Third person pov
During the preparation discussion, all the class leaders had come to the same conclusion-there wasn't much room for strategy in this exam.
It was relatively simple. Identifying the individuals associated with each number was an easy task, as their descriptions provided enough hints to piece things together.
And so, after careful consideration, they finalized the list they believed to be the most accurate:
1st - Horikita Suzune
2nd - Ichinose Honami
3rd - Ryūen Kakeru
4th - ???
5th - ???
6th - Katsuragi Kōhei
The only uncertainty lay with the identities of numbers 4 and 5. However, there was a strong speculation that 4th could be Sakayanagi Arisu-after all, despite her physical limitations, she had managed to secure a place in Class A.
As for the 5th... that remained a complete mystery to everyone but Horikita.... She knew that it might be him but she just refused to believe it.
With the final moments of preparation over, the stage was set. The large microphone positioned at the front of each class was switched on, along with three strategically placed speakers-one at the front, one in the middle, and one at the back. Their volume was deliberately kept low, ensuring they wouldn't be a distraction while still being audible enough for students to hear.
Seated at the very front with Class A were the government officials, the chairman, as well as Manabu and Nagumo-silent observers to the unfolding events.
And with that, the exam was ready to begin.
One thing was certain-those two unknown names wouldn't remain a mystery for long.
And the first memory was shown.
[The first memory took place inside a moving bus
They could see Kushida standing up inside the bus while Koenji sat comfortably in a priority seat.]
The first to voice their thoughts was none other than Ichinose Honami.
"It is even before we first entered the school, I can recognize most of the students shown."
Over time, she had calmed down and was now able to think more clearly.
Kushida responded.
"There is me and Koenji-kun in the memory, so the person we are currently spectating must have taken the same bus as us."
For some students, watching a conversation unfold between two beauties like them felt like a fever dream-especially for those who had always wanted to speak with them but never had the courage. Even now, just hearing their voices filled them with a strange sense of satisfaction.
A visible sigh escaped Ayanokouji's lips. It seemed his peace had been short-lived.
He thought.
(It was fun while it lasted.)
Ayanokouji was a realist. He knew the moment had already passed-there was no point in clinging to his peaceful life any longer.
Unless... the memory revealed his conversation with his homeroom teacher.
The chairman was present, along with government officers. Chabashira was most likely going to be fired in the near future. If the government officers weren't here, she might have gotten away with just a warning. But with them in attendance, her fate was sealed. She was gone-gone for good.
Firing her would be the least of her worries. There was a good chance she might even end up in jail.
Ayanokouji felt a sense of satisfaction with that conclusion. She would either lose her reputation... or lose herself entirely.
"I think I have an idea who it might be."
Horikita joined the conversation, catching everyone off guard.
[Horikita is Suzune, I will be using Manabu for her older brother.]
[But the memory kept playing, bus kept moving and soon a sound was heard.]
I would like to propose an interesting question.
Are people truly equal?
And with this, the memory paused, giving them a moment to discuss.
Students tensed up, not expecting a certain voice. Nobody had told them something like this would happen.
"It seems like this machine completely shows whatever happened in the past."
Manabu was the one who said that, tense himself. Just when did science develop this much?
"Yeah, it's so overwhelming to the point of fear."
Nagumo supported Manabu's statement.
One of the government officers decided to reply to them.
"Overwhelming is an understatement. In the future, we're going to use it on criminals for the sake of true justice."
This government officer's name was Hokai, and he was rather impulsive... so much so that he unintentionally blew their cover about being government officials.
The others were Shositou, a deep thinker who knew her way around things, and she was in her early 20s.
The last was Okosi, a man in his late 30s who was supposed to guide these two. He was rather outgoing and a seeker of justice.
They both collectively facepalmed at Hokai's slip-up.
Other than that, the first thing that stood out was none other than the voice.
It seemed basic, without any confidence or nervousness... as if the speaker was just thinking for the sake of thinking.
"Wow, if a nonchalant villain had a voice, it would be just like this."
Morishita's comment earned a ton of laughs.
However, for the teachers, it was an intriguing question-one that a student with a philosophical mindset would ask.
They weren't trying to overpraise the student; it simply caught them off guard. In modern times, students rarely questioned the foundations of the world. That was something usually left to adults.
Horikita made a confused expression and looked at Ayanokouji.
She didn't say anything. She didn't want to give anyone the lead that he was the one speaking in the memory-at least not yet.
