The Skeleton of Class A

As the afternoon classes ended, the silence in the Class A classroom stood in stark contrast to the clamor of the neighboring classes.

Everyone secretly tensed their nerves—by all logic, this afternoon should have staged a dramatic struggle for the class leadership. But would things really unfold as they had anticipated?

Katsuragi was the first to walk to the podium. His gaze swept calmly over everyone present, and he went straight to the point: "I will only speak about one thing this afternoon—the matter of the class leadership."

No sooner had the words left his lips than the voice of Totsuka Yahiko rang out from below, carrying undisguised support: "That has to be Big Brother Katsuragi!"

Before his voice had even faded, Hashimoto Masayoshi frowned and retorted: "Talk nonsense, it should obviously be the Princess!"

"Yahiko, quiet." Katsuragi's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable weight.

"Hashimoto, stand down." Sakayanagi's tone was equally indifferent, yet it sent a chill through the heart.

With the two core figures speaking up, the two who had been at each other's throats instantly fell silent, like eggplants withered by frost, and obediently returned to their seats. The air in the classroom seemed to grow even heavier.

"I voluntarily renounce the struggle for class leadership." Katsuragi's voice was low and serious, every word carrying a heavy weight that rang out with particular clarity in the quiet classroom.

"Bi-Big Brother Katsuragi... why?" Totsuka Yahiko jerked his head up, his eyes full of disbelief, his voice trembling slightly. "Our side has just as many supporters as Sakayanagi's side!" We were just about to fight to the death, why has Your Majesty surrendered first?

His question voiced the inner thoughts of everyone in the room—everyone was frowning, clearly not having expected Katsuragi to make such a decision.

"Hmph, does that even need asking? It's obviously because they've submitted to the strength of our Princess!" Hashimoto Masayoshi immediately lifted his chin to interject, his tone brimming with unconcealable smugness.

"Hashimoto." Sakayanagi's voice rang out abruptly, carrying a hint of imperceptible reproach. "If you don't know how to speak, stay quiet."

The smugness on Hashimoto's face froze instantly, and he shut his mouth in chagrin. Meanwhile, Katsuragi's declaration of "renouncing the struggle" continued to ripple through everyone's hearts like a stone cast into a deep pool.

"I voluntarily become Classmate Sakayanagi's deputy." Katsuragi's voice was deeper than before, his gaze sweeping across the room with an earnestness for the long-term benefit of the class. "Future competition between classes will only grow more intense. Our Class A must not continue to split like this—internal divisions will only give other classes an opening. To maintain our lead, we must integrate the strength of the entire class."

He paused, then continued: "Classmate Sakayanagi excels at taking the initiative, like a sharp spear; while I am better suited to securing the rear, acting as a solid shield. Only when the spear and shield complement each other, with both offense and defense, can we truly stand firm in this school."

His words were logical and clear, devoid of any personal grievances, reflecting only a sober understanding of the class's current situation. The people who had been full of doubt moments ago saw their expressions shift from astonishment to contemplation; the air in the classroom seemed to shed its tension, gaining a sense of relief.

"Classmate Katsuragi's analysis is very thorough." Sakayanagi Arisu walked to the podium leaning on her cane. Her voice was as clear as a spring, breaking the brief silence in the classroom. Her gaze toward Katsuragi held a measure of approval. "Since you have voluntarily stepped down from the position of class leader, I naturally must show my own gesture."

She paused slightly, turning her gaze to the entire class, her tone steadying: "I hope Classmate Katsuragi can serve as our class's 'Vice Leader.' Moving forward, I will lead the strategic planning and external competition, while the coordination of internal affairs and the maintenance of rules will be entrusted to Classmate Katsuragi."

Having said this, she nodded slightly, her eyes holding a touch of solemnity as she looked at Katsuragi: "Just as you said, the spear and the shield are both indispensable. From now on, we shall each perform our own duties—I will tear through the obstacles ahead, and you will build a firm foundation for everyone behind us. Only then can Class A truly become impregnable."

As her words fell, the classroom was silent for a moment, then someone quietly let out a sigh of relief.

