Fifty and the Question Mark

"So, do you understand now why you were assigned to Class D?" Watanabe Hayabara's lips curled slightly, revealing a look of contempt.

"Hey! You bastard, what the hell is that supposed to mean!" Sudo slammed his hands on his desk and stood up abruptly, his face flushed with rage as he pointed a finger at Watanabe Hayabara and roared.

Facing Sudo's challenge, Watanabe Hayabara remained unnervingly calm. He spoke unhurriedly, "I don't mean anything in particular. I just wanted to let Chabashira Sae explain it to everyone." With that, he cast his gaze toward Chabashira Sae, who was standing at the podium.

Chabashira Sae looked down at the students with an expressionless face and spoke slowly: "This school assigns classes based on the excellence of its students. The highest-scoring students are placed in Class A, while those deemed useless are assigned to Class D. This system is common in many large corporate training programs. Simply put, Class D is a place for the stragglers—their final stronghold. In short, you are all the most defective products in this school. However, for you to have spent all your points in just one month is a first in the history of Class D. I'm actually quite impressed that you managed to mess things up to this extent. Impressive, truly impressive."

Chabashira Sae's words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into the students' hearts. Her deliberate clapping sounded jarring in the quiet classroom, feeling like a mockery and humiliation of the students.

Sudo suddenly erupted like a volcano, kicking the leg of his desk with a loud "bang" that seemed to shake the entire classroom.

His heart was filled with anger and resentment. If class ranking was truly determined by merit, then this was undoubtedly public discrimination and an insult. To define the bottom-tier Class D as a gathering of idiots—what an unfair assessment!

Sudo felt deeply wronged and refused to accept being labeled as the most inferior student. He didn't believe he was worse than students in other classes; he simply hadn't been given the proper attention or cultivation in certain areas.

This sense of being belittled severely wounded Sudo's pride, and he could not accept such a label.

[Raging Useless Ape]

"Class points are not just linked to the monthly personal points deposited. This point value directly reflects the class ranking," Chabashira Sae said expressionlessly, completely ignoring Sudo's presence as she continued her explanation.

"Could you explain that, Teacher?" Yosuke Hirata raised his hand politely to ask.

"Chabashira Sae means that if our class points exceed those of Class C, we will replace them and become the new Class C," Watanabe Hayabara added quickly from the side, appearing very familiar with the rules.

Chabashira Sae nodded slightly, acknowledging Watanabe Hayabara's explanation.

Chabashira Sae slammed the classroom door shut with a loud "bang" and walked away quickly without looking back.

Inside the classroom, the students' chatter exploded like a boiling pot.

"With no points coming in, how am I supposed to survive the next month!"

"I spent all my remaining points yesterday; I'm doomed..."

"How could the teacher do this? Isn't she killing us?"

Complaints and sighs intertwined, making it feel as though the entire classroom was being drowned in negative emotions.

"Forget the points, the class itself is the bigger problem... Are you kidding me! Why am I in Class D...!" someone shouted indignantly, drawing resonance from many others.

Watanabe Hayabara frowned slightly, but quickly regained his composure, choosing to tune out the noisy voices once again.

[Some Trash Needs Sweeping]

Behind him, Horikita Suzune was also communicating with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka...

"Watanabe and Ayanokoji from Class 1-D, your homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, needs to see you. Please report to the faculty office." The cold, mechanical voice of the announcement echoed through the speakers.

[Me and Ayanokoji? She hasn't given up yet, Chabashira Sae]

"Let's go together, Watanabe," came the flat, emotionless voice of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Watanabe Hayabara nodded in agreement.

"Why would Chabashira Sae call you two to the office?" Horikita Suzune asked from behind, but neither Watanabe Hayabara nor Ayanokoji Kiyotaka chose to answer. Her question remained hanging in the air.

"Knock, knock, knock." Watanabe Hayabara rapped on the office door, while Ayanokoji stood silently behind him.

"Please, come in," Chabashira Sae's voice came from inside.

"Is there something you need, Chabashira Sae?" Watanabe Hayabara pushed the door open and got straight to the point.

"There's a small matter I need to resolve before we talk. If you two could wait a moment," Chabashira Sae said with a smile, as if the trouble wasn't a big deal at all.

The office was exceptionally quiet. Only Chabashira Sae sat at her desk, while Ayanokoji and Watanabe Hayabara each found a comfortable spot to sit and waited in silence.

Sure enough, just as Chabashira Sae had anticipated, a light knock sounded at the door shortly after.

"Please, come in," Chabashira Sae said softly.