Ryueen simply glanced at his phone, trying to memorize the descriptions of numbers 4 and 5.
He was never particularly good at studying-barely average, in fact-but it irritated him that he had to keep looking at his phone to confirm details.
He looked at the description again.
4️⃣ Tactical Precision & Controlled Authority - Symbolizes structure, but not in the rigid, methodical sense-it is a structure built on absolute control. Those connected to this number are masters of psychological manipulation, playing the long game with meticulous planning. This number represents the ability to turn limitations into strengths, maintaining an air of authority and superiority. However, it also suggests a reluctance to act without absolute certainty, as well as a deep-seated need to prove oneself.
5️⃣ Calculated Adaptability & Detached Mastery - Embodies transformation and psychological fluidity, but in a controlled and deliberate manner. Adaptability here is not impulsive-it is methodical, designed to shift approaches based on necessity rather than emotion. This number reflects the ability to blend into any situation, manipulate perception, and operate without attachments. However, it also signifies difficulty in forming genuine connections, as relationships are constantly evaluated through a pragmatic, almost detached lens.
"That's an interesting question, but sadly, the answer will be a no."
Sakayanagi unexpectedly joined the discussion-perhaps because she found it necessary, given her own limitations.
Ichinose responded.
"Yeah... while it pains me to say this, people can never truly be equal. But there's no flaw in treating others as equals."
Ichinose understood the difference between what was possible and what was not.
And the question at hand fell into the latter category.
But fate would not allow things to go as Horikita intended.
A sudden, shocked voice erupted from Class D.
"ISN'T THAT AYANOKOUJI'S VOICE?! IS HE ONE OF THE NUMBERS?!"
It was a large theater, but unfortunately-so very unfortunately-the voice reached the microphone placed at the front row. And slowly, but surely, every class heard it.
The voice belonged to Yamauchi. Impulsive and delusional, he thought that revealing this would earn him recognition and the admiration of girls.
But reality was different.
He was met with surprised looks from his own classmates, who hadn't even known the truth themselves. Then, slowly, they all turned their gazes toward Ayanokouji.
Karuizawa tensed up and slowly looked at Ayanokouji.
So did Ryueen.
Ryueen stared at Ayanokouji, despite not getting a clear view of his face-Ayanokouji was sitting at the corner of the front row.
Ryueen continued staring, as if assessing him.
Katsuragi stared as well. Ichinose did too, trying to suppress the guilt welling up inside her.
Ayanokouji was the first victim of the machine, and she felt a small sense of relief that she hadn't been the first.
That didn't mean she wasn't shocked to find out the truth.
But the most shocked of all was Sakayanagi.
Her hand tensed up, yet her face wore the brightest smile.
It wasn't the memory that shocked her.
It was the name she heard.
"Ayanokouji."
She glanced at Hashimoto, as if silently instructing him on what to do.
Hashimoto soon nodded back, a smile creeping onto his face.
While all the students were trying to figure out who Ayanokouji was-
"Idiot, how would Ayanokouji be one of them?! Stop saying bullshit, you're making us look bad."
Shinohara shut him up.
[While I don't like hating on her but that's just how she behaves in novel 😔]
the memory resumed.
A proper society will constantly strive for equality.
There are those who clamor for men and women to always be considered equal.
As a result, we raised the employment rate for women, we made specialized subway cars only for women.
Sometimes, women will even argue over the order of names in a family register.
[Pause]
The students, teachers, and government officers who had good insights into such things could understand that he was only speaking from logic, but if we look at the 169 people gathered in the theater, only about 100 had such insight.
For the remaining 69-mostly women-the reaction was different.
"Are you saying that women don't deserve equal rights like men?"
Shinohara from Class D refused to believe that Ayanokouji deserved to be one of the numbers and attacked him.
It only needed one girl to raise her voice to cause a chain reaction.
"That's the problem with you men, you can't see us as equals!"
Manabe also decided to lash out at Ayanokouji.
So did other women.
But there was an important fact behind it.
The ones who raised their voices were only from Class C and D.
Class B and A, however, seemed to agree with Ayanokouji's point of view. In fact, they found it highly precise and well-stated.
Hashimoto from Class A leaned back in his seat, observing the outburst with an amused expression. "It's ironic, isn't it? They're proving his point without realizing it."
