A crossover anime/manga story, set in everyday Tokyo, but within a loop of a game.

"This exam is different for Class A compared to other classes. I won't be a proctor, so I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you some important things before the exam starts."

"Cheating is of course not allowed. There are two live cameras in the classroom, one in front and one behind, which will be monitored by a dedicated person, and there will be two proctors."

"There are three exams in total: humanities, science, and foreign language. They will all be held today and will end at 3 p.m.

At this point, Ashikaga Miwa paused slightly, her gaze first sweeping over Shinomiya Kaguya, then turning to Asagiri sitting in the corner of the classroom, and spoke in a calm tone.

"I only have one requirement for you, which is to have the highest average grades in the grade. As for who gets the highest individual grades in the grade... as your homeroom teacher, I am also looking forward to it."

……

Half an hour later, in the boardroom of the private Shuchiin Academy.

Sitting at the head of the long table, a bald, middle-aged man of average build and with a somewhat sleazy appearance, though wearing a smile, looked at Ashikaga Miwa sitting to his left and scoffed.

"Ms. Ashikaga... Oh no, Mr. Ashikaga, it's quite a surprise that you've come to the council meeting. I thought you had realized your own limitations and knew that you were not qualified to be a council member, so you were focusing on being a teacher to Class A."

"hehe."

Ashikaga Miwa raised her hand and pushed up her glasses, seemingly not taking Shinomiya Kiko seriously at all, and didn't even look at him, just saying indifferently.

"After this spring exam is over, you'll realize how stupid your words were. If I remember correctly, Kaguya Shinomiya in my class is your sister, right? If she loses to Utsunomiya, will you still be able to maintain this attitude?"

"Oh? So that's what you're after? You want to use Kaguya's failure to threaten my authority? You're being far too naive. She's just a..."

Halfway through his speech, Shinomiya Hiromitsu suddenly realized that in front of so many council members, saying that Shinomiya Kaguya was just an illegitimate daughter and not a member of the Shinomiya family at all was a bit like exposing his family's dirty laundry. After all, being an illegitimate daughter, frankly speaking, was ultimately a mistake made because her father, the current head of the Shinomiya family, Shinomiya Gan'an, had developed genuine feelings for a woman working in the nightclub.

Thinking of this, Shinomiya Huangguang changed the subject.

"Even if she loses, it only proves that she is not worthy of the Shinomiya surname."

"Really?"

Ashikaga Miwa made no attempt to hide her dislike for Shinomiya Kiko, which was evident to all the council members present. Furthermore, being a true member of the samurai aristocracy, Ashikaga Miwa was one of the few who dared to openly embarrass Shinomiya Kiko.

"Although I despise you, Kaguya is different from you. She is a truly outstanding student. If she doesn't even deserve the name Shinomiya..."

Ashikaga Miwa deliberately left it unfinished, only taking a sip of her coffee. But the council members present were not stupid; they could all guess what she meant.

Kaguya Shinomiya is outstanding. She is the national archery champion, with top-notch results and impeccable performance in every aspect.

And Shinomiya Hikari, the eldest son of the Shinomiya family...

Putting aside his status as the eldest son of the Shinomiya family, his personal abilities are highly questionable.

Their thinking is feudal and decadent, and their attitude is arrogant and disrespectful.

The only thing that could be considered an advantage is his skill in power struggles and his ability to scheme and plot. But even this talent is something that Shinomiya Hikari only displays by taking advantage of his status as the eldest son of the Shinomiya family.

Ultimately, the Shinomiya family is a business conglomerate, not some noble family as depicted in ancient palace dramas.

Can someone who is focused on internal strife truly fulfill the responsibilities of the head of the Shinomiya family?

"In the final analysis..."

Ashikaga Miwa put down her coffee cup, looked at Shinomiya Kiko, who was sitting at the head of the table and whose face had become somewhat unpleasant, and slowly began to speak.

"You just don't want to admit that Kaguya, as an illegitimate daughter, is more capable and more deserving of the 'Shinomiya' surname than you, the eldest son, right?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Guang's expression turned even more unpleasant.

