Then there was Class C.
"After a summer vacation of rest, I hope to see evidence of your growth." Sae concluded the class meeting with these words after announcing the exam details, leaving most of the class period to the students.
This left them confused.
"I feel like Chabashira-sensei has become even more distant than before." Someone said.
Yes. Sae had lost all interest in Class C. Now she was just acting as an ordinary teacher.
But this was only a minority opinion. Most students were thinking...
"What?"
"So this time it's a real written exam? There's no other shortcut we can take?"
"Well, we don't have money for shortcuts anyway…"
Today was the 1st.
The school had deposited 52,000 Points. But they had to transfer every last point to Yōsuke, who would then transfer it to Rokusuke and Suzune.
This was from the Island Exam — their portion from the entrance exam. No one could argue with this.
Moreover, they had lost the betting agreement with Houtarou from Class A. So they had absolutely no grounds to complain.
Since last month, some students had already run out of Points and started borrowing from classmates who still had some.
At the same time, some students had begun acting as spies for other classes. When close friends discovered this, they demanded a share or help getting referred.
So the atmosphere in Class C had grown even worse.
The price other classes paid to recruit them as spies had also started to drop. From an initial 50,000 per month, it fell to 30,000, or even 20,000.
Initially, only a few of the 40 students were approached by students from other classes. Now more than a dozen had contact with outside classes.
In other words, Class C remained a sieve-like class.
However, there were still people who wanted to save the class.
That was Kikyō… no, kidding, Yōsuke. The gentle young man with light green hair stood up.
"Teacher, does this exam only offer a maximum reward of 100 Class Points?"
The existing Class Points all belonged to Suzune and Rokusuke. He was well aware of this.
But if they could earn some Points, everyone would have living expenses.
However…
"The maximum reward is 100 Class Points." Sae said, "And I suggest you focus on making sure you don't fail. This exam's content is based on the new textbooks you've just been given. These are new editions."
Her response essentially told Yōsuke that there were no shortcuts for this exam. They would have to study properly.
"Kōenji… Can you hold another study session?"
Kanji Ike, seated in the middle, had already left his seat and approached the "Professor".
Rokusuke had held study sessions at the end of last semester and during summer vacation. Some students had participated, but most of the struggling students had refused.
Now, with no shortcuts available, they needed to ensure they didn't fail and get expelled.
Suddenly, Rokusuke's seat became crowded.
"Oh my, I advised you to study much earlier… In fact, I already gave you a chance. I'm not someone who likes to look back on the past…" Rokusuke took out a small mirror to examine his appearance.
As a genius, his willingness to teach ordinary people was already quite generous. Teaching those who had previously refused him wasn't just about whether his teaching was valuable — it would devalue his very existence.
"Then we can only ask Hirata…"
After Rokusuke refused, Kanji and the others flocked toward Yōsuke instead.
Rokusuke: "..."
See? This is why he didn't want to teach just anyone.
Sitting in a low-profile position near the window, Kiyotaka observed his classmates quietly. Though his presence wasn't commanding, he was always watching others attentively.
Regarding Rokusuke, Kiyotaka suspected he already had something planned. Since part of the Class Points belonged to him, he would naturally want to protect that investment.
This exam wouldn't deduct Class Points — it only offered expulsion for failing students or additional Class Points as rewards. So Rokusuke's current points weren't at risk.
Kiyotaka wondered if Rokusuke had formulated a strategy. He had likely concluded that certain students in their class couldn't be taught and would only drag everyone down.
If that was the case, what about letting some students fail?
This would both serve as a warning and eliminate those holding the class back.
The idea had merit.
As Kiyotaka sat thinking, he noticed the black-haired girl pause momentarily when receiving the new textbook.
This reaction made sense.
Having spent the entire summer in the library, Kiyotaka knew Suzune had been borrowing books — mostly textbooks for the upcoming semester. Now the school was using new editions that hadn't been available in the library.
Was her summer of advance studying wasted?
No, it remained valuable.
Though the textbook editions had changed, most of the content stayed the same. She would simply need to review the differences.
In fact, for diligent students like her, this straightforward exam would actually be reassuring.
Were others feeling confident too? Yes.
Students who had participated in Rokusuke's study sessions felt secure. Their academic abilities had improved significantly, so even facing a new exam wouldn't frighten them.
Rokusuke's phone lit up with several messages. He merely glanced at it before setting it down. He knew these were thank-you messages from students who had attended his lessons.
However, some people were thinking about matters completely unrelated to the exam.
"Kikyō-chan, you don't seem to be in a good mood. Is it because you have to organize study sessions for everyone?"
Among the girls, the cheerful Mei-Yu Wang asked curiously.
As her friend, she had noticed that Kikyō had been in a bad mood recently, especially a while ago and the day before yesterday.
"No, no." Kikyō quickly shook her head, "I just thought of something I don't like."
As the class angel, Yōsuke would definitely organize study sessions for the boys, and for the girls' side, she would probably have to contribute too.
Although some girls had joined Rokusuke's study sessions and might not need help, there were still others who did.
And at times like this, it was best to bring out the biggest weapon.
"I'll bring Horikita with me." Kikyō said, "We'll organize a study group together. I don't want any of our classmates to fall behind. I really hope to spend my high school life with everyone at school."
"Ah, Kikyō-chan, you truly value friendship…"
Some of the girls who had been hoping for Kikyō to organize a study session were touched.
