Changes (Seeking Everything)

"Why are you blaming me? I found those past exam papers to help them improve their scores. If the questions on the papers weren't on the test, that's their own problem, isn't it? Why blame me for the results of their lack of effort? I've already done my best to help them." Horikita reacted somewhat excessively, looking completely bewildered.

"Because the incompetent refuse to deny themselves and prefer to shift the blame, don't they? That's why such incompetent people should be exiled, right, Horikita?"

"By exile, do you mean expulsion, Classmate Watanabe?"

"Bingo. After all, Chabashira Sae said that failing students would be expelled, right, Horikita? So the midterm exam is a perfect opportunity to clear out the trash, isn't it, Horikita?"

"This..."

"What are you hesitating for, Horikita? If a bunch of losers get expelled, won't your chances of rising to Class A increase? Horikita, given your personality, you shouldn't be hesitating. After all, I'm helping you, aren't I? Since the student council president entrusted you to me, I naturally have to go to great lengths."

"Indeed, those losers should be expelled. They will only be obstacles to reaching Class A." Horikita Suzune's eyes turned resolute.

"That's more like you, Horikita. I'll leave the reminder at that; you must keep it in your heart, Horikita. I will always be the knight protecting you." Watanabe Hayabara knelt on one knee, kissed the back of Horikita Suzune's hand, then released her wrist, stood up, and walked away.

Horikita Suzune didn't react for a moment. By the time she did, she could only see Watanabe Hayabara's back. Horikita Suzune felt a slight shiver as she watched him walk away.

"Sakayanagi, I've obtained the evidence of the past exam papers. See you at the usual spot." Watanabe Hayabara walked down the street, his fingers tapping rapidly on his phone screen before he hit send, dispatching the message to Sakayanagi Arisu.

A moment later, the phone screen lit up, displaying Sakayanagi Arisu's reply—a "Got it" sticker of a white cat.

Watanabe Hayabara arrived at the cafe where he frequently met with Sakayanagi Arisu. He pushed open the Space Gate, walked inside, and spotted Sakayanagi Arisu sitting by the window at a glance.

Sakayanagi Arisu was sitting there elegantly, holding a cup of coffee and stirring it gently. Kamuro Masumi was standing obediently to the side.

Watanabe Hayabara walked over and sat opposite Sakayanagi Arisu. He took the past exam papers distributed by Kushida Kikyo out of his bag, placed them on the table, and pushed them toward her.

Sakayanagi Arisu set down her coffee, picked up the papers, and flipped through them casually.

After finishing, Sakayanagi Arisu placed the papers back on the table and said to Watanabe Hayabara with a smile, "Thank you, Hayabara-kun."

"I'll leave the rest to you, Classmate Sakayanagi."

The two exchanged a look and said nothing more. After a moment of silence, Sakayanagi Arisu checked the time, stood up, and said, "I'll be heading back now. We'll be in touch if anything comes up."

Watanabe Hayabara nodded, stood up as well, and said, "Understood, goodbye."

As Kamuro Masumi followed Sakayanagi Arisu to leave, she turned her head and made a funny face.

Not long after leaving the cafe, Watanabe Hayabara received a message from Kamuro Masumi: "When are you going to redeem me? I'm so tired, I don't want to steal things anymore," followed by a crying cat sticker.

"It stopped your itchy fingers, didn't it? Just wait until you gradually forget this habit." Watanabe Hayabara put away his phone and smiled faintly.

Chabashira Sae stepped forward in her ten-centimeter black stilettos, a silver rose brooch pinned to the collar of her white shirt under her black suit jacket. She pushed open the door to Class 1-D with a crisp motion.

"No one is absent. It seems the whole class is here."

Chabashira Sae walked to the podium and slammed a stack of test papers onto it. "Are there any questions?"

Yosuke Hirata stood up, supporting himself on his desk with one hand, and flashed a warm smile. "We've been studying hard for the past few weeks, so we'll definitely pass. No one will fail."

"Hirata, you really are confident."

Watanabe Hayabara scanned the room, looking at his classmates who were full of anticipation and confidence, and a cold sneer escaped his throat—I really look forward to your reactions when you find out the truth.

A harsh broadcast suddenly blared, startling the sparrows on the plane trees outside the window. "Breaking news: Due to a second-year student, XXXX, privately selling midterm exam papers to first-year students, the following penalties have been imposed: a deduction of 1,000,000 personal points, a two-week suspension, and a 100-point deduction for that student's class. The backup exam papers will be used for this midterm. These backup papers were provided by Classmate Sakayanagi Arisu of Class A; therefore, Class A will not participate in this midterm and is awarded 1,000,000 personal points."

[Truly a massive profit, Sakayanagi.]

The classroom, which had been quiet enough to hear a pin drop, was suddenly engulfed in an eerie silence, as if time had frozen. However, this strange stillness didn't last long; it was immediately broken by a series of gasps.

The students' faces were filled with shock and disbelief. They looked at each other, seemingly bewildered by what had just happened. Some students in the class began to scratch their heads, brows furrowed, looking anxious—especially Haruki Yamauchi, Ike Kanji, and Sudo, whose reactions were the most pronounced.

Teacher Chabashira Sae stood on the podium, looking at the students below with an expressionless face. She unhurriedly organized the test papers on the desk and then, as usual, handed them out one by one.

As the papers were distributed, the sound of pencils scratching against paper filled the room. The students buried their heads in their work, hoping to finish the test within the limited time.

Time ticked by, and the exam finally ended. When Teacher Chabashira Sae announced the end of the exam, the classroom erupted. The students began to complain, "How was it so hard?! What are we going to do?!"

Among them, the most irritable was Sudo. His face flushed with anger, he roared at Kushida Kikyo, who was sitting next to him: "Hey, Kushida Kikyo, didn't you say the past exam papers would be on the test?"

Kushida Kikyo was clearly startled by Sudo's questioning. Her face turned pale, and she stammered, "This... I didn't expect the test papers to be changed either."

"Sudo, the broadcast explained that there would be changes to this exam. You can't blame Classmate Kushida for this." Just then, Yosuke Hirata stepped in to speak up for Kushida Kikyo.

However, Sudo couldn't hear a word Yosuke Hirata said. He kicked his desk in anger, producing a loud "bang" that shook the entire classroom.