The Rebellious One

After the "relaxing and pleasant" luxury cruise trip, the first-year students returned once again to the familiar campus.

Thanks to the school, only one week remained of the summer vacation, which, for the first-year students, should have been the final stretch of time where they could truly relax. After all, for the majority of the first years, this luxury cruise trip could hardly be described as happy.

The official changes to the Class Points would not be announced until after the start of the new semester, but each class already knew the specific figures by heart.

A: 1220

B: 1035

C: 1140

D: 0

"That junior really did a great job." The Student Council had received the first-year report card immediately after the exam ended. Looking at the announcement in his hand that was set to be posted for the new semester, Nagumo sounded as if he were sighing in admiration.

"Though it looks like Class D of the first year is completely out of the running."

The gap in Class Points between the first-year classes A, B, and C was less than two hundred, meaning any single exam could have a significant impact on the class standings. As for the situation with Class D, it was just like the phrase commentators often used: they still had a theoretical chance of qualifying, so please keep working hard.

"Do not interfere with the exams of other grades, Nagumo." Manabu Horikita warned from the side.

"Hai, hai, hai." Nagumo responded perfunctorily. "But since the special exams for all three grades have concluded, I imagine there will be quite a few people at the swimming pool tomorrow."

"Mm, you and Kiriyama go maintain order tomorrow." Manabu Horikita nodded and then issued the instruction.

"Is the President really that unwilling to let me have contact with the little junior?" Nagumo pouted. This allocation clearly meant that Sagara and the President would be in a group to maintain order tomorrow—well, a certain little follower would definitely be tagging along, so it should count as three people.

It was clearly a story for three, yet there was still no place for him.

"Remember to call a few female students to help out." Manabu Horikita did not respond, merely adding that, as it wasn't very convenient for men to be in the women's changing room, both from a moral and legal standpoint.

"Understood. I have a date, so I'll be heading off now, President."

"What should we play tonight?"

"How about going to sing karaoke?"

"Good idea."

The students of Class C of the first year were discussing what to do next on the bus back to school.

"It seems everyone is quite free, aren't they?" Sagara narrowed his eyes and spoke suddenly, and the class instantly fell silent. The three students including Manabe, who had just been discussing where to go, had faces stiff with tension.

"There is only one week left until school starts, so try to settle your minds. Don't wait until the semester begins only to find you haven't adjusted your state of mind. Every night this week, everyone must attend a study session."

"Eh—!" Hearing this news, the people in the class couldn't help but pull long faces, even Kaneda, who was already excellent at his studies, was no exception.

"Also, before school starts, everyone must complete one assignment: think about your future ideals, what you want to do, the industry you want to work in, and what kind of person you want to become. There is no word count requirement, but everyone must submit it. If anyone fails to submit, all of next month's points will be confiscated."

Sagara assigned the task to the students in the class as if he were a language arts teacher.

Consequently, when the students from all four classes got off the bus, they found that the students from the other three classes were either relieved that the school wasn't pulling any more tricks, or were discussing plans for the next few days with smiles on their faces. Only the students of Class C were almost all looking miserable; those who didn't know better would probably think Class C had suffered a huge loss in this summer special exam.

"What's up with those guys in Class C? Putting on an act." Ike of Class D said unhappily. They had clearly earned so much, so who were they putting on those sour faces for?

"Exactly." Yamauchi agreed, nodding from the side.

Ayanokoji, meanwhile, looked at Sagara, who was smiling faintly at the front of the Class C line, lost in thought.

"Does Sagara-kun have some specific consideration for this assignment?" At the study session that night, Shiina sat next to Sagara and asked about it.

"Mm, Shiina, I have enough confidence that by the time we graduate in three years, our class will be the Class A of the third year. Even if we don't, the number of tickets I hold for entry into Class A will be no fewer than 30." Rarely, Sagara revealed absolute confidence in his own abilities.

"But, have you thought about how to use this ticket?"

"Eh." Shiina was stunned for a moment, then thought carefully for a while before realizing that she had never once considered what kind of demands she should make of the school if she were to graduate from Class A.

After all, for the students of this school, merely obtaining and maintaining the status of Class A was enough to exhaust them physically and mentally.

"So, when the time comes, you will ask for the opinion of the career guidance counselor, and under the counselor's recommendation, you will choose an offer that might not necessarily suit you, or one that isn't what you actually wanted." Sagara calmly described the other side of this school.

This was the reality of this school: it cultivated middle-management members for the conglomerates. After three years of polishing in the small society of this school, most students would have much more social experience than graduates from ordinary schools, let alone the elite students of Class A who had fought their way to the top.

Therefore, this portion of students was "sold" to the conglomerates in the form of products.

Perhaps some would say that one could choose other paths, such as going to university.

"The job market hasn't been very good in recent years. Honestly, even after you graduate from university, finding a job like this won't be an easy task. I suggest you accept this offer first. Furthermore, you can apply to this company and tell them you intend to pursue further studies; the company will cover a portion of your university tuition, and you can obtain a higher position after graduation, right?"

When words like these come from the mouth of your kind career guidance counselor, what would students who lack a clear plan for their future choose?

Although this matter was beneficial to all three parties—the school achieved its employment rate, the conglomerates obtained the talent they wanted and supplemented their missing middle class, and the students had a job with decent benefits.

"But isn't it too heartbreaking to have one's own yet-unclear dreams stifled, step by step, under such pressure and lack of freedom?"

There was something peculiar in Sagara's eyes, as if a flame were burning fiercely.

"I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to every student who graduates from this school walking toward the place they truly dream of."

On the desk in the Chairman's office, a student's file was lying there.

SECRET

Name: Sagara Zoya

When this student was in his second year of junior high, he was involved in an incident between a certain assemblyman's son and a female student, which ultimately led to the assemblyman's son committing suicide out of fear of punishment, and the assemblyman himself stepping down. At the time, this incident was believed to be the work of another assemblyman, until later, after repeated questioning of the disgraced assemblyman, it was learned that this incident was planned and orchestrated by this student.

At the same time, the student obtained a villa from this assemblyman, as well as incriminating evidence against another assemblyman. Ultimately, the villa was gifted to the female student, and the incriminating evidence against the assemblyman was handed over to his own foster father, sending that assemblyman to prison.

The student's abilities are extremely outstanding, and he possesses an unimaginably mature mind, but he is extremely rebellious toward the upper echelons in both his thinking and his actions.

Therefore, it is recommended to place this student in Class D or Class C for observation.