The Classroom of the Elite Backed by Black Technology

Kushida tilted her head slightly in confusion.

"Ah? Oh, I haven't checked yet, but I should be the same as everyone else." After trying to cover it up a little, Shuichi Kanda wore a strange expression. "Did something happen in class again this week?"

"I don't know, but the points haven't been distributed."

Kushida shook her head, indicating that she had no idea.

Shuichi Kanda looked at Horikita. Well, Horikita was reading and had not noticed his gaze at all.

Then he looked at Ayanokoji, who shook his head.

What did shaking your head mean? That you didn't know, or that the points hadn't been distributed?

Apparently understanding Shuichi Kanda's look, Ayanokoji hurriedly said, "I haven't received any points either."

I see. Got it. It looked like something had gone wrong again during the two days he had been absent.

"The Midterm Exam average scores will be added as Class Points, so I don't think Class D should have zero points. But since the points haven't been distributed, there must be some special circumstances. We should wait for Chabashira-sensei's announcement."

That sounded so reasonable, yet it was basically saying nothing.

Before long, Miyake arrived as well and complained to Shuichi Kanda about not receiving any points.

However, Shuichi Kanda had observed the class for a week and had not noticed anything unusual about his classmates.

No, wait.

That girl... Her name was Sakura Airi, right? She seemed a little nervous? Not worried about the points not being distributed, but nervous? Something felt off.

No, she seemed to be like that normally too. Was it just his imagination?

After briefly paying attention to her, Shuichi Kanda withdrew his gaze.

Not long after, Chabashira-sensei entered the classroom right as the bell rang.

After entering, she first glanced at Shuichi Kanda before slowly walking up to the podium.

The moment she stepped onto the podium, Ike impatiently stood up.

"Sae-chan-sensei! Are we getting points this month? Didn't you say the Midterm Exam average would become our score? Why didn't any points come in this morning? Don't tell me it's because of the punishment for Kanda being suspended for a week?"

Oh? I had barely taken my seat, and someone was already pointing the gun at me?

But before Shuichi Kanda could speak, Chabashira-sensei snapped back directly.

"Ike, I'm a teacher, so show me some respect when you speak. Call me Sae-chan again, and you'll be cleaning toilets."

Hearing that, Shuichi Kanda immediately stopped being angry and also understood why she had said that.

Looks like that head pat hit you pretty hard that day, Sae-chan~

Seeing Chabashira-sensei's expressionless face, Ike clearly realized she was not joking. He did not want to clean toilets—not only was it filthy, it was humiliating too.

"Besides, Kanda's punishment was issued before the points were added, so no points will be deducted because of it."

"Then why haven't the points been distributed?"

"Don't rush. I'll explain now."

Chabashira-sensei then picked up a piece of chalk and began writing on the blackboard behind her.

"These are this month's Class Points. To be honest, I've seen all the effort you put in. I'll acknowledge that much. Naturally, the school won't misjudge you either."

Then she showed all the students the Class Points for this round.

Class A: 822 points.

Class B: 759 points.

Class C: 513 points.

Class D: 90 points.

Class D's average score had actually reached ninety points this time. Not bad. But that was not what Shuichi Kanda was focused on. He wanted to know whether Sakayanagi had slipped up this time.

After all, their class had previously been ten Class Points behind Ichinose's Class B.

"Chabashira-sensei, has the class ranking changed this time?"

"I know what you want to ask. Class A is still Mashima-sensei's class."

Mashima... So Sakayanagi had not only stabilized her class's situation, but also suppressed Class B? That shouldn't be possible. She had been busy with internal conflict and should not have had the energy to deal with Class B.

And Class C's points did not seem to have increased much either. Could it be that Class C had dragged Class B down with them?

Still, even with such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they had failed to seize it. As expected, there was still a gap in the overall quality of Class B and Class A.

Of course, it was also possible that someone from Class A had hired Ryuen to interfere with Class B. As for what price they had paid, probably no one knew.

"But we do have points, don't we? Why haven't they been distributed?"

Shuichi Kanda did not understand that either, so he waited for Chabashira-sensei's answer.

"There was a dispute this time, so the first-year points will be distributed later than usual. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait a little longer."

The students also began voicing their complaints and dissatisfaction.

"Quiet. This was the school's decision, and there's nothing I can do. Once the dispute is resolved, the school should distribute the points. If... there are any points left."

So, what the fuck had happened to this class now?

Kushida, the Capable Little Angel

During lunch break, Shuichi Kanda picked up his phone and sent Sakayanagi Arisu a text.

[You're quite capable, Classmate Sakayanagi. Not only did you suppress Class B, you even kicked them down hard.]

Before long, a reply came from the other end.

[That was thanks to the past exam questions Classmate Kanda provided.]

Seeing that reply, Shuichi Kanda frowned. Could the sharp drop in Class B and Class C's Class Points really have had nothing to do with her?

The past exam questions were what Shuichi Kanda had sold Sakayanagi before the exam.

Although Sakayanagi was clever, she had unexpectedly failed to spot the loophole in past exam questions. She definitely hadn't watched the first round of the Chunin Exams in Naruto.

Thus, after paying 400,000 Private Points, she obtained the past exam questions from Shuichi Kanda.

It wasn't that Shuichi Kanda didn't want more; Sakayanagi Arisu truly couldn't squeeze out another drop.

