Chapter 102

"As you said, I didn't offer any help to the class before this, and I don't deny that, but that wasn't my true intention."

Chabashira-sensei paused briefly, then adopted a reminiscing posture, looking up at the ceiling above her head.

"I used to be a student at this school too, just like you, starting from Class D."

"However, the situation in our year was not like it is now, where each of the three grades had a representative figure who single-handedly suppressed all resistance."

Third Year Manabu Horikita, second-year student Miyabi Nagumo, and first-year student Aragaki Shun... Chabashira Sae felt like she was seeing a ghost. Since when did the competition for Advanced Nurturing become a complete individual show?

However, it is precisely because of this that she is able to further solidify her beliefs and hold them firmly in her heart.

Class D needs a real powerhouse! Only a truly capable powerhouse can lead these flawed individuals to challenge Class A.

In short, all she wanted to do was curry favor with powerful figures, dreaming of one day finding an SSR card among the trash and then using that person to achieve her own long-cherished wish.

It was obvious that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, standing in front of her, was the person she had her eye on.

"Back then, the four classes in first grade weren't that far apart in terms of ability."

"Until the third semester of the Third Year, nearing graduation, the difference in Class Evaluation Points between Class A and Class D was less than one hundred points."

"In other words, at that time, everyone had to be extremely careful, because any exam or even the slightest mistake could determine who would ultimately win the crown."

Chabashira Sae's tone was deep; rather than reminiscing about the past, she seemed to be confessing something.

Ayanokoji understood. "So, that minor mistake still happened, and it was related to the teacher, right?"

"You guessed right. Because of my impulsive act, the class has been plunged into hell. Three years of hard work, everyone's dreams... everything has been completely destroyed because of me."

Chabashira Sae still remembers that "Unanimous Special Exam".

In that exam, the whole class had to complete the questions given by the school, and only those who answered the same questions would pass.

If the class cannot achieve unity of will within the stipulated time, a large number of evaluation points will be deducted.

The earlier questions were not difficult, but the last question required a choice between class members and evaluation scores. If even one student dropped out, the student would receive a reward from the school.

The class leader at the time persuaded everyone who had already moved up to Class B to drop out of school so that others could be promoted to Class A.

So everyone agreed to the plan.

But when it came time to select the person who would drop out, Chabashira Sae discovered that the person who had voluntarily dropped out was actually her boyfriend.

And so, Chabashira regretted it halfway through and voted against it every time.

However, since the questions were already identical for everyone, the exam entered the withdrawal stage, and one person had to withdraw to finish the exam.

Chabashira doesn't want her boyfriend to drop out of school, so she has to find another victim.

But everyone has worked hard for three years, and the fruits of their labor are just around the corner. Who would be willing to get off halfway and sacrifice their own future to help others succeed?

Naturally, everyone failed to reach a consensus within the allotted time, resulting in a significant deduction of Class Evaluation Points.

The class was relegated to Class D and had no hope of ever being promoted to Class A again.

All efforts were in vain. In the process of shifting blame and causing others to drop out of school, the friendships among the students were easily broken, and everyone went their separate ways. Her relationship with her boyfriend also ended abruptly. Under this series of blows, Chabashira regretted it again and became deeply mired in it, unable to extricate herself.

So she chose to return to Advanced Nurturing, serving as the class advisor for Class D twice in the past six years, hoping to witness Class D's future advancement to Class A.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka: "..."

The brown-haired man remained expressionless as always, showing no emotion whatsoever after listening to Chabashira Sae's story.

So, Chabashira-sensei, what exactly are you trying to say? Do you need him to comfort you?

"I'm just an ordinary student in Class D. What's the point of you telling me all this, teacher?"

"An ordinary student?" Chabashira Sae's expression returned to its usual zombie-like face. "Ordinary students don't have that ability to precisely control their scores in every subject to be around fifty."

"Everyone says it's a coincidence, but is this world not even allowed for such accidental events?"

"What you think doesn't matter, but I'm certain that you're indispensable for advancing to Class A."

