Shiki?
S-Sorry I woke you.
Wearing your school uniform on a Sunday?
Are you going to school?
Yeah. My club has a quiz meet today.
Club? A meet?!
Y-Yeah.
I had no idea!
What about lunch? I'll pack you one right away!
My memories of my mom reading books to me when I was little
seem so far away in my memory now.
For me, reading was a way for me to have fun in my own little world.
I'm borrowing this book today.
I learned a lot of things in my world spun from letters.
It's my own secret world, which I've kept warm all this time.
And now, it's starting to connect me with the world everyone else inhabits...
The quiz bowl world.
Okay!
Question 8: "\Greetings/ Asagaoka Regular Meet!"
Thank you all for participating in today's regular meet here at Asagaoka.
Once you've signed in, please sit wherever you like.
We're having a quiz meet in a place like this?
Looks fun!
Keep it down, Jinko.
The rule is that spectators can't interfere with participants.
Yukicchi! It's been half a month since I saw you!
There, there. We can hang out again starting from today.
What's that about?
A gag order.
We were told not to associate with students from other schools until the meet.
The host school is in charge of managing the questions and rules.
Present
To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings,
Inoue Daisuke Koshiyama Shiki Sasajima Gakuto Fukami Mari
they must take care when associating with participating schools.
Huh?
They're doing it by the book, huh?
So Ashiya-kun, your tests are in two days, aren't they?
Niina...
There's no way I could miss this meet when kids from my school are participating.
Mikuriya, what are you doing?
What are you—
Question: Kyoto's Golden Pavilion and Silver Pavilion are—
Give that back!
He's listening to questions!
Seriously?!
Mikuriya-kun...
So you came, Koshiyama.
I hope you've been brushing up.
A quiz competition with Mikuriya-kun...
I can't wait!
It's Kaijou Academy.
The veteran quiz team and champions of the east.
So Kaijou's club president this year is Ohkura, huh?
He ranked first on the national mock exams in literature.
Kaijou High School 2nd Year Ohkura Kunimitsu
No one can match him on the paper quiz.
Kaijou Academy's quiz team... That's where my brother used to play!
Kaijou, eh? They look tough again this year.
They all look really impressive.
Kaijou isn't the only tough school here.
Sekigawata, whose club president is Niina-san...
Miyaura, whose president is Ashiya-san...
And then there's Yokohama Kannami University High School...
and Chiba's Leoneil.
They're all equally prestigious schools.
Whoa! Whazzat?
Welcome to the Asagaoka Regular Meet.
As the Bible teaches, "Those who think they know something
do not yet know as they ought to know."
It also says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Young ones, apply yourselves to the fullest!
May God bless you and keep you.
Amen.
Nailed it.
Today's events will proceed in the order outlined in the programs you received at sign-in.
So this is today's program...
We are now distributing paper quizzes.
In the Beginning, There Was The Word
Round 1 will now begin.
You have ten minutes.
The paper quiz is fifty questions,
including one that calls for approximation.
Religious stuff right off the bat...
Looks like this is going to follow us around all day.
You have one minute left.
Thirty seconds.
Stop.
We will now take a break.
The answers will be announced at 12:00, and rankings will be announced at 12:10.
Koshiyama, let's go see what an all-girls school looks like!
Sorry, I'll pass.
Oh, fine...
Inoue-kun, let's go get some drinks.
Sure!
Man, what a drag.
Don't stand there and drink it! Move!
Sorry.
Huh? Where have I...
Bullseye.
Sasajima.
Ohkura.
Wh-What does Kaijou's club president have to say to Sasajima-senpai?!
You finally showed up, Sasajima?!
Uh, well, looks that way, yeah...
I've waited for you this whole time!
I heard rumors that you started a quiz team at Buzou,
and I thought to myself, "Now's the time!"
Okay, I get it. Now, get off me. You're in my face.
Quickly, accurately, and efficiently!
