The after-school hours of March 5th.
Not a single student from our Class A had gone ho. Everyone remained in the classroom, setting up a final eting to unify our intentions, with Ichinose at the center.
"Everyone, thank you so much for staying behind after school again today. Tomorrow is finally the day of the Class Poll... but before that, let first report the negotiation results with Class C and Class D."
Standing at the podium, Ichinose lowered her eyebrows with a slightly disappointed look.
"To put it simply, we didn't end up lending points to either class."
"Eh, really?"
"Yeah. I brought the proposal to Class C myself... but it seems they have a lot of internal issues going on, so they declined this ti."
"Allow to explain regarding Class D."
Taking over from Ichinose, I let my voice resonate quietly from my seat.
"They lacked the resolve to look up at the sa heavens together. Their steps were uncoordinated, aning they lacked the vessel required to forge an equal covenant with us. ...Thus, I severed the light extending toward them. I cannot entrust the brilliant trajectory you all have built to a small boat that cannot even determine its own destination."
"'They couldn't unify the class's intent to repay the loan, so he judged it impossible to form a contract and called off the negotiations. We can't lend the precious points everyone worked so hard to save to a class that can't even agree among themselves,' is what he ans!"
Upon hearing my report, the classmates looked at one another and let out exasperated sighs.
"Are you serious..."
"They couldn't even pull together under a condition as generous as Ichinose's?"
"…Well, it's just as Aizen says. It was the right call not to lend to them in that state."
As the classmates voiced their understanding, Ichinose also gave a small nod.
"Yeah... Aizen-kun's judgnt was correct. It's incredibly sad that soone will be expelled, but if the other class can't cooperate, there's nothing we can do... Thank you, Aizen-kun."
Ichinose flashed a soft smile in my direction before returning to a serious expression and scanning the entire room.
"Well then, let's change gears and talk about tomorrow's voting."
At Ichinose's words, the air in the classroom tightened once more. Everyone listened to her intently with a serious face.
"As we've already decided together, we will be using ten million points in this exam to keep our class expulsions at 'zero.' But... the tricky part of this exam is that when the results are announced, the 'top three students for both praise and criticism votes' will be made public."
"If everyone just votes however they like and the criticism votes stack up on soone... even if expulsions are zero, the person whose na gets called will definitely feel hurt, and discord might brew within the class. That's why I want our class to 'completely control the votes' so that not a single person gets hurt."
Ichinose paused, shifting her gaze to Kanzaki, who stood next to the podium with his arms crossed.
"I want the praise votes from within the class to be gathered on . And... it has been decided that all the criticism votes will be gathered on Kanzaki-kun."
"Eh... on Kanzaki-kun?!"
While the classmates gasped in surprise, Kanzaki didn't flinch. He spoke up quietly.
"Yeah. This is an exam where soone has to take the hit. If that's the case, rather than scattering the votes half-heartedly and fueling anxiety, it's far better for the class's ntal health if I take on all the hate. If Ichinose is the center of gravity for the light, then I shall be the shield of darkness. ...Don't sweat it. My 'Rampart of the Soul' isn't fragile enough to crumble from a few criticism votes."
(KANZAARKIII!! You really are the coolest man alive!! If it weren't for the stylized dialogue aftereffects, you'd be the perfect second-in-command!!)
I gave him a standing ovation in my head, deeply moved by his chivalrous spirit.
"…Kanzaki-kun, thank you so much."
When Ichinose bowed her head with a deeply apologetic look, Kanzaki simply replied with a brief, "Don't ntion it."
"And one more thing."
Ichinose clapped her hands together lightly to re-energize the room.
"Regarding the 'praise vote' that can be cast for a student outside our class... we've decided to pool all of them for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka-kun of Class D."
The announcent caused a minor stir in the classroom.
Hamaguchi, a male student, was the first to raise his hand.
"If you say so, Ichinose-san, we'll follow along. But... why Ayanokoji-kun from Class D? We don't really interact with him much, so could you tell us the reason why we're gathering votes for him?"
