[Past Arc] Chabashira Sae

Chabashira Sae would never forget what happened that day; it was an existence akin to a nightmare.

Her heart had also stalled forever on that very day.

"What we are about to conduct is—the Unanimous Special Exam."

Upon hearing their homeroom teacher's words, the students in the class immediately began to clamor, as this was a sudden special exam with no prior notice.

Moreover, their current position in Class B of the third year was only a mere few dozen points away from Class A, and the gap between them and Class C and Class D was not much larger.

It could be said that it would not be surprising for any class to graduate as Class A regardless of the final outcome.

"Quiet!"

The teacher's stern voice instantly quelled the sudden commotion.

"Because this is not a complex exam, there is no need for prior warning. The exam will begin immediately, so please remain quiet."

After speaking, the teacher took out a bag and began to collect the students' mobile phones one by one.

Seeing this scene, the students braced themselves with the utmost vigilance.

Because once their phones were taken away, it meant the severance of private communication, which left them feeling very insecure.

"Rest assured, the rules are simple—choose from the given options, and unanimity will clear the stage. There are only five topics; if things go quickly, it can be finished in less than an hour."

Having finished collecting the phones, the teacher offered a gentle word of comfort upon seeing the students' nervous expressions.

But not a single student felt relieved by this.

Having experienced nearly three years of brutal battles, they did not trust the words their teacher was saying at this moment. This exam surely had something peculiar about it, especially since their phones had already been confiscated.

"By the way, if you pass the exam, you will be rewarded with 50 class points, but conversely, if there are still topics left unfinished when the exam time expires, 300 class points will be deducted. The total exam time is 5 hours."

Is this what you call "rest assured"?

The students silently grumbled at the teacher's words; how could this possibly be something that would make anyone "rest assured"?

"To make it easier for everyone to understand the exam rules, we will now conduct a practice test."

After distributing the devices in hand to each student in order, the teacher said this.

[Lose 5 class points, each person receives 10,000 private points]

[Agree][Disagree]

"All communication is prohibited when answering. The voting time is 60 seconds; exceeding this counts as overtime. Each student has a total of 90 seconds of overtime for the entire exam. Anyone who exceeds this will be expelled immediately."

"If unanimity is not reached, a 10-minute mandatory discussion period will begin."

Disturbing rules were spoken from the teacher's mouth, but the students of Class B did not feel particularly heavy-hearted at this moment.

[Agree: 0 votes]

[Disagree: 37 votes]

Having already anticipated this result, the teacher nodded:

"Finally, the voting is conducted anonymously, so everyone can rest assured."

Although the teacher kept saying "rest assured," the students did not dare to be careless in the slightest; the rules of this special exam were riddled with oddities.

But what made everyone feel fortunate was that the following four topics did not make them feel pressured. Within the 10 minutes following each vote, the class leader, Watanabe, was always able to consolidate opinions and make the correct decision.

Until—

[Expel 1 person from the class, simultaneously gain 100 class points]

[Agree][Disagree]

The terrifying and familiar word "expel" was reflected in the eyes of every student. Some students chose to disagree without even thinking, while others thought of the point gap with Class A and chose to agree.

[Agree: 14 votes]

[Disagree: 23 votes]

"No, why would you choose to agree!"

Just as the mandatory discussion period began, someone spoke up as if the pot had exploded.

"Are you stupid? We are only a few dozen points away from Class A. Expelling one person would allow us to catch up; isn't that great?"

"That's true, I suppose..."

Hearing this answer, the student scratched his head, but he quickly realized something was wrong.

"If that's the case, couldn't Class A also choose to expel one person? Wouldn't that mean the gap hasn't been closed at all?"

"So this is equivalent to a gamble. We have to bet that Class A won't choose to expel one person. What is Watanabe's opinion?"

Everyone cast their gaze toward Watanabe, the leader of the class for the past three years, who was currently bowing his head in deep thought.

Having fully understood the personalities of the students in his class over these three years, he felt lost for the first time, but he still wanted to try:

"If possible, I would like everyone to choose to disagree."

"Why!"

This was the first time someone in the class had directly opposed Watanabe's opinion.

"This is a great opportunity, isn't it? Why would you want to give it up?"

"...Yeah, but I don't think Class A will necessarily vote against it. In that case, wouldn't it be better for us to choose to give up? Are the memories we've created together over these three years all fake?"

Watanabe wanted to play the emotional card.

"O...okay."

The prestige built up in the class over the past three years was by no means fake, and that student quickly gave up the argument.

Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and the next round of voting began.

[In Favor: 3 votes]

[Against: 34 votes]

He knew it would end up like this; after all, it was an anonymous vote.

"It seems someone doesn't want to give up."

"Yeah."

The student who had just given up the argument breathed a sigh of relief; in truth, he had still wanted to fight for it.

"Then, for the next round of voting, let's all choose to vote in favor."

Watanabe, having made up his mind, said.

The atmosphere in the classroom was strangely quiet at this moment, with everyone silently waiting for time to pass.

[In Favor: 37 votes]

[Against: 0 votes]

Humans are creatures prone to wishful thinking; until the final result arrives, no one wants to believe that they are the one who will be expelled.

"Everyone, listen to me."

Seeing that it had finally reached the point where one person had to be expelled, Watanabe stood up and said, "For the next round of voting, I would like to ask everyone to vote for me."

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about!"

Chabashira Sae couldn't help but join the discussion for the first time.

"You are our class leader! How can you be the one to drop out here?!"

It was a very valid reason, and other students quickly echoed her words.

"Sae is right! Watanabe has always led our class as our leader, bringing us from Class D to where we are now in Class B. Even Class A is within reach now—how can we let Watanabe bear the consequences of expulsion?"

Hoshinomiya Chie backed up her best friend.

Most people were refuting Watanabe's idea; it was simply too absurd.

"It's fine, I've already made up my mind."

Watanabe's attitude was surprisingly firm. Seeing him in this state, the others found it difficult to say anything more.

Just as Watanabe understood them, they also understood Watanabe.

He was a man who would never look back once he had made a decision.

At the same time, the vast majority of the class breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts, because they knew that the Sword of Damocles known as "expulsion" would no longer be hanging over their heads.

[In Favor: 35 votes]

[Against: 1 vote]

As the person being voted for, Watanabe could not vote for himself.

"Who exactly was it?"

Someone put on an angry display, venting their emotions wantonly, wanting the dissenter to step forward and confront them.

"Can you please not betray Watanabe's intentions?"

Others stood on the moral high ground, trying to persuade the unknown dissenter.

"Sae, are you okay?"

Seeing her best friend and companion Chabashira Sae looking distraught, Hoshinomiya Chie spoke up to comfort her.

But the seed of doubt had already been sown; she had sensed that something was wrong with her friend.

Could the culprit behind the dissenting vote actually be...