Lingyin's Mountain of Debt

The morning homeroom session two days after the midterm exams ended was filled with a palpable sense of tension.

The reason was simple: today was the day the midterm results would be announced.

Although there were past exam papers available for reference, the fact that failing a subject meant expulsion made this atmosphere only natural.

Amidst the taut air, Chabashira stepped into the classroom and stood at the podium.

At that moment, Hirata spoke up and asked:

"Teacher, I heard the results would be announced today. When exactly will that be?"

"Are you that anxious about your grades? It's a good thing, then, that I'll be announcing them right now. If we waited until after school, some of the necessary procedures might not be completed in time."

The "procedures" she referred to... were likely the awarding of private points or the processing of expulsions.

"Um... what does that mean?"

"Don't panic, Hirata. I'm starting the announcement now."

As she spoke, Chabashira taped a large sheet of white paper covered in student names and scores onto the blackboard.

I checked my own results:

English 100

Japanese 100

Math 93

Science 85

Social Studies 100

With perfect scores in English, Japanese, and Social Studies, I should be first in the grade.

As for Math... unfortunately, Horikita, Yukimura, and Koenji all scored above 95, putting me in fourth place within the class; I likely won't make the top three in the grade.

As for Science... well, never mind that.

Regardless, I've earned at least 90,000 points, and that's good enough.

"To be honest, I am surprised. I didn't expect you all to achieve such high scores."

After all, we had the past exam papers.

If we hadn't, several people would surely have been expelled.

"Haha! No failing grades!"

Just as I was thinking that, Sudo suddenly stood up and shouted.

I checked Sudo's scores; in four of the five subjects, he was near 60, but in the critical subject of English, he only had 41.

I remembered the passing line being 31 or 32, so it seemed he had passed.

"See that, Teacher! We're actually pretty amazing when we get serious!"

Ike wore a smug expression.

"Yes. I acknowledge that you all worked hard. However... you failed, Sudo."

Chabashira said this while drawing a red line through Sudo's name.

Huh? He failed?

"Ha? Are you kidding me? Why did I fail!"

Sudo yelled.

He had just been convinced he was fine, only to be told he failed out of the blue.

"Sudo, you failed English."

"Isn't the passing line 31 points! I got 41!"

"Who ever said the passing line was 31?"

"No, no, the teacher said so! Right, everyone!?"

Ike tried to back Sudo up, but could it be that the passing line isn't fixed, but rather changes based on the class's performance?

"It's useless to argue. The passing line for this midterm exam was anything below 43 points. You were just short."

"43 points!? I never heard anything about that!"

"Then let me explain the criteria for passing at this school."

Chabashira said, beginning to write a formula on the blackboard.

It showed the numbers 86.6 ÷ 2 = 43.3.

I see. So that's how it is.

"The passing line is set based on the class; the calculation method is the average score divided by two, and you must score higher than that value. In previous years, Class D's passing line was around 30, but this time, it seems many students were aiming for the reward points."

Ah, I get it now.

Because I proposed the plan for reward points, the high-achieving students in the class were highly motivated, and on top of that, we had the past exam papers.

It is only natural that the average score is more than 10 points higher than in previous years.

In fact, nearly 70 percent of the 40 students scored over 90.

However, will we still receive the reward points? If I were the teacher, I would certainly say, "It is only natural to get a high score when you have past exam papers, so no reward points will be given."

"You've got to be kidding me... am I getting expelled?"

"Although it was a short time, thank you for your hard work. You need to submit your withdrawal application after school. It requires a parent's presence, so I will contact them."

While Sudo stood there dumbfounded, Chabashira said this in a strictly professional tone.

Well, he brought this upon himself by dozing off before the exam.

"The rest of the students did very well. There is no doubt that everyone passed. Keep up this momentum for the final exams."

"Teacher. Is Sudo-kun really going to be expelled? Is there no remedial measure?"

The first person to show concern for Sudo was Hirata.

He truly lives up to being the class leader.

Even though he is well aware that Sudo dislikes him.

"The facts are as they are. If you fail, you must accept the consequences. Sudo is to be expelled."

"...May I see Sudo-kun's test paper?"

"Let me be clear, there are no grading errors. If you still want to see it, go ahead."

Chabashira handed Sudo's English test paper to Hirata.

Hirata immediately lowered his head to look at the questions, but his expression quickly turned grave.

"The grading is indeed... correct."

"Since you have accepted it, the homeroom session ends here. Sudo, come to the faculty office after school. Also, tell the students who took Hikigaya's suggestion to get reward points that the points will be deposited at exactly midnight tomorrow. That is all."

Chabashira left the classroom after saying this.

Anyway, earning 90,000 points is not bad at all.

Just as I was thinking this—

"Hey Hikigaya! What is the meaning of this!"

Ike walked toward me, fuming with anger.

"What are you talking about?"

"It's about the reward points! Because you made that suggestion, the students with good grades worked even harder, which caused the average score to go up!"

"...Are you saying that Sudo's expulsion is my fault?"

"Who else could it be?!"

No, no, I'm the culprit? While it is true that I am a reason for the average score rising.

However...

"How unsightly."

Before I could retort, Koenji, sitting in the seat next to me with his legs crossed, suddenly spoke up.

Ike immediately glared at him.

"What do you mean by that, Koenji!"

Facing Ike's roar, Koenji showed no fear and leisurely combed his hair.

"Exactly what I said. While the rise in the average score is indeed thanks to Hikigaya-kun, the fundamental reason for Red-hair-kun's expulsion lies in his own lack of academic ability, does it not? Knowing he was facing the crisis of expulsion yet still sleeping in class, blaming his own laziness on Hikigaya-kun is truly unfair. It is simply hideous."

