Turmoil

Student Council President's office.

Secretary Tachibana Akane held a large stack of reports, placing them on the desk while waiting for Horikita Manabu to sign off on them.

Suddenly, Horikita Manabu's right hand, which had been writing, froze. He pulled out a specific report and scrutinized it carefully.

"When was this formal complaint submitted?" A sharp glint flashed in Horikita Manabu's eyes.

"Yesterday afternoon. You weren't here at the time, President, so Vice President Nagumo Miyabi accepted it."

"Interesting."

Earlier that day, Zhuge Linghao and Sudo Ken were in a shop buying some items...

"Hey, the first period is Chabashira-sensei's homeroom class. We're going to be late!" Sudo Ken said, sounding anxious.

Zhuge Linghao picked up a bottle of tomato juice and said, "I know you're in a hurry, but don't be in a hurry!"

Following that, Zhuge Linghao grabbed a large pile of medical cotton and added, "I'm being late on purpose."

"Also, don't say a word later. Leave everything to me."

In the homeroom class, Chabashira-sensei began the routine roll call.

"Karuizawa Kei."

"Here!"

"Sakura Airi."

"...Here."

"Zhuge Linghao."

No response.

"Sudo Ken."

No response.

"Does anyone know where those two went?"

Still, no one responded.

Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo, sitting below, frowned in unison.

Chabashira-sensei took out her phone and immediately dialed Zhuge Linghao's number.

"Busy, busy, you have to wait in line to call me..."

A bizarre ringtone suddenly blared from the classroom doorway.

Two figures stood at the entrance.

Zhuge Linghao and Sudo Ken were supporting each other. Their mouths and eyebrows were stained with wet 'blood,' and their 'cheeks were swollen,' looking as if they had been 'beaten up.'

Zhuge Linghao played the victim first: "Chabashira-sensei, Sudo and I were beaten by three thugs from the Class C Basketball Club. You have to get revenge for us!"

If Ishizaki Daichi and his group were there, they would surely be barking in frustration: [Where were we beaten? All those punches were thrown by this Zhuge guy the whole time!]

Chabashira-sensei narrowed her eyes, instructed Hirata to take charge of the class, and then called Zhuge Linghao and Sudo Ken to the office.

The office was empty, as the homeroom teachers of other classes were all busy with their own homeroom sessions.

Chabashira-sensei's eyes were sharp: "Stop acting. You aren't actually hurt at all, are you?"

"As expected of the gentle, beautiful, intelligent, and virtuous Chabashira-sensei. My admiration for you is like the surging waters of a river, endless and continuous, like the flooding of the Yellow River, impossible to stop..."

"Stop. Get to the point."

"It's like this: yesterday afternoon, those three thugs from Class C beat Sudo. I happened to be passing by and rushed in to help. This counts as a heroic act and self-defense!"

"Passing by? They struck first?"

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."

"Participants cannot serve as eyewitnesses."

Chabashira-sensei picked up her phone and checked the latest school notification.

Chabashira-sensei put her phone away: "Go back to the classroom."

In the Class D classroom, the students were whispering among themselves.

Returning to the podium, Chabashira-sensei crossed her arms and said, "The school just issued an announcement."

"A violent incident occurred yesterday in the special building."

Horikita raised an eyebrow: "The special building?"

"Members of the Class C Basketball Club have filed a complaint against Zhuge Linghao and Sudo Ken, claiming that after club activities ended, Zhuge Linghao and Sudo Ken unilaterally assaulted them."

Sudo, who had been told to stay quiet, couldn't hold back. He slammed his fist onto the desk and said angrily, "It was self-defense! They were just jealous that I made the starting lineup, so they came looking for a fight!"

Chabashira-sensei said in a hoarse voice, "Do you have any evidence? It would be much more persuasive if there were witnesses at the scene."

The 'good girl' Kushida Kikyo stood up and asked, "Everyone, did any of you see Sudo and the others fighting at the scene? Or can anyone provide some clues?"

