Choices and the Players! Part One

So he made a suggestion.

"You can actually continue with the 20 million yen exemption plan," Hachiman said. "Because the difference is only a little over 3 million yen."

"So, Hachiman will lend us points?" Ichinose looked over with some surprise.

"I won't lend it," Hachiman shook his head.

Ah, this.

Although the other party did not lend money, Ichinose knew that her class had always lived a life of borrowing money.

It certainly doesn't seem very reliable.

They've already approached Classmate Sakayanagi, but were refused. So, is Hachiman still willing to lend them the money?

"Your place is a bottomless pit," Hachiman added. "That's why I can't keep lending to you."

"However, I know someone who has some points, although he still couldn't reach 20 million points in the end, but the difference wasn't that much."

"Only."

"The Class Advancement spot I bought for you before wasn't for 20 million, but because the Acting Chairman Tsukishiro was short of budget, I sold it cheaply."

"I bought the spot with 16 million points."

"And since the spot for Class Advancement can be negotiated, then..." Hachiman paused for a moment.

But Ichinose already understood.

So perhaps the quota for waiving the withdrawal exam can be negotiated.

Then.

This is the Acting Chairman Tsukishiro, went to his office for work, only to find it surrounded by students from Class Ichinose.

Chapter 68 Choices and Trade-offs: The Actors! Part 1!

This explains why the Acting Chairman Tsukishiro encountered a group of Second-year Class C in front of his office.

"So, you're hoping to avoid expulsion by paying money?" Tsukishiro said.

As the Acting Chairman and a worldly man, he was surprised to find so many people surrounding the office he was about to leave. He almost thought he had been complained about and that the enemy had used some treacherous means.

The result doesn't seem to be the case.

These students are all law-abiding citizens.

"We've raised 16 million points. We're still a ways off from 20 million," Ichinose said. "But we hope the school can make an exception."

"Because the school's budget is limited, I think the school leaders would be happy if we could recoup the budget from the students."

"Hmm..." Tsukishiro pondered for a moment.

No answer was given immediately.

As school leaders, being able to reclaim points is indeed a good thing.

And he might even break the rules.

But that was on a ship, and he was short of money, so he had to give in to circumstances. But now he has resolved the budget issue.

There's no need to continue violating the rules.

And.

Even as the Acting Chairman, he discovered the problems in this class.

They actually wanted to spend money to keep their classmate.

Having lived in this school for over a year, one should know that the counting is linked to cash.

So, you students are actually spending so much money to prevent a classmate from dropping out of school.

So you understand the value of those 16 million points and still choose to protect your classmate?

This friendship and solidarity is truly touching.

If you keep thinking like this, you'll only end up missing out on Class A.

Because the Kiyotaka Ayanokoji- san he's following now is the complete opposite type. He's the kind of person who'll give up anything as long as he can gain something, and he has to make all sorts of sacrifices to climb up the ladder.

This is a very direct and realistic example.

So, although the students' intentions were good, reality wasn't so kind.

"Indeed." Tsukishiro maintained his adult smile. "As school leaders, we often struggle with budget issues, and it is also part of our job to legitimately collect points from students."

"It's just a pity," Tsukishiro said. "I'm about to leave this school, so I have to cherish my reputation."

In other words, the practice of buying back students' points at low prices, which had previously occurred in Tsukishiro, has stopped.

Therefore, the 16 million yen that Class Ichinose cannot offset the punishment of being expelled.

"How could this be—" A sense of dejection arose among the students who had been gathering around.

"What a pity," Tsukishiro said.

They were sent out.

Then he sat down in the chair.

Although the teachers all knew about his illegal operation to collect points, this was the first time he had been surrounded by so many students.

Sure enough, precedents shouldn't be set.

Tsukishiro thought of it.

On the other side...

The students from Class Ichinose walked out of the Chairman's Office and waited on the steps.

Ichinose was very down.

"It seems that the bargaining method isn't working."

