COTE : Is Talent Everything? (Rewrite)-Chapter 101 - 98: Unanimity Test

(A/N: if you find any character naming that you think is unreasonable or weird please let me know, I will fix it immediately because I use AI to fix my broken English writing. Thank you~~)

September 17th. After lunch break.

Less than three weeks after summer vacation ended, the next special exam arrived. When I returned to the classroom about five minutes before the exam started, an adult was already waiting inside—likely to ensure strict adherence to the rules.

The exam we were about to take was the Unanimous Vote Special Exam. To put it simply, it was just a matter of selecting an option and pressing a vote button, so the atmosphere in the class was far from tense. Well, almost everyone was relaxed.

"...Tch."

The glares and muttered insults directed at Okabe, who sat uncomfortably in his seat, were the only heavy presence in the room. Otherwise, the mood was lively, with students chatting about after-school plans.

An exam that seemed easy to clear. But how many of them realized that, depending on the conditions, it could turn into a brutal challenge?

"Alright, it's about time. We'll now begin the special exam."

At Sakagami-sensei's announcement, the noisy chatter in the class died down instantly.

Finally, the exam was about to begin. Would it really be as simple as pressing a button? Or would it turn into a major ordeal?

"From this point onward, the exam will proceed according to the rules. Unless it's an intermission, leaving your seat or engaging in unauthorized conversation will result in immediate penalties. Keep that in mind."

The monitor switched on, and a countdown began. When it hit zero, the first question appeared.

---

Question 1: 

Select which class you wish to compete against in the final exam of the third semester.

(Even if class rankings change, this selection will take priority.)

※The number in parentheses indicates the additional class points earned upon victory.

Options:

- Class A (100 points)

- Class C (50 points)

- Class D (0 points)

---

"In simpler terms, this determines whether you'll face Arisu, Horikita, or Ichinose in the final exam of your second year. Once chosen, this opponent cannot be changed."

The additional class points varied depending on the opponent's rank, so everyone had to consider their own class's strength and the potential rewards before deciding.

"Now, we'll proceed with the first vote. You have 60 seconds."

Exceeding this time limit would result in penalties. However, we weren't unprepared—everyone was free to choose their preferred option in the first round.

Personally, I didn't care much, so I went with the middle option: Class C (Horikita's class).

"All votes have been cast. We'll now display the results."

1st Vote Results: 

- Class A: 14 votes

- Class C: 18 votes

- Class D: 8 votes

Horikita's Class C had the most votes, followed by Class A.

"Since we don't have unanimity, we'll now enter a 10-minute intermission."

During this time, students were free to leave their seats, talk to each other, or even whisper privately.

"Ryuuen-san, do you have any thoughts?"

Kaneda stood up and glanced at our leader, seeking his opinion. Ryuuen didn't change his expression but raised his voice slightly.

"Vote for Class A."

"So, you're saying we should defeat Class A in the final exam?"

"We'll surpass them eventually anyway. And Sakayanagi will definitely pick us. Might as well settle it now."

His blunt yet logical reasoning made the decision clear. Katsuragi, as if out of obligation, asked if anyone had objections—but none came.

For a brief moment, Tokito glanced at me, probably checking if this choice was acceptable. I nodded slightly in response.

"Time's up. We'll now proceed with the second vote. Once the tablets refresh, you'll have 60 seconds to cast your vote."

The second round of voting ended in less than 10 seconds. The results appeared immediately on the monitor.

2nd Vote Results: 

- Class A: 40 votes

- Class C: 0 votes

- Class D: 0 votes

Without a single dissenting vote, we achieved perfect unanimity for the first time.

"With unanimity reached, the first question is now locked in as Class A. The exact details of the final exam matchup will be announced tomorrow or later."

Getting unanimous agreement right away was a good sign.

While not necessarily the optimal choice, selecting Class A wasn't a bad move. I would've picked it myself. Now, we just had to hope no other class chose the same.

"Next, we'll move on to the second question."

---

Question 2: 

Choose your desired destination for the school trip in late November.

Options:

- Hokkaido

- Kyoto

- Okinawa

---

A murmur of "What the hell is this?" spread through the class.

But that was the general sentiment. Still, we couldn't discuss anything until after the first vote. This one required personal preference.

1st Vote Results: 

- Hokkaido: 16 votes

- Kyoto: 4 votes

- Okinawa: 20 votes

Excluding Kyoto, the votes were much closer this time.

"Since unanimity wasn't reached, we'll now enter an intermission."

"Uh... is this really a special exam? Feels way too easy..."

Komiya laughed awkwardly as the intermission began.

It did feel like something that didn't need a special exam, but this was only the second question. Who knew what kind of challenges lay ahead?

"What's the plan, Ryuuen?"

"Do whatever you want. Discuss it among yourselves."

Katsuragi took the lead while Ryuuen responded disinterestedly. The class gradually erupted into excited chatter—after all, deciding on a school trip was a big deal.

