Class B's Class Dinner? Akiyama Shin's Guess! Special Exam?!

Akiyama Shin returned to Dormitory 501, the sound of rain outside still pattering steadily.

He took off his slightly damp coat and slowly walked into the bathroom, where the warm water washed away the dust and fatigue of the day, as well as the lingering chill brought in from the rain.

After his shower, Akiyama Shin changed into dry casual clothes, and a sense of drowsiness quietly crept over him.

He was never the type of person who enjoyed pointless socializing or noise, and the events of the day, combined with the gloom brought on by the rainy weather, had drained his mental energy.

He lay back on his bed, slowly closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink into a brief darkness.

This was both a rest and a time to organize his thoughts.

It was unclear how much time had passed when a persistent, crisp ringtone from his terminal woke him from his light sleep.

Akiyama Shin sat up and rubbed his sleepy eyes; the room had grown dim, with only the faint glow of distant streetlights outside casting a few weak spots of light onto the floor through the gaps in the curtains.

He reached out to grab the terminal by his bedside, its screen light glaring in the darkness.

The time was clearly displayed: 7:00 PM.

Caller: Honami Ichinose.

He swiped to answer and held the terminal to his ear.

"Moshi moshi? Akiyama-kun?"

Honami Ichinose's clear, gentle voice came through, with some background noise.

He could hear the clatter of dishes, students chatting, and faint music; she was clearly in a bustling restaurant.

"Yeah."

Akiyama Shin responded faintly, his voice still carrying the slight hoarseness of someone who had just woken up.

"Ah! That's great! I was worried Akiyama-kun might have overslept... you didn't pick up when I called earlier~"

Honami Ichinose's tone was light.

"We've already arrived at the restaurant! The seats are all reserved, we're just waiting for you!"

Just then, Ryuji Kanzaki's serious and earnest voice came from beside the receiver.

"Akiyama, everyone is waiting for you."

Akiyama Shin raised a hand to his brow and rubbed it gently, the remaining sleepiness and fatigue beginning to dissipate.

"Got it, I'll be there soon."

He responded concisely and hung up the phone.

Unlocking the screen, he saw that Honami Ichinose had indeed sent a location pin for a Japanese restaurant inside Keyaki Mall.

He didn't delay, stood up to straighten his clothes and his slightly messy black hair, and left the dormitory.

The night after the rain was exceptionally fresh and humid, carrying the scent of soil and grass.

Keyaki Mall was brightly lit and bustling with people.

Akiyama Shin quickly found the elegantly decorated Japanese restaurant. Just as he reached the entrance, he saw Ryuji Kanzaki standing there alone, standing tall with his usual serious expression.

"You're here."

Seeing him, Ryuji Kanzaki nodded.

"Honami Ichinose is inside maintaining order and arranging the seating, so I'm here to greet you."

His explanation was direct and efficient.

"Sorry for the trouble."

Akiyama Shin nodded slightly.

"It's fine, follow me."

Ryuji Kanzaki turned to lead the way, and Akiyama Shin followed him into the restaurant.

The interior of the restaurant featured a classic Japanese design with warm yellow lighting and natural wood tables and chairs, creating a cozy atmosphere.

A large area near the back had clearly been reserved by Class B, and it was currently packed with people. The atmosphere was lively and cheerful, and when Akiyama Shin appeared in the Class B section with Ryuji Kanzaki, the previously noisy scene went quiet for a moment before erupting into even more enthusiastic cheers.

"Oh! Akiyama-kun is here!"

"Welcome, welcome!"

"Over here, over here! We saved a seat for you!"

To Akiyama Shin's surprise, the students of Class B did not show any distance or resentment toward him as an outsider, nor for the fact that he had once swindled a massive amount of points from their class.

Their welcome seemed sincere and warm, their faces beaming with friendly smiles as if he were one of their own.

What a... peculiar class.

Akiyama Shin observed the scene calmly.

