Shuichi Kanda's True Plan

[No idea what Ayanokoji and Horikita said to Chabashira-sensei, but that bastard Yamauchi's expulsion was actually revoked!]

You could tell from his words just how angry Miyake was.

[Is that so? Well, that's great. Looks like Ayanokoji followed the plan.]

[Huh? What do you mean?]

[It's a little complicated to explain. Come see me after school, and I'll tell you.]

Besides Miyake, Hirata had also messaged to check on me. He'd even apologized on behalf of that idiot Yamauchi and hoped I wouldn't be angry.

Come on, why would I be angry about this? Hirata, you're overthinking it.

I put away my chat device and opened my Student ID. Looking at the 20 million Private Points listed there, Shuichi Kanda felt a wave of relief.

That afternoon, while Shuichi Kanda was preparing ingredients in his room, someone began pounding urgently on the door. Miyake's voice came from outside.

I checked the time: 15:34.

Well, would you look at that. Miyake must've come straight over as soon as school let out.

I put down the kitchen knife, washed my hands, and opened the door for Akito Miyake.

What surprised me was that Miyake wasn't alone. He'd brought a guest: Kushida Kikyo.

"Oh? Kushida came too? Come on in. I'm preparing ingredients, but if you don't mind, you can stay for dinner."

Though a little surprised, Shuichi Kanda still invited Kushida Kikyo in.

I'd always suspected there might be something off about her, but she'd always behaved very well and had been very friendly toward me, so I considered her a friend.

Both of them paused for a moment when they saw what state I was in.

"Kanda, are you okay?"

"Yeah. If you're angry, I'll go beat the hell out of that Yamauchi guy right now."

What were you two even talking about? Still, thanks.

"Come on in first."

After preparing the ingredients, Shuichi Kanda washed his hands again, then sat facing Miyake on the floor. The only bed had been claimed by Kushida Kikyo.

So why did you two like my bed so much? Was it really that comfortable?

It took Shuichi Kanda quite a while to make Miyake and Kushida understand what he had in mind.

Honestly, the two of them were reasonably smart, but they still fell short of being truly clever. Ayanokoji had known how to play along without needing any reminders. I'd explained things to you two for ages, and you still nearly didn't get it.

Oh, right. I'd told Ayanokoji about the plan. But he'd understood it quickly, too. So really, the two of you were the problem.

"So, Kushida, I know this is asking a lot, but please keep Yamauchi in line."

Right. To stop Yamauchi from turning on us right away, we needed someone like Kushida to step in.

"I won't give up on Yamauchi. I believe he was just so scared that he blurted out something he didn't mean. I'll make sure he gets back on his feet and apologizes to Class D!"

Kushida Kikyo clenched her fist and gave herself a little pep talk.

All right, all right. Whatever makes you happy.

That evening, Kushida Kikyo didn't stay for dinner, so Shuichi Kanda and Akito Miyake had to split the extra food between them.

The result was that I ate until I was stuffed.

Oh well, I might as well go for a walk and digest. There was nothing else to do, and playing games all the time was getting boring.

But first, I should check on the thing I'd asked Ayanokoji to handle.

I took a contract out of my desk drawer. It was a contract certified by the school, signed by Shuichi Kanda and Yamauchi Haruki.

Of course, I hadn't been there when it was signed. Ayanokoji had gone in my place to sign it with Yamauchi Haruki.

It said:

Shuichi Kanda would handle the matter of failing the Midterm Exam and prevent Yamauchi from being expelled. However, if a future class exam required someone to be expelled, Yamauchi Haruki would take their place.

The terms were heavily against Yamauchi. But rather than leave the school immediately, he'd chosen to sign the contract when Ayanokoji called him out. Ayanokoji had then followed my plan and bought back the one point Yamauchi Haruki needed to pass.

In fact, if nobody had failed, the contract would have been void. But if someone still failed when they'd been given past exam questions to study, then that person would truly be beyond saving.

In that case, no matter who failed, we would put this plan into action. I just hadn't expected to be suspended for a week by sheer coincidence, so I'd had to leave it to Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

Fortunately, we'd still managed to get the contract in the end. It was as good as having a death warrant over Yamauchi.

So, in the end, Shuichi Kanda hadn't been deliberately targeting Yamauchi. That idiot had jumped right into the trap himself. How could I not find that funny?

Thanks to this exam, Yamauchi had not only made himself the class villain and helped unite the class, but had even selflessly decided to sacrifice himself when someone was bound to be sacrificed.

Compared to being expelled for failing the Midterm Exam, that made him dozens of times more admirable!

He was practically one of Class D's Ten Most Inspiring Figures!

At present, only Shuichi Kanda, Ayanokoji, and Yamauchi Haruki knew about the contract. I hadn't told Miyake or Kushida, and that idiot Yamauchi was even less likely to tell anyone.

That made the contract Yamauchi's real weakness. Using it to control him might have some unexpected effects.

After putting the contract away, I got a message from Chabashira-sensei. She wanted to meet by the lake where we'd met last time to discuss something.

Meanwhile, several people had gathered in Room 401 of the dormitory building—Ayanokoji's room.

"Cheers!"

Besides Ayanokoji himself, the Three Idiots, Horikita, and Kushida were there. Ayanokoji watched the three idiots making a racket on the floor with a thoroughly exasperated look.

"I don't mind you holding a party to celebrate, but why do you have to do it in my room?"

