[In the past, I turned a blind eye to such behavior, and it led to a tragic fate for my friends. I absolutely cannot allow something like that to happen again!]
In Hirata Yosuke's mind, memories of a certain incident resurfaced, and Saiki also learned about what Hirata Yosuke had experienced.
Back in middle school, one of his classmates had been severely bullied by other students, but Hirata Yosuke chose to ignore it. In the end, his friend attempted suicide by jumping off a building and became a vegetable.
This incident became a shadow in Hirata Yosuke's heart and transformed him into a different person.
After his friend's suicide attempt, Hirata Yosuke discovered that the bullies not only didn't stop but also shifted their target to another classmate, with new people joining the bullying. To stop this, Hirata Yosuke began to dominate the class through fear, making himself the sole authority figure. In a way, Hirata Yosuke during middle school was very similar to Ryuen Kakeru.
This was also why Hirata Yosuke, despite appearing perfect, was initially placed in Class D.
However, after coming to this school, Hirata Yosuke vowed never to repeat the same mistakes. He maintained the image of a perfect, kind person, refusing to let similar incidents occur in his class.
In Hirata Yosuke's eyes, what was happening in the class now was starting to resemble the events of the past, so he had to stop it.
'Yare yare, so something like this happened?'
Saiki narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Shut up, Horikita!"
At this moment, a deep and icy voice emerged from Hirata Yosuke's throat.
Everyone in the room was momentarily speechless. They never expected such a voice to come from Hirata Yosuke.
"Vote manipulation is absolutely unacceptable!"
[Was that... Hirata just now?]
[Hirata is angry?]
[This is the first time I've seen Hirata like this...]
Even Horikita Suzune was completely caught off guard by this side of Hirata Yosuke, and her heart wavered slightly.
Meanwhile, Yamauchi Haruki, as if grasping at a lifeline, shouted:
"Hirata! I'm the victim here! I'm the victim!"
"Victim?"
Hirata Yosuke's cold gaze turned to Yamauchi Haruki.
"You just blurted out some outrageous nonsense, and now you're claiming to be the victim?"
Yamauchi Haruki felt an unprecedented pressure from Hirata Yosuke and could only take a few steps back, remaining silent.
[Hirata... why is he reacting like this?]
Horikita Suzune's eyes were filled with confusion, but she forced herself to stay calm.
"This is an exam. It's unavoidable."
"Even so, manipulating votes is wrong."
"We have less than a week to figure this out. If we challenge this without a plan, it's the same as condoning Yamauchi's betrayal."
"What's wrong with having no plan? We don't have the right to judge our classmates."
"What are you talking about? This is the special exam we've been given. In reality, many students already think Yamauchi is the most suitable candidate!"
Horikita Suzune didn't know about Hirata Yosuke's past, so she couldn't understand why he was opposing her.
"This is completely wrong. This exam is indeed cruel and heartless, and I've always disagreed with it. Even so, if I were to reluctantly accept it, it would only be through a natural voting process, not through manipulation like this!"
"Nice words, but most of the class has already formed groups in private, discussing who to protect and who to criticize."
However, since this involved the future of the class, Horikita Suzune, despite her doubts, didn't back down.
"Besides, the die is already cast. Everyone knows what Yamauchi has done."
After saying this, Horikita Suzune glanced at Yamauchi Haruki.
"That's true, so I'll be voting against you, Horikita. I won't allow you to create something I don't want in this class."
Hirata Yosuke looked completely unfamiliar, his eyes filled with nothing but coldness.
"Do as you please. If others in the class support your idea, I don't care."
After dropping this line, Horikita Suzune left, and the dispute finally came to an end.
[It seems Hirata has some hidden secrets too.]
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka watched Hirata Yosuke's retreating figure and thought to himself. Then he turned to look at Saiki.
[Does Saiki know about Hirata's past? Or... is all of this within Saiki's expectations?]
'To be honest... not really.'
Saiki sighed.
Originally, he thought this exam had nothing to do with him, but in the end, he had been dragged into it for no reason.
...
Meanwhile, in Class D's classroom, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Almost no one was speaking loudly, only whispering about certain matters.
For example, targeting Ryuen Kakeru for expulsion.
Today was the second day since the exam rules were announced and the first day of the actual exam. Over half the class had already decided to expel Ryuen Kakeru.
The day before, it was just an idea, but by yesterday afternoon and evening, someone had secretly contacted other students to ensure Ryuen Kakeru's expulsion would proceed smoothly.
That person was Manabe Shiho.
Although Manabe Shiho hadn't contacted Ibuki Mio, the latter had learned about some of Manabe's actions.
However, Ryuen Kakeru had done nothing, as if he had accepted his fate of being expelled.
After classes ended for the day, Ryuen Kakeru left the classroom, and Ibuki Mio, after packing her bag, also prepared to leave.
But just then, a figure appeared in front of her.
"You look so gloomy. Do you really hate the idea of Ryuen being expelled?"
"Huh... you again? Do you really enjoy bothering me?"
"Not at all. I'm just worried about you, which is why I'm talking to you. After all, since Ryuen-kun stopped being the center of the class, you've become less and less noticeable."
The one provoking Ibuki Mio was none other than Manabe Shiho.
She had never gotten along with Ibuki Mio since the start of the school year and often clashed with her. However, because Ibuki Mio had Ryuen Kakeru's trust, Manabe Shiho couldn't do much to her.
