Reactions from Each Class

As the saying went, some rejoiced while others grieved. While the current Class A was still immersed in the joy of its promotion, the former Class A's atmosphere had already sunk to rock bottom.

"What?" When Mashima Tomoya announced the school's hidden rules, the conduct assessment results, and the final scores from the podium, the former Class A immediately erupted.

"How is that possible?" Totsuka Yahiko rose to his feet in disbelief.

Katsuragi Kohei had no mind to stop Totsuka Yahiko. He merely stared fixedly at the two numbers on the blackboard, his clenched knuckles turning white.

980 and 950. A mere 30-point difference had determined the classes' rankings, causing them to fall to Class B in their very first month after enrollment.

"Let me say something from the heart, everyone. You really don't need to blame yourselves too much." Mashima Tomoya stood on the platform, calmly observing the students' reactions. "Your performance in the first month was exceptionally good even by the school's historical standards. It's just that this year's Class B is the strongest Class B in the school's history."

Whether those words could comfort the former Class A students remained to be seen. Sakayanagi Arisu, who had shown no reaction until then and wore a beret, softly spoke up. "Mashima-sensei, does the fact that the current Class A retained such a high score in the first month mean that someone in their class saw through the school's rules?"

Mashima Tomoya looked at Sakayanagi Arisu and gave an approving smile. "That's right. A student saw through the school's rules as early as the second day, which is why they were able to retain so many points in the first month."

"Just as I thought."

Sakayanagi Arisu curled her lips slightly, wearing an indifferent expression. "Even knowing the rules this time, they still failed to achieve a perfect score in the first month. Yet we, who didn't know the rules, still retained the high score of 950 points. It seems the current Class A students aren't as capable as we imagined."

"That's right. The school assigns classes according to everyone's overall ability. Just look at the lower-ranked Class C—they only have 490 points. And those idiots in Class D actually managed to lose all their Class Points. Class B merely got lucky and won this round. It's only 30 points; we'll surpass them again in the next exam." Hashimoto Masayoshi spoke at just the right moment.

Over the first month, he had completely thrown his lot in with Sakayanagi Arisu's faction. The moment he saw his leader speak, he immediately understood and joined her in reassuring the class.

Besides the clearly defined Katsuragi Faction and Sakayanagi Faction, the current Class A also had some neutral students who had yet to take a side. This was the best opportunity to raise the Sakayanagi Faction's prestige and win over the middle ground.

"That's right, that's right. They were just lucky this time." Driven by Sakayanagi Arisu and Hashimoto Masayoshi, the previously dispirited former Class A students regained their fighting spirit. One after another, they declared that they would make the current Class A pay in the next exam.

Katsuragi Kohei turned to look at Sakayanagi Arisu, and she met his gaze. Neither said a word, yet an unspoken clash had already taken place in the air between them.

Class C.

"They actually deducted that much?" Ryuen Kakeru stared at the Class Points on the blackboard and clicked his tongue in irritation.

Of course, he knew exactly what he had done during the first month. If he hadn't avoided or concealed the cameras beforehand every time, and if their homeroom teacher Sakagami Kazuma hadn't helped cover for him, Class C would have long since lost all its Class Points because of fighting. What he hadn't expected was that Class A and Class B would retain so many points in the first month, leaving such an enormous gap between them and the upper classes.

"You bastards, I don't care how much trouble you make in private, but in class and under the cameras, you'd better act like model students." Ryuen Kakeru pointed at several of the rowdiest students in the class and warned them viciously.

The students all nodded. After all, it wasn't particularly difficult. However, once Sakagami-sensei announced the quiz results and the expulsion policy, quite a few students visibly panicked.

There were actually six students below the failing threshold, with quite a few more hovering right on the edge of failing.

"Ryuen, w-what do we do?!" Ishizaki Daichi, Ryuen Kakeru's number-one lackey, anxiously spoke up. He was also among those who had failed.

"Listen in class and study properly. If you don't understand something, ask the high-scoring students for help. Do I really need to explain even that to you?" Ryuen Kakeru cursed. "And not just you. You failures and those who nearly failed too—every last one of you is going to study yourselves to death this month. If you get expelled because your grades are garbage, I won't give a damn what happens to you."

Sakagami Kazuma stood on the platform and turned a blind eye to Ryuen Kakeru's nearly dictatorial behavior.

He could see Ryuen Kakeru's desire for promotion, and Ryuen Kakeru had long since convinced him. Thus, he decided to grant him authority and support this leader in doing as he pleased.

And then there was first-year Class D.

"Sensei... I checked this morning, but this month's points weren't deposited. Didn't you say they would be issued on the first of every month?" Hondo Ryotaro stood up and asked.

"Hondo, I've already told you that points are transferred collectively on the first of every month, and they have indeed all been issued this month." Chabashira Sae stood at the podium, her expression even colder than usual.

"But... there really aren't any." Hondo, Yamauchi, and the others looked at one another, utterly bewildered.

"...You really are beyond saving."

There was no anger in Chabashira Sae's voice, yet it carried an oppressive force that sent chills down their spines. "Hondo, sit down. I won't repeat myself a second time."

"S-Sae-sensei?"

Hondo shuddered at that unfamiliarly severe tone. Throughout the month, even when they chatted, slept, or played on their phones during class, their teacher had never intervened. Her current attitude was far too different.

"The points have been transferred exactly as they should have been, and the assumption that 'the school somehow forgot Class D alone' cannot possibly be true. Do you understand?"

"B-But there really aren't any..." Hondo still looked utterly confused.

"Heh, I see. I understand now." Koenji let out a booming laugh, casually propping his legs up on the desk as he pointed at Hondo with extreme arrogance. "The answer couldn't be simpler. The points our Class D received this month were zero."

"Huh? Why? Don't we get 100,000 points every month?"

"I don't recall the school ever making such a guarantee." Koenji retorted without restraint, then brazenly pointed at Chabashira Sae.

"Although Koenji's attitude is highly problematic, that is indeed the truth. Honestly, I've given you so many hints, yet only a few of you have caught on even now. How pathetic."

As she said that, Chabashira Sae couldn't help thinking of the Class B that had created a miracle this month.

Others had seen through the rules governing the entire school on their second day after enrollment, while this Class D remained utterly confused even when faced with such obvious hints.

Could the gap between people truly be this vast?