Meanwhile.
Class D's atmosphere was even more agitated.
According to what Chabashira-sensei had said earlier, they would receive 100,000 points on the first of every month.
But why was there still no sign of them on their terminals, even though it was almost nine o'clock?
"Maybe the terminal's broken. My points haven't come through either..."
"Have your points come through...?"
"Could the system be delayed? I think they came around this time last month too..."
"You've got to be kidding! If they don't come soon, we won't even have money for lunch!"
Anxious whispers spread through the classroom.
Many students kept refreshing their Personal Terminals, talking among themselves.
Just as everyone was on the verge of losing control, the classroom's front door suddenly swung open.
Chabashira Sae walked in carrying a stack of papers. The hem of her black suit skirt swayed gently with her steady steps.
Her face was as cold as frost, and her gaze swept over the chaotic classroom.
"Kozue, is it that time of the month? Why do you look so awful?" Kanji Ike suddenly blurted out.
???
The entire classroom fell silent in an instant. Everyone turned to look at him in disbelief.
Chabashira Sae walked straight to the podium and slapped the papers down on it. The sharp sound made the already-stifling air feel even heavier.
"Ike, if your brain isn't working, you'd be better off donating it to someone who could use it."
"Your May Personal Points have all been distributed. Any questions?"
Although most of the students were still shaken, they instinctively took out their terminals to check.
Yet the screens were still completely blank.
Hirata Yosuke took a deep breath, tamped down his confusion, and gently raised his hand. Addressing the podium, he said:
"Chabashira-sensei, sorry to interrupt. We've all checked, and we really haven't received any notification that the points were credited. Could something have gone wrong...?"
The corner of Chabashira Sae's mouth curled into a cold, almost mocking smile. "The points were sent to you long ago. Nothing went wrong."
"You Class D students..." Her voice suddenly rose, barely containing her anger. "Have you still not realized it? You're unbelievably stupid!"
"It's not that the points weren't distributed. The points you received were simply zero."
"Zero?"
"How's that possible?"
"Weren't we supposed to get 100,000?"
After a brief silence, an even louder uproar erupted in the classroom.
Chabashira didn't explain. She simply wrote the situation of each class on the blackboard, then turned around to address the students:
"Class D was late or left early 89 times last month, chatted during class 196 times, played on their phones 423 times, and committed countless other violations. What more do you want? Do you even look like students?"
"What does that mean...?"
Even the slowest students now realized something was wrong. Things clearly hadn't been like this before.
Chabashira Sae continued with a cold smile. "Every class starts with 1,000 Class Points in its first month. Each point corresponds to 100 Personal Points. Your class has zero Class Points this month, so..."
"Your Personal Points this month are zero!"
"You've made history!"
"So that means..." Hirata Yosuke's voice was hoarse, trembling slightly. "We'll be completely broke from now on?"
Chabashira Sae snorted and didn't answer, but her icy gaze said everything.
Yamauchi Haruki and Kanji Ike sat there in a daze, slumped in their chairs. The others had at least a few points left, but those two had nothing at all.
Horikita Suzune's face was even colder than usual. The thought of having to make Kitagawa a bento for lunch made her look especially gloomy.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka rested his chin on one hand and let his gaze pass over everyone's faces, expressionless.
Ken Sudō slammed his hand on the desk and stood up, veins bulging at his temples. "You've got to be kidding! Why didn't you tell us ahead of time? If we'd known our points would all be deducted, who would've played on their phones or been late and left early?"
"Yeah, Chabashira-sensei, nobody ever told us any of this..."
"Couldn't you give us one more chance...?"
As if they'd found an opening, the students began chiming in.
Chabashira Sae continued to mock them:
"Are you elementary school students? Have you ever gone through compulsory education?"
"Why weren't the other classes wiped out? Look at Classes A and B. They only lost a few dozen points. Even Class C, which is at the same level as you, still has 520. Why do you think that is?"
"When you enrolled, the school assigned you to classes based on your performance. In other words, you've earned these results. Defective products are defective products."
"One more thing: the chance to choose whatever jobs you want and the opportunity to continue your education will be reserved for students who graduate from Class A. As long as your class has the highest Class Points, you'll be Class A. Of course, with your performance, and the strongest Classes A and B as your rivals, you have no chance."
Chabashira Sae's words pressed down on everyone like an iceberg.
"I won't accept this!"
"There's no way I'm on the same level as them!"
"This isn't what we were told before!"
"If you can't accept it," Chabashira said, tossing a stack of withdrawal forms onto the podium, "you can sign one now. Sign it, then get out."
No one dared move.
In Japan, dropping out was a very serious matter. It meant personally cutting yourself off from the conventional path through life.
"Besides, from now on, anyone who fails any exam will be expelled. Ten people failed last week's quiz. Luckily, that quiz won't count toward your grades."
After saying that, Chabashira Sae slammed the door as she left, thinking Class D's students were beyond saving.
Silence.
Despair hung over everyone like a tangible fog.
"Everyone!" Hirata Yosuke's gentle voice broke the silence.
"Don't lose heart yet. Chabashira-sensei also said that we'll have more chances to earn Class Points later. We're only temporarily behind."
"Our top priority is preparing for the midterm exams..."
Before he could finish, Yukimura Teruhiko abruptly stood up and asked, almost coldly, "Hirata, why didn't you buy the special information from Class B back then? It's all because you weren't decisive enough as a leader."
Hirata opened his mouth. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times before he finally said in a low voice, "...I misjudged the situation. I'm responsible."
"Responsible?" Yukimura sneered and glanced at Ken Sudō, Yamauchi Haruki, and Kanji Ike. "You three committed the most violations, didn't you? Why are you sitting there playing dead now?"
Everyone turned their eyes toward the three of them.
The three of them felt their scalps prickle under the stares. Ken Sudō couldn't help retorting, "I was acting with the club."
Yamauchi came to his senses too. "I wasn't the only one breaking the rules. You guys did it too."
Kushida Kikyo hurriedly tried to smooth things over, her voice as sweet as honey. "Come on, don't argue! I believe we can do this! If anyone doesn't have any points, I have a few left. You can borrow some from me to tide you over~"
"Kikyo-chan's the best~"
Horikita Suzune sat in her seat, her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palm.
Class D: zero points.
Class A: 980 points.
Her heart sank.
No wonder her older brother had said she was disgracing the family.
The gap between her brother's Class A and her Class D was so enormous.
"Horikita, what's wrong?"
Ayanokoji asked her out of politeness.
"None of your business..."