"You guy..."

"What, you're not convinced?"

"Humph."

Shinomiya Kōmitsu composed himself, looked at Ashikaga Miwa whose face remained calm, and spoke softly with a mocking tone.

"As the heir of a noble samurai family, you place your hopes on a mere student in a mixed-gender academy. Ashikaga, you are becoming more and more degenerate..."

Are you stupid?

Ashikaga Miwa interrupted Shinomiya Kiko's words directly, and asked with a sneer.

"Have you forgotten how the era of the samurai shogunate began? It was all about meritocracy. Do you really think of us Ashikaga samurai as just another corrupt noble family? Oh, no, I've forgotten all that..."

Ashikaga Miwa's last words completely shattered Shinomiya Kiko's defenses.

"Although you are always arrogant, you are actually not a nobleman at all. Perhaps it is because you know this very well that you keep putting on airs and emphasizing the so-called 'Shinomiya' surname. It's really laughable."

"Hmph, after being a teacher for a few days, you've become quite sharp-tongued."

Faced with Ashikaga Miwa's mockery, Shinomiya Kiko's face had turned gloomy. He looked at the screen hanging in the council meeting room, which was broadcasting the scene inside the first-year A class classroom, and spoke in a deep voice.

"I hope you'll still be this confident after the exams are over."

"That's natural."

Ashikaga Miwa's expression was very calm. Her eyes behind her glasses were focused on the large screen. Asagiri, who was answering questions quickly, raised her hand to adjust her glasses and spoke softly.

"Utsunomiya Asagiri is the most outstanding student I have ever met, and the one whose ideals align most closely with mine."

"I placed all my hopes on him."

"Through him... I will completely transform the private Shuchiin Academy."

89

Chapter 89: The Squad's First Gathering.

After school that day, in the classroom of Class B, Grade 1.

"Ugh~ Finally, the exams are over! I'm exhausted~"

Fujiwara Chika stretched lazily, then turned to look at Yuuki Asuna sitting behind her, and asked with a smile.

"So, Asuna, are you confident you'll get good results this time?"

"Hmm... I'm not so sure."

Asuna Yuuki smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

"Although I felt the exam was quite easy, this is Shuchiin after all, so maybe everyone else thinks it's easy. I wonder what my ranking will be."

"Huh? Is it easy?"

Fujiwara Chika paused for a moment, then looked on with envy.

"I chatted with everyone during lunch break, and they all thought the exam was quite difficult. You actually thought it was easy... So Asuna, you're a top student? Waaaa, you've betrayed me!"

Seeing Fujiwara Chika's exaggerated expression of utter grief, Yuuki Asuna couldn't help but chuckle.

"What betrayal? ...By the way, Chika, aren't you a pure academy student? Your grades should be pretty good, right?"

"Sigh, being a pure college is one thing, but it has nothing to do with grades or personal ability."

Fujiwara Chika sighed softly and patiently explained.

"Ultimately, the so-called 'pure academy' and 'mixed academy' actually refer to the difference in family background among students. People like me and Kaguya, well... it's a little embarrassing to say it out loud, but to put it bluntly, we are the kind of rich girls that ordinary people would consider to be from wealthy families. We all went to Shuchi Academy from a young age."

"The mixed students who enrolled midway through the process were generally divided into two types. One type was those who were admitted to Shuchiin Academy despite being from a commoner background, because of their outstanding academic performance or special talents."

"The second type is those who paid a large sponsorship fee to the school and obtained admission through money. A considerable number of these pure students believe that these mixed students are so-called nouveau riche and feel that they are not worthy of entering Shuchiin."

"The distinction between pure and mixed colleges is simply a hierarchy of contempt derived from this viewpoint. In this regard, I share the same opinion as your classmate Utsunomiya: this notion and concept is naive and arrogant, and should have been eliminated long ago."

At first, Asuna Yuuki listened attentively, but when she heard the last sentence, she blushed and said...

"What do you mean, 'my Utsunomiya-kun'... "

"Huh? Isn't that your classmate Utsunomiya?"

