"Um... Ichika-chan? This special exam... can we really win?"

Right after the fifth question ended... Tetsuko-chan, who looked uneasy, called out to me.

With Class D’s underhanded interference and our bad luck... we’ve completely fallen behind them so far, so it’s no wonder Tetsuko-chan feels anxious.

"Tetsuko-chan, calm down. What we’ve done to prepare for this special exam wasn’t meaningless... let’s prove that! ...okay?"

"Yes... I just hope we can make a comeback..."

"Yeah! Let’s stay strong!"

I said that as I tried to encourage Tetsuko-chan.

But after that, the situation didn’t improve...

In the sixth question, which was a foreign language problem... Takuya easily cleared the task, and Class B went on to choose the correct answer.

The lowest in the task... unbelievably, was Class A for the second time in a row. It’s probably because of the earlier mistake—our challengers might’ve been too nervous and their movements slowed down...

In the seventh question, which was music... Class C obtained selection rights. However... they chose the wrong option and didn’t gain additional points, so in the end, Class B chose the correct answer.

The lowest in the task... was almost Class A for the third time in a row, but realizing they had no room left for failure, our challengers showed their determination and barely beat Class D.

The eighth question, another foreign language problem... became the second bonus question, and once again Takuya obtained selection rights first, but the representative chose the wrong option, so no additional points were gained... and Class D chose the correct answer.

The lowest in the task... was Class C.

Furthermore... the contents of this bonus or penalty were...

① From the [Answering Questions] group and [Choice Acquisition] group of classes other than your own... three people each are forcibly eliminated.

② The class that selects the correct answer can revive one eliminated member from their [Answering Questions] group.

Because of this... our class was pushed even further into a corner.

In the ninth question, which was Japanese... Class D obtained selection rights and chose the correct answer normally.

The lowest in the task... was the boy named Kibayashi, who had been alternating with Takuya—likely because fatigue had finally built up...

As for the current situation of each class...

Class A: 19 remaining.

Class B: 28 remaining.

Class C: 21 remaining.

Class D: 35 remaining.

That’s how things stand...

"Hey! Ishigami! Amasawa! At this rate... we’re in trouble, right?"

"Yeah... how are we supposed to come back? The gap with Class D is insane!"

Voices like that began to rise from my other classmates besides Tetsuko-chan.

Among my remaining classmates, there are 9 in the [Answering Questions] group... and 10 in the [Choice Acquisition] group.

As for the other classes...

Class B has... 12 in the [Answering Questions] group... and 16 in the [Choice Acquisition] group.

They’re doing pretty well, even if not as much as Class D~

Class C has... 8 in the [Answering Questions] group... and 13 in the [Choice Acquisition] group.

The fact that they haven’t chosen the correct answer even once has really hurt their performance...

Class D is overwhelming... with 16 in the [Answering Questions] group... and as for the [Choice Acquisition] group, they still have 19 people left.

'At this rate... both our class and Class C’s [Answering Questions] groups will be wiped out~...'

If that happens, we’ll have to rely entirely on the points from the [Choice Acquisition] group.

That’s still better than having the [Choice Acquisition] group wiped out... but our class is in danger of losing even that group.

At that moment, Ichika-chan made a bold move.

"Hey? Can you let me take the next question?"

"Huh? Ichika-chan?"

That’s right... I volunteered to be the next representative respondent, taking on the risk of being eliminated myself...

"I want to contribute to the class even just a little more! Is that okay?"

"...Alright... I’m counting on you... Amasawa."

"Yeah! Leave it to Ichika-chan!"

After getting Ishigami-kun’s approval, I moved to the seat for the representative respondent.

"I see, Ichika-san is making her move... in that case, I’ll take the gamble as well!"

"I’ve also wanted to try facing Amasawa-san..."

"Huh... Tsubasa-chan and Tsubaki-chan too?"

Incredibly, as if responding to my move, Tsubasa-chan and Tsubaki-chan—the sub-leaders of Class D and Class C—also stepped forward as representative respondents!?

"Um... nice to meet you..."

Meanwhile, Class B doesn’t seem to have anyone who could be called a sub-leader... so some random girl stepped forward as their representative respondent.

"The tenth question is... ‘Social Studies.’ Since a colored paper has been drawn, this will be a bonus question."

The teacher held a blue piece of paper. This was proof that it was a bonus question.

The contents of this bonus were...

① The class that selects the correct answer may designate a specific class and steal half of that class’s points.

② For this question only... a representative who selects the correct answer is allowed not to continue to the next question. Of course, they may also continue as usual.

③ For this question only... instead of the order being determined by task completion, the order of choosing answers will be decided by drawing lots. Therefore, all classes will be awarded 10 points for their challengers at this stage.

After hearing the explanation, Tsubasa-chan’s expression became tense, while the girl from Class B looked delighted...

After all... depending on how things go, Class D could end up allowing the other classes to turn things around...

And then... the bonus question appeared on the monitor in front of us.

[Question] Among the following four, who is NOT a grandchild of Tokugawa Ieyasu?

① Hoshina Masayuki

② Matsudaira Tadanaga

③ Okudaira Iemasa

④ Kyōgoku Tadataka

Now then, this history question... we absolutely have to choose the correct answer, and no matter what... we can’t let Tsubasa-chan be the one to pick it...