Yes!
I've finished scoring the first one!
Um, President...
This person got most of the answers right,
but somehow, all the answers from Question 4 onward are a space off.
Huh? Who did that?
Does that mean...
Naturally. Mark them all as incorrect.
What a waste...
The high-ranking players with the real skills are a cut above the others.
They're even getting the toughest questions we could throw at them.
I look forward to the remaining rounds.
Question 2
June Bride
The answer to Question 2 was "June bride."
You haven't been to a meet since last summer, have you?
Guess not.
Does this mean you're back on the quiz bowl scene?
I don't believe I ever left.
But Senpai mourned the loss of his most promising rookie, his ace.
Losing one or two members doesn't diminish Kaijou's strength one bit.
Besides, no matter where I go, I can still do quiz bowl.
They're announcing the answers.
Huh? We don't get our answer sheets back?
I guess not. Just like with entrance exams,
people who want to know how they did can grade their own work.
I guess this was a step too far, after all.
Current affairs, anime, show business, fashion...
I can't keep up with all this new information.
Probably 'cause you're always readin' stuffy old books.
I tend to lean more toward the classics, because I like them best.
My mom always tells me I got my taste in books from my dad.
He died, though.
Even now, I still binge-read his books all the time.
And they're all masterpieces from way back when.
But I think I might need to start reading different kinds of books.
You can take it slow, can't you?
It's awesome that your knowledge came from reading your dad's books.
That's a fine weapon to have.
Mastering your best subject, or conquering categories you don't excel in...
All of you have only just begun on your quiz bowl journey.
There's no need to rush.
Next, the announcement you've all been waiting for: your rankings on the paper quiz.
The top ten will advance to Round 3,
and everyone else will participate in Round 2.
Taking first place...
st
points
With 47 points,
Buzou High School, 2nd Year
Sasajima Gakuto
Sasajima Gakuto-kun, second-year, from Buzou High School.
Seriously?!
He's on Buzou's rookie team now,
but he's the real deal. It's clear he came from Kaijou.
Congratulations.
Buzou High School is participating for the first time this year.
How do you feel about today?
I hope the younger members of my club will gain a lot from today's meet.
And for you, personally?
I intend to enjoy myself.
Sasajima-senpai's so cool!
Next, in second place...
nd
With the same score as the top finisher...
Kaijou High School 2nd Year
Ohkura Kunimitsu
Ohkura Kunimitsu-kun, second-year, from Kaijou High School.
Ah, so close.
The same score means you only missed out on first by the approximation question.
Schoolyard
East Building
Audito- rium
Hall A
Court- yard
Chapel
West Building
Front Yard
School Building
Hall B
It asked for an approximation of the total area of the Asagaoka campus.
When the exact number is unknown,
you make a rough, theoretical estimate based on a few assumptions.
The Fermi estimate.
That's probably how Sasajima calculated it.
I looked it up on Asagaoka's homepage beforehand.
I knew it might turn up on the quiz.
His intuition is often right.
Miyaura High School 3rd Year
Ashiya Yousuke
Next, in third place with 39 points,
Ashiya Yousuke-kun, third-year, from Miyaura High School.
All right!
In fourth place with 38 points,
Konoe Haruomi-kun, second-year, from Kaijou High School.
Kaijou High School 2nd Year Konoe Haruomi
Yes!
In fifth place with 38 points,
Tozuka Koutarou-kun, third-year, from Leoneil High School.
Leoneil High School 3rd Year Tozuka Koutarou
In sixth place with 37 points,
Shibuya Hiroki-kun, third-year, from Kannami University High School.
Kannami University High School 3rd Year Shibuya Hiroki
In seventh place with 36 points,
Shibata Masaru-kun, second-year, from Kaijou High School.
Kaijou High School 2nd Year Shibata Masaru
In eighth place with 35 points,
Hanabusa Minoru-kun, third-year, from Kannami University High School.
