There was no doubt that Class B's students might not have been the most self-disciplined of the four classes, but they were definitely the most obedient.
Ever since Aragaki Shun had instructed everyone to arrive in class on time, pay attention, and fulfill the basic duties of a good student, the class had no longer needed to worry about tardiness or skipping class.
Aragaki Shun nodded in satisfaction, then walked up to the podium and told them that he and Kanzaki would each be going to Class D and Class C to audit classes, and that they still needed one more person to visit Class A.
The classroom erupted into discussion.
"So we can actually spend Private Points to audit classes in other classes? This school really does give us a lot of freedom."
"Are we still short one person? Then I can go!"
"If it's for everyone in the class, I can go too."
"Th-though I'm a little scared to go to Class A alone, if you need me, Aragaki..."
Seeing how eager his classmates were to volunteer, Aragaki Shun raised his hand, and the classroom quickly fell silent.
"Ichinose, stay here and keep an eye on Class B."
After stopping Ichinose Honami, who had looked like she wanted to say something, Aragaki Shun surveyed the slightly nervous students. At last, his gaze settled on Himeno Yuki, who sat behind him.
"Could I ask you to do it this time, Himeno?"
"Huh! You want me to go?"
As the whole class suddenly turned to look at her, the twin-tailed girl with earrings stiffened, at a loss for words.
"Yes. I think you can handle it, Himeno."
In Aragaki Shun's impression, his desk mate was a little quiet and sometimes seemed out of place among their increasingly close-knit classmates. Still, she was one of the few in class who had a mind of her own.
After all, not everyone could resist Ichinose Honami's charm and keep a certain distance from the angelic girl.
"I know being singled out in front of the class might make you uncomfortable, Himeno, but I really do think you're the best person for this job. Assigning the right person to the right task is part of a leader's authority and responsibility, isn't it?"
"Am I really the best person?"
Himeno opened her mouth. She had no idea when she had earned this much trust from Aragaki Shun.
But if she could help the class, she didn't mind doing it.
She just wasn't sure she could handle it.
"Since I'm the one sending you, the responsibility is mine, whether or not you do well."
"So don't put too much pressure on yourself. You can lack confidence, but please trust the Himeno I chose."
Himeno Yuki: "..."
Did this guy realize how easily his words could be misunderstood?
31. Even Among Teachers, Strength Comes First
Though the stares from some of her classmates made her scalp tingle, Himeno Yuki ultimately accepted the assignment to audit a class in Class A for a day.
After reassuring the class, Aragaki Shun returned to his seat.
He took out the books he would need for the day and was about to pick up his chair and carry it to Class D when a pair of fair hands suddenly reached out beside him.
"Hm?"
Aragaki Shun was a little surprised. He turned and met the timid, startled eyes of the girl in front of him.
"Shiranami?"
"A-Aragaki, you've done so much for everyone. Let me help you with this little thing."
Aragaki Shun was speechless.
It seemed like it had taken all her courage just to offer. If he turned her down now, Shiranami Chihiro might burst into tears.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"N-no need to thank me. I'm happy I can help you, Aragaki."
The girl's voice grew noticeably louder. Like a cat that had just stolen a treat, she excitedly helped Aragaki Shun carry his things.
Why would anyone smile while doing manual labor?
Aragaki Shun couldn't understand it, but he respected her choice. It was no big deal, anyway.
As he left the classroom, a voice that sounded like someone trying too hard to be cute suddenly called out, making him stop.
"Aragaki, wait a minute. Come over here to your teacher, okay?"
Aragaki Shun and Shiranami Chihiro stopped at the doorway and looked in the direction of the voice. Sure enough, their familiar Class B homeroom teacher stood in a corner of the hallway not far away.
"Aragaki?"
Shiranami Chihiro pouted, looking a little disappointed.
"Shiranami, could you leave my chair at the door to Class D? Hoshinomiya probably has something to discuss with me."
"Oh, o-okay. I'll take it over right now."