As if taking over his room without permission wasn't bad enough, Yamauchi had even copied his key card without permission. That was going too far.

"Don't sweat the small stuff. What matters is that my good friend Yamauchi isn't getting expelled!"

Ike grabbed a huge handful of chips and stuffed them into his mouth. Crumbs scattered all over the floor.

"Speaking of copying key cards, that Kanda guy put a Safety Protocol on his room. Unless you're a teacher or the Student Council President, you can't get his key card without his permission. He's definitely got something dirty hidden in there, right?"

"Maybe porn?"

"Could be! He's always leering at girls, so I wanted to sneak into his room and find some evidence. Then everyone would see what he's really like!"

Yamauchi Haruki spoke righteously, his expression brimming with justice, as though he'd caught a pest on everyone's behalf.

In reality, only Ayanokoji knew what his goal was.

Ike chimed in right after him. Both of them had a grudge against Shuichi Kanda, so they had no qualms about badmouthing him.

Sudo frowned at what he'd heard.

"I don't think Kanda's like that. He even helped me study."

"Then you haven't seen his true colors. I've figured it all out!"

Watching Yamauchi Haruki carry on, Horikita frowned as she sat reading by the head of the bed. She was starting to wonder whether it had been a mistake to let that idiot Yamauchi stay.

It was because she and Ayanokoji had each paid 50,000 Private Points that they'd been able to buy back the point Yamauchi had lost from Chabashira-sensei.

As for Kushida, she watched the three idiots making a racket with a smile. Apparently, as long as nobody was expelled, that mattered more to her than anything else.

"Anyway, it's great that nobody got expelled this time. Let's drink to that!"

Ike picked up his drink again and clinked it with Sudo and Yamauchi.

"Don't celebrate too soon. The Final Exam is next month, and there won't be any past exam questions to use as a reference. Kanda won't help you again, either."

"Who needs that guy's help?" Yamauchi scoffed.

"So... does that mean the hellish study sessions are starting again? Aah... this is the worst."

Thinking back to what they'd gone through before, Ike clutched his head and collapsed onto the floor.

"Why not start studying now, then, and avoid going through that again?"

"No way!"

"By the way, Ayanokoji, how did you get Chabashira-sensei to revoke Yamauchi's expulsion?" Kushida asked, looking at Ayanokoji with curiosity. She hadn't said much until then. "Even when Hirata said all that earlier, she still wouldn't agree."

The other three grew curious too and leaned forward, eager to hear the answer.

Ayanokoji glanced at Horikita and wondered, If Kanda were here, he'd probably pin the blame on Horikita, too.

"Actually, Horikita was the one who went to Chabashira-sensei and negotiated. You'd have to ask her for the details. I just know she really went all out."

Horikita glared at Ayanokoji but didn't contradict him.

"Really? Horikita, you're amazing."

The mood shifted, and everyone began praising Horikita—almost admiring her. Kushida's smile, however, looked a little strained.

Yamauchi's expression was also somewhat peculiar.

At the Artificial Lake near the dormitory, Shuichi Kanda strolled slowly along the shore.

"Sorry for the wait, Chabashira-sensei."

"Considering your walking speed, I haven't been waiting long."

Chabashira's words nearly left Shuichi Kanda speechless.

Was that a personal attack?

Was it because I'd refused to let you have your way during morning assembly?

Shuichi Kanda grumbled inwardly.

Fine, let's trade barbs!

"So, what does a homeroom teacher who works tirelessly for her class, giving everything she has, want with an ordinary student like me?"

"You really never let anything slide, do you?"

"No, no. I mean every word. Chabashira-sensei even gave us the wrong exam range to help us find a shortcut. I'm sure everyone appreciates it."

Shuichi Kanda quickly waved his hands, expressing his gratitude.

Then what was with all that sarcasm?

"Anyway, forget it. Let's talk business." Chabashira Sae looked a little exasperated. This guy was difficult to deal with.

"About Ayanokoji keeping Yamauchi from being expelled, I hope you won't hold it against him."

That was the real reason Chabashira had called Kanda out. She absolutely didn't want the two most capable students who could lead the class to Class A to fall out with each other.

Otherwise, forget making it to Class A. Class D would probably be torn to shreds.

Hearing Chabashira-sensei's words, Shuichi Kanda nearly stumbled into the lake.

What the hell? After all that, you called me out just to say this?

Come on, seriously? Is this really all you've got? You didn't see through the secret plan Ayanokoji and I came up with at all.

Chabashira was panicking, too. This year's Class D was the strongest she'd ever had as its homeroom teacher. There were simply too many outstanding students in the class, and her long-held wish was finally within reach.

She really didn't want to see Shuichi Kanda and Kiyotaka Ayanokoji come into conflict, so she hadn't even considered that the whole thing had been arranged by the two of them.

Shuichi Kanda was utterly speechless. But soon, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Chabashira-sensei, if Yamauchi doesn't get expelled, how am I supposed to face the class from now on? And Ayanokoji, who protected him, is obviously my enemy too."

Just as I thought...

Shuichi Kanda's words made Chabashira Sae's heart sink, and her expression darkened.

But soon, she noticed the smile on Shuichi Kanda's face.

This guy was trying to shake a few more points out of me, wasn't he?

Fair enough. He did spend quite a lot on food to get back into good health. It wouldn't hurt to give him a little support.

Shuichi Kanda had only been joking. He hadn't even asked for any points yet, and Chabashira-sensei had already come up with an excuse to give him some.