Kannami University High School Third-Year Hanabusa Minoru
Yay!
In ninth place with 35 points,
Hosokawa Atsuyoshi-kun, first-year, from Kaijou High School.
Kaijou High School 1st Year Hosokawa Atsuyoshi
And last but not least, in tenth place, with 33 points...
Miyaura High School 1st Year
Mikuriya Chisato
Mikuriya Chisato-kun, first-year, from Miyaura High School.
Look at Mikuriya's name!
Lieutenant Colonel Chisato Pts: 325,875 Tokyo Major Land Akihabara
No way...
I scored my own quiz, and I should've made the top ten!
Ah, he's the one whose answers were off by one space.
Miyaura High School 1st Year
Mikuriya Chisato
These ten will advance to the third round as seeds.
Everyone else will proceed to Round 2, the fastest finger round.
You'll be in it?! Can I come watch?!
I-I'll be in it, but I don't think you can watch
I thought you were just obsessed with quiz bowl
So you really can do quiz bowl, Senpai...
What do you guys take me for?
We will now continue on to Round 2.
The two of us will be your commentators...
Asagaoka third-year, Sonohara Chiaki.
First-year, Kouzuki Yuki.
If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me, Yuki-san.
Y-Yes, O-Onee-sama!
Round 2: The "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"
five right, two wrong fastest finger quiz!
Round 2
"Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself"
5 O 2 X Fastest Finger Quiz
I will now explain the rules.
Participants in Round 2 will draw cards to form pairs.
Each participant will have a buzzer,
but they will be scored as a pair.
Up to 25 Questions
It will be a five right, two wrong fastest finger quiz with up to 25 questions.
Fastest Finger Quiz
A correct answer earns a "Right" mark, and an incorrect answer earns a "Wrong" mark.
Marks Win!
Five "Right" marks mean you win the round,
Marks Disqualify
and two "Wrong" marks mean disqualification.
Each Question Has Two Answers
However, each question in this quiz will have two answers.
The buzzer of the participant who buzzes in first will blink,
and their partner's will glow.
The question will continue to be read until two people have buzzed in.
Quiz Quiz / Quiz /
Up to Two Can Answer Each Question
Up to two participants can earn the right to answer each question.
If both members of a pairing answer correctly,
it counts as three "Right" marks,
but they must answer in the order that they buzzed.
There will be no conferring.
Pairs? Two correct answers per question? Two can buzz in?
You've really thought this out, Asagaoka!
Are these rules uncommon?
They're certainly unorthodox.
Quiz questions and formats have infinite possibilities,
depending on what the creator comes up with.
This should be a good competition.
A sun?
A sun? That's me.
I'm Yagi, and I'm a first-year at Kannami University High School.
I'm no good at quiz bowl yet, though.
I'm Fukami, a first-year at Buzou.
I'm not that confident, either. Let's just try our hardest, okay?
The first group of pairs in Round 2 has been determined.
Only one pair from each group can win the round.
This will test the love between each partner!
Time to make up for botching the paper quiz!
This is as great as I thought it'd be!
Group A in this two-answers- per-question quiz will now begin!
Question.
The three largest religions in the world are Christ—
Buddhism!
Islam!
Correct.
Numerated format...
Q: The three largest religions in the world are Christianity, what, and what? A: Buddhism, Islam
I get it!
Since there are two answers, the determining points are different!
What do ya mean by that?
If you buzz in where you would if the question had only one answer, you'll be too late.
Group
Yamada x Gotou
Fukami x Yagi
Niina x Takahashi
Ohki x Miyazaki
Question.
Of all the prefectural capitals, the kanji meaning "capital" is used in which—
All of their reactions slowed for an instant.
So even if the question's easy,
the answer doesn't come to mind easily when there are a lot of possible answers?
Uh... Kyoto!
No way! I was gonna say Kyoto!
Please give the other answer.
It's not Tokyo...
