The Loser

Most of the students in Class D couldn't understand what the words on the white paper posted on the blackboard meant.

"Is this... the scores for each class?"

Someone spoke up quietly, sounding uncertain.

"You've been free to do as you please on campus this month, and the school hasn't stopped you. But you're responsible for the consequences of things like being late or chatting during class. That's all.

"The same goes for using points. It's up to the holder how they spend what they earn. The school won't restrict them."

"That's too much! I can't survive like this!"

Ike, who had silently listened to the conversation until now, understood the situation too.

Yamauchi Haruki let out a pained wail. It was probably because his Personal Points had already hit zero.

"You idiots, take a good look. Points have been credited to every class except Class D."

"All the classes were evaluated according to the same rules this month. And yet there's this much difference in points. That's reality."

"Why... is there such a huge difference in Class Points?"

Hirata couldn't understand.

In truth, Chabashira Sae couldn't understand it either. How had this year's Class D managed to squander all its points in just one month?

The original Class A had the highest score in history, while Class B had managed to overtake A in its very first month. Even Class C had scored higher than previous years' Class B.

Three of the strongest classes ever, and one of the weakest?

How were they supposed to compete? Chabashira Sae had given up.

"Do you understand why you were placed in Class D?"

The students looked at one another. As far as they knew, weren't the classes assigned at random?

"This school assigns students to classes according to their merit. The most outstanding students go to Class A, and the useless ones go to Class D."

Three years, then another three. This year's Class D had crushed Chabashira Sae's hopes right from the start.

"To put it simply, Class D is the final stronghold for all the bottom-feeders. You're all the worst kind of defective products. I suppose this is the kind of outcome you'd expect from defective products."

The news that the class had zero points each month hadn't crushed Horikita Suzune.

After all, her daily expenses had always been limited.

But that label—"defective product"—was the one thing she couldn't get out of her mind.

Chabashira Sae's sneer rang out sharply through the classroom. "You used up all your points in a mere month. You're the first Class D in the school's history to manage that. Honestly, I'm almost impressed you could be this ridiculous. Amazing. Truly amazing."

Every student in the class could hear the sarcasm in their homeroom teacher's words, but no one spoke up to argue.

After all, it was a fact no one could deny.

Hoshino Kanade had to admit he'd been reckless this month.

But since they were all going to end up with zero anyway, he might as well enjoy himself.

"So, if our Class Points are zero, will our income stay at zero forever?"

"That's right. These points will remain the same until graduation. But don't worry. You can use your dorm rooms for free, and there's free food too. You won't starve to death."

Although free room and board guaranteed their basic survival, most students didn't find it reassuring in the slightest.

In just one month, they'd already gotten used to a life of lavish spending. Now they had to tighten their belts, and the sudden change was hard to accept.

The spending trap Chabashira Sae had laid at the start of the school year had led to exactly this predicament. But even she couldn't help gaping at the absurd "achievement" of this year's Class D, which had sunk to new lows.

"...So does that mean the other guys are going to look down on us from now on?"

Sudo kicked a desk leg with a bang. The harsh noise silenced the noisy classroom for a moment.

Once class rank became a measure of ability, the label of Class D became a mark of shame.

They'd openly declared that the class was packed with the entire year's "defective products"—a nest of idiots they didn't even bother to hide.

For Sudo, it seemed that this suffocating sense of inferiority cut deeper than having to eat a lousy Free Meal Set.

"What, Sudo? You care about your pride too? Then work hard to move the class up."

"Huh?"

"Class Points don't just determine how many Personal Points you get each month. They also directly determine the class rankings."

The other person paused, lightly tapping the current rankings with a fingertip. "For example, the current Class A only moved up from Class B last month."

"Teacher Chabashira, there's a flaw in the class assignment system itself!"

Horikita Suzune suddenly stood up. Her voice rose sharply, and her fingertips dug into her palm. "The original Class A was crushed and overtaken by Class B in the first month's assessment. So why did they start the school year with the Class A title?"

Horikita Suzune had never believed she belonged in Class D. The fact that the original Class A had been overtaken by the original Class B was proof enough.

Chabashira Sae unconsciously ran her fingertips along the edge of the Lesson Plan.

That question really was difficult for her.

Given how accurate the class assignment system had been over the years, there shouldn't have been any misjudgments.

One reasonable explanation came to mind: Class B had a precocious strategist who'd used ironclad rules to keep the group firmly in line.

But that still didn't prove Horikita Suzune shouldn't have been placed in this class.

"Perhaps there was room for debate in Class B's evaluation this year. But Class D's score of zero is irrefutable evidence. There's not even the slightest room for argument."

"But..."

Horikita Suzune tried to say more, but Teacher Chabashira cut her off.

"That's enough. If you want to question the school's decision, then prove yourself by moving up to Class A."

Horikita looked frustrated, but could only sink back into her seat. Judging by her posture, though, she was still confident.

"There's one more piece of bad news I have to tell you."

Teacher Chabashira posted another sheet on the blackboard. It showed the results of their last quiz.

"The quiz results are in. The class is full of 'honor students.' I'm so pleased." She suddenly leaned forward, bracing herself against the lectern, and looked over the confused faces below.

"Congratulations. If this had been a formal exam..." She let the pause stretch out, the last word hanging over them like a blade. "Two weeks after the start of school, and seven of you would already be packing your bags."

Class D erupted into chaos again.

Compared to Class D at the bottom, the students who had just been demoted to Class B—the original Class A—were just as dispirited.

They'd lost the "Class A" title in a mere month, and Class B had snatched it from them. They couldn't accept it.

As self-proclaimed elites, they found it hard to save face.

Just then, a Class C student passed by the hallway on his way to the bathroom. He deliberately leaned against the window frame to peer inside, drawing out his words as he taunted them. "Well, well—so this is the original Class A that fell from the top? You sure fell fast."

Before he'd even finished speaking, angry shouts erupted among the Class B students. Totsuka Yahiko, one of Katsuragi Kouhei's underlings, was so furious that the veins on his forehead bulged. He kicked his chair aside and leaned forward as if to chase after the student, like a dog whose tail had been stepped on.

But the other student had struck and fled, leaving them unable to target him.

Katsuragi Kouhei stopped Totsuka. "Quiet!" His ironclad command crashed through the air, crushing the ripples of unrest in Class B before they could spread.

Sakayanagi Arisu didn't seem to care about becoming Class B.

Her gaze passed over Totsuka Yahiko's flushed face and finally settled on Katsuragi Kouhei's taut expression.

"If you keep letting your reckless follower bark like that, Katsuragi..."

She suddenly chuckled, a frostlike mockery rising beneath her snowy lashes. "I'm afraid we won't even be able to hold on to our place in Class B~"

Totsuka Yahiko dared to snarl at other people, but in front of Sakayanagi Arisu, he didn't even dare let his Adam's apple move. In the end, he simply lowered his head, hiding the resentment in his eyes.

"I don't need you to point that out."

"Good."