Sakayanagi's Ruthless Decision, and Katsuragi's Fight to Save Himself! 9k (Continued)

"Hashimoto, please don't be so abrupt," Sakayanagi said gently. "After all, this concerns expulsion, so we need to give everyone time to think it over."

Then, while giving everyone some free time, she continued, "So, I'll give you one minute. I'll give you several commands, and those who don't support Katsuragi's withdrawal, please raise your hands. The first person to raise their hand will be the one we all vote to withdraw. I think everyone is important, so at times like this, we can only eliminate those who don't cooperate."

Although she spoke gently, everyone knew that she probably really would do it.

"Madam has gone too far!" Yahiko stood up abruptly.

He also clearly noticed that some of the students from the Katsuragi Faction were truly cowering in fear.

It's just that the Katsuragi Faction has 11 members now, while the Sakayanagi Faction has 29. It's only a difference of 18 people.

Yes, that is indeed a big difference.

But.

Is it necessary to be so afraid?

He wasn't stupid enough to realize that the voting rules included both criticism and Appreciation Vote, so all they had to do was have the Katsuragi Faction Appreciation Vote for this fearful person.

The final result is praise minus criticism, so there's no need to worry, everyone. Trust Katsuragi.

"Well then, one minute is up." Sakayanagi stood up, leaning on his cane. "Now I'd like to confirm if anyone objects to Katsuragi's withdrawal from school."

"And Totsuka... you were just arguing so vehemently, so are you the one who wants to drop out of school?"

"...!"

How could Totsuka want to drop out of school? "I, I—"

"Alright." Looking at the nervous Yahiko beside him, Katsuragi stood up and declared, "Then it's decided. If sacrificing myself can protect the class, then as the former Class representative, I have no choice but to do so."

While saying he was willing to follow instructions, Katsuragi's gaze turned to Sakayanagi with unparalleled sharpness and composure as he spoke.

"I hope that after I leave, you will treat the class well and lead it back to Class A."

"I would have done this even if you hadn't asked." Sakayanagi returned his polite smile. "Thank you for everything you've done for Class B. You've worked so hard to get this far. Thank you for your efforts."

That smile was like that of an angel.

Sakayanagi may not be a woman of her word, but the fact that she can now openly say that Katsuragi has dropped out of school shows that she carries a lot of weight in this class.

When exactly did it begin?

There were originally 18 people standing here with him, but Katsuragi just counted and there are only about 10 people who are worried about him.

In other words, his supporters have dwindled.

Moreover, he has already resigned from his position as Class representative. Since he has given up this authority, he naturally has to obey the other party's instructions; otherwise, he would be in breach of contract.

However, judging from the exam rules, Katsuragi did not feel that he had completely lost.

"So... do you still want to discuss this? I've given you all the class meeting time."

"Now that the decision has been made," said Majima-sensei.

"No need, teacher. Our exams are over, and we just need to wait for the official vote in five days. So, could I request that all the following class meetings be changed to free time?" Sakayanagi said softly.

"I see."

Majima-sensei understood that Sakayanagi was unlikely to change Katsuragi's decision to drop out of school.

At the same time, he felt that things were probably going to get unstable in Class B again.

As a graduate of the same school, Majima-sensei knows very well.

Katsuragi's ability is undeniable; there are many people weaker than him, so he certainly wouldn't want to be expelled like this.

However, being targeted like this, Katsuragi will definitely try to help himself, so the two factions may continue to fight. For Class B, fighting against external forces is advantageous, but turning against each other within their own ranks is undoubtedly suicidal.

However, teachers cannot interfere with students' decisions.

Majima-sensei also remembered her mission. So, while other classes were busy with tense discussions about withdrawing from school, Class B's classroom was often empty.

The above describes the original Class A's procedures. In fact, the current Class A also quickly decided on its exam plan.

After their instructor, Ms. Chie Hoshinomiya, announced the rules for the Class Vote, almost all the little angels in Class A were stunned.

Because.

I never expected there would be such an exam.

If they fail the written exam and have to drop out, then they can try their best.

But.

How could they possibly make them vote against their classmates and then expel them from school?

"Is it possible that the teacher made a mistake somewhere?" Ichinose, unable to accept the exam content, also asked her homeroom teacher for confirmation.

"The teacher tried to stop it, but it seems there's no way to stop it this time." The supervising teacher shook his head.

For the united Class A, such an exam would be seen as an act that undermines unity if anyone casts a critical vote for a classmate.

Moreover, the act of personally voting for a classmate to expel him from school is simply too cruel.

"We need three people to be voted on for criticism. I think we should draw lots," said Ryuji Kanzaki, the class's second representative. "It would be too much to write anyone's name on the list, so let's draw lots to decide who gets the second and third votes."