At Hamaguchi's reasonable question, the other classmates nodded along in agreent.
"Yeah, that's a natural question to ask."
Ichinose then revealed the "fact" that we had pre-arranged during our discussion.
"Actually, Aizen-kun negotiated with Sakayanagi-san of Class B and ford a contract. In exchange for pooling our external praise votes for a student she specifies, she will transfer '1.5 million points' to us as compensation."
As Ichinose explained the situation, Hamaguchi and the rest of the classmates let out gasps of awe and admiration.
"O-One and a half million points?! Are you serious?!"
"We just used ten million points to avoid an expulsion in this exam, so being able to recover our class savings by that much is absolutely massive..."
"Yeah. Being able to secure that many points with zero risk is undoubtedly a huge rit for the class. As expected of Aizen!"
(Everyone...! You guys are way too nice...! Even though it's undeniably a net positive for the class, I'm so sorry for going ahead and deciding it on my own without consulting you first!!)
I stood up quietly and spun a stylized, arrogant poem toward my comrades.
"—The trajectories of the stars have already been mapped. No matter how irrational a storm rages, it cannot shake our miniature garden. All of you need only wait for the dawn in serenity."
"'The strategy is set, so please don't worry about tomorrow's exam and face it with a relaxed mind,' is what he ans!"
When Hiyori flawlessly translated my words, the classroom filled with warm laughter. Thanks to this, Class A was able to head into the next day's exam with an ironclad setup, completely free from paranoia.
anwhile, around the sa ti, a stifling tension hung over the Class B classroom.
Standing at the podium was the leader of the class, Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Everyone, I will now announce our policy for tomorrow's exam. ...Class B will not suffer a single expulsion."
At those words, sighs of relief rippled through the classroom.
However, maintaining a chilling smile, Sakayanagi tapped her cane lightly against the floor.
"However—make no mistake. I am not soft enough to eternally shield incompetent traitors. Moving forward, any student who colludes with other classes and acts to betray Class B... will be ruthlessly t with the punishnt of 'expulsion' the next ti an exam like this occurs."
A ruthless declaration. Under her piercing gaze, Hashimoto's shoulders trembled slightly as he looked down, breaking into a cold sweat.
As the classmates gasped at the sheer intimidation that felt akin to a reign of terror, Katsuragi Kohei stepped forward.
"It is exactly as Sakayanagi says. We must stand united to face Class A. And... there is proof that she isn't just talking, but genuinely intends to protect this class."
Katsuragi raised his terminal, displaying the screen to his classmates.
"My account currently holds 'ten million private points' entrusted to by Sakayanagi. She proactively handed this lifeline to ahead of ti. ...Katsuragi and Sakayanagi may have opposed each other in the past, but since she cares for this class and has placed her absolute trust in , any further bad blood is unnecessary."
The ultimate "proof of trust"—Sakayanagi entrusting ten million points to Katsuragi. Faced with this fact, the students of the Katsuragi faction nodded deeply, and the class atmosphere coalesced into one.
"The top spot for praise votes will go to Sakayanagi, the brain of this class. ...And please gather the top spot for criticism votes on . I shall take the hit."
With Katsuragi's chivalrous declaration, Class B also established complete vote control. Driven by Sakayanagi's carrot-and-stick approach and Katsuragi's self-sacrificing resolve, they solidified a conclusion of zero expulsions.
Turning over to Class C.
Their classroom was filled with a strangely buoyant, bizarre atmosphere.
"Ah-ha, tomorrow we finally get to say goodbye to Ryuuen. I hope he shows us a good face at the very end."
Manabe Shiho tossed out mocking words alongside her clique of girls.
The tyrant who had once ruled the class through fear, Ryuuen Kakeru, was undoubtedly going to be expelled in this exam. That certainty gave them an groundless sense of omnipotence.
anwhile, in the corner of the classroom, Ishizaki, Ibuki, and the others clutched their teeth silently, glaring back at Manabe and her group.