Despite having been exploited by him for a huge sum of points just a short while ago, they were able to accept him without any hard feelings. Was this pure kindness and unity a result of Honami Ichinose's personal charisma, or was it simply the general atmosphere of Class B?

And... Hoshinomiya Chie is here too...?

Akiyama Shin's gaze swept over Hoshinomiya Chie, who was sitting near the head of the table, waving at him with a grin.

The homeroom teacher of Class B was dressed in a cute-style dress today that hardly befitted her position as an educator.

She didn't look like she was here to supervise a class gathering at all, but rather like an older sister who had come to join in on the fun.

When Honami Ichinose saw Akiyama Shin, a brilliant smile immediately bloomed on her face, and she walked over quickly to greet him.

"Akiyama-kun! You're finally here!"

"Was the trip over okay?"

Chihiro Shiranami, who was beside her, still had that timid look; she snuck a glance at Akiyama Shin, then quickly lowered her head and muttered softly.

"G-good evening..."

Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's hum.

Hoshinomiya Chie jumped up directly, ran to Akiyama Shin's side, and looked him over with curiosity.

"Oh my, little Shin-shin is here! Are you awake now? You look like you're in pretty good spirits!"

Akiyama Shin's mouth twitched imperceptibly at the nickname "little Shin-shin," but he maintained a calm expression on the surface.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

He didn't say much more, simply taking a seat in the reserved spot under the guidance of Ichinose and Kanzaki.

His seat happened to be between Honami Ichinose and Ryuji Kanzaki, while Chihiro Shiranami sat on the other side of Ichinose.

As he sat down, the atmosphere of the Class B gathering became lively once again; everyone began to enjoy the food, chat with one another, and laughter filled the air. As the meal progressed, the atmosphere grew increasingly harmonious.

Note: Japanese high school students cannot drink alcohol! There is no alcohol! This is just a figure of speech!

Just then, Ryuji Kanzaki, who was sitting next to Akiyama Shin, suddenly put down his teacup and turned toward him.

With a somewhat serious expression, he asked a rather direct question.

"Akiyama, I heard... you intend to have Class D's class points reduced to zero this month?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the previously boisterous atmosphere dimmed slightly. A few Class B students at neighboring tables who were picking up food paused their movements, subconsciously looking over.

Akiyama Shin's hand, which was holding his chopsticks, paused slightly at the question. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly returned to his calm demeanor. He raised his eyes, his gaze passing over Ryuji Kanzaki to land on Hoshinomiya Chie, who was eating pudding in small bites across from him with an "it has nothing to do with me" expression.

He didn't even need to guess.

It was definitely this loose-lipped homeroom teacher who had leaked his conversation with Sae Chabashira in the office to them.

He understood the situation.

Honami Ichinose, sitting on the other side, wore a slightly awkward smile and hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

"Ah, Kanzaki-kun, isn't that question a bit too sudden..."

She was indeed curious about Akiyama Shin's plans, but she had intended to wait until the atmosphere was more relaxed to ask indirectly; she hadn't expected Ryuji Kanzaki to be so blunt.

A boy with short brown hair sitting on the other side of Ryuji Kanzaki, who looked very sunny and cheerful, couldn't help but nudge him with his elbow and mutter in a low voice.

"Hey, hey, Kanzaki, you're being too direct! Who asks a question like that right off the bat!"

Facing his companion's reminder, Ryuji Kanzaki's expression remained unchanged. He simply watched Akiyama Shin quietly, waiting for his answer; clearly, he believed this was a topic worth discussing.

Akiyama Shin put down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth, and looked at everyone without avoiding the question.

"Yes, that is the plan."

He admitted it in a flat tone.

"Why?"

Ryuji Kanzaki pressed.

"To shatter their illusions."

Akiyama Shin was concise.

"The biggest problem with Class D right now is that they are still immersed in the dream of receiving one hundred thousand points every month."

"They lack a sense of crisis and collective pride."

"If it's just ordinary preaching or reminders, for a group of people accustomed to being slack, it's no different from scratching an itch through a boot."