Some women glanced at Hashimoto, but seeing that he was from Class A and didn't look like a pushover, they didn't say anything.
Meanwhile, Horikita quietly studied Ayanokouji's reaction-or lack thereof. He remained perfectly composed, as if none of the accusations bothered him in the slightest. That alone made some of the more insightful students in the room reconsider their stance.
"What's wrong? Don't have anything to say now?" Shinohara pressed, but Ayanokouji simply sighed.
Before he could respond, someone else decided to join the discussion.
Sakayanagi let out a small laugh. "How entertaining. This has turned into a social experiment all on its own."
Shinohara didn't seem to recognize the voice and snapped, "You should be ashamed of yourself as a woman." She continued, "I can't even see you-where did that voice come from?"
Sakayangi replied, her voice carrying an air of amusement. "Ashamed? Quite the opposite. I simply find it amusing to watch people react so predictably. Did I say I agreed or disagreed? No, yet here you are, assuming my stance simply because I spoke. Truly Fascinating."
Shinohara faltered for a moment, caught off guard by the response.
But surprisingly, no further attack came from Sakayanagi, and for some reason, Hashimoto felt a chill run down his spine.
She once again looked at Hashimoto, and this time, Hashimoto, now sweating, nodded.
He had to find out about two people.
Sakayanagi sighed and said "actually leave it."
Everyone thought that it was directed towards shinhohara, before shinhohara could reply her friends pulled her down out of sheer embarassment.
But actually it was meant for hashimoto that just happened to be a double meaning word, one for others to hear and one for hashimoto.
Hashimoto himself had a sigh of relief he didn't wanted a girlfriend this soon.
The government officers observing the scene ouldn't help but enjoy it, they rarely had a front seat to such a good drama.
Nagumo and Manabu, who had been watching the scene closely, exchanged brief glances but remained silent, choosing to observe rather than interfere.
And with that, the memory continued.
[I can't see anyone else I can use to criticize even in novel she is mostly used to criticize everything 😭]
The public opinion of people with disabilities has also changed.
We're now told that we should not use the term "disabled people" when referring to them, so as not to discriminate.
Nowadays, children are taught that all people are created equal.
Majority of the students nodded their heads in satisfaction, as if to silently affirm that they followed this belief.
That they treated disabled people as equals.
I said majority for a reason.
Kamuro wore a smug expression as she glanced at Sakayanagi.
Sakayanagi, however, chose to ignore it, maintaining her usual composed demeanor.
Ryueen, sensing that this wasn't the end, shifted his gaze toward the screen with anticipation.
Ichinose, despite outwardly agreeing with the statement, found herself lost in thought.
People liked to preach about equality, but how many of them truly practiced it? Was it just a conditioned response-words they repeated to feel morally superior?
She glanced at a few students in the room, noticing how some shifted uncomfortably, while others maintained blank expressions, as if trying to suppress their true thoughts.
The atmosphere grew subtly tense, but the memory pressed forward.
But is that true? I have my doubts.
Several girls attempted to voice their skepticism, but the memory mercilessly cut them off.
If men and women have different abilities, then their roles should also differ.
People with disabilities are still disabled, no matter what polite euphemisms you use.
No matter how you try to avert your eyes, the meaning of the word does not change.
The women who had tried to speak up slowly sat back down.
That argument was flawless and caused many to avert their eyes.
Current Japan is a country praised for its manners, technology, and more.
They are taught to never look directly into the eyes of senior citizens.
They are told to always treat others equally.
But what they were seeing and hearing right now seemed to have changed their way of thinking.
Not because of the argument but because they had no counter argument.
"Should I call you mr.philosophy from now on?"
Karuizawa said rolling her eyes. She had already experienced what inequality is.
But these minor comments always get past others.
So no, my answer is equality does not exist.
To be human is to be inequal.
And with that the first memory had come to an close.
But the story had just begun.
Ayanokouji was announced as one of the numbers after few more memories they will take the sub exam to tell him number.
______________________
[Yea let's finish the chapter here kinda of again a huge wall with this chapter, not really a philosophical person so no idea how I can make them react to it.
But things should be different starting from next chapter :D
Decide the next chapter :-
1] Shadow Slave (Ayanokouji pretending to be asleep against Horikita.)
2] Angel with an dice (Ayanokouji learning about real kushida)
3] Answer of the question (Getting question sheet with kushida)
I don't really recommend the 2nd option but it's on yall