In This World That Favors Men, I... ~Starting a Sweet School Life in a World With a 1:8 Gender Ratio~ - 150

Chapter 150: National University Entrance Central Exam: Part 2

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Yuusei woke from his dream and, without encountering any particular trouble, was just about to arrive at the small, male-only testing site.

At the same time, at a major station operated by a certain private railway company…

Zash zash zash.

The sound of countless footsteps echoed in unison as people marched in an orderly fashion along the paved road. From the stylish, brand-new station building, a steady stream of girls poured out one after another. Most of them were wearing high school uniforms.

They all had serious, almost grim expressions on their faces, and it was surprising how few of them spoke to one another. In the rotary in front of the station, shuttle buses headed to the exam venue were arriving and departing in rapid succession. Once filled to capacity, each bus would promptly depart for its destination.

Girls, girls, girls—solemnly lining up and boarding the buses. Their appearance was like that of bushi, samurai warriors, heading into battle.

“This bus is Route 1600, bound for Amakawa Kame Pharmaceutical Chemistry University. Please note that there will be no stops along the way. We will depart as soon as the bus is full. Please wait until departure.”

The National University Entrance Central Exam, commonly abbreviated as the Central Exams, marked the start of the university admission season. One of its venues, Amakawa Kame Pharmaceutical Chemistry University, was a national university affiliated with a national pharmacological research institute. It had been formed by consolidating and reorganizing several traditional pharmaceutical and science-focused chemistry departments.

It boasted one of the largest and highest-quality medicinal herb gardens in Japan, a beautiful brick campus, and a forest of modern laboratory buildings. For the duration of the exams this month, only test takers and relevant personnel were permitted on campus.

The Central Exams were held over three days. Today, the first day, was for the Basic Academic Skills Test, shared by both humanities and science tracks. Since exam sites were generally assigned by school, the familiar faces of Class 3-A from private Eika Shuuei High School were all present at this venue.

“I’m f-f-fine, I’m f-fine, I’m totally f-f-fine. I studied so much. So—so I’m fine—fiiiine… Calm down, pull it together! Descend upon me, my usual self!”

“Yuuko, even in a whisper, you’re scaring me. And your body is as stiff as a board.”

“I-I hate going blank from nerves! I have to get into the same university as Yuusei-kun. So why—what do I do?”

“First, while sitting, stretch your arms out in front of you. Now open and close your hands—grip and release. Then raise your hands above your head, and stretch—stretch!”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll do a little stretching too.”

With the exam just around the corner, everyone was doing what they could to ease their rising tension. Just then, a group of girls from another school approached them.

“This isn’t a gymnasium, you know. You’re disrupting everyone’s focus before the exam. If you want to warm up, do it outside.”

“S-sorry.”

“We apologize.”

They hadn’t meant to cause a disturbance, but it was true that they had been doing light stretches. Since it might have been distracting, they offered sincere apologies. Even so, the girls from the other school didn’t leave right away. The one who seemed to be their leader let her gaze wander, as if searching for someone, until her eyes settled on a particular individual.

“There you are. It’s been a while, Takahashi-san! I never expected to run into you in a place like this.”

“Shizu, do you know her?”

“Yeah, a classmate from middle school… Itou-san. Long time no see. What a coincidence to end up at the same venue.”

“It’s a very unfortunate coincidence for us. To end up at such an important venue with people who chose their path for such impure motives—talk about unlucky.”

“Oh my. That’s quite the thing to say. Are you picking a fight?”

“That’s not my intention. I just couldn’t help thinking—this is the school you chose instead of Raitei Girls? Well, when you spend your days chasing after boys, the whole atmosphere really does become frivolous, doesn’t it?”

The girl Shizu had encountered was a former rival from the days they both aspired to Raitei Girls. They hadn’t been particularly close even back then, but their exchange was so sharp, it was hard to believe they were simply old classmates meeting again. The tension between them was definitely inappropriate for an exam site.

“Takahashi… Shizu? You mean the Takahashi who always ranked among the top in the nationwide mock exams?”

“Oh, so this is the Takahashi who supposedly ruined her life chasing after a boy.”

“So you went to a male-privilege school for the scholarship and the boys, huh?”

“You sure look quiet, but it turns out you’re a real man-chaser.”

Shizu herself stayed calm in the face of their jeers, but the other Eika Shuuei girls couldn’t hold back.

“Hey. That’s not something we can just let slide.”

“Man-chaser? Shizu is a serious person, okay? Her standards are super high. It’s not like she’s into any guy.”

“She’s a little sly sometimes, but she’s also a sweet and proper girl!”

“And just because it’s a male-privilege school doesn’t mean there’s ‘lucky pervert moments’ happening all over the place!”

“Exactly! Sure, she’s into a guy—but she’s totally wholesome about it! She only touched a butt a little, and she hasn’t even touched a stick yet!”

“““Huh?!?!”””

“Whose butt?!”

“What is this? Is this a delusion?”

“When?! You didn’t actually grope him, right?!”

“Kyaa, so lewd!”

“There was an opportunity like that?!”

“Stoooop! Everyone, it’s right before the exam! Let’s zip it!”

“…Right. Sorry we got off track.”

“Cool down, cool down.”

The open and rapid-fire chatter (albeit whispered) from the Eika Shuuei girls made the Raitei Girls tremble with red faces.

“H-How shameless! Unbelievable!”

“They’re doing it on purpose, no doubt. Trying to rattle us and drag us down!”

“Y-you’re right. I almost fell into their sneaky trap.”

“Sharing the same venue with people like them for three days? Unthinkable.”

“Two days, surely? You’re not… Taking the third day, are you?”

On the second day, a subject-specific Applied Academic Skills Test was scheduled. On the third day, a special Advanced Exam for prospective national university researchers was set to be held.

“I don’t know what you mean by that, but yes—I’m taking the third day. A few of us from our school are.”

“Oh? You’re taking it too. I thought you’d already changed paths the moment you weren’t at Raitei Girls. Don’t you want a coed university? National Raitei Medical University doesn’t have any men, you know.”

“Raitei Girls isn’t officially affiliated with Raitei Medical University, is it? There’s no recommendation or extra points for being from there. Applicants from other high schools have the same chances.”

“Is that so? But clearing the Central cutoff and passing the second stage is an extremely narrow path. A male-privilege school can’t possibly provide the kind of rigorous second-stage preparation that a science-specialized school like Raitei Girls can.”

“That’s right. If you succeed, you can get all the men you want. I hope you don’t regret throwing it all away for some high school foolishness.”

Apparently satisfied after throwing out those parting shots, the Raitei girls finally left.

“What was that about?”

“Let them say whatever they want. Right now, let’s focus on the exam.”

“Yeah! That really helped me shake off the nerves. I’m even feeling fired up now!”

“They probably think they’re the only ones working hard to improve, but they’re dead wrong.”

“Let’s show them the hidden strength we’ve built up over these three years basking in that ikemen aura!”

“Now, let’s go! Everyone, it’s time for the final showdown!”

『The exam will begin shortly. Please take your assigned seats and follow the staff’s instructions.』

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