Chapter 385

I was cut off from interacting with everyone.

Even those who were grateful to Hirata and wanted to help were unable to do so.

Result.

Did Hirata ultimately choose to drop out of school again?

However, the exam is coming up soon, so for now everyone can only proceed in this order.

"Now we come to this next step."

Kushida placed the raffle box on the podium.

"Horikita, could you please draw a lot?" Kushida asked.

In other words, she had just been collecting everyone's names, but she also needed to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Now the baton has been passed to Suzune Horikita seems righteous and fair.

"Okay." Suzune Horikita had no objections.

And no one had any objections.

Then, they watched as Suzune Horikita reached her hand into the lottery box.

Then he pulled out a slip of paper.

She unfolded the note. She glanced at it, then turned it over so the students could see it too.

As you can see, it says "[Kiyotaka Ayanokoji]" on it.

In other words, the recipients of the Appreciation Vote that everyone is required to fill out have been selected.

Pity.

The students who were not selected felt it was a pity.

Yamauchi also felt it was a pity.

Because if he is selected, he will also have a protected title.

However, since Kiyotaka Ayanokoji performed exceptionally well in the previous Sports Festival, he was selected to receive Appreciation Vote, and there was no particular objection to it.

Besides, this was a lottery, a fair lottery. It must be that Kiyotaka Ayanokoji lucky.

"So, there are five minutes left. Are you ready?" Chabashira asked at this moment.

"Please wait a moment."

But at that moment, someone unexpectedly interrupted Chabashira-sensei. "May I say a few words?"

That's Hirata.

He stood up and walked to the podium.

It has begun its self-destruction.

But first, I looked in the direction of Suzune Horikita and Hachiman.

"First of all, I need to apologize for my behavior the past few days, Horikita, Hachiman. I wasn't targeting you personally."

"On the contrary, I feel that this class needs your presence."

This is completely different from the unusual Hirata from the day before yesterday.

This development didn't elicit much of a reaction from Hachiman, but it left Horikita, who hadn't received the news, somewhat bewildered.

Because she was already prepared for Hirata to vote for her in the criticism poll.

But Hirata continued, "I've thought about it carefully, and the essence of this exam is indeed to eliminate a student."

Here he subtly shifted the concept; he didn't agree with eliminating useless people, but rather believed in the fact that some people would drop out of school. "I like everyone very much, and it's a pity if anyone leaves the class."

But I love this class very much.

"But we are students after all, and we have no way to resist this exam."

"Even ordinary companies will have to lay off employees. So this is a situation that cannot be avoided and must be faced."

"So."

"This vote."

"Everyone."

He paused for a moment.

However, the students in the class were not in high spirits.

Since Hirata said that, it's clear he intends to withdraw.

He was willing to sacrifice himself to protect the Yamauchi, and everyone should write his name on the criticism ballot.

And while thinking like that.

"Please write Yamauchi's name on the criticism ballot," Hirata said.

"What?"

If Hirata's performance today is the same as usual, then it's reassuring.

But please listen calmly to what strange things he's saying.

He actually said he wanted to drop out of Yamauchi?

He actually supports dropping out of Yamauchi, and even called on his classmates to drop out of Yamauchi!

"I love this class very much, and I'm trying my best to get along with everyone," Hirata continued.

"But."

"There's no point in being a pushover all the time," Hirata said. "Hachiman said I'm paranoid. Yes, back in middle school, my friend was bullied, and because of my own safety, I didn't help him. Then, I never imagined that my friend would eventually commit suicide. This has always caused me immense pain."

"Since coming to this place, I have been acting as a peacemaker, hoping to stop seeing anyone being bullied like my friend and having no one to help them. I have always been clear that I am only doing this to atone for my sins."

No one expected that Hirata would actually self-destruct right there in class.

The students stared at him in surprise. Even Kushida was taken aback.

But Hirata continued.

"I was prepared to drop out of school for this exam, but... I was woken up by Hachiman's scolding. If I drop out, it won't benefit anyone."

"For the class, my departure might cause a division, and Yamauchi would not be able to develop in the class, and I would only continue to degenerate."

"So."

He paused for a moment. "Let's all vote to drop out of Yamauchi."

"I will bear the pain and responsibility of my classmates who dropped out of school all by myself."

Let's all finish this exam together.

In other words, Hirata did not follow the path of self-abandonment that everyone regretfully believed he would take, but instead... chose to awaken and abandon Yamauchi.

But at that moment, a loud voice came from a corner of the classroom, and Yamauchi stood up.

Because.

"Hirata!"

What's wrong with you?

"That's not fair!"

"Didn't you slip a letter under my door this morning?"

"Didn't you tell me that I would be expelled if I didn't come to the exam? So is this your way of protecting me?"

The people in the Yamauchi were very agitated.

It was even quite disheartening.

How could this happen? This can't be right! He had absolutely no idea.

"I sent you this letter because if you don't come to the exam, you will be expelled," Hirata said. "Besides, Yamauchi, while expulsion is painful for you, I will bear that pain. But if you don't come to the exam, another student will have to be expelled, which I think is very dangerous."

So you specifically called him over for the exam just to ensure he drops out of school?

If he doesn't come, then one more student will have to drop out of the class.

So he's just a dropout?

"Why?!" Yamauchi suddenly felt like everyone was targeting him.

Beep!

Just then, the bell rang to officially begin the exam.

Sae Chabashira stopped the students' argument and went to the podium.

Then, starting with the first table, the forms were distributed one by one.

The table is the same as what the teacher originally wrote on the blackboard, with only seven squares.

Choose the names of classmates who deserve praise from the three boxes.

Choose the names of classmates who have been criticized in the class from the three squares.

There is another box for writing the names of students from other classes who deserve praise.

Since everyone was more or less mentally prepared, and the exam only required writing down a few names, the exam was over in less than 3 minutes.

To maintain secrecy, Chabashira instructed everyone to pass up the anonymous forms face down.

Then she quickly filtered through all the votes, not to see the results immediately, but to see if any students had abstained, as abstentions were prohibited in this exam. If abstentions occurred, the exam would need to be retaken.

"Then let's wait for the results to be announced in half an hour."

After putting all the papers into a brown paper bag, Chabashira left the classroom in her high heels and headed to the office.

The students were still sitting in their seats.

Everyone is still a bit dazed.

I still can't calm down from Hirata's self-destruction.

They were all a bit confused.

However, Hachiman's phone, which was in the drawer, vibrated.

It wasn't a message that arrived; rather, it was the chat software where classmates were currently having a frenzied discussion.

Yes.

Although everyone was in the classroom, not many people were talking. Instead, they were all chatting enthusiastically in group chats they had joined through their own connections.

The biggest topic of discussion was Hirata's past.

Furthermore, Hirata's usual help to everyone stemmed from his guilt over not having helped his friends in the past.

Um.

Some students are concerned about Hirata's past.

Indeed.

Hirata is like a little sun, warming everyone, but no one would make such a sacrifice, so he must have had an ulterior motive.

Kushida the little angel was very unhappy about this.

Because Hirata's status is very similar to hers.

Now Hirata has exposed himself. He's believed he helped everyone with ulterior motives.

Does that mean that Kushida the little angel's usual angelic behavior will be viewed with prejudice?

Although this is true, Kushida still wants to remain hidden.

So.

She quickly changed the subject.

"Hirata suddenly revealed something today, which startled me."

"However, I don't think it's Hirata's fault."