"Do you think that once you enter society, someone will hand you a manual listing every social rule and workplace unspoken rule, then teach you how to survive step by step?
Not exploring or thinking for yourselves, and just waiting for others to spoon-feed you—that's one of the reasons you're called 'defective products.'"
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the angry, ashamed, and still-bewildered faces below. The mockery in her expression deepened.
"Still, I have to say I truly 'admire' you. You actually managed to spend all 1,000 of your initial Class Points in just one month, taking your balance straight down to zero.
(Zero points is the academy's limit, not Class D's. If it were possible, your score could even go negative...)
This 'feat' is unprecedented among all the Class D classes in Advanced Nurturing High School's history."
Her words were like a bucket of ice water, dousing the anger that had begun to rise in some students and replacing it with even deeper shame and humiliation.
Many lowered their heads, too afraid to meet her gaze.
Sae Chabashira continued explaining in her emotionless voice, "What's displayed on the board is the number of Class Points each class currently holds, abbreviated as CP.
For every Class Point accumulated, every student in that class receives 100 Personal Points each month.
When you enrolled, the academy gave every class an initial 1,000 points. You all started on equal footing."
Her gaze swept over the Class D students again. "Why is it that only you managed to take a decent start and turn it into this miserable state, with not a single point left?"
An atmosphere of despair and regret began to spread through the classroom.
Just as everyone hung their heads, seeming to have fallen into an abyss, Yosuke Hirata stood up.
This boy had always tried to unite his classmates and was one of the more clearheaded students in Class D. Now, his face was filled with urgency and pleading.
He bowed to Chabashira-sensei, his voice trembling slightly with nerves.
"Chabashira-sensei! Is there... is there anything we can still do to earn Class Points?
We... we'll work hard. No matter what, we'll earn those points back! Please tell us how!"
Hirata's words were like a faint glimmer of light cutting through the darkness, making many of the disheartened students lift their heads again.
Meek hope kindled in their eyes. They all looked toward Chabashira, as if she were their only lifeline.
"There is," Chabashira replied succinctly. "In general, if you earn more total Class Points than the other classes in the future, you can replace them and advance.
Class D can become Class C. If you're good enough, jumping straight to Class A isn't impossible, either."
The flame of hope seemed to brighten.
"But as things stand," she continued, dashing their hopes with the cold reality, "the gap between zero and 490 is too great. You can't even reach the bottom of Class C."
The flame of hope wavered, on the verge of going out again.
But Chabashira didn't seem intent on extinguishing that tiny flame completely—or perhaps she needed it to spur these "defective products" into action.
She continued, "The midterm exams are your next opportunity.
Based on your class's overall average score, you can earn up to 100 Class Points."
One hundred points! It wasn't much, but at least it meant they might receive Personal Points next month instead of being completely broke!
The mood in the classroom noticeably eased. Whispers broke out, and determination returned to many students' eyes.
But that newly kindled hope was crushed beneath Chabashira's even harsher words the very next moment.
From somewhere, she produced a printed sheet and attached it to the whiteboard beside the glaring words, "Class D: 0 CP."
"This is the class ranking for last month's quizzes in each subject. Take a look for yourselves."
Her voice rose slightly, carrying undisguised severity. "Only a measly... ten students in the entire class passed."
Her gaze, like a blade of ice, slowly cut across every face below, all of which had turned pale. She announced it one word at a time, with the force of an unquestionable final judgment:
"Starting with the next exam, including the upcoming midterms and the final exams after that, any student who fails even one subject—"
She paused deliberately, letting the suffocating fear swell to its peak in the classroom.
"—will be ordered to withdraw immediately."
The words "withdraw immediately" exploded through the Class D classroom like two thunderclaps!
All the noise, all the wishful thinking, all the confusion were replaced in an instant by bone-deep terror.
Many Class D students shuddered unconsciously, their faces as pale as paper.
They finally realized with absolute clarity that this Advanced Nurturing High School, which seemed so prestigious and generous with its benefits, was no comfortable ivory tower.
It was a ruthless arena of naked competition, where the strong preyed on the weak and only the fittest survived.
And Class D now stood at the very edge of a cliff, with an abyss called "expulsion" yawning beneath their feet.
Panic spread through the classroom like an epidemic.
Only Lin Mu remained quietly seated.
He had already lowered his raised hand and put his grape-flavored lollipop back in his mouth. His expression was calm as he watched the commotion and panic around him. The threat of expulsion?
To him, it was nothing worth worrying about.
With his supernatural abilities, passing the exams was nothing. Even getting a perfect score in every subject would only take a passing thought.
He didn't even need to "see through" or "modify" anything. He could easily handle the exams by quickly reading and memorizing books with Psychokinesis, or by getting a glimpse of what would be tested.
He looked at his classmates, some panicking, some ashen-faced, and others gritting their teeth and holding on. He felt nothing, not even a flicker of concern. He almost wanted to yawn.
The show was over.
He thought silently, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly. It looked like Class D's days of coasting along "comfortably" would soon be over.
The real excitement was about to begin.
And all he needed to do was remain a quiet bystander, making sure his comfort zone wasn't disturbed when necessary.
As for everyone else's struggles, efforts, or downfalls?
That was the life they had chosen—or been forced—to face.
What did any of it have to do with him, Linmu Fujimiya?
Soon, class ended. The moment the bell rang, like a drop of water hitting hot oil, the fear, anxiety, and confusion that had been bottled up throughout the lesson erupted. Buzzing voices filled the classroom.
But one figure had already risen from his seat and strode up to the lectern: Yosuke Hirata.
The boy usually wore a gentle smile and treated everyone with sincerity and courtesy.
Now, urgency was plain on his brow, but his steps remained steady and his posture upright.
He had clearly made up his mind the moment Chabashira-sensei announced the cruel reality.
He had resolved to take up the banner and lead this Class D, now on the verge of collapse, out of the mire—to become the leader who would unite everyone.
Before you continue