Before Ayanokoji could retort, Chabashira's tone had already begun to carry a threatening undertone.

"A few days ago, some incredibly powerful outsider suddenly contacted me, saying they wanted to expel Ayanokoji Kiyotaka from school."

Sensing the sudden dangerous aura emanating from Ayanokoji, the homeroom teacher of Class D's eyes lit up. "So, what do you think? Should I agree to his conditions? He's a powerful figure capable of opening the closed doors of the Advanced Nurturing Program. I, an ordinary teacher, can't afford to offend him."

Ayanokoji remained indifferent, and the aura emanating from him began to change, as if he had entered some kind of special state.

The interference from the White Room, from that man, finally arrived... This was expected, but it was impossible for him to accept his fate.

"Someone actually wants me to drop out of school? That's really strange."

"But surely the school wouldn't just agree to something like this without considering the person's wishes?"

No one knew better than him the power that man wielded; if the school couldn't hold on, it would have handed him over long ago.

From this perspective, the importance of Kodo Ikusei Senior High School should be emphasized again.

"Indeed, the school also has its own position and cannot easily abandon its students because of the demands of a third party."

"As long as you are a student at this school, you will be protected by the Advanced Nurturing rules."

"However, as you know, there are many ways to legally expel a student at this school: smoking, bullying, stealing, cheating... Once I determine that you have committed any of these violations of school rules, your expulsion is inevitable."

"As a teacher, is threatening your own students morally acceptable?"

Ayanokoji stared coldly at Chabashira Sae.

He didn't know if what the other person said was true, but as long as there was some truth in those words, he couldn't act rashly.

As a bird that has already spread its wings and escaped its cage, he is not tired of flying and does not want to go back to that place until he gets what he wants.

"I want to make a deal with you, Ayanokoji."

Chabashira Sae remained unmoved by the other party's sarcasm, simply saying to herself, "You set your sights on Class A for my sake, and I'm doing everything in my power to protect you from expulsion. Don't you think that's a good deal?"

In other words, if he doesn't agree, he will be retaliated against by the teacher and expelled from school?

It's ironic that in order to protect freedom, one has to give up freedom itself, and actually have to agree to such foolish conditions.

"I'll ask you one more time, do you want to help me get into Class A, or do you want to drop out and leave Advanced Nurturing?"

"You might regret threatening me like this?"

"Don't worry, my life is already full of regrets."

Chabashira mocked herself, realizing that she was undoubtedly a failure as a companion, a student, and a teacher.

But ever since that Special Exam, her life has been in chaos.

Her only thought now is to lead a Class D to Class A and make up for the regrets of the past; nothing else matters.

"I didn't originally intend to use such radical methods, but if you're willing to voluntarily lead Class D, I can provide assistance behind the scenes."

"But things are moving too fast in the first year. There's no time for you to hesitate now. Make your decision right here: help me or drop out?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka understood what the other person meant.

Class D was already financially controlled by Aragaki Shun from Class A. After finally obtaining 200 points from the school, they were targeted by Ryuen Kakeru from Class C and forced to lose a large number of Private Points.

Under these circumstances, Class D could only continue to gravitate towards Aragaki Shun, eventually becoming a completely subservient force to Class 1-A.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Chabashira Sae couldn't stand it at all. Perhaps because the upcoming Summer Vacation Trip was so important, she was willing to force herself to do her part for Class D, even resorting to threats.

But if you value Class D so much, couldn't you have acted sooner?

Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. Look at how much Class D has been corrupted by Aragaki Shun now, are you sure it still has any hope of growing independently?

"The biggest power in Class D right now is the Aragaki Faction under Karuizawa's command. More than 60% of the students in the class have joined this faction, and the core members include Wang Meiyu, Yukimura Teruhiko, Matsushita Chiaki, and Sato Maya."

"The other leader of the class Yosuke Hirata, and Ken Sudō, who is good at sports, have both signed contracts with Class A and will be required to accept reasonable employment from Class A during the Special Exam."

There's also Horikita Suzune, whom he took a liking to in his spare time; she was also dragged by Aragaki Shun to work in the Student Council.

