"There's one last thing to announce. And, of course, it's the most important one."
Hoshinomiya coughed lightly twice and reined in her bright smile, though the amusement in her eyes refused to fade.
"Thanks to everyone's hard work over the past month, Class B has officially become Class A!"
She reached beneath the podium and pulled out a nameplate that had been placed there at some point. The words "First-Year Class A" were clearly displayed on it.
Seeing the brand-new nameplate in Hoshinomiya's hands, everyone wore delighted expressions.
They all knew what being Class A meant: upon graduation, they would be free to choose their career path or enter the university of their choice.
And after just one month, they had already earned that opportunity.
Everyone was fired up, their eyes fixed on the nameplate bearing the words "Class A."
"Congratulations!"
Just as Hoshinomiya was about to say something else, she was upstaged again.
She pouted in discontent, her adorable expression vivid on her little face, then walked down from the podium looking aggrieved.
"Yuki, you're bad. Minus ten points for disrespecting your teacher, and minus a hundred for upstaging me."
Yuki Gyakukai, who had stepped onto the podium, paid no attention to Hoshinomiya's baffling remarks.
He waved his hand indifferently, as if shooing her away.
"Teacher, don't say such strange things. Just do what you're supposed to do. The rest of the time is mine."
"Sure—"
After sending Hoshinomiya off, Yuki Gyakukai looked straight at everyone seated in the classroom.
He took the nameplate from Hoshinomiya and held it up for everyone to see again.
"Everyone, remember that our current status is only First-Year Class A. We're not Third-Year Class A yet, so don't let your guard down."
"Yes!" *40
Hoshinomiya, what are you butting in for?
He shot Hoshinomiya, who was standing nearby and pumping her fists, a rather odd look.
Then he turned his attention back to the class and gathered his thoughts before speaking again.
"Everyone has done very well over the past month, but there's still room for improvement."
As the others looked on in confusion, Yusoku Gyakukai slowly explained:
"Speaking for myself, as the class leader, I have to keep an eye on what's happening in our class at all times. I also have to watch the other classes and assess the situation."
"But one person's strength is ultimately limited, so I need your help now. I need you to take some of the burden off my shoulders."
As Yusoku Gyakukai spoke, the students below began to reflect.
Thinking back on everything that had happened over the past month, they couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.
From discovering the rules at the beginning, to trading with other classes midway through, organizing gatherings, recruiting people, and managing the class...
They had played very little part in any of it.
When all was said and done, the real reason they had reached Class A so quickly over the past month was the hard work of a handful of people in the class.
And the one who had worked the hardest was their leader, Yuki Gyakukai.
They seemed to have relied a little too much on their leader, Yuki Gyakukai.
At the back of the classroom, Tomie was unusually deep in thought.
Had she been squeezing her fiancé too hard this past month? She didn't think so... probably?
Tomie was a little uncertain as she reconsidered everything that had happened over the past month.
Most of the time, the two of them had eaten together, gone fishing, strolled around, taken walks, watched movies, and gone shopping...
Maybe she really should give her fiancé a little more time. But then again, would someone with Yuki's monstrous constitution even be troubled by this?
As she reflected, Miss Tomie couldn't help wondering.
And yet... her suspicions were completely correct!
From beginning to end, Yusoku Gyakukai's real goal had simply been to develop the people in his class.
He didn't want to become the class's workhorse. He wanted to slack off too, so he planned to identify some talented people and hold them up as examples.
Even the reward system he'd mentioned earlier had been created to bring out the class's talent.
"I'm sorry, Yuki. I didn't pay any attention to these things at all."
Ichinose pushed back her chair and stood up. Her face full of guilt, she gave Yuki Gyakukai a solemn apology.
"I didn't think things through when it came to your problem. If there's anything you need my help with, just tell me. I'll do everything I can!"
The others, whose spirits had been low and who felt guilty, raised their heads and chimed in one after another.
"That's right. We're all members of the class. If you have any concerns from now on, Yuki, feel free to talk to us. We'll all help."
"Yuki, you should've said so earlier! That wasn't cool of you. If you'd asked, I would've been there."
"Exactly. I've wanted to help for a long time, but there's been so little I could do for the class. I'm sorry for causing everyone trouble."
"There's no need to feel that way. Even if you're not especially capable, as long as you don't cause trouble for the class, you're still helping."
"..."
Seeing the class members come to life again, Hoshinomiya, their homeroom teacher, was delighted too.
Keeping Sae Chabashira's class stuck in Class D had always been important to her.
But having her own class stay in Class A would be an unexpected delight as well.
"Everyone, let's keep working hard together!"
With a strong leader and an energetic class, they were simply far better off than the other three classes.
Very pleased with how things stood, Yuki Gyakukai coughed lightly twice to quiet the class.
"Since everyone feels that way, I won't hold back."
"We need to establish a deputy class leader. Their main job will be to help me manage our day-to-day affairs at school, so I can devote all my energy to the Special Exams."
"You can nominate yourself or recommend someone else."
Hearing what was required, everyone began to think it over.
"I'll do it."
As one of the two most popular girls in the class, Ichinose was sure to have plenty of people recommend her, though some had other opinions.
"Honami, I'm sorry. I actually want to recommend Tomie. Please forgive me."
As Tomie's devoted fan, Amikura Asako had just stabbed her good friend in the back.
"It's okay, Asako. I'm happy you didn't choose me just because we're friends."
On the podium, Yuki Gyakukai watched them display their sisterly affection and couldn't help interrupting:
"Sorry, but Tomie won't be participating in any elections. From now on, she'll be my personal assistant, serving me alone."
"Whaaat?! Yuki, you're so biased! I want to be favored too."
Yuki crossed his arms over his chest and rejected her outright!
Tomie, who had been about to compete for the deputy class leader position, covered her smiling mouth with her hand.
She really was adorable.
After everyone in the class made their considered choices, the position of deputy class leader went to Honami Ichinose.
Chihiro Shiramami and Amikura Asako would be responsible for organizing academic study sessions.
Ryuji Kanzaki and Shibata Hayate would be responsible for organizing physical training.
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