Koenji calmly voiced my inner thoughts.

Ike was instantly rendered speechless.

It is true that Sudo failing was related to my suggestion of reward points, but the root cause was Sudo's own negligence.

However, it was unexpected that...

"I didn't expect you to speak up for me."

I thought this narcissist wouldn't take anyone's side, let alone support me.

"I simply cannot tolerate things that are unsightly. Besides, thanks to you, my wallet has gotten quite fat."

Koenji scored over 95 in all subjects, and even had perfect scores; it wouldn't be strange if he ranked first overall.

He must have earned at least 150,000 points.

In any case, since Ike was silenced by Koenji, the matter was settled.

After preparing for the first period, I was about to leave the classroom when I realized I had ten minutes to spare, so I decided to go to the vending machine to buy a canned coffee.

As I came out of the restroom, I saw Horikita walking briskly toward the stairs.

Is she also going to buy something?

With that question in mind, I slowly followed her downstairs.

It seemed he was walking with Sakanayanagi, which was why he had slowed his pace.

Upon reaching the first floor, I saw—

(What are they doing?)

Ayanokoji and Horikita were confronting Chabashira, and the air was thick with tension.

Just as I was about to sneak away, "Oh my, the candidate for savior has arrived."

Chabashira wore an expression of keen interest.

Ayanokoji remained expressionless, while Horikita narrowed her eyes and beckoned me over.

Although I was reluctant, I knew that defying her wouldn't end well, so I sighed and walked down the stairs.

Horikita was bold enough to boss Ayanokoji around; it would be a real headache if she latched onto me.

"What is it? I still need to buy a drink, so make it quick."

"How many points do you have right now?"

"Huh?... A little over 1.1 million. Why do you ask?"

"Then please pay 100,000 points."

"For what? Why should I pay 100,000 points?"

"For Sudo's grades."

"Ah, I see. You're planning to buy Sudo's marks with points."

"Chabashira-sensei, how much for one point?"

"100,000 points per point. In other words, Sudo needs 200,000 points to avoid expulsion."

"That's daylight robbery. But since the two of you can only scrape together 100,000, you're coming to me for the rest, right... And then what?"

"And then? What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. Why should I pay 100,000 points for Sudo? What's in it for me?"

"If a student is expelled, it could have a negative impact on the class in ways you can't see. If that happens, rising to a higher class becomes even harder, so we should avoid expulsions."

"That only prevents the class as a whole from suffering; it doesn't benefit me personally. Anyway, even if the class points drop to zero, I can survive on my private points. Whether we rise in class or not doesn't matter to me."

Only Class A receives special support for employment and higher education, and it's nearly impossible for the entire class to reach Class A.

If I really wanted to reach Class A, it would be faster to do it individually.

"When it comes down to it, why should I pay points for someone who doesn't matter to me? The only people I would pay for without expecting anything in return are those I value."

I don't pay points without calculation; I only do it for myself and those I truly care about.

Sudo is not among them, and without a return on investment, I will never foot the bill.

"...Then I will reveal the truth."

"Reveal what?"

"That you could have stopped Sudo's expulsion but chose to stand by and watch."

So that's the play.

Indeed, if that were made public, people like Ike and Yamauchi would definitely come looking for trouble.

However, this threat has a fatal flaw.

"Go ahead. But most of the class won't be angry; they'll probably feel relieved."

Sudo is likely the most disliked person in the class.

He has the most tardies and absences, is the number one person for talking and sleeping in class, and has repeatedly trampled on the kindness of our class representative, Hirata, by yelling at him.

Even if Horikita revealed it, at most a few people would bother me, while over twenty others probably wouldn't care.

As for those few troublemakers, as long as they dare to lay a hand on me, I can just report them to solve the problem.

"..."

I suppose she didn't expect me to be completely unfazed by the threat of exposure.

Horikita fell silent; it seemed she was out of options.

Just when I thought the conversation was over, Ayanokoji suddenly spoke up:

"How about instead of giving the teacher 100,000 for Sudo, you lend 100,000 to Horikita? I recall that Horikita got perfect scores in everything except English, which earns her 120,000 reward points. She'd be able to pay you back immediately, right?"

I see.

If I could get it back by tomorrow, I wouldn't have an objection.

But this guy Ayanokoji is truly cunning.

If they use this method to scrape together 200,000 for the teacher to waive Sudo's expulsion, Ayanokoji would pay 50,000 and Horikita would pay 150,000.

You can tell just by the way Horikita is glaring at him right now.

Still, she really has no other choice, and she can't complain.

"...Pay back 120,000 with interest. Only then will I lend it to you."

"To think you'd be this stingy when you have a million points..."

"Say whatever you want. I hate doing things that don't benefit me. Decide quickly."

Hearing me say that, Horikita glared at me and held out her terminal.

It seems she chose to borrow money from me.

She could have just abandoned Sudo.

But I wouldn't lose out if I could earn some points.

"Deal. Then, Chabashira-sensei, please transfer Horikita's share to my account when the reward points are distributed."

"Understood. I promise to transfer the points to Hikigaya's terminal."

"Thanks..."

I pulled out my terminal and transferred 100,000 points to Horikita.

"Transferred. I'm leaving."

After saying that, I walked away to buy a drink. Although the process was quite annoying, netting 110,000 points in a single day wasn't bad at all.

Later, after buying a canned coffee from the vending machine and returning, the three of them were nowhere to be seen in the first-floor hallway. When I returned to the classroom and saw Sudo looking overjoyed, it seemed he had been saved from expulsion.

In any case, the midterm exams have come to an end, so it's time to return to a peaceful life, right...