Class D
Though they had just learned the school's hidden rules, most of the students in Class D weren't happy at all.
"Everyone! Cheer up! We may be Class D, but if we work hard together, we can rise to Class A! First, let's all try our best not to zone out in class, play on our phones, arrive late, or skip class. We need to avoid losing points."
Hirata encouraged everyone.
"Are we really supposed to believe that information?"
Yamauchi still wasn't willing to believe it. More importantly, sitting through class like that would be incredibly boring.
"There's no harm in trying, and it won't hurt us. We've already lost so many points that we might not have many left next month. I'm asking everyone to stick with it for just one month, Yamauchi. Okay?"
"But..."
"Yamauchi, let's just follow the rules for now. Put up with it. I won't be able to take it if we really don't have any points to spend next month..."
Ike, Yamauchi's best friend, patted him on the shoulder. Even Sudo, sitting in the back, nodded.
"Tch... Fine."
"Thanks, Yamauchi."
Hirata let out a sigh of relief, stepped down from the podium, and returned to his seat to wait for class to begin.
A month passed in no time.
Class A: 980 Class B: 870 Class C: 760 Class D: 310
Qiuyue glanced at the numbers for the Class Points, somewhat surprised.
Class A didn't surprise me. Class B must have lost a lot of points in the first week. But Class C still had this many?
Class C must have lost a lot in the first week, too. After all, with Ryuen's way of running the class, injuries and absences were bound to cost them points. Yet they still had this many, which meant they'd hardly lost any points afterward. Was Ryuen's brutal control really that effective?
"This should be good news for you. You lost 490 points in the first week, so I thought I might end up leading the first class in the school's history to lose all its Class Points in its very first month."
"I have to say, even after learning the hidden rules, you still managed to lose 200 points. That's Class D for you!"
"You should thank the person who sold you the hidden rules. Thanks to them, you still have 31,000 personal points to spend."
No matter how you looked at it, Teacher Chabashira's tone sounded like she was mocking them.
That's right~ You'd better thank me! Hehehe~
"Now that I've finished with the good news, here's some bad news for you."
Teacher Chabashira spoke cryptically, then picked up a sheet of paper from her desk and stuck it to the blackboard.
Any student could tell what the paper Teacher Chabashira had posted on the board was.
It was the results sheet from their last quiz. The 100-point scores at the top were certainly impressive, but the few at the bottom marked with red lines stood out even more.
"Does it look nice? I was over the moon when I put this results sheet together.
"Do you understand? The students marked with red lines at the bottom all failed the last quiz.
"I have to commend you for protecting your Class Points with the information you bought from that certain someone.
"But look at this results sheet. You think I'm about to scold you, don't you? No. I really want to congratulate these nine students. Congratulations—you'll be leaving us soon."
"Teacher...? What did you say? What do you mean, leaving us?"
"Huh? I thought you all knew. Anyone who fails a midterm or final exam at this school gets expelled. Do you understand now?"
Qiuyue chuckled to himself.
You never told them that, of course. A bunch of lousy students and a teacher who loves to set traps—what a perfect match. Hahaha~
Nine people? Looks like I made the score gap a bit too big. There were only seven in the original story.
"Are you kidding me!? You've never told us anything like this, teacher!"
"Exactly! This makes no sense! Why should we get expelled just for failing?"
"Failing means getting expelled? What kind of school rule is that? Right, everyone?"
The nine students who had failed couldn't sit still any longer. They all stood up and loudly protested.
Teacher Chabashira paid no attention to their protests and simply continued writing on the blackboard.
68.8 ÷ 2 = 34.4
"The average score on the last quiz was 68.8. Divide that by two, and you get the failing score. Look for yourselves. Did any of the nine students marked in red at the bottom get 34 points?"
Teacher Chabashira didn't explain to the Failing Nine why failing meant expulsion.
That only made the Failing Nine look more and more grim. Their scores really were below 34.
"Teacher Chabashira, stop joking around. Getting expelled for failing makes no sense, right?"
"Yeah, you're joking, right, teacher?"
Teacher Chabashira still ignored them. Perhaps she didn't intend to care what happened to those nine at all.
Teacher Chabashira took the sheet off the blackboard, put some documents from her desk into her briefcase, and began zipping it up.
With everyone watching, she silently walked to the classroom door. Just before leaving, she stopped.
"You don't have to believe me. Even if you beg me, there's nothing I can do. Those are the school's rules. Do you think an institution known as the best school in the country would lack that kind of resolve?
"This school won't keep useless students who can't even manage their studies.
"Maybe if you use your heads and think of a solution, you'll find another way to avoid failing. If you can't, then say your goodbyes."
After saying this with her back to the class, she stepped outside without hesitation and closed the door behind her.
Qiuyue grumbled inwardly: Good grief, Teacher Chabashira. You haven't given up on them at all. You even left them a hint before you went. But I doubt any of them picked up on it.
The Failing Nine hung their heads in despair and slumped in their seats.
"Everyone, I think we could form study groups and help keep each other on track. We can learn from one another and make up for each other's weaknesses. To avoid failing, let's all study together for two or three hours every day."
The gloomy atmosphere radiating from the Failing Nine was broken by Hirata.
"Everyone's welcome, no matter how good or bad your grades are, so don't feel awkward about it. Let's all help one another."
When no one answered, Hirata continued to encourage them.
Four of the Failing Seven eagerly joined Hirata's study group.
Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo didn't join. They left the classroom instead.
Sudo simply didn't get along with Hirata. Ike and Yamauchi probably thought they wouldn't be able to get along with someone as popular as Hirata.
Qiuyue was a little puzzled.
Did no one really notice Teacher Chabashira's hint? It was so obvious. Hmm... except Ayanokoji, of course.
Late at night
Qiuyue had wrapped himself up from head to toe as he wandered between the various buildings, apparently searching for something.
"Where was it again? There were two places that fit the spot where Horikita argued with her brother in the original story. Whatever. I happen to have two pinhole cameras, so I'll put one in each place."
"Once the Student Council President checks the security footage, I won't be able to wear these clothes again. I'll cut them up in the café bathroom and flush them away. Good thing the café there is open 24 hours."
"Time to install the pinhole cameras. I'll do my best to avoid the school's cameras and take a roundabout route."
Qiuyue set off.
Before you continue