The door opened slowly, and a figure walked in.

"Horikita, what did you want to talk to me about?" Chabashira Sae looked at Horikita Suzune, a faint smile still lingering on her lips.

Horikita Suzune stood at the doorway, her gaze fixed directly on Chabashira Sae as she asked bluntly: "I'll ask directly: why was I assigned to Class D?"

Chabashira Sae smiled slightly, seemingly unsurprised by Horikita Suzune's question. "You certainly are direct."

Horikita Suzune ignored the reaction and continued: "You said today that excellent people are selected for Class A in order, and that Class D is the final stronghold for the stragglers of the school."

"What I said is indeed the truth," Chabashira Sae nodded. "However, it seems you consider yourself to be excellent."

Horikita Suzune's expression turned serious. "I am confident that I solved almost all the questions on the entrance exam, and I don't recall making any major mistakes during the interview. At the very least, I cannot imagine why I would be assigned to Class D."

"Solved almost all the entrance exam questions? Horikita Suzune, your results were exactly as you judged. Among this year's freshmen, you tied for third place. Your score was barely different from the first and second place. You did very well. Even in the interview, there were no issues of concern. In fact, the evaluation was quite positive."

"Then—why, why was I placed in Class D?"

"Why are you so dissatisfied with being assigned to Class D?"

"No one would be happy about not being evaluated correctly. Besides, this school's class differences will have a huge impact on our future. That goes without saying."

"Correct evaluation? My, my, you certainly have a high opinion of yourself," Chabashira Sae couldn't help but laugh mockingly at Horikita.

"I will admit that your academic ability is excellent. You are indeed very bright. But who said that people with great academic ability are the ones who enter the 'excellent' classes? We never said any such thing."

"But..."

"Regrettably, your placement in Class D is not an error on our part. You are simply the caliber of student who belongs there, and thus, your assignment to Class D was inevitable."

"I see. I will inquire with the school administration again."

"Even if you go to the higher-ups, the result will remain the same. Besides, there is no need for such pessimism. As I mentioned this morning, class rankings fluctuate based on performance. You still have the possibility of promoting to Class A before graduation."

"I don't believe that is an easy path. How is Class D, a collection of defective goods, supposed to earn more points than Class A? No matter how I look at it, it's impossible!"

"That is none of my concern. Whether you choose to aim for such a reckless path is entirely your own freedom. Or perhaps, Horikita, do you have some special reason why you absolutely must promote to Class A?"

"That is... I shall take my leave for today. But please remember, I have not accepted this." Horikita Suzune's gaze was resolute.

[Still haven't grasped the point of your inferiority?]

Although Horikita Suzune had seen Watanabe Hayabara and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka when she first entered, the three of them had not exchanged a single word.

Chabashira Sae watched Horikita Suzune leave the office, then turned her attention to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Watanabe Hayabara.

"I need an explanation from both of you."

"What might that be, Chabashira-sensei?" Watanabe Hayabara smiled as he met Chabashira Sae's gaze.

"First, you, Watanabe Hayabara. I could not find your entrance examination papers, and the school's rating for you is marked with a question mark. I need you to explain this to me."

"It is only natural that you couldn't find my entrance exam papers, Sensei, as I never took them. As for why I was admitted to this school, that is not something you need to worry about. Regarding the ability rating, I find it irrelevant; a person cannot be defined by letters."

Chabashira Sae stared intensely into Watanabe Hayabara's eyes, but eventually looked away to question Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"Ayanokoji-kun, I need an explanation from you as well."

"What is the matter, Sensei?"

"Fifty in Japanese, fifty in Mathematics, fifty in English, fifty in Social Studies, fifty in Science... Furthermore, the results of this quiz were also fifty. Do you understand what this implies?"

"It was merely a coincidence."

[What a forced excuse.]

"Oh? Are you saying that scoring exactly fifty on every single exam is a complete coincidence? You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

"It is a coincidence, and besides, there is no evidence. Come to think of it, what benefit would I gain from manipulating my test scores? If I had the brainpower to score high, I would have aimed for a perfect score in every subject."

"I don't think Ayanokoji-kun would manipulate his scores so casually," Watanabe Hayabara interjected at this moment.

Chabashira Sae glanced at Watanabe Hayabara, then checked the time, finally concluding with, "I am leaving. It is almost time for the faculty meeting. I need to lock up here, so the two of you should head out."

Watanabe Hayabara and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka left the office one after the other, only to encounter a familiar figure—Horikita Suzune. It turned out she had been waiting by the door the entire time, eager to know why Watanabe Hayabara and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had been summoned.