(…Enjoy laughing while you can. Because tomorrow at the results announcent, your faces are the ones that are gonna warp in despair.)
Ishizaki knew the plan was in place to save Ryuuen using the external praise votes from Class B. Because of that, he quietly waited for the storm to pass, ensuring they wouldn't catch on. Ryuuen himself sat in the very back seat with his eyes closed, maintaining an eerie silence.
And finally—the most horrific hell was unfolding in Class D.
The classroom after school. Haruki Yamauchi, who was about to head ho, was stopped by an icy voice.
"Wait, Yamauchi-kun. ...Our conversation isn't over yet."
Standing at the podium, Horikita Suzune pierced Yamauchi with a sharp glare.
"Tomorrow's exam. We cannot simply cast our votes as we are. If this class intends to aim for the top, we cannot afford to lose an excellent student in vain. Therefore, I will personally na the student who ought to be expelled."
"You can't do that, Horikita-san! There isn't a single student who deserves to be expelled!"
Suddenly, Hirata Yosuke let out a sorrowful cry. However—
"Fu, hahaha!"
Ignoring Hirata's despair entirely, Koenji Rokusuke burst into an amused laugh all by himself.
"Won't you let us hear it, Horikita-girl? Exactly who it is you've chosen~"
Prompted by Koenji's baiting words, Horikita locked her sights on her target without a shred of hesitation.
"…The student I believe should be expelled is—Yamauchi Haruki-kun, you."
"W-What! Don't screw with , Horikita! Why the hell do I have to be expelled?!"
Yamauchi roared back, his face turning bright red.
"The reasons are clear. First, you have contributed absolutely nothing to the class over the past year; rather, you have dragged us down. Furthermore, Class A brought us a relief plan to lend us the deficit points so that we could get through without an expulsion, didn't they? The terms were extrely fair. ...Yet, grudging your own private points, you were the first to reject the proposal and completely ruined the negotiations."
"Ugh...! T-That's... even I...! I-In the first place, there are plenty of other people who haven't contributed besides ! Kanji and Ken are the sa! And Shinohara and the others opposed Class A's proposal too, didn't they?!"
Driven into a corner, Yamauchi desperately barked back by throwing his other classmates under the bus.
"That is true. However, Sudou-kun has shown academic growth since the sports festival, and above all, he possesses a clear weapon in his physical ability. Ike-kun's... behavior has beco bizarre since the training camp, but he is currently the student putting in the most effort in the class. He raised his rank significantly during the recent end-of-year written exam."
"Kh..."
"And the decisive difference between you and the likes of Shinohara-san and Hondou-kun, who opposed the proposal. ...It is the fact that you betrayed this class."
"…Huh?"
"Despite stubbornly refusing to spend your own money to save a comrade, you were secretly colluding with Sakayanagi-san of Class B. Dancing to her tune because she told you, 'If you expel the student I specify, I'll go out with you.' And for your own self-preservation and desires, you conducted behind-the-scenes maneuvers to gather criticism votes on Ayanokoji-kun to force him into expulsion. ...This is the ultimate reason why I have deed you unnecessary to this class."
"?!"
The blood completely drained from Yamauchi's face. Seeing him hit dead center on the mark, a wave of commotion and anger rippled through the classroom.
"Are you serious... for a selfish reason like that...?"
"So that's why you rejected Aizen-kun's proposal right off the bat?!"
"The absolute lowest..."
Gazes of utter contempt and disgust pierced him from all directions.
"W-What kind of crap are you making up...!"
"Stop it! Stop it, stop it, stop it!!"
As the classroom atmosphere completely dyed into a condemnation of Yamauchi, Hirata clutched his head and scread, shaking his head like a broken doll.
"Naming soone like that is unacceptable! Horikita-san, you're wrong! If we just talk it out... soone being sacrificed is absolutely insane!!"
"Hirata-kun. Look at reality. In a class that cast aside the very hand Class A extended to us, there is no way for this to end without anyone getting hurt. If we don't cut him loose here, the class will completely fracture."
