The Real Problem

"That's what happened, so I hope everyone can help us out by lending us some points."

Back in the classroom, Kushida gave the class a brief explanation of what had happened. She was the only one who could do it. Chabashira wouldn't bother with something like this, and Sudo simply couldn't handle it. Just standing there had already made him feel terribly uncomfortable.

"Isn't this all Sudo's fault? He shouldn't have such a bad attitude all the time."

"Exactly... And now he's dragged Kikyo into this, too."

The first reaction from the students in Class D wasn't to offer help, but to start laying blame.

"I don't have many points myself."

"Me neither. I spent a bit too much last month."

"Why not just let Sudo get expelled? It was his fault in the first place."

Hearing his classmates' words, Sudo clenched his fists, but still said nothing. Regret showed in his eyes.

If only he weren't so quick-tempered, this wouldn't have happened. If he had better relationships with his classmates, perhaps someone would be willing to lend him points. If only...

Ike and Yamauchi, who usually hung out with him, didn't say anything either. They just kept their heads down, since they didn't have any points to spare.

"Everyone, please don't act like this. We're all in the same class, and we should help each other.

"I still have thirty thousand points. I'll also try to find a way to get help from some of the older students in my club." Hirata, one of the central figures in Class D, stepped forward. He stopped his classmates from saying any more and offered up the points he had left.

"Hirata..." Sudo opened his mouth. He hadn't expected Hirata, the person he usually disliked most, to offer help at a time like this.

"Since you put it that way, Hirata, I'll lend a little, too." His girlfriend, Karuizawa Kei, quickly chimed in, looking proud.

Seeing that two of the most popular people in class had offered to help, the others quickly changed their tune.

"If you're putting it that way, Hirata, I'll chip in a little, too."

"Me too."

"Same here."

While the class was busy pooling their points, Ayanokoji and Horikita sat in the last row, silently watching the chaotic farce.

"Do you think this will be over just like that?" Ayanokoji looked at Horikita.

"What do you mean by that?" Horikita Suzune frowned.

"No, it's nothing. By the way, Horikita, have you been studying properly?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka quickly changed the subject.

"Do you think I'm like those idiots such as Sudo, relying on the answers to pass the exam?" Horikita Suzune glared at Ayanokoji. Of course she'd studied hard, and even without studying, an exam like this would have been a piece of cake for her.

"I didn't mean that." Ayanokoji quickly backed down. He didn't want to get stabbed with a compass again.

"Hmph." Horikita Suzune gave a quiet snort. "The answers... Wait."

At the mention of the answers, Horikita Suzune quickly realized something important.

"Because the exam papers were leaked ahead of time, this exam is no longer fair. The school will inevitably have to replace them." Sawahara spoke calmly, laying out his plan.

"Class D got hold of the old exam papers. Fewer than ten of them have seriously prepared for this midterm, and based on their grades, around ten students should be expelled as a result.

"If that actually happens, Class D will collapse. Not only will it suffer a huge loss of students, but many students who aren't academically strong but have other talents will be forced out as well.

"After that, the class competition will become a game of luck. After all, whoever goes up against Class D is guaranteed to win."

"That would go against the school's principles," Manabu Horikita continued. "So the school can't stand by and let that happen. It will have to step in. That's why you said the chairman would definitely meet with you.

"Is meeting the chairman really your goal?"

Manabu Horikita was suspicious of Sawahara's intentions. Would he really go to all this trouble just to meet the chairman? If Sawahara said he planned to assassinate him, Manabu Horikita would have to give it serious consideration.

"Your methods are a little too extreme."

After all, even if meeting the chairman wasn't easy, all it would take was time.

"Sorry, senpai. I have personal reasons, too," Sawahara said. He knew that meeting the chairman alone didn't require all this trouble. "But what I want is the chance to speak with him as an equal.

"And as for my methods being extreme... Everything is under control. There's nothing extreme about it."

"I'm starting to think maybe you really shouldn't join the Student Council." The president sighed. Why were all the younger students these days so...

"Perhaps." Sawahara said no more. "Please remember my small request, President."

He'd asked the president to meet him for two reasons. One was to remind him not to forget their earlier agreement. The other was to explain himself a little, so the president wouldn't mistake him for some kind of dangerous person.

Before class the next morning, their homeroom teacher, Kazuma Sakagami, frowned as he announced the news to the students.

"Due to an unexpected situation, this midterm exam will use Version B. In other words, the questions will be different."

Kazuma Sakagami was unhappy with the notice from above. Academic performance had always been a weak point for the lower two classes, and with only two days left until the exam, suddenly changing the test content would put his class at a disadvantage.

His gaze drifted toward Sawahara, the core of his class, but the boy's expression was calm.

Had he failed to pick up on my hint earlier? Kazuma Sakagami wondered if he'd have to make himself clearer next time.

"Don't worry, Sakagami-sensei," Sawahara said, noticing Sakagami's gaze. "Everyone in our class has studied hard for this exam. I guarantee there won't be any problems."

"That's right. We've been studying so hard every day lately. It'll be fine."

"Exactly. If we still can't pass after all that, there's nothing we can do."

"Can't you say something more encouraging?"

"Oh, I said that wrong. We can definitely pass the exam."

The students chimed in. They'd been going to the library for study sessions after school every day lately. After working so hard for so long, everyone was eager to see the results on this midterm.

Especially Kaneda. Lately, his mushroom-shaped hairstyle had been making people wonder if it was getting a little thinner.

At the same time, Classes A, B, and D received the same news. Classes A and B were merely curious about the reason. Even with different questions, it wouldn't make much difference to them.

But Class D...

"How could this happen?!"

"I didn't study at all! What should I do?"

"Are we doomed?"

Wails rose from all across Class D.