You really know how to control your score

The classroom instantly plunged into a state of desolation. Chabashira Sae left behind a curt "fend for yourselves" before slamming the classroom door shut and walking away.

"Bang!"

Sudō kicked his desk with force, whether out of frustration for failing the exam or for being assigned to a bottom-tier class, it was unclear.

The state of the others was hardly any better:

"With no points to use, how... how am I supposed to survive this month?!"

"I... I'm the same. I already spent all my points yesterday..."

Although Chabashira Sae told them there was free food in the cafeteria and free daily necessities available at the convenience store, who would actually want to live like a refugee?

"Forget the points, our class itself is the problem, isn't it?! Are you kidding me?!! How could I possibly be assigned to Class D?!!!"

Yukimura, wearing his glasses, continued to vent his dissatisfaction, and even Horikita Suzune's face was covered in frost.

She couldn't understand why, despite her excellent academic and physical abilities—and while she hadn't taken first place in the entrance exam, she was certainly among the top—the school had not only failed to place her in Class A, but had instead dumped her into the lowest pile of trash!

Just as the class descended into chaos, the ever-helpful Hirata struggled to take the lead:

"Everyone, please calm down..."

"Calm down! How do you expect me to calm down?! Hirata, your grades are so good, don't you feel even a shred of resentment?!"

"I understand how you feel, but right now..."

"I'm talking about right now! From the moment we enrolled, we've been treated unfairly. I simply cannot accept this!"

An enraged Yukimura closed in on Hirata. Had Shinjo not stepped in between them just in time, it was hard to say what this hot-headed guy might have done.

"Calm down, Yukimura-kun. No matter how dissatisfied you are, the decision was made by the school, and it has nothing to do with Hirata, does it?"

"That's right, Yukimura-kun, calm down."

Under the comfort of the others, Yukimura gradually calmed down. After apologizing to Hirata, he returned to his seat and remained silent.

"Thank you, Shinjo-kun."

"It's nothing."

To stabilize the class, Hirata stepped onto the podium to soothe everyone's emotions:

"Everyone, I know these things are hard to accept, but as long as we start studying hard from now on, stay focused, and avoid absences or tardiness, it's not like we don't have a chance to earn back the points we lost!"

However, Class D was truly Class D; at a time like this, rather than encouraging one another, they preferred to pressure others.

"I remember... didn't Sudō often sleep in class and always show up late?"

"Now that you mention it, I remember! Sudō has never once listened properly in class!"

How could the hot-tempered Sudō handle such accusations? He slammed his desk with a "bang" and stood up:

"What are you guys saying?! You lost your own points and now you're blaming me? Who wants to play your little 'good student' game anyway?! Stop bothering me!"

With that, he kicked his chair over in a fit of rage and stormed out through the back door.

This reaction only gave the others more ammunition to vent their dissatisfaction, casting all their grievances onto Sudō.

In an instant, sounds of consolation, cursing, complaining, and crying rose one after another.

Seeing this, Shinjo stretched and picked up his backpack, preparing to leave the classroom, but his sleeve was tugged by Karuizawa:

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Back to the dorms to rest. Since the class points are already at zero, even if we study hard, they won't increase, so I might as well get a good night's sleep."

"That... alright then."

Having left the classroom, Shinjo hadn't gone far before someone blocked his path.

"Come to my office and let's talk."

"Tsk... I don't think there's anything worth talking about."

Following Chabashira Sae to her office, one had to admit that the Advanced Nurturing High School was impressive; every teacher was equipped with an individual office cubicle, perhaps for discussing topics that couldn't see the light of day.

As soon as Chabashira Sae returned with Shinjo, she found Horikita Suzune and Ayanokōji already waiting there.

"Eh? Shinjo?"

"Ah... caught red-handed skipping class."

"That's really unlucky."

Ignoring the whispering between the two boys, Chabashira sat back in her chair and lit a cigarette:

"Horikita, is there something you need?"

"Of course there is!"

Horikita Suzune, who had been waiting impatiently, stepped forward.

"Chabashira-sensei, I would like to ask, what are the school's criteria for class assignment? Or rather, was there some kind of error in the system when the classes were assigned!"

"I have seen your entrance exam results, Horikita. It can be said that your scores were very impressive; both your academic and physical test results were among the top."

"If that's the case, then why was I assigned to Class D?!"

"Naturally, because that is the most suitable place for you."

"What did you sa..."

Chabashira took a slow, unhurried drag from her cigarette, picked up a file folder that looked like it had been prepared in advance, and tossed it over.

"Take a look for yourself. I hope you can find the answer in there."

Horikita Suzune hurriedly pulled out the entrance exam transcript inside. She scanned it from top to bottom, finding nothing unusual until she reached a specific line: every single subject had a score of exactly 50 points.

Is this guy seriously trying to show off on purpose?

Shinto Katsuya cast a look of intense disdain toward the owner of those grades.

She opened her mouth in disbelief; these scores were clearly intentional. So, who was the owner?

It was none other than Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"Ayanokoji... you!"

"It seems you've realized it too—what Ayanokoji's grades actually represent."

However, the person in question, Ayanokoji, calmly countered, "What does this represent? Perhaps it's just a coincidence."

But clearly, his explanation was not enough to convince the people in the room.

"If you want to prove yourself, there is only one path: lead them to defeat Class A. Horikita, this is your destination."

Horikita was naturally unwilling, to say the least.

"Are you joking? How could I possibly lead a group of people like that to defeat Class A, whose strength far exceeds ours?!"

"I've already said, these test scores were truly an accident."

But Ayanokoji's words were automatically filtered out by all three people present.

"If Ayanokoji refuses to admit it, then there's nothing to be done. However, I have one more thing to tell you. Regarding all the information and truths I've spoken of today, the Shinto beside you actually discovered them on the very first day of school."

If Plan A doesn't work, there's always Plan B; this was the reason Chabashira had specifically brought Shinto to the office.

"What? How is that possible?!"

"Hey, I clearly said it was the first, second, or third day. How did it turn into discovering all the secrets on the very first day..."

Hearing this, Horikita was certain that Shinto Katsuya had indeed discovered the school's hidden rules a long time ago.

And Ayanokoji had proven with his score-manipulation technique that his academic level was far above her own.

If even two people like that were assigned to Class D, then she...

"Then, why didn't you tell me the rules sooner?!"

"Horikita-san, even you think Class D is a bunch of hopeless losers. Why would I want to be the Zhao Zilong of Changban Slope?"

Although a philosopher named Kira Yoshikage once told Shinto not to answer a question with another question.

But I have to say, speaking like this really makes one seem quite sophisticated!