"W-where are you going, Ayanokoji?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood up and headed for the classroom door. Horikita Suzune watched him go and asked.
"The restroom," Ayanokoji replied calmly.
You really do love sticking your nose into other people's business, Ayanokoji.
Watanabe Hayabara noticed that Horikita seemed about to get up, so he asked, "Horikita, do you have something you need to do, too?"
Horikita's gaze fell on Watanabe Hayabara, and she said slowly, "I think Ayanokoji might be hiding something from me."
Watanabe Hayabara smiled and tried to reassure her. "Horikita, aren't you being a little too suspicious? Maybe Ayanokoji just wants to use the restroom."
Horikita didn't agree. She insisted, "No, I have a feeling he's going to see Chabashira-sensei. We should follow him and find out, too, Watanabe."
You really do love sticking your nose into other people's business.
With that, Horikita stood up decisively and prepared to leave her seat.
As she headed for the door, she looked back and beckoned to Watanabe Hayabara to follow. He hesitated, then finally shook his head helplessly and got up to go after her.
The two of them left the classroom and went first to the teachers' office. But when they opened the door, they found it empty.
Horikita didn't lose heart. As if she had suddenly thought of something, she turned and headed toward the rooftop. Watanabe Hayabara could only keep his hands in his pockets and silently follow her.
"Please sell me the points the three of them need to pass," Ayanokoji said with a serious expression.
Chabashira Sae's eyes widened as if she had just heard something utterly absurd. A moment later, she burst out laughing. Her laughter echoed across the rooftop, drawing curious glances.
"Hahahaha! That's quite an amusing thing to say, Ayanokoji. You really are an unusual student. I've never met anyone like you before. You actually want me to sell you points! I never would have expected that!" Chabashira Sae said between laughs.
Ayanokoji wasn't affected by her laughter. He calmly explained, "Sensei, didn't you say at the entrance ceremony that there was nothing points couldn't buy at this school? If so, even the midterm exams are part of school life, aren't they? So I don't think my request is unreasonable."
After hearing his explanation, Chabashira Sae nodded thoughtfully. "I see, Ayanokoji. Your way of thinking does make a certain amount of sense. But you might not be able to afford it!"
"Then how much does each point cost?" Ayanokoji asked unhurriedly.
Chabashira Sae thought for a moment, then said, "That's a tricky question, since I've never sold points before. Hmm... I'll give you a special discount, then. One hundred thousand points per point. If you can pay on the spot, I don't mind selling them to you."
"Then how many points do they need in total to pass?" Though Ayanokoji had expected an astronomical figure, he still asked hopefully.
"Sudo needs thirty-nine points, Haruki Yamauchi needs twenty-seven, and Ijuin Wataru needs just one," Chabashira Sae replied, adjusting her ponytail.
There was no way Ayanokoji could afford 6.7 million points. Even many upperclassmen couldn't afford that much. Chabashira Sae was asking for an outrageous sum.
"Sensei, you're being pretty cruel—or are you just joking? No one could come up with 6.7 million points," Ayanokoji said, still expressionless.
Before Chabashira Sae could answer, Horikita, unable to contain herself, rushed up to the rooftop. Watanabe Hayabara had originally held her back at the stairwell while they listened in. He hadn't wanted Horikita Suzune to get involved in something so pointless. But when she dashed up to the roof, he followed at a leisurely pace.
"Chabashira-sensei, you're obviously making things difficult for us! 6.7 million points?!"
Chabashira Sae looked toward the voice. "Oh, Horikita! Heh, you really are an interesting bunch. But 6.7 million points is the price, and I won't lower it by a single point," she said with a laugh.
"Could you make it a little cheaper, Chabashira-sensei?" Ayanokoji began trying to bargain.
"One hundred thousand points per point is already my bottom line. After all, I'm taking a risk by selling you points," Chabashira Sae said with a smile, showing no sign of budging.
Watanabe Hayabara spoke up. "Give it up, Horikita. You can't afford that many points."
His words seemed to give Horikita an idea. She hurried over to Watanabe Hayabara and grabbed his arm. "Watanabe, don't you have a lot of points? Could you help us? I don't think I should be asking you for help, but..."
Watanabe Hayabara gave her a polite smile. "Sorry, Horikita, I don't have that many points. I can't come up with 6.7 million." As he spoke, he took out his phone and showed everyone his balance: 5.4 million personal points.
Ayanokoji showed no reaction to the number of points Watanabe Hayabara had. Horikita froze for a moment, then forced a strained smile, while Chabashira Sae wore a knowing smile.
Though Horikita Suzune had been disappointed, for some reason she suddenly seemed fired up again. She lifted her head and looked at Watanabe Hayabara. "Could I ask you to spend some points to save Yamauchi and Ijuin? It might not be fair to Sudo, but this is the best solution, isn't it?"
"Is this really the best solution...? You're wrong, Horikita. The best solution is to give up on them."
"But..." Horikita lowered her head again.
"Sorry, Horikita. I have no obligation or responsibility to do that. And you shouldn't stick your nose into other people's business. This isn't your fault, so you don't have to take responsibility for it, do you? The old exam papers were your idea, but your intention was to help your classmates. And what did they do? They didn't study, but treated those papers like a lifeline. Then, when they failed, they shifted the blame onto the person who tried to help them. It's a classic case of the farmer and the snake, isn't it, Horikita? They aren't worth saving. Society needs to weed out useless people like them. Horikita, I've done what I can by saving Ijuin. Everyone has seen how hard he's worked. Someone might not have talent, but if he's willing to put in the effort, I think that deserves recognition. So, Horikita, I'll only buy the points Ijuin is missing."
"All right." Horikita Suzune knew it wasn't her responsibility or duty, but she still couldn't help feeling a little guilty.
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