A Trash Class, Not Worth Mentioning

"Yamauchi, didn't I just say that my goal was to help all of you graduate from Class A? That doesn't change the outcome of graduating from Class A."

"Heh..."

Horikita Suzune couldn't help laughing out loud. Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, standing nearby, also looked confused.

Getting everyone to graduate from Class A...

Did he really think anyone would believe that nonsense?

2.4 billion Personal Points.

Even Yamauchi Haruki and the others knew it was impossible. Not even they would believe such a ridiculous claim.

"Besides..."

Kijima Tsukur ignored them and gave Yamauchi Haruki and the others a meaningful smile.

"Do you think Class D, with zero Class Points right now, can really make it to Class A through its own efforts? Does Class A really need to be so wary of Class D?"

"If it's not to help everyone graduate from Class A..."

"Then what else could it be?"

"Looks like they really do underestimate me!"

Before anyone else could respond, Horikita Suzune clenched her right fist and thumped it against her chest, her gaze resolute.

"No matter what, I'll make it to Class A through my own efforts."

Horikita Suzune looked at Kijima Tsukur, her voice cool.

"All right, Kijima, you can go back now. No one's going to fall for your clumsy lies. We won't accept this deal."

"Horikita... was it?"

Kijima Tsukur met her gaze and smiled meaningfully.

"You probably still have plenty of Personal Points, so you don't understand how they feel. Why not think about the people around you? Or are you and the other members of Class D's 'community of shared fate' willing to lend them your Personal Points and help them through this difficult time?"

"That student's name is Sudo, right?"

Kijima Tsukur stood up and held out the contract toward Yamauchi Haruki and the others.

"You're free to make your own choices. No one can force you—not me, and not Horikita and the others. Anyone willing to sign this contract can come to me. If you don't want to, no one will make you."

"However, I only have 540,000 Personal Points, enough to help just eighteen people. It's first come, first served. Anyone need help? You can sign the contract."

"Heh..."

Horikita Suzune was at a loss for words.

As if anyone with half a brain would agree to something like that.

And yet...

Yamauchi Haruki and Kanji Ike exchanged glances with the others, then hurriedly raised their hands.

"Me, me, me! I'll sign."

"Me too."

"Same here."

"Kijima, you said we'd get thirty thousand a month as long as we went to class and took the exams, right? Don't even think about lying to us. We won't forgive you."

"Sure. I'll just add that to the contract."

Kijima Tsukur pulled out a pen and added a few more clauses to the contract, then smiled and nodded.

"Take your time reviewing it before you decide."

"Okay, let me see."

Yamauchi Haruki picked up the contract.

Kanji Ike and the others gathered around him to read it.

"Wait, wait!"

Horikita Suzune looked shocked. She hurried forward, stepping in front of Yamauchi and the others.

"Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"We heard you."

Yamauchi Haruki put down the contract and replied with an exasperated look.

"But you won't lend us any Personal Points, so what else are we supposed to do? I'm just trading my future Personal Points with him. What's wrong with that?"

"..."

Horikita Suzune was taken aback, and her head began to spin.

Lend Personal Points to an idiot like Yamauchi Haruki?

As if that would ever happen.

It would be no different from throwing money away. He'd never pay it back!

If it were only a few hundred points, or if there were some compelling reason, maybe it would be possible.

But just lending Yamauchi Haruki and the others some money for living expenses?

That would be tens of thousands!

And they might ask for even more later!

How could she lend Personal Points to people like that?

"Idiot. What about Class A, then? Don't you want to make it to Class A?"

"Kijima already said he'd help us get to Class A."

Kanji Ike also looked exasperated. "What's there to worry about?"

"Fools..."

"All right, Horikita. Quit bothering us."

Sudo held her back, then joined Yamauchi Haruki and the others in looking over the contract.

Kijima Tsukur calmly watched Horikita Suzune's stunned expression.

So naive...

Of course,

Horikita Suzune made a good point. Everything she said was true.

From Class D's perspective, everything she said was absolutely right.

However...

The world didn't run on facts and sound arguments alone.

It wasn't that people had to listen to whoever was in charge. The one in charge was the one people were willing to listen to!

Kijima Tsukur's words carried more weight than Horikita Suzune's.

The truth was,

Yamauchi Haruki and the others didn't want to make it to Class A!

That might not be the most accurate way to put it. Naturally, graduating from Class A would be great. More precisely, Yamauchi Haruki and the others lacked ambition. They weren't determined to graduate from Class A at any cost!

Compared to making it to Class A,

they wanted the easy, carefree lives they had right now!

They just needed an excuse that could convince themselves and everyone else!

All they needed was a banner to rally around in defiance of the class's greater good.

That was all!

Power and responsibility went hand in hand.

If Horikita Suzune wanted to graduate from Class A through her own strength,

then the best thing she could do right now

was to win over the classmates who still had Personal Points and offer Yamauchi Haruki and the others low-interest loans.

She would even have to prepare herself for the possibility that they'd take the money and never pay it back.

It was frustrating.

It was disgusting.

It even felt humiliating.

But the world was simply that cruel.

To become an excellent leader, you had to shoulder more responsibility.

If she wasn't even willing to spend money,

yet expected everyone to listen to her just because she knew how to weigh the pros and cons, that was utterly absurd.

They already knew the school's rules. Things never should have gotten this bad.

Over the past month,

Hirata Yosuke, Horikita Suzune, and the other leaders had done nothing. They'd let Yamauchi Haruki and the others run wild without reining in their lack of self-control.

And this,

was the price they had to pay as leaders!

Now, clearly,

Kijima Tsukur from another class had won more hearts than Horikita Suzune, their own classmate!

Meanwhile,

several girls short on Personal Points, including Sato Maya, came over to Hirata Yosuke, looking hesitant.

"Hirata, we're short on Personal Points too. Could you help us figure out whether we should sign this?"

"..."

Hirata Yosuke's expression stiffened.

He knew what would happen if they signed the contract, but he'd already lent his Personal Points to other people.

After a brief hesitation, Hirata Yosuke nodded.

"I'll take a look for you. Kijima, could you show it to me?"

"Of course."

"Good."

Yamauchi Haruki hurriedly handed him the contract. "Hirata, check it for us. See if there's some kind of trick in it. Don't let this guy fool us."

"Okay..."

Hirata Yosuke carefully examined every word, afraid there might be some legalistic wordplay.

1-1 All Personal Points received by Party A from the school will be transferred in full to Party B (Kijima Tsukur), who will redistribute them.

1-2 Party B must provide Party A with between ten thousand and thirty thousand Personal Points each month.

1-3 If Party A studies and takes exams as normal, Party B must pay Party A no less than thirty thousand Personal Points each month.

1-4 Party B may raise objections with the school. Party A's homeroom teacher will rule on Party A's attitude toward studying, and Party B may not object.

2-1 If Party A drops out, this contract will be terminated, and Party A's class will not be implicated.

2-2 For every 300 Class Points added to Party A's class, Party B must pay Party A an additional zero to five thousand Personal Points each month, depending on Party A's contribution.