Utsunomiya... That's it! Utsunomiya!
Q: Of all the prefectural capitals, the kanji meaning "capital" is used in which two names? A: Kyoto, Utsunomiya
So you have to come up with both answers...
That makes it much harder if you're the second to guess.
Fukami x Yagi
Niina x Takahashi
Sorry, Fukami-san. I can't even buzz in.
It's okay. I can't, either.
But it's still early.
In questions with two answers, the harder answer tends to be left till last.
But that doesn't always mean the second one will be hard to guess.
Question.
Napoleon's invasion of Russia is the backdrop for Tolstoy's—
Fukami-san buzzed in!
Please give the first answer.
War and—
Crap! I added the "and"!
Sometimes the first answer gives a hint that leads to the second.
War and...
Peace.
Correct.
Q: Napoleon's invasion of Russia is the backdrop for Tolstoy's literary masterpiece titled "What" and "What"? A: War, Peace
Yes!
Group
Yamada x Gotou
Fukami x Yagi
Niina x Takahashi
Ohki x Miyazaki
Takamura x Satou
The Niina x Takahashi pairing has three "Right" marks and one "Wrong" mark.
Each of the other pairs has one "Right" mark.
Yagi-san, let's buzz in on the next one.
Huh? But I might get it wrong!
The questions haven't been that difficult so far.
And in fastest finger, if you don't earn the right to answer,
you get nowhere.
Okay!
Question.
The countries whose official names include "United States"—
That was impressive!
The Fukami x Yagi pair has the exclusive right to answer!
The first answer, please, Fukami-san.
Um... The first one that comes to mind is America, but the other one...
The United Mexican States.
Correct. The second answer, please.
America!
Q: The countries whose official names include "United States" are what and what? A: United States of America, United Mexican States
Correct.
We did it!
She got the harder answer for me...
She's so reliable and nice!
Group
Yamada x Gotou
Fukami x Yagi
Niina x Takahashi
Ohki x Miyazaki
Takamura x Satou
The Fukami x Mari pairing earn three "Right" marks.
That gives them four in total. One more to win!
All right!
They just need one more!
Only one pair from each group will win the round.
What's going to happen?
I won't lose this!
I've got to push on through!
Question.
Mesopotamian civilization was cultivated—
Yes!
The Tigris River!
Correct!
The Fukami x Yagi pairing has won the round!
Congratulations!
Fukami-san made it to Round 3!
Yes. Her understanding of the rules and teamwork with her partner led her to victory.
Participants in the next group, please take to the stage.
I guess I'm up now...
Have fun!
O-Okay!
I just hope I get a strong partner...
He's with Maruyama-kun from Miyaura!
It's nice to get someone we know.
Well, we did have a joint practice together.
Let's do this thing.
What are your best categories?
Classics. Omnivores.
Is that even a category?
We will now begin.
Question.
Leading out from the human heart are two major arteries—
Kumada-kun from Kaijou buzzed in first.
Aorta.
Nakamura-kun from Kannami buzzed in second.
Pulmonary artery.
Q: Leading out from the human heart are two major arteries known as what and what? A: Aorta, pulmonary artery
Damn, that was fast!
Hey, aren't you good at classics?!
That sounded like a classic! You should've buzzed!
I did!
They're arguin'. Think they'll be okay?
Kumada x Hirosue
Maruyama x Inoue
Nakamura x Nakazawa
This is hopeless.
I can't buzz in time.
You buzz in when you think you can get it, then use your thinking time wisely.
We've gone over that a ton in practice.
You can do it!
It's not that Inoue-kun and his partner don't know the answer.
They just need to buzz faster.
Really?
The question is whether they can answer within five seconds after buzzing.
Making that judgment within a mere 0.01 seconds...
If you hesitate, you'll be beaten.
When you have to weigh up the risk of getting a wrong answer,
you might have no choice but to be a little reckless.
Just don't let 'em beat ya in spirit, no matter what!