"Alright, alright!! I voted for Okinawa! School trips are all about the beach, right? Okinawa's got the most votes, so it's basically decided!"

Ishizaki, representing the Okinawa faction, stood up and shouted. But obviously, it wouldn't be that simple.

"I want Hokkaido! I wanna try skiing and stuff!"

"Nah, the beach is where it's at. Okinawa's still warm this time of year."

"Ehh~ Okinawa's just the beach, isn't it?"

"Then Hokkaido's just snow, isn't it?"

Arguments flew back and forth, but not a single person spoke up for Kyoto—the option I'd voted for.

Pathetic.

Was there no one brave enough to stand up for Kyoto?

As I sighed to myself, Tokito approached from the back, where the debate was raging.

"Damn, they're going at it."

"Yeah. Which one did you pick, Tokito?"

"Hokkaido. Though Okinawa's fine too. But Kyoto? Hell no. Just a bunch of temples and statues, right?"

"...I see."

"...Oh. Uh... I mean, Kyoto's got its charm too, y'know? Like, it's got this... traditional vibe? Maybe I'll vote for it next time—"

"Tokito, you don't have to force yourself."

He'd clearly realized I'd picked Kyoto and was overcompensating. With a wry smile, he left my seat.

"What's wrong, Hachiman-kun?"

Next, Hiyori came over. She'd probably been waiting for my conversation with Tokito to end.

"Hiyori, is Kyoto really that bad?"

"Huh? Kyoto? I think it's nice. I voted for it too."

Oho.

So Hiyori was a fellow Kyoto supporter. My nearly broken Kyoto spirit began to revive.

"Though, honestly, I'd be fine with anywhere."

And just like that, my elbow slipped off the desk.

"Wait, you don't care?"

"Nope. As long as I get to go on a date with you, anywhere is fine~♡"

"Hiyori?"

"Hokkaido would be fun for skiing together, and Okinawa's beaches are so romantic~ But really, as long as you're next to me, anywhere is—♡"

Her expression softened dreamily as she spoke, cheeks slightly flushed.

Ah. So Hiyori was just really looking forward to the school trip.

As we chatted, the 10-minute intermission came to an end.

Based on the heated discussions, it didn't seem like a decision had been reached. Well, something like this wouldn't be settled easily.

"All second-round votes are in. Here are the results."

No matter what, Kyoto... I'll keep supporting you.

2nd Vote Results: 

- Hokkaido: 19 votes

- Kyoto: 4 votes

- Okinawa: 17 votes

Reality is cruel.

"Ah! Hokkaido pulled ahead! Hell yeah!"

"Hey! Who switched from Okinawa to Hokkaido?!"

Hokkaido had gained a slight lead, but it was still essentially a tie. The sad part? Kyoto's votes hadn't changed at all.

Tokito, stop looking at me with those pitying eyes.

"Fine. Let's settle this with rock-paper-scissors. Each faction sends three representatives, but for fairness, Kyoto only gets one."

Since Kyoto was the minority, pitting them against the other two would've been unfair.

No one objected to Kaneda's suggestion. Soon, three representatives from the Hokkaido faction (led by Ishizaki) and the Okinawa faction (led by Kinoshita) stood ready.

"Now, we just need someone from the Kyoto faction to step forward."

I was about to raise my hand when the guy sitting in front of me stood up with an air of solemn duty.

"If no one else will, I'll do it. Kyoto has much to offer."

It was Katsuragi, declaring his support for Kyoto with unwavering resolve.

I've never been so moved.

"I'm counting on you, Katsuragi."

"Leave it to me, Hikigaya. I'll fight for both of us."

What a reliable back. Ryuuen's decision to recruit Katsuragi was clearly the right call.

To align with the third vote, the rock-paper-scissors match began swiftly.

- Round 1: Kinoshita (Okinawa) threw paper, while Kondo (Hokkaido) and Katsuragi (Kyoto) threw rock. Okinawa took the first point.

- Kyoto's dreams were shattered in less than 10 seconds.

"...Tch."

At that moment, I heard Ryuuen click his tongue quietly.

So he was a Kyoto supporter too.

After that, Okinawa won two more rounds, but Hokkaido fought back, forcing a final showdown—where Hokkaido emerged victorious.

Sorry, Kyoto. Democracy has spoken.

3rd Vote Results: 

- Hokkaido: 40 votes

- Kyoto: 0 votes

- Okinawa: 0 votes

"With unanimity achieved in the third vote, the second question is cleared."

Though some unease remained, the class had followed the rules and reached a unanimous decision.

"Now, we'll proceed to the third question."

There was a subtle shift in Sakagami-sensei's demeanor. After two relatively easy questions, something was about to change.

---

Question 3: 

- Option 1: Private points (monthly allowance) drop to 0, but three random students receive Protection Points.

