Deducted Points

"Shinohara, after we get our points today, let's go to the mall and buy some new clothes."

"Sure, Karuizawa, but I just checked and I haven't received this month's points yet."

"Probably just a school system delay, don't worry about it."

"Yeah, I guess. It's not like a single point came through."

"Ike, when the points hit, let's go buy that latest game console together!"

"You just want me to buy it so you don't have to, Yamauchi, right?"

"Haha, you caught me."

Mu Tianchen walked into the classroom and immediately heard the chatter of his classmates. They were mostly planning how to spend the points they'd supposedly received this month, with most still unaware that the amount deposited was actually zero.

He went straight to his seat. He'd barely sat down when the bell rang, signaling the start of class.

Almost simultaneously, Teacher Chazhu entered the classroom with a stern expression.

Though she usually looked like that, today it was noticeably worse. After stepping inside, she slammed the documents she was carrying onto the podium—something she normally did gently.

Seeing this, the students immediately stopped talking. Those standing by others' desks quickly returned to their seats, and the classroom fell silent in an instant.

"Teacher Chazhu, is it that time of the month for you or something?"

Ike, completely ignoring the atmosphere, spoke up first, probably thinking he was being funny. His usual buddies Sudo and Yamauchi looked at him with admiration, as if they expected Teacher Chazhu to come down hard on him in her current mood.

Most of the girls, however, shot him looks of disgust, as if to say, "How gross."

Ike Kanji had sworn at the start of the semester that he'd find a girlfriend, but it was no wonder he hadn't managed to yet. It was already a miracle the girls didn't outright despise him.

Unexpectedly, Teacher Chazhu completely ignored him and began speaking:

"We'll start the homeroom now. But before that, if you have any questions, you'd better ask them now!"

Seeing that she hadn't gone after Ike, Sudo and Yamauchi visibly breathed a sigh of relief on his behalf.

Mu Tianchen scanned the class. Several students had already raised their hands, probably wanting to ask why the points hadn't arrived.

"Hondo, stand up and ask your question."

Teacher Chazhu picked the person closest to her to speak.

"Um... Teacher, I wanted to ask—didn't you say the points would be deposited on the first of every month? I checked this morning and didn't receive any. Is it a school system glitch?"

"System glitch? You're adorably stupid. Let me tell you plainly: the points have definitely been deposited!"

"Then why didn't I get them?"

"Yeah, none of us got them either."

"Did the school forget about us?"

Hearing Teacher Chazhu say the points had already been deposited, the students were confused and voiced that they hadn't received anything.

"You're all so foolish!"

Teacher Chazhu roared angrily. The students quieted down at once.

Once the room was silent, she continued:

"I'll say it again! The points have been deposited! The other classes have received theirs too. There's no way you were the only ones left out!"

"Then what's going on?" Ike still seemed confused.

At that moment, Beauty Bro suddenly turned around and spoke to Mu Tianchen:

"Boy, I'll give you a chance. Stand up and reveal the answer." His tone carried a hint of mockery.

"Me? No, no. I'm not really interested in this." Though Mu Tianchen knew what was going on, he had no desire to stand out as usual.

"You really aren't beautiful." With that, Takagahara turned back, propped his legs up on the desk, and burst into loud laughter, instantly drawing the whole class's attention.

"What are you laughing at, Takagodera?" Teacher Chazhu asked sternly.

"Hahaha, teacher, I'm laughing because I've already figured it out. This means our class got zero points, right?"

Hearing this, the others began to suspect the same and begged Teacher Chazhu to confirm it.

"Teacher, is what he said true?"

"Say something!"

Seeing Teacher Chazhu stay silent, Takagodera spoke again:

"You're all a bunch of useless trash. You still can't accept this fact!"

"Who are you calling trash? Say that again!"

Hearing this, Sudo couldn't sit still anymore. He kicked his chair aside, stood up, and pointed at Takagodera.

Teacher Chazhu scolding him was one thing, but a classmate doing it—he absolutely couldn't take that.

"Who else could it be? Someone just like you, right, RedBoy!" Takagodera seemed utterly unafraid of Sudo and kept up the taunts.

"You...!" Sudo dashed straight in front of Takagodera and grabbed him by the collar.

At this point, Teacher Chazhu finally had enough: "Sudo, get back to your seat! And all of you, quiet down!"

Hearing Teacher Chazhu's command, Sudo let go of Takagodera, returned to his seat in defiance, picked up his chair, and sat down.

"Although Takagodera's attitude was terrible, the fact remains: you're all worthless wastes who received zero points!"

The class heard Teacher Chazhu's words and, realizing it was true, lowered their heads one by one. Just then, the class's temporary leader, Hirata, stood up: "Teacher, I want to know why we didn't receive any points."

"Yeah, otherwise everyone might not be able to accept it." Karuizawa Kei chimed in, backing Hirata.

Come to think of it, Mu Tianchen had noticed her hanging around Hirata a lot lately, and now she was speaking up in support. Could she be his girlfriend or something?

Highly likely! After all, Hirata was a universally liked social butterfly, and Karuizawa Kei was cute too—they gave off a very matching vibe.

"Since you ask, I'll tell you! All of you, prick up your ears and listen well!" As she spoke, she swept her gaze across the class, as if warning those who weren't paying close attention. Once she saw everyone was serious, she began: "Tardiness and absences total 98 times! Private conversations and phone use in class total 348 times! And sleeping in class total 250 times! You've really outdone yourselves! So you've been docked all your points!"

"Teacher, you never told us this before!"

"Yeah, how were we supposed to know without a warning?"

"The handbook given at enrollment didn't mention any of this either..."

One by one, the students below started blaming Teacher Chazhu and the rules, completely oblivious to their own mistakes.