Chapter 024: Chabashira-sensei, You Haven't Given Up on This Class Yet!
Hirata Yousuke was gentle by nature. Over the past month, he had taken on a role much like that of a class representative. Whenever students in the class had interpersonal problems, he would step in to help smooth things over, and whenever they ran into trouble, he would lend a hand.
He was also doing his best to help with exams like this one.
Because—
"The midterm written exams can earn your class a maximum of 100 evaluation points. However, if you fail even one subject, you'll be expelled."
"The rules for each month's Special Exam are different, and some of them can result in expulsion."
That was what Chabashira-sensei had told them yesterday.
Most of the students' attention had been drawn to their monthly allowances, but this was another problem they had to face.
Failing an exam meant expulsion.
How could that be?
At their previous schools, they or their classmates had failed exams before, but all they had been asked to do was attend remedial lessons or retake the test.
They had never been... expelled outright.
While there was still time, Hirata had already handed out the short test.
"Huh?"
As soon as they got the papers, some students noticed something unusual about them.
The test was actually the written exam they had taken when they first enrolled.
However, the results of the entrance exam hadn't been announced, so no one knew how the other students had done.
But since they had already taken the test, they could quickly fill in the answers they had written before.
"Why are we being given this?"
"If the goal is to assess the students' grades, wouldn't it be easier to just pull up the entrance exam results?"
Nakano-kun's deskmate, Horikita Suzune, had already begun thinking it over.
When Nakano Yuu had arrived in the classroom, he had noticed that she was taking this exam seriously.
The reason was that she had unconsciously written "written exam" and "math, physics, chemistry, English, biology" in her little notebook for taking notes.
They were all subjects covered by the upcoming midterms.
"Just use this to get a general idea of your grades," Chabashira-sensei said. She had also arrived for homeroom, and after coming into the classroom, she had done just as Hirata said and given the students the time and space to work.
Since the teacher had given the go-ahead, the students didn't refuse.
Besides, it was a test they had already taken, so it wasn't difficult. They should be able to finish quickly.
Nakano, however, stared at the completely unfamiliar test in front of him.
He hadn't taken the interview or written exam before enrollment, so he had never seen this test. Unlike the other students, who could answer quickly because they had taken it before, he didn't feel any pressure.
Nakano's father had given him an elite education much like the one Shinomiya Kaguya had received.
To borrow the words of Yagami Takuya, the top student in the White Room's fifth generation, "This is a grade-schooler's test."
But there was something worth paying attention to.
In the original story, when Chabashira told the students that their class evaluation score had fallen to zero, she had brought along the results of their entrance exams.
In reality, she had also brought two sheets that looked like printed test results. But unlike in the original story, she hadn't unfolded them or announced the scores.
That was a little strange.
If she already knew their results, why give them another test to assess their level?
Or was it...
Nakano Yuu suddenly thought of something. In the original story, although teachers couldn't see the students' files, they could see the interviewers' evaluations. Each homeroom teacher was also expected to track the students' behavior and development, and update their evaluations accordingly.
The male protagonist's evaluation in the original story read as follows:
[This student lacks motivation and has no vision for his future. At this stage, it is difficult to have high expectations for him. He shows no sign of teamwork skills or a distinctive personality. His answers fall within the acceptable range for a high school student, while his academic and athletic abilities are currently slightly below average.
Due to a special recommendation and information obtained through other channels, we have determined that he is suited to Class D. We hope he will grow as an individual while we monitor the development of his social circle and his relationships with teachers and fellow students.]
That was the sort of information Chabashira could see as his homeroom teacher.
There was a key phrase in there: "special recommendation." What did that mean? It meant he had gotten in through connections.
And if someone got in through connections, they were either exceptionally capable or had powerful connections.
Then Chabashira had gotten hold of the male protagonist and made him move up a class.
But now that the male protagonist wasn't here, was there anyone else who could attract her attention? Yes. Since Nakano Yuu hadn't taken the interview or written exam, he had a good idea what his own evaluation might look like.
It probably went something like this:
[This student enrolled through a special recommendation. As he was absent from both the interview and written exam, we have determined that he should be assigned to Class D.]
An evaluation like that would certainly draw attention.
So, with the original male protagonist unavailable to grab hold of, was Chabashira trying to grab hold of him instead? Even though he had deliberately made himself look so average?
Chabashira-sensei, you still... haven't given up?
In truth, this class was beyond saving. It was the first class in history to receive zero points.