Horikita coldly dismissed Hirata's tragic cry and turned her gaze back to Yamauchi.
"Yamauchi-kun. I will never forgive a traitor who rejected salvation out of selfish greed, and went as far as colluding with another class to sell out his own comrades."
"N-No! I didn't do anything wrong! ...T-That's right, Kushida-chan helped too! Kushida-chan was also telling people to cast criticism votes for Ayanokoji, wasn't she?!"
Seeing Hirata's defense fall flat so easily and finding himself completely cornered under the freezing glares once more, Yamauchi attempted to pin the bla on Kushida Kikyo with an incredibly ugly excuse.
In that instant.
"…! Sob…"
Kushida slumped over her desk, burying her face in her hands as she began to weep.
"Yamauchi-kun... was in so much trouble, begging to help him... I felt sorry for him and tried to help... And yet, to push everything onto like this... how could you... sob..."
Trembling shoulders and weak, fragile sobs. Facing her brave, pitiful figure, the surrounding male students turned their glares of condemnation toward Yamauchi all at once. Utilizing the kind-hearted Kushida just to save his own skin, and then trying to shift the bla onto her—in everyone's eyes, he had crossed the line into an unsalvageable piece of trash.
"Kushida-san."
However, Horikita alone showed zero sympathy, driving a wedge with a chilly voice.
"I acknowledge your good nature, but recognize your own influence. That careless action of yours nearly put the class in a fatal crisis."
"…I'm sorry, Horikita-san... sob..."
"Hmph. Quite unsightly, Yamauchi-boy."
Leaving the weeping Kushida aside, Koenji Rokusuke mocked Yamauchi while gazing into his hand mirror.
"Kicking others down for your own self-preservation, and then shifting the bla onto a pretty girl with unsightly excuses. ...Your existential value isn't just zero, it's in the negatives. You are unworthy of even entering my field of vision."
"You bastard, Koenji...!"
"Quiet!"
Horikita's roar dominated the classroom.
"Tomorrow's vote, who you cast your ballot for is entirely up to your individual freedom. But... for the sake of the class, think carefully about who is truly unnecessary before you vote."
With Horikita's cold declaration, Class D's judgnt play drew its curtains.
And then—March 6th.
The day of the fateful Class Poll.
The voting in each class was conducted solemnly, and by afternoon, the results were announced by each respective horoom teacher.
[Class A]
Standing at the podium, Hoshinomiya-sensei read out the results with a bright voice while looking at her tablet.
"Alright, great work everyone! I'll announce the results. ...First place for praise votes is Ichinose Honami-san! You've obtained a protection point! And first place for criticism votes is... Kanzaki Ryuji-kun."
In that instant, Ichinose stood up and spoke in a clear, unwavering voice.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei. I apply to cancel Kanzaki-kun's expulsion using ten million private points."
"Yes~ application received! With this, zero expulsions from Class A! Everyone, you really did a wonderful job!"
As Hoshinomiya-sensei applauded, the classroom erupted into cheers of joy.
(Phew. I'm really glad no one was lost from our class. Even so, I wonder what happened to the other classes...)
Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, I turned my thoughts toward the movents of the other factions.
[Class B]
In the Class B classroom, the horoom teacher was also solemnly delivering the results.
"First place for praise votes, Sakayanagi Arisu. Protection point obtained. ...First place for criticism votes, Katsuragi Kohei."
Katsuragi stood up and declared in a calm voice.
"Paying ten million points to apply for the cancellation of the expulsion."
This side too ended with a perfect result exactly as arranged. Both classes achieved "zero expulsions," proving their ironclad solidarity as they concluded the exam.
[Class C]
Standing at the podium, Sakagami-sensei read out the results in a detached, cold voice devoid of emotion.
"Now announcing. First place for praise votes, Kaneda Satoru. ...And first place for criticism votes, Manabe Shiho. Therefore, Manabe is expelled. Pack your things and leave the room."
"Eh...? No way, right...?"
