was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, someone arrogant but had unquestionable abilities. He began doubting himself despite having similar accomplishments. The only way to quell this discomfort was to finally defeat someone of similar capabilities, proving he is in fact, the real deal.

Chapter 1
With the 2nd term of the second year ending, winter holidays were about to start. Nagumo summoned Kiyotaka to the student council room via text, which he accepted. He saw Kushida who went past and glared at him. Kei arrived soon after, apologising for being late and had some bed-hair. She was embarrassed by it and his comments that some boys were worse.

Hirata greeted him as he entered class, escaping for the group of girls surrounding him. Hirata tells him to confide in him if he requires help. Despite saying it often, he was uneasy about the unstableness of the class, but returned to the girls eyeing him. Sae announced there’d be a quiz before winter break, a little more than 2 weeks left. She assures that expulsion is unlikely, but class points were important. The test was simple as it consist of direct academic aptitude against other classes. Their class were already picked to face Class A.

For class points, Arisu's A had 1250, Horikita's B had 985, Ryuen's C had 684, Ichinose's D had 655. They will be taking the exam as a class, meaning, collectively, every student has to answer at least 2 questions and 5 at most, one by one as they enter the exam hall. 10 minutes were given per student, and they can't change the answer of another. Written and verbal hints were disallowed. If the whole class finished 1 hour before the total time given, they will receive 10 points, 30 minutes 5 points, and 10 minutes 2 points. Special rules were dependent on a person's academic OAA, someone with A will get 1 point per correctly solved question, B has 2 and vice versa till E with 5. Depending if the bottom E students can solve correctly, they could equalise 5 Class A students of A and above abilities. Absentees meant that 2 questions will be left unanswered. Sae was acting like a mother to her children as she wishes them luck.

Theoretically, Horikita's class had a 100% chance to win considering the lopsided points distribution. Horikita suggest that low rated student should answer as many as they can first. The students assures her they’ll do their best, with Sudou being excited despite being unable to contribute as much since his E abilities had went up to a C+.

Kiyotaka went into the student council room and saw Nagumo and Kiriyama waiting for him. The Y2 council members were also called and will join later. The two banter saying Y3s will have another special exam, with the latter saying there was no use since the end result was already determined, and all those that could change it were already expelled. Turning his attention, Nagumo states the Y2 classes were unnaturally close with class points. Usually there would be 2 at most 3 classes in the race, but now all 4 were in the run. By the final test in Y2, that would change as he shared his own story. He already had the longest tenure as student council president and the school has intervened to make him pass the baton. Thus, he intended to use Kiyotaka to help him decide the next one, each of the supporting a different candidate, either Horikita or Ichinose.

Nagumo already secured all the Y3 votes, and Kiyotaka's only chance to equalise was to either get all the Y1s or Y2s to vote for his candidate. If Nagumo chose Ichinose, it would be simple as she alone could secure the majority of the Y2 votes too, garnering at least a simple majority vote of the student population. Kiyotaka ponders his choice of candidate and sets his terms. He wants voting to be anonymous and that this will be considered a real duel between them. Nagumo accepts the second but inquires whether Kiyotaka thinks that the Y3s would betray him if they become untraceable. Kiyotaka candidly states so as they accepted the deal, as they moved on to their bets. If Nagumo won, Kiyotaka would drop out, but if Kiyotaka wins, he wants all of Nagumo's points, enough to transfer to another class. Kiriyama vehemently objected but was shut down as Horikita and Ichinose asked for permission to enter.

Surprised at Kiyotaka's presence and sitting next to him, Horikita endorses Ichinose to be president due to her experience and lack of weak points. Nagumo agrees but says that Ichinose vulnerable class position is her Achilles heel as presidents have all graduated from Class A. Being evenly matched, Horikita chose to enter the race as Nagumo signals for Kiyotaka to choose one of them. Wanting to advance his plan, Kiyotaka made up his mind and was about to say the name but Kiriyama interjected and asked both candidates whether they want to participate first. Nagumo was irritated by the stalling tactic, as Kiryuuin just then, forcibly entered the room. Nagumo was suspicious of how Kiriyama messed up the time schedule with her despite specific instructions.