Chapter 336

The school chose to let go.

Although it seems quite egregious, judging from Class D's actions at this moment, they still understand the meaning of knowing when to stop.

After all, it's just a matter between students. If it really causes any problems, it won't be something that can be brushed off as a joke.

Even though they knew that Asakusa Toru could take the blame for them and bear full responsibility for the incident, Asakusa Toru was also a student, and the other students in Class D didn't think they would have a good ending if things escalated to the point where people would die.

No one can shoulder such a responsibility.

Thus began the agonizing time for classes A, B, and C.

The students prayed and hoped that the school would stop such atrocities, but at the same time they had to consider what they should do if the school did not stop it and condoned such behavior. They arrived at the classroom early with great anxiety and stayed in their seats without moving.

This one lasted all morning.

Drink a moderate amount of water, or even none at all, to avoid putting pressure on your bladder. Then, during your lunch break, drink a large amount of water at once to replenish all your fluids and empty your bladder before the break ends, then continue to stay seated.

Only in this way can we protect our position and our code of conduct.

All they see are themselves.

When everyone loses their questioning of the game itself, when everyone gives up their resistance to the Special Exam itself.

The 'All-Member Zero-Point Special Exam' will then move on to the next stage.

Phase Two.

'Whisper Game'

Words interact with each other, and distances between people are shortened.

The result of silently lurking within.

It's a human megaphone.

"I'm only telling you this, you know. Actually, I like Shiraishi -kun."

"I'm only telling you this, you know. Actually, I like Shiraishi -kun."

A low voice, a whispered confession, followed immediately by an incredibly loud voice.

Repeating a grade.

"Oh, so you like Shiraishi, Yoshida. No problem, I've already delivered the message for you. It's a very good way to pass on a message, isn't it? You don't even need to muster up any courage."

Yamauchi Haruki, who was loudly repeating Yoshida Kenta's words, grinned and patted his chest with a smile.

"--"

Yoshida Kenta's thoughts came to a standstill.

He couldn't understand why Yamauchi Haruki had leaned in to eavesdrop on his and his friend's whispers, or why Yamauchi Haruki had been shouting his own little conversations out loud.

He suddenly turned his head to look at his beloved.

The direction of the Shiraishi Asuka.

"I'm sorry, Yoshida-san, I will never fall in love with you."

A man named Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, standing beside her, calmly relayed the message.

Two megaphones—no, two loudspeakers—are broadcasting a private conversation onto the public screen for the whole class to see.

His mouth opened and closed but no sound came out; his gaze was blank; he hadn't yet mustered the courage to express his feelings to the other person, only to be rejected.

Yoshida Kenta.

He was furious.

"What are you doing?!" he demanded of Yamauchi Haruki. "Is it really that interesting to eavesdrop on other people's conversations and spread their private information?!"

He saw it; he saw the smile on Yamauchi Haruki's face; he saw Yamauchi Haruki's expression at that moment.

I already had a lot of anger building up inside me because of the stressful Musical Chairs game.

I wanted to insult the other person, I wanted to beat them up, I wanted to attack them, but I couldn't do anything because of the score. I could only suppress my feelings and play this incredibly boring Musical Chairs game.

That's why he slightly projected his longing, expectations, and affections onto the girl in his class, and why he thought of confiding these feelings to a close friend.

He would often join his friends in criticizing the crazy students in Class D, and this time was supposed to be no different.

But the result was like this...

Yoshida Kenta clenched his fist.

"That's certainly interesting," Yamauchi Haruki chuckled, finding Yoshida Kenta's anger only adding to his amusement. "Hey, aren't you getting something wrong?"

Even if I didn't do this, she still wouldn't have a chance of falling for you, right?

Yamauchi Haruki revealed a disdainful expression.

"Look at yourself! I'm trying to help you, don't you understand? Can't you comprehend how much effort I've put into acting as your mouthpiece? If you had even a shred of gratitude, you should transfer money to me to thank me!"

Yamauchi Haruki's expression was flamboyant and ugly.

"Snap--"

At this point, Asakusa Toru snapped his fingers, pausing the conflict between the two.

After waiting a moment, until everyone in the class turned to look at him, he spoke softly:

"As you can see, the 'All-Member Zero-Point Special Exam' is now moving into its second phase."

"Whisper Game."

He placed his hands on his chest.

"Now, let me explain the rules for the second half of the game."

"Whisper Game Whisper Game, as the name suggests, is a game between those who act as mouthpieces and those who need to relay messages."