Fujiwara Chika tilted her head, revealing a pure and sweet smile, and said something surprising.

"Can I ask Utsunomiya-kun for his contact information? I quite like guys with that kind of aggressive aura~"

"you dare!"

"See, you're getting impatient."

Fujiwara Chika made a cute face, looking like she had seen through everything, and teased.

"You're so anxious. It's obvious that you're possessive. And when you feel possessive of someone, that's what you call love!"

Asuna Yuuki sighed softly and smiled helplessly.

"The love detective is at it again, isn't he?"

"Of course~"

Fujiwara Chika smiled first, then said thoughtfully.

"But... have you heard? Your Utsunomiya-kun and my Kaguya seem to be going to have a competition for first place in the grade in this exam~ The exam results won't be out until tomorrow, who do you think will win?"

Before Yuuki Asuna could answer, a girl's slightly jealous voice rang out from the side.

"Hmph, what do you mean by 'her classmate Utsunomiya'? Are you two Pokémon trainers who have a duel?"

Fujiwara Chika looked up and saw Iwanaga Kotoko, wearing a white beret and holding a cane, staring at her angrily, while Asagiri stood next to her.

"Oh dear, Iwanaga-kun."

Fujiwara Chika greeted her with a smile, then stood up and, before leaving, leaned close to Yuuki Asuna's ear and whispered words of encouragement.

"Go for it! As your friend, I believe you can definitely beat this rich girl. Fifty billion is nothing compared to your charm. Fighting!"

After Fujiwara Chika left, Yuuki Asuna looked at Iwanaga Kotoko, who was clearly jealous. For some reason, she felt guilty and remorseful again, and her voice lowered.

"Qinzi..."

"Come on this."

Kotoko Iwanaga interrupted Asuna Yuuki, then snorted and raised her chin.

"Hmph, let's go. Before we go home, let's grab something to eat together. You guys didn't even take me with you last time you went shopping together. That's so unfair. You have to treat me to a meal."

Seeing that Kotoko Iwanaga's expression was one of jealousy and dissatisfaction, but her attitude towards her remained unchanged, Asuna Yuuki breathed a sigh of relief. After all, although she hadn't known Kotoko for long, she was a true companion who had gone through life and death together.

"Take you?"

Upon hearing Kotoko Iwanaga's words, Asagiri, who was standing to the side, chuckled and teased her.

"If Asuna and I took you out with us, it would look like a young parent taking their daughter shopping, wouldn't it?"

Kotoko Iwanaga retorted angrily upon hearing this.

"You guys are just too tall. My size is normal!"

"Ah."

Asagiri nodded, seemingly agreeing with Iwanaga Kotoko's opinion, but added a brief comment.

"That's what Kotoko Iwanaga, who is 1.5 meters tall with shoes on, said."

"Is this some kind of note from a book? You just think I'm too short, don't you?!"

Kotoko Iwanaga stomped her foot in anger, then said with a hint of jealousy.

"And why do you call her Asuna, but add 'classmate' to me? No, no, you have to call me..."

"Okay, Kotoko."

Asagiri's sudden use of the word "Kotoko" caused Kotoko Iwanaga's cute face to blush. Just moments before, she had been acting wildly, but now she became docile and obedient, speaking with a slightly shy tone.

"Hmph, I was originally thinking of having you call me 'darling' or something... but calling me by my name directly... is okay too, I guess. After all, developing a relationship takes time, and I'm a rather slow-to-warm-up and traditional girl~"

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki was speechless and couldn't help but retort.

"You? Slow to warm up? Traditional? The moment you see Asagiri, you turn into a steaming kettle, and you call yourself slow to warm up?"

"hehe."

Kotoko Iwanaga chuckled coldly twice and slowly began to speak.

"If I weren't so slow to warm up, I would have already had a child with Asagiri by now."

Asuna Yuuki: "...You're really something else."

Asagiri, standing to the side, said calmly, "I have no objection."

"Go! Go! Go."

Asuna Yuuki raised her hand and gently shoved Asagiri's shoulder, saying in an annoyed tone.

"Don't go crazy with her here."