The mont she heard her na called from Sakagami-sensei's mouth, the expression completely drained from Manabe's face.
"Why... why am I first place?! The one getting expelled is supposed to be Ryuuen, right?! This is crazy!!"
She scread frantically, but the reason was obvious. Through the deal, Ryuuen had gathered a massive number of external praise votes from Class B. Praise votes possessed the power to cancel out criticism votes. As a result, the criticism votes against Ryuuen were completely wiped out, pushing Manabe—who had relatively accumulated hate within Class C—to the top spot for criticism votes.
"No... it's a lie... , getting expelled... NOOOOOOOOO!!"
Manabe's screaming shrieks echoed through the classroom. Gazing down at the horrific scene from the back of the class, Ryuuen simply let out a sinister laugh from the depths of his throat entirely by himself.
[Class D]
During the interval before their horoom teacher, Chabashira, appeared in the classroom, Class D was enveloped in a heavy, restless air.
While everyone looked down with few words, silently awaiting the mont of judgnt, an irritating tapping sound continued to echo through the silence.
"…Tch, …"
Yamauchi, glaring into space with bloodshot eyes, was aggressively shaking his leg in a severe fit of nervous jittering.
"Hmph."
Seeing that highly comical sight, Koenji Rokusuke let out a scoff while elegantly looking into his hand mirror entirely by himself.
"Literally trembling while awaiting judgnt, aren't we, Yamauchi-boy? Truly unsightly."
"You bastard...!"
At Koenji's precise provocation, the thread holding Yamauchi together, stretched to its absolute limit, snapped cleanly.
Rising from his seat with a violent rattle, he scanned the entire class with a crazed smile.
"Ah-ha! Fine, I might as well just say it!"
At the sudden shout, the classmates flinched, their shoulders trembling.
"Too bad for you guys! The one getting expelled isn't ! Sakayanagi-chan promised that she'd put all of Class B's praise votes on ! No matter how many criticism votes you guys dump on , it's aningless!"
「「「...」」」
At those words delivered with a smug look, the air in the entire classroom completely froze.
Far from showing remorse for betraying the class, he was actually boasting about it. Broadcasting loudly that he had sold out his comrades for the sweet bait of dating her, and had rejected the salvation from Class A—the classmates looked at Yamauchi with gazes of complete and total disgust, bypassing anger entirely.
"Yamauchi, take your seat."
Amidst the silenced classroom, Chabashira-sensei stood at the podium, looking down at the Class D students as she delivered the results flatly.
"First place for praise votes is... Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. A protection point is granted."
"...Eh? Ayanokoji?"
"Why Ayanokoji...?"
At the completely unexpected na, murmurs of confusion broke out across the classroom.
Among them, the one who showed the biggest reaction was Yamauchi Haruki.
"Ayanokoji?! Isn't that a mistake for first place in criticism votes?!"
Yamauchi violently rose from his seat, snapping at Chabashira-sensei at the podium. However, keeping a cold gaze, Chabashira-sensei delivered the ruthless declaration.
"There is no mistake. —And first place for criticism votes is Yamauchi Haruki. It is you. You are expelled as of today."
"Huh?!"
Faced with the reality delivered by Chabashira-sensei, Yamauchi's eyes widened so much he looked ready to foam at the mouth.
"W-Why?! Why! Why am I the one getting expelled?!"
His thoughts completely short-circuiting, Yamauchi raved frantically around the classroom.
"C-Can a thing like this even be allowed!! Sakayanagi-chan said she'd protect ! She promised!! Hey, it's a lie, right?!"
"Fufu. Did you honestly think that little girl was taking an ignoramus like you seriously?"
Koenji scoffed through his nose at the raving Yamauchi, keeping his eyes fixed on his hand mirror.
"S-Shut up...!!"
Receiving freezing glares devoid of any sympathy, Yamauchi turned back to Chabashira-sensei with clinging eyes, escaping from Koenji's words.
"T-That's right! Sensei, let negotiate with Class A! Those guys said they'd lend us points! If I beg them right now, they'll definitely lend them to ! Please!"
