The Virtuous Classmate Takahashi

Chabashira-sensei descended like a thunderbolt, smacking Hoshinomiya-sensei on the head with a book clip. With a sharp thump, Hoshinomiya-sensei crouched down, clutching her head with a pitiful expression.

"That hurts, little Sae."

"That's what you get for sexually harassing my students."

"That's because you weren't here, little Sae. As your dear friend, it's only right I welcomed them." Hoshinomiya-sensei puffed out her cheeks.

Chabashira-sensei ignored her, turning instead to Takahashi and Ayanokouji:

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Follow me to the guidance room."

"Charming teacher, I'm Takahashi Shinma. Looking forward to our next meeting. Bye-bye~"

Not far along, Takahashi noticed Hoshinomiya-sensei sneaking after them and deliberately raised his voice.

Chabashira-sensei heard it, turned back, and fixed Hoshinomiya-sensei with a glare. "Don't follow us."

"Don't be so cold. Letting me listen in wouldn't hurt, would it? Besides, little Sae isn't exactly the type to give students guidance. Calling two handsome boys to the guidance room like this... couldn't it be... ehehe." Caught out, Hoshinomiya-sensei strode forward boldly, even draping a hand on Takahashi's shoulder and whispering very quietly: "Takahashi-kun, that wasn't very nice."

Hiss—why did the air feel so thick with gunpowder? Didn't Hoshinomiya say they were best friends? Takahashi sucked in a sharp breath, thoughts churning.

"Keep your filthy ideas to yourself." Chabashira-sensei sounded impatient.

"Little Sae, you wouldn't be thinking of defying your superior, would you?" Before Chabashira-sensei could finish, Hoshinomiya-sensei cut in with a teasing tone.

Defying a superior? What did that mean? Could it be that this school didn't just rank students, but teachers too? Haha, if that was the case, this one discovery alone made the trip worthwhile. Takahashi speculated silently.

"Have you ever seen me do anything to defy a superior?" Chabashira-sensei replied coldly.

"Hehe, we've known each other so long. Of course I know little Sae wouldn't." Hoshinomiya-sensei seemed to hint at something, whether intentionally or not.

"Stop following. This is Class D's internal business. You shouldn't have authority over this yet." Chabashira-sensei's voice turned icy again.

"I just wanted to go to the guidance room too. Look, my student is over there." Hoshinomiya-sensei pointed ahead.

A well-developed, pretty girl with light pink hair came into view.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, I'm sorry to bother you, but could you spare a moment? I have some student council matters I'd like to ask about." The girl glanced at Ayanokouji and Takahashi, then withdrew her gaze and addressed Hoshinomiya.

"Hmph. Your student's come for you. You should deal with your own class's problems first."

"Alright then. See you next time, Takahashi-kun." With that, Hoshinomiya-sensei gave Takahashi's waist a light pinch. "Fanbo-chan, come with me to the staff office."

Faced with Hoshinomiya-sensei's little move, Takahashi thought about firing back with a tease or two, but meeting Chabashira-sensei's unfriendly gaze, he silently swallowed his words.

After confirming Hoshinomiya-sensei had left with the pretty girl named Fanbo, Chabashira-sensei rubbed her temples and headed for the guidance room.

Once inside, Chabashira-sensei glanced at the clock on the wall, let out a breath, then opened another door inside the guidance room, revealing a tea room. "You two wait here. Don't talk, don't do anything. Or you can expect your expulsion notices."

Without waiting for Takahashi or Ayanokouji to protest, Chabashira-sensei closed the tea room door, leaving the two of them blinking at each other.

Knock knock knock. A series of knocks came at the door.

"Come in." Before the visitor could speak, Chabashira-sensei continued: "Horikita, say what you want to say directly."

"Why was I assigned to Class D?"

Horikita's cool voice rang out—still as blunt as ever.

"If I understand correctly, excellent students are placed in Class A, and incompetent ones in Class D, aren't they?"

"Are you dissatisfied with Class D, Horikita? Forgive me for speaking plainly, but do you really think you're that excellent?"

"On the entrance exam, I'm confident I answered at least ninety percent correctly."

"You certainly have confidence. Fine. Normally, entrance exam papers aren't shown to students, but I'll make an exception this once." Handing Horikita's exam paper to her, Chabashira-sensei continued: "Honestly, Horikita, your scores are excellent. You tied for third place, and your interview was fine."

"Then why was I assigned to Class D? I don't understand. Why was I placed in the bottom class?"

"Heh. Horikita, your self-awareness is lacking." Chabashira-sensei sneered. "Do you really think this school only sorts by entrance exam scores? Who said that good grades mean Class A, and bad grades mean Class D?"

"That... isn't that common sense from school, since childhood?"

"Heh. Horikita, you're so naive. Do you really think you can survive in this rotten society on grades alone?" Chabashira-sensei crossed her arms and crossed her legs. "Horikita, as your teacher, let me tell you: if you judge a person's worth only by grades, the result is a bunch of unscrupulous people wielding power at the top. They gang up to push out the few truly excellent people, and in the end, they pass that power down to their own children."

Hearing this, Takahashi blinked. Quite a few of the leadership class were from the Takahashi family, and even those who weren't were more or less connected to them.

Did that feel like an insult? He'd been morally upright since childhood—except for pulling down a male classmate's pants in elementary school, tricking his four-year-old cousin into thinking poop was tasty and worth a taste, poking that same cousin's butt with a used popsicle stick, scattering thumbtacks in front of his dad's car tires after getting scolded, pissing in his dad's tea, and using body wash to bathe his grandpa's fish until they all died. Aside from that, his virtue was like a brilliant beacon, lighting up everyone around him; like a towering mountain, worthy of admiration. Being with him was like a spring breeze—every word and action spread kindness and warmth. Thinking that, Takahashi decided he wasn't being insulted.

"Mm..." Horikita had no rebuttal.

"Of course, I won't deny that good grades are a kind of ability. But if you think your grades alone should put you in Class A, keep dreaming. Besides, some people don't want to be in Class A."

Hearing Chabashira-sensei's words, Horikita shot back immediately:

"How could anyone be like that?"

"Oh? I think there are people who don't want to live under heavy pressure and competition."

"But I'm not that kind of weirdo. Sensei, please double-check whether I was misassigned."

Chabashira-sensei shook her head. "Like I said before, Horikita, your self-awareness is lacking."

"I'll ask the school administration."

"They won't care about this. Horikita, you've been placed in Class D. If you can raise Class D's class points above Class A's before graduation and move up to Class A, then you'll be Class A material."

"How is that possible? With that bunch of dead-last losers? How could they possibly raise the class points above Class A?"

"That's none of my concern. If you want to graduate in Class A, I think this is the best way."

In the staff break room, Takahashi listened with his eyes closed to the conversation between Chabashira-sensei and Horikita. He could sense that this was the best method, but not the only one. Leading the class to increase points and surpass Class A wasn't the sole path—didn't that mean an individual could also ascend to Class A? Only, the cost would be enormous.

"Then, sensei, I'll take my leave." Seeing Chabashira-sensei's attitude, Horikita said nothing more.

"By the way, I didn't just call you here. I also called two others. Come out, Takahashi, Ayanokouji."