The next day.
Perhaps it was psychological, but Advanced Nurturing High School felt much quieter and more solemn than usual today.
Class 1-D's classroom in particular was silent, as though everyone had lost the desire to talk. Even though the bell had yet to ring, not a single person spoke.
Hirata Yosuke and Karizawa Kei exchanged glances from time to time, but neither said anything.
Kushida Kikyo sat silently at her desk, seemingly lost in thought.
Horikita Suzune was as calm as ever, merely sitting there and reading a book.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka lay sprawled across his desk, his gaze covertly sweeping around the room.
In the entire classroom, only Koenji Rokusuke kept up his usual rhythm, legs crossed as he hummed a tune, holding a mirror in one hand while grooming his hair with the other.
Meanwhile, Ike Koji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudo Ken had long since become restless, waiting anxiously with worry written all over their faces.
Under such circumstances, an exceedingly heavy atmosphere filled Class 1-D's classroom.
Until...
"It seems you've all prepared yourselves mentally."
As that utterly tensionless voice rang out, the oppressive atmosphere in the classroom stirred slightly.
Chabashira Sae pushed open the classroom door and entered from outside, carrying a poster tube just like last time.
"Gulp..."
Someone swallowed involuntarily.
It couldn't be helped.
Last time, after Chabashira Sae entered the classroom like this, she had immediately revealed the true nature of the school to everyone. She had displayed a World of Absolute Meritocracy before them, plunging Class D, who had spent the previous month immersed in paradise-like enjoyment, straight into hell.
Today, Chabashira Sae had entered in the same manner again. Anyone would have felt uneasy.
"Snap..."
With a soft closing sound, Horikita Suzune shut the book in her hands and raised her eyes