Moreover, during the last sports festival, Manabe Shiho's secret communication with someone from Class B was discovered by Ryuen Kakeru, exposing her betrayal to the entire class. At the time, Manabe Shiho feared Ryuen Kakeru's retaliation, but Ryuen chose to forgive her and didn't take any action.
Even so, Manabe Shiho lived in constant fear, and she harbored deep resentment over the incident. Her current provocations seemed like a way to vent that resentment.
"Ibuki-kun, you're going to vote against me, right?"
Manabe Shiho smiled.
"Who knows?"
"Go ahead and vote. After all, I'll be voting against you. It's only fair."
"That's true."
Although Ibuki Mio responded, her tone was completely flat, as if she wasn't interested in anything.
Manabe Shiho grew frustrated with Ibuki Mio's lack of reaction. She wanted to see Ibuki Mio get angrier, more troubled.
[This girl, why isn't she reacting at all? This is so boring! I need to provoke her more!]
"Ibuki-kun, you won't be expelled, so you don't have to worry. Even if a few people might give Ryuen-kun praise votes, he still has over thirty criticism votes—"
Manabe Shiho smiled.
But just then, a figure appeared beside them.
"Come with me, Ibuki."
Ishizaki Daichi appeared in front of the two glaring at each other.
"Fine."
Ibuki Mio was puzzled but followed Ishizaki Daichi out of the classroom. She thought it would be better to get away from Manabe Shiho.
"You can pretend nothing's wrong, but after Ryuen-kun is expelled, you'll be next."
Manabe Shiho spoke with the authority of someone who had taken control of the class.
[Once Ryuen is gone, I'll have complete control over the class!]
But Ibuki Mio ignored her and simply left with Ishizaki Daichi.
"So, where are we going?"
Once they were out in the hallway and Manabe Shiho was out of sight, Ibuki Mio asked.
"Nothing much. I just wanted to talk. About Ryuen-kun's personal points—how's that going?"
Ishizaki Daichi asked.
When Ryuen Kakeru was defeated by Saiki, Ryuen had offered to transfer the massive amount of points he had obtained from Class A to Ibuki Mio.
However, Ibuki Mio had refused at the time.
"What about it? He's still holding onto them."
"You haven't taken them back? If he's expelled by the weekend, all those points will disappear."
"Who was the one who first said not to take them back?"
"That was... because at the time, I thought it was just personal points..."
"If you want them back so badly, why don't you just bow your head and ask him?"
"I... I can't do that..."
Ibuki Mio saw the hesitation in Ishizaki Daichi's eyes and said:
"After all, you're the key figure in defeating Ryuen in the class. If your involvement with Ryuen's affairs is exposed, you'll be suspected of betrayal."
From Ishizaki Daichi's perspective, who wanted to stop Ryuen's expulsion, this development was exactly what he wanted.
But if something like that really happened, Ishizaki Daichi would be at risk of expulsion next. More importantly, the fact that Ishizaki Daichi was the reason for Ryuen's downfall would no longer hold.
If he wanted to save Ryuen Kakeru, Ishizaki Daichi himself would be in danger. This contradiction left him unsure of what to do.
"I... damn it, what am I doing..."
"Isn't Ryuen's expulsion for the best? You know that, right?"
"Is it really? Do you think we can still win without Ryuen-kun?"
"He's still producing results... His actions might seem incomprehensible and not at all honorable, but Ryuen is undeniably capable!"
"This is indeed a gamble. But without him, Class A is just a distant dream."
Ibuki Mio sighed.
"I agree that Ryuen is very capable."
Ibuki Mio also had her own thoughts.
[Class A has Sakayanagi, Class B has that monster Saiki... Class C has Ichinose and incredible cohesion... If Ryuen leaves, our Class D is completely finished.]
She partly thought this way.
"Damn it..."
Ishizaki Daichi was frustrated, his hands hitting the wall in frustration.
Ibuki Mio glanced at Ishizaki Daichi, thinking about what she could do in this exam.
Just then, another figure appeared beside them.
"Ibuki-kun, Ishizaki-kun, you two seem troubled."
The voice was as gentle as a feather—it was Shiina Hiyori.
After school, Shiina Hiyori had been quietly observing Ibuki Mio and the others, guessing what might be happening. She had been silently following them.
"Shiina-kun, why are you here?"
Ibuki Mio asked, puzzled.
[Shiina has helped Ryuen-kun before, but overall, she's always been neutral in the class, rarely taking any action... Ryuen has always valued her abilities.]
[But Ryuen also said that Shiina's personality makes her difficult to use effectively, so he only occasionally seeks her advice... Shiina probably doesn't know what's happening to Ryuen yet.]
[Should I ask Shiina for help...? No, if I tell Shiina-kun, the truth about Ryuen's defeat will definitely come out.]
After some thought, Ibuki Mio decided it was better not to seek Shiina Hiyori's help and said:
"It's fine, Shiina. Don't worry about recent events. We..."
"You're worried about Ryuen-kun, aren't you? Worried that after Ryuen-kun is expelled, the class will lack leadership, and you might become the next target."
Before Ibuki Mio could finish, Shiina Hiyori, as if seeing through everything, revealed the truth.
No one knew that Shiina Hiyori had already seen through everything.
"What? What are you talking about?"
Ishizaki Daichi quickly pretended to be angry and asked.
"I have a way to save Ryuen-kun."
Shiina Hiyori continued.