Question.
Kumada x Hirosue
Maruyama x Inoue
Nakamura x Nakazawa
Japan is home to two types of wildcats—
Oh, you're second!
Yeah, but... Sorry, I only know one of the answers.
Iriomote cat.
Maruyama-kun, the second answer, please.
As if I know! Uraomote cat!
Q: Japan is home to two types of wildcats, the what and the what? A: Iriomote cat, Tsushima cat
The other answer was the Tsushima cat.
The scary part about this format is when you lose the race to buzz in first
and end up unwillingly being the second to buzz in.
Group
Tani x Suwa
Kumada x Hirosue
Maruyama x Inoue
Nakamura x Nakazawa
Inamori x Namiki
That's one "Wrong" mark for the Maruyama x Inoue pairing.
They can't get any more questions wrong.
One pair has four "Right" marks. The next question could decide the round!
Is this the end?
I wanted to answer at least one...
Question.
The "Three Views of Japan"—
He buzzed!
There?!
Too soon!
The Maruyama x Inoue pair has the exclusive right to answer!
For the "Three Views of Japan," do they want the locations?
Judging from how the questions have been up to this point,
it's probably just the standard Three Views of Japan.
The crucial part is which two of the three answers they're looking for.
I buzzed in just because I heard a term I knew, but...
Three Views of Japan
The Three Views of Japan I learned in middle school
are Matsushima, Miyajima, and Amanohashidate.
Matsushima
Miyajima
Amanohashidate
The first answer, please, Inoue-kun.
Well, I know two of those are the answers.
N-No problem! I just need to say one!
I have to bet it all on a two-out-of-three chance!
Amanohashidate!
Inoue-kun, that's incorrect.
Unfortunately, the Maruyama x Inoue pairing has two "Wrong" marks,
and has been disqualified.
Man, I lost.
But I guess them's the breaks.
Inoue...
You tried really hard, though!
It takes guts to buzz in that early!
It blew up in my face, though.
If there had been one correct answer,
Amanohashidate might have been the right guess.
Matsushima Miyajima Amanohashidate
The Three Views of Japan
In numerated format questions, one of the possible answers
is usually radically different,
while the other two have something in common.
Matsushima Miyajima Amanohashidate
And when there's only one answer, the one that's different is usually correct.
Matsushima Miyajima Amanohashidate
But when questions in the numerated format have two answers...
I get it! It works the opposite way,
Matsushima Miyajima Amanohashidate
The Three Views of Japan
so the two that are similar are the answers!
Matsushima Miyajima Amanohashidate
But there's no guarantee that the question's composition will follow any sort of rule.
And that's why determining points are crucial.
That's really interesting...
It's not just the people answering that have to think about the questions.
Participants in the next group, please get ready.
Here I go.
That kid...
Every time he learns something new, he calls it "interesting."
I just feel more and more like I can't keep up.
If ya ask me, I think you're pretty amazin' yourself, Taishou.
Huh?
Mari, you were sayin' the same thing, weren't ya?
About how it takes guts to buzz in.
Competitions are a game of chance. Today's loss will lead to tomorrow's win!
Ya did just great!
Jinko-san... Thank ya kindly!
What's with that Kansai dialect? Your pronunciation's all wrong.
Huh?
It's not just the people answering that think about the questions.
The people who write the questions think hard about them,
and a lot of detailed planning goes into coming up with them.
If I can read into that and understand it...
Well, it's time for the next group to start, Onee-sama.
Which pairing will advance to Round 3?
The regular meet at Asagaoka has finally begun!
Now, take this mic and tell me how you feel about this meet!
All right, I'll go first.
I will have you all at my mercy with my quiz questions!
I'll show you the pride of a public school!
For the Buzou quiz circle...
Victory!
The long-established Sekigawata will win for sure!
I'm so glad you're back, Sasajima!
Yes, yes! How wonderful it is to be young!