"There's only half an hour left before the exam."

"Are there any other students who can raise 20 million? We currently have 16.83 million, and we are still 3.17 million short," one student said.

"Or, should we mortgage something? Some students have asked me where I bought that rocking chair I bought before."

"But that might not be enough time."

"Hey, Ichinose, don't worry too much, because we might not face the situation of being forced to drop out of school during our exams."

The students in Class Ichinose were trying their best to comfort Ichinose.

Actually, no one was really sure.

Yesterday they announced the exam rules, and today they're demanding the exam, which might even involve Class Vote for expulsion, just like last year. This is too cruel.

We've already protected everyone, and we definitely don't want anyone to drop out of school now.

However, the points accumulation is not yet complete.

It was a disaster for Class Ichinose.

"Ichinose— " At this moment, Kanzaki, who had come along but was feeling pain in her heart, was about to speak.

He was already feeling guilty, and then that morning he heard Ichinose mention a possible proposal to negotiate a lower price with the Acting Chairman. But it was rejected.

He fell from heaven to earth.

And his endurance could no longer withstand it.

If someone really has to drop out of school, then choose that person.

Because he accomplished nothing and dragged everyone down.

"Wait a minute." At this moment Ichinose took out her phone and connected, revealing a look of surprise.

"It's Kushida," Ichinose said. "Kushida agreed to lend us 3 million points."

"3 million?" Chihiro Shiranam's expression also showed surprise. "That makes it 170,000 points short."

"Um!"

The major issue is resolved; now we only need 170,000 points to go.

If it's 170,000 points, then they can ask their classmates from other classes to help them.

It's difficult to raise several million, but if it's just a few hundred thousand, then one person only needs to borrow a few thousand points from other students.

And most of the students in Class Ichinose are corporate employees.

So it will be very fast.

"I contacted First-year Class D. Great, she's willing to lend me 5000 points."

"Me too. I contacted a student in Second Year Class D, and she was willing to lend it to me."

"Even the junior girls in Class A, First Year are willing to lend it to me!"

"Great, the senior from the soccer club is willing to lend me some points."

"Ichinose... I've collected 170,000 points!"

Call!

Now, in less than 10 minutes, the most terrifying test for Second Year Class B was finally over.

"I hope we won't need this money," Ichinose said.

Now, all the points that everyone borrowed have been deposited into her account.

20 million.

This is the class's property, and it also represents the determination not to let any of their classmates drop out of school.

"Um."

Everyone nodded.

So be it. Compared to being rejected by the Acting Chairman Tsukishiro before, this feels like a glimmer of hope after a long period of uncertainty.

So, the students in Class Ichinose headed to their classrooms to prepare for the Special Exam that would be held a month later.

However, one student walked rather slowly.

"Kanzaki? What's wrong?" Shibata turned around and saw Kanzaki walking at the back, so he walked back and came to Kanzaki's side.

"Go take the exam," Shibata said. "Our class has collected 20 million points again this time. So there's nothing to worry about."

"Ah... um, yes." Kanzaki said somewhat absentmindedly.

However, after saying that, Shibata did not immediately follow the class group in front.

"Um..." Shibata continued. "If it really comes to the point where someone has to drop out of school..."

"At that time, Kanzaki."

"I will stand up for myself, and you will help me. I will drop out of school on my own," Shibata said.

"I am a student with a special talent in sports. Even if I drop out of school, I can still go to a good university through sports in the future."

"So."

Shibata stared intently at Kanzaki. "Save those 20 million points."

"We... can't go on like this forever."

Can't this go on forever?

Kanzaki, who had been somewhat dazed, suddenly became clear-headed, and her eyes regained their sparkle.

He had betrayed the class, but he wanted his classmates to understand more deeply the cruelty of the school, and that simple kindness could not protect anyone.

He then brought disaster to the class, causing them to lose not only the Commander Exam but also the Ichinose Protection title.

It's fair to say that everything he did was wrong.

But looking at it now...