But that was also why there was still a glimmer of hope.
Class D was the class of dead weight, a gathering place for all sorts of problem students. At first glance, getting them all to work together seemed incredibly difficult.
But there was one thing that could bring them around.
They were all in dire straits. If they wanted to enjoy a good life, even the students who dragged everyone down would probably cooperate for a while.
With a few of the more unusual problem students thrown into the mix, they might still stand a chance.
So, Chabashira-sensei, do you think this class can still be saved? Do you still want to try?
[The entrance exam results? Weren't those announced yesterday? Sakagami brought them to class and announced them. If you want to make fun of my score, just say so.]
Nakano held his phone in his hand, its screen now dark.
He had just received a message from Ryuuen of Class C.
Nakano Yuu had asked him whether their homeroom teacher had told the class their entrance exam results yesterday.
Ryuuen's reply was that they had announced them in his class.
Clearly, the teachers knew the students' entrance exam scores, and the sheets Chabashira had brought yesterday really were the exam results. She knew the scores, but hadn't made them public.
So there was probably only one reason she was now having Hirata use the same test to assess them.
He hadn't taken the exam. His score was blank.
As he thought this—
Tap, tap, tap.
He vaguely heard Chabashira-sensei, who had been standing by the podium, start walking down the aisle. Her footsteps grew clearer as she came closer.
Was she looking over at him?
No.
Chabashira Sae stopped between Sakura's desk and Horikita Suzune's.
Right.
As the homeroom teacher, she must have realized that Horikita Suzune might be the younger sister of the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu.
After all, their faces were about three-tenths alike, and they had the same surname.
They had even attended the same middle school.
So it wasn't hard to figure out.
And with a powerful Student Council President leading the way, his younger sister would still be useful, even if she had a few flaws.
Nakano Yuu's gaze drifted away from the test as if by instinct, then turned toward Horikita Suzune. But the moment he looked up, he found himself meeting a pair of clear, composed eyes.
It was Chabashira Sae. She was standing near Horikita Suzune, but she wasn't looking at Horikita.
Good grief, this woman.
People said that if you thought someone was looking at you, it was because your eyes had met.
Because you had looked over, and they had looked back—which meant they had been watching you all along.
So Chabashira had actually been watching him.
Nakano quickly realized that Chabashira Sae really hadn't given up on this class. She had even made him her target.
No, no, this class was hopeless. Nakano firmly refused in his heart.
And making him her target wasn't a good thing. Don't you think so, Chabashira-sensei?
As he thought this, Nakano's right hand moved as if by accident, and his eraser rolled off the desk and onto the floor.
Chabashira glanced his way, then walked over to where the eraser had landed.
She crouched down, bending her shapely legs. Her black stockings stretched taut, revealing the graceful lines of her legs.
Black stockings really were nice.
Of course, now wasn't the time to be thinking about that.
Chabashira Sae had already placed the eraser on Nakano Yuu's desk. Her fingers were long and slender. As she set it down and started to withdraw her hand—
"Thanks," Nakano Yuu said. Nakano-kun pressed down on Chabashira's hand where it rested on the desk, and only took his eraser after about five seconds.
?
Chabashira looked momentarily confused.
Had this guy just deliberately squeezed her hand? And what was the meaning of the three quick taps his right index finger had made on the back of her hand?
P.S. I'll try to make a run for the rankings at midnight on Monday. There won't be an update during the day tomorrow, but I'll post a big update at midnight tomorrow night. I'd really appreciate your support. Mwah!
Big update at midnight. Please show your support!
As a new novel that's still in its early stages, of course I want to try for a spot on the new releases list.
So I've moved the update to midnight. I'll post a big update then, and I hope you'll come support me. Thank you.
Mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah
Mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah!
Chapter 025: An Exam? No Way in Hell!
Homeroom lasted only 40 minutes, and completing all five tests would take some time. However, most of the students had already taken this set of tests.
The entrance exam's written test had consisted entirely of multiple-choice questions, so the students weren't under much pressure. They simply filled in the answers.
Of course, some things might change. For example, they might now choose different answers to questions they hadn't been sure about before.
Still, it would give them a rough idea of everyone's academic level.
"Everyone, exchange papers with the student next to you. Then I'll post the answers in the class group chat. Once you've checked your scores, enter your test results into the shared document."
Hirata said.
At the same time, he sent out the class group chat number.
The class group chat already existed. It was normally used to share timely school announcements and receive feedback from students, and so on.
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