You really know how to control your score

The classroom was instantly plunged into a state of desolation. Sae Chabashira left behind a curt "fend for yourselves" before slamming the classroom door shut and walking away.

"Bang!"

Sudo kicked his desk with force, whether out of frustration for failing the test or for being assigned to the bottom-tier class, it was unclear.

The state of the others wasn't much better:

"With no points to spend, how... how am I supposed to survive this month?!"

"Me... me too. I already spent all my points yesterday..."

Although Sae Chabashira had told them there was free food in the cafeteria and free daily necessities available at the convenience store, who would actually want to live like a refugee?

"Forget the points, our class itself is the problem, isn't it?! Are you kidding me?!! How could I possibly be assigned to Class D?!!!"

Yukimura, wearing his glasses, continued to vent his dissatisfaction, and even Suzune Horikita's face was covered in a layer of frost.

She couldn't understand why, despite her excellent academic and physical performance—even if she hadn't taken first place in the entrance exam, she was definitely among the top tier!

Why, instead of assigning her to Class A, had the school placed her in the lowest, trash-heap class?

Just as the class descended into chaos, the good-natured Hirata struggled to take the lead:

"Everyone, please calm down..."

"Calm down! How do you expect me to calm down?! Hirata, your grades are so good, don't you feel even a little bit of resentment?!"

"I understand how you feel, but right now..."

"I'm talking about right now! I've been treated unfairly since the moment I enrolled, and I simply cannot accept this!"

An enraged Yukimura closed in on Hirata; had Shinjo not stepped in between them just in time, it was hard to say what this hot-headed guy might have done.

"Calm down, Yukimura. No matter how dissatisfied you are, the decision was made by the school, and it has nothing to do with Hirata, does it?"

"That's right, Yukimura, just calm down."

Under the comfort of the others, Yukimura gradually calmed down. After apologizing to Hirata, he returned to his seat and remained silent.

"Thank you, Shinjo."

"It's nothing."

To stabilize the class, Hirata stepped onto the podium to soothe everyone's emotions:

"Everyone, I know these things are hard to accept, but as long as we start studying hard from now on, stay focused, don't skip classes, and don't be late, it's not like we don't have a chance to earn back the points we lost!"

However, Class D was truly Class D; at a time like this, rather than encouraging one another, they preferred to pressure others.

"I remember... didn't Sudo always sleep in class and show up late?"

"Now that you mention it, I remember! Sudo has never once listened properly in class!"

How could the hot-tempered Sudo handle such accusations? He slammed his desk with a 'bang' and stood up:

"What are you guys saying?! You lost your own points and now you're blaming me? Who wants to play your 'good student' game anyway?! Stop bothering me!"

With that, he kicked his chair over in a fit of rage and stormed out through the back door.

This reaction only gave the others more ammunition, allowing them to vent all their internal dissatisfaction onto Sudo.

For a while, sounds of consolation, cursing, complaining, and crying rose and fell in succession.

Seeing this, Shinjo stretched, picked up his backpack, and prepared to leave the classroom, but his sleeve was tugged by Karuizawa:

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Back to the dorms to rest. Since the class points have already hit zero, even if we study hard, they won't increase, so I might as well get a good night's sleep."

"That... alright then."

Having left the classroom, Shinjo hadn't gone far before someone blocked his path.

"Come to my office and let's talk."

"Tch... I don't think there's anything worth talking about."

Following Sae Chabashira to her office, one had to admit that Advanced Nurturing Middle School was impressive; every teacher was equipped with an individual office cubicle, perhaps for discussing topics that shouldn't see the light of day.

As Sae Chabashira arrived with Shinjo, she found Suzune Horikita and Ayanokoji already waiting there.

"Eh? Shinjo?"

"Ah... caught red-handed skipping class."

"That's really unlucky."

Ignoring the whispers between the two boys, Chabashira sat back in her chair and lit a cigarette:

"Horikita, is there something you need?"

"Of course there is!"

Having waited long enough, Suzune Horikita stepped forward.

"Chabashira-sensei, I would like to ask, what are the school's criteria for class assignment? Or rather, was there some kind of error in the system when the classes were divided!"

"I have seen your entrance exam results, Horikita. It's fair to say your scores were excellent; you were among the top in both academic subjects and physical fitness."

"In that case, why was I assigned to Class D?!"

"Naturally, because that is the most suitable place for you."

"What did you..."

Chabashira took a slow, unhurried drag of her cigarette, picked up a file folder that looked like it had been prepared long ago, and tossed it over.

"Take a look for yourself. I hope you can find the answer in there."

Suzune Horikita hurriedly pulled out the entrance examination transcript from inside. She scanned it from top to bottom, finding nothing strange at first, until she reached a specific line: every single subject score was exactly 50 points.

Is this guy seriously not just showing off on purpose?

Katsuya Shinjo shot a look of intense disdain at the owner of those grades.

She opened her mouth in disbelief; these scores were clearly intentional. So, who was the owner?

It was none other than Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

"Ayanokoji... you!"

"It seems you've realized it too, what Ayanokoji's grades actually represent."

But the person in question, Brother Lu, calmly countered, "What does this represent? Perhaps it's just a coincidence, who knows."

However, his explanation was clearly not enough to convince the people in the room.

"If you want to prove yourself, there is only one path: lead them to defeat Class A. Horikita, this is your destination."

Horikita was naturally a hundred percent unwilling:

"Are you joking? How could I possibly lead a group like that to defeat Class A, whose strength far exceeds ours?!"

"I've already said, these test scores were truly an accident."

But Ayanokoji's words were automatically filtered out by all three people.

"If Ayanokoji refuses to admit it, there's nothing I can do. However, I must tell you one more thing. Regarding all the information and truths I've spoken of today, the Katsuya Shinjo beside you discovered them on the very first day of school."

If Plan A doesn't work, there is always Plan B; this was the reason Chabashira specifically brought Katsuya to the office.

"What, how is that possible?!"

"Hey, I clearly said it was the first, second, or third day. How did it turn into discovering all the secrets on the very first day..."

Hearing this, Horikita was certain that Katsuya Shinjo had indeed discovered the school's hidden rules a long time ago.

And Ayanokoji had used the Score Control Technique to prove that his academic level was far above her own.

If even two people like that were assigned to Class D, then she...

"Then, why didn't you tell me the rules sooner?!"

"Horikita-san, even you think Class D is a group of hopeless losers, so why should I be the Zhao Zilong of Changban Slope?"

Although a philosopher named Yoshikage Kira once told Katsuya not to answer a question with a question.

But I have to say, speaking like this really makes one seem quite sophisticated!