Promotion to A, Class Adjustment.

"There's one last thing to say, and of course, it's the most important."

Hoshinomiya cleared her throat lightly, reining in the bright smile on her face, though the laughter in her eyes was impossible to hide.

"After everyone's efforts this month, Class B has officially become Class A!"

From beneath the lectern, she pulled out a nameplate that had been placed there at some unknown time. The number on it read, unmistakably, First Year, Class A.

As they stared at the brand-new nameplate in Hoshinomiya's hand, everyone's faces lit up with joy.

They understood what Class A meant. It represented the freedom to choose any industry upon graduation or entry into the university of their choice.

And now, after just one month, they had earned that opportunity.

For a moment, all of them were swept up in excitement, their eyes burning as they fixed on the nameplate bearing the words "Class A."

"Congratulations!"

Just as Hoshinomiya was about to say something more, she found herself overthrown from below.

Pouting with displeasure, her cute expression vividly animated on her small face, she stepped down from the lectern with a look of utter grievance:

"Yuki-kun, you're mean. Disrespecting the teacher: minus 10 points. Overthrowing your superior: minus 100 points."

Yuki Gyakukai, now on the lectern, paid no attention to Hoshinomiya's nonsensical complaints.

He waved a hand dismissively, as if shooing her away:

"Teacher, don't say strange things. Just do what you're supposed to do. The rest of the time is mine."

"Hai—"

After brushing off Hoshinomiya, Yuki Gyakukai turned his gaze to the students seated in the classroom.

He reached out, took the nameplate from Hoshinomiya's hand, and displayed it once more before everyone:

"Everyone, remember: our current status is only First Year, Class A, not Third Year, Class A. Don't let your guard down."

"Yes, sir!" *40

Hoshinomiya, what are you even joining in for?

He shot a rather odd glance at Hoshinomiya, who was pumping her fists beside him.

Withdrawing his gaze, Yuki Gyakukai gathered his thoughts and spoke again:

"All of you performed well this month, but there are still shortcomings."

Meeting everyone's puzzled looks, Yusoku Gyakukai explained slowly:

"Take me, for example. As the class leader, I have to constantly monitor the situation within our class and keep track of other classes to analyze the current state of affairs.

But in the end, one person's strength is limited. So now, I need to borrow your strength to share some of the burden."

As Yusoku Gyakukai spoke, the students below began to think.

Reflecting on everything that had happened over the past month, they couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

From discovering the rules at the start, to trading with other classes midway, organizing gatherings, rallying people, managing the class...

They had participated in very little of it.

In truth, the reason they had reached Class A so quickly was due to the efforts of just a few people in the class.

And the one who had put in the most effort was their leader—Yuki Gyakukai.

They... seemed to have relied a bit too much on their leader.

At the back of the classroom, Tomie found herself reflecting for once.

Could it be that she had been pushing her fiancé too hard this month? Surely... that wasn't the case?

Tomie wasn't confident. She began to doubt as she thought back over the past month.

Most of the time, the two of them had eaten together, gone fishing, strolled, walked, watched movies, shopped...

Maybe... she really should give her fiancé more time. But then again, would someone with a constitution like a monster's even worry about things like this?

As Miss Tomie reflected, doubt crept in.

But... her doubt was completely correct!

Yusoku Gyakukai's real goal, from start to finish, was simply to train the people in his class.

He didn't want to become the class's workhorse. He wanted to slack off too. So he needed to find talented people to set as examples.

Even the reward system he had mentioned earlier was set up to draw out the class's hidden talents.

"I'm sorry, Gyakukai-kun. I completely failed to notice any of this."

From her seat, Ichinose pushed back her chair and stood up, her face full of guilt as she bowed solemnly to Yuki Gyakukai.

"I didn't think this through regarding your concerns. So if there's anything you need my help with, please tell me anytime. I'll give it my all!"

The others, who had been feeling low and guilty, also lifted their heads one by one and responded.

"That's right. We're all members of this class. From now on, Gyakukai-kun, if you have any worries, feel free to share them. Everyone will help."

"Gyakukai, you should have said something like this earlier. That's not fair to us. If you'd just asked, I'd have been there for sure."

"It's true, actually—I've wanted to help for a long time, but there are just too few places in the class where I can be useful. I'm sorry for causing everyone trouble."

"There's no need to be like that. Even if your individual performance isn't outstanding, as long as you don't cause trouble for the class, that's still a form of support."

"..."

Watching the class members liven up again, Hoshinomiya, their homeroom teacher, looked positively delighted.

For her, while keeping Sae Chabashira's class pinned in D was important, having her own class stay in A was an equally rare and pleasant surprise.

"Everyone, let's keep working hard together from now on!"

A strong leader, an active class—compared to the other three classes, theirs was far too good.

Satisfied with the current situation, Yuki Gyakukai gave a light cough to stop the class's commotion.

"Since everyone's said that, I won't hold back either.

Right now, we need to establish a vice-class representative position, mainly to help me manage the class's daily affairs at school, so I can focus all my energy on the special exams."

"Everyone can nominate themselves or recommend others."

Hearing the request, the class naturally began to think.

"I'll do it."

As one of the two most popular beauties in the class, Ichinose naturally had plenty of people recommending her, but there were also those with different opinions.

"Sorry, Honami, but I'd actually rather recommend Tomie. Please forgive me."

As Tomie's die-hard fan, Amikura Asako stabbed her best friend in the back right then and there.

"It's fine, Asako. I'm happy that you didn't side with me just because we're friends."

On the podium, Gyakukai watched the sisterly affection and interrupted them:

"Sorry, but Tomie isn't participating in any elections. From now on, she'll be my personal little assistant, serving only me."

"Eh—! Gyakukai-kun is way too biased. I want to be favored too."

Gyakukai crossed his arms over his chest and rejected it outright!

As for Tomie, who had originally wanted to compete for the vice-class representative position, she covered her mouth with her hand, holding back a light laugh.

How adorable.

In the end, after the class's serious selection:

The vice-class representative position went to Honami Ichinose.

Organizing cultural studies was handled by Chihiro Shiramami and Amikura Asako.

Organizing physical training was handled by Ryuji Kanzaki and Shibata Hayate.