Horikita Suzune shot a glance at Sakura Airi, while Sakura Airi kept her head down in silence.

With his legs arrogantly propped up on his desk, Koenji, who was looking into a mirror, suddenly spoke up: "Red-haired Boy, I think it would be better for you to drop out; your existence is not beautiful at all."

"As for the black-haired Boy, what kind of mischief have you been up to in all this?"

Sudo Ken was so angry he wanted to lose control again.

Hirata Yosuke stepped in just in time: "Sudo, you can't fight anymore!"

Chabashira-sensei kicked the podium, creating a loud bang.

The noisy classroom instantly fell silent.

"In one week, the Student Council will intervene to negotiate with Class C. Based on the results of the negotiation, class points will be deducted, and the disciplinary actions for Sudo and Zhuge will also be issued."

During the break.

Everyone stayed several meters away from Sudo and Zhuge, afraid of being associated with them.

Many people in the class were already complaining.

"This is terrible, two losers!"

"It's all Sudo and the others' fault, our class points might be wiped out again..."

"It would be better if those two just dropped out."

"Exactly, exactly!"

Zhuge Linghao lay on his desk, eavesdropping on the conversations of the students around him.

Zhuge Linghao buried his face deep in his arms, revealing a 'naive smile' identical to Sonic the Hedgehog, his shoulders shaking slightly.

[Heh, this is human nature!]

[As long as their own interests are at stake, even a good dog will turn into a vicious one!]

"Do you think so too, Ayanokoji?"

Horikita Suzune, standing by the window, spoke coldly.

"Do you also think it would be better for them to drop out?"

Ayanokoji, sitting in his seat, rested his head on one hand and said, "I'm indifferent, but as their tutor, what do you think?"

"Now that the new month of June has begun, our class points have already hit 0. If someone drops out now, there are no more points left to deduct."

"Perhaps."

"What kind of tone is that? It's really annoying."

"Because we can't be certain; there might be other ways points are being added or subtracted that we aren't aware of."

"What do you mean?" Horikita Suzune turned back to ask.

"There is no confirmed formula yet; for all we know, we might be getting points deducted right now."

"Maybe they aren't deducting points now, but will do so next month or at some other time."

"Or perhaps the condition for promoting to Class A is that [the class must have no dropouts.]"

"Hmph, sophistry."

"We still haven't grasped the operating principles of the S System. If you truly want to advance to Class A, I believe you need to eliminate all dangerous variables."

"Furthermore, Sudo's excellent athletic ability and his important status in his club might come in handy in the future."

"As for Zhuge, to be honest, I can't quite read him. His fluctuating intelligence and inconsistent athletic ability are a headache."

"With his eccentric personality and unexpected ways of solving problems, a Zhuge like that might become a wild card in some special exam."

"Hmm, that makes sense."

[Hey, hey, hey, don't conspire loudly right next to me! Do you think I don't exist?!]

[And Ayanokoji, are you starting to use Suzune-chan? While hiding in the back as the mastermind?]

[Hehe, things are getting interesting!]

During the long break.

Hirata Yosuke stood on the podium: "Everyone, listen to me. I am willing to trust my classmates, and I think we should all work together to find clues from witnesses."

Karuizawa Kei raised her hand in agreement: "Okay, I strongly agree."

Consequently, many students stood up to support the words of Hirata Yosuke and Karuizawa Kei.

Of course, the 'pure-hearted' Kushida Kikyo was no exception. She said with a serious expression, "Me too. First of all, we have to believe in them!"

"If even we, as their classmates, don't reach out a helping hand, it would be too pitiful for them to be left isolated and helpless!"

Following that, a bunch of Kushida Kikyo's simps jumped out from the class, echoing her sentiments one after another.

"Since Kushida has said so!"

"I strongly agree!"

"I think Zhuge and Sudo are good people."

Zhuge Linghao was shocked, You guys were the ones barking the loudest just a moment ago!

Why aren't you biting people indiscriminately now?

Helpless, Zhuge Linghao could only snap angrily: "Simps have absolutely no integrity!"