As Chabashira-sensei left the classroom, the students inside seemed to have had their spines pulled out and slumped in their seats.
Even Sudo, who was usually so arrogant, lowered his head deeply.
That was because he was one of the seven students who had just been marked for possible expulsion.
Onizuka didn't move. He'd been looking forward to this scene, having had very little to do lately, so why would he leave early now?
But the atmosphere in the class grew increasingly gloomy, and the students began blaming and accusing one another.
"Yamauchi, you were having the most fun in class, weren't you? Take responsibility!"
"You... you're talking nonsense! Weren't you having fun too?"
It turned out that watching the commotion among a crowd on the verge of madness wasn't a wise choice. Before long, the flames of conflict had reached him.
Yamauchi Haruki, lashing out at random to vent his frustration, spotted Onizuka sitting in the corner with a relaxed look on his face and shouted.
"Onizuka! You had a great time skipping class a while back, didn't you?"
At his words, everyone in the class turned to look at him, and whispers broke out around the room.
"Yeah! At least all we did was not pay attention in class. That can't be as bad as skipping class!"
"Isn't Onizuka going a bit too far?"
But Onizuka acted as though nothing had happened. He merely stared straight at Kanji Ike, who had turned the blame toward him. His icy expression was enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.
The fun-seeker wasn't having fun anymore.
Seeing that things were taking a bad turn, Yosuke Hirata stood and walked up to the podium.
"Everyone, please calm down. Onizuka wasn't here before because he wasn't feeling well, and he already asked Chabashira-sensei for permission to be absent. It wasn't like you all think!"
Kikyo Kushida, standing nearby, also rose to smooth things over between them.
"Everyone, calm down. None of us wanted things to turn out like this. Didn't the teacher say there'd be a Special Exam where we could earn more Class Points? We still have hope, so please don't give up!"
With the two of them smoothing things over, the atmosphere in Class D gradually eased.
Eventually, everyone quieted down and followed Yosuke Hirata's lead.
"Everyone, since the Special Exam is nowhere in sight, the biggest challenge we face now is the midterm exam, which could lead to expulsion."
Though Hirata didn't name anyone, the students' gazes kept drifting toward those seven.
"Ahem!" After getting everyone's attention back, Hirata continued.
"I'd like us to work together and form study groups to help the students who are struggling improve their grades."
No one objected, so Hirata said he would arrange the study groups later, then let everyone go about their own business.
The end of the school day came quickly. The students' attitude in class had been completely different all day. It wasn't as though everyone had been utterly engrossed in their lessons, but at least no one had been slacking off.
"Tsukasa, are you busy right now?"
Just as Onizuka was about to pack up and head back to the dorm, Hirata came over to greet him.
"If you're not busy, could you... help tutor some of the students in our class?"
Just as he'd said before, he had plenty of free time-far too much! It wouldn't hurt to find himself something to do.
"Sorry, Yosuke. I haven't been feeling well lately, so I don't think I can."
But why should he do something that brought him no benefit? Just to satisfy that ridiculous sense of fulfillment inside him?
"But... never mind. Get some rest."
From Hirata's final look, Onizuka knew he'd seen through the lie. But so what? The good-natured Yosuke Hirata would take care of things for him, just as he had after the class meeting.
Onizuka soon left the classroom. When he reached the entrance to the school building, he saw an unexpected figure leaning by the door.
"Chabashira-sensei?"
When Onizuka came over to her, Chabashira-sensei put out the cigarette in her hand and looked at him.
"Tsk. Onizuka, I'll get straight to the point. I want you to help those students pass the midterm exam."
Hearing her say that, Onizuka was a little puzzled.
"Chabashira-sensei, you don't seem like the kind of person who cares so much about her students."
"Well, people change. I'm no exception." Chabashira-sensei brushed back her hair. "Anyway, forget all that. Will you agree?"
"I'm afraid I have to refuse!"
Chabashira-sensei sighed helplessly.
"Sigh, I knew you'd say that. How about 20,000 points?"
Stopping Onizuka as he turned to leave, Chabashira-sensei made her offer.
"20,000 points? That's still a little short. I can tutor Sato, Shinohara, and Inogashira, and make sure all three of them pass the midterm."
"As for the price, each of them will have to give me an extra 5,000 points. How about it?"
Sae Chabashira stood there thinking for a while, then held out her hand.
"I hope you won't disappoint me."
A faint smile appeared on Onizuka's face too.
"Of course not!"
...The next day after school...
At a café in the school's shopping street.
Onizuka, Maya Sato, Satsuki Shinohara, and Kokoro Inogashira had gathered together.
"Chabashira-sensei has already told you about the midterm exam, right?" Onizuka broke the silence first.
"She told us, but how can you guarantee that we'll pass?" Maya Sato asked, frowning slightly.
The other two also looked doubtful. Onizuka felt a little helpless and sighed.
"Because I have the ability to do it. If you trust me, we can keep talking. If you don't, turn left when you leave and you'll find the school gates. That way, you won't have trouble finding them when you get expelled."
Hearing Onizuka say that, they didn't press the matter. Instead, as if accepting their fate, they signed their names on the contracts that had already been prepared.
"Good. In that case, you can all head back. We'll meet again in a week."
"What? A week from now? But the midterms are less than ten days away!" Maya Sato's voice was tinged with unease.
"That's right! Onizuka, please take this seriously!" Kokoro Inogashira grew anxious too, his clenched fist showing how uneasy he was.
"It's over. It's all over..." Satsuki Shinohara sighed, a trace of despair flashing in her eyes.
"Don't worry. You'll definitely pass this exam!"
Onizuka offered no further explanation. He picked up his coffee and walked out, leaving the three of them behind, deeply doubtful.