He paused.

"Only by letting them see their points hit zero with their own eyes, and personally tasting the experience of losing their comfortable life and having to rely on free relief supplies—only this kind of visceral pain can effectively shatter their illusions and force them to think and change."

Honami Ichinose looked thoughtful.

"So... you want to use this extreme method to wake them up? But... wouldn't that be too risky?"

"What if the class completely collapses..."

"Risk and reward go hand in hand."

Akiyama Shin interrupted.

"The foundation of Class D is already poor enough."

"It can't get much worse than it already is."

"On the contrary, if we succeed, we will reap a collective that, having been pushed to the brink, might unleash astonishing potential."

He glanced at the members of Class B present and continued.

"Moreover, I believe this school will never be satisfied with merely maintaining the status quo."

"The evaluation of class points will never rely solely on daily classroom discipline and routine performance."

"Soon, there should be some form of special exam coming. At that time, if the class is still a scattered mess lacking cohesion, the results will only be worse."

"Rather than waiting to be beaten passively, it is better to take the initiative to trigger internal conflicts and unstable factors early, completing the initial integration and awakening before the real test arrives."

Akiyama Shin's words left the core members of Class B in deep thought.

A flash of appreciation crossed Ryuji Kanzaki's eyes; he admired such a clear and bold strategic vision.

Honami Ichinose frowned slightly, seemingly worried about whether the students of Class D could withstand such an impact.

But she also admitted that Akiyama Shin's analysis had its merits.

Sō Shibata scratched his head.

"A special exam, huh..."

"Sounds like it's going to be a real hassle."

Chihiro Shiranami murmured softly.

"So... so amazing... thinking so far ahead..."

Hoshinomiya Chie continued to eat her pudding with a grin, as if the topic just now had nothing to do with her, yet a trace of imperceptible sharpness flashed in her eyes.

"This little Shin-shin... really is an extraordinary child... Sae-chan has really found a treasure this time!"

Akiyama Shin returned to Dormitory 501, the sound of rain outside still pattering.

He took off his slightly damp coat and slowly walked into the bathroom, where the warm water washed away the dust and fatigue of the day, as well as the slight chill brought back from the rain.

After his shower, Akiyama Shin changed into dry casual clothes, and fatigue quietly crept up on him.

He was never the type of person who enjoyed pointless socializing or noise, and today's events, both internal and external, combined with the gloom brought by the rainy day, had drained his energy.

So, he lay down on the bed, slowly closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink into a brief darkness.

This was both a rest and a time to organize his thoughts.

I do not know how much time had passed when a continuous and crisp terminal ringtone woke him from his light sleep.

Akiyama Shin sat up and rubbed his sleepy eyes; the room had already become pitch dark.

Only the halo of streetlights from the distance outside cast a few faint spots of light onto the floor through the gaps in the curtains.

He reached out and grabbed the terminal by the bedside, the screen's glow appearing somewhat blinding in the darkness.

The time was clearly displayed: 7:00 PM.

Caller: Honami Ichinose.

He swiped to answer and held the terminal to his ear.

"Moshi moshi? Akiyama-kun?"

Honami Ichinose's clear and gentle voice came through, with some noisy background sounds.

He could hear the clinking of dishes, students chatting, and faint music; she was clearly in a lively restaurant.

"Yeah."

Akiyama Shin responded indifferently, his voice still carrying a hint of hoarseness from just waking up.

"Ah! That's great! I was worried Akiyama-kun might have overslept... you didn't pick up when I called earlier~"

Honami Ichinose's tone was lighthearted.

"We've already arrived at the restaurant! The table is booked, we're just waiting for you!"

Just then, Ryuji Kanzaki's serious and earnest voice also came from near the receiver.

"Akiyama, everyone is waiting for you."

Akiyama Shin raised a hand to his brow and rubbed it gently, the remaining sleepiness and fatigue slowly beginning to dissipate.