An unsightly plea for his life, throwing away his pride purely for self-preservation. Cutting straight into that was Horikita's icy voice.
"…What are you talking about? You were the first to reject that proposal, completely ruining the negotiations. There's no way a convenient sob story like that works at this late stage."
"Ugh...! T-That's...!"
"Not only did you sever the spider's thread with your own hands, but to think you actually believed that little girl fell for you and would protect you. Genuinely... highly comical."
Koenji fired an even more rciless follow-up at Yamauchi, who was left speechless by Horikita's scathing logic.
"You bastard...!! Don't screw with !!"
Having his stupidity thoroughly thrust in his face and completely losing any escape route, Yamauchi gave in to his rage, grabbing a nearby chair and swinging it down toward Koenji with all his might.
"—Watch out!"
The mont soone shrieked.
Koenji easily caught the swinging chair with a single hand, completely halting its movent. Then, maintaining his usual aloof deanor, he flooded Yamauchi with overwhelming murderous intent alongside a sharp glare.
"…Know your place, Yamauchi-boy."
"Eek...!"
His face contorting in fathomless terror, Yamauchi dropped the chair from his hands and collapsed onto the floor right there.
"Yamauchi. It's for your own good, drop it," Chabashira-sensei stated coldly to control the commotion, pulling the paralyzed Yamauchi by the arm and escorting him out of the classroom.
Left behind in the classroom after the raving, shouting Yamauchi departed was nothing but a heavy, chilling silence.
The after-school hours of the sa day.
Gathered on the sofa in my room were Ichinose, Hiyori, and Kanzaki, holding warm cups of tea as we reflected on today's results.
"I'm really so glad no one from Class A was expelled...!"
Ichinose let out a sigh, looking relieved from the bottom of her heart.
"Yes. Just as Honami-chan says, I am truly glad our class was able to get through this together."
"Un! Great work to you too up until today, Hiyori-chan!"
The two looked at each other, softening into relieved smiles. However, Ichinose quickly dropped her gaze, a slightly sorrowful expression washing over her.
"…But, if possible, it would have been nice if no one had been expelled from Class C or Class D either..."
"Don't worry about it, Ichinose."
Kanzaki spoke to the sinking Ichinose in a quiet but firm voice.
"They complained about even that exceptional condition and were in a state where they couldn't cooperate. It was an impossible ask for us to extend a hand anyway. They rely accepted the outco at the end of their own choices."
"Kanzaki-kun is right, Honami-chan."
Hiyori also gently took Ichinose's hand, offering a warm smile.
"We did the absolute maximum we could. ...Besides, because Honami-chan pulled everyone forward, our class can welco tomorrow without losing a single person. Please hold your head higher."
"Kanzaki-kun, Hiyori-chan... yeah, you're right. Thank you!"
Receiving their support, Ichinose's face lit up, regaining her usual bright smile.
(It looks like Kiyotaka safely obtained his protection point as well, and we in Class A delivered a result of zero expulsions.)
I stood up quietly to comnd my comrades.
"—The chaotic feast demanding a sacrifice has ended. We have crossed this night without losing a single star."
As I spun my stylized, arrogant poem, the three sets of eyes gathered on .
"No matter what kind of hell the next battlefield may be, as long as you follow my steps, the word defeat does not exist for you. ...For now, let us simply surrender ourselves to the lingering afterglow of this victory."
"'Great work to everyone on this special exam! Let's keep up the good work for the next exam too,' is what he ans!"
When I declared this with grand majesty, Hiyori offered a perfect translation while letting out a small, amused giggle.
"Fufu, that's right. No matter what exam cos our way, we will definitely be fine!"
Ichinose laughed brightly, and Kanzaki gave a reliable nod.
The scales of judgnt laid out by irrational rules.
The upper classes that suffered zero expulsions through perfect solidarity, and the lower classes that cut their own comrades loose with their own hands.
Leaving an absolute "disparity" in its wake, the feast of sacrifices quietly drew its curtains.
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