diff --git a/hidden/__pycache__/test_hidden.cpython-314-pytest-9.1.1.pyc b/hidden/__pycache__/test_hidden.cpython-314-pytest-9.1.1.pyc
deleted file mode 100644
index a257e42..0000000
Binary files a/hidden/__pycache__/test_hidden.cpython-314-pytest-9.1.1.pyc and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/hidden/test_hidden.py b/hidden/test_hidden.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 9b7e0c8..0000000
--- a/hidden/test_hidden.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-"""Hidden interface test for the Record Manager (blank must fail, solved must pass).
-
-Runs with pytest's cwd = the assembled submission (/work/submission).
-Blank (M1 starter) fails because `save`/`load` are unimplemented ("not yet");
-the full reference implements the store round-trip.
-"""
-
-import pathlib
-import subprocess
-
-
-def _root() -> pathlib.Path:
-    return pathlib.Path.cwd()
-
-
-def _run(cmd, timeout=180, **kw):
-    return subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=timeout, **kw)
-
-
-def test_record_manager_interface():
-    root = _root()
-
-    build = _run(["make", "-C", str(root), "-j2"])
-    assert build.returncode == 0, "BUILD FAILED:\n" + build.stdout + build.stderr
-    recman = root / "build" / "recman"
-    assert recman.exists(), "build/recman missing after make"
-
-    # add two records, save to a file
-    session1 = (
-        "add\nAda Lovelace\nada@x\n555-0100\n"
-        "add\nGrace Hopper\ngrace@x\n444-0200\n"
-        "save\n/tmp/rm_hidden.txt\nquit\n"
-    )
-    r = _run([str(recman)], input=session1)
-    assert "added: Ada Lovelace" in r.stdout, "add failed:\n" + r.stdout
-    assert "added: Grace Hopper" in r.stdout, "add failed:\n" + r.stdout
-    assert "saved" in r.stdout, "save did not persist (blank starter prints 'not yet'):\n" + r.stdout
-
-    # load back in a fresh session and confirm the round-trip
-    session2 = "load\n/tmp/rm_hidden.txt\nlist\nquit\n"
-    r2 = _run([str(recman)], input=session2)
-    assert "Ada Lovelace" in r2.stdout and "Grace Hopper" in r2.stdout, (
-        "save/load round-trip failed:\n" + r2.stdout
-    )