"There's a distance between people, and words can't easily reach the hearts of others." Asakusa Toru paused, then smiled. "So I was thinking, indeed, a 'megaphone' is necessary."

"So now, in addition to the 'Musical Chairs' game, everyone also plays a 'Whisper Game,' where the 'messengers' find the people they need to pass on messages to and convey what's on their minds."

"Please, everyone, struggle to the very end."

The deadline is the end of this month.

Or perhaps...

Asakusa Toru's elegant yet icy words echoed in Class A's classroom, instantly engulfing all the students in Class A with a feeling of falling into an ice cave.

Before he could process what Asakusa Toru Tetsu had said, Yamauchi Haruki, who had been interrupted by Asakusa Toru, saw that Asakusa Tetsu had finished speaking and immediately put on a smug expression, launching another provocative attack on Yoshida Kenta.

A sneer, a disdainful look, an outstretched hand, and an index finger poking at Yoshida Kenta's chest.

Yamauchi Haruki, head held high and chest puffed out, began to speak:

"Thank me properly, I'll help more useless people like you to voice their true feelings--"

"--Bang."

Yamauchi Haruki Yoshida Kenta suddenly swung the kettle on the table and smashed it at Haruki Yamauchi in a fit of rage. The dull, resounding sound echoed in the classroom. In contrast, Yamauchi Haruki finally quieted down and collapsed to the floor with a thud.

If it sounds good, then it's a good start.

Asakusa Toru's words only briefly interrupted and cooled Yoshida Kenta's emotions, but these emotions, which would have continued to cool down, were ignited and exploded by Yamauchi Haruki's obviously excessive words.

He made his move, he made his move, he...

"--Let's get started!!!"

With pent-up anger and fury, fueled by Yoshida Kenta, the students of Class A finally, finally, finally stopped suppressing their emotions.

Yes, they were filled with emotions.

Why us? Why us? Musical Chairs is bad enough, holding in your pee is disgusting enough, why do we have to do something so outrageous?

What did Yoshida do wrong? He just liked a girl, does that mean his feelings have to be trampled on like this?

And what if we were to become messengers or mouthpieces...?

I'd rather they all die.

Why don't all the people in Class D just die?

The school isn't coming to rescue us.

I had always thought that everything would be fine as long as the school intervened.

But the school was also an accomplice.

So, destroy everything.

This led to a violent incident that the school absolutely could not condone or ignore.

Chaos spread, conflict escalated, and riots intensified.

Time.

It is frozen and sealed at this moment.

Asakusa Toru finally revealed a satisfied smile.

Congratulations, you are liberated.

Looking back, Musical Chairs was alright, but the Whisper Game was definitely a bit too much.

In fact, Asakusa Toru was just offering a suggestion, giving it out of a moment of enthusiasm.

He truly hadn't expected that anyone would actually choose to carry it out.

The fact is, he clearly gave two recommended games, and he also said that everyone could try to develop other games.

But everyone just kept playing Musical Chairs.

--Until the final conflict was completely ignited by the two greatest masterpieces of Yamauchi Haruki and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

As expected.

That feels so good.

Although it was a bit of a pity that he didn't get to see the results of the Behavioral Norms Exam at the end of the month, he was actually quite satisfied.

All that's missing is a piece of paper.

Well, if possible, he still wants to see that piece of paper.

So.

Let that sealed-off time leap forward one step into the past.

If the contradictions and conflicts are not ignited, or if they are suppressed before they fully escalate.

If the Special Exam is settled as scheduled.

"Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations, that's all I can say."

Standing on the podium, in the classroom of Class D, after a long absence—perhaps a month— Chabashira Sae saw the students of Class D again in this classroom. With a mix of emotions—reflection, admiration, and genuine applause—she clapped her hands.

"You guys are absolutely amazing, truly, completely beyond my imagination. I never thought Class D could do something like this. You've created something unprecedented in the history of this school."

"Everyone got zero."

Congratulations on achieving your goal.

With a smile that even an iceberg's deadpan expression couldn't distort, Chabashira Sae suppressed her inner excitement and snapped a piece of paper behind her.

It's the paper announcing the results.

[Class 1-A, 0 points]

[First-Year Class B, 0 points]

[First-Year Class C, 0 points]

[Class 1-D, Grade 1, 0 points]

Everyone scored zero.

The results are out.

"It's over, it's over, it's over, it's over!!!"

The entire Class D erupted in cheers and shouts of joy.