"Got it, I'll be there soon."

He responded concisely and then hung up the phone.

Unlocking the screen, he saw that Honami Ichinose had indeed sent a location pin; it was a Japanese restaurant located inside Keyaki Mall.

He did not delay, stood up to tidy his clothes and his slightly messy black hair, and then left the dormitory.

The night after the rain was exceptionally fresh and humid, carrying the scent of soil and grass.

Inside Keyaki Mall, the lights were bright and the crowd was as dense as a weaving loom.

Akiyama Shin quickly found the elegantly decorated Japanese restaurant. Just as he reached the entrance, he saw Ryuji Kanzaki standing there alone, his posture straight and his expression as serious as ever.

"You're here."

Seeing him, Kanzaki nodded.

"Honami Ichinose is inside maintaining order and seating everyone, so I'll be the one to receive you."

His explanation was direct and efficient.

"Sorry for the trouble."

Akiyama Shin gave a slight nod.

"It's fine, follow me."

Ryuji Kanzaki turned to lead the way, and Akiyama Shin followed behind him into the restaurant.

The interior of the restaurant featured a classic Japanese design, with warm yellow lighting and natural wood tables and chairs creating a cozy atmosphere.

A large area near the back had clearly been reserved by Class B. It was currently packed with people, the atmosphere lively and cheerful. When Akiyama Shin appeared in the Class B section alongside Ryuji Kanzaki, the previously noisy scene went quiet for a moment before erupting into even more enthusiastic cheers.

"Oh! Akiyama-kun is here!"

"Welcome, welcome!"

"Over here, over here! We saved a seat for you!"

To Akiyama Shin's surprise, the students of Class B did not show any distance or resentment toward him, despite him being an outsider or the fact that he had once siphoned a massive amount of points from their class.

Their welcome seemed sincere and warm, their faces beaming with friendly smiles as if he were one of their own.

What a... peculiar class.

Akiyama Shin observed the scene calmly.

To be able to accept him without any hard feelings, despite having been exploited for a huge sum of points by him through an information gap just a short while ago—is this pure kindness and unity, or is it simply the overall culture of Class B?

And... is Hoshinomiya-sensei here too...?

Akiyama Shin's gaze swept over Hoshinomiya Chie, who was sitting near the head of the table and waving at him with a grin.

The homeroom teacher of Class B was wearing a cute-style dress today that hardly befitted her position as an educator.

She didn't look like she was there to supervise a class gathering at all; she looked more like an older sister who had come to join in the fun.

When Honami Ichinose saw Akiyama Shin, a brilliant smile immediately bloomed on her face, and she hurried over to greet him.

"Akiyama-kun! You finally made it!"

"Was the trip here alright?"

Chihiro Shiranami, who was beside her, still had that timid look. She snuck a glance at Akiyama Shin, then quickly lowered her head and muttered softly.

"G-good evening..."

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum.

Hoshinomiya Chie jumped up, ran over to Akiyama Shin, and looked him over with curiosity.

"Oh my, little Shin-shin is here! Are you awake now? You look quite energetic!"

Akiyama Shin's mouth twitched imperceptibly at the nickname "little Shin-shin," but he maintained a calm expression on the surface.

"Yes, I'm fine."

He didn't say much more, simply taking the seat reserved for him under the guidance of Ichinose and Kanzaki.

His seat happened to be between Honami Ichinose and Ryuji Kanzaki, while Chihiro Shiranami sat on the other side of Ichinose.

As he sat down, the atmosphere of the Class B gathering became lively once again. Everyone began to enjoy the food and chat with one another, laughter filling the air. As the meal progressed, the mood grew even more harmonious.

Note: Japanese high school students cannot drink alcohol! There is no alcohol! This is just a figure of speech!

Just then, Ryuji Kanzaki, who was sitting beside Akiyama Shin, suddenly set down his teacup and turned toward him.

With a serious expression, he asked a rather direct question.