Kikyō: "..."
She wasn't in a good mood. It was time again to help boost Suzune's Points, which was disgusting.
Moreover, she had indeed thought of something unpleasant.
Her gaze shifted back for a moment to Maya who was chatting with Kei.
Both girls had attended Rokusuke's study sessions, so they probably wouldn't need to join this newly organized one.
But Maya... who would have thought you were such an aggressive type.
On the fourth day of Maya and Houtarou's date, during their second weekly "meeting", Kikyō lost her first kiss. This had been quite rash.
She understood clearly what happened. She had likely meticulously planned safe dates for Houtarou and Maya, but in the end, Maya still kissed him. It probably left him bewildered, which led him to seek Kikyō out afterward.
And now, their weekly interactions also included kissing.
This made Kikyō deeply uncomfortable. This felt like being in a passionate relationship, didn't it?
To deal with the new students coming next semester, she desperately needed Houtarou's power, so refusing wasn't really an option.
Engaging in such intimacy without being a couple was truly unpleasant for her. Wasn't she essentially becoming his mistress?
That's not a reputation anyone would want.
⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟
Meanwhile, in First Year Class D.
"Though everyone's grades are terrible, they've improved somewhat after studying over the summer break. But..."
The glasses-wearing Satoru stood at the podium.
He hadn't participated in that rooftop battle, so he didn't have such a shocking experience. Rather, he felt that if Kakeru had fallen and couldn't be persuaded to return, then the class would have to save itself.
Although Kakeru had transferred authority to Hiyori, she wasn't good at this kind of front-stage work, so he was stepping in to help.
The homeroom teacher Kazuma stood to the side. He gently pushed up his glasses, but his eyes lacked energy.
The class sign still read First Year Class D. After the pairing exam ended, he and Chie from Class B were called to the Chairman's office and praised.
This was to be expected. During the pairing exam, even though students knew each other's questions, achieving 100 Points for every person demonstrated strong cohesion and effort. It was enough to impress anyone.
As a result, both classes were exceptionally awarded 50 Class Points. With a 10-point difference, the class was poised to move back up to Class C.
However, the homeroom teacher's salary didn't increase. Kazuma knew that Kakeru and the others had lost Points during summer vacation for damaging cameras, so the class had reverted to Class D. The process had been quite severe.
Because Kakeru and the others were injured, and... that young man had already resigned from his position as class representative. He had approached Kakeru privately, but he still gave up.
So if the class didn't climb upward, when would he be able to clear his debts?
That's why he hated women; if he hadn't met women, he wouldn't have been tricked into borrowing money.
Kazuma became distracted by these thoughts.
Meanwhile, Satoru continued speaking.
With no shortcuts available this time, they would need to continue their studying efforts, maintain their study sessions, and adhere to the daily 7-9 PM tutoring schedule.
However…
"Given our class's current abilities, we'll pay to bring Kōenji from Class C to help us." Satoru added, "The deal is that if he can guarantee we won't fail and can earn Class Points for this exam, we'll give him 50 Points."
This approach was distinctly different from Kakeru's previous leadership style. It was purely transactional.
Mio had attended those study sessions, and by the sixth day, she had experienced what Rokusuke called "enlightenment".
After that breakthrough, studying became much easier. She felt confident she wouldn't fail after all her studying.
But now, Hiyori was establishing a direct, mutually beneficial arrangement with Rokusuke.
Ibuki: "..."
She glanced toward Kakeru. Though present in class, no one was paying any attention to him.
He sat coldly reading a book, seemingly indifferent to this decision.
With this, Class D's tyrant had finally fallen.
⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟
During lunch break.
Houtarou and Arisu had lunch together.
Rather than returning to the classroom to rest afterward, he arranged to meet with Suzune and Kikyō to exchange opinions about the special exam.
But first things first.
"Let me shake your hand."
As the two girls approached, he extended his hand toward Suzune.
Suzune: "..."
She looked at him silently, then raised her right hand and grasped his. The handshake lasted about ten seconds before Houtarou let go.
Kikyō: "..."
Having come along, she witnessed this entire scene.
Throughout it all, Kikyō maintained her angelic smile. Inside, however, she was seething with annoyance.
Houtarou and Suzune's relationship was clearly still good, which confirmed what he had said — he couldn't imagine the process of dating Suzune, but he could imagine marrying her.
But, Houtarou, aren't you being excessive?
You and Suzune are merely shaking hands. Yet you continue gaining dating experience elsewhere while making unreasonable demands.
Damn it. Had she really become this girl's substitute?
Was she passively fulfilling the role of responding to a lover's demands on Suzune's behalf?
"This special exam." Houtarou said, "Offers no opportunity to make money."
"Oh." Suzune, who had come to discuss the exam, remained calm upon learning there was no money to be made.
"So, why did Oreki-kun invite us here?" Kikyō asked with a cute expression.
"This time…" Houtarou said, "I hope you both can maintain your public image. That means organizing study sessions and such. You should also boost your popularity a bit, especially you, Horikita-san.
I received the Class Points you collected while I was eating. But now Class C students don't have money, which could easily lead to resentment. As a precaution, it's better to improve your popularity."
Oh. I see.
So this is still about boosting Suzune's popularity?
Kikyō was not happy.
⍟⍟⍟
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