After watching the petite girl walk away, Aragaki Shun made his way over to Chie Hoshinomiya's corner at an unhurried pace.
But as soon as he reached her, a smell entirely at odds with his teacher's cute appearance hit his nose. He frowned in disgust.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, did you drink before class again? The smell of alcohol is practically pouring off you!"
"Huh? Aragaki, you shouldn't be so blunt when you're criticizing a girl. You'll never get a girlfriend that way."
Chie Hoshinomiya struck a cute pose and smiled, trying to gloss over the subject.
But Aragaki Shun clearly had no intention of playing along. "I'm still in high school, so whether I get a girlfriend isn't something you need to worry about. What matters now is, could you at least maintain your image as a homeroom teacher during class?"
"School's only been in session for a week, and you've already come to class smelling of alcohol for the third time. Last Friday, you were so hungover you had the class study on its own. Is this how a Class B homeroom teacher is supposed to act?"
Aragaki Shun didn't care if his teacher drank in her free time.
Teachers were people too, and there was nothing wrong with having hobbies, as long as they didn't interfere with their duties.
But what was the point of showing up to class smelling of alcohol and looking hungover every few days?
"If you're not feeling well after drinking and don't have the energy to teach, I suggest you ask the school for leave and let someone more suitable take your place. That way, you'll have more time to rest, and the students can still learn as they should. Wouldn't that be a win-win?"
Chie Hoshinomiya: "..."
If you want the school to fire me, just say so.
Chie Hoshinomiya opened her mouth to speak, but then recalled the student records the school had given the homeroom teachers. Didn't Aragaki Shun's record say that he'd resisted bullying in middle school, leading to several students being expelled and a teacher being fired?
What a pain. If she really angered him, he might join forces with the entire class to petition the school for a new homeroom teacher.
She couldn't let that happen. Sae was still struggling in Class D. How could she leave in disgrace now?
"Waaah, Aragaki, I'm sorry! Give little Chie one more chance! I promise I'll change!"
Seeing Chie Hoshinomiya suddenly pounce on him, wrap herself around his arm, and plead cutely, Aragaki Shun grimaced and impatiently shook her off. "Three strikes and you're out. Think it over yourself, Sensei. Now, tell me what you need. Don't waste my time."
Aragaki Shun had always respected the teaching profession.
Normally, he would never have spoken so harshly to a respected teacher.
But that was only if the teacher was actually teaching and guiding students, rather than using her position to get away with behaving badly.
Honestly, the fact that a homeroom teacher like Chie Hoshinomiya, who so often showed up to class smelling of alcohol, had been able to teach at Advanced Nurturing Senior High School for years showed just how undemanding the school was.
Or perhaps, just as the students were assigned to classes according to certain rules, teachers were also ranked according to the principle that strength came first?
Maybe that was why Class A had a normal homeroom teacher, while the homeroom teachers of the other three classes all had their own quirks, big or small, to match their classes?
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, when Class B moves up to Class A, can I ask the school to assign Class A's homeroom teacher to our class?"
At the thought, Chie Hoshinomiya's face turned green, and the last trace of alcohol in her expression vanished.
Damn it! How much do you hate me? You'd rather choose that stinking man than keep me, a woman in the prime of her life!
Chie Hoshinomiya began to doubt herself. Had her charm stopped working on young men?
But that couldn't be right. The other students in her class still blushed whenever she teased them.
"Ahem. Aragaki, you really know how to joke. But we should get down to business now. You're going to audit a class in Class D, right?"
Chie Hoshinomiya stopped joking around and put on a serious expression, though her voice turned noticeably cold when she mentioned Class D.
"Let's say I was joking, then. Is there anything else I need to watch out for when I go to Class D? I already handed the Auditing Ticket over to the school, didn't I?"
Seeing Chie Hoshinomiya change the subject, Aragaki Shun didn't plan to press his advantage.
He had already warned her. If she continued acting this way, he wouldn't hold back next time.
