In the end, they'd only been so well-behaved before because they'd hoped not to get zero points again next month, and that they could use the midterms to add a tiny bit of thickness to their empty wallets.
But now that this had happened...
So, unable to stand the gloomy atmosphere in the class, one student after another 'escaped' the classroom after Koenji.
Kushida Kikyo was one of them.
"...Yeah, I just wanted to get some fresh air."
"It's okay. Yeah, thanks."
"I just wanted to find somewhere to sit by myself for a while."
After briefly placating the classmates who'd approached her with concern, she changed direction several times and moved away from her classmates.
Kushida Kikyo soon arrived at her destination.
Up the stairs.
Up the stairs.
Higher still.
Before long, she stopped at the top of the staircase, in front of the door leading to the rooftop.
The brand-new electronic lock was supposed to hold the door shut with powerful magnets, but the door in front of her showed no sign of keeping her out.
Just as she'd discovered a few days ago, she could come and go through the rooftop door as she pleased.
The magnetic electronic lock wasn't powered.
Perhaps a staff member had overlooked it, or perhaps it was simply for convenience. Either way, the door couldn't keep any students out.
In theory, such complete freedom should have made her feel utterly unsafe.
But when Kushida Kikyo cautiously pushed the door open and stepped onto the rooftop, she found a circuit breaker.
It was marked 'Rooftop Door,' and could restore power to the electronic lock at any time.
All she had to do was go inside and turn the lock back on. Then, except for staff with ID cards that could unlock the door,