The situation that had been expected to be tense and confrontational had settled in such a tacit way that even the tension in the air slowly transformed into a subtle balance.

No sooner had Sakayanagi finished speaking than Katsuragi nodded slightly in response: "I will perform my duties." A simple promise, yet it allowed those with hanging hearts to relax—since these two core figures had reached a consensus, the hidden danger of a split in Class A had finally been dispelled.

Totsuka Yahiko blinked, then straightened his back: "Since Big Brother Katsuragi has said so, then I will definitely follow Big Brother and Classmate Sakayanagi!" Hashimoto Masayoshi also rarely refrained from being sharp-tongued, merely huffing, but he quietly sat up straight, clearly having accepted the result.

Sakayanagi's gaze swept past the two of them and finally returned to the whole class: "From today on, there are no 'Katsuragi Faction' or 'Sakayanagi Faction' in Class A." Her voice was not loud, but it carried a power that pierced the heart. "There is only 'Class A.' The upcoming exams and class confrontations require everyone to be twisted into a single rope."

Katsuragi added at the right moment: "I will organize the specific division of labor with Classmate Sakayanagi and post it. If there are objections, you may raise them at any time, but we must act in unison during execution." He paused, looking out the window. "This school never leaves opportunities for the slackers. What we must do is ensure Class A always stands at the top."

No one spoke in the classroom again, but unlike the tension from before, the current silence held a quietly gathering momentum.

Someone quietly gripped their pen, and others began to nod at the classmates beside them—the distance that had once been widened by factions seemed to be quietly mending at this very moment.

Totsuka Yahiko suddenly raised his hand: "Then what if another class comes to provoke us?"

A faint arc curled at the corner of Sakayanagi's mouth: "Classmate Katsuragi will hold the bottom line, and I will let them know that provoking Class A comes with a price."

Katsuragi took over: "It is merely a matter of each performing their own duties."

"What if Classmate Katsuragi and Classmate Sakayanagi disagree?" someone in the back row asked cautiously. The voice was not loud, but it precisely struck the lingering worry in everyone's hearts.

Upon hearing this, Sakayanagi Arisu's lips curved into a faint smile. Her gaze circled the classroom and finally landed in a certain corner: "This is exactly what I was about to say next." She paused, her voice clearly reaching the entire room: "I hope Uesugi-kun can become my second deputy."

When these words were spoken, many were stunned—Uesugi was not usually active in the class, belonged neither to Katsuragi's camp nor was he a core supporter of Sakayanagi; why would he suddenly be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility?

Uesugi, who had been named, was not nervous; this was, after all, the result of a multi-party compromise. He looked up toward the podium.

Meeting his gaze, Sakayanagi continued: "When Classmate Katsuragi and I have a disagreement, I hope Uesugi-kun can provide a judgment from a third-party perspective. There is no need to accommodate either side; you only need to make a choice based on the premise of 'what is most beneficial to Class A'."

Katsuragi also looked in that direction and nodded in agreement: "Uesugi-kun's calmness and judgment are obvious to all. It is very appropriate for him to act as the final coordinator."

Uesugi was silent for a moment, then stood up and bowed slightly: "If everyone trusts me, I will do my best." His voice was steady, devoid of excess emotion, yet it made people feel inexplicably reliable.

Sakayanagi's smile deepened: "In this way, the spear has a direction, the shield has a foundation, and there is a scale of balance in the middle—the framework of Class A has finally been built."

There was no longer any sound of doubt in the classroom. The distribution of power, which had been expected to be full of maneuvering, had been settled clearly through these layered arrangements.

Hashimoto Masayoshi rubbed his nose, rarely refraining from making a wisecrack; Totsuka Yahiko also sat straight, as if he were already pondering how to cooperate with Big Brother Katsuragi's upcoming arrangements.

Sunlight filtered through the window and fell onto the podium, where the silhouettes of the two figures overlapped.

The afternoon that had been expected to trigger a storm of blood and gore had ultimately paved a more stable path for Class A in an unexpected way.

And everyone understood that from this day forward, this class would face the coming waves with a brand-new posture.