"And the person who received the most criticism votes," Kanzaki said, closing his eyes slightly. "Everyone, cast your criticism votes for me! Then you can choose to expel me directly, or collect 20 million points to revive me."

This is the contradictory yet decisive Class A.

As for Class D...

After the teacher read out the rules from the Kazuma Sakagami, the class immediately erupted in chaos.

For them, this exam is ridiculous.

How can someone be allowed to drop out of school so easily?

And if I drop out of school, who will I drop out of school with?

"Why do we have to have these kinds of exams?!"

"What should we do?!"

"Ryuen!"

"Ryuen, didn't you want to be our representative again?" The students immediately erupted in anger.

"Shut up, all of you!"

Ryuen Kakeru kicked the table away. But the whole class fell silent.

They are accustomed to the violence in Ryuen.

And in such situations, Ryuen always has a solution.

"If it were me in the past, the plan would definitely be to collect all the points."

"But unfortunately."

Ryuen said, "I only have a little over three million points on hand right now, and a portion of those points will have to be set aside as your living expenses for next month."

"Or are you saying you won't need living expenses for next month or even the month after?"

"At least," Ryuen said, "There was only one person who dropped out of school and one person who received a protected title in this month's Special Exam. However, since the protected title cannot be sold, no class evaluation points will be awarded this month."

In other words, the class evaluation score for next month will still be 0.

So everyone still doesn't have living expenses, and they can only live off their savings.

"Certainly."

"I can also borrow more than ten million points from other classes."

"However, this could mean not having any living expenses for the next year or two."

"I don't care, but are you willing?" Ryuen said.

Day.

The students, who had just been making a fuss, suddenly quieted down.

Having already endured hunger for several months, must we continue like this?

"Then we'll stick to the same plan that Shiina proposed before. And this plan can continue," Ryuen said.

Meanwhile, Kaneda had already taken the initiative to stand on the other side of the podium.

The score of 2 million was written on the blackboard.

"This school is very unique, and it's quite sensational to outsiders," Kaneda said. "But if you observe the second and third-year students closely, you'll notice that, apart from Horikita's class which is Student Council President, the other classes are all short-staffed to varying degrees. For example, Nagumo's class in Second-year Class A only has 29 students."

"But you should know that Nagumo was the former Vice President of the Student Council and the one who controlled the entire second year. Yet, when faced with one Special Exam after another, he could only watch as the number of students in his class decreased."

"Nagumo, who controls the power of an entire grade, still couldn't protect the students. Do you think we can do it?" Kaneda said, pushing up his glasses.

Actually, Kaneda was being cunning and sly here.

The reason why there are fewer Student Council in Nagumo's class is not largely due to the necessity of sacrifice, but rather because Nagumo dropped out of school to make an example of those who opposed him.

However, most of the students in the class were not very bright, while those who were bright were placed in Ryuen's core team.

So there's no need to worry.

"And sometimes I run into students from Third-year Class A in the cafeteria," Kaneda continued. "But their food isn't good either, and these past few days some people have been eating the free meal."

Some students in this class have already received the free meal.

It really tastes terrible.

Fortunately, during the Forestry Exam, we were all allocated 100,000 points as living expenses.

So everyone is barely managing to have food to eat right now.

But the students in Third-year Class A were eating too.

Forehead.

In other words, although Horikita's class preserved the students, they also lived a hard life.

You know, that's Class A!

Then.

Most of the students remained quiet.

Listen to Kaneda continue his charade.

"So, as Shiina suggested before, we will receive 2 million points as a resettlement fee for every student who drops out of our class in the future."

That's like Manabe dropping out of school.

Although it was a little regrettable to occasionally think that one of my students was missing.

But as time went by, losing one classmate didn't feel so lonely.

And.

They've been in this school for over half a year, but life isn't good. They often have to live in fear, especially with written exams... Everyone studied hard for the written exams that just ended.

They had a tough time.

There is definitely no compensation for dropping out of school due to failing grades.

So if I could get 2 million points to drop out of school, it doesn't seem so unacceptable.

"Then it's decided," Ryuen said. "For this exam, our class will choose one student to drop out and give them 2 million points as a severance package."

"But if that's the case, Ryuen, you'll only have a little over 1 million points left next month."

Ryuen said he had more than 3 million, and -2 million indeed meant he had more than 1 million left.

Ryuen also said they would provide everyone with living expenses for next month.

Therefore, the amount of money that everyone will receive next month may not be much.

"We don't need to use this money," Ryuen said. "The severance pay will be paid by the other classes."

"Ryuen, you mean—" Ibuki looked over.

"Heh heh—" the tyrant chuckled. "I think Class B is willing to share the burden with us. This time, their two factions are bound to fight again. Or rather, I think that guy Sakayanagi will definitely ask to drop out of Katsuragi."

I see.

Hiyori, who had put down her textbook, already understood Ryuen's thoughts.

Looking for a sheep to shear.