"So, when solving for x using the quadratic formula, x is equal to negative b plus or minus the square root of b squared minus 4ac, all over 2a. Substituting the corresponding values from the equation 2x - 5x - 3 = 0, we get A = 2, B = -5, and C = -3. Now, by substituting these numbers into the formula, you should find that x equals both 3 and -½," explained Hamada-sensei.
"Is everyone following?" he asked.
"Yes, Hamada-sensei," the whole class responded.
"I'm at a loss for words, but I can't say that out loud," Naomi thought to herself.
"I completely understand that formula because of the extra classes I took before high school, but I wonder if Tetsuo understood it as well," Sachiko thought as she glanced at Tetsuo, who was writing notes.
"This is such a pain. I don't understand any of this crap," Makoto muttered to himself.
"Um, sir, you've completely lost me," Noboru said as he raised his hand.
"Oh really, Mr. Takemoto? And may I ask where exactly you got lost?" Hamada-sensei asked.
"Well, I've been lost from the very start. I was just waiting for you to finish because I didn't want to interrupt," Noboru replied.
"How are you lost from the start when this is just the formula?!" Hamada-sensei shouted, nearly losing his temper. However, he took a deep breath and maintained his composure.
"Sometimes I really wonder how he made it into the elite class with only two brain cells," Hamada thought to himself.
"Fine, I'll repeat it once more, but pay attention this time, got it?"
"Yes, sir. Loud and clear. Oh, and by the way, Hamada-sensei, your time is up," Noboru said with a smirk as the bell rang.
The class erupted into chuckles at the embarrassed look on Hamada-sensei's face.
"I've been dying to get out of that class. It's so boring, and I didn't understand a single thing," Noboru said to Shino as they walked out.
"Speak for yourself. I understood some of it," Shino replied.
Hamada, visibly irritated, snapped the chalk in half.
"So, you're telling me that for this PE session, we'll just be running? That sucks—I wanted to shoot some hoops," Noboru said in disappointment.
"Shut up and get in line," barked the PE teacher, a towering man with a muscular build.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. My name is Tsuyoshi Souma, and I'm in charge of your health and fitness. Today, you'll be tested on your physical capabilities, and then you can relax for the rest of the session. However, from now on, you'll be running in every session. Do I make myself clear?!" Souma-sensei shouted.
"Yes, Souma-sensei!" the whole class responded.
"Alright! We'll start with push-ups. Go!"
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten—" Souma counted, and as soon as he reached ten, two boys collapsed.
Meanwhile, over on the track, the girls of Class 1T were running laps. Naomi, a track athlete, led the class with an impressive pace, four laps ahead of everyone else.
"Wow, Naomi is amazing, isn't she?" one girl remarked.
"I know! She's not just a fast sprinter—she has stamina too," another girl added.
Sachiko, struggling to keep up, tried her best to maintain her pace.
"Alright, girls, you can take five," said the female PE teacher.
"Naomi, you're really something else," Sachiko said, panting.
"Well, it's my passion, so I can't allow myself to be beaten by anyone," Naomi replied confidently.
"Look, the boys are doing push-ups. At times like these, I'm glad I'm a girl," one of the girls said with a smirk.
"Looks like there are only seven boys left, and Tetsuo is one of them," Sachiko thought to herself.
"Twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four…"
"Shit, my arms feel like they're going to fall off, but my pride won't let me come in seventh place," Noboru thought as he struggled.
"This is such a pain. I'll stop at thirty," Makoto decided as he gritted his teeth.
"Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty… I can't go any further," Shino groaned, collapsing, followed by Kiyoe and two other classmates at thirty-five.
Makoto, who didn't care much for competition, came in third, completing forty push-ups before dropping out.
"Great, only two of us left. I won't lose," Noboru thought, panting. But when he glanced at Tetsuo, who looked unfazed even after completing fifty push-ups, reality hit him.
"There's no way I can win," he admitted as he finally collapsed.
"You're not bad for a bunch of freshmen. And Tetsuo here is the winner, demonstrating the best muscular strength," Souma-sensei announced.
"Crap, there's no way I'll lose the next one. Just wait and see," Noboru vowed to himself.
For the test of muscular endurance, the boys competed in sit-ups. Kiyoe came in sixth with sixty-five. Shino came in fifth with sixty-seven. Makoto placed third with seventy-five. Noboru secured second place with eighty-eight. Tetsuo completed a flawless one hundred sit-ups, taking first place again.
For cardiovascular endurance, the boys had to run around the entire school.
Shino, exhausted, dropped out halfway. Noboru, Makoto, and Tetsuo raced toward the school gate. Once again, Tetsuo emerged victorious, followed by Makoto, with Noboru trailing behind.
"Damn it! Losing to Tetsuo was bad enough, but losing to Makoto too? That's embarrassing," Noboru groaned, trying to catch his breath.
"Thank you for your cooperation, gentlemen. Now that I've recorded the necessary data for each of you, you're free to relax for the rest of the session," Souma-sensei said before walking away.
"Man, I'm exhausted. My muscles are killing me," Noboru complained.
"Um… don't you remember, Noboru? We have training after school today. I don't know why you're overexerting yourself," Shino reminded him.
"You know Nanaho won't go easy on us, even if we explain. Her training is already brutal—it'll probably kill us today. I don't know how I'm going to survive," Shino added anxiously.
"Shit, we're screwed," Noboru muttered.
"Yeah, I'm skipping training today. I'll go lie down in the infirmary for now," Makoto yawned as he walked off.
Tetsuo, wanting to escape the chaos, found a quiet spot by an open window. He leaned on the frame, letting the gentle breeze sway his hair.
"This is nice," he thought, taking a deep breath.
"Um, excuse me. Can you move? You're blocking the wind," a voice called from inside the room.
Tetsuo turned around, locking eyes with a girl who had long, beautiful black hair and glasses. She was reading a book, her expression distant and unreadable.
The moment he looked into her cold, lifeless eyes, he recognized her instantly.