"Akiyama, I heard... that you intend to reduce Class D's class points to zero this month?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the previously noisy atmosphere suddenly dimmed. Several Class B students at neighboring tables who were picking up food paused in their movements, subconsciously looking over.

Upon hearing this, Akiyama Shin's hand holding his chopsticks faltered slightly, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, though he quickly regained his composure. He raised his eyes, his gaze passing over Ryuji Kanzaki to land on Hoshinomiya Chie, who was eating pudding in small bites across from him with an "it has nothing to do with me" expression.

No need to guess.

It was definitely this loose-lipped homeroom teacher who had leaked his conversation with Sae Chabashira in the office to them.

He understood the situation immediately.

Meanwhile, Honami Ichinose, sitting on the other side, wore a slightly awkward smile and hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

"Ah, Kanzaki-kun, isn't that question a bit too sudden..."

She was indeed curious about Akiyama Shin's intentions, but she had originally planned to wait for the atmosphere to soften before asking indirectly; she hadn't expected Ryuji Kanzaki to be so straightforward.

Sitting on the other side of Ryuji Kanzaki was a boy with short brown hair who looked very sunny and cheerful.

Sō Shibata couldn't help but nudge him with his elbow and mutter a complaint.

"Hey, hey, Kanzaki, you're being way too direct! Who asks a question like that right off the bat?"

Facing his companion's reminder, Ryuji Kanzaki's expression remained unchanged; he simply watched Akiyama Shin quietly, waiting for his answer, clearly believing this was a question worth exploring.

Akiyama Shin set down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin from the side, and wiped the corner of his mouth. He looked at everyone without avoiding the question.

"Yes, that is the plan."

He admitted it in a flat tone.

"Why?"

Ryuji Kanzaki pressed.

"To shatter their illusions."

Akiyama Shin was concise.

"The biggest problem with Class D right now is that they are still immersed in the sweet dream of receiving 100,000 points every month."

"They lack a sense of crisis and collective honor."

"If it's just ordinary preaching or reminders, for those guys who are used to being slack, it's no different from scratching an itch through a boot."

He paused.

"Only by letting them see their points hit zero with their own eyes, and personally tasting the experience of losing a comfortable life and having to rely on free relief supplies—only this visceral pain can most effectively shatter their illusions and force them to think and change."

Honami Ichinose looked thoughtful.

"So... you want to use this drastic method to wake them up? But... wouldn't that be too risky?"

"What if the class completely collapses..."

"Risk and reward coexist."

Akiyama Shin interrupted.

"The foundation of Class D is already poor enough."

"It can't get much worse than it already is."

"On the contrary, if successful, the harvest will be a collective that, having been pushed to the brink, might erupt with astonishing potential."

He glanced at the members of Class B present and continued.

"Moreover, I believe this school will never be satisfied with just maintaining the status quo."

"The evaluation of class points will never rely solely on daily classroom discipline and routine performance."

"Soon, there should be some form of special exam coming. At that time, if the class is still a scattered mess and lacks cohesion, the results will only be worse."

"Rather than waiting to be beaten passively, it is better to take the initiative to detonate internal conflicts and unstable factors early, completing the initial integration and awakening before the real test arrives."

Akiyama Shin's words left the core members of Class B present in deep thought.

A flash of appreciation crossed Ryuji Kanzaki's eyes; he admired this clear and bold strategic vision.

Honami Ichinose frowned slightly, seemingly worried about whether the students of Class D could withstand such an impact.

But she also admitted that Akiyama Shin's analysis had its merits.

Sō Shibata scratched his head.

"A special exam, huh..."

"Sounds like it's going to be a real hassle."

Chihiro Shiranami murmured softly.

"So... so amazing... thinking so far ahead..."

Chie Hoshinomiya continued to eat her pudding with a grin, as if the topic had nothing to do with her, but a glimmer of imperceptible sharpness flashed in her eyes.

"This little Shin... he really is an extraordinary child... Sae-chan really hit the jackpot this time!"