Kushida Kikyo and Sakura Airi both seem to have a good relationship with him.

Koenji Rokusuke has recently been teaming up with Katsuragi Kohei, and it looks like he's planning to run away to Class B...

"Chabashira-sensei, let me ask you, are there any students still available in Class D?"

Wake up, it's broad daylight, stop dreaming.

The entire class is a pawn of the opponent; not a single qualified and reliable tool can be found. The rest are all special talents like Ike and Yamauchi.

In this situation, you're asking me to lead Class D to challenge Class A...

"We will win!"

Chabashira seemed to have more confidence than he did, or rather, she could only persevere with this belief.

Ayanokoji: "..."

After taking a deep look at this woman who seemed to be out of her mind, White Room's Masterpiece understood that reasoning with a madman was completely pointless.

"I understand. I hope you remember your promise and don't regret using me in the future."

After saying that, Ayanokoji turned and left the counseling room without looking at the other person again.

He knew that once he left this place, the peaceful life he was enjoying after reaching Advanced Nurturing would completely disappear.

But there's nothing wrong with that. Just treat it as a challenge for yourself, and it doesn't matter if you lose.

Because my failure is that man's failure, and also that place's failure.

Perhaps he can understand the true meaning of "equality" from that person in Class A, and explore what true "strength" really is.

The problem is that Class D can't find suitable tools right now, so all the people with potential have been branded by that person.

It can be said that in every position around him, he is either an incompetent oddball or a pawn of the enemy.

In this environment, there is absolutely no chance of victory in fighting that person.

If given the opportunity, perhaps I could learn from Koenji Rokusuke.

Katsuragi Kohei from Class B... or Ryuen Kakeru from Class C...

Chabashira Sae had no idea what the hunky man she had chosen was thinking. She simply collapsed into a limp groin after Ayanokoji's figure had completely disappeared from sight.

The homeroom teacher who had threatened his students silently took out his phone, stared at a number on it, and fell into thought, his memory seemingly drifting back to a certain day in the past.

In reality, she lied to Ayanokoji. There was indeed someone who wanted him to drop out of school, but she was just a lowly homeroom teacher and had no right to get involved in such matters, much less the authority to force someone to drop out.

Deception, coercion... There is no doubt that she has completely abandoned the basic ethics of a teacher.

But that doesn't matter at all anymore.

At least she succeeded.

She taught for six years, and the students in the first two Class D never advanced because of her passive teaching methods.

This is the third edition now.

She didn't know how many more classes she could stay here to teach.

But now that she has seen hope, she will never give up!

"Ayanokoji..."

We will win!

We will definitely win!

171. The Making of a Tool; Manabu Horikita's Commission

You seem quite unwilling to accept this?

In the Student Council room, looking at the somewhat listless Horikita Suzune, Aragaki Shun, who had just taken the Class D agreement from Ryuen, teased her with amusement:

"What, do you feel so incompetent that you couldn't even withstand the attacks of a Class C hoodlum? Are you starting to doubt your life?"

Horikita Suzune: "..."

The ice queen of Class D didn't say anything. She just glared at Aragaki Shun before silently working on the Student Council's documents again.

Because she was tricked into joining the Student Council, she was forced to become a tool to restrict her brother. Horikita Suzune has always had a lot of resentment towards Aragaki Shun.

But if I were to ask myself honestly, if I didn't feel a little happy to be able to work in the same environment as my brother, then I would be completely deceiving myself.

She was just lucky to be in the Student Council for training, and she could receive guidance from her older brother every day. Under these circumstances, how could she still lose to Ryuen Kakeru from Class C? Horikita Suzune naturally fell into resentment and fear.

The resentment stemmed from the defeat, while the fear arose from the worry that she would disappoint her brother and even damage his reputation as Student Council President.

She arrived at the Student Council with trembling anxiety and worry, but to her surprise, her brother sent her to Aragaki Shun's side without saying a word.

Sure enough, even after joining the Student Council, I'm still just as useless...