"It's not that there's a problem with the Auditing Ticket. I don't know what you were thinking, but the transaction is complete, so there's nothing wrong with you auditing Class D today. Just be careful not to break any rules. If you make a mistake while auditing, Class B's points will still be deducted."
"I know all that. Please get to the point."
Aragaki Shun was getting impatient. He could already sense how twisted the woman's thoughts were, yet she was still pretending to be cute.
"You really aren't a cute kid, Aragaki. Fine, I'll say it plainly."
Chie Hoshinomiya's gaze turned cold, and she finally showed her true colors. "Could you send Class D straight to hell?"
32. The Grudge Between Hoshinomiya and Chabashira
"You have that much hatred for Class D?"
Aragaki Shun was taken aback by Chie Hoshinomiya's request.
She wanted Class D sent straight to hell. How deep did her grudge run?
"No, wait. This year's Class D only just started school. No matter how much trouble they've caused, they can't have done enough to make you hate them this much. You have some kind of grudge against Class D's homeroom teacher, don't you?"
If the teachers were ranked according to strength too, it made sense that the homeroom teachers of each class would clash over Class A's privileges.
But wasn't Class A Class B's biggest rival? Why did she have it in for Class D's homeroom teacher?
Had Class D's homeroom teacher done something to her in the past?
"Just as I'd expect from you, Aragaki. I haven't even told you anything, and you've already figured it out."
Chie Hoshinomiya's voice turned especially cold, and the easygoing liveliness vanished from her face.
"Sae and I were students at Advanced Nurturing too. Back then, we were close friends, striving for Class A together. But because of her—because Sae changed her mind during a crucial exam—all three years of everyone's hard work went to waste."
"I know Sae has been dwelling on it all these years. That's why she came back to Advanced Nurturing, hoping to put Class D in Class A and finally put the past behind her."
By now, Chie Hoshinomiya's face had twisted into a demon's grimace. Anyone timid enough to see her like this might have burst into tears on the spot.
"But I can't let that happen!"
"She ruined everything we worked and dreamed for, and now she thinks she can come back to Advanced Nurturing alone and make up for her regrets? She's dreaming!"
"No matter what, I won't let Sae move up to Class A. She doesn't deserve it!"
Aragaki Shun listened quietly to Chie Hoshinomiya recount the teachers' old grievances. When she finally stopped, he asked just one question. "So what can you offer me and Class B in return?"
"...Aragaki, you really aren't very considerate, are you?"
Even the real Chie Hoshinomiya was speechless.
I told you all that, and you don't have a single reaction?
I'm a super cute beauty, after all. Don't you feel anything at all?
"Those old grudges have nothing to do with me. Do you expect me to get involved and mediate between you?"
Aragaki Shun's expression remained cold. There were plenty of melodramatic stories in the world, and he didn't think the feud between two adults, Chie Hoshinomiya and Sae Chabashira, was something he, a student, needed to worry about.
Besides, Chie Hoshinomiya kept saying she wanted Class D sent to hell, but she hadn't gone to settle things with Sae Chabashira herself.
Who in their right mind would get involved in a story about former best friends turning against each other?
What if the two of them suddenly made up? Anyone who got involved would end up caught between them, looking like a fool.
"All I need to know is that your goal is to suppress Class D. That means our interests are aligned. So please hand over all the support you can provide, Hoshinomiya-sensei!"
"...You really are lucky to have a leader like Aragaki in Class B."
Chie Hoshinomiya fell silent for a moment. Then her expression softened, and she soon returned to her usual cute self.
Aragaki Shun could only marvel at how naturally she changed her face.
"But since you've put it that way, I'm not stingy. As long as you keep Class D down, I'll do anything for you."
Chie Hoshinomiya giggled and grabbed Aragaki Shun's arm, pressing it against her soft chest. Her pretty face took on a suggestive, alluring expression. If an ordinary high school boy had been in his place, his heart would probably have been pounding by now.
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