[Give me a break. A set of past exam questions can't create a gap of nearly a hundred points between you and Class B.]

[Want to know? If Classmate Kanda pays me 400,000 Private Points, I can tell you.]

Seeing that, Shuichi Kanda closed his chat with Sakayanagi and stopped replying.

I, Shuichi Kanda, will not be threatened!

Unless you block my door.

By this point, Shuichi Kanda had basically figured out what was going on. Setting Class D aside, Class B and Class C's Class Points had barely changed after this Midterm Exam, while Class A alone had emerged unscathed.

The first possibility to consider was that Class B and Class C had fallen for Class A's scheme to sow discord.

The one who had been provoked should have been Class C, because he really couldn't imagine someone named Ichinose mobilizing Class B's students to mutually destroy themselves with Class C.

So the truth was actually obvious: Class C had accepted benefits from Sakayanagi, then mutually destroyed themselves with Class B.

Of course, there was another possibility: Class C had attacked every class at once. Class A had that old turtle Katsuragi holding the line externally, while Sakayanagi stabilized the class internally, so they had not suffered any major losses.

But Class B had been dealt a severe blow in this incident. Not only had they lost their chance to challenge Class A, they had also been dragged down alongside Class C.

As for the method, Shuichi Kanda could roughly guess it as well.

With the chance to become Class A right in front of them, Class B's students would naturally seize it. While feeling excited, they would surely accumulate the same amount—or even more—pressure.

Pressure created openings, and Ichinose herself was probably not as capable as Sakayanagi plus Katsuragi. Therefore, she couldn't keep her classmates under control, creating a gap that Class C had perfectly exploited.

At the same time, Class C had not abandoned its attacks on Class D either. After all, Class D's points had yet to be distributed.

As for whether his guess was right, all he had to do was verify it.

Then it was your turn to take the stage, little angel Kushida!

[Help me investigate Class C's movements, especially any conflicts they've had with other classes.]

[Huh? Why do I have to do something so troublesome?]

[And why are you so naturally starting to order me around?]

[Do you really think I'm your slave?]

I send one message and you fire back three, huh? Kushida-san, are you getting too full of yourself?

[Do you think listening to you spew filth every day comes free? Cut the crap and get to it. I want the results before dinner!]

In fact, there was another way to get accurate information on this matter.

Shuichi Kanda looked at the contact information for the only Class C student on his phone. After hesitating for a while, he chose to give up.

Hiyori Shiina seemed like the kind of person who disliked getting involved in class conflicts. Asking her might not accomplish anything.

Besides, asking her about this would make it seem like he was damaging their relationship as fellow book lovers, so he decided to forget it.

After handing the task to Kushida, Shuichi Kanda returned to his normal school life.

In fact, Kushida's information came very quickly. By the time Shuichi Kanda finished his club activities, he saw the unread messages on his phone.

[Recently, Ryuen from Class C has been directing Class C's students to harass Class A and Class B. And I've also figured out why the class didn't receive its points.]

[As expected of everyone's little angel, Kushida. You did great. Come to my room later, and I'll reward you properly.]

[Die.]

Putting away his phone, Shuichi Kanda went to the cafeteria with Akito Miyake. On days when he had club activities, Shuichi Kanda generally didn't cook. It was too exhausting.

When Shuichi Kanda returned to the dorm after dinner, he and Akito Miyake happened to run into Kushida and Sudo as they came out of Ayanokoji's room.

What was going on?

Kushida Kikyo! You actually hooked up with Ayanokoji behind my back?

"Ah! Classmate Kanda, you're back."

Sudo was also stunned. Then he raised his head and looked at Shuichi Kanda.

"Kanda! You have to save me!"

Watching Sudo run straight toward him, Shuichi Kanda had really wanted to remind him that running in the halls was forbidden.

Ten minutes later, Shuichi Kanda's room was more crowded than it had ever been.

"So, what exactly happened?"

Shuichi Kanda sat in a chair, while Sudo, Ayanokoji, and Miyake sat on the floor. Kushida sat on the bed.

Sudo then told Kanda what had happened. Shuichi did not know whether he had embellished anything, but it sounded fairly reasonable.

In short, Komiya Yogo, who had always been at odds with Sudo in the Basketball club, told him, "Don't leave after school." Sudo had then actually followed him to the Special Building, where there were no surveillance cameras.

There, he ran into Ishizaki and Kondo, who were in the same class as Komiya.

Then, for some unknown reason, the two sides started fighting. Sudo had fiercely taken down all three of them without suffering a scratch.

The other side then reported it to the school, claiming that Sudo had beaten them up unilaterally, while Sudo kept insisting that he had acted in self-defense.

"Then how badly were the three of them injured?"

"I honestly didn't hit them that hard. Who knew they'd be so fragile?" Sudo scratched his head impatiently.

So what exactly had happened? Shuichi Kanda looked toward Kushida.

"I heard all three of them were seriously injured, and one of them even had a broken arm."

I see. Still, why did this sound so familiar?

Oh, right!

Wasn't this the same trick I used against Yahiko Totsuka from Class A?

Someone copied me!?

"So, Sudo, what did you say when Chabashira-sensei questioned you?"

"Come to think of it, Chabashira-sensei was acting a little strange. She told me not to admit anything, no matter what happened."