How Can You Build a Class with a Bunch of Fools Like This?

After Chabashira Sae left, Class D's classroom sank into a chorus of despair, like a pot of porridge boiling over with negative emotions.

"It's over... It's all over... How are we supposed to get through the rest of school?"

"If only... If only we'd listened to those people from Class B when they warned us..."

"Without any points, does that mean I won't even be able to buy decent makeup anymore?"

"Are we really going to be stuck eating that supposedly awful mountain vegetable set meal from now on? Nooo!"

"Waaah... The game I just had my eye on..."

Kanji Ike buried his face in his arms on the desk, letting out a meaningless whimper. Yamauchi Haruki sat there blankly, as if his soul had been sucked out. Some of the girls had red-rimmed eyes; others acted as if it had nothing to do with them, while a few quietly cursed those who had broken the rules. An indescribable atmosphere filled the classroom. At that moment, Class D truly had gathered all its "wise men," young and old alike.

Natsukawa Sosuke watched it all with cold detachment. His heart remained unmoved; if anything, he felt like laughing. Leaning back in his chair, he calmly surveyed the faces around him—some despairing, some furious, some lost.

How can you build a class with a bunch of fools like this? he grumbled inwardly. Expecting them to help me earn twenty million is less realistic than hoping the system glitches and wipes my debt. I saw this coming, but I really can't count on these people to improve and grow—not yet. Acting on my own and cooperating with people outside the class are my main options for now.

In fact, Natsukawa had several ways to help Class D retain some points. But he worried that if he didn't crush their hopes all at once, they might grow complacent and settle for getting by. His thinking was much like Chabashira's: Class D needed to hit rock bottom from the start. Only after experiencing the pain of being at the bottom would they find the motivation to climb. Still, that was only letting things take their natural course. He couldn't really count on this bunch of fools to break out of their shells.

Besides, the three idiots were genuinely hopeless at the start. He didn't want to exhaust himself dealing with them, only to have Yamauchi and the others boast smugly about how amazing they were in the end. That would really make his blood pressure spike.

Forget them. He'd better think about what to do next.

While Natsukawa considered his plans, Hirata Yosuke stood up at the front of the classroom. His handsome face was marked by obvious worry. He clapped his hands, trying to get everyone's attention. His voice was as gentle as ever, but carried the urgency of someone trying to turn things around.

"Everyone! Please calm down! This isn't the time to despair! Chabashira-sensei said that our Class Points can go up if we work hard! The most important thing right now is the upcoming midterm exams!" He looked toward several students with good grades, including Horikita and Koenji. "I hope the students who do well can show some mutual support and help those who are struggling. I don't want to see anyone expelled for failing an exam!"

His words were kind, and his gaze sincere. Even so, hardly anyone responded. Most remained lost in their own grief and panic. A few glanced up at him with numb expressions, then quickly lowered their heads again. Years of carelessness and this sudden blow had robbed the class of any sense of unity (assuming they'd ever had any). Hirata's appeal was like a stone thrown into a bog; it couldn't even stir up a proper ripple.

Ever since Chabashira had explained the truth about the school, Horikita Suzune had seemed lost in her own world. Now she finally emerged from it. She closed the book in her hands with a dull thump and looked up. Her long, straight black hair fell like a waterfall, and her reddish-purple eyes held their usual coolness and pride. She first glanced at Hirata, then said flatly, "I'm going to make it to Class A." Then she turned her gaze toward Natsukawa and Ayanokoji, her tone carrying an air of matter-of-fact command.

"You two seem slightly more capable than these idiots. Relying on me alone to reach Class A would be inefficient. From now on, you'll act as my 'pawns.' I'll devise the strategy, and you'll carry it out."

Natsukawa almost laughed out loud. He turned his head toward Horikita's expression of you should be honored that I chose you, and replied unhurriedly, his tone faintly amused.

"Horikita, I think you've got something wrong." He raised a finger and gently wagged it. "First, Ayanokoji and I aren't anyone's pawns. Second, cooperation is based on mutual respect and benefit, not one-sided orders. Third..." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the classroom's disarray. "Do you really think you can bring this bunch of 'wise men' together with that 'my way or the highway' attitude? Even Hirata, the class's biggest pushover, couldn't manage it."

Horikita's face darkened at once. Her eyes fixed on Natsukawa, sharp as knives. He was certain that if he were Ayanokoji, Horikita would jab him viciously with a ballpoint pen. She seemed ready to argue, but Natsukawa's calm, unshakable gaze left her momentarily speechless. She snorted and said nothing more, turning back to open her book and resume reading. The atmosphere around her grew even colder. She had clearly dismissed his words, though whether they had affected her was impossible to say.

Ayanokoji still wore his usual blank expression. He looked at Natsukawa, then at Horikita. Natsukawa was sure Ayanokoji had a lot going on in his head right now, though he had no idea what.

Class continued in a strange, oppressive atmosphere. Natsukawa's thoughts had already drifted elsewhere. He began silently taking stock of what he'd gained this month.

On the surface, there was the one million personal points Class B had paid him. That had eased his immediate financial strain and marked a solid first step toward paying off his system debt.

But his deeper gains went far beyond that.

First, he'd established an initial connection and bond of trust with Class B, especially with Ichinose Honami, that big-hearted angel. Their relationship could become more than a simple "transaction" in the future; it might develop into a foundation for sharing information or even working together in sync on future events.

More importantly, he'd managed to muddy the waters for the entire first year!

As the saying went, muddy waters were easier to fish in. With a single piece of information, he'd pushed Class B, which might otherwise have settled comfortably into second place and enjoyed a "you're fine, I'm fine, everyone's fine" existence, to within one step of Class A. Class B could no longer maintain that childishly harmonious atmosphere. The enormous stakes and a goal so close at hand would spur them into action and make them more aggressive. They would inevitably search for every opportunity to climb higher.

And Class A? Faced with an unprecedented challenger from Class B, closing in step by step, they couldn't possibly remain unmoved. When faced with outside pressure, Katsuragi Kohei's conservative faction and Sakayanagi Arisu's radical faction might temporarily unite against a common enemy. But their inherent differences and barriers to sharing information meant they could never operate as efficiently as the tightly united Class B. Internal strife and external defense would drain Class A's energy and resources at the same time.

Class C? Ryuen Kakeru was still ruling them through violence. But even if he managed to bring Class C together, the sudden rise of Class B would inevitably draw some of his attention. He would become even more wary of them. To test the school's rules, he would surely target the softest touch of all—Class D—while keeping an even closer eye on those softhearted people in Class B. Thanks to Natsukawa's behind-the-scenes maneuvering, the balance of the entire first year had shifted. Instead of Class A comfortably sitting back while the other classes remained deadlocked, it had become a dynamic contest full of uncertainty and opportunity.

Now the waters are muddy enough, Natsukawa thought, the corner of his mouth lifting almost imperceptibly. I can fish out the big one I want.