Sudo Fails

This morning in Class D was lively, because today was the day the midterm exam results would be announced.

Qiuyue hadn't suppressed his scores. He was very curious whether things would go the same as the original plot, with Sudo falling one point short of passing.

Teacher Chabashira strode into the classroom, and the students all became extremely nervous.

"Now I'm going to announce the midterm exam results. If I waited until after school, we wouldn't make the deadline for processing the paperwork."

"Huh...?"

Hearing this, most of the students had a pretty good idea of what the outcome would be and fell into silence, but clearly the failing group hadn't given up yet, bracing themselves with a death-or-glory attitude.

Teacher Chabashira paid no attention to the students' reactions and simply pasted the paper in her hand onto the blackboard.

"Yosh!"

Sudo jumped up in joy. The chart on the blackboard showed that even Sudo's lowest score, English, was 39 points.

Not a single person had a single subject marked with a red line for failing.

Ike and Yamauchi both stood up to celebrate with their buddy Sudo.

"Sudo, you seem to be celebrating a little too early."

Teacher Chabashira said this, then took a red pen from her pocket and drew a long red line across Sudo's English score.

"That's right, Sudo. Your English is a fail. You'll be expelled from the school."

"What! Teacher Chabashira, you're joking with me at a time like this, right? The failing line is 34 points, isn't it? I've got 39!"

"No, the failing line for this midterm is 41 points. So Sudo, you have indeed failed."

"Impossible! You're lying to me! I don't believe it! No, I can't accept this!"

Teacher Chabashira said nothing, but used an action to show Sudo.

She wrote a simple division problem on the blackboard and pointed at it, signaling Sudo to look.

82.6 ÷ 2 = 41.3

"The failing standard for this midterm is the average score divided by two. That's the failing line for the exam.

So? I haven't said a single false word. Too bad, Sudo. This is the end of the line for you."

Two points short? It's because I didn't suppress my scores, isn't it. Let me see what you're going to do next. Will it be the same as before, buying points?

Qiuyue thought this as he turned to look at Horikita and Ryuuen.

"How can this be... I... I'm... I'm going to be expelled?"

"Sudo, remember to write your withdrawal letter before school ends so I can process the paperwork. That's all."

"Teacher Chabashira, is Sudo really going to be expelled? Just for failing? Isn't there any remedy?"

Hirata stepped forward, trying to save Sudo, even though Sudo had clashed with him before.

"This is school policy. If you fail the exam, you're expelled. So Sudo's expulsion is non-negotiable."

"...But... what can we do..."

Teacher Chabashira looked at the lifeless classroom, sighed, and prepared to leave.

"If there's nothing else, homeroom ends here. And Sudo, remember to come to the faculty office after school to pick up your withdrawal letter. That's all."

Qiuyue frowned.

Still not acting? Is it really going to be just like the original plot, with Ayanokoji chasing after her to buy points? Did I not cause any butterfly effect at all? Was my worry unnecessary?

"...Teacher Chabashira, wait. I still have a question I need you to answer."

"Horikita? Well, this is a surprise. You actually step forward at a time like this. Let me hear what brilliant insight you have about Sudo's situation."

"No, that's not what I'm asking about. I want to know if any other classes have students who need to be expelled for failing."

"So that's what you're asking. It's not exactly confidential. Unfortunately for you, only our class has students who failed. None of the other classes do."

"...I see. Knowing the enemy's strength is also very important.

Then, Teacher Chabashira, I have another question. If a student in the class is expelled, will the class be penalized? If there is a penalty, please tell me what it is."

"Oh? No wonder your English score is so low. You predicted this situation with Sudo might happen, so you deliberately scored low. But it doesn't seem to have done much good."

Hearing what Teacher Chabashira said, the class all looked at Horikita's scores. Aside from that glaring 51 in English, her other scores were absurdly high.

"...Horikita... you..."

Sudo looked at Horikita with a very complicated expression, then thought of something, laughed bitterly, lowered his head, and clenched his fists.

"Don't change the subject, Teacher Chabashira. You haven't answered my question yet."

"Heh. The school hasn't specifically asked to keep this information confidential, but it hasn't said I can tell you either, Horikita.

However, I can make an exception and tell you, because I can feel you're going to surprise me again later. You seem to have anticipated this situation.

If a student in the class is expelled, the class will be penalized with a deduction of 200 class points. Now you know, Horikita. What are you going to do?"

Teacher Chabashira's words rekindled hope in Sudo, and everyone looked at Horikita expectantly.

Is she going to buy points? Will she? Horikita...

"Nothing. This is entirely the result of Sudo's own lack of effort, so of course he has to bear it himself—he made his bed, and I have no sympathy for him."

Horikita's words extinguished Sudo's last hope, and Teacher Chabashira's expression fell along with it.

"But this isn't just Sudo's problem. Because of him, the entire class will lose 200 points. That means Class D will fall further and further behind the other classes, and I can't accept that. So, Teacher Chabashira, please sell me the two points Sudo failed."

After hearing Horikita's words, Qiuyue began his analysis.

This is really different! Now Horikita is directly bringing it up in class. Was it Ayanokoji's idea? Or did she come up with it herself?

Even though I guessed this development might happen, if Horikita thought of it on her own, how did Ayanokoji make her grow so much in such a short time? What happened?

Too many questions I want to know—my head's starting to spin. I feel like I'm getting paranoid. Maybe I'm just overthinking it.

The entire class, Sudo, and even Teacher Chabashira were stunned by Horikita's statement. Then Teacher Chabashira burst out laughing.

"Ha ha ha ha! You're actually telling me to sell you points! Ha ha ha, that's impressive—I never even thought of that."

"Teacher Chabashira, you just need to answer me: yes or no."

"Heh, Horikita. The school rule is that points can buy anything available on campus. Theoretically, it does work. But the points required won't be cheap. Can you manage that?"