- Option 2: Private points are halved, and one chosen student receives a Protection Point.

- Option 3: Neither. Instead, the bottom five students in the next written exam lose all their private points.

---

Unlike the first two questions, this one had major pros and cons for the class. No option was purely beneficial. But the chance to obtain Protection Points—a powerful tool—was tempting.

Though many students had opinions, we had to vote first.

"Before voting, note that if Option 2 (selecting one student) achieves unanimity, the exam won't end there. You'll proceed to another vote to choose who receives the point."

Basically, the intermission would be used to decide the recipient, followed by a vote on whether to grant it.

"With that in mind, here are the first-round results."

1st Vote Results:

- Option 1 (3 random): 12 votes

- Option 2 (1 chosen): 6 votes

- Option 3 (none): 22 votes

The majority seemed willing to forgo Protection Points to avoid complications.

"Ugh, if we pick 'none,' I'm screwed..."

Ishizaki muttered nervously. Nearby, Kondo also looked uneasy. For those at the bottom academically, losing private points would be brutal.

Ryuuen, however, smirked, waiting for the class's input.

"Finally, something interesting."

"Ryuuen-san, any thoughts?"

"What about you, Kaneda? What's the right choice here?"

Kaneda stroked his chin, deep in thought.

"Option 1 isn't ideal. Random distribution reduces effectiveness. It's between Option 2 or 3."

True. Option 1 meant zero private points, which would hurt morale and daily life.

"Since Option 3 has the most votes, it's probably the safest—"

"Mind if I cut in?"

A voice interrupted—Tokito, standing up unexpectedly.

"What, Tokito? You got the answer or something?"

"Shut up, Ryuuen. I'm just stating my opinion."

"Hey! Watch your mouth with Ryuuen-san!"

Ignoring Ishizaki's outburst, Tokito pressed on.

"Option 3 isn't bad. But Protection Points are a powerful weapon if used right."

"Obviously."

"Ryuuen, remember what you said during the class vote? That you'd stand out too much if you had one, making it useless?"

"Good memory. Been studying?"

Tokito ignored Ryuuen's jab—a far cry from his usual confrontational self.

"We're one step from Class A. So, to strengthen our forces—I'm pushing for Option 2."

He glanced at me briefly.

"...Meaning, granting a Protection Point to one chosen student. Tokito-san, who do you propose?"

Since Tokito had already referenced Ryuuen's earlier statement, it was clear he wasn't nominating him.

"There's only one person I think deserves it. Someone who won't get careless, stays calm in any situation, and excels in both academics and sports."

Ryuuen closed his eyes and smirked, as if he'd expected this.

"Strategically speaking... Hikigaya. It has to be you."

"...Me?"

Tokito turned to me, his tone firm.

"O-ohhh...! I thought you were gonna say yourself, but that's a damn good point, Tokito!"

Ishizaki, now on board, shouted in agreement.

"I agree! You all saw it—Hikigaya and Ryuuen's performance in the uninhabited island exam. If anyone should have a Protection Point, it's one of them!"

"I also think it's a sound decision. The lost private points would be an investment in Hikigaya's potential."

"Indeed. Hikigaya-san is a worthy candidate."

Komiya, Katsuragi, and Kaneda all voiced their support. Tokito smiled faintly at me.

But given his history of opposing Ryuuen, the real question was—what did Ryuuen think?

"S-so, Ryuuen-san? About giving Hikigaya the Protection Point..."

"Keh. You all think that's the best move?"

"Y-yes!!"

"Then Option 2 it is."

The class froze in shock at Ryuuen's immediate agreement.

Just like that, I was about to obtain a Protection Point—something I never expected to receive in this way. Well, I'd take it gratefully.

In the atmosphere Tokito had created, the next voting period arrived. The class was certain of unanimity.

But—

2nd Vote Results: 

- Option 1 (3 random): 1 vote

- Option 2 (1 chosen): 39 votes

- Option 3 (none): 0 votes

"WHAAA?! Who the hell voted against?! This was already decided!!"

Ishizaki shot up, knocking his chair over.

But that wasn't all.

SLAM.

Ryuuen stood abruptly, glaring in one direction.

"Hey. Don't fucking test me."

His gaze landed on Okabe, who was sweating bullets.

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"Try that again. See what happens."

With that threat, Ryuuen sat back down.

3rd Vote Results:

- Option 1 (3 random): 0 votes

- Option 2 (1 chosen): 40 votes

- Option 3 (none): 0 votes

Thanks to Ryuuen's intimidation, we reached unanimity without further issues.

---

Grant Hikigaya Hachiman a Protection Point?

- Yes / No

1st Vote Results:

- Yes: 40 votes

- No: 0 votes

---

And just like that, I became one of the few Protection Point holders in the school. Currently, the only others in my year were Arisu and Kouenji.

Other classes might make similar choices. How these points would be used would likely shape the battles to come.

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