Failing Grade

Why did Tanaka Yukishin choose the other side?

Given his extremely self-centered personality, it's impossible for him to associate with the Nostalgia Faction.

Can you tell me what you're thinking?

Sakayanagi Narimori's voice held a rare hint of curiosity.

"I'm not moving up a grade, so Class Points won't benefit me much. The 10-person Part-time Job Permit is more useful in comparison." He paused, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes. "Besides, if I choose Class Points, some people in my class will probably pester me. I don't want too much trouble."

Sakayanagi Narimori thought of Tanaka Yukishin's abilities, and also of his Koenji Rokusuke and the seniors of other grades.

Given his indolence, what can the Nostalgia Faction offer to sway him?

"Hehe, okay. When you get back, the school will be notified over the loudspeaker that your Part-time Job Permit has been revoked. As for the points reward, 100,000 points will be awarded to each of the 198 people. It will be credited to your account along with the Part-time Job Permit for 10 people in an hour."

Tanaka Yukishin and got up to leave.

Back in the classroom, the students from Class D immediately swarmed around Tanaka Yukishin.

"Tanaka, is your Part-time Job Permit really going to be revoked?"

"Yes."

Tanaka Yukishin nodded slightly, a simple gesture that elicited a collective sigh from those around her.

Why doesn't the school allow students to work?

Kanji Ike squeezed to the front row, beads of sweat still clinging to his forehead.

His question was like a pebble thrown into calm water, stirring up a cacophony of follow-up inquiries.

Tanaka Yukishin raised her hand, and the classroom instantly fell silent.

This simple action carried an undeniable power, even Koenji Rokusuke, who had been indifferent to the matter, to look up from his manga and squint his eyes with interest.

"Because this would undermine the school's control over students and cause them to deviate from the path the school had set for them."

After dealing with the people who surrounded her, Tanaka Yukishin walked towards Karuizawa Kei.

The girl's previously tense shoulders visibly Matsushita when she saw him, and the fingers gripping her skirt also quietly loosened.

"Xuexin, I was so worried about you."

"Didn't I just tell you that it's fine?"

Chapter 79, 78 failing grade

The last day of May passed quietly amidst the chirping of cicadas.

As summer fully arrives, the sun high in the sky becomes even more dazzling, and the air grows increasingly hot.

Tanaka Yukishin, with Karuizawa Kei's chestnut ponytail swaying on her left and Sakura Airi, who was bending over and twisting her skirt, on her right.

His feelings were somewhat complicated.

This morning, Sakura Airi suddenly joined his school line, disregarding the stares of others—in Japan high school, the implications of such behavior are self-evident.

Perhaps it was the visit to the Chairman's Office yesterday afternoon that provoked her.

"That..."

As she walked, Sakura Airi suddenly stopped, her voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the cicadas' chirping.

She looked down at her intertwined fingertips, her earlobes flushing a pale pink like cherry blossoms. "Will following me like this cause Tanaka-kun trouble...?"

Karuizawa Kei suddenly reached out and pinched Sakura Airi's burning cheek, a sly glint in her amber eyes.

"It's too late to regret it now!"

She turned and winked at Tanaka Yukishin, the tips of her hair brushing against the boy's nose, carrying the scent of citrus shampoo.

Out of the corner of her eye, Tanaka Yukishin saw Sakura Airi gently touching her pinched cheek with her fingertips, her large, usually evasive eyes gleaming.

"Let things take their course, Kushida Kikyo. When will you finally appear?"

He silently recited it in his heart.

In the classroom, Chabashira Sae walked in, wearing her signature high heels, her black business suit making her appear even more serious.

The Matoba was exactly the same as in early May; the long roll of posters in her hand made everyone tense instantly.

She glanced at the crowd below.

"The same Matoba will repeat itself. I believe you all know what will happen next without me having to say more."

As she spoke, Chabashira Sae opened the long poster tube, spread it out on the blackboard, and secured it with a magnet.

"You've all made great progress in your studies this month. As your homeroom teacher, I'm very pleased."

Kushida Kikyo immediately raised both hands above her head and clapped, her pleated skirt billowing out into a perfect arc with the movement.

A chorus of whistles immediately erupted from all around.

Before the cheers had subsided, Chabashira Sae struck the podium with her lesson plan, sending chalk dust flying in the vibrations.

She took a red pen and traced it across the end.

"However, some students still failed. Hopefully, the departure of Kanji Ike will make some students feel a sense of crisis."

What!

Everyone looked at the name on the red line in surprise.

Kanji Ike was talking to the classmate next to him when he suddenly heard his own name called.

He turned his head and looked at the scores on the blackboard.

"No... that can't be, right?"

He stood up abruptly, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.

"I got 38 points. It doesn't make sense that I passed with 31 points last time, but failed this time."

Chabashira Sae's lips curled into a cold smile, and the stray hairs by her ears swayed gently as she shook her head.

"Have you forgotten? The passing score is half the average. Since you all improved a lot this time, the passing score is 44."

"Could it be... that the question was changed incorrectly?"

Chabashira Sae's action of pulling the exam paper out of her briefcase resembled an executioner displaying instruments of torture.

"That's the same line again; I've heard it several times already. So I was prepared."

As she spoke, she handed a test paper to a student below the podium, pointed to Kanji Ike, and gestured for the student to pass it on.

After receiving the test paper from the student in front of him, Kanji Ike realized that his knowledge was simply insufficient to help him distinguish between right and wrong.

Looking up at the report card on the blackboard, I saw that several students had scored 100 points, including Hirata Yosuke.

Kanji Ike handed over the exam paper with trembling hands, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Hirata, could you please take a look at this for me?"

Hirata Yosuke nodded, his brow furrowed as he took the exam paper.

During the five minutes of checking each question, the classroom was so quiet you could hear the air conditioner humming.

Finally, he closed the exam paper, his eyes filled with seriousness.

"Indeed... there were no errors in the corrections."

"For a regular exam, there's a slight possibility that the teacher might correct it. But for an exam like this that could lead to expulsion, I've double-checked it."

Chabashira Sae leaned on the podium, her posture of looking down at the whole class exuding a sense of oppression.

After she finished speaking, she straightened up and turned to look at Kanji Ike.

"Thank you for your hard work. Please submit your withdrawal application after school. A guardian will need to accompany you. I will contact you later."

"Impossible! How could I fail! Something must have gone wrong."

Kanji Ike ruffled his hair, and his voice began to change pitch.

An awkward silence filled the classroom, and several girls exchanged disgusted glances.

At this moment, Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyo stood up.

Hirata Yosuke's voice was gentle yet firm.

"Teacher, is there any way to avoid being expelled?"

He stood tall and straight, like an unyielding poplar tree.

Kushida Kikyo, standing next to her, clasped her hands together in front of her chest.

"Yes, I want to graduate with everyone."

Chabashira Sae gave a meaningful smile.

"There's no solution right now."

He emphasized the word "currently" and his gaze swept across the entire room.

At present!

This word quickly caught the attention of several people.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was thoughtful.

Matsushita Chiaki had some doubts.

Horikita Suzune thought it over carefully.

Currently, that is, in the future, there may be, or the conditions may not be met.

Of course, she had absolutely no intention of helping Kanji Ike.

I just wanted to learn more about the school's rules, just like I did during a quiz.

As Chabashira Sae was about to leave, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who was in the lower left corner, scanned the entire room.

After thinking it over, I decided to step in.

"Teacher, can I sell you some points?"

His calm voice was exceptionally clear in the classroom.

"Oh?"

The Chabashira Sae were quite interested.

"You once said that points can buy everything in this school, so sell me your points."

"Interesting. 100,000 per point. Capable people deserve preferential treatment. If you need to buy points in the future, then it'll be 10,000 per point."

As if he had found a savior, Kanji Ike rushed to his nearest friend as if grasping at a straw.

"So you can buy points. Yamauchi Haruki, Ken Sudō, lend me some points. I'll pay you back later. I only have a little over 50,000 points left."

Yamauchi Haruki shrank back and dodged.

"I... I only have a little over 70,000..."

Ken Sudō scratched his head.

I have 100,000.

"I still owe 380,000..." Kanji Ike turned to the whole class, his voice trembling with tears, "Please! I'll pay it back every month!"

When his gaze swept over the group of girls, several of them deliberately turned their faces away and chuckled quietly.

No one answered.

Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyo also spoke up for him.

Seeing this, Koenji Rokusuke suddenly stretched, his long golden hair shimmering in the sunlight.

His languid voice carried an unquestionable air.

"Please sit down, both of you. If it were you two who needed help, I'm sure your classmates would be happy to assist you. But he..."

"Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki have offended the female community by disrespecting women." Koenji Rokusuke's lips curled into a mocking smile. "And Kanji Ike's thoughtless and unrestrained speech has tarnished the reputation of men and has also